Testing

Trying to include a larger photograph...

Sketch using Paper app

I find the app very hard to use but each time I try, I manage to grasp something I couldn't before. This time I mastered the zoom tool, enabling me to write text more easily. I'm sure if I used a drawing tool, rather than my finger, I'd have more success.

As a side note, our baby was due yesterday so I'm in bed relaxing waiting for the little bundle to arrive.

Music Museum

I'm near Hampton Court Palace and saw a Musical Museum nearby as I was driving, so I'll be visiting there later today. I've been playing my clarinet quite a bit lately and it will help to keep me inspired! I wonder if I'll discover an instrument I've never heard of. Will the visit bring back my musical theory that seems to have disappeared from my brain?!

Designing a footstool

I'm sitting in my Hampshire office and have started designing a footstool as part of an interior design project. The most important feature will be the fabric so I'll start there tomorrow. I've got the basic design sorted out so once I have chosen the materials I can concentrate on the finer details. Pictures to follow!

I'll be on holiday in Norway next week so there will be a delay in finish the project. Sorry to disappoint!

New studio!

My new home studio is coming along nicely. With 12 foot high ceilings, it's quite a challenge to start from scratch. The building is dated 1891 so it needs a lot of tlc and everything takes a lot longer because of it!

I want the whole room to be painted white apart from one wall, my inspiration wall directly opposite my desk. I'm thinking about a dusky blue to keeps everything fresh and in keeping with the building.

My beautiful desk arrived in February. It's still not assembled and won't be until the room is finished. I can't wait to get cracking!

My current list of projects I want to start is huge:

Pattern cutting
New hand sewing techniques
New machine stitching techniques
Gift box designs and painting
Website designs
Future research project
Courses to attend

The list goes on....

I've been networking on Twitter which is proving useful to me for business ideas and collaborations with other creative types.

Career or job?

I was just job hunting and have decided finally, once and for all that it's a career I want, not a job, which is why I'm reluctant to apply for a fabulous job I've just seen... I have never felt so strongly about my future being an independent one. Now, I've just got to figure out how to start!

Back to reality

I've spent a week in Truro, Cornwall and rather than finding inspiration, which I normally do while I'm there, I found clarity and peace of mind. Inspiration isn't always necessary in the creative process so it's time to start work again. This time from my new 'home studio'! It's empty at the moment so perhaps I'll post a picture of it when I'm settled in and have everything where I want it. The walls are currently bare and I have a strong urge to draw on them.

Since I was a child I've imagined having a room or even a whole house to draw freely on. I would thoroughly enjoy an evening with friends where we could all paint and draw on the walls, whatever that springs to mind.

I have been feeling close to nature this week and have been drawn towards prints with leaves and birds and colour palettes of green, yellow and blue. I'm toying with the idea of creating a stencil or trompe l'oiel. To paint my idyllic dream of a window with shutters, overlooking the landscapes of Florence would be as close as I could get to the real thing!

The week comes to a close and I'll drift off to the weekend with images of Italy, leaves and beautiful feathers in my mind.

(Image not my own)