Handmade Monday.

Arggh! As if it is Monday again today! This is my third week on Handmade Monday already - how time flies when you are very busy! There are a lot of great crafty blogs up already, so go get looking at what everybody has been up to - or even contribute yourself! :)

Last week I mentioned my plans for the week ahead. I was feeling a bit under the weather this week so I am behind on what I had planned, but there were some unforeseen extras that made up for it.  

Where to start! Where to start!

So... I didn't get any baking done and I didn't start my new illustration, BUT I did get my hair chopped and I did get my entry form from our local Art Gallery for their annual Open Art Exhibition in Rotherham. Due to moving to new premises, the competition is a little later than last year so I already have my artworks planned out. I cannot give away much yet but I love bird watching and I love F1, so there is a hint of what is to come.

Despite not feeling on top of my game, I did manage to visit our local RSPB reserve, not only once but three times. I am still a newbie bird watcher and when my neighbor told me about how good Old Moor was, I went along to find out for myself. There are so many different birds living in a fantastic and protected area and it is the kind of place you can go to and always see something new! I think I fluked it on Tuesday with the weather, NOT A DROP OF RAIN ALL DAY! I saw lots of birds I had never seen before, yet when someone pointed out to me five Black Tailed Godwits, I could not spot them at all! Here are a few of the birds I did see though...

A couple of weeks ago I applied for a volunteer role at Old Moor and on Thursday (a dry day until I stepped off the bus and the heavens opened!)  I went for an interview aaaaand I finally got to see the Black Tailed Godwits, not just five - we saw 28!!! Yesterday I went for a little taster to see how I would get on. As it was pouncing down with rain all day, plans changed slightly and along with another volunteer, I went on a walk to find some Yellow Wagtails and Little-Ringed Plovers. We didn't see any but it was a great little wander despite the cold and wet. Typically, there had been sightings of both birds and a few others that I am yet to see but they were obviously hiding when we were out!!! I cannot wait for next Sunday to start properly- hopefully a little bit drier too!

Are any of you RSPB members? Which reserves do you visit?


I made a little RSVP card for my best friends wedding - I love classic and simple designs and that is what I went for. I am so excited for the wedding it is unreal!

I received an awesome parcel this week too. I say awesome - it was 5 metres of toy wadding. Toy wadding I will be using to stuff some gorgeous red material that I own. I have some new templates - so think along the lines of my little bunny (and owls) and little duck, but in the style of some beautiful red birdies :)


What shapes would you like to see from me?

Aaaaand finally - here be my knitting update!

This week I learned stocking stitch. My Mum always says that it is really hard to get right but somehow I managed to grasp it really well. I am so happy with this length of knitting this week :)

 I then started to learn to rib and it looked good - although the tension wasn't great - until I learned the Moss stitch and it all went wrong!

Well, that is me done for another Monday! This week will be filled with bird making, bird watching, a catch up over coffee tomorrow, a new illustration and some baking (yes really! I will! I promise!)


Have a great week guys and gals X 

Handmade Monday - A Revamp and Some More Knitting.

So this is my second Handmade Monday and after the feedback on my first blog, I feel very welcomed :) Thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments - I have replied to you all where I can. I cannot wait to see what everyone else has been up this week.

If you are reading this and have no idea what I am talking about, get yourselves over to the utterly brilliant Handmade Monday blog and see what 'artist/designer – and general dogsbody' Wendy has put together so that like-minded artists, designers and crafty peoples can share their wares.

This is what I have been up this week.

I decided to take the bunny I made last week as a belated Easter and get well soon present to a different friend. My friend absolutely loved it and it made me so happy to see his reaction over something that I had made.

Sooo I had a new gift to make for my friends birthday and came up with something a little similar but different fabric (I also forgot to spritz the padding with perfume!)
  

Last night I was tidying up my wardrobe and found these little beauties. They are between 6 and 8 years old now. I still have a tonne of felt left from school but just not the time to do anything with it.

Every time I see Jan's feltings at http://www.lovemakethink.com/, I wish I did have more time to felt.

Aaaand here is my knitting update. Thank you for everyone who left an encouraging comment about it last week. This week I have been attempting stocking stitch. It is not looking too great at the moment but I am sure I will crack it with a bit more practice. At one point I got so confused that I managed to invert the pattern (cue my Mum coming to the rescue!)

 
This week I have a new illustration on the go, a hair chop appointment, a bit of much needed baking to do and a couple of trips planned to Old Moor. I hope you all have a fab week planned too :)

Let me know what you think! X

 

Handmade Monday - Easy to Make Gifts and Knitting.

How are you this afternoon?

On Saturday I came across a website full of fantastically amazing handmade goodness in the form of Handmade Monday. Here's my little contribution that I made today.

I drew the design freehand on doubled up fabric scraps. I cut out the shapes and sewed them up but left a small gap at the top. I then turned the fabric the right way round, stuffed it with plenty of padding that had a squirt of my favourite perfume and the sewed up the top. I did the same for the two ears (minus the perfume) and sewed them in to place. I sewed on odd buttons for eyes and glued on a small amount of stuffing as a little fluffy tail.

And hey presto! A lovely handmade gift for my friend's birthday. It could be used as a pin cushion or a hanging decoration for the house or even car.


Here are couple of other handmade goodies that I've been working on.

There are two things I love; birds and making pin cushions. A while ago I made some Owl pin cushions which I came across again this morning. 

On Saturday my Mum started to teach me to knit. I'm great at the knit part, but find the pearl part SO confusing. Here's a sneak peak of what I've learned so far :)

What do you think? X

Fountains Abbey - Birdwatching for Beginners!

So a bit of a geeky post this time!

Since seeing a Black-headed Gull last year at Easedale Tarn, I have been hooked on looking and learning about birds. I joined The National Trust, bought a pocket guide to birds and went on my merry way. I saw that Fountains Abbey were holding a Birdwatching for Beginners talk and walk last weekend and knew this would be the perfect opportunity to further my new found interest.

Male and Female Tufted Ducks (front) Little Grebes (back)

The talk literally went back to basics; how to use binoculars, what pocket book to carry (apparently illustrated books are the best - whey!) and a look at birds you WILL see in your garden. We were then taken on a walk through the ruins of the Abbey and down by the river. Here are some of the pictures I took :)

Grey Wagtail - I didn't even know this bird existed!

Jackdaws

 

 The really good thing about going on a tour is that the guides know exactly where to look! I saw Tufted Ducks and Grey Wagtails. I didn't even know these birds existed. Now I know where to find them.

I cannot wait to go back to Fountains Abbey and spend time exploring myself! Who knows what else there is to find?! :)

Rockalily Lipstick.

I've experimented with all kinds of colours and makes of lipsticks but they always bleed off my lips and so I gave up and stuck to lip glosses. That was until I heard of ReeReeRockette's business, Rockalily Make Up.

I now own three of these lipsticks. They are bright, bold and they stay on my lips! And when I say stay, they can generally last all evening.

I bought Rockette Red because I wanted a bright red that complimented my pale skin and blonde hair. It takes a lot of confidence to wear it but once you do, you can't help but smile!

I bought Pompadour Pink after spending an afternoon in a shop with some very pretty ladies and having never felt so unglamorous in my life! I decided I needed to make more of an effort on my own appearance. I decided to buy a pink that would grab attention and make me feel glamorous!

In the same week that I bough Pompadour Pink, the much sought after Limited Edition colours came back into stock. I'd had my eye on Vintage Vixen as it is a 'dusky rose pink' Needless to say, I did buy it and because it is a soft and feminine colour, it is fast becoming my favourite colour!

The packaging is very pretty. The smell of each lipstick is divine. They keep your lips moisturised. The service is AMAZING! - You can't get better than next day delivery. You really do get what you pay for.


I highly recommend that you check out http://www.rockalily.com/ to find about the lovely ReeRee and Rockalily.


Because Life Is Too Short Not To Wear Lipstick! X

Creative Review Monographs.

I had a really good clear out and came across a stack full of Monographs from Creative Review magazine. I no longer require them. It's a shame to thrown them out, so I have decided to give them away. All I'm charging is 60p for postage per book. Just ping me an email if your interested to nicola_haigh[at]hotmail.co.uk

These are the titles:

• Phil Carter - Art Books (March 2008)
• Mitch Greenblatt - Watchismo (April 2008)
• Derek See - Derek's Daily 45's (May 2008)
• WIWP Presents - Now Showing (July 2008)
• Michael Lebovitz - Do Not Disturb (November 2008)
• Satoshi Minakawa - Customized (January 2009)
• Paul Belford - Bollywood Posters (February 2009)
• Aporva Baxi - Game and Watch (May 2009)
• Dominic Mallin - Mohammad Ali Memorabilia (July 2009)
• Taxi Series - Alex and Cocco (August 2009)
• Jordi Duro & Mery Cuesta - Found Book Covers ( Oct 2009)
• The B-Line - Ollie Kay (November 2009)
• Matchboxes From the Subcontinent - Matt Lee (December 2009)
• Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams (January 2010)
• Typographic Posters - Phillipe Apeloig (February 2010)
• 1980: A Year in Design and Advertising (March 2010)
• Ghostsigns - The History of Advertising Trust (April 2010)

Time For Myself.

So let's scrap the previous post where I said I knew what I wanted and was on the way to acheiving it. I'M NOT.

Okay, now that's out in the open I can sign a breathe of relief.

As you may have seen, I started Nicola E this year; a shop that I want to sell home-wares and apparel. Everything was going too fast and not the way I wanted it to go. I'm rushing on designs, I'm not working in the style I want, I don't have everything set up like planned. Ultimately, I'm not happy.

I miss drawing for the love drawing.

For the rest of this month I am going to solely focus on myself. What I want. I'm going to start my Jenson Button painting, I am going to illustrate more shoes in chalk pastel, I am going to build myself a website, I am going to go out and visit more galleries and see my friends more. I will still be selling things from my shop, but only the same way as my illustrator friends do.

When the time comes to restart my little home-wares shop, I will build it up properly. Y'know with a proper identity, website, a better idea of what I want to make and sell.

I thank you all that have been so supportive while I've set this up. This isn't the end, just a mere blip in my plans.

Today's plan involves a spot of Photoshop work, some bird watching, a Lush face mask and some Lemon Curd tart making. If I'm lucky enough my parcel from Amazon will arrive - The Lady and The Tramp and Breakfast at Tiffany's DVD's. What more does a girl need?

See you sooooon! X

Illustration Rally: Valentine's Day.

I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day, but I do love the association of birds with love and happiness and I do love a good rally. So here's what I came up with for Illustration Rally's Valentine's theme :)

Check out Illustration Rally's current rally here :) http://illustrationrally.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-day-rally-no23.html

Happy Weekend X

F1 Driver Series - #1 MARK WEBBER.

If you've been following me on Twitter, you will have seen that at the end of the 2011 F1 season I decided to draw the F1 drivers, starting with the winner of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

After a manic Christmas, I finally found the time to get drawing. So, here it is, my drawing of Red Bull driver, Mark Webber.

The next driver in this series is going to be Jenson Button.

X

The Doodle Swap Project #11 - Hybrid Animals.

Here are my seven hybrid animal cards.

I made a list of my seven favourite birds from my little bird book and matched them up with seven random animals. I had so much fun creating these little creatures and they've given me some inspiration for my Christmas cards this year!

I was sent the addresses of seven other doodlers to send these to. These are the ones I received in return.

Rosa Valentino

Patience Ward

Courtney Ballauer

Emily Armstrong

Amanda Scheid

Amanda Scheid

To see more of the Hybrid Animals and past doodles, visit The Doodle Swap Project Flickr group.

Find out more about The Doodle Swap Project and how to get involved in the next swap on their blog and on facebook.


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