Thursday 31 October 2013

Happy Halloween

I can't believe i'm saying this as 2013 seams to be flying by, but.. Happy Halloween bloggers! This week has been full of halloween, pumpkin fun including carving my very own, to seeing the biggest one I have ever seen being carved and also hearing local ghost stories being told at the Fusion Gallery. 

My local library took part in some really fantastic Halloween events this year, and the giant pumpkin carving was definitely one to watch! The pumking itself weighed a massive 92 stone and carving took part over two days, in which sculptor and designer Ray Noakes created beautiful designs within the flesh of this gigantic vegetable. The designs were not only influence by Halloween, but also from local emblems including the cities logo. I visited the pumpkin at various stages of carving and here are photos from each of my visits!

As well as this, local ghost stories were being shown in the library's Fusion Gallery. It was actually really interesting and I learnt so many things about the cities history and people. 

I hope you've all had a fantastic Halloween and are celebrating in style? 


Day one
Visit 1: Possibly the biggest pumpkin I have EVER seen!




Visit 2: Initial stage of carving



Visit 3: Adding details to the pumpkin design



One tooth is removed because Ray Noakes, the pumpkin carver, wanted to see how deep the flesh of the pumpkin was. I was shocked to see that it was so thick, although the skin on the outside was so delicate and was so easy to cut through even though you might not expect it to be!

 


Day two
Visit 1: Adding extra elements to the design



Visit 2: The finished pumpkin





My own attempts at pumpkin carving are not quite as spectacular although personally, i'm really pleased with how my little owly design turned out. Me and the boyf had great fun creating it, he possibly had more fun than me as it was something he'd never really done before!



Tuesday 29 October 2013

Autumn is here!!

I can't believe that it's that time of year already, when the trees turn various shades of orange and brown, and the winter wardrobe makes its first appearance of the year. This week I've been lucky enough to take some beautiful photographs of autumn in all its beauty thanks to a tree outside my boyfriends house. Each and every year it looks so beautiful as it sheds it leaves! I can not wait to get scrapbooking these photos alongside some of my newest gold, sparkly embellishments that I recently purchased. 







Another autumn highlight of mine is the beloved hot chocolate. Me and Mum had a fantastic one with all the trimmings from our local BB's coffee shop last week and is definitely one to try. 


The triple chocolate muffin was just an added bonus! 


You also know it's autumn when the winter jumpers begin to emerge from the back of the wardrobe, and here is my newest addition to my evergrowing collection. I absolutely love the colours, textures and patterns within the knit. It's so cute especially with my winter boots! Can not wait for more of the cooler weather when more of my jumper collection can be worn with pride. 



Not only does autumn make me want to make me cosy up in a chunky jumper, but it also reminds me of pumpkin carving with my Dad. A recent trip to Tesco resulted in purchasing one of these little beauties, and I am so excited to see what (hopefully) amazing creation I can produce with help from the Cath Kidston blog for some innovative carving ideas!



Saturday 26 October 2013

Happy Saturday!

Saturday is finally here, and I'm celebrating the the end of my week with a new sketchbook and Pinterest! After recently blogging about my latest Pinterest board 'Pretty patterns, pretty marks' I have finally decided to reunite myself with my art materials and get sketching. I'm setting myself a mini project inspired by two things: Buildings, and also a life drawing from the end of my third year at uni. 


Life drawings 


These particular drawings were something of a breakthrough as I wasn't particularly looking forward to the workshop, although by the end of it I produced something which I personally was really proud of. My drawing style isn't perfectly in proportion, or very realistic although its something that resembles who I am as a creative person and as a designer. The combination of bold, blocks of colour and detailed line drawing is a technique that I will be using a lot during my mini project alongside an area of inspiration that I have never really taken my ideas from, buildings. Designer and artist Dar Rotem, also uses similar techniques within her work which is something I really love about her drawings. 

I hope that by the end of November, this sketchbook will be full of various drawings, mark makings and collages inspired by my Pinterest board and initial source of architectural inspiration. After being away from drawing for so long, I feel that I need something to edge my way back into it! 



On another note, I have recently discovered new ways of blogging which includes a monthly post called 'Just a minute'. I'm really looking forward to giving it ago, so keep your eyes pealed for November when I will be making my first post summarising my monthly ideas and adventures! 

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Pretty patterns, pretty marks

Since graduating from NUA, I haven't really done much design work, despite the odd bit of Christmas crafting and scrapbooking. However, after just browsing through all the beautiful images on Pinterest I am feeling really inspired to open the paints, and bring out the pens and begin sketching again. 

My latest Pinterest board addition is entitled 'Pretty patterns, pretty marks'. The images represent everything which I feel to be inspiring when i'm designing, from the use of bold colour combined with delicate pen drawings. I particularly love the work of Ashley G who combines simple shapes alongside delicate yet textural mark making, and her use of using scrpbooking Project Life cards has really inspired me to combine both my love of design and scrapbooking. Her work is so inspiring and is definitely worth a look! 

Keep your eyes pealed for some of my new creations!

 

Ashley G: Sketchbook page


Ashley G: Project life cards

Tuesday 1 October 2013

October 1st

I can not quite believe it, but October is already here! This year has just flown by, but what a great one it's been so far. To celebrate October 1st, here are some cheeky photos to sum up the day. I hope your October began just as great as mine!

Enjoy bloggers!


(1)



(2)



(3)



(4)



(1) Walking home after a morning consisting of breakfast with the boyf, retail therapy and enjoying Octobers warm weather! 

(2) If this is a snippet of the sunsets will be seeing this Autumn, then keep them coming. So beautiful and this snap will definitely be making an appearance in the scrapbook.

(3) Nothing better than a cosy jumper!

(4) An evening of picking and clicking for me. Selecting photos for my next scrapbooking session, hopefully to take place in the new extension, which is close to completion. Only plastering, and decorating to go.