ell I am still managing to paint a little sketch in my diary every day without cheating too much.... there is always something funny or amusing every day like the red car with a snowman on its roof whizzing by on the bridge, or John P carving 2 chickens for a lovely sunday lunch at the Pickersgills......but its trying to remember the details when I get home that is sometimes tricky!
nder he heavy snow clouds in Molesey Francesca has been beavering away on a whole sketchbook using just one colour - coral! Here are some of the pages that she did using found and made textures and materials...my favourite is the knitting with hand dyed strips of chiffon....
orting out some old cupboards I found this gorgeous little cloth dolly that Francesca had made me while staying at my parents house years ago......thought it was very Julie Arkell like!
ew Years resolutions had me thinking about painting more instead of the more important things like being more organised, or being more thoughtful to others or having a cleaner house! and so because I am still in awe of 'today I saw" blog I will try to do my own version of an illustrated diary! Carrying around a sketchbook or camera every day so far though has taken up most of my energy! I shall have to develop that photographic memory!
ots of drawings of children with their pets is the idea for this week's spoonflower fabric of the week attempt! The theme was cartoons and over on their blog there are some great textile designs on view...
appy Holidays! A blissful week spent in snowbound Scotland, picture postcard scenes at every corner....Nairn beach covered in snow, cairngorms and frozen loch, christmas morning walk with the family on the beach, black isles in the distance....I want to go back!
inally finished the dress pattern for the Spoonflower fabric of the week....have to admit that I am a bit obsessed with competitions and fabric printing...and this one was a challenge. The design is for a 4 year old girl's pinafore style dress with 6 patch pockets all around the bottom of the skirt...have to make it up out of calico yet so that I can see whether my measurements are correct!
reat news that my mother in law is getting better. Maureen made this beautiful wreath for us last year and despite being a bit crumpled is definitely the most glamorous down our road! My mum knitted me this fab Mary, but poor thing needs Joseph now......and a donkey?
annot believe it...it's snowing! The bookies will be going mad betting on a white Christmas! Unfortunately my garden is no Versailles so could not post a decent shot of the sprinkling of white flakes...some (more) angels instead! The lovely watercolour of the robin is what Finlay painted when he was only 7 and as yet is reluctant to repeat this masterpiece...polar bears, reindeers, and owls are begrudgingly painted every December but this is still my favorite!
hese angels are already in transit.....the chocolate in the advent calendar is being consumed....my sewing room resembles war torn Beirut.....dinner tonight is crackers and cheese......and we are all looking pasty and drawn......roll on Christmas! 
en and the art of paining dolls! Nick made the spag bol last night while I painted at the kitchen table with a glass of red wine (which I then knocked over all over the dolls, and the hoover which I had not managed to put away and was using as a foot rest!!!) It was bliss though....they will hopefully become angels today to fly off to loved ones tomorrow xxxxx
nusually hard work to finish these dolls....it's pouring with rain again outside, and these dolls just look so miserable!
uletide greetings! Is it too soon to be panicking about the forthcoming event? Christmas talk is hotting up here in the Hanson Household...
onderful paintings from my very talented sister in law Tracy who has recently moved out to far away Brunei with Richard my 'Top Gun' brother and the completely scrumptious Rafey! Tracy is so brilliant at meticulous beautiful work as you can see in the mermaid painting.....the loose chinese brushstrokes are rather fabulous too......
ooh very excited to see my products in the window of John Lewis before Christmas.... had to have this cheesy photo on the blog to remind me to think about work more often!