Salix's Art Nook

My art portfolio blog

2011-11-25T14:00:00.000Z

My art portfolio blog, click on this button:

<--- or click on the link at left.
All my past friends, ( blog friends and gardeners, orcs and pixies and humans from UO, Sims2 friends ), I would love to stay in touch. Please find me on Facebook!

a stray wish alights on Gretchen

2011-11-25T13:52:00.001Z

Leftover Wishes:
05 a stray wish alights on Gretchen

Leftover Wishes 01 - 04

2011-11-25T13:48:00.001Z

01 Ping Cluck by Silvia
02 Hutsy Flutsy by Lilo
03 Event Horizon Beyond the Purple Tree by Silvia
04 Flying Kisses by Lilo

Bubbles for peace

2011-10-31T06:46:00.007Z

Bubbles for peace.. let's hope they pop all over the world

blog your own peace banner, see here for info:
facebook: Blog Blast For Peace
blogger: Peace Globe Gallery

Flower Hills map

2011-10-15T17:19:00.004+01:00

You can click on it to enlarge

Elfleda-Fae and Kiwi-Sprite "Flower Hills"

2011-10-06T09:41:00.001+01:00

A few pages of my children's book in progress, written and illustrated by me. I should be finished within a month! Only about a dozen drawings to do shading on.
Please click on a drawing to enlarge it.

...............

Celtic

2011-10-05T09:43:00.010+01:00

Here are a few samples of my celtic knotwork. Click on the image for a larger view.

fox

hedgehog

swallow

swallow 2

tin whistle

dragon

commission, medals

what's this flower?

2011-08-18T17:43:00.001+01:00

For Princess Haiku to see ;)
Looking for the latin name for this chrysanthemum.

Silly hats for frosty days

2011-01-23T12:22:00.004Z

My Etsy Shop Squiggly Giggles

Pastel Giggles (sold)

Winter Dryad

Forest Dreams

My Etsy Shop Squiggly Giggles

More HERE

Whimsical Hats / Faerie Hats

2011-01-15T14:36:00.009Z

Morning Clouds

Frosty Willow

Winter Sun

Twilight Tendrils *SOLD*

Leafless Dreams *SOLD*
..............................................
commisions accepted ;)

my Etsy Shop Squiggly Giggles

more HERE
............................

Facebook Friends in progress

2010-11-18T14:33:00.001Z

My current cross-stitch, just need to finish up the background in yellows. Keeping with the internet theme, these are a few of my facebook friends.

Dona Nobis Pacem

2010-11-04T10:23:00.000Z

We look forward to a time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.

Blog for peace on 4 November 2010.
Join us, get your own peace globe here, at Mimi Writes.

Map of Flower Hills

2010-10-15T18:33:00.008+01:00

(1 Nov) Newest map. Click on the photo to enlarge it ;)
I've put faerie's names on the houses arbitrarily. If anyone really wants a specific house, let me know.
Elfleda's, Flittery's, Doolie's, Rejina's and Daisy's houses are definite.
Who wants to live in the trailer outside of town?
Who wants to live in the windmill?
Anyone want to live in the village coo-coo clock?

(24 Oct) The village centre so far, just need 2 or 3 more shops.
Click on the pic to enlarge.

(15 Oct) still in progress.. click on the picture to enlarge it

Kiwi for Christmas ornament

2010-09-23T16:43:00.001+01:00

Kiwi for Christmas ornament for George. Cut out front and back, glue together with a string in between, maybe a piece of light cardboard as well. Hang in tree! Cheersies!

"Internet Friends"

2010-09-23T16:12:00.003+01:00

Based on a doodle I did in my sketchbook. Looked like robots or a circuit board. Halfway through it started looking like the internet, so I added more "heads".

"We met on the net"

2010-09-23T15:59:00.003+01:00

Cross stitch using leftover colors. Some threads were only 2 or 3 inches long. It was fun to make this one.

Doolie Duckinator Mouse Masher Gecko Getter Dragon Dispatcher Extraordinaire

2010-08-04T13:14:00.004+01:00

THIS is the better version, lets see how it works as your profile pic
if it still bugs me, I'll put her on a different background
....................................................................................................................

Sarah, here she is full size. Remember to click on the drawing to get the correct size.

Daisy `.¸¸♥´¯) ¸.´✿¯).¸¸.✿

2010-08-03T18:05:00.000+01:00

Sally, click on the image to enlarge it, and then you can save it to your computer. ;-)

Airy Faerie

2010-07-23T10:06:00.000+01:00

Kim, just double click the image, and you can save it to your computer.

Whimsical Hats / Faerie Hats

2010-07-12T11:47:00.006+01:00

Whimsical Hats for pixies and silly people. Weird hats, silly hats, whimsical crochet hats.. by my Mom and me. I'll be selling a few of these types of hats beginning 2011 on Etsy, as I've been getting requests for them!

More HERE

My Etsy shop Squiggly Giggles
.................

Saijleen Faerie

2010-06-16T17:08:00.001+01:00

Sabina, click on the drawing to enlarge it, and then you can save it to your computer. ;-)

Elfleda poses

2010-04-01T15:22:00.001+01:00

Inspired by Botticelli's Birth of Venus
.

In the Garden

2010-02-13T18:43:00.002Z

final version of Janie's grandchildren

first version, I had thought the baby was a boy. I was working from a photo of the two children. I went and met the kids, two girls!. So I then revised the drawing.

Scorpion for Michelle

2009-10-10T10:05:00.001+01:00

Spirit of Lilo

2009-07-27T15:58:00.002+01:00

My latest cross stitching. This one is inspired by a photo of my Mom. It has her favorite birds; blackbirds.

The photo that inspired me.

"The Day Before" , Fleur Van de Loo

2008-12-02T07:26:00.000Z

First stitching done.

The Day Before concept sketch

2008-10-02T18:10:00.001+01:00

Spring of Swallows

2008-09-03T08:31:00.002+01:00

Random Loopy

2008-09-02T08:26:00.000+01:00

april faerie

2008-08-06T16:54:00.000+01:00

Moon Tree

2008-08-05T18:36:00.002+01:00

denk an de kids

2008-08-05T18:28:00.004+01:00

This is a sign near the elementary school in Velden, Netherlands. The drawing on it would have scared me to death if I were a child. It scares me now!
I can translate the bottom message: denk an de kids / think about the kids.
But no idea what the top message says.

May Faerie stitching

2008-08-04T16:28:00.003+01:00

Finished stitching, of May faerie with hawthorn tree.
If you tie a colored ribbon on a branch of a hawthorn, it will be viewed as a gift to the spirit of the tree, and will bring you luck. Yellow for friendship and happiness, red for love, green for wealth, and blue for health.

May Faerie

2008-07-15T16:18:00.000+01:00

first sketch with color

George 2, the ghostly Beatle.

2008-04-06T09:15:00.004+01:00

Princess Haiku had a post a while back about a ghostly image, and invited her readers to share any ghostly pictures.
My youngest brother was born during the Beatle craze in the early 60s. When my Mom was trying to think of a name for the new baby, I said "George" after my favorite Beatle. And so it was. Here is George appearing as a ghost behind his and my favorite Beatle George.
I have another pic of a ghostly creature on my garden blog as well.

Rebsie, peas and flowers

2008-03-31T07:06:00.004+01:00

I did a drawing of Rebsie to thank her for sending me some heritage pea, bean and beet seeds. She experiments with breeding vegetables, especially peas, and she loves wildflowers.

Homage to Chagall

2008-03-29T19:07:00.004Z

Song of Sings
For Illustration Friday's topic "Homage"

I adore Chagall's work, the loving embrace of his couples, the smiling animals, the upsidedown characters and little crowds of people here and there.
Here's the real thing: "Song of Songs IV"

pet peeve

2008-03-21T18:47:00.003Z

Pet Peeves for Illustration Friday: The noisy eater

Saillé's Dream

2008-03-20T22:59:00.000Z

Saillé's Dream, a story by Silvia Salix.
A story on the theme "Dreams" for World Storytelling Day

Saillé loved going for walks in the woods. She loved to sit under her favorite tree, a large oak, and daydream. But as she grew older, her walks became less frequent. But she made sure she went on special days. This day was the Vernal Equinox, the beginning of spring. Very tired, she sat under the oak tree for a while, and soon fell asleep. She dreamed...

...Saillé was much younger, and danced and sang under the oak tree while a few snow flurries fluttered down. An Oak Sprite, who sat up in the tree, watched her in rapture. He was smitten! Hopping out of the tree, he took her in his arms and danced. Saillé felt so alive, so content, so free, dancing.. dancing.. dancing...

She woke up, and it was almost dark. And indeed there was a little bit of snow on the ground.She was cold, and it was a long way home. But home she went, thinking of her lovely dream.
Saillé went for a walk again on May Day. It was a much warmer day, and she was feeling quite chipper. By the time she reached her favorite tree, she had become quite tired, and sat to rest a while in the dappled shade. Again she fell asleep. She dreamed...

...Saillé was again in her youth, twirling and spinning through the long grass by the oak tree. The Oak Sprite was there as well, watching her from the branches above. Happily, he hopped down to greet her, swept her up into his arms. Then they were floating and they danced the tango together, through the branches of the tree. Saillé felt so happy, she hadn't been so happy for years, she has been alone so long, and this seemed so right. dancing.. dancing.. dancing...

Waking up, it was quite dark already, how long had she been sleeping there? She felt sore from sitting against the trunk for long hours. Saillé slowly made her way back home, the dream of the Oak Sprite urging her on.
Midsummer, Saillé decided again to take a walk to her tree. She felt rather tired today, but she was thinking of her lovely dream of the Oak Sprite, and hoping she would see him again. Soon, she might be too old to make the long walk there, and today was a most lovely warm day, and the daylight would last far into the night. Almost exhausted, she settled down by the oak tree, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She dreamed...

...Saillé was young, waltzing under the oak, looking up into the branches to see if Oak Sprite was there. He was indeed, and he was very happy to see her again, as was she. Hopping down, Oak Sprite took her in his arms, and they waltzed for hours and hours, a dizzy and exciting whirl of energy. Then Oak Sprite did something he had never done before. Spinning and flying, he kissed her. It was pure rapture for Saillé, and she fell into the kiss with all her soul. She wanted to stay with Oak Sprite for always.. dancing.. dancing.. dancing... and dancing...

At midnight, the northern sky aglow with summer twilight, under the oak tree, there rested an old woman with her eyes closed. She looked to be asleep, but she was cold and she was not breathing...

...Saillé and Oak Sprite were dancing.. dancing.. dancing...

Phoenix tattoo, first idea

2008-03-15T17:27:00.002Z

Doll hutch deco

2008-03-13T17:34:00.000Z

While visiting my Mom, I noticed a cute little doll hutch in her living room. I thought it would be fun to make little things to go in it out of Fimo. I made a vase with flowers, a picture frame with a Dutch landscape, a pitcher, a plate, and a basket with candy eggs. I put some little lace in the windows too. The seashell is from my Mom's collection.

Christmas Day 2007

2008-01-15T11:01:00.001Z

Drawn on Christmas Day a couple weeks ago. That's Michelle on the left, her broken wrist in a cast. Pippin on her lap, Molly snuggled up next to her, and Tas lying down staring at me. We had just gotten a really cool gift of LED Christmas lights, which weave their way through all the ornaments and snacks and other gifts. The TV was on for a few moments to check if there were any good films on, and we came across Paul and Ringo talking about Cirque du Soleil - "Love".
As I decided to sketch them into my drawing, Paul was just talking about George's last days, and the way he would sit and chat with him, holding his hand. He demonstrated how he held hands with Ringo, and I caught the most beautiful moment of the show in my drawing.
Anyway.. Robby, Michelle, Michael and I had a lovely Christmas Day, chatting, laughing, reading silly books, eating...

Portraits: Robby, Michelle and Michael

2007-12-31T15:33:00.001Z

Robby

Michelle

Michael

Silvia's Christmas wish list

2007-12-19T14:24:00.001Z

Dear family, please post your lists on Fudge. ;-)

Pan

2007-12-18T18:47:00.001Z

tattoo from Pan's Labyrith , cover art by Mike Mignola

5 random things about me

2007-11-28T13:21:00.000Z

I was tagged by Kelly to do this meme. So here it goes...
5 random things about me:

1. I have an uncontrolable urge to grow plants. Even when I've been sent to hotels or such for a week, or go camping for a couple days, some type of plant/plants ends up on the windowsil/next to tent within a day or two, a cutting in a glass, a pot of african violets, something!

2.Along with plants, I also obtain weird seed pods and rocks and sticks and other random nature things.
One time, near Cork, I had collected several pretty yellow sea snail shells, they ended up on the windowsil. The next morning, a few of them had crawled away all over the walls. So we had to bring them back to the place we found them!
Another time, in Claire, we found an old sheep's skull (or was it a goat?) and a possible meteorite.

3. I like toys: Yoyos, tops, Plushies, puppets, music boxes, female action figures (I have a Diana Troy and a Rippley), wind-up toys, plastic figures, dolls, Barbies, anything that animates or moves is super cool.

4. I played an online role playing game for many years. My favorite characters were: a dryad named Salix, an orc named Zaal'Ug, and a pixie named Viola. I never played a human.
Zalli was married to Zur'Goth, he was the clan's warboss.

5. I once lived in NYC's lower east side without electricity or a stove for a year. The only thing I missed was hot herb tea. Evenings were lit by candles, and I had a little tape player powered with a big battery. I ate a lot of yogurt and fruit during that year for some reason.

a handful of dolls

2007-11-28T12:30:00.003Z

I saw some of these dolls on Mimi's blog here, she wrote about her memories as a child, and mentioned the 100 dolls. I too saw an ad when I was a girl, it advertised 100 dolls for a very small price. It seemed too good to be true. So my father sent off for them. They arrived in a very small package. And they were only tiny little pink plastic figurines. I was quite dissapointed at first, but I did play with them a lot! Today, more than 40 years later, I still have a small handful, sewn onto a hat I made for a Halloween long ago. I wonder how many other little girls grown older still have these tiny dolls?

Afghan Hound studies

2007-11-27T18:20:00.000Z

NEW logo test: afghan3 - ruff 1
(only partially cleaned up, still needs a LOT of work. The head and ears are almost to my liking. Basic body shape good, I think)

Logo test 1, click on picture to see larger size.

Second rough test

Gold Afghan Icon (rough test)

What a beautiful animal!

Angels do wear red!

2007-11-21T18:08:00.000Z

When I was a child, in school, we were occasionally given copies of drawings to color in. Close to Christmas we were all handed drawings of angels and told to color them in. I sat happily coloring with my crayons, and made her dress red. Everyone handed their angels back to teacher. She hung them all up on the wall in a row. Except mine.
She looked at me crossly and said mine was not being hung up, because "Angels don't wear red!"Hmm, I wonder if Botticelli's teacher ever told him about angels not wearing red?

tick one

2007-11-13T16:03:00.000Z

Dona Nobis Pacem

2007-11-07T19:52:00.001Z

Make a Peace Globe today! Peace to all creatures and life on our beautiful planet Earth. Help heal our Earth, do whatever little (or big!) thing you can to help our world.

Nessie plush toy

2007-11-06T11:50:00.000Z

Progression of a cute stuffed Loch Ness monster toy, a commission for a pattern. Sketch for a stuffed nessie.

Newspaper pattern mock-up.
(Photographed with a horrible old webcam, my digital is away, to take pics of my daughter's birthday party)
......................................
(Pattern sent to client, here's a tutorial for her)
Instructions: click on each picture for close-up.

See real fabric body and belly below as well.

Body with spine-bumps and eyes sewn on.

Belly with legs sewn on.

.................................later..........................

Got my camera back! Just in time to take this last pic of Nessie all done!
Only thing I think is wrong, her eyes are a bit too large. Well, I'll fix that another day.

Tribal Dragon tattoo

2007-11-06T09:31:00.001Z

progression of a tribal tattoo: sketch 1
sketch 2
sketch 3, and partly drawn
Finished tattoo! Hopefully in a few months, I can see the design on skin.

*edit* People have been asking me if it's ok to use this tattoo. Yes, please do use it, and please let me see a photo of it when it's healed. I love seeing my artwork on people.
I won't be sending out Emails to anyone asking permission, as I have immediately after received tons of spam Email.
So, please just go ahead and use any of my tattoo art. And if you'd like to send me a donation, that's appreciated.

ow!

2007-10-26T22:13:00.000+01:00

I got a tiny little scratch on my arm, right by my tattoo.. looks like the spider scratched me, hm?

Annual Cloud Festival

2007-10-05T11:58:00.001+01:00

I drew this some years ago, just came across it.

draw anything in 1 minute!

2007-10-05T11:43:00.001+01:00

Wow, I wonder if I should get one of these nifty things.. I can get my drawings done in only ONE minute! Think how much time I could save!!

Woe

2007-10-01T08:38:00.000+01:00

" We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey."
~Kenji Miyazawa

For Michelle, who's feeling kinda low recently. *hugs*
Also for Illustration Friday, funny how this topic happened to come up just now.

Red carpet meshes

2007-07-27T08:41:00.001+01:00

A pic for a fellow skinner, so she can see what the meshes look like.
:-)

Dona Nobis Pacem

2007-06-09T10:16:00.001+01:00

Give Us Peace

"Let us love the world to peace."
~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

"We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace."
~William Ewart Gladstone

Get your peace globe here, post a message here, and lets all join together for a peaceful and harmonious world.

Save the Forests

2007-06-04T09:19:00.001+01:00

" If civilization has risen from the Stone Age, it can rise again from the Wastepaper Age." ~Jacques Barzun, The House of Intellect, 1959

temporary sign

2007-06-04T06:52:00.001+01:00

I've always wanted to take a pic of the temporary sign in Dublin. I used to see it from the bus window going home from work. It was up for years and years and years... well, I suppose compared to the age of the universe, it's definately temporary. So I finally had my camera with me, and I see they have taken down the old sign, and put up a brand new temporary sign!

Combining 2 blogs

2007-06-02T16:49:00.000+01:00

Bye bye to Sil's Art Nook. I've decided to combine the two together. Copied all the comments as well. ;-)

Windywillow pixie map

2007-05-19T20:20:00.001+01:00

Buttercups in the sunshine look like little cups of gold.
Perhaps the Faeries come to drink the raindrops that they hold.
~Elizabeth T. Dillingham, "A Faery Song"

Way out in space together...

2007-03-20T14:26:00.000Z

"I wish I was a spacegal,
the fastest girl alive
I'd fly you ‘round the universe.
In Fireball XL5.
Way out in space together.
Conquerors of the sky.
My heart would be a fireball.
...A fireball...
Every time I gaze into your starry eyes.
We’d take a path to Jupiter and maybe very soon.
We’d cruise along the Milky Way and land upon the Moon.
To a wonderland of stardust.
We’ll zoom our way to mars.
My heart would be a fireball.
...A fireball...
And you would be my Martian of the stars.”

(slightly altered song lyrics to an old TV show "FireballXL5" from my childhood days. Here's thier webpage. This song is the closing credits.)

Candy Mountain

2007-02-14T09:16:00.000Z

I'll be away for 2 weeks, see you then! Meanwhile, here's a comic from the past, drawn by me, written by friend Billy Lapa. Happy Valentine's Day. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

Faerie's Secrets

2007-02-07T09:46:00.000Z

Come to me, my secret love
Bathe me in your sweet touch
In a whisper soft as the dove
Say the words "I love you so much"

~Author: Anonymous

Another low...

2007-02-06T09:07:00.000Z

Feeling a bit low lately. I have spent about 2-3 months working on some artwork. And in the end I have not been paid. The work was sent to the client all finished, and they said it was not good enough, and would I do it over. At this point, I felt so down about the whole thing, completely lost all inspiration and enthusiasm for the project. I did not want to spend another 2 months doing the same thing, and didn't think I could do any better, as I had given them the best I could do. So I told them they would really be better off finding someone else to do the work, and just to throw my stuff in the bin.
Well, my husband thinks they have gotten my work for free now. I'm not sure what to think...
So in the meantime, I have lost several weeks worth of money, now we are reduced to eating lentils and cabbage.
Why do I continue to be an artist? No idea.. but I'm sure everything will be better again soon.....I'm hopeful.

Amazing Artists

2007-01-26T17:16:00.000Z

This week's topic for Studio Friday January 26th suggested by Janet: LOOK WHO I FOUND... !

"I love to discover new artists and often find them through other peoples mentions of them. So, introduce us, in words and/or pictures, to an artist, craftsperson, or writer you admire and that we might not have heard of before (i.e. not a famous one). What do you like about their work? How does it inspire your own work?"

~ JanetThe first two pics are parts of digital paintings by Enayla. Here is her site. I think she is amazing. She mostly does fantasy characters. I wish I could paint in Photoshop half as well as her, it's just incredible!

The next two pieces are cross-stichings done by my mother, Lilo. She started the first one while lying in bed with a bad back, to relieve her boredom. And she's been making hundreds since then. She has always been good with sewing and needlework her entire life, and now it's become an art form for her. I think she has an amazing talent. Here is her blog.

My dream studio

2007-01-19T08:05:00.000Z

This week's topic for Studio Friday January 19th suggested by mereteveian: INSPIRING DREAM STUDIO!

Well, I have dreamed of having a little cottage for many years, as my studio. It would have a front looking real traditional, but the back would have big windows for light. I could have seperate rooms, one for animation, one with a big table for crafts and such, and another room with a sewing machine. And one more room for books!

When we were looking for a house to buy a few years back, we came across the prettiest little cottage by a stream, with a lot of land around it. We thought it would be nice to build a new house, and I could have the cottage for my studio.
Well, we didn't buy it after all, it was in the middle of nowhere, far from any Dublin transport, and my kids needed the bus to go to college. But I can still dream.

Dragon Whelp

2007-01-12T10:33:00.000Z

" Playing with fire is bad for those who burn themselves. For the rest of us, it is a very great pleasure." ~Author Unknown

Hand Puppets

2007-01-12T10:21:00.000Z

When I was a child, I made my own hand puppets and marionettes, and gave shows several times a year for the neighborhood kids. That later became a fascination for animation, which led me to my career. Anything that can be given a personality by myself is always fun. I still collect and make puppets, and here are a few unusual ones: A bird nest full of baby birds, a little box containing tiny mice, a sock puppet given to me by my son, a Hansel and Gretel glove-puppet, and a little willy finger puppet. I know, I'm still a kid in my 50's!

Winter Waltz

2007-01-05T11:04:00.000Z

" And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

A conceptual drawing for an animated short I am working on.

created by Salix Tree

2007-01-05T10:05:00.000Z

Changing names. This is the topic for Studio Friday this week, as suggested by Susan.

"I've been reading Twyla Tharp's book The Creative Habit and here's an idea from her book - " the ancient masters of Japanese art were allowed to change their name once in their lifetime. They had to be very selective about the moment in their career when they did so. They would stick with their given name until they felt they had become the artist they aspired to; at that point, they were allowed to change their name. For the rest of their life, they would work under the new name at the height of their powers."
So let's presume we are at the height of our careers - what name would you choose and why?
~ Susan

I have already chosen a name. All my life I have loved willow trees, well.. all trees! Willow is my favorite. In legend, people sat under the willow for inspiration. I just love the way the weeping branches sway, with sunlight flickering through, giving a partial shade. There is usually water nearby, and the sounds of water and rustling leaves is very soothing.

"Salix" is the latin name for willows. I like the way that word sounds, soft and feminine. Long ago, I was into Role-Playing games. I made myself a willow dryad, and named myself Salix. That name has stayed with me for years, and if someone called that name in a crowd, I would surely turn around. For it has become my alternate name.

I have begun using it to sign my artwork as well for the past several years, mostly signing Silvia/Salix.

Peas on Earth

2006-12-25T07:53:00.000Z

Happy Christmas!

"We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace." ~William Ewart Gladstone

"Let us love the world to peace." ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

Happy Christmas!

2006-12-24T16:39:00.000Z

"Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles." ~author unknown

White

2006-12-15T13:42:00.000Z

This week's topic for Studio Friday December 15th suggested by Jo: PURELY WHITE!

" All these colour combos have given me an idea, especially with christmas coming...to do a 'white christmas' studio friday...where artists put together whatever they want...only using neutrals...or to be really strict....white, (being a textile artist its great to get back to basics and to restrict oneself to just one colour, then see how many different surfaces or textures you can find.)" ~ Jo

I have just finished making an outfit for Sims2 using frosty colors. We are going to have an Ice theme for our Christmas downloads, so I made a Frosty Faerie. I thought this would work for the White topic, even though there are hints of blues and pinks as well.

Taranis sleeps

2006-12-11T11:55:00.000Z

"White are the far-off plains, and white
The fading forests grow;
The wind dies out along the height,
And denser still the snow
A gathering weight on roof and tree,
Falls down scarce audibly"
~from Lorenna McKennit's song, "Snow"~

Favorite Christmas Songs

2006-12-11T11:20:00.000Z

"The meadows and far-sleeted streams
Lie still without a sound;
Like some soft minister of dreams
The snow-fall hoods me round;
In wood and water, earth and air
A silence everywhere"
~from Loreena McKennit's "a winter garden"~

There is a meme going around listing favorite Christmas songs. These are my favorite melodies of the winter season:
1. Spem in Alium, 40 voice piece by Thomas Tallis
2. Walking in the Air from The Snowman
3. Snow , Loreena McKennit
4. This Little Babe
5. Gaudete
6. What Child is This / Greensleeves
7. Drive the Cold Winter Away, Horslips
8. Fairytale of New York, Pogues & Kirsty Macoll

I've tagged a few people with this meme:
Invisible Shell
Jade
Carola
Anita
Snappy
;-}

Bad Color!

2006-12-08T16:18:00.000Z

This week's topic for Studio Friday December 8th suggested by Michelle: COLOUR COMBOS THAT MAKE YOU CRAZY!

" We all have combos we are uncomfortable with. Let's explore the *why* of it..." ~ Michelle

I don't understand people who spend so much time making something in bad color combinations. I think it's the browns in these, combined with various dull colors that I don't like. Excuse me for saying, but it looks like digested food that didn't make it all the way through the body.

Thanks to the knitters at You Knit What-part2 for these pics, they come up with the most awful stuff sometimes!

Ulysses Shop

2006-12-04T20:28:00.000Z

"You aren't wealthy until you have something money can't buy."
-- Garth Brooks

This is a virtual shop I once worked at. See "me" sitting and playing one of my crafted harps? Salix made musical instruments and jewelry as well. Lord Ulysses was a smith. Yonder walks Mythradin and further still is Zur'Goth.

lovely color combinations

2006-12-01T07:44:00.000Z

The Studio Friday topic this week is color combos.

"Let's throw in our favourite colours this week and spruce things up! So many great colours to choose your favourites from, hehe. "

Thanks Sharla for suggesting this week's topic!

A lot of the time, I look at what nature has put together in color combinations. Here are some flowers from my summer garden in my favorite colors:

Sometimes, looking at a single viola flower can be rapturous, the colors are like little watercolor paintings. Violas in violet and yellow against green. Happy and friendly colors.

This rose's color of peach is mingled with tones of yellows and apricots, again, backed by the color green. A warm and delicious color combo.

I love the subtle colors of blush pinks mixed with yellows and whites, soft and romantic.

Sweetpeas, in colors of reds, pinks and violets. A fireworks of colors! Bursts of energy!

I like all colors, my favorite being green and yellow right now. Green, the predominant color of plants, soothing to the eyes, relaxing and calming. Yellow, a happy and cheerful color, sugesting friendliness.

Seed pack tutorial

2006-11-25T13:36:00.000Z

I've had a request to make a tutorial on how I make seed packs on Photoshop. I hope I can explain good enough for you to follow. So here goes..

1. I used Becky's template design, drawing a new one. Make a new layer. Use the brush tool. To make a strait line, I make a spot, and then hold the arrow key down, and put the brush down at the end of the line. Draw up the template, or use mine!

2. I wanted to use a piece of art I already had. You can use anything you like, pictures, textures.. etc. And decorate the template however you like.

3. I dragged my artwork under the template. My piece of art was not the right size, nor did I want to use the blue sky (extra ink!) To get rid of a color, use the magic wand tool, and then "select/similar". Delete the color.

4. I cut the drawing in half using the lasso tool to make a new layer via cut (shft/cnrl/j). and then moved them together. Cut it to fit into the square.

5. To type something, choose the type tool. I chose Harrigton, it's my fave font right now. I use a lot of fonts from Font Freaks and Font Mania. I extract the font to a folder called WINNT/fonts.

6. I did a double type and moved the second color down and over a bit. You can choose the color in the square up top. On the pack flap, I printed the words and then rotated them upside-down: "edit/ transform/ rotate 180o". This way, they will be rightside-up when the pack is glued together.
Now flatten all the levels. "Layer/flatten image" (on top bar)

7. I dragged 3 templates on a new page, 1163 by 827 pixels. The size of typing paper. Remember you can turn them "edit/ transform/ rotate".
Flatten this, all done! Print out, cut and glue!

If I left anything out, or didn't explain well enough, do please ask!

Comfy!

2006-11-24T12:04:00.000Z

This week's topic for Studio Friday November 24th suggested by Lisa: COMFORT!

My feet are always tucked into these comfy slippers. My daughter gave them to me last Christmas, and I wear them all year long in my studio. Soft, squooshy, and warm. They keep my toes toasty. If my feet are cold, my brain gets distracted.

Seeds for friends

2006-11-19T09:04:00.000Z

I was looking at Becky's seed envelope idea, and it inspired me to do the same! She has a great template that I used. I drew one up in Photoshop, and put 3 side by side to fit on a piece of typing paper. Printed it out.

Cut them out, folded and glued them. I left a little space to write which seeds go in.
And there you go! Packages to go, with seeds from my Windywillow garden, to share with my blogging friends!

This is me

2006-11-16T13:18:00.000Z

This week's topic for Studio Friday, November 17th suggested by Jill: THIS IS ME!

A little collage of all the things that say "this is me and this is what I do".

1. a notebook/journal
2. a book about cats: my favorite animal
3. a book about nature
4. a few character figures from films I have worked on
5. a little birdie: I love small songbirds (I know it's a penguin, ah well)
6. Minnie Mouse: symbolising animation
7. a little basket of herbs: I love baskets, I love small things
8. a little vase of herbs: again, a small thing, and I love growing and using herbs
9. sketchbooks
10. a spider wearing barbie shoes: symbolising monsters, and I like spiders
11. lip balm: I need that!
12. a little basket with childhood toy: symbolising the child in me
13. a flip book: animation again
14. Loreena McKennitt CD
15. Mediaeval Baebes CD
16. a fairie
17. apple: my fave fruit
18. herbal tea
19. chocolate: mmm!
20. USB devise: symbolising computers
21. seeds: symbolising plants, trees
22. seashell: symbolising nature, and I like to pick up pretty things
23. wild earings, cat in a plane, alien, cat: symbolising craziness, sci-fi, and cats again
24. my needlework and threads
25. a green flower bracelet made by my brother: symbolising family love, hippy, fimo, and flowers
26. pencils, erasor, reinforcements: used to animate
27. a doily my Mom made: symbolising family and nostalgia

Acorn, Oak Sprite

2006-11-15T18:17:00.000Z

"Colors burst in wild explosions
Fiery, flaming shades of Fall"

The Wild Hunt

2006-11-08T00:26:00.000Z

'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world.
~William Shakespeare

Interconnected?

2006-11-07T06:36:00.000Z

I'm a loner...
I live very far from my family. I live out in the country, far from everyone I know in Dublin. I don't mind.. it's quiet here. I like it.
I'm shy, so lose touch with people easily.
I talk with family over the phone, or Email, and rare visits.
It's ok, I don't really mind. I like being alone a lot of the time.
This may sound sad to all you who have lots of friends, but I'm happy here.
I have my garden, my cats, my hubby and occasional visits from my kids.
I'm a loner, it suits me.
The only thing that's connected in my studio are these two dolls dancing on a little green. Tra la laaa!

(posted very late for Studio Friday, cause I was too shy to admit all this because of what Nancy Bea said "Isolation can cause fear and despondancy: the artist alone in the ivory tower is often the one who commits suicide or stops working!" I don't feel that is true at all, at least for me.)
;-}

Emmaline Bites

2006-10-31T09:29:00.000Z

'Tis the night - the night.. Of the grave's delight,
And the warlocks are at their play;
Ye think that without .. The wild winds shout,
But no, it is they - it is they.
~Arthur Cleveland Coxe

Manshoon Chembyl

2006-10-27T09:18:00.000+01:00

A portrait of a role player's character this is. An undead named Manshoon Chembyl he is. *crackle crackle* ... "Good souls"

"Death, the sable smoke where vanishes the flame." ~George Gordon, Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

My label collection shirt

2006-10-26T13:32:00.000+01:00

Studio Friday, part 2
I'm happy to be chosen to pick this week's topic!
Studio Friday October 27th suggested by Silvia: MY COLLECTION(S)!
"Most people collect something, it would be fun to see what others have in their collections."

I used to hate the labels scratching my neck, so I took them off my clothes. Some were so pretty, I couldn't throw them out, so kept them in my sewing box. One day several years ago, I was not able to go to work, and started this shirt, and have been adding to it ever since.

I have several theme sections. Here are the Irish and rainbow labels: (and do click on the pics for a closer view)

Cartoons and Levis:

Lizards:

Unicorns and horses:

Girls:

Palm tree sleeve:

Plants and men:

Words:

That's all folks! ;-} Hope you enjoyed my shirt, I'm enjoying making it!

Ocarinas, Unicorns and Keychains

2006-10-26T11:11:00.000+01:00

I'm happy to be chosen to pick this week's topic!
Studio Friday October 27th suggested by Silvia: MY COLLECTION(S)!
"Most people collect something, it would be fun to see what others have in their collections."

Tine says three objects would qualify, so first, here are my three ocarinas :

I used to collect and make unicorns when I was younger. The blue and white wooden one I made, my sister made the little brown fimo one.

When my son moved out, he left behind several keychains, to which I have added many many more. My favorites are the etch-a-sketch, little rubber duckie, and alien in a bottle. Click on the pic to see a close-up!
My daughter collects all kinds of candy wrappers, my youngest son collects all different soft drink cans (Coke is his specialty), and my husband collects "inspected by" tags.

International Artist's Day

2006-10-25T17:28:00.000+01:00

Today is International Artist's Day!

I looked up this site, and it said to take an artist for lunch. "Oh that sounds lovely!" thought I. So I told my hubby about it. He smiles and says "ok, I will think of you while you eat your sandwich" So he's reading the paper when I sat down with a sandwich I made, he turns to me and says "See? I'm thinking of you!"
Isn't he sweet? ;-} I had to laugh!

...no one hears my silent tread...

2006-10-23T15:38:00.000+01:00

Ghost.. for Illustration Friday

An illustration of a little Japanese girl's ghost, after the bombing of Hiroshima. This song is the saddest song I have ever heard. If you have a chance, listen to the song on the CD, "this mortal coil, blood". I have written down the lyrics:

I COME AND STAND AT EVERY DOOR

I come and stand at every door
but no-one hears my silent tread
I knock and yet remain unseen
for I am dead, for I am dead

I'm only seven although I've died
in Hiroshima long ago
I'm seven now as I was then
when children die they do not grow

My hair was scorched by swirling flame
my eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind
Death came and turned my bones to dust
and that was scattered by the wind

I need no fruit, I need no rice
I need no sweet, nor even bread
I ask for nothing for myself
for I am dead, for I am dead

All that I ask is that for peace
you fight today, you fight today
so that the children of this world
may live and grow, and laugh and play

(original lyrics by Nazim Hikmet)

Daisy Lupin's First [sometimes slightly cheeky] Meme

2006-10-22T13:51:00.000+01:00

Daisy Lupin made up a meme, I just saw it this morning on her site. Looked like fun, so here goes...

What was your first childhood pet?
We didn't have any pets, other than my Father's fish tank. We brought home all sorts of animals like snakes, turtles, mice, insects. But we were only allowed to keep the animal for a few hours, and were to let it go again where it was found. The first pet I had was a grey and white cat I brought home when I was a teen, I named her Daisy.

What was your favourite comic?
Superman and Lois Lane.

What was your favourite childhood book?
Not sure it would be a favorite, but quite memorable. "Der Struwwelpeter" The scariest book! Here's the page that frightened me the worst:

Did you ever have an imaginary friend as a child?
I had an imaginary white horse named Dusty, that raced alongside our car when my family drove somewhere. Sometimes I imagined sitting on her and she would veer away into the distance, so we could see something closer up.

Did you play an instrument as a child?
A clarinet

What was the first hit single record you bought?
The Beatles "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

What tune sums up teenage summers?
"California Dreaming" by The Mamas and the Papas. I wanted to go to California so bad, I wanted to be with all the flower children! I finally did go when I was in my 20s.

What was first pop concert you went to?
The Doors, and a week later, Jefferson Airplane.

Fave teenage TV programme?
Really don't remember, just enjoyed watching really good cartoons, like Warner Bros. and Disney.

Were you a naughty or a good girl at school?
Good, except for my dress. I was always being called into the principle's office for wearing my skirts too short.

Miss Popularity, Artsy Pants, weirdo or geek, which of these groups classify you at secondary[high] school?
Artsy/Weirdo. I made my own clothes, and they were quite wild! Psychedelic-Hippy style. Nobody wore what I was wearing.

Girl most likely to [as in year book]?
End up in California living in a commune. I did live in a commune, and I did end up in LA.

What colour did you paint your bedroom as a teenager?
I had murals of landscapes with space rabbits and willow trees, and many flowers. Rest of the walls were pale yellow.

Very first paid job ever?
I made a sign in the 60s for the Dutch Embassy (in Wash. DC) which is still to this day standing in thier lobby.

Have you ever been really drunk?
Really drunk, no. Really sick from eating strawberries out of a punchbowl, yes.

Did you smoke dope? and if so did you do a Bill Clinton [ smoking but not inhaling]?
Yes, I was a hippy, I did all kinds of "interesting" stuff.

A stupid thing you did?
Rather not say, but nothing bad came of it in the end.

Left handed or right handed?
Right.

Should you play a board game with me?
I'm not a big fan of board games. I used to play with my hubby, and I would win. He would then take his turn back and we would continue till I won again. Then he would take his turn back.. etc etc. I got tired of playing board games.

If you came to visit me what would we do?
Take a walk around the countryside, or a cycle. Visit our local castle in Trim. Maybe have a little drive in the area. Home for a home-cooked dinner, with veggies and herbs from the garden.

Florizel, Calpurnia, and Zut

2006-10-22T10:12:00.000+01:00

This week's topic for Studio Friday October 20th suggested by Kerri:
AUTUMN INSPIRATION!

"Autumn inspiration - According to my calendar, today (Sept 22) is the "Autumnal Equinox," and it's my favorite season, so show me what you love about the fall - the colors?... the leaves?...etc."
~ Kerri

What I like about this season, is the coming of Samhain, the beginning of the dark half of the year. A magical, frightening, wonderful time of the year.. Spirits and witches and undead roam the lands.. autumn fruits such as apples, pumpkins and nuts are plentyful, the pumpkins and turnips carved into grotesque or fantastic faces. Bonfires are set on All Hallows Eve, and people dance and cavort around the fire all evening.
In my art room, I have a giant plant in which hang these three witches. They remind me of this fun and exciting time of the year.

Velvet, the Night Fae

2006-10-11T12:02:00.000+01:00

O wild and wondrous midnight,
There is a might in thee
To make the charmed body
Almost like spirit be,
And give it some faint glimpses
Of immortality.
~James Russell Lowell, Midnight

Dread, panic and worry

2006-10-10T10:58:00.000+01:00

This week's topic for Studio Friday, October 13th, suggested by Casey: FEAR!

I haven't got a lot of fear, or even a lot of worry. Maybe just a tiny bit...
I once had a fear of getting old, but now that I'm older, it doesn't bother me a whole lot anymore. I have a few old hags sitting around my room, they are cute in a strange way.I have a slightly more worry about getting a disease, where you lay in bed wasting away, depending on others to feed you and such. Here's a little statue of a cartoon character, mutilated by a fellow animator.
But this is my worst fear of late.. the fear of going blind. I was trying to do some work I had not done in many years, clean up of animator's drawings. It is exact work, the line needs to be sharp and precise. My eyes kept blurring and any amount of blinking and rubbing was not helping. I went to see about my eyes, and found I needed glasses! Wow, what a difference! I can see! But for a short while there, I was panicing about my eyesight going away. One of my first thoughts was "well, I can still smell the scent of my plants, I'll be choosing a lot of scented and tactile plants when I go blind!"
;-}

Faeries Steal the Gold Braid

2006-10-07T15:30:00.000+01:00

Trouble! Faeries create havoc in the garden!
This past summer, on Daughter of the Soil's blog, she wrote about faeries stealing the gold tread she marked certain plants with. I loved the image I imagined it to be, and finally got around to create it.

"We the Faeries, blithe and antic, Of dimentions not gigantic,
Though the moonshine mostly keep us, Oft in orchards frisk and peep us."
...Thomas Randolph

See how others have imagined trouble on Illustration Friday.

Memories and Funnies

2006-10-05T15:01:00.000+01:00

This week's topic for Studio Friday, September 22nd, suggested by Jill:
STICK IT TO THE... BOARD!
" It would be interesting to see the variety of bulletin/memory boards in our studios. What is pinned to them? Photos? Notes? Reminders? Ideas for future projects?"
~Jill

Memory is a crazy woman that hoards colored rags and throws away food. ~Austin O'Malley

On the board next to my animation desk are tacked up drawings, photos, comics, cards and presents from family and friends. Not really inspiration, but rememberences of things past, love from people, happy times, funny stuff. Makes me smile...