At the centre of your being you have the answer, you know who you are and you know what you want ~ Lao Tzu

Wednesday, August 29

WOYWW 169 - Drawing...??


I've missed a few weeks...there's been A LOT going on, but not on this desk, not even on my lapdesk...

The drawing a day has gone by the wayside... as I've been back and forth to hospital...

First for a scheduled mammogram at my local hospital - the joys of being 48...

Then a for a second mammogram at Boston hospital...

Then, last Friday, a biopsy to remove calcifications in my right breast... boy, that was one of the longest, most torturous hours in my life...  only the kindness of the doctor and nurse making it bearable - just...

I should have gone back today for the results, but they rang yesterday to say the results weren't back yet, so it's another week of waiting and wondering...

Of course, I'm nervous - my mother's mother died from breast cancer aged 32... my mother had breast cancer in her 50s, though she died of a stroke aged 55...

So I wait... like thousands of other women around the world...

But I figured I needed to do some fun things, so I'm joining in WOYWW again over at Julia's Stamping Ground...

And here's some sketches I did do earlier in August before all this kicked off...


My first ever bird - it's supposed to be a wren...


A bowl... they're tricky...


And of course, the obligatory bowl of fruit...

And for those who are curious, this is the book on my desk - I haven't even opened it yet....

But, it's going to be fun visiting desks around the world... being pleasantly distracted by all you talented, creative people - thank you for your distracting loveliness :)

With love xxx








Wednesday, August 8

WOYWW No. 166 - A new workdesk :)

Here's my newest acquisition...


... a lapdesk!!

It's on this new desk I'm fulfilling my challenge of drawing every day in August, and it's the perfect surface to draw on while I enjoy watching the Olympics :)

I can proudly say I've drawn every day, except Monday, but I have a valid excuse - I was in serious discomfort following botox treatment on my right arm that morning (I get multiple injections in specific muscles 3 times a year to relax those muscles)...

So here's my drawings from the last 7 days...


These two are from my World of Downton book, which I showed last week...


This is of a favourite photo of a cemetery angel holding fallen leaves in her hands...


I hate chameleons!!
I had a huge one fall on my head in Kenya - believe me, they can grow to the size of a small dog! So I drew this lil' guy to exorcize those yucky memories...


I am pleased with this drawing of a photo taken by Cecil Beaton of an unnamed Wren in 1942..


But I tell you, I really don't like drawing men! They're all angles - and stubble :)

Next Wednesday, I'll show you this coming week's drawings...

And now, I'm off to enjoy others' creations from all over the globe. The ever-growing list is over at Julia's Stamping Ground...

Have a great, creative week :)






Friday, August 3

IA Challenge - Perfectly Pink!

I really don't like pink at all... Too Barbie-ish, too ultra-girlie, and too much negativity of gender associations of being the weaker sex...

So this was going to be a real challenge for me this week...

I was going to copy this fashion illustration for my entry, having set myself the challenge of drawing every day in August...


But I decided against it, as I've made the challenge to DRAW every day, not paint...

So, instead, I gathered together all the pink things I could find, and there's quite a few... mainly gifts from friends and family - I am a girl, after all :)


There's E's baby Barbie plate, with a pink napkin, my phone (E's pre-teen cast-off, hence it's pink!), and a pink sharpie... there's a pink tablecloth, pink tissue paper, pink gift tags, pink pages in a journal, a pink tin of Papaya postcards, my 'Best Mummy' plaque (from a Mothers' Day a number of years ago!), a pink pot with my pebble collection, a pink mug, a pink ATC from a friend, pink journal spots, my Folio Society collection of Perrault's fairy tales, pink and black candle holders (a surprise xmas pressie from my lovely son a few years ago), and the current issue Gentlewoman with a neon pink background, a pink gift bag, a pink emery board, a pink compact mirror...

I wonder if that's enough pink to meet the Inspiration Avenue Challenge???

And for those who are interested, here's my first 3 drawings of my Drawing-a-Day challenge - the first two are from my World of Downton Abbey book, the third is from a favourite photo of a churchyard angel holding some fallen leaves, which I've called ' Hold Beauty Lightly'...


I hope to post all my drawings throughout August, but not each and every day...

Wishing you all a fun Friday, and a great weekend :)




Wednesday, August 1

WOYWW No. 165


Another Tuesday evening photo - not a lot happening yet... all set up for the morning, as I have to watch Team GB's women's football team take on Brazil at Wembley :)

I'm hoping to draw every day in the month of August... we'll see how far I manage to get... I'll certainly post each drawing :)

I'm going to draw from my Downton Abbey book - so many glorious photos - my first assignment is for this week's IA Challenge - Perfectly Pink! - which is a real challenge for me, as it's a colour I really do not like much :(

I'm planning to tackle this fuchsia coat illustration... though I really like the dress and hat ensemble next to it :)


I'm looking forward to globe-trotting around as many desks as possible this coming week, as I've missed a couple of WOYWWs... As usual, it's happening over at Julia's Stamping Ground...

Wishing you all a fun, creative week!!

PS The women's football team beat Brazil and topped their group - they're through to the quarter finals!! Now we need the men to do the same! I'm loving these Games :)