Hello again...

I've been a little distracted of late, and not been blogging...obvs.
Hoping to get back into it soon :0)
Erica
x

Balancing Beatrice of Bordeaux

in the shop!

Spring fresh

From this...



to this...



Now the long hard winter is eventually over, I decided to move back down the shed. The kitchen table was becoming a little impractical, and I missed having all my little inspirational images and photos pinned up around me. I'm a very 'nesty' sort of girl, and like my creative space to be 'just so', or I'm not 100% happy. Sienna loves to play in the garden while I'm working, and when it's time for her naps, I just come up to the house and do some hoovering or ironing. It's all working out rather well! Sienna doesn't seem to care about the weather, so long as she's well wrapped up and waterproofed, I don't think the outdoor life will do her any harm!

Turning many corners

What do you you do when faced with not just a cross roads, but a multi level spagetti junction? Whilst lighting the fire tonight with some wood and twigs kindly donated by my lovely neighbour, I felt happy, really happy. The smell of the wood, and the sound of the fire catching and cracking sent me into a complete daze.

Living ones life is probably something that's on all of our minds. Life is so short, we all know that. So, whilst listening to the fire and my music, (quietly so as not to disturb 'the other neighbours while their dogs bark'), I wonder what to do. Neither Nick nor I want to be poor again, we've done that. It was awful, and to think it's romantic and love will conquer all is just a pile of rubbish. Only an idiot would believe that. I think you have to go through the threat of losing your house, your belongings, everything just because you can't pay your bills to realise that life chained to a mortgage and relying on loved ones to help out is just the lowest point ever.

So, what to do? What I'm basically yacking on about is the move to France. We wouldn't have a mortgage, but we would be significantly worse off money wise. Sienna is a concern. Actually, I don't even know why I'm saying that! Here, where she can't play in the back yard, or a huge expanse of land for her to build a tree house, a swing, see lizards, buzzards, deer...outstanding schooling.

So, going back to the spagetti junction analogy. I've got alot to give, creatively. I have many ideas about earning money to support my children's book illustration. That will always be my number one, number one, number one passion. It's just in me...but a few more strings to my bow wouldn't go amiss.


So, I'm back down the shed tomorrow. A repaint, a space just for me...again :0)

Lotsa of love,

Erica
xxx

These oxfords were built for walking....or not.

I must just share my funny day. On the way back from dropping Munch off at Grandma's , my car exploded. Luckily, Dave the farmer was passing along the same country road. As his landrover was full of other farmers, he couldn't offer me a lift. I gave him my shopping, (I'd popped to the shops), and he kindly dropped it back to my house later on. I had decided, today, to channel the 1940's fashion wise. Ditsy print blouse, puffy sleeved green cardy, A-line skirt and oxford shoes laced up with ribbon, black wooly tights. I walked the half mile back to the village, sending passing drivers into a confused state. Why is there a woman from the 40's walking along this road...am I in a time warp? Am I seeing a ghost? I like being the 'arty' one from the village. I get to wear what I like! Ha! xxx

New things and old things

I'm busying away, as usual...sewing and drawing and painting. There will be some new things to see soon in the shop, but in the mean time, there are some old things :)
I've just got the one project on the go at the moment, which is making me v-e-r-y happy. Lots of fairy outfits etc! There's still no news on my book and whether it's found a publisher. It's been turned down by one, but there's still a few more that were interested, so fingers crossed. I've got a lot of time on my hands which is quite unusual, so I'm keeping myself busy with all the things I love. Sienna is two going on thirty, and becoming very naughty! We're all off to France next month, so there may be some very exciting news to come after that!

Erica
xxx

Welcome along, Spring!

I've never been a massive fan of Spring, I'm more of an Autumn girl, but this year has been different. After the longest, coldest Winter I can remember, the chance to pop out without a coat is SUCH a novelty! The sun is out this morning, and Sienna and I are driving into Kettering to run some errands. We're choosing a birthday present for Sienna's cousin, we're popping into the art shop to pick up some purply pretty paper to make my neighbour's wedding invitations and I might even treat myself to some St Tropez now that I'm baring more flesh. My skin is so pale it's not even white, it's sort of a bluish!
In other news, today is the final day of Bologna Book Fair, and I'm nervously waiting for my agent to return with any news! I've written a new picture book, so am hoping to find a publisher for it.
So, I think it will be a pretty chilled out weekend, (I hope!), they're never long enough!

Erica
xxx