Sandy Floorboards

Moaning Myrtle

2012-01-31T03:54:00.000-08:00

It's snowing. I walked to work today my toes and fingers numb with cold, my breathe came in white puffs and the snow fell from the sky in twirls that bounced off my eyelashes and settled on my coat.
It really feels like winter today, the kind of weather that makes you want to hibernate and drink tea and eat hot buttered crumpets all day.

I'm not quite sure how to take this sudden change in weather, part of me is excited and the other wants to just shut myself away and wait for the spring.

Lots of things seem to be happening lately, people are moving, babies are being born and everyones lives seems to be moving along quite quickly. Except mine. I'm stuck, in the same place i was 3 years ago, and that is through no fault of my own but through just general bad luck and things that happened out of my control.

I'm still waiting around, like i am stuck at a road crossing and the little man is just refusing to turn green. Who knows? maybe soon things will start to happen and maybe then i'll shit myself and panic that its all happening too fast but for now i'd give anything to step onto the bottom rung of the ladder, to at least start moving forward..patience is a virtue they say, well i'd like a dose of someone else's virtue please to help me along because my patience seems to be wearing a little thin.

Well enough ranting and moaning, i should be grateful for what i have, i know i know and i keep telling myself this everyday so i'll shut up and carry on as i was ;)

Above is an Alice in Wonderland themed mini moleskin journal i have just added to my shop, its priced at £10.00 comes giftwrapped and signed on the reverse and is posted next day from my local post office.

I have changed the layout of my blog what do you think? I think i'm happy with it but time will tell :)

Happy Tuesday ... wrap up warm
x

Wind chilled toes..

2012-01-27T01:49:00.000-08:00

It is such a beautiful day today, the sun has been streaming through the windows and the sky is a clear light blue, but dont be fooled like i was its bloody frezing out there really! My nose and toes went numb walking to work this morning but i can safely say i defrosted now thanks to a cup of tea and bowl of porridge.

It's been an odd couple of days here at the studio, a bit of a whirl wind really, We have been shortlisted for a Bafta (one of 3 short animated films in the running) and then two days ago it was announced live on American TV that we are also in the shortlist for and OSCAR!!!!! (with the same film) crazy crazy! as soon as it was announced we had film crews calling, interviews via skype and magazines, even the BBC calling us to chat. Phew!
The film link for the trailer is here if you fancy taking a look...

Right back to reality and it's almost the weekend!!! Woopie, dont actually have anything planned for this weekend just a meal sunday night with some friends and a lazy day tomorrow shall be great.
I wont be doing any knitting as i managed to break my wooden knitting needle size 5 and im really distraught as i was just manageing to get the hang of it aswell. If anyone has a spare one laying around i can give it a good home ;)

Above is a print now available in my shop, its called Keeping Guard. It's priced at £10.00 and is printed onto matte epsom photo quality paper comes mounted ready for framing and giftwrapped by me, it is also numbered as it's limited edition of 100.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. I hear it's going to get colder here in the Southeast so wrap up warm. I plan lots of hot chocolate and winter walks,

Hugs
Gem
x

Glum and Gloomy

2012-01-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

New Print listed in my Etsy shop today, it was inspired by a diary my pen pal Garci in the USA bought me for Christmas.

Having a strange day today, my mood is like the weather grey and gloomy, keep feeling like i want to burst into tears for no apparent reason, I hate being a girl sometimes!

Here's to tomorrow and lets hope the sun shines at least when i take my break i miss reading in the park so much :(

Hugs
xxx

Frosty mornings and golden days

2012-01-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

I am loving this weather just recently, i have been waking to white frost covered cars and grass in the mornings and enjoying blue skies and golden sunshine in the afternoons.
Ive been crocheting (these two headbands are now available in my shop), listening to this lady, drinking lots of tea in my new glass mug and eating the remainder of mince pies i have found in the cupboard.
Wishing i was by the sea with its salty air and rolling waves, (sea photos were taken at whitstable on the 28th december)
Dont forget to enter the giveaway below...i will draw the winner on tuesday.
Back to work tomorrow :(
xx

Frugality and a Giveaway!

2012-01-13T04:34:00.000-08:00

I like the begining of January, i like the feeling of starting afresh and all the hopes and dreams that come with the new year.

It's the middle of january that i cant seem to cope with. The endless dull dreary skies and the feeling that winter will never end.

I've been trying my hardest to stop being so miserable this year during january and have been trying to make the most of going outside to the allotment, for walks on my lunch and outings in the car at the weekend (and you know what somehow it's working!)

I read an interesting post by The Quince Tree today about frugality and how she had seen someone write somewhere that you have no reason to be frugal if you are not poor and why waste posting on your blog about saving making and mending when you have enough money to buy NEW. She argued that some of the best things in life are free and i completely agree. So to celebrate frugality and recycling i thought i would post my list of things that make me happy and cost next to nothing to achieve ....

1. Making Lavender sachets from old bits of discarded material and lavender harvested from our allotment (pictured above)

2. Knitting and crochet, you can make a hat scraf, gloves, blanket, headwarmer, for the price of a few balls of wool and it keeps your fingers busy at the same time.

3. Bike rides, cost nothing and help you lose weight as well as get out and about to see your local area up close and personal.

4. Watching the birds in the garden, i love bird watching or just animal watching, squirrels, birds, field mice anything really it can keep me occupied for hours.

5. My library, free books on endless amounts of topics and once you've finished with them you hand them back! Instant de-cluttering.

6. Foraging in the local area, it's surprising what you can find edible around where you live, we harvest walnuts, cobnuts, blackberries, greengages, rasberries and elderflower all local and completely free.

7. Flowers from the garden or allotment placed in old jam jars, bottles and vases around the home.

8. And finally time with friends and family, costs nothing and makes you feel great afterwards like an instant anitdepressant (but of course you have to select carefully the family you spend the time with otherwise you could have the opposite effect happening haha)

So Happy weekend guys hope i have inspired you slightly into the world of frugal living. Im off to watch War Horse this weekend (not so frugal i know) but it looks great dont you think?massive box of kleenex tissue needed before hand though dont want to come out looking like a a panda!

Before i dash i wanted to announce a giveaway from me to you for being such wonderful followers and listening to my rants and moans ..

I shall be giving away the following...

A small square pillow made from the above mentioned lavender from my allotment. It can be used to freshen drawers, place on pillows or add to a pile of fresh laundry, 100% natural lavender no artificial scents and 100% cotton.

2. This pendant is made of beautiful egg shaped cherry wood and has a minature printed copy of my original portrait Ella from the Fir maidens series which has been varnished.

It comes signed and dated on the reverse and is packaged in a silk ivory coloured drawstring pouch to keep it safe and secure.

The pendant is approx 1 and a half inches long and 1 inch wide and comes suspended on a 16 inch silver plated curb necklace.

All you have to do to enter is to comment below on this post and tell me how you like to over come the winter blues (what is your secret to a happy January) I shall pick a winner next tuesday that is 17th January at 12pm GMT and announce it here on the blog.

~~Goodluck guys.....~~
Giveaway now closed well done twinklejulia and thank you for commenting :)
x

As Monday rolls around again...

2012-01-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

Monday has arrived again, quicker than planned and darker than i would have liked.
The weekend was jam packed, busy, fun, exciting and darn pretty. Wiltshire is really a beautiful place.

I thought i'd show you some peices i have been working on these past few weeks. It is for the Folio and House of Illustration competition to find a new illustrator. You had to illustrate three scenes from the book The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter (and if you haven't read it i suggest you do its a dark, sexual, disturbing retelling of classic fairytales)
The first is from ....

Company of Wolves
Midnight; and the clock strikes. It is Christmas Day, the werewolves’ birthday, the door of the solstice stands wide open; let them all sink through.

See! sweet and sound she sleeps in granny’s bed, between the paws of the tender wolf.

Second is from ...
The Bloody Chamber
Nevertheless, I opened the doors of that bookcase idly to browse. And I think I knew, I knew by some tingling of the fingertips, even before i opened that slim volume with no title at all on the spine, what i should find inside it.

and the third is from...
Puss In Boots
“Cast your eye below,” I hiss. “Him you know of lurks below, in white with the big hat, ready to sing you an evening ditty”.

Happy Monday, I'm going to try and keep smiling and banish away my January blues...lots of tea and cake i prescribe ha ha

xxx

The greatest storyteller who lived...

2012-01-04T03:05:00.000-08:00

Did you watch the Great Expectations remake on the BBC over the Christmas? It was magical!
I love Dickens and being a massive fan of any type of book or story which lends itself to the theme of a fairytale or Childrens story grabs me instantly.
I loved Ali Shaw's Girl with the Glass feet and Erick Setiawan's Of Bees & Mist, Audrey Niffenegger is another big favourite of mine with her dark and disturbing tales about time travel and mirror image twins. But if i was to chose a classic writer who i would class as one of my favourites it would have to be Dickens.

Maybe it's because he grew up in Chatham and Rochester and that his final house was his childhood dream of Gads Hill in Higham, or maybe its because his stories with all their magic and wonder were based on places within my own town like Pip's Forge from Great Expectations or Peggoty's boat house from David Copperfield or the mysterious Satis house in Rochester High Street or maybe its just that he has a magical way of telling a tale, of capturing a character and painting an image with words.

When i walk or drive past these places mentioned above i try to image what they would have looked like in Dickens time, no 1920's red brick houses surrounding them or 1970's office blocks, just open space and marsh land. A beautiful and dangerous place which has been tamed and shaped by man.

The places i know and love would have looked completely different in his time but it seems the atmosphere is still there of the story he has created. The forge is still a small wonky looking building and you can just imagine the cold creeping in through the gaps in the walls as Pip lay in bed, the original Satis house is imposing and grand with wrought iron gates and ivy clad walls conjoring up images of decay and cobwebs inside. Sadly the boat house has since been demolished but thankfully the photo remains of its strange shape.

There are plans to create a museum dedicated to Dickens life in his former home of Gads Hill which should be finished this year, they are to move the children out into a new purpose built school in the grounds and re open the house as it would have been in Dickens time. I can't wat to go and visit!

This year marks the 200th Birthday of Charles Dickens and celebrations are on throughout the country for this talented English Treasure.
Above is a mini moleskin journal i have created in celebration of the occasion, it's £5.00 and has postage of £2.00, i shall be adding more Dickens themed journals soon so keep your eyes peeled for your favourite character, they would also make great presents for any Dicken's fans like myself.

It's a short week for me at work as we had the bank holiday on monday and i am off on Friday and heading to Wiltshire the home of Stonehenge and Castle Coombe, Im staying in Devizes and celebrating Ashley's grandads 70th birthday. It should be lots of fun and lovely to escape to the countryside for a night with Ash and im looking forward to our little road trip across the beautiful countryside.

Must dash got work to do :(
But have a lovely day and hope the sun keeps on shining
Gem
xxx

Happy New Year

2012-01-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2012

Wow what a year it has been, i can honestly say it hasn't been the best year ever, in fact it's been pretty awful with a lot of worry, stress and let down but i raised my glass and welcomed in the New Year with hopes in my heart of a brighter year, full of opportunties and joy.

The past year was a struggle for me, as time seemed to stand still whilst everyone else was moving forward and living, i seemed stuck in a rut and no matter how hard i tried i couldn't seem to budge from the situation and rush ahead to join the others who were leaving me behind, but i am hoping deep in my heart for a change this year.

It has been a pleasant start to the New Year so far with sunny crisp mornings and a mild temperature, but today seemed to change that with my first day back to work this year also came torrential rain grey skies and gloomy clouds ( add to that a leak in our basement at work!) Ha ha oh well back to normal i guess ;)

The above picture is of some Lavender sachets i made using home grown english lavender from our allotment. They are for sale in my Etsy shop and smell devine! please do pop by for a look.

And on that note i shall head out into the drizzle for my commute homeward,

Happy New Year guys may the days ahead be full of joy, happiness and laughter and as ever my love and thanks goes out to every single person who reads and comments on my blog without you it would all be pointless.

Much Love

Gem

xxx

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine

2011-12-28T10:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was spent in church singing while the sound of the organ and choir rang out onto the street outside. We awoke early, celebrated the morning with a hot milky coffee and settled in to celebrate with fine food, wine, champagne, and of course presents....

Hope you had a great one too?

xxxx

Merry Christmas Eve's Eve

2011-12-23T01:35:00.000-08:00

Merry Penultimate Christmas eve!
It's finally arrived and without even a hint or dusting of snow :(
Everything is wrapped and ready under the tree and the rooms smell of cinnamon and woodsmoke.
All that is left to do is collect the turkey and meat tomorrow, and harvest our first ever crop of brussels from our allotment to grace the Christmas table.
This year has seemed to whizz past in a flurry as it seems only yesterday that i was posting pictures of last years tree on here.

I have a half day at work today which has made me feel even more giddy with excitement and like a child this Christmas, i want to hurry home put the Muppet Christmas Carol dvd on and sip some mulled wine!
sad i know (maybe i'll never grow up)

I shall leave you on this very dark but mild morning with Christmas wishes and hugs from me to you, hope you have a lovely day and get everything your hearts desire.
Merry Christmas
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.s i promise to pop back before the big day with some actual photos of all things christmassy.

December

2011-12-09T04:38:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER

I'm a bit late i know... 8days late in fact but hey ho!

Happy December folks hows life in your neck of the woods? Here in the Uk its been crazy weatherwise. Scotland was battered by gale force winds of up to 85 miles per hour yesterday turning over a school bus and uprooting trees. The Southeast didn't fair as badly but the wind here was really strong, mix that with rain and low temperatures it was a pretty miserable day.

I have been unwell so thankfully i was at home yesterday and didn't have to venture out into the weather but i'm back at work today.

Well the Christmas Season is well under way and with only a few more Christmas presents left to buy and the rest already wrapped and under the sparkly tree i'm feeling very festive.

Just a few more bits and bobs left to do before the big day and it seems to be flying past.

I have had a few orders from my shop so thank you very much to all that have purchased from me as always i am very grateful, Just a little not to say anything purchased from my shop between now and Christmas will recieve a free print of their choice. So please if you know anyone who enjoys art or who would like a lovely new journal or necklace please pop by to my shops and take a peek.

Here's a few links to keep you busy for an hour or so...

I have been listening to this lovely lady recently she is amazingly talented and this song is one of my favourites (warning the lyrics are in FRENCH)

Also i am loving the Toast website and Cabbages and Roses for winter inspiration and items to add to my every growing wish list.

This wonderfully talented lady Terry Windling keeps be constantly inspired, as does Anna Emilia with her tales of the weather and beautiful illustrations and Emma Bradshaw for her beautiful photo's which seem to capture the feeling of each season perfectly.

So that should keep you busy for a while and until my next post Merry Christmas (i know maybe it's too early but who cares?)

xxxx

Working 9 to 5 ....

2011-11-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

I just realised i never actually mention anything on here about what i do as a job or show you any work i have helped produce at the studio so i thought maybe its time i did.

Basically..........

I work in the animation industry in Soho London at a lovely company called Studioaka we produce idents, adverts and short films.

I studied at college to get into the industry through a diploma in foundation studies (art & design) and then onto a degree in Animation Arts. I wasn't always certain that i wanted to work in the animation industry, originally i wanted to be an illustrator but a very unproffessional (and looking back quite rude) tutor told me it was a dead end job, no prospects, no money and no life (which of course is not always the case)

So a anyway i ended up realising the college i wanted to go to, had an animation course on its list, so i went along to the open day, liked what i saw and the rest is history.

So since being here i have had a hand in helping with many idents adverts and short films that the studio has produced. Below is our latest Advert fot Statoil and in the words of my friend Marie Margaux-Tsakiri_Scanatovits.........

"A stunning 60 second spot, Directed by Studio AKA's David Prosser for the Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil. Commissioned by McCann Oslo, the piece is a magical combination of 3d animation with traditional 2d line work and beautifully artworked elements.

Set to music composed by Johann Johansson (of VARMINTS fame), the piece is set in a girl’s bedroom at storytime. As the father tells his story, his daughter starts her fantasy adventure on a journey through an animated underwater world to find treasure. The story ends back in her bedroom as the father says good night."

Client: Statoil
Agency: McCann Oslo
Director & Designer: David Prosser
Sound Design: David Kamp
Live action company – Trobbel Film
Music composer: Johann Johansson
Produced by Studio aka

Below are some more pieces that the studio released in the past few months for the Meth Project Website.
The Meth Project is an organization that concentrates on informational campaigns about crystal methamphetamine. The six short films produced by Studio Aka use real interviews and lovely animation to tell the tragic stories of previous meth addicts. I worked on 'Hailey'and 'Rochelle', doing hand drawn animation and using Flash and Photoshop.

Director: Grant Orchard

Created For THE METH PROJECT

Agency: ORGANIC INC.

Produced by Studio AKA.

Director: Grant Orchard

Created For THE METH PROJECT

Agency: ORGANIC INC.

Produced by Studio AKA.

I hope you enjoy them.

Gem

Shed Love

2011-11-22T07:06:00.000-08:00

As the mist rolls across the feilds in Southeast England and the sun sparkles on the dew drops that hang upon the leeks....

The flowers stretch as the sun struggles to penetrate the thick grey fog that hangs over us like a blanket.

Everything is winding down at the allotment, leaves tumble red and golden from the tree's and bushes...

But a new arrival has had us all excited and eager to spend time there...introducing our new shed...

I have kitted her out with trellis and a bird feeder...

Her shelves are stacked with our bits and bobs...

and on her makeshift hooks dry lavender and rosemary for tea ...

Two fruit crates i carried home from Berwick Street market house some of our bottles and peat pots ready for spring ....

and my new wellies now have a dry and hopefully bug free home.

She also houses our radio and my gardeners mug ready for that all important cuppa whilst we work away.

The mist and fog have lingered all week and is forcast to last for a few more days. I am feeling a little under the weather with headaches and an awful sore throat not to mention waking up every morning feeling as if i have done a round with Mike Tyson in my sleep!

Hot bath and bed early for me tonight i think...roll on hometime! :(
xxxx

The month of cold snaps..

2011-11-09T03:19:00.000-08:00

November, the month of cold snaps, wooly hats and long trailing scarves.
It has been a busy month so far, bonfires with the smell of woodsmoke, jacket potatoes and roasting chestnuts, melted marshmellows and warm spicy cider. I am feeling a little more christmassy too, with plans for some certain handmade bits and bobs for people for presents (i shall have to keep quite incase certain people read my blog!) but i have been sewing, tacking cutting and crocheting to my hearts content.

I have had commisions for illustrations all of which are not set in stone yet so i shall tell you more when they have been approved (i dont want to tempt fate)

The lady above is called Winter Wind and she was inspired by me reading folktales and legends on my train to and from work which somehow seem more relevent in the winter than the heat of midsummer. I hope to have a print of her available in my shop soon so please pop by and take a look.

On an exciting note i shall be having a shed delivered to our allotment tomorrow, nothing amazing in fact it doesn't even have a window but it will be somewhere to store all our tools, radio, wellies and seeds which currently reside in the boot of the car!
We are also planning to have a little gas stove and kettle down there to make ourselves a lovely pot of tea whilst we work. it's going to be a palace on a minature scale haha!

This dear old chap is called The Green man and shall also be joining my shop as a print to hang on your wall. You may remember him from one of my posts last year but i thought it was time he was shared with the world through Etsy.

This weekend i have the Armistice day celebrations on sunday in central london in which one of our friends fathers will be proudly marching in his uniform to us cheering him frm the sidelines followed by a hearty meal in a good old london pub and a few tipples to keep us warm.

I hope you have a good wekend and don't forget to remember our heroes on November the 11th, i already have a poppy proudly displayed on my coat and one of these snazzy wristbands ...

I shall leave you with this beautiful song ... happy Wednesday.

xxx

Snapshots of the past

2011-10-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

London is grey and dull today, the sky has an oppressive feeling to it like it is pushing down upon you.
I long for the bright crisp sunshine that we had early last week, the kind that makes every leaf turn golden and falls in streaks from the sky.

I found two old disposable cameras last night in the back of a drawer. I couldn't remember ever owning them or taking photos's with them so i decided to get them developed.

I had a strange uneasy feeling when i took them into snappy snaps a bit like discovering something unknown that you wished you had kept buried. I returned 2 hours later and discovered these little gems sitting in the envelope...

It was a camera from way back when i was about 15, the family had taken our first real trip abroad to Spain and we stayed in a lovely villa owned by someone we knew.
Looking at the photos transported me back to when i was a teenager, the feelings i had and how self conscious i felt about everything.

It's funny how images can stir emotians instantly like sounds or scents. I also realised that my hair reached down to my bum! I can still remember how everyone used to comment about it and how upset my dad was when i eventually got it cut to my shoulders, its also ironic that im now trying to grow it again, i guess its true what they say that you dont realise what you have until its gone.

The photo's had me smiling for hours bringing back memory upon memory and leaving a sad little hollow feeling to think that it has all passed and i will never again be 15. I am also glad in a way but i can honestly understand now why old people become sad when they remember times gone by and why to them the past will always remain "the good old days"

xx

Grey sky and a grey mood ...

2011-10-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'm going to sound like a moany grouchy old lady but it's cold! It's wet! and it's grey! all these things added together make me miserable.
Add to this the fact that my family are laying int the sun and swimming in the sea in a lovely hot country probably as i type this makes me feel even greyer on the inside than the weather. :(

As you probably guessed im a grouch!

It didn't help when a man (who i dont know) projectile vomitted up my leg yesterday whilst i was at the cashpoint withdrawing money! It was so surreal i nearly laughed until the fact i had sick running down my leg and in my boots made me gag and run back to the studio in such a hurry people were looking at me like i was a loony.

I'm hoping it may be a good omen of some kind,

I have been productive in between all this grouchiness though and added some lovely new items to my shop....

I have been producing these minature art pendants to be sold in my shop. Each one id hand carved out of Cherry wood ( by the talented Artbase on Etsy ) and filled with a minature print of one of my paintings.

So far i have Hannah and Ella listed but the other two are to follow shortly, they are priced at a reasonable £10.00 and come suspended on a 16inch silver plated curb chain.

I also listed some more original Aceo's. Tis time of Pierrot the clown... (sorry blurry photo!)

and Jack the pumpkin lantern...

and this chilly lady called the Snow Princess...

I would also like to say a massive thank you to the purchasers of my latest sales. I said goodbye to the little lady at the beginning of the month..

And this little creature was shipped off to the United States of America today to start its new life abroad...

Thank you very much to everyone who has purchased items from me, again i really do appreciate it and i still cant quite believe people like my artwork.
It is a massive joy to sell my pieces as every one of therm is thought through and lovingly painted or drawn with great care before i list it for sale i become slightly attached to each one so its so nice to say goodbye and ship them off knowing they are going to loving homes.

Until next time folks
Have a great evening
Gem
xxx

There is a change in the air....

2011-10-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

It's been very cold in the southeast of the UK these past three days. I have woken up to a slight frosting on the car windscreen and my allotment once flourishing and blooming now seems a little weather beaten and limp!

My walks to and from work have been bracing but as always its been a good excuse to pop into Starbucks and enjoy a much needed warming latte :)

The light however has been beautiful, sunrise on my train into London tints the sky a pink and golden hue. I do love this time of year its so magical and makes me wish i had a house to decorate accordingly.

The above drawing is called "The Village" and is newly available as a print at the teeny tiny price of £5.00 as of today.

On a different note the weekend is nearly upon us and i will be buying my first pumpkin of the year (as the allotment failed to yeald any) and making pumpkin soup with the innards and a lantern from the outers. We shall be visiting friends and family for dinners games and drinks and generally relaxing after a busy week. Roll on tomorrow i say!

Also thank you so much for all your lovely comments on here, its lovely to see people actually read my ramblings i appreciate each and every comment and message and i always want to do a little dance when i see that i have a comment waiting to read, so thanks guys for popping by and thanks for taking the time to write.. it means a lot :)

I am planning to do a little giveaway soon to celebrate the changing of the seasons so please keep popping back and please do enter.

Until then hugs from me to you xxx

Preperations and sunshine

2011-10-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

The weather has stayed uncharacteristically hot for this time of year, ice creams have been enjoyed in the heat of the allotment ... and bonfires and fireworks have been enjoyed on Hastings beach washed down with fish and chips and a mug of milky coffee...

Flowers and herbs are blooming late into the season and red admiral and cabbage white butterflies flick from bloom to bloom...

What little water we have had has decorated each leaf like crystal gems....

Our vintage radio has been blasting out the tunes whilst we work and we pile up the wood and folage in preperation for our Bonfire night celebrations on 5th Nov bonfire

But the summer still seems to be hanging on with an appearance of the sweetest bunch of grapes on our vine...

Not quite enough to make a bottle of wine from though! damn it :)

Hope you had a great weekend too
Gem
xxx

Tumbling leaves and local fairs...

2011-10-07T02:57:00.000-07:00

Oh well its officially Autumn!
I still can't quite believe the change in temperature from the scorching hot 30 degrees we had at the weekend to this windy and bracing weather.
Still its nice to think its now autumn, the season of jumpers, hats, hot chocolate, falling leaves and the colour yellow. I have yet to get my foraging head on and collect the chestnuts which will now be littering the lawns and paths of the countryside, i'm thinking of heading back here ... we had chestnuts for weeks after :)

I've been busy making jewellery, drawing, painting and crocheting hats and gloves ready for a craft fair i'm atending tomorrow in my local church. (please pop along if you are in the area of Gravesend) i'm on stall number 25 and it starts at 10am.

In other news i visited this exhibition of sculpture yesterday in London on Picadilly, it was great, i definately recommend it if you like to be up close and personal with the artwork as you can touch and wander around the peices as if they have always been there.

The above little lady is available in my shop...she is inspired by the change in seasons and costs a mere £13.50 for the original artwork, watercolour on paper...bargain i say! all my peices are priced the same £13.50 for orginals and £5.00 for molesking journals which have been illustrated by hand. I happily sold two more molesins the otherday and i jumped a little with joy, i still can't quite believe that people out there like my work enough to spend their hard earned cash on it so every sale is still a little overwhelming and terribly exciting...thank you so much guys i appreciate each and everyone of you who purchase little bits and bobs and without you i wouldn't have a shop.

Any how enough of my ramblings ... heres to a happy weekend hopefully full of mulled hot cider, roast dinners, grandparents and doodling.

Happy Autumn guys xxxx

Last weekend of the summer

2011-09-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Well not officially but for us our last camping trip away of the year symbolised the end of the British summer and the welcome of Autumn, the leaves had already begun to turn yellow and fall from the trees and the balckberries were withering on their spiky branches...

The weather was amazingly hot compared to what it has been this season, reaching a pleasant 25c in the sun...

Whitstable was packed full of tourists and day trippers eager to glimpse the sea on this balmy september weekend...

We ate a bbq'd dinner at the tent of local beef burgers, sausages, local king prawns and locally produced potatoes tomatoes, lettuce and onions...it was yummy!

Sunday saw the weather even warmer and i wished i had packed a dress instead of shorts!
(please excuse the funky coloured toenails, i had painted them red and taken off the nail varnish which left them a strange yellow colour! it looked like i chain smoked with my toes!)

There was posh men with very posh boats speeding about the shoreline ....

And we created our own mini art gallery on the wooden breakers from pebbles we drew on using a rusty nail and chalk stone we found on the beach.

We left the sea slowly rippling into shore with a heavy heart and headed home, our last weekend of summer and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

Gem
xxx

That Friday Feeling

2011-09-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

The day was fine and bright, a light pink hue tinges the sky as the sun begins to set over the rooftops of London.
Soon i shall be on my train home commuting for the hour it takes to arrive back in green bordered Kent, the home of Charles Dickens, Pocahontas and Peter Blake.
I love living in Kent, i can walk 10 minutes and instantly be surrounded by countryside, its green, pretty and quant and we also have the sea a 30minute drive away which is where i am heading tomorrow.
A much deserved break from the hectice social, family and work lives Ash and i have been dealing with this past month. A chance to be alone, and be quiet, enjoy each others company and just be ourselves for two days.

The lady above was inspired after watching the new Jane Eyre film out this month (its very good if you havent seen it) a real Bronte classic and actually my 2rd favourite story (The Ghost and Mrs Muir comes 1st and Rebecca comes third)
She's called woodland as she is alone amongst the tree's and i hope to have a painted version of her available as a print in my shop in the next few days...but until then here's the black and white version or the rough draft as i would say.

Happy weekend guys and welcome autumn as she seems to have spread her wings and made herself at home this month ready to stay :(

Big Hugs
Gem
xx

Make do & Mend

2011-09-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling a bit under the weather at the moment (which may explain my absence) , aches, sore throat and headaches to name a few ailments but beginning to feel a little better today. I went home early from work yesterday feeling extra rough, when i got in i had a bath, wrapped myself up in my pj's and sat down for the film 4 screening of Land Girls. I love this film!

I love the music, the fashion, the cars and most of all the actresses. I wish today's fashion was this feminine and glamourous!
Ok in the photos i have provided they all look filthy or scruffy but trust me they look gorgeous in most of the film even when they are milking cows and ploughing a field ...in a pink dress!

I've been feeling a little like make do & mend myself lately, having made my own jam from the greengages ash and i foraged for a few days ago, i have crocheted a new white hat for the winters arrival, been making plenty of mint tea's, and stuffed marrows from the allotment produce and ash has been brewing his own beer.
There is something very satisfying about producing and creating your own food, clothes and drink, it makes you feel useful and gives you a feeling of purpose i definitely recommend it!
Not sure what is next on my list of to do's but i will keep you posted.
I'm just glad we are halfway through the week ..........yipee!
Gem
x

I think Autumn has arrived

2011-08-30T01:36:00.000-07:00

It's grey and cloudy this morning, the wind is whipping like it's autumn, the leaves are quivering on the branches like they are about to fall and the birds are hiding amongst the bushes.

It has been a bank holiday here in the UK and i've spent most of it hulled up indoors listening to the rain pitter patter on the roof top and the wind tear the leaves from the tree's.

We made a stew using a recipe from Ashley's grandad, we used everything from out allotment, green beans, carrots, suede, corn, butternut squash, potatoes the only added item was the beef and the dumplings. It lasted us three days as we kept adding to it as it got gradually thicker and thicker.

I made greengage jam (two jar fulls) Ashley made spicy chutney which should be ready by Christmas along with our pickled onons we made a month ago, and i baked lemon and rosemary biscuits which we ate with chamomile tea and sweet coffee.

We went for a walk, watched two scary movies, and just generally chilled and relaxed. I haven't slept so much in ages.

On a different note....I added the above moleskin into my shop on Friday she is £5.00 and is giftwrapped and posted next day.

It definately feels like autumn now i even contmplated a scarf this morning. I think our summer has well and truly left us but at least we have a four day week ahead!

A challenge!

2011-08-19T03:15:00.000-07:00

Sunlight has broken through the thick clouds of yesterday and the sun is beaming down upon the little corner of London i call work, ita a beautiful day outside with clear blue skies and wispy white clouds and i am dressed in black tights and boots! dont you just love the unpredictability of the English weather it always manages to catch me unawares!

I have listed this watercolour of Oare Creek in Faversham that i painted back in May in my little shop this morning. New and exciting items to follow soon so please keep popping back to look, but i promise i'll always keep you updated with its progress.

In the meantime i have been having a serious think and decided to set myself a challenge. It's not going to be an extremely hard challenge but i feel it will be rewarding in the end, i was reminded by Dottie Angels blog and the challenge of the utmost kind. Now this is nowhere near as long it will only be for a month but i solemly swear not to buy any trivial or material item for myself or a loved one (unless its their birthday) for a whole month ...until the 20th of Sept! It may not seem that bad but this includes....

Clothing
coffee's (from coffee shops)
sweets
icecreams
cd's
mags
flowers
wool
books
pens
paper
art materials
lunches at work
dvd's
trips to the pub
hair accesories
cinema
evening meals out

Some of these items arent so bad but im going to find the coffee, mags, lunches and ice creams hard...but its just for a month and im sure i'll survive!

Lets see how it goes as it starts today...if you wish to join me please comment below....and link on your blog to this post the idea is to realise how much money is spent on trivial items that aren't really needed to have fun...like instead of visiting a coffee shop and paying for a cinema trip im going to try and go for walks, bike rides, trips to the seaside...free alternatives and take picnics, flasks of tea and coffee instead of a lunch or dinner out. i will update the blog with my free adventures and i'd love to hear back if anyone also takes part....

Well here it goes......i'll keep you posted with my progress and look forward to hearing from you!

Gem

The wind that whips and moans

2011-08-18T02:44:00.000-07:00

Today there is a cool crisp breeze that is ruffling my hair and whipping my ankles as i try to walk through Berwick Street market, the market men trying to hold onto their stock before it get carried away on the wind...

I have been knitting and cross stitching lately, making alphabet samples to hang above my bed and finishing off my long forgotten blanket (still not quite finished)

My days are long and cloudy and i have been drinking my fair share of tea and the odd frothy coffee, it feels a lot like autumn and im sad that summer is nearly over.

Im panning a bit of baking this weekend and a spot of gardening, dead heading flowers and weeding followed by courgette muffins and lemon and rosemary cookies, sounds good to me!

I hoping for a bit more sun as my body seems to be in hibernation mode.
The above painting is of the Isle of Wight, its Totland pier on Totland Bay. It is currently being renovated and this was painted back in the begining of July when the renovation had just started to take place. When i return next year i suppose it will look completely different to this.
There are some new listings in my shop, including the above. Please pop by for a look.

Gem
xxx

Time, where does it go?

2011-08-12T05:19:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since i posted here and so much has happened...
We have had terrible riots in London, shops houses and factories burnt to the ground, people mugged in the streets and firefighters attacked whilst trying to extinguish buildings. Thankfully everyone i know managed to escape any harm and i am truly grateful for that, Its frightening times to think these terrorists are our own youths, our own community turning on its neighbours, its sad and upsetting to realise that a minority feel that way, but not everyone has been cruel some times good comes from bad and there have been tales of communities coming together to help neighbours in distress cab drivers moving people from a to b for free and handy men helping the community for free, not everyone is bad and i have to rememeber that.

It has also been my 25th birthday and i have a lovely relaxing day. I have photos yet to upload but it seems time has managed to elude me so i have to make do with these ones saved on my work computer..

These are three new illustrations i have uploaded into my shop in the past week, they need loving homes and are watercolour poscard Aceo's.

I am also off camping this evening with good friends ...it shall be fun.
Keep an eye out in the sky too this weekend there is supposed to be hints of this over the weekend.
Have a lovely weekend and fingers crossed for good weather
Gem
xx

Feeling hot hot hot

2011-08-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

It has been seriously hot here in the southeast and London feels as if someone has put it in the oven on high! I have been wilting on the trains to and from work and the air con in the studio has been on full whack!

This hot weather has produced beautiful evenings though and i managed to sit around last night until 11pm in my nightie and a dressing gown with candles and a bottle of rose in the garden it was bliss!

The allotment has been loving the weather and we have seen record numbers of veg sprouting from every corner. (the above photo is a month old, it looks like jurassic park at the moment down there and not as neat and orderly as this old photo)

Below is part of our bumper crop which we speedily ate on sunday to accompany our roast dinner. It was a massive mountain of greenery topped by homemade yorkshire puds

and we seem to have created a marrow from a courgette plant it has to be at least 12 inches long its massive! i have never seen such a large courgette in all my life.

On a different note things are feeling a little better now both Ash and i have accepted our new found situation and we have come to realise that money is nothing compared to friends and family. We are still smiling and still happily together and keeping our dreams on hold for a few months longer.

We will have to see what the future holds and as they say good things come to those who wait so my fingers are crossed.
I'ts also my birthday this weekend when i turn the grand old age of 25, we have antiques browsing in Rye and fish and Chips on the beach at Dungeness on the list of t do's so im hoping it stays lovey and hot.
I hope you are all enjoying this lovely hot weather. Im off to a dance class tonight in this blistering heat lets hope i dont keel over and faint ha!

Ciao for now xxx

Remembering

2011-07-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

It's sad when you return home from a holiday but it's even worse when your heart and mind don't return home with you. You spend day after day trying to reconnect with the busy London world in which you thought you were used to. The rushing traffic, smell of food and impatient tourists all whizz past in a blur of reds and blues whlist you stand there dreaming of your feet on the beach and the sound of the wind in the trees which is completely drowned out by the London taxi drivers hooting their horns at the pedestrians.

You can remember so clearly the feel of the pebbles and sand, the warmth of the sun on your skin only blocked by the occasional cloud and not high rise concrete buildings.
You can imagine the sound of the seagulls and the crash of the waves.

The smell of seaweed and suncream and your heart gives a lurch because deep down you know you would do anything to return, anything not to have to commute on a stinking train full of sweaty bodies and mp3 players buzzing by your ears...to walk relax and breathe in fresh clean air, to drive 5minutes down a winding country lane and be at the sea or look out the window and see nothing but rolling fields.

But i guess as the saying goes...good things come to those who wait...

So i guess ill just keep on waiting...and wishing... dreaming and saving....

And then one day it could be mine too and not just a holiday destination once a year, it could be my home and i would never have to leave it....

But for now it's just a holiday, and i can only live here for two weeks in a tent under the stars and the giant white clear moon....

But at least i'm lucky enough to get that.
And so its back to reality and back to the rushing, hustle bustle and daily grind of commting. Until next year i guess.
But maybe one day......

Hold on tight...

2011-07-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

Been back nearly a week now from holiday and things seem to ahve taken a strange and uncertain turn.
The kind of turn that leaves a dull ache where excitement used to hang around and makes your dreams lucid and frighteningly real.

I keep telling myself that maybe things are changing to bring new and wondeful things our way and i hope i am right.

I feel a bit lost, a bit overwhelmed and things seem to be spinning out of my reach and dragging my dreams further away with them.

But for now Ash and i are holding on tight for the ride, we have each other and i guess sometimes that is all that matters.

x

The time has come the walrus said, to talk of many things...

2011-07-01T01:43:00.000-07:00

Wow it's been many moons since i have posted on her! life's been a little busy. I have lots of photos of the allotment and all its wonders but for now i have something else to announce. Im going on holiday!!!! yes its that time of year again...to head off camping with my little tent and all my worldly belongings to sleep under canvas for 2 whole weeks! i will be staying on the pitch with the blue car parked on it (he wont be there when we arrive) and i get to wake up to that view everymorning!

It is such a pretty campsite full of apple tree's and flowers. There is no bar or social club just two pools a snooker room and a small shop on site for essentials and sweets. I have been going there ever since i was about 7 so for me its a little home from home.
Where is it in the world?? well its here of course ....

The beautiful Isle of Wight. So tonight im off to pack my books, paints, camera, crochet and not forgetting clothes! :D

For 2weeks of doing well pretty much noting apart from relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery the small island has to offer.
Cheerio folks, see you in two whole weeks!
Gem
xxxx

Lost for words...

2011-06-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little bit down today, not sure why,

So i'm afraid im not all that good at talking today so i decided to give you a glimpse of my work desk here at the studio for today ....

With pretty Sweet William flowers adding a splash of colour to a dull grey and rainy Thursday.

I've added this pretty and mysterious woman to my etsy shop today, she's an origonal Aceo on watercolour paper and her name is the Tarot Reader.

Roll on the weekend!
Happy Thursday guys and may your day be a little cheerier than mine
Hugs
Gem
x

How to pass the time

2011-06-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

New updates in the shop...check out the new tab saying illutrations on the right hand side of the page to link you directly there.

And this is a random page from my jounal for this month...nothing serious just random doodles when i'm on the train.

It's easy to pass the time when you draw and easy to forget where you are and the fact that you are humming quite loudly to Kings of Leon which you happen to be listening to through earphones and that the rest of the carraige is staring at you weirdly like you have just been let out of a mental asylum....oh well! ha!

Reading a great book at the moment called Sepulchre by Kate Mosse if you get a chance google it...its brillient if you like history, anything french and a little bit of mystery and horror!

I cant wait until my journey to and from work so i can read whats gonna happen next...i know...saddo! :)

Happy Tuesday guys
Gem
xxx

Summer is in the air...

2011-06-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Wow can you believe it, its the 1st of June already! where does the time go? it will soon be mid summer and ill be cracking out the bikini and sun tan lotion :D

Its been busy in my world just lately the allotment has gone wild and we have been harvesting strawberries, lettuces, spinach, radishes, peas and strawberries almost daily. We havent needed to buy salad once in the shops and it makes me feel so smug chomping on my home grown produce at work! (sad huh?)

Its also been busy in my little studio shop...i have added these items today to its invisible shelves and they are looking for new loving homes to go too.

I sure am glad its summer now though..more camping and eating al fresco..more swimming, and running around barefoot! (I wish i could permenantly run about barefoot but not everyone likes feet i guess :D)

oh and guess what my birthday also happens to fall in the summer (maybe thats just another reason why i love it so much? ha!)

The weather has been gloriously hot here in central london today..almost like a heatwave...i sat in the park on my lunch with the company of the pidgeons and read a book in the sun ahh bliss

Hope your week is going well?
big hugs
Gem
xx

When it rains .... it pours

2011-05-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

The weather has been so strange here today, one minute bright sunshine and the next torrential downpours, it makes me so confused as what to wear, today i decided on a skirt and flip flops...oh well i guess i got that wrong! But so far i have managed to dodge the showers and keep my toes dry much to my pleasure!

I have added two new illustrations to my Etsy shop and these two are originals. They are available here and are painted onto watercolour postacrds so can either be framed kept or sent depending on your wish.

She like to paint the world around her with the brushes in her hair.

This ACEO is painted onto a watercolour postcard approx 15 x 10 cm using stabilo pens a wash brush and Staedtlerpigment liner permenant.

It comes packaged in a card backed envelope and is wrapped in protective paper.
Signed and dated on the back it comes ready for framing or sending to a loved one.

Mona isn't like the other girls,

This ACEO is painted onto a watercolour postcard approx 15 x 10 cm using stabilo pens a wash brush and Staedtlerpigment liner permenant.

It comes packaged in a card backed envelope and is wrapped in protective paper.
Signed and dated on the back it comes ready for framing or sending to a loved one.

Im listening to the new Noah and the whale album and it makes me feel like spring! Heres a sneak peek at one of the songs...hope you like it :)
Gem
x

Good news...

2011-05-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

Good day folks, and how are you all?
I had a scrap of good news over the weekend...my new shop i opened selling illustrations and altered moleskin journals had its very first sale of 4 ...yes thats right FOUR items!

So i packaged up a Porphyria print and the three mini moleskins, wrapped them in pretty pink paper, added a few business cards in and waved goodbye to them at my local post office.

I absolutely loved making these little journals, and if you liked them too don't fret i have made another which is now for sale in my shop....along side this quirky illustration of wigs..

Please pop by for a gander you can find it here.

On a slightly different note i have also been featured on This is Your Kingdom, a lovely little website featuring fun things to see do and buy around Britain. Here's my article on The Neptune pub in Whitstable.
and that's all for now folks i'm afraid :(

Sorry its been short and sweet..
Happy Tuesday
Gem
x

A Sunday Stroll

2011-05-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well we are back from our holiday to Cyprus,it was beautiful and very touching but a very busy and tiring week. We arrived home to a sunny England on Wednesday so went back to work for Thursday and Friday and then the weekend arrived. I missed the English countryside whilst we were away so decided to make the most of it now we are back so we took a stroll with friends through Shipbourne and Ightham on a three mile walk which of course ended in a pub! :D

Then we spent the evening on the allotment pruning, weeding and planting in the sunshine, a perfect end to a perfect day.

How are all of you?
Have a great week guys
Gew :)
xx

When we are busy we long for some time...

2011-05-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hello! Im back from a hectic few days and i have at least another 2weeks of hecticness left before i can take a sigh of relief (grumble, grumble, moan, moan!)
How did you enjoy the Royal wedding? Did you watch it?
I rushed home from our camping trip at Whitstable and sat glued in front of the tv for the full hour with a cup of tea whilst Ash ran away at full speed to the allotment to escape any kind of ooh's or ahh's coming from my direction.
I loved her dress and the choir were amazing...but enough i hear you scream so i shall keep quiet about the royals and instead tell you what i have been up to in the week i was away...

Well first off we camped in whitstable for a week,
we walked,
drank coffee,
bbq'd,
went cockling (and i got blown over in the wind! it was not funny at all!)
visited Oare and took pictures of mating dragonflies
went to pubs
drank far too much
sunbathed
painted
and read

Then we came back home for the second bank holiday weekend and attended our friends wedding in East Malling which was beautiful, with Pimms and Croquet on the lawn of a stately home and Wedding Breakfast in the portrait hall. It was a real English affair and the weather stayed glorious. I of course have lots of photos of everything which i shall be uploading soon but for now i wanted to show you what has been happening in my Etsy shop of Illustrations...
Here's a few new items that have been listed lately...

Inspired by Robert Brownings poem Porphyrias Lover,

"That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain. "

Printed on Epsom photo quality paper it comes packaged in a card backed envelope and is wrapped in protective paper.
Signed and dated on the back it comes ready for framing.

These twins share everyhting, even their hair!

This is a copy of an original watercolour on watercolour postcard. The print comes packaged in a cardboard backed envelope and is wrapped in protective paper and posted next day.Printed onto Epsom photo qulaity paper the print comes signed and dated on the back and ready to frame.

Cordelia likes to sing, she likes to socialise and has a collection of dried beetle wings in her jewellery box.

This print comes packaged in a hard card backed envelope and is wrapped in protective paper and posted next day.
This print is printed on Esom photo qulaity paper and is signed and dated on the back and comes ready for framing.

Inspired by Alfred Lord Tennysons poem The Lady of Shalott this is a print of an original watercolour on a watercolour postcard...

"And by the moon the reaper weary,
Piling sheaves in uplands airy,
Listening, whispers, " 'Tis the fairy
Lady of Shalott."

Printed on Epsom phot quality paper and posted in a card backed and wrapped in protective paper the print comes signed and dated on the back and is posted next day.

The girl she had ships that sailed through her hair.
This mini moleskin journal measures 14cm high by 9cm wide. It is illustrated in black permenant staedtler pigment liner and shaded in pencil.
It is signed and dated on the reverse.

It comes wrapped in protective paper and posted next day from my local post office

I have always imagined that paradise would be a kind of library" Jorge Luis Borges

This mini moleskin journal measures 14cm high by 9cm wide. It is illustrated in black permenant staedtler pigment liner and shaded in pencil.
It is signed and dated on the reverse.
It comes wrapped in protective paper and posted next day from my local post office.

Ypu can find them all HERE at my etsy shop.

So there you go....
Sorry for such a long and drawn out post.
I promise to return soon with a much shorter post and lots more photos :)
Happy Wednesday (dont ya just love short weeks!)
Gem
xxx

How to spend a Sunday Afternoon....

2011-04-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Take a beach...

One bottle of Alcoholic Ginger beer...

Mix in a little scenery...

Add a few burgers and sausages bbq'd on the beach..

Add a few rolling waves and salty water...

and you have the perfect weekend!
Well for me and Mr Ash its as near to perfect as we can manage :)

Happy Tuesday guys and bring on the long weekend!
I shall be camping from friday until the following Friday, at whitstable (where these photos were taken) i'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the weather is this good all week for us.
Hope you have a great Easter weekend full of chocolate, bunnies, rabbits and eggs :)

Hugs Gem
xxxx

Illustration Friday

2011-04-15T01:59:00.000-07:00

Good moring folks,
Wow it is finally friday. This week seems to have dragged (probably not helped by the fact i have felt like poo with thumping headaches and a razor sore throat for most of it but hey!)
But i am starting to feel a little better now though.
I have lots of lovely photos which i promise to upload this weekend from last weekend. Mr ash and i went to Whitstable on sunday to enjoy the hot weather. We bought a disposible bbq and bbq'd sausages and burgers on the beach whilst drinking crabbies alcoholic ginger beer (well he was driving so he had orange squash haha!)
but unfortunately you will have to wait for the photos as they are all at home on my camera and i am in the studio today.
But i can upload my illustration for illustration friday ......
The topic is BOTTLED

She is just a quick pen and wash picture on a watercolour postcard.
I hope all is well in your worlds?
Have a great weekend and maybe if we all cross our fingers and hope really hard the warm spring weather may return as its freezing here in london this morning :(
Happy Friday folks
Gem
xxxx

oh and p.s i've discovered this amazing online mag Amelia's, definately worth a read if you have a spare few hours to kill .

A little bit of fun

2011-04-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a little bit of randomness that i found over at Coco Rose Textiles (if you read consider yourself tagged) and then you have to play along too...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6.45 (too early!)

2. How do you like your steak? medium rare..i like a teeny bit of blood

3. What was the last film you saw in the Cinema? RANGO t'was funny

4. What is your favourite tv show? any kinda period drama

5. Where would you like to live if you could choose anywhere in the world? Cornwall, Isle of Wight or Whitstable.

6. What did you have for breakfast? a cuppa tea and a bowl of Dorset Cereal.

7. What is your favourite cuisine? hmmm probably Thai but nothing beats a good old Roast dinner

8. What food do you dislike? Salty Jelly Eurgh! (the kind on ham and pork pies)

9. Place to eat? Al fresco.

10. Most annoying habit? I never know when to shut up .. ever!

11. you are....? 25 years old and short

12. Favourite clothes? has to be a thick knitted aaron cardigan that i bought in the winter and everytime i put it on i just want to curl in a ball and sleep

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? I would love to go to Venice, Florence and the Greek Islands.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Always 1/2 full.

15. Where would you want to retire? somewhere by the coast

16. Favourite time of day? Im an evening kind of girly, i love it around 7pm in the summer when the suns setting and the temperature drops.

17. Where were you born? Kent

18. What is your favourite sport to watch? I love Tennis because i know summers arrived then

19. Bird Watcher? Yeah, but not intentionally.

20. Morning person or night person? Definitely night.

21. Do you have any pets? No but i really really want a wee scruffy dog of my own!

22. What did you want to be when you were little? I wanted to be a famous artist, and then in my teens when i used to go dancing i wanted to be a stage show dancer.

23. What is your best childhood memory? Going away in the caravan with my mum dad sister and two dogs to the Isle of Wight

24. Cat or dog person? Dog.

25. Married? No engaged.

26. Always wear your seatbelt? Yeah it's like auto pilot.

27. Been in a car accident? Nope (fingers crossed)

28. Any pet peeves? Yeah...people who push in at a queue, people who talk at the cinema, people who open the windows on the train even though they have 10 coats on and a scarf..the rest of us are freezing!

29. Favourite pizza topping? ham and pineapple.

30. Favourite flower? Daisy!

31. Favourite ice cream? mint choc chip

32. How many times did you fail your driving test? twice...at the same corner with the same bloody van!

33. From whom did you get your last email? My Pappa

34. Do anything spontaneous lately? Bought a t shirt (trust me spending money on clothes is just not me, im not your average woman!)

35. Like your job? Yep

36. Which store would you use to max out your credit card? ooooooh..errrrr well i dont usually like spending loadsa money but if i had to then it would be....White Stuff

37. Broccoli? mmm yes please :)

38. Favourite vacation? Always Camping ...anywhere as long as the sea's nearby.

39. Last person you went out to dinner with? Mr Ash

40. What are you listening to right now? Bat for Lashes "Prescilla"

41. Favourite colour? Mint green

42. How many tattoos do you have? None..... but thinking of getting one! ?

43. How many are you tagging for this quiz? Anyone who reads it..

44. Coffee drinker? more of a tea lass

45. Smoker? No Never.

46. Irritating habit? Talk too much, and peeling the labels of my bottles of drink,

47. Guilty pleasure? Ice cream.

48. Frustrated...? Nah...im too laid back to get frustrated with anything, i just get frustrated with people in general

49. Favourite game? I used to love a game that my parents invented called Sheep, we played it whenever we went to romney marsh (which is running alive in the breed of romney sheep) to keep me and my sister occupied we had to shout sheep whenever we saw one, which of course was every second we were driving along, we would shout sheep so many times our throats grew sore and we tired ourselves out laughing.

50. Coast or inland? what do you think? has to be Coast!

Let me know when you post your answers .. im intrigued :)
Gem
x

A town they call Gravesend

2011-04-08T01:34:00.000-07:00

Come and walk with me around the town where i live...
Blossom sprouts like paper flowers on the branches

The ancient tree's make patterns in the sky,

We can follow Rouge lane full of pretty cottages and window boxes to the top of the hill,

If we keep walking, we can follow the passing planes in the sky as we climb higher and higher,

Until we reach the very top of Windmill Hill, from where you can see the Thames winding its way towards London, you can see the Thurrock bridge stretch its way across it over onto Essex and far off in the distance you can make out the small speck of Canary Wharf blinking into the sky.

Happy weekend guys enjoy the sunshine :) x

Illustration Friday

2011-04-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

My Illustration of "toy" for Illustration Friday .

Had a strange day yesterday, lots of bad news and tears. Then i watched this on tv, anyone else see it? geez i kinda wished i hadn't, it was brilliant and gripping but upsetting and now i cant stop thinking about it!

oh well, better snap out of it the weekend is a few hours away :)

Gem

x

Oh sunshine....

2011-03-31T04:33:00.000-07:00

Oh sunshine you do make me happy! especially when i have a flask of tea...

Some funky coloured wellies ....

A very comfortable bench (hand built out of a crate!)....

and a good view....oh the allotment looks nice too huh? :)

Nothing makes me happier than pottering around on the allotment in the sunshine on a weekend, oh but painting both my toe nails and finger nails a blood red (courtesy of Red Magazine free polish) comes a close second :)
What makes you happy?
Gem
x

A Mini Adventure to Brooklands

2011-03-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well early Sunday morning (and i mean early as the clocks went back! argh so i lost 1hour of precious beauty sleep!) we set off in the motor to a mini meet at Clackett Lane services just outside London.
We turned up to rows and rows of fancy pretty and downright gorgeous mini's! (oh p.s mines the black one above but she didnt look this shiny after a day at the race track)

After admiring a few of them and saying hello to the other mini peeps we all got in the cars and headed off in a massive line of 25-ish mini's down the M25 (much to the annoyance of the lorry drivers and van drivers)

after a good hours drive we ended up at the famous Brooklands race track. In a steady stream we all piled in and realised when we wern't the only mini group to be attending. There was the kent mini group, bmw mini group and other groups dotted here and there with their stands and stalls selling bits and bobs.

The racetrack is so famous because it was the first racetrack to have ever been built in the world. It stands on what was once a giant estate with a large manor house in its centre which was demolished in the 1800's to create the famous circular banking track and beautiful club house. But that isn't all of what Brooklands is famous for. It is also famous for building many fighter planes, jets and parts of concorde. In fact Concorde's most intellegent peices such as the nose the drivers cabin and the first few meters of the front were built and esembled on site.
It also has the worlds first ticket office below.....(cute huh?)

Sadly the race track closed in 1939 and only a portion of the track remains to be seen.

But there are so many planes that you can walk inside and have a nosey at

and of course they have a fully fledged concorde on site, the second one in fact to have been built and you can go on board that too!

Up close you can really understand what all the fuss was about...it is beautiful (if you can call a plane that!)

everything has its original charm and old fashioned glamour that it would of had back in the days of the races.

and amongst the masses of cars you can look at is B.A.B.S special because she was buried in the sand at pendine for 40 years after overturning and decapitating her driver Parry Thomas at the speed of 170mph in the year 1926. 40 years later she was dug up and renovated as a tribute to her driver and his life.

here's an old RAC motor bike and side car from the 60's

and back outside in the stands was this funny little mini clubman all packed up and ready for a holiday :)

and of course you had to have a race if you were going to a race course so on test hill the mini's gathered ready to flaw it up the hill (which is really quite steep) in hopes of making it to the top in the fastest time without slowing down or misfiring.

All in all it was a great day and my mind feels slightly swollen with all the information i learnt whilst i was there. It is definately worth a visit and the coffee shop sell gorgeous cakes and tea haha!
Happy Tuesday guys
How was your weekend?
Gem
xxx

Come to the fair!

2011-03-24T02:33:00.000-07:00

Well long time no post huh?

But i do have some grand news to tell you...as you may have seen Country living magazine is hosting its annual spring fair in Islington at the design museum this week. It began yesterday and opened its doors to hundreds of shoppers and prettily dressed ladies and displayed its 400 hundred stalls with pride. Well a few weeks back i entered a giveaway on this blog the beautiful Sea garden blog of Christine Nullmeyers to win two tickets to this years spring fair and guess what i won!
I was so excited..so Ash and i booked a half day each at work and i dragged him along to Islington with me to attend the fair and meet Christine herself as she is exhibiting there.

Well the fair was amazing! I could have spent my lifes savings all under one roof, they had bikes, bed sheets, garden bits, plants, clothing, jewellery, paintings, sculptures, pottery, cutlery, food, furniture, and much much more but in the end i settled for antique sugar spoons, an antique milk jug and a beautiful light catcher from the sea garden stall.

I eventually found Christines little stall amidst the crowds of people and i shuffled my way forward to say hello, i was very nervous and a little scared of meeting someone who's blog i love to read face to face but in person she is a sweet natured beautiful lady. I also met two other ladies who help to run the shop and exhibit their products and art inside and they too were so friendly and sweet. It is so nice to meet people in real life and they are exactly how you would imagine them to be.
So i would like to say a big big thank you to Christine once again for the tickets and for a very warm welcome at the fair. It was lovely to meet you all face to face and my beautiful heart light catcher now has pride of place in my bedroom window.

Whilst we were there i also signed up and joined Woodland Trust which is saving and preserving our endangered ancient woodlands and forests. It is a great cause and you get a tree planted in your name in the woodland which is closest to your home so you can visit it and watch it grow, you may even want to hug it now and again ha ha! You also recieve news about plants and different species you can see in each woodland and news on how they are planting more tree's in hopes of joining the remianing spaces together to re create the ancient woodland enviroment we once had across the British Isles. (oh spring and nature watch are involved in the campaign too which means Ash gets to see a lot more of Kate Humble which makes him happy :D)
Unfortunately we forgot my camera which i was most upset about as everytime i turned around there was something beautiful i was wishing i could have photographed! But if you dont believe me pop along yourself. The fair is on until sunday and you can buy your tickets here...
But be warned you will end up spending lots of money on beautiful items as the place is like Aladdin's cave! :)

All in all it was a grand day out and i promise to return soon with some photos of my own and not press images from the country living magazine like today
Big hugs
Gem
x

It's up and running!

2011-03-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

Ok here goes nothing...i've opened an Etsy shop full of my drawings and paintings....im keeping my fingers toes and eyes crossed it works out ok.
If you fancy a look just click this LINK.
Here's a sneak peek of what's inside. :)

There will be more to follow..
Let me know what you think.
Happy Monday guys...
Gem
x

The Village that they call Upnor....

2011-03-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Along the banks of the river Medway sits a tiny little village called Upnor. It consists of a cobbled road which leads down to the river and a small sandy beach. The houses range in age from medievel to victorian and when you look closely you can see hints of their past usage. I have read that in the victorian times a small wooden pier was erected by the Norman Castle at the end of the street and day trppers would descend upon the village as a retreat and buy gifts from the small shops which dotted the road, paddle in the sea and sunbathe on the sand.
Now it sits queitly by the side of the river just a distant memory of its colorful past, the shops which once sold confectionary and gifts are now houses and the wooden pier has long since crumbled into the river but it still holds the attraction that once brought crowds to its beach.
Its a little time capsule amongst a built up and ever changing medway and i love it!

Gem
xx

The adultress..

2011-03-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

I watch from the window,

and await his return,

He's been gone for so long,

His absence stings like a burn.

I've forgotten his face,

and the colour of his hair,

If you look there's no trace,

Of where he once used to roam.

Seven years i have waited,

By the window day and night,

As the seasons have passed,

From green to brown then to white.

But i fear for his absence,

As i know he wont come back,

For i pushed him too hard,

Until his heart, it did crack.

He had seen in my face,

The betrayel i had made,

So he packed up his bags,

and left a note where he laid.

Now i wait every day,

Hoping he will return,

He's been gone for so long,

His absence stings like a burn.

Gemma Mortlock 2011

Wednesdays child was full of woe

2011-03-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

London skyline in the evening.

I was born on a wednesday back in 1986......but i wouldn't call myself woeful!
What day was you born on?
Its very cold today but the sun has finally appeared.
I have eaten a massive slice of lasagne for lunch and i think i'll be full until tomorrow :)
Had another bad dream last night and woke up panicked...i wonder whats troubling me?

Re-discovered these amazing ladies from my childhood...they endlessly inspired me for years.
and realised i actually dont mind Nirvana!

Happy wednesday guys
Gem
x

Pinch punch 1st day of the month!

2011-03-01T02:10:00.000-08:00

(designs for initial postcards for new shop)

Bad day....
Spilt porridge down my black top and got whistled at by a rather hairy wrinkly old man on a market stall...
Do i look like i am on the lookout for an older man about to take his pension who gets free bus travel?
I dont think so!
Been watching a bit of this to try and fill my brain with artistic and interesting knowledge and listening to this song which transports me to the cornish coast in summer :)

Yesterday was the 3year anniversary of the Ash and i's engagement. He bought me a lovely bunch of pink and red roses and a bottle of rose champagne....which made me a very happy lady indeed. He also managed to snaffle himself a copy of Inception amidst all that romance so that was our evening sorted.
Have any of you seen inception?
What was your views on it?

Its cold and grey here in London today and the studio is freezing!
I want to hibernate and wake up mid April...i am definately a summer girly.
Hugs
Gem
x

The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees.....

2011-02-24T01:47:00.000-08:00

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
"The Highwayman" alfred Noyles
I love a good poem, the more depressing & gory the plot the better. My favourite poems at school were always the Victorian romatics especially the women writers. Dont get me wrong i dont like a depressing poem there has to be an element of romance in it but an underlying tone of sadness or tragedy always goes down well with me! :)
That's why on of my favourite poems is The Highwayman by Alfred Noyles. If you are not into reading then here is a brilliant version put to music by the talented Loreena Mckennit.
I had an idea of creating ACEO's of my favourite literary characters to maybe create prints of to include in my new shop (only the ones surrounded by despair and doom though!)
so here is my version of Bess and the Highwaymen (above)

And below is my interpretation of King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot from the Arthurian legend of the Knights of the round table.

Guinevere King Arthur

Lancelot
For those of you who don't know what on earth i am talking about here's a link to an overview of the legend.
But in a quick synopsis, King Arthur ruled over a kingdom supposedly located in cornwall called Camelot. He was married to the beautiful Queen Guinevere and he created a powerful army of knights known as the Kinights of the round table.
One of these knights was called Lancelot and he was a good friend of the kings since childhood. He was handsome and dashing but he fell madly in love with the kings wife Guinevere. She returned Lancelots feelings and they had a secret passionate affair for many years. Eventually King Arthur discovered Lancelot and Guinevere's betrayel and it ultimatley led to the downfall of the the kingdom of Camelot.

Another famous poem and my all time favourite is The Lady of Shallot by Alfred Tennyson. This is based within the realm of Camelot and features a woman secluded in a tower who falls for the good looks of Lancelot as he passes by her window and risks her life in trying to meet him.

Meanwhile...
I have also been designing moleskin journals to pop alongside the illustrations in my new shop.
Here;s a sneaky peek......

So that's all for now folks..
Im going to enjoy the spring weather today and make the most of the sunshine :)
What are you all up to?
Happy Thursday
Gem
xxx

Absence makes the heart grow fonder....

2011-02-22T09:50:00.000-08:00

Absence makes the heart grow fonder they say...but i apologise anyway for the lengthy time away from the blogging world.
I have been meaning to write a really great meaningful post honest i have, but everytime i tried i just couldn't think of anything to write or photograph.
Then when i did eventually go out to Ightham at the weekend camera in tow ready to snap the pretty timbered cottages that line the village the bloody battery died after one photo so i was resigned to sulking with a lager and lime and a bowl of hot chips in the George and Dragon pub instead :D

What can i say about the weeks i have been away? nothing much really i'm afraid, just up to my knee's in dirt at the allotment how glamorous!
I have however had an idea to open another shop on Etsy selling illustrations and greetings cards.
It's just an idea at the moment but what do you think? If it doesn't work out i have lost nothing but i thought it may be worth a try.
I have produced these four ladies so far..they are ACEO's 15cm x 10cm and painted using pen and wash on watercolour postcards.
They will be some of the first pieces to line the imaginary online shelves when it is launched but until now i am just trying to stock up on pieces to include.

How's the weather where you are?
It's been freezing here i'll be glad when spring arrives :)
Big Hugs
Gem
xxx

What a difference a few weeks makes ...

2011-02-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

A few weeks later and what was once a weedy grassy mess is now ordered and de-weeded beds ready for planting and growing.

We have planted a rasberry bush, grape vine and pea shoots and built a mini makeshift green house.

It took us hours of back breaking work, sweat and lots of flasks of tea but finally we have cleared a third and part cleared the rambling blackberry bushes at the back of the plot.

Who needs the gym when you have an allotment? :)
I cant wait until the summer and we can start harvesting and all our hard work will seem worthwhile but until then it's back to the hard graft and building up those muscles :D

How was your weekend spent?
Gem
xxx

How i spent my Sunday...

2011-01-31T04:25:00.000-08:00

My sister got the keys to her first house at the weekend so on Sunday we ventured round with rubber gloves, dusters, mops and a bucket full of bleach. We scrubbed, cleaned polished and dusted until my hands were sore, but she did keep me topped up with tea :)

Needless to say the house now looks lovely and they are setting to work on a new kitchen and bathroom asap.
We toasted for a long and happy life in the house with glasses of Asti and then settled down to a hearty roast dinner at my parents ;)

Between cleaning scrubbing and eating i managed to fit in a few hours of my most favourite film in the world!
Whilst ironing of course ha!
Here's the trailer...

Im begining to feel a little like a house wife and im not even the one with the new house!

If you fancy a downright old fashioned romantic film with a hint of a dashing foul mouthed sailor and a beautiful sea fronted house then you cant get much better than this!

Gem
x

An afternoon in Rochester..

2011-01-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

Rochester on the banks of the river medway is a quant little city. It is classed as a city because it has its own catherdral towering over the small victorian highstreet.

The history of the cathedral pre dates the city and this park called the vines used to be home to the vineyard for the monks who lived in the cloisters which are now ruins in the cathedral garden.

For any movie buffs out there this house was the setting for the 1946 film Great Expectations based on the novel by Charles dickens and starring John Mills. This was Miss Havershams house in the film in which she dies.

and talking of Charles Dickens this house along the highstreet houses Charles Dickens writing hut in the garden which used to stand in his former home Gads Hill and in which he wrote many of his best selling novels.

and the whole trip was topped off with the best coffee and toasted panini in kent...Tony Lorenzo's!
A day well spent i think :)

xxxx

If dreams were stories ..

2011-01-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

If dreams were stories then i could write a whole volume of tales based enitirely on the goings on in my head when i shut my eyes.

It doesn't happen all the time but now and again i will have the most vivid dream which when i am in it makes complete sense but after i wake seems almost laughable.

I had a dream last night that i was lost in the woods. I had been walking for hours but couldn't find my way out.
I walked and walked and my feet became so sore i took off my shoes.
Eventually i stumbled upon a small bungalow type house set back in a clearing. It was covered in vines and ivy and looked derelict and i suddenly realised this was the place i was looking for (even though i wasnt entirely sure why) So i walked barefooted towards the bungalow and knocked.
The door creaked open to reveal a hallway covered in filth. Dirt streaked the walls and the carpet was brown and sticky with grime.

Barefooted i continued to walk through the hallway towards a door at the back which stood ajar.
Pushing the second door open revealed a little old lady bent over with arthritus and filthy with dirt. She had cataracts in both eyes and no teeth in her head. She seemed overjoyed to see me and kept trying to grab me as i moved slowly backwards trying to avoid her. She told me to sit down on a stianed wooden armchair so i gingerly perched on the edge, i started to ask her if there was anything i could get her such as food or clothing but she was insitent that she had everything she needed her in the house and was just pleased that i had turned up at last. I asked again if i could get her any alcohol and that was when she told me she was drinking aphid gin.
She handed me a bottle with a green liquid in and told me to try it. I sensed it was nasty stuff so refused and she showed me how she made it. In the corner of her room was a press in which hundreds of green aphids were being pressed and their juice distilled into green gin.
She swore it made her healthy and smiled to reveal a mouth full of decaying gums.

I woke up confused and a little troubled. I could still feel her clammy grip on my hands and smell the foul stench of her house. Looking back now it is funny and strange but at the time very troubling.
I have a feeling if i tried it would make a pretty good story but for now im a little too freaked out to even try :)

Gem
xxx

A little bit of history for you...

2011-01-26T06:41:00.000-08:00

Ever had that feeling that you want to escape, not to run away from people or events but just to take some time out and be alone, to walk, think and do exactly what you want to do when you want to do it?
To only take a minimum amount of things with you and to set off on the biggest adventure of your life.
People do it all the time, they take gap years and years out to discover and travel but i wouldnt want to travel with a backpack or sample the cultures of another country after all i can do this on a normal holiday.
I'm talking of real escapism, of returning back to the way life used to be years ago and finding out what the true values in life are.
If i had the chance and the guts to actually do this (which believe me i never would have) i would go somewhere that has haunted me for months.
After watching a series of Coast on the TV this little island with such a dramatic history stuck in my mind and refused to budge.
The island is called St Kilda and it is situated here...

It is the remotest part of the british isles and until the 1930's was inhabited by a number of families who lived in a row of small stone built cottages facing out to sea.

photo's from here... http://www.kilda.org.uk/

The villagers originally lived further inland on small plots of land on which they built the houses themselves. They lived and worked on the island which was owned by a distant landlord, latterly the Macleods of Dunvegan in Skye (another larger island) they paid their rent with produce from their land and livestock such as sheep, barley and wheat. They also hand caught Puffins which were the most popular bird to live on the island and they either ate them themselves or used them to create oil or sell as profit.
The island has no raods so goods were transported via boats between the islands or on back if it were over land.
The factor arrived once a year to collect rent and perfrom marraiges and baptisms but other than that the island had no contact with the mainland and was completely self sufficiant until the 19th century.

From the early 19th century a church and manse was built on the island and a regular missionary and minister lived ashore, a school was also built to teach the growing population of children who only spoke Gailic.
The 1830's saw the building of the current village which runs in a crescent

and accomodated land to grow produce on in small back gardens behind the buildings and also a single room dwelling of equal size adjoining each other.

During the late 1800's visitors began to flock to the island by a steam yacht called the Vulcan. It ran day trips to the island to sample the culture and buy locally produced crafts but the effect on the islanders was devistating.
Morale amongst the families began to drop and reliance on self sufficiency began to dwindle. They began to rely more and more on imports from the neighbouring islands and mainland.
Gradually over time islanders moved and emigrated further away such as Australia and New Zealand. This left a fractured economy and then with the outbreak of the first world war more able bodied men were sent away on duty leaving barely a few remaining islanders behind. Due to the war regular food deliveries were becoming few and far between so finally in 1930 the remaining 36 islanders packed up and left their entire existence behind on the island and moved to the mainland.
All that is left nowdays is a small crecent of dilapidated stone cottages facing the sea full of years of history and tales.

It is a magical island full of nature and beauty and i imagine if you wanted isolation, escapism and somewhere to really be alone here would be just the place to do it.
Gem
xxx

Progress...

2011-01-24T05:11:00.000-08:00

'Progress' = Movement, as toward a goal; advance.

such a meaningful and powerful word, full of arrogance and ego and dread and im afraid not what i have been managing to do at all.
Since New Year i dont seem to be making progress in anything, ive been a bit lazy on the jewellery making front and haven't updated my shop since Chrsitmas. I cant seem to find anything interesting to blog about and i just seem to be wandering around in a dazed dreamy state.
Not that im complaining its actually been quite nice to be idle but not very productive.
So today i decided to sort it out...i updated my shop wth three new items and re-listed lots of my good old timers in the sale section.
Here's the three new items listed this morning ....

So if you get a chance pop on over by following the link at the top of the page and have a gander you never know you might find something pretty at a bargain price.

I hope your all having a grand Monday (it's freezing here in London!)
Hugs
Gem
xxx

New Year ...a new start

2011-01-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

The new year brought with it a new start, friday i recieved a phone call from our council to inform me that i had reached 1st place on the list for an allotment! I had the choice of 3 plots and had to pick the one i wanted asap and get back to them with my answer.

Well i was at work when they called so i had to head on over Saturday. By the time i had run a load of errands, driven to Rochester, and booked cinema tickets it was getting dark but i headed over there anyway. Well i didnt have the map of the plots with me but i found that 81a was perfect! it had cabbages onions and brussels already established with a cute little compost bin already on site. Happily i stomped about on the plot for a while looking it over then headed home....however.....

After double checking on the map the lady at the council had emailed me it appeared that the plot i had spent 30minutes stomping about on and planning to dig up was in fact somebody else's and not the plot that was available for me to rent! haha i just hope no one saw me. So i gingerley headed back over to the allotments today with the map and discovered that 89a was the plot that was free, the photos are of my actual plot...as you can see it needs a bloody lot of work doing to it, lots of achey backs, sore hands and sweat but i cant wait! i even bought some pink gardening gloves in preperation :D
The plan is to get cracking next Sunday...take some sandwiches and a flask of tea and my new pink gloves and shovels and get stuck in. Fingers crossed we can clear the plot, put manure down and cover it up until around march time when it should be ready for planting....and heres to a whole new life of home grown veggies fruit and herbs mmmm i feel like im starring in the good life :)
I'll keep you posted with my progress but until then i'll catch up on a bit of reading and research into veggie and herb growing....if anyone knows any hints, tips and secrets i would be thrilled to hear them.

Hugs
Gem
xxxx

A winter outing

2011-01-02T10:53:00.000-08:00

In the midst of all the craziness Christmas and New Year involve Ash and i took a little time out and escaped to the haven that we call Whitstable. It was a dull dreary damp day but nothing can beat the smell of the sea and the butterfly feeling in the belly whenever we go there. It is like going home after an extended holiday and we very much hope one day we will call this quant little town home.

We ate fish and chips in the Crab and Winkle restaurant in the harbour and drank Whitstable beers brewed down the road in the East Quay Brewery.

We then picked up some shell fish in the fish market to eat when we got home to remind us of our time there.

It was a perfect day for a walk full of mystery and the smell of log fires.

Old creepy houses full of pure white doves nesting in its derelict rafters..

and laughter creeping out the door of the sea fronted pub...

A perfect place to escape to no matter what the weather.
Whilst we were wandering i started to think of all the things that i would like to change in the new year and here's my little New Years List....

lose 1stone by May
Drink more water
Take a little more time in myself (pamper time)
not be afraid spending money on myself (i am not the average woman when it comes to buying it makes me feel ill id rather save then spend a modern day scrooge ha!)
finish my novel and submit it to a number of agents.
finish my crochet blanket
have enough savings for a deposit on a house (nearly there!)
Stock up my Etsy shop and put a little more effort into advertising it
have fun
relax
smile

What are your New Years Resolutions? i would love to hear?
Happy Sunday (back to work Tuesday) boo hoo :)
xxxx

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T06:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2011 to you all. May the new year bring you lots of joyand happiness.
Here's a snippet of what's been going on whilst ive been on Christmas holidays....

I have crochet myself a pair of snuggly slippers to keep my feet warm on cold and snowy nights (which we are due more of)

And i've been snapping away with my brand new camera my extra special christmas present from Mr Ash!

I would just like to say a big big thankyou to all my readers and people who pop by and visit my wee little blog now and again. I appreciate every single comment that is left for me on here and i value ever friend that i have made. Thank you from the bottom of my heart because without readers and visitors blogging would be pointless! So have a drink for me to welcome in the new year and lets hope it really is a good one.
Happy New Year guys
Big warm hugs
Gem
xxxx

The calm after the storm

2010-12-29T09:06:00.000-08:00

Well its all over now until another year, mince pies turkey and stuffing have all been consumed, presents unwrapped and new clothing worn.

The lights were twinkling the mulled wine scented the room and the fire gently warmed the room as the clock ticked by on the mantle.

We just have the New Year to look forward to now, another year over and a celebration of time. This time of year never seems real when you are living through it, it is such a feast of fun food and laughter that it all seems too good to be true. I shall be sad when the whole mania has subsided but in a way it will be nice to get back to normality.
I hope you all had a lovely christmas?
Big hugs
Gem
xxxx

Where does the time go?

2010-12-13T06:28:00.000-08:00

Hi guys,
Hope your weekends were great?
Ash and i went to Canterbury for the weekend and we stayed in the Falstaff Hotel its a beautiful old tavern dating back to 1403. With timber beams and log fires. We were spoilt and we also had the most chrsitmassy time wandering around the quant streets over shadowed by the amazing spires of Canterbury Catherdral!
I have some photos which ill pop on tomorrow but until then i shall leave you with a copy of my winter news letter from Gemgemz, listing some christmas items in my shop.

Enjoy
Gem
xxx

Sometimes..

2010-12-09T04:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is easy to forget how lucky you are,
Sometimes greed and envy can step between all your normal rational thoughts and you start to focus on material objects and wealth.
Sometimes people lose their identity and with it their friends and family members, they lose that vital connection with care and love and the basic human instinct to nuture.

In this period of christmas it is easy to be lead astray by windows of colourful items, books magazines and television programmes telling you how to deal with the stress of christmas, how to manage the shopping rush, how to bake the best mince pies, where to get the best wrapping, what is the most popular childrens toy...and it makes me so angry.
I dont care who bakes the best mice pies,
I dont care what is fashionable and what isn't
I dont care if people think i haven't spent enough money on them
and i really dont care what this seasons festive colour is because that is not what Christmas is about!

To me Christmas is a precious family day, a day to eat and laugh and play games and just enjoy having everyone in the same house on the same day at the same time. It doesn't matter how much people spend on each other, it is the thought that has been put into trying to make that person smile that means the world.

I heard a very sad story today, of someone who may not make it to christmas day, she has two young girls and a family and friends who love her but that doesn't stop her illness and it can't stop its progression through her body. It really brings home how lucky we are and how we should cherish our family and friends whilst we have them around us,

The material mass produced christmas we are force fed irritates me and breeds a nation of greedy selfish materialistic morons who value the label and price of their gift more than the gift giver.

If you feel yourself panicking, stressing about shopping, about the dress you haven't bought for the christmas party, about what wrapping you should buy, the decorations for the tree, take a step back and think...
Think of all the people spending christmas in the hospitals, the care homes, the hospice's and it will make you realise just how lucky you are.
So here's a big MERRY CHRISTMAS from me to all of them, you are all amazing!

I wish you all a very happy Thursday and sorry for the rant :)
Big Hugs
Gem
xxxx

It's nearly here.....

2010-12-08T04:14:00.000-08:00

Well it's nearly here....17days away to be exact and i am getting just a little too excited ! :D

My shop is being filled with lovely new items in hopes that maybe people will want to purchase a few peices to pass on as christmas presents...just maybe..

It's such a lovely thought to think your peices could be cherished and given as presents, in fact i think it is the biggest honour that people think your stock is pretty and special enough to give to their loved ones.

most of my presents are wrapped now, my christmas cards have been written and all that is left on my christmassy list is to make and bake my mince pies :)

I have eight open doors on my advent calender all empty and proud as i have munched my way through its choclatty contents. Dont you just love Christmas?! any excuse to stuff yourself silly!

I hope you are all well and not too stressed with the christmas biuld up?
We still have snow at home but now it has frozen into solid slippery lumps which is even more dangerous than the snow was, but transport to and from London is back to normal so my work life has resumed but i must say it was nice to have a wee break even if cabin fever did begin to creep in slowly :)

So here is to a lovely frosty week and plenty of Christmas cheer
Gem
xxxxxx

Please pop by www.etsy.com/shop/gemgemz if you get a minute new christmas bits n bobs will be appearing daily xx

Be careful what you wish for

2010-12-01T05:51:00.000-08:00

I guess my wish came true...
I awoke this morning to over a foot of snow covering everything as far as the eyes could see and it has kept falling all day.

I couldnt get into work this morning due to two broken down trains on the tracks from london which had been stuck all night, the poor passengers were stranded over night in the dark cold carraiges with no heating and were only being rescued this morning. Luckily i got an earlier train home lastnight but even that took 3 and a half hours instead of the 55minutes it was supposed too.

I have been topping up the birds seed and putting fresh water in their birdbath regularly to try and keep them fed and warm in this trying weather.

So for now i am tucked up indoors in the warm drinking lots of tea and soup writing out my christmas cards and wrapping up presents...

trying my hardest to stay warm. It continues to snow and we are forcast more for tonight! I feel sorry for people in the north as they have it a lot worse then us softy southerners. ha ha

I have updated my shop today with these two lovelies in the hopes they may make nice Christmas pressies for someone. Each item in my shop comes giftwrapped and ready for giving and is posted next day from my local post office.

I hope you are all safe and warm? be careful out there as it is very dangerous on the roads and paths.
big hugs on this white snowy wednesday
Gem
xxxxx

In preperation for the coming storm...

2010-11-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

They say there will be snow by the end of today....and heavy snowfall by Thursday, London has a tube strike on so cancelled and non running trains mixed with a little snow and icy weather makes for extra miserable commuters(even more miserable than usual if you can imagine that!)

I have been wrapping up against the chill this week as when i leave in the mornings it is still white with ice and the sun has yet to rise. The evening commute home looks like i am travelling in the middle of the night with either side of the train black as it hurtles home in the rush hour.

I must say this time of year is a terrible drag, it's not so bad when you are at home but as soon as you start to leave the house and travel you realise just how miserable it really is.

I have been making some little bits n bobs for the shop for winter and Christmas...here are my three pairs of wrist warmers or fingerless gloves to those of us in the uk.

They are £6.00 ($10.00) and come giftwrapped and posted next day after purchase. If you like the design but would like another colour please convo me i'd be happy to custom make them for you.

I have been busy doodling too...inspired by medievel tales and architecture i have been dreaming up characters and costumes galore...here's a few..

The Green Man

Rochester Cathedral (drawn on site) i find the architecture so amazing and after watching Pillars Of The Earth on tv recently it makes you realise how amazing it was when they biult these massive stone structures. (if you haven't seen it i highly recommend it!)

I am skipping my lunch break today i am just too cold to trapse around the streets of london. Instead i'm going to settle back into work and enjoy my cuppa tea and mince pie mmmm bliss hehe!
Happy Monday guys
Gem
xxxx

In the bleak mid winter....

2010-11-24T04:33:00.000-08:00

"Stormy winds may moan"

Wow it is cold today! there was ice on the window of the car this morning and i have turned the heating up in the studio. The poor market men on Berwick street look frozen their little red noses and chapped hands braced against the biting wind. Luckily its dry out there but they say snow by thursday?! mad huh

I haven't been up to a lot recently, my family have all been knocked down with a case of the winter cold or in Ashleys case Flu which then lead to tonsilitus and three days in bed dosed up with antibiotics. I feel a bit like Florence Nightingale running about with tea, tablets and food, im just missing the lantern.

I have been steadily making little bits and am planning a major update of the shop this weekend (fingers crossed) as Christmas is looming on the horizon.

I have however added these little lovelies to the shop today...swarovski crystal in a spectrum of colours

they really do catch the light and sparkle...my favourite has to be the blue one.

This last bracelet is actaully two bracelets which ive combined. They have little charms on them and are made from czech glass seed beads and silver tubes that i picked up at the local bead shop here in Soho.

I hope you are all well and i was pleased to see not everyone is as disorganised as me when it comes to Christmas shopping. Keeping my fingers toes and eyes crossed for a good period drama to start soon on the TV i am getting withdrawel symptoms!

Happy Wednesday guys

Gem

xxxx

Christmas fair tomorrow from 2.30pm .....

2010-11-19T05:19:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys
A quick notice....
If anyone happens to be in the area of Gravesend Kent tomorrow at around 2.30pm pop along to Gravesend Mencap (22-23 old perry street northfleet, next to Cygnets Leisure Centre) i am attending their indoor Christmas fair and all proceeds go to the Mencap Charity. There will be presents, cake tea and lots of goodies to snap up for the Christmas period.
I promise to return with a longer post soon
Hugs
Gem
xx

Cold days and warm evenings

2010-11-16T04:32:00.000-08:00

The weather seems so cold just lately, i have been waking to a covering of frost on the car as thick as snow. My breath curls in plumes of mist and my checks and nose glow red when i wak in doors.
I have been working on my story and soon i shall have a completed first draft that will need editing.
I have been trying to create visuals for the characters to get a better feel for them in my mind and help the reader feel more connected.
Here's the rough visuals for both Rupert and Ivy.

Excuse the rough sketchy colours but i scanned them in staright from my sketchbook.
They need a little work but the look that i want is there.
My evenings have been spent curled by the fire crocheting and doodling. I attended the remeberance parade in London on Sunday, it was very touching to watch all the elderley gentlemen and ladies march past in their full regalia. I crocheted a pair of fingerless mittens fir the day and recieved an order the first day they were worn. I will be adding some pairs to my shop for the holiday season so keep your eyes peeled.

I hope all is well where you are?
Hows the holiday shopping going?
Hugs
Gem
xxx

The mercy of the Storm ...

2010-11-10T02:25:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys,
How was your weekend? the weather was pretty grotty here in the southeast of the UK, so i stayed in both days. It was bliss. I created two new pictures to use as Christmas cards as i wasn't happy with my last attempt with the Carol singers. These i drew by hand watercoloured and scanned in and i am very happy with the results. Saturday night i held a Gemgemz party at my house, it went really well i sold lots of items hence why my online shop is looking a little sparse! :)
I had a wonderful time though so thankyou to everyone who turned up......i have used the money to stock up my beads and bits to make more lovely peices so watch this space for new items ready for the Christmas holidays.

Thank you to everyone who has recently purchased from my two shops online a big big thankyou and i hope you will return.

On another note i was reading a post over at Milkmoon today and i was marvelling at the beautiful lyrical words and pictures when the post inspired a poem....so here it is ......

Mercy of the Storm (inspired by Ciara at Milkmoon)

We gather around the window,

As the clouds come rolling in,

They tint the sky an inky black,

Their darkness like a sin,

The waves they thrash and threaten,

As they creep onto the shore,

Clawing ever nearer,

To our little cottage door.

We batten down the hatches,

Cuddle up to keep us warm,

As we sit and watch and listen,

We're at the mercy of the Storm.

Hugs to you all
Gem
xxxx

Remember, remember the 5th of November ..

2010-11-05T04:10:00.000-07:00

"Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up the King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holla boys, Holla boys, let the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

And what should we do with him? Burn him!"

Happy Bonfire night and remember to stay safe.

P.s 6 lines have been relisted in my shop this morning.

Gem

xxx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..

2010-11-03T05:32:00.000-07:00

Yes it may be a whole two months away but one has to be prepared with ones present buying and card creating.
I only have 2 pressies bought so far for two different peeps.
On the otherhand when it comes to Christmas card designing i am up ahead :) i have decided on one design so far ...
Here it is .....
What do you think?.....

Im planning on creating two more designs so i had better crack on with it...do you think i should sell them in my shop? would they sell? i'm a tad dubious.

All advice would be lovingly appreciated.

Hugs to you all

Gem

As October draws to a close..

2010-11-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

As the month crawls to its end, it brings with it arm fulls of colour, red's, orange's, burnt yellow's and russet brown. We celebrated yesterday with a trip to Petworth house and Gardens in West sussex. It is a magnificent manor house with acres of woodland, parkland and wild roaming deer, not to mention an art gallery full of Turner paintings and a chapel all of its own. The current earl Max Wyndham, 2nd Baron Egremont, who is a direct decendant of the Sir John Wyndham still lives in a wing of the house but has passed the remaining parts over to the National Trust to open to the public.
Here's a sneaky peek.... (if anyone has been watching downton abbey on ITV, the layout is exactly like it!)

Along leafy lanes...
and past strange shaped trees,

Past shaded woodland,

full of autumn mist.
You reach Petworth House

That window above the abbey window was once Turners bedroom when he visited the family. He spent many years here, with free run of the kitchens grounds and rooms. It is said that when the late Earl died he followed the coffin to the church by foot and never returned to Petworth.

His paintings can be found all around the house but most noticably in the families art gallery

The Abbey below Turners bedroom is still used today in fact the eldest daughter was married in it two years ago.

The kitchens are amazing and are laid out as if you have just walked in whilst they are preparing for a feast.

Back outside the grounds are amazing with rolling lawns and wild deer, we found some giant chestnut tree's and managed to fill a whole carrier bag to take home and roast.

All around were pretty follies hidden amongst trees.

It is such a magical place and definately worth a visit. I believe the house is being closed over the winter (much like every other National Trust property) to put it to bed for the year and carry out any maintanence, repairs and upkeep it may need. I think we managed to sneak a peek just before it shuts and im glad we did. If you fancy a visit i believe it opens again in March but heres the National Trust website to check. :)

Back home we settled around by candlelight to eat the bag fulls of roasted chestnuts with the lights off and in hiding from all the trick or treaters, and no we wern't mean we it's just our trick or treaters were all adults or teens wanting money! :D

I hope you all had a great Halloween.

Big Hugs

Gem

xxx

The art of Juggling

2010-10-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get the feeling that you are trying to juggle too many things?
I do, all the time! i try to limit myself to one thing at a time but i end up starting about three things in one go,
Take my knitting, i started a scarf a year ago, i am probably a third of the way through because whilst doing that i decided to try my hand a crochet and i began making a blanket, finding such pretty colours in the wool shops led me to buying three new colours of wool and making a cushion (which i actually finished!) and now i have strated crocheting a new project (it's a secret tho at the mo im afraid) i still have a scarf half completed and a half finished blanket!
This madness also extends to other parts of my life like writing....i have finished one story which needs re editing and then sending out to agents, in the mean time a really great idea floated into my head so i began on another story which i am about 700words into and now i am half way through a graphic novel which i decided to start last month....geez whats wrong with me! I wish i could just settle on one idea and take me time to finish it properly. Maybe im crazy but i feel there is just too many great ideas out there that i dont want them to slip away before i begin them so i start on them regardless.

Anyone else have this problem? please let me know if you do so i dont feel so alone.

Here's some quick pics of some of the early versions of the panels i have designed for the graphic novel, well its really an illustrated adult story but hey who cares! :)
I hope you like, the story is based around the Biddenden maids of kent who were supposed to have been born in the year AD 1100 and conjoined at both hip and shoulder.

Monday madness

2010-10-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

Wow that last week went so fast!
In fact the whole month has flown by in a whir. It's nearly Christmas arghhhh! and i haven't even made a list or decided roughly on what to buy everyone...hmmm better get cracking the radio has been telling tales of all these organised and witty people who have begun already i am starting to feel slightly left behind.

I had an eventful weekend, Ash and i went Greyhound racing on Saturday at Crayford, now im sure many people have been Greyhound racing and had a lovely fun and exciting time but i can honestly say i had such a horrible experience is will definately never be going again. I wasn't too keen on going anyway seeing as my family have owned retired Greyhounds as pets before which have been beaten starved and nearly killed due to the fact that they were ex racers and couln't bring home the money any more, i went because Ash's work colleagues were going and it was work's outing. The first few races were ok, the animals were enjoying themselves and we were betting the odd pound here and there but on the third race a dog was crushed against the barriers and injured its leg really badly, it was struggling to run and the trainer had to run onto the track to stop it and grab the dog before it did itself more harm, Im not sure if it broke its leg or sprained it i was left a little upset and shaken, i was worried as to what would happen to it after the race and whether it would be carefully treated and looked after or disposed of because of its injury, tears began to well up in my eyes and i had to fight to not cry when behind me the foulest language was being shouted at the dog and the track because they had bet on that dog and had now lost their money!!! i was so angry i wanted to jump up and stab the man and his wife in the eye with the nearest sharp object to hand but i held back and bit my tongue. I couldn't believe the behaviour and complete and utter lack of respect that these people had for the loving beautiful dogs that were racing on their behalf.
I shall never be attending a greyhound race again, the dogs love to run and race but the atmosphere and backhanded dealings and greed that goes along with it are disgusting! It opened my eyes to what a horrible and dangerous place it is for the dogs. I am glad i got to see it first hand because now i know what a magnificent job the rescue centres do when they take on the unwanted and abandoned animals which are ill treated because of our greed.
My sister works for Lush the eco friendly bath and body company and it just so happens i found out that they are now running a "ban the greyhound racing" campaign from thier shops, if anyone is interested here is the website, i have also included the link of the retired greyhound trust here in the uk, it will show you what a wonderful job they do and how much time and care they put into each and every animal that comes through their doors.

On a cheerier note...
I have updated my shop with these beauties that ive featured on my blog today, please pop by as i have a silly sale being hosted in my Etsy shop which gives every purchase free shipping, postage and packing anywhere in the world so bag yourself a bargain and a early christmas pressie at the same time. :)

I hope you all had a good weekend?
Did you hear we are supposed to be getting northernly winds coming our way making the weather even colder brrrr!
Wrap up
Hugs
Gem
xxxx

We have a winner!!!

2010-10-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

Drawn from a hat the name scribbled on a post it note was Millie D!

Congratulations Millie! you are now the proud new owner of the novel Stolen.
Please forward me your address and ill pop your novel and free gift in the post asap.

On another note my little Etsy shop is having a silly sale to coincide with the Etsy UK Silly Sale going on at the moment.
Pop by for free postage and packing on every single item until the 20th of October.
Perfect for all those early Christmas pressies or just a little something special for yourself.

Hope you are all well?
Sorry for the flying visit.
Be back soon with more tales
Gem
xx

I had a dream..

2010-10-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

That a ghost was haunting me,
the shape of a hunched old man,
i tormented it and it grew angry,
so angry that it chased me through the house and posessed me.
I woke up screaming and trembling and couldnt get back to sleep.

Now im feeling a little troubled today, the thought of the dream still brings shivers to my skin and makes my heart race, maybe i have too much on my mind?

I dont know all i know is im praying that my dreams return to normal tonight.

I have updated my shop with these pretties...

The season is upon us to wrap up warm, go strolling and crunch golden leaves underfoot, walk arm in arm with the one you love whilst curls of steam from your warm breath dance in the air.

Autumn dreams are captured in this charm necklace, deep red, russet gold, and a silver key to unlock the coming winter.

Silver coloured 20inch curb chain balances two deep red czech glass beads, a czech glass gold coloured leaf and a silver coloured key charm.

Forget me not is a joining of two very different bracelets. The first is made from genuine dyed pink fresh water pearls and silver coloured love hearts, romantic and gentle this bracelet is femenine serene.
The second bracelet is made from clear czech glass seed beads seperated with small silver coloured balls. In the centre hangs a silver coloured pagan style knot charm which adds a little mystery and charm to the two peices.

I spent the weekend planting Pansies and walking along the beach eating cockles, winkles and prawns.
What did you get up to?
The weather was beautiful!

Hugs
Gem
xxxx

New Items Listed today

2010-10-06T04:35:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon folks,
Well today started off a little bleak to say the least, the rain was lashing against the window pains and the cloud was thick, grey and heavy.
On my daily trudge into work i was soaked up to my knee and a little shivery with damp but that was nothing a good old cup of tea couldn't fix when i got into the studio :)

It now seems to have brightened up a tad and the sun is shining down into the small london street beneath my window.

I am feeling a little down at the mo, not 100% sure why but i feel the fact i had a family funeral yesterday and the change in the weather isn't helping. I think a little tlc and quality family time is needed :)

In the mean time i have updated my shops again today with these three beauties ....

Aren't they gorgeous? I am very pleased with them and i am tempted to keep them for myself but then i thought nope i will share them with the world and give you lovely people a chance to own them for yourselves or start christmas shopping early.
You can find them in both my Etsy and Foksy shops here and here :)
and dont forget you can win the novel "stolen" and a special free gift in my giveaway here (giveaway closes 11th Oct)

Have a great Wednesday and i hope the sun is shining on you.
Big Hugs
Gem
xxx

'Tis the season to be jolly ?

2010-10-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

I know i know, its not even the end of October yet...in fact October has only just begun but i just can't help getting a teeny tiny little bit excited over the coming Christmas holidays :)

It has made me feel even more christmassy with the sudden change in weather, from mild sunshine to crisp cold mornings and grey sleety rainy days.

With this in mind though i went on a creative rampage at the weekend in between visits to Whitstable, a quiz night and quality time with the Ash :)

I have updated both my shops today with some new bits n bobs but i have many more to follow that are waiting in the wings.

Oh and don't forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to win a novel and a special free gift :)

Big Hugs
Gem
xxx

Oh happy days!

2010-09-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

Are you sometimes astounded at the way things work out?
The other day i was having a bit of a rant about my online shops and how little they had sold compared to when i do face to face craft shows and parties when low and behold i recieve 2 orders in 2 weeks can you believe it! it is like i was being sent a message.
Now i know i havent updated my shop in sometime and i am well aware of the downsides to this but working everyday 7 til 7pm and trying to daily refresh items in my shop can be a bit of a struggle.
I do however promise to have a variety of lovely new items which i am very proud of and very sad to be selling arriving in my shop this weekend (bith etsy and folksy) so please pop by and check them out. So fingers crossed i can slowly but surely continue to provide you lovely ladies (and men) with quality beautiful items of jewellery to cherish and wear year after year.

To celebrate my little bit of good news i am giving away a book i have just finished reading and a surprise pressie! :) tucked in there for good measure. It is currently in the top 10 bookclub listings and is a very gripping read i can promise.
The book is

Stolen by Lesley Pearce (sorry for the grainy tiny photo, my computer was playing up)

All you have to do to win stolen and the surprise pressie is visit my shop, pick a favourite item and then leave a comment here on this blog post.
You recieve one extra point for blogging about the giveaway
and two extra points for purchasing an item as well as the one point for commenting.

I hope all that makes sense???
The winner will be drawn monday the 11th of October at 12pm.
Good luck everyone
big hugs
Gem
xxx

Tropical the island breeze...

2010-09-22T01:36:00.000-07:00

All of nature wild and free,
This is where i long to be
Fuerteventura...
And when the samba played,
The sun would set so high,
ring through my ears and sting my eyes,
Your spanish lullaby. :(

Well i'm home slightly bronzed and missing the island sooo much. I wasnt exactly excited before i left as i was a little wary of what to expect but as soon as the coach pulled into our hotel my jaw dropped, it was beautiful (even at 11pm at night!) We ate a hurried very late dinner of a bread roll and cheese as i still felt a little travel sick and headed off to bed.
The morning sun woke me and i looked out of our room to see..

What a wonderful way to start the day!

The grounds were so tropical and lush...

Tropical music filled the air and the smell of suntan lotion and sea.

Palm trees provided shade when the temperature reached too high or the welcoming cool waters of the pool calmed the tender burnt skin.

We dressed up each evening for dinner, and danced the night away in the hotel disco.

I had the most amazing time...made the most amazing friends and really didnt want to come home.
I guess we will just have to save our pennies to return another time....until then the spanish sun and crystal clear waters keep calling me :(

Gem
xxx

I want to be where the sun warms the sky...

2010-09-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

When it's time for siesta you can watch them go by,

Beautiful faces no cares in this world,

Where a girl loves a boy and a boy, loves a girl.

Yes that is Madonna and it's stuck in my head, want to listen? try this. Don't say i didn't warn you :)

Just thought i'd pop you a little note to say ill be off for the next week, no blogging, internet access or email.
It will be bliss but i will miss you guys lots, how will i fill my mornings of blog surfing now???
Well........... i'll be laying on the sand,
Collecting pebbles and seashells,
Sunbathing under tropical rays and feeling the warm water wash over my toes,
I'll be drinking Sangria,
Eating Piella,
Reading a book,
Browsing markets and generally relaxing.
Im heading off to the sunny island of Fuerteventura for a week with my buddies and Ash.

I promise to take lots of photo's to share with you when i return and ill try and bring some sunshine back too, to clear away the rain we've been having here in the UK.

I have some good news before i leave though, What i hear you cry??? well....

I have opened a Folksy shop full of these little beauties ....

They can all be found here. I am keeping my Etsy shop too but im finding the Folksy one a little more user friendly and not so saturated with crafters.
Please pop by i will be adding new lines as soon as i return.

But i must say a fond farewell for now and speak to you in a weeks time.
Big Hugs
Gem
xxxx

A picture speaks a thousand words

2010-09-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

Good evening folks,
Well here i am snuggled up in bed under my crochet blanket by candlelight typing this post. The internet has actually decided to start working! So im going to take full advantage and post the pictures i promised of our little weekend away......

Ahh a whitstable Bay beer in whitstable bay :D

Ash preparing our takeaway on the balcony

The view from the bed!!

Of course you have to crochet when you have a balcony overlooking the sea!
Talking of crochet look at the size of my blanket!!!

Crab baguettes in baskets...
and a beautiful sunset to end the weekend :( roll on next time

Hugs to you all
Gem
xxxx

The last weekend of August

2010-08-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

We are back. well actually we came back yesterday but we were in mourning at our return ha!
It was magic!
The weather stayed good we had sunshine, slight white cloud and a light breeze.
There was.....

Beer on the beach
Coffee in the cafe's
Moonlit walks,
Sea breeze
Cycle rides to Canterbury
Blackberry picking
Photo taking
Crocheting
Sitting on the balcony watching the sunset

It was lovely! Today we spent the morning doing what every bank holiday deserves...nothing! and then we went fishing in the afternoon and took a stroll around Upnor.
I have many photo's to share but sods law has it and they wont upload....argh!
i promise ill try again tomorrow. but for now you have to imagine ....sorry :(
I hope you all had a lovely bank holiday...what did you do?
And a big big thankyou to all the people who read my random ramblings and leave comments i read every single one and i appreciate everything you all say (i still cant believe people actually read this blog) Thank you all so much you make bloging worthwhile
big big hugs
Gem
xxxx

Oh i would like to live beside the seaside....

2010-08-27T04:10:00.000-07:00

Wow Friday already, where has the week gone.
So far this week i have managed to...

Crochet a new line into my blanket (pictures to follow soon i promise) it is now the size of a small child yay!
Finish a story i have been writing for over a year now. I am so happy it is finally finished, i now have to re read it, do a second draft and write up a synopsis ready to send out to some literary agents.
Buy a pair of shoes (if you know me you will know what an achievment that is :D)
Discover there are such things as Narwhals, and discover the properties of Belladonna.
Brought out the scarf and boots combo (i am so sad winter is arriving)

Tomorrow Ash and i are heading here....

(photo by Lisa May)
Have you guessed where it is yet?
what about now...

Or now?.....

(Image fromdimsumdolly)

Of course it's Whitstable, the place .....

where you can hire a bike and cycle to Canterbury in 6miles through picturesque countryside,
where you can have a beer on the beach from The Old Neptune (above),
where fisherman still bring in their daily catch and sell it in the fish market in the harbour.
where you can try their famous Oysters (maybe with a little tobasco sauce?)
And where you can hear the sea lapping against the shingle directly out side the hotel window.

Whitstable, the place Ash and i seriously want to move to when we decide to start a family.
Ahhh roll on tomorrow.
Have a great bank holiday weekend guys...see you in Sept :(
xxxxxx

A wet Wednesday

2010-08-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,
It's raining again!
The sky is grey,
Im off to Bluewater tonight Bikini shopping hmmmmm.
I found this song again today thanks to this lady
and i am debating wether or not to eat the apple which is sitting on my desk taunting my growling stomach :D
Wouldn't you just want to be here reading?

I was thinking more traditional like Jane Austen, Bronte sisters theme today (im a little excited that the period drama's on tv will begin thi season)

and i created this tree for my friend who loves tree's, i placed her name in the branches...can you spot it?

Have a great evening
keep dry
hugs
Gem
xxxx