Rosy Lady

Spooky

Yesterday was a misty/foggy day here.  It made for some interesting, spooky images:

 

This is Hadleigh Castle.  These castle ruins are not far from where we live.  It is on a hill with a stunning view to the Thames Estuary with Kent on the other side.

I don't believe in ghosts but have a vivid imagination and the combination of foggy days and old castles can make me think up a few ghosts from the past.

Hadleigh Castle was built in the 1230's during the reign of King Henry III.  The mountain biking competition in the 2012 Summer Olympics will be held here.

Something else that I find spooky is a deserted boat or ship on misty waters..

Happy Halloween!

xx

Feeling the fear and designing anyway

I have entered the tigerprint competition for a contemporary handbag notebook with this simple, yet elegant design:

The design was all completed in Photoshop but I have finally given in and bought Adobe Illustrator so, we are officially on 'beans on toast' until the next pay day.  I am quite excited as I now feel like I have all the tools that I need to complete my portfolio so, I will be spending a lot of time to learn Illustrator and to get these designs out of my head and onto the computer.  

I have also been reading the book 'Feel the fear and do it anyway', which is a self-help book recommended by my Hubby and so far, I am really enjoying it.  Whenever something really stands out to me, I have been writing it in big letters on coloured paper, which is stuck all over my studio. Something that has really made sense to me is "People who refuse to take risks live with a feeling of dread that is far more severe than what they would feel if they took the risks necessary to make them less helpless - only they don't know it!"  If you have followed my blog for a little while you will know how my day job has emotionally affected me and filled me with dread and fear.  It sounds easy to say 'just quit' but it is not that easy when the job pays quite well.  I have come to realize that this was the only thing holding me to a job that I hate and that this was not the life I wanted.  I know that I am a very resourceful, hard-working person who can make a success of most things.  I don't say this to sound arrogant but to say that I believe if you have enough passion and self-belief that you can do anything you set your mind to.  If I can make a success of a job that I hate, surely I could make a success of something that I absolutely love?!  

I have set myself specific, measurable and achievable goals with deadlines to ensure that I learn Illustrator, finish my portfolio and start my freelance career, which will involve giving up my day job.  I don't just want to talk about it anymore, it is time to take some action so, please excuse me if I make myself scarce but I will continue to pop in with progress or to think things through.  

xx

Found: one head

Sorry about my absence.

Kinda felt like I needed to find my head or gather my thoughts again.  I have done a lot of re-evaluating, goal-setting, decision-making and focussing.  I am a very philosophical person and sometimes need to do that, I hate the idea of just floating along because that feels like life is passing me by. 

I have designed some sewing projects that I am very excited to share with you so, watch this space.  I have also finished proof-reading Hubby's first novel.  It is so good and I am so proud of him, I hope he can get it published!

Anyway, nice to be back.  How have you been?

xx

Happy weekend

Good morning everybody!  

Just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a good weekend, I know that I have certainly looked forward to it this week.

Hubby has finally finished his book and so, I will be proof reading this weekend.  Apart from that, I am still working my way around Illustrator, getting more comfortable with it and definitely feel convinced that it has the features that I have missed in Photoshop.  They work really well together though for textile design so, that's where my pennies will be going this month.  I also want to work on some sewing projects and I think that's where my to-do list has to end.

By the way, don't let these photos deceive you.  They were taken during Summer this year.  Looking outside my window this morning, we have clouds, rain and gale force winds, which doesn't make for a good photo and today, I'm in the mood for some colour.

Hope you have a good weekend.

xx

Thank you

I wanted to say a big 'thank you' to everyone who has voted for me in the Spoonflower fabric design competition.  I am thrilled to tell you that my design is through to the final round.  I would really appreciate it if you would vote again.  Voting will be a bit quicker now because we are down to one page of designs (mine is number 6) and you have one vote.  I think my first blog give-away would be in order, if my design wins.

xx

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Manky bananas:

and some tender loving care equals:

Banana bread, mmm...

I reckon with a bit of effort on our part most of the less pleasant things in life can be turned into something positive.  

xx

Hello doilie

I was looking through some of my photos and thought I'd share some of the photos that I've taken of doilies.  When I started this post, I suddenly wondered whether doily or doilie was the correct name as this is what we used to call it in South Africa.  Wikipedia describes it as follows:

A doily (or doilie) is an ornamental mat, originally the name of a fabric, from Doiley, a 17th century London draper.^[1] They are usually made of cotton or linen thread, often crocheted but may also be knitted. Openwork allows the underlying surface to show through. In addition to their decorative function, doilies have the utilitarian role of protecting fine-wood furniture from the scratches caused by crockery or decorative objects.

These photos were taken at the same place as the heirloom textiles, which I shared here.I don't feel that these are the best examples of doilies though.  I remember my mum had some doilies that my grandmothers made which had three-dimentional flowers crocheted in different colours on them.  I will have to photograph those when I go to South Africa in December.

xx

Spoonflower voting now open

I just wanted to let you know that voting for the Spoonflower fabric of the week has begun.  They've had over 70 entries for this contest and have displayed the entries as 10 designs per page over 7 pages.  You get to vote for 3 designs per page.  The designs with the most votes will be short-listed for a final vote next week.  If you wanted to vote, you can do so right here.  You don't need to register to vote so, it is a quick process.  My design is number 17 on the 2nd page. I would really appreciate your vote :-)

If you need a reminder of my entry, you can either scroll down to the heading Dahlias and antique teaspoons or, just click here.

 After yesterday's post, you'll be glad to know that I undertake to dilly-dally less, get my finger out and crack on with the steps that I know I need to take to become a textile and surface pattern designer.  As part of that, I have decided to learn Illustrator as I have found Photoshop to be great in some aspects but limiting when you're trying to draw or illustrate something.  I have downloaded the 30 day free trial and so far I am impressed enough to think that I will get it.  

Have a nice day.

xx

Just keeping it real

This week I have really felt like I was trying to swim in a stormy sea.  

The waves looked big and it all felt so hopeless.

 

Today in particular filled me with so much dread because I knew that I had to face something that scared me so much.  I got through it but it made me re-evaluate my goals and where I see myself and how I am working to get myself there and out of a *job, which quite frankly, I find abusive.  I have to do this for myself because I have to be true to myself.  Life is too short to feel like this about a job, right?  This is not easy but I wanted to keep it real.  I am so incredibly thankful for every day that I have with my biggest support.

*Edit:  I wanted to just clarify that I am talking about my day job, which is not design related in any way.  

You are my love, hope and peace.  My light tower on a distant hill.

xx

First day of Autumn

xx