Gargowl

 I signed up for ANDY SKINNERS TIMEWORN online workshop......it started a couple of days ago..........this is my first attempt at one of the techniques......he calls it Aged Ivory.

 I started with this terracotta owl thingy.......forgot to take a pic of the front before I started but you can get an idea of the colour from the back.

 This is how it came out......not sure the surface was quite right, ivory needs to look more polished I think but I do like it nevertheless!

 Could have just left it like that but I had this book lying around so decided to cut a niche in it for Mr Gargowl

 here he is in place!

Something

 to crow about!!

Well, I'm not sure I have anything to crow about.....apart from finally getting back in the studio after several weeks break..........but I needed some words to go on this page and these fitted!

 I bought these serviettes in Iceland.......I used some of them on these pages.

 

It was fun getting inky and messy again.............I missed it!!

Home again, home again!

  I'm back from my latest travels!! 

Unfortunately we had to cut our trip a little short as my friend had a family issue to deal with and had to return home so we didn't get to Vienna........there is always another day! 

That said I had a good time!

gain

   We started in Bratislava....capital of Slovakia. 

It has severe Soviet apartment blocks seen here through the New Bridge....

 a city view from a church tower

 ....loved the churches with their cupolas....

 and there is some fun street art!

 We moved onto castles.........

 ......coal mines.......

loved the art in the entrance hall.....not so sure about the mine itself.....bit scary!

 ......old villages..........

 ....painted houses...............

 .....wine tasting in a traditional wine cellar......greeted by a couple in traditional costume......she confided that her costume was very uncomfortable......she couldn't sit in it or go to the loo!

 Traditional cakes cooked over an open fire........absolutely delicious!

Wine  cellar said to have been started by the Templar Knights!

  Lovely town views!

 

And finally.........this was my hotel room for the last 2 nights.....very pretty!

After my summer of travelling I'm looking forward to being at home and getting back in the studio......it's been so long!!

I'm afraid

I still have no arty stuff to show you:(

We arrived back from Iceland and hit the ground running with trips to London to sort out visa for Kazakhstan and having a new driveway/paths and patio re-laid, there was just no time for art! 

And now with my husband off on his way back to work in Kazakhstan I am off on my travels again:)

Tomorrow I travel down to Suffolk to my friends and then on Friday we fly out to The Czech Republic, Slovakia and a few days in Vienna!

 I will be gone for 2 weeks and I am sure by the time I get home I will be raring to get in the studio again.

 These goodies arrived today and will be waiting for me when I get home.........and I signed up for ANDY SKINNERS TIMEWORN online workshop......it starts at the end of August so I am hoping that will get the creative juices going again after quite a break!

These goodies are from THE STAMP ATTIC.....in case you needed to know:)

Holiday pics

We arrived home from our trip on Monday......what an absolutely amazing, fantastic time we had. It met and exceeded all of our expectations......mile after mile of gobsmacking scenery......I had a hard time deciding which pics to show you.....we took quite a few:)

So, here is just a small selection.....

 VOLCANOES.......

 to WATERFALLS

ICEBERGS ....

to GLACIERS

 TURF HOUSES..........

 to CHURCHES

GEYSERS.........

 to BUBBLING MUD POOLS

 And a day in REYKJAVIK........this is HALLGRIMSKIRKJA

a typical street view.....

 

 SUN VOYAGER sculpture on the waterfront

 and finally could not resist showing you these very cute little guys:)