I heard from the elves that there was no Fairy on top of Olivia's tree. Every little girl has to have a fairy!
I hope she manages to grant Olivia some of her wishes at future Christmas'.
And of course she had to have her first stocking.
I think she was happy.
I also made some felted robins but I can't find a picture, but I did photograph this little adage sun I made for them.
*Edit* a picture of one of the Robins sent to me by Elsa!!
Bacon butties on Boxing day.
Even the dogs had their own party online with their other Pointer pals. Ruger and Ellie had to dress up for the 12 days of Christmas doing the 5 Gold Rings part. Ellie insisted on gold bones though.
She did look rather pretty for the big 'Do' later that evening. Ruger and Tully fell asleep.
I have been thinking back over the year and realising I have discovered a few things. I've learned that I don't have to do everything. I have turned my hand to most things but now I must step back and appreciate the work of others who can do it better and enjoy that instead. After my holiday to France I truly did understand this. Though I like the work of those around me, I don't have to do it myself, for myself or to prove to others that I can do it. I can own assemblage art pieces that others make, it's ok, I am not a failure if I haven't made it myself. I am allowed to buy handmade felt, yes I can make it but I don't enjoy making it, it hurts! Giving myself a break has really opened my eyes and I'm enjoying it.
Another thing I also came to realise is the difference between being able to create art and being an artist. A couple of years ago I was asked why do I bother doing paintings like this, why not just frame a photograph?
There were a few other comments, I was so taken aback by them that I literally stopped painting. I went on and did the Art Weeks and my paintings were admired and, infact, this one eventually went into a charity auction to raise funds for Wessex Autism, something I'm quite proud of.
Anyway zoom forward a few months and I was at a gallery opening with some beautifully drawn pieces of art, exceptionally high quality that I would have been honoured to own. I was chatting to a friend I met there and he said that yes he liked them too but without going up to them he couldn't tell who had drawn which as they were all so lifelike, there was no artists individuality in them.
Big bell went off in my head. There were quite a few other artist friends there and I looked around and thought, yes actually I would be able to pick out that painters work if I saw it in a show, or that one's work in fact quite a few of them. They were all artists of their own style not just able to copy an image. And I suppose when we visit a gallery it is the individual style of an artist we first see and like/dislike, their interpretation of what they are seeing and not a photographic likeness.
Each year I have been choosing a word to try and work by. Last year my word was USE. It worked for me. I thought twice before buying anything to see if I had something I could use instead and I tried using my time better. I like having just the word to stick to rather than a whole lot of promises to break.
For 2015 I am going to choose the word:
PROGRESS
I want to go further in my education and I want to progress further in my own art. I have a slightly different view of things now having had the experiences of this year.
I hope my ramblings make sense! I feel better having put it all down in words anyway.
I hope you all have a good New Year. Be healthy, happy and creative and maybe look for a few eye opening moments too.
See you in 2015!
