May 30, 2005

Positive Pants

Tonight I am feeling very positive. There is nothing like having a day of people telling you how much they like your work. It gives me the confidence boost I need.

I exhibited at a local craft fair today. Its the not the first one I've done but I am still finding it difficult to find out about them in time. But slowly and surely I am learning how all these things work. I am not totally convinced that my work suits such events, as there is a lot of country based crafts, local produce etc and as a lot of my prints are priced over the £50 mark, not everyone wants to be spending money like that on a family day out. But it was free and a way of me getting my stuff out there. Actually I really enjoyed the atmosphere, it reminded me of when I worked on the market all those many years ago!

But all in all I didn't do too badly. I sold quite a few cards, had a lot of interest in my work and sold this print, which is a linoprint entitled 'My Street'. So I am a happy bunny.

Posted by Maxine at 09:44 PM | Comments (1)

May 29, 2005

Wacky Fabric

I found this wacky fabric in Oxfam the other day. There is something about second hand shops or car boot sales that seems to draw me in, I just can't help myself. I think its the thrill of finding something unusual or a real bargain. Even if I won the lottery tomorrow I would still scour these shops for lost treasures.

How could I resist this fabric? This is just a detail of it. It is covered in ducks and happy sunshine, flowers, children holding hands, even koala bears! I haven't decided what to make with it yet, but maybe a quirky bag or an apron for Emily. I have to get my machine out...

Does anyone know of any good online pattern resources?

Posted by Maxine at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

May 27, 2005

Making Home

A while ago, after leaving full time employment to become a full time mom, I received a this book from Nik. Maybe, when scouring the market for treasures, he saw this and thought how useful this might be for me, who knows. Its scary stuff though this home-making business. I really don't know how women back in those days weren't constantly at the gin or worse (or maybe they were?). So I thought I would try and make coconut ice from a recipe in here. Not only did it burn to the pan but I also stabbed myself trying to dislodge it...some housewife I am!

So I have decided to honour all of those women back in the day and post an extract from each chapter of the book every Friday. So here's the first:

Chapter One - Introduction
"We don't all live in towns or suburbs with electric light and gas laid on to every house as a matter of course; not every modern house is perfectly planned for labour-saving and smooth running; vacuum cleaners and refigerators are not within the reach of everyone. But we housewives of today are all out to save ourselves work where we can. We are not content to be slaves to our houses. If there is a quicker, easier way to do a job, we are eager to learn it and try it.."

"..The weary worried wife cannot make a really happy home; it is more than can be expected of her.."

Posted by Maxine at 02:36 PM | Comments (2)

May 26, 2005

A Visit from a Panda

After 5.5 years of seeing each other, my friend Tamara came all the way over from Canada just to see me! 18 hours of travelling. I feel so honoured that she did that just for me. It was fantastic to see her again and like any true friendship it was like time had stood still. She was still the same and apart from having got married and having a baby I was too. It was great. We went out for cocktails, danced into the early hours (something of rarity for me these days) and generally had fun hanging out.

So I am going to cut myself some slack with this weeks Illustration Friday topic. If I can get it done for tomorrow great, if not then I have a good excuse. After all its not very often I get a visit from a Canadian Panda.

Thanks for coming all this way Tamara and maybe sometime we will come and see you (and the mounties of course!).

Posted by Maxine at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2005

First try

I have decided to call this painting 'Embrace' and it is a combination of acrylic and oil - basically whatever I could find (I still haven't replenished my supplies!) I am not totally convinced it is finished yet but I thought I would show you my progress anyway.

Its my first attempt to get back into painting. I'm not sure how I feel about this effort. Part of me thinks its not a bad try and then another part of me thinks its rubbish and I shouldn't bother. This is a familiar feeling for me and something I need to get over. Anytime I do something that I am not completely happy with those old insecurities come flooding back. This is why it has taken me so long to do anything. I don't know what I am afraid of, its not like I have anything to lose. Sometimes I think my expectations of myself are too high and I want to run before I can walk.

I am determined to keep going and not to let these feelings take over. Otherwise I will be back at square one and my canvases will start to resemble a scene from Great Expectations, never to see the light of day.

On another note my friend is over visiting from Canada tomorrow, so I won't be posting until the end of next week - hopefully I get time to do this weeks Illustration Friday topic.

Posted by Maxine at 10:21 PM | Comments (1)

May 18, 2005

Illustration Friday 'Nourishment'

At last my first Illustration Friday entry! As soon as I learnt what this weeks topic was I instantly knew what I was going to do. Since having my daughter Emily, who is now 20 months old, I have become acutely aware of nutrition. Buying various books on the subject, spending my evenings reading up on what is the best food for my baby and making an endless freezer full of nutrious and healthy food, stored neatly into tiny tubs.

I don't think I am obsessive about what she eats, just aware that food plays a vital role in her mental and physical development. She rarely has chocolate and still only drinks water. I am not going to deny her 'treats' but I feel I am giving her the best chance possible.

Posted by Maxine at 08:31 PM | Comments (0)

May 16, 2005

Painting

Its been years since I actually took out a paintbrush and painted. I suppose have been more focused on printmaking - or maybe thats just an excuse! I even have large canvases that must be covered in cobwebs by now, they have been sitting around waiting to be used for so long. I think thats what has daunted me - seeing these big canvases and not knowing where to start or what to do with them.

So yesterday I went and bought some small A5 size boards and a table easel. I figure that I might be better off starting small and building up to the bigger size. I also feel happier experimenting small. There is something about spending ages painting only to discover that you actually hate what you have done, I think this is my stumbling block.

I still have to replenish my paint supplies but watch this space...

Posted by Maxine at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)

May 11, 2005

Moving Cake

My husband, Warren, moved business premises last week. From a drab, depressing (no windows, no kitchen and no nearby coffee shops to visit) industrial park office to a lovely studio space above a dentist, in the lovely little village town of Holywood, complete with lots more space, floor to ceiling windows, vaulted roof, lovely wooden floor, leather sofas and lots of lovely nearby places for lunch.

I think after 4 years in the other place, it will be fantastic to work somewhere which has a much more positive vibe about it and is definitely better for creative thinking. I am so happy for him, the other office was suited to men with steel toe cap boots and three cigarettes hanging from their mouth but not at all suited to creative types, its no wonder there were so many grumpy moments about the office!

I wasn't sure how to celebrate this momentous occasion. Alcohol seemed obvious but not quite right. So I did an illustration of the team and got a cake made with it (I was so impressed by the quality of the printing on the cake!). Everyone thought it was fab and it went down a treat. The only question was 'who shall we eat first?'.

Posted by Maxine at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)

Finally

It must be a couple of years now that I have been working on my website. Doing a bit. Leaving it for a few months. Doing a bit more. Getting bored and starting again. To be honest a lot has been going on in my life, like becoming a mom! I know this is no excuse, especially when I see all of the other inspiring websites of creative moms who manage to create great websites, work on inspiring projects and take care of their kids. Maybe I am not seeing the full picture and maybe they too find it hard to have enough hours in the day. All I know is that they have inspired me to get off my bum and get my life organised - starting here.

I wouldn't consider myself to be a lazy person but I am lacking in motivation thats for sure. I have all of these ideas and things that I want to do, projects that I want to work on and yet they never seem to materialise. In fact I am still working on this site and have lots to do to get my portfolio online.

So this a big fresh start for me. Finally I can get my work online and hopefully I will continue to get more and more inspired and be able to start, even finish all the art and craft projects I am always thinking about.

Posted by Maxine at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)