Day 363: A view to...anywhere

This is the sight out my window this morning. Pretty dull. It's raining and it's wet. There was some kind of commotion a minute ago with reversing cars and horns. That's about as exciting as it gets. Sometimes there's people walking past on there way to the park, but not on a day like today.

Wouldn't it be cool if every time you opened your curtains there was a different scene there. One day it could be a city-scape in lights, the next it could be misty mountains. Maybe you would see a volcano explode one morning. That would wake you up! Or you could be next you a raging river or the savannah in Africa. A giraffe could meet you on that morning!

It would certainly beat my window scene.

What would you want to see out of your window? Take your imagination on holiday with this one...

Day 242: Barbara Hepworth

In the year 1965, Barbara Hepworth, the artist who made all these amazing sculptures, died in a fire at her studios in St Ives, Cornwall. Since then, her studio has been restored and opened up to the public.

In January, 2010 I had the pleasure of visiting this studio. It was a cold, blustery day, so my boyfriend and I had the place to ourselves. The garden is filled with her sculptures which we spent ages looking at, sharing our opinions.

Perhaps the strangest thing is her workshop, which stands still in history, unchanged from the day she left it. The calender reads May '65. The tools lay on the bench next to the unfinished sculpture, waiting to be picked up again.

Hepworth was 72 when she died and had a lot of help making her sculptors by that time. But her memory is held in that place, held in her sculptors, both complete and incomplete.

If you get a chance, take a trip down there. St Ives is a beautiful place with art, the sea and a cream tea waiting for you!

If St Ives isn't your thing, try the new Gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield in Yorkshire. It opens in May 2011 and will be home to rarely seen works by Hepworth as well as pieces by Turner and Henry Moore. If it's British art you're after, look no further.

Day 208: Lazy Days

Happy New Year everybody!

I always feel like I should do something noteworthy on New Year's Day. You know, something to start the year off. But, to be honest, I'm just too tired. Last night I went to bed at 3am after bringing in the New Year, so I don't really feel like doing anything other than sleep right now. Know what I mean?

So, what could I put on a creative blog to inspire you all today, as a sleepy, lazy lady?

As I sit here thinking, I can see this:

My lazy cat, Bracken. Now that's what I want to be. If I could be any animal for a day, a cat is what I'd be. What do they think about? Do they have a craving for mice? Are they actually asleep when they're all curled up like that, or are they really listening to us all...?

Here's my other cat, Bramble, being equally lazy upstairs. What a life eh?

Why not have a think this New Year's day? If you could be any animal for a day, which one would you be? Those thoughts might be useful one day...creative thoughts usually lead somewhere, so go on, have a lazy thought day with me...

Day 204: Gingerbread house

It's a bit of a family tradition of ours to get a gingerbread house and cover it in icing and sweets. Then eat it, of course. So, here's this year's effort:

I did say it was on my list of creative things to do over Christmas, so one by one I'm ticking them off.

How's yours coming along...?

Day 203: Decopatch

Do you like my hearts? Well, actually, mine is the middle one and the other two were decorated by my sisters. Amongst Boxing day's festivities, we took time out to do some Decopatch.

What the heck's Decopatch, I hear you ask? Well, basically, it is covering stuff in little patches of tissue paper to jazz them up. Find out more on their website.

It's proper easy, so if there's a scuzzy old ornament you need to sparkle up, why not try to Decopatch it? You can do it on anything; lampshades, boxes, bowls, chairs...

Chose your colours, patterns, shapes, sizes...see how creative YOU can be...

Day 202: Boxing Day

A very Merry Boxing Day to everyone this afternoon!

I thought it only appropriate to talk about presents! All of us will have opened at least some present yesterday. Did you get anything creative? I thought I'd share a creative present or two...

This is a super cool crafty book I got from Steve, my Boyfriend's Dad (thanks Steve) called Meet Me at Mike's. It's full of 26 things you can make like this:

A notepad cover. I mean, who doesn't need one of these? It's full of instructions and stencils for making...I can't WAIT to get started!

And...I got a camera too (hence the sparkly new pictures from my camera) which means if I see something creative, all I need to do now is whip out my camera and walla (I'm not sure how you spell that, but you get the point), I can share it with you all right here...

Watch this space for more creative inspiration!

Day 201: Christmas Day Holiday

It's Christmas Day!!!

A day for a holiday I think, but just for a little creative input, here's a clip for you to enjoy. It's still about holidays though, so it's ok! Plus the kids are super cute!



Although this is a bit of a Christmasy Chick Flick, it's actually pretty creative too, 'cause it's all about the film industry; one guy write music for movies, one girl makes trailors and another used to write for film.

But for the purpose of today, it's about having fun at Christmas, so make family, eating and opening presents your priority!

Merry Christmas!

Day 199: Crafty Christmas Fun

Christms Eve Eve...No one really knows what to do on this day, so here's a few creative Christmas ideas to fill the day! All you need is a pine cone. Click on the link to find out more...

Try me out

Christmas Wreath

Pine cone girls

...or this one

Enjoy...

Day 198: Home Alone

At work the other day I asked Sophie what her favourite Christmas film is and she said, Home Alone which is totally my favourite Christmas film too. In fact, when we were trying to think of other Christmas films after, not many came to mind. For me Home Alone  kinda takes over!

There are loads thought; A Christmas Carol, not forgetting the Muppet's version (which I love), Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Clause, Elf...

When I was little my dad used to make us watch White Christmas every year, which, if you ask me, isn't very Christmasy at all. I mean, it's about the war! My Dad loves it anyway.

It seems like every year there's a new one out. Kinda amazing that there's enough ideas to put a 'new' slant on it each time.

What's your favourite Christmas film? Why?

If you were to make a film what would it be about? Family, love, adventure, magic?

Have a think about your ideal Christmas film tonight...who knows what might happen to it...

Day 197: Me and my Christmas baking

So, today I actually did make the cookies I put up yesterday, the ginger ones, and this is what they came out like:

There were a few sacrifices along the way as I attempted to smash some hard boiled sweets to smithereens. Lets just say I got a black finger, okay.

Fingers aside, I had fun, my belly is happy and so is the rest of the family. A winner all round. I think the look pretty cool too. Why not try a bit of Christmas baking yourself? (See Day 196 for some recipes...)

Day 193: Holidays are comin'

So today is the last day of my term and I have to say, I have never looked forward to going home as much as I do now. Christmas is a time for rest, eating, family...

...but what about creating? Do you guys have any creative plans for this festive season?

Let's decide together to put our hands/ears/eyes/mouths to something creative over the next 3(ish) weeks, people!

I am going to do some knitting, maybe even on Christmas day!
I'm going to read lots of good books...and maybe some writing too(?)
I'm going to do some colouring with my littlest sister, Olivia.
I'm going to do some baking...maybe decorate a gingerbread house in sweets and icing (yummmmm)!

What will  you do this holiday season to keep your creative side full this Christmas. Have a think, make a list and check it twice...

Day 184 : Always Coca-Cola...

I always know it's nearly Christmas when I see this advert on T.V! You know what I mean...



But, what I want to know is, does it really make people buy coke at Christmas? It certainly makes me want to be at home with my family getting Santa's mince pie ready and putting out my stocking (oh, whatever, you totally still have one too!)

Did Coca-Cola really make Santa red? Rumour has it, they gave Santa his red 'image.' Does that make us want to drink Coca-cola at Christmas?

I have to say, the other day I really fancied a coke when I saw an advert for it at the train station. In fact, all this makes me want one right now!

It's worth a few thoughts though, right? How much power does advertising have over what we do, say, think even? Do you think advertising is creative or just bashed out?

Take some time (perhaps over a mince pie) to think about advertising...you never know what might come up!

Day 57: Campervans

Aren't they just great! It's basically a house AND a car! What more could you want? There is so much I could say about campervans, but for today, I will try to stick to their creative element (but it'll be hard!).

Think of a colour, and then another. Maybe a pattern or two. Then a curtain design and a seat pattern. Hey, why not chuck in a personalised logo too. Throw them all together and the chances are, you could probably find a campervan which covers the whole lot. They are all sooo different with their own unique style. You really can be as creative as you like with a camper!

When I was a teenager, we had a campervan. It wasn't quite as cool as a T1 or T2 like the ones above (yes I'm a campervan geek and know all the models!), but boy did we try. Instead of your average white T3 (which was the model they made after the cool ones above), we had it dark blue with a light blue Celtic boarder around it. We had carpet, curtains and seat covers to match and it was the coolest thing ever!

I want one now! You can tour the world in them in style and everything...

Anyway (I told you I'd get carried away!), this is your creative challenge for the day. Have a look at all the designs and choose your own. Have a think. What would you choose for your camper? Pick your own colours, curtains, patterns, hubcaps, seat covers, door knobs...and don't forget the accessories; cups, plates, tea towels, awning...I even found a template you can practise your designs on!

If that's not your thing, then maybe you could think about designing campervan merchandise. There's tons! Mugs, keyrings, clocks, pads, clothing, bags, bookends...

Go for a ride with it and see where you end up!