A New Blog Address

Just to let you know that my blog is moving.

I have finally bitten the bullet and created a WordPress Blog which you can find here

https://fairytalemakerblog.wordpress.com/

Hope to see you over there! x

My name in lights!!

Well ok not in lights but in the gorgeously photographed and edited pages of Sew Somerset Magazine.

For those who follow my blog regularly you will already know that I was due to be published in this magazine. Well I am excited to tell you that my complementary copy of the magazine plopped on my doormat earlier this week!

So here it is!

They contacted me over a year ago and I realise that my work has moved on slightly. I feel it is much more detailed now but it still gives you a flavour!

I hoping to get to the Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey over the weekend.  It's a long drive but it's such a lovely Fair when you get there. And it's great to meet the makers!

Have a lovely weekend folks - whatever you're doing!

I am so excited to be able to tell you that I have an article featured in the Summer issue of Sew Somerset magazine which will be available from 1st June. This is a lovely magazine published by the Stampington group in America but I do know that it is available from Rainbow Silks here in the UK and you can order one issue at a time from them.

Competition winner

So the winner of my Happy Memories Giveaway Competition is ...

Angie King

Above is the photograph of Angie's happy place. (sorry it's a bit small - it just pixelates when I enlarge it).

Work started over the weekend... First I did a sketch so that I could see what elements I was dealing with. Although it looks a fairly simple composition there were a lot of different pieces required ...

Then I looked through my collection of papers thinking of the various elements such as the tiled path, the front door, the bricks, etc.

Then it is a case of cutting the shapes and putting in place ...

The piece is finished ... I just have to mount it but I would like Angie to see it first so I will post further pictures once I know she has received it.

On other news I am sad to say that we lost our gorgeous dog Lulu the Saturday before last.  She had a very short but serious illness but unfortunately she did not respond to treatment.  She was 11 years old and is sorely missed by us all, including Dappy our chocolate Labrador.  However, we have lots of happy memories of her  and I know she had a good life. 

xxx

Happy Memories Giveaway - Update

I realise I have made a mistake by making the deadline for the Happy Memories Giveaway so far away.  Therefore I will announce the winner on 1st May! That still gives you a couple of weeks to enter. I've loved seeing the photographs of your Happy Places. The picture above is one of mine - St Ives!

So if you would like to win one of my handmade mixed media collages of your Happy Place - just email me a photograph and I will pick one at random and capture that memory ready for your to frame and hang on your wall! (For full details please see previous post below)

Good Luck!

Happy Memories Giveaway!

I have been thinking about the blog post I created yesterday (see below) and I thought that it was high time I did a giveaway!

Perhaps you have a photograph of a Happy Memory that you would like to be reminded of? If so, why not email me the picture at mail@corinnephillips.co.uk and I will pick one at random to translate into a paper and stitched collage. The finished piece will be stitched on handmade watercolour paper with a beautiful deckled edge. It will measure 20 cm square and will be mounted on ivory mountboard ready for you to frame. These retail for £95 but one lucky person will get one completely free! Photographs should be of landscapes or townscapes - portraits aren't my thing!

Closing date for entries: Friday 22nd May 2015. The winner will be announced on facebook and via my mailing list on Tuesday 26th May 2015.  By entering the competition you give me permission to use the winning photograph on facebook. #giveaway #competition

Happy Memories!

I thought I would share this picture with you today.  It was inspired by a photograph on a jeweller friend's blog where she spoke about a last minute trip to Lyme Regis.

The image really inspired me and I thought it would be a good opportunity to try out a smaller format for my collages. This one is 20cm square. I spent a lovely Easter Sunday cutting, pasting and sewing. It was very therapeutic. To see the original blog/photo click on the following link.   http://cbezzant.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/escape-to-country.html

I remember visiting Lyme Regis myself quite a few years ago (probably mid 1980's!) and standing on The Cobb feeling very French Lieutenant's Woman! 

And this image taken by Richard Austin is one of my absolute favourites. Apparently he didn't see the white horse until people pointed it out on facebook - so I'm presuming this hasn't been photoshopped. For more of Richard's photos visit his website here:  

www.richardaustinimages.com

If you have a photograph that you would like me to interpret in paper collage and stitch please do drop me a line at mail@corinnephillips.co.uk  and I will do my best to oblige.  No portraits though please, I work best with landscapes/townscapes!

Hope you have a good rest of the week!

Love, Corinne x

Spring has Sprung!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've written.  And I can't believe how many times I've started an entry along the same lines. How hopeless am I?! Don't answer that.

Anyway I'm here now ... so I thought I would share pictures of two commissions I have just done for a lovely lady, Sue and her husband Paul.  I love adding the little personal details ... like the 'S' and 'P' on the ice-cream van hubcaps. 

She also loved books and cakes so I added a book shop (my first one) and a cake shop. Her husband's father used to work for the  Police so I've put a Police Station in this one. I was quite nervous when I took them to her but they were both really thrilled ... which was lovely.

At the moment I have my son, Dan and his girlfriend Kristin, living with me temporarily whilst they save up for a rental deposit.  He has just moved back to the area and has a job which is not far from me so it made sense (which I keep telling myself every time I have to tidy up after them!!) They are in the conservatory at the moment, which is where I do my work, but we are getting Ruby's old room sorted out so that they can be in there and that means I will have my studio space back.  It's nice having them here and today Kristen and I are going to go a beautiful walk on the Malverns with the dogs which will be lovely although they are looking rather comfortable at the moment ... They are probably thinking "Come on Mum ... stop typing and let's go!"

Following on from all the great feedback I got from my Fairy Godmother Boxes I am planning to reprieve them which is exciting. I loved making these and it will be nice to re-visit them and see what happens. I have put some of the photos of them on my website and will post updates on my facebook page.

So I will try and update this blog more regularly in future (I know, I've said that before too!) but it's been good to chat.  See you over on facebook! 

www.facebook.com/CorinnePhillips.FairytaleMaker

C x

Don't Panic Mr Mainwearing!!

 

Showing my age a bit with this post title! May be lost on some of you! A week today Ruby and I visited the Contemporary Craft Festival in Bovey Tracy. It was a baking hot day and I thoroughly enjoyed myself - although we didn't stay as long as I would have liked because Ruby was feeling a little poorly towards the end. May be it was having to steer me away from all the lovely goodies I wanted to buy!

 

I managed to have a chat with Kirsty Elson from Kirsty Elson Designs and Poppy Treffry from ... well err ... Poppy Treffry who were both fabulous. And I also met in person Kate from The Angel Bill Trading Company - who I've got to know via Facebook but not in person. And it was good to catch up with Anya Keeley at her fantastical stand and Julia Jowett with her lovely wire ladies which I just adore.

 

So, whilst it was a brilliant day, it has also made exhibiting at the Cornwall Design Fair much more of a reality and I'm getting pretty nervous about it.  I had a bit of a meltdown about how I was going to dress my stand on my (non-existant) budget, but I've sort of recovered from that and I have a few ideas that I hope will work. And I'm making some smaller pieces (see above) that hopefully will sell OK. It's so difficult knowing how much to take but I suppose you take more than you think because it's better to bring it back that run out whilst you're there! (If only ...)

 

Wishing you a fab weekend in the sunshine

xx

 

 

 

 

 



Surf's up!

Happy Bank Holiday weekend! I see we have the usual British weather to accompany it!

But to cheer you up I have uploaded some of my original stitched mixed media collages to my etsy shop. 

Visit www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CorinnePhillipsArt to view the lovely goodies and don't forget to sign up to my mailing list for exclusive discounts, special offers and up-to-the-minute news! Visit www.corinnephillips.co.uk to sign up.

Enjoy!

My Morning Meditation

 I thought I would share with you my morning walk today. I am amazed at how lucky I am to have this walk right opposite my house. I like to go early when there aren't so many people about and, although I have to admit that it is a real battle of wills with myself to get me out there - once I'm out I thoroughly enjoy it and wonder what the fuss was all about. Mind you the next day I'm exactly the same! 

 And the dogs love it. They make me laugh. Dappy, the chocolate lab, almost skips along, waggling his behind. Lulu, a black lab/collie cross, is completely deaf so Dappy has to be her ears too. I call him back and eventually Lulu realises he's not around and looks up where I'm frantically signalling to her!

 Isn't this a beautiful scene! When we had to move house following the divorce, I was so worried that I would end up somewhere built up. Don't get me wrong I'm not living in one of these lovely cottages. My little house is a tiny semi-detached ex-council house but it has loads of character and I've decorated it to my own taste. It's very girly - but then what would you expect with 3 girls living there!

 

 

 

So I cross the fields and then come out onto a beautiful little lane full of gorgeous houses. 

The only downside here is I do have to put them on the lead just in case a car comes because of Lulu's deafness she doesn't react as quickly! (Unlike myself of course, who is faster than the speed of light!)

 

 

 

So, on the home straight now.

Trying to get a decent picture of at least one of the dogs - like I say Lulu doesn't come when I call. This, I'm afraid, was the best I could get!

 

And then back home in time for breakfast! And able to feel smug all day because I managed to get out!

 

 



Aren't some people just so lovely?...

This might be a strange photo to lead with but I have had a warm and fuzzy moment this morning and wanted to share with you my beautiful aquamarine ring - my Christmas present from Ruby - It is made by a lovely lady called Charlotte Bezzant (please see www.charlottebezzant.com) who has very kindly shared a photo of one of my collages on facebook this morning!

 

Plus, my dear friend Paul Jillard has kindly offered, out of the blue, to take photos of my work as the ones I took for the postcards are a bit too dark!  So like I said ... Aren't some people just so lovely?...

Talking about lovely - this is Joey looking cute (again!) although he is actually a little bugger! He keeps jumping on my other cat, Archie, who never does anything to hurt him and then I'm picking up all the fur that flies all over the place.

 So this is a, not very good, photo of my latest piece.  I wanted to do a night scene. I am pleased with the actual collage but I'm not sure about the background. Then again, I'm not really sure what would have been a better background. I love the colour of it but there's something that just isn't working for me.

 

And here is a piece I'm just starting. I wanted to do a winter scene so I hope this gives a chilly sort of feel to it. Check back to see the finished piece - really the suspense!!

 And then this will be Autumn - just deciding on which colours to use for the houses.

Work in Progress

 

I have to say I'm really pleased with my new collage work. Here are a couple of pieces which I've been working on over Easter.  I have had some postcards printed which should arrive soon and then I will put them up for sale - so do check back soon for further details or check on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CorinnePhillips.FairytaleMaker

which is where I seem to be putting most of my up-to-date images and info at the moment.

 

Obviously these pieces still need lots more stitching etc but it's great how they sort of come to life as I am working on them.  When I start off I'm not really sure what they are going to be and then as the work progresses new ideas come to mind.  I wasn't entirely sure about the garage (see pic 1) but I think it works and once I've completed stitching I think it will look better.

 

I'm aiming to do a bit of a freebie competition to launch my postcards soon - so do keep checking back!

New Work! (At last!)

The High Street (detail)

So here is some of my new collage work.  I have REALLY enjoyed doing this and it's great to have ideas flying around my head again!

I have some really old handwritten documents that I have copied and used for the background and then used found papers and objects for the actual collage - finishing off with machine embroidery.

 

 

 

I have also updated my website to include a new page of collage work. Please click HERE for details.





 

Please do let me know what you think about the new work. It would be great to have some constructive feedback! Also don't forget you can follow me on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CorinnePhillips.FairytaleMaker

 

Reunited!

I've had a busy couple of days. When my girls and I moved into our little house a couple of years ago, a lot of my creative 'stuff' had to go into my mum's attic. I wasn't sure how big my attic was - and there was no loft ladder so I knew that it would be best to have them out of the way whilst we got organised.  However, in the spirit of kickstarting my creativity (see last post), I decided that I would get all my stuff back and have a good sort out.  I had to wait until my son was able to help me as boy were some of those boxes heavy!!  

 

 

Anyway, this was the week we got all my lovely treasures back. It's been a long time and I have missed them! And isn't it funny that the things that inspired you once, continue to have that hold over you? Every time I see these things my heart skips a beat. (Sad, isn't it?!)

 

So now I am clean out of excuses as to why I can't create new work!  Watch this space - or follow me on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corinne.phillips.18#!/pages/Corinne-Phillips-Fairytale-Maker/189705697727603

 

 



Kickstarting my creativity

My "warm up" piece!

I don't know about you but I find creativity is an unusual beast. It is like a nagging thought in the back of your brain like you forgot to do something. But when you feed it, it rewards you with the most pleasant feelings of self-worth. 

I have struggled over the last two to three years, since my divorce, to get into gear creatively. My head has always been somewhere else and I have found it so difficult to allow myself to do anything - although I miss it terribly. When I actually come to sit down and sew or write, I immediately hear a battle in my head debating what the point of all this is.



Details of warm up

To this end, on a complete whim, I enrolled on a workshop with Jennifer Collier at Unit Twelve last Saturday. It was called Printed Canvases. As fate would have it as soon as I had paid my money warnings were issued that the Powick Bridge was due to be flooded on Friday - this was my only way to get to the motorway and I was worried that my spur of the moment idea would backfire. Luckily the water did not rise enough to flood the road and I was able to make it.



Thoughts turn to the final piece!

Even just assembling together my personal bits and pieces to take to the course was a boost.  It was great to look into boxes and little drawers that I hadn't opened in such a long time and see my lovely flea market finds again.

When I arrived at Jennifer's studio a warm welcome awaited. We were a small group of about 7 but it was lovely to be with like-minded people once again. Even then, half way through the morning my inner critic was whispering "What are you doing? This is such a waste of time?" but the fact that I had to stay there the whole day - and the expectations that I would create something that day was a great silencer to the voice in my head.

The finished article!

So now I hope to continue in that vein. I know that I am a creative being and that I feel so much better when I have a creative outlet. So I am praying that this is the start of feeding my creative soul on a much more regular basis.

An Evening of Cocktails!

Last Monday my lad, Dan, who is a trained bartender, came over to stay for a couple of nights.  Ruby, Dan and I went out to lunch to a place that served cocktails and Dan had the bizarre idea of us buying some stuff, including the cocktail shaker and having an afternoon/evening of cocktails in the sun! Not wishing to put a dampner on the idea - and always priding myself on being a mother who encourages her children (!) we set off to Argos to purchase said cocktail shaker. 

Then off to Sainsburys to buy juices, lemon and limes, ice and the requisite alcohol. Dan was sure we would need loads of fruit juice and so we bought 3 cartons each of cranberry, apple and orange juice.
We also phoned Ruby's friend who was coming over to stay as well - and surprisingly she found the idea to her liking too! Eve too entered into the spirit of the thing - but was limited to one cocktail only! Anyway it was a lovely afternoon/evening. We were sensible and paced ourselves and no-one was poorly the next day - it was just a lovely sunny day enjoying each other's company!

My morning walk!

These are photos I took whilst walking my dogs one morning. It must be a few weeks ago because the crops in this field are as tall as me now!

 

It really is so pretty and I love it when I am out there but the effort it takes to make me get off my backside is unbelievable!

 

It is just such an inspirational walk - especially when the weather is decent and I get to do a lot of thinking, sorting out things in my head. Once I am out and about I could go on for miles.

 

Distant view of the Malvern Hills.

And then back to collapse with the cat!