Oooh a wedding....

It's been a while since my last post and things have been pretty manic.  I assisted Jim at a wedding on Saturday - how I love doing these.  I feel so privileged to be part of a couple's special day.  It's just the most fun ever and it's supposed to be work.  Get that!  Here's a little collage of some of the photographs.

I haven't had much time to paint which is terrible.  I have two commissions waiting to be started and fortunately I do not have an immediate deadline, although it may be better if I did!  I am kind of involved in a few projects which are taking up my time, which I will share in another post when the time is right.  I am also trying to learn wordpress (ssshh close your ears blogger) although I have no plans to defect, it's for one of the projects I am involved with.

But I am still here....doing the day job, being a step-mum and trying to fit in some creative time. I am tempted to keep a small sketch book with me so that I can fit some sketches in when I commute etc, but if I do I really musn't put myself under any pressure to fill the book.....just let it flow.

Hope you are well well and not flooded out.  It's supposed to be summer in the UK, but it appears to be monsoon season!

Oh and if you are in Excelsior Springs, MO, please do drop by my dear friend Kelly Berkey's art crawl.....she would love to see you!

Love and happiness

Helen x

A lovely weekend and a Wedding!

Boy am I tired today. Jim and I had a busy weekend where we photographed the wedding of Laura and Matthew. Although the weather was colder than the preceding days, it was a lovely wedding and guests had flown in all the way from Australia. Above is a collage of some of the photos.

Then yesterday little Daisy and Ollie kept us on our toes so we took them to the park to try and run off some of their energy......didn't really work :o)

Still a lovely weekend and I am looking forward to a nice long Bank Holiday one coming up!

Happy Monday.

Sunday Sketches

Another Sunday Sketches - wow this is becoming a very good habit :o) These are Lien's Converse - they are black but I just wanted to draw the outline. I am debating whether to go over them in ink and then use an ink wash, but I kind of like the simple sketch, It was fun to do and really relaxing too.

Talking of relaxing, I am so tired today after helping Jim photograph a wedding yesterday and we didn't get home until late. So entertaining a 5 and a half year old and an almost 4 year old is taking every last ounce of energy I have. We are off to the park in a mo, so hopefully they will run off some of their energy while we try and relax.

Please head over to Blue Chair Diary to check out the other Sunday Sketches.

Happy Sunday x

Today I will mostly be a photographer

I love working with Jim and today we are shooting a wedding which will be held at Ealing Abbey (pictured above courtesy of JTC Photography).

It will be a busy and tiring day but I really love photographing weddings......being part of a couples day is just magical.

Hope you have a good weekend and I will be back with some photo's tomorrow!

Time for a change....

A younger, slimmer me!

I’m going through a bit of a change personally right now. I am dead happy with who I am and my life as a whole, although I do wish to change some aspects to it but that will be another post for another time. But generally, all is great. However, it’s my health that I need to address and how I feel about myself. I am overweight. And this does not make me happy, give me any sort of confidence in public situations and therefore I don’t feel good about myself. I don’t shy away from going out but when I do I am just really self conscious that I am not looking my best. I have been slimmer and healthier in the past and have to get back there again.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis which can be painful at times and I know that being overweight isn’t helping the situation. I have some clothes in my wardrobe which I love but cannot fit into which is frustrating. And it ends up a vicious circle, I am not happy with my weight so I comfort eat, and the more I comfort eat the more weight I put on. Some of you may know where I am coming from.

So last week I did something about it. I signed up to Weight Watchers online and have started my healthy eating plan. I have my wedding this year and want to feel good about myself in my wedding dress. To be able to look back at the photo’s and not hate the roundness of my face, or the chubby arms and let’s not talk about the derriere!

I also want to make myself some dresses this year so I have another incentive – to make myself a dress like this one once I have slimmed down. Maybe take myself off to an evening dressmaking class and learn the right way of doing it.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve reached 40, but I am yearning for a new look. A change in hairstyle, whether it’s the colour or cut, change my wardrobe by buying some classic pieces and ones that I feel great in. And above all to feel healthy and fit. It can be done and I am lucky to have the support of my lovely Jim as he is also on a health and fitness quest (and is doing really well too!).

I know I am not the only person in the world to feel like this and I wanted to share this with you as this blog is not just about my art, but about me too.

Wish me luck!

A wonderful weekend!

I had an amazing time this weekend at Catherine and Pete's wedding. They chose the most beautiful location in the Lake District for their special day and it was a truly wonderful.

Catherine and Pete met on holiday 22 years ago and she moved from Scotland to 'down south' to be with him. They now live in Preston and are just a truly lovely couple. It seems weird that after 22 years they decided to tie the knot but I am so glad they did. You could see the love between them shining through and I had many a tear in my eye. After 22 years both sides of the families knew each other so well, so the whole wedding was just a real happy, relaxing day (well except for Pete's nerves). It was strange seeing Pete who is normally so laid back, looking nervous.
As a wedding present my lovely Jim took the photo's and I assisted. I hope we have done them proud! (all these photo’s are mine….Jim’s are much better!)

They are off for a few days in the Lakes and then travel to Northumbria and as a surprise Pete bought an old V12 Jag for their trip. Seeing Catherine's face was just the best!

I feel privileged to have been at their wedding and I have known them almost as long as they have known each other. They are a lovely, caring and giving couple who have hearts of gold and I am overjoyed they decided to marry. Who says holiday romances don't last!

(I love the way Pete is looking at her in this picture)

I am in love

I was looking online last week for ideas for my wedding. I love the idea of a 50's themed wedding but I am not too sure I would suit the dress. However, it doesn't stop me from falling in love with them. I will post my findings as and when I can and right now I have to show you this dress. I can imagine Carrie Bradshaw from SITC wearing it. It just made me gasp when I saw it!

I am so in love with this dress. The designer and creator of this dreamy dress is Brighton based Joanne Fleming. You can find her blog here and also if you search Joanne Fleming Design on Facebook you can find her page. I highly suggest you like it!

I have to say that her dresses are just wonderful and all so individual. I am all for supporting local artists, whether they are potters, knitters, dressmakers, musicians or painters. And I am blown away at the talent we have in this country.

Talking of art, I have been cleaning out my studio space the last few nights as it's incredibly messy, and as I don't mind working in a mess it gets to the point where eventually I can't stand it any more. I will post up some more pictures soon of the paintings I started last week.

Have a good Thursday....almost the weekend!