Fairport's Cropredy Convention

What a fabulous time I had at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention Festival last weekend! It was 3 days of great music, great friends, great food and great times! Everyone was in a festival mood and what glorious weather we had. 3 days of brilliant sunshine, though Friday was almost too much sun! I survived without getting burnt as I continuously bathe myself in sun cream as well as my little man. 

My hubby was brave and didn’t use any (he didn’t need it with his Native American blood!). It always seems to rain each year, so I am not going to complain about too much sun!
 

I started going to the Cropredy festival about 20 years ago, making it an annual tradition. This all got scuppered up when I moved to the States, but I have been back at it for the past 5 years now! This year was the first one where Oakley could run around, and did he ever! He had an absolute BLAST! 

He loved it, and made many many new friends, both young and old. He loved the children’s play area, and kept pointing towards it when we were sat down. He chased lots of girls and lots of dogs! I thought he might have gotten the blues this past week from the let-down of a normal ‘boring’ week! (But, nah, he is such a happy little boy, he kept keep on smiling!)

The favourite bands I saw were Squeeze, Larkin Poe and Bellowhead. Not to mention Fairport Convention themselves of course! 

Of course, there was the traditional Richard Digance stint, which involves lots of laughter and lots of Morris-hanky waving!

My little boy's creativity

My little man loves to be creative! He loves to draw and paint and build and basically anything where he gets to work with his little hands.

When I was a little girl, I was allowed to create (although it was play to me!) along side my dad as he painted and sculpted. I so much loved it! And now I let my little guy do the same. There aren't separate art materials for him and myself, we just share all the supplies! (Though some things he isn't allowed, like oil and acrylic paints for safety reasons).

The above picture is a drawing our old cat Aubrey. I think Oakley has the family creative gene as it really looks like him.

He loves seeing me painting and drawing. He is now at the age where he can grab a chair, drag it across the room beside me, climb on top and join right in! And during those times I am using paints he isn't allowed, I let him do 'dry' painting... I let him have some dry brushes and a dry palette and he loves it! He just paints whatever is in his mind and goes for it!

He also sometimes gets himself tired out from it all and has a snooze!

Breast feeding necklaces!

Hi everyone. I was recently looking for a present for my sister who is about to give birth as well as a gift for a friend's birthday. I came across some fabulous necklaces that combine both funky designs that are fashionable yet also at the same time safe for mama and babies! I have so many necklaces that I simply don't wear anymore because they aren't safe or comfortable when wearing or hugging my little boy.

Us mamas want to still look groovy and these necklaces ticked all the boxes! They are non-toxic and are designed to represent a pregnant woman and are twiddle buster designs (little baby fingers twiddle on the necklace not your hair!)

Check out monkeymamanecklaces if you love them as much as I do!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymamanecklaces
http://www.facebook.com/monkeymamanecklaces

Sketches

Incase you have been wondering what I have been up to creatively of late here are some recent sketches, some have made it into artwork.... some in progress and others are due to be developed soon

 Inspired by a Mama at the Natural Mamas big camp

 Idea for a tandem breastfeeding picture

 quick sketch of baby wearing family of babushka dolls

Babywearing Babuskha Mama

this one did make it into colour, and was turned into a card

 The top one is the rough sketch for a painting that is in progress, it is based on the wonderful Claire at Kitten Creations (she makes AMAZING carriers). Below is the final sketch on watercolour paper

 This one is called Expectant, and is inspired by my sister who is due to have her first baby any day now! I have been working on this one for a few weeks as it is quite a big painting.

Here is the latest shot of it in progress

When this one is finished I will post up all my in progress shots of it.

Hope you enjoyed them, keep checking back for updates on them, or like our Facebook page to see them as I work on them.

http://www.facebook.com/worldsofwhimsy

Natural Mama's Big Camp 2012

It may be Monday, but it somehow manageable as it comes on the heels of a fab weekend! The camp was considerably more popular this year and still had that good one-big-family feel to it. 

 My hubby, Oak, and I got to try out our new tent on Friday midday. For us, a tent we can now stand it, with lots of room, and it made it so much more comfortable.

Proud Hubby in front of our tent

There was lots going on throughout the 3-day camp, with campfires at night and workshops during the day. On the Saturday there was also a market place, in which i took part. There were lots of beautiful slings, and yarns and carriers among the wares for sale from various venders at the market place. My baby wearing and breastfeeding prints and cards proved popular and I also had a fantastic time as all of us were camp members. There was a fashion show with lots of mamas wearing their cute tots, and a fantastic raffle. I even won some nice smellies! 

Snuggling under our Lana Jade

Oak spent LOTS of time running free

Can't wait until next year's camp

Late night Cuddles

I haven't had much chance to be really creative this past week, but I did create this cute little pen and watercolour illustration.

It depicts a mother holding her baby tightly late a tight embracing those special twilight moments between a mother and her child.

 I've made her into cute little cards

Supporting your community

Since starting to sell my work I have met some amazingly talented people, who are also work at home mamas producing work for other mama's and their babies.


I hope you don't mind but I want to start sharing these with you, because they are an amazing resource and I feel so strongly about the importance of supporting independent artisans in their work.


It is comforting to know the things we buy have been made with love and not mass produced in unethical circumstances.


Today I want to share with you the amazingly talented 'Little Woodlanders' who produce the most beautiful handcrafted Natural wooden babywearing figures, 
teethers, and toys for open ended, imaginative, creative play.


I plan to buy some of their toys for my little boy as I know they will spark his imagination.


If you have time I would love for you to check out their Etsy store, and pop along and like their Facebook page.

Here are some of my favourite pieces that Rachel makes.

Illustration Friday: Suspend

This weeks doodles for illustration Friday.

The topic this week is suspend:

'hanging there suspended in the air, he thought to himself that maybe this wasn't a good idea after all'

 Some in process shots:

Original thumbnail sketch

Final sketch

 Almost finished

Words to live by

I have been busy using my newly created backgrounds to produce a series of mini posters full of beautiful words to live by. 

These are words that truly mean something to me, either words I need to hear and take note of, or special Buddhist quotes.

They are a cute A5 size, like a big postcard, I plan to put some up around my cubicle at work. I'm only at my day job two days away, but I often need some words of wisdom whilst I am there!!!

You can find these in my Etsy shop, and are £6 each

Words to live by

Painting from my heart

I've been doing a fantastic mixed course recently, it has encouraged me to start letting go and get really creative.

I've been enjoying getting covered in paint, carving my own stamps and creating my own stencils. I've been getting in touch with colours from deep within, and starting to delve deep inside my heart.

I want to share some of my backgrounds, printed papers and general creative fun.