A Bowl Of Summer

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: CT3N7-5V3SN-J2CCD

A bowl of wild roses in my garden. View large (click on the image).

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0239

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Almost Rock, Paper, Scissors

Almost Rock, Paper, Scissors

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: CULBV-NP3LJ-Y18Q9

A  variation on my rock, paper, scissors theme. There is something magical and almost occult about this game. The feather seemed the perfect addition. I wonder how it would fit into the game? Would it beat all the others, sort of like a joker? When could you use it? Why would you use it? For really important issues, sort of get one win in a hundred free? :-)

What do you think? I'd love to hear your ideas. :-) ♥

All my own images except for polaroid frames which are courtesy of fuzzimo

Rock, Paper, Scissors

 

MCN: C9T9C-5C5M1-3NB1F

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0244

Rock, Paper Scissors is one of those things that have always fascinated me, but until I looked it up just now, I didn't realise how truly old it is: the first mention dates back to the time of the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). This is my interpretation of the game.

Check it out here

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

This is Cloud Nine

MyFreeCopyright

MCN:C451N-7CDE3-AV4VY

Another of my images in my "This is" series. See the others below.

When you're happy it's easy to share the light. :-)

Model: Jessica Truscott, faestock 

Stock: Maureen Older, Hearts in the Wind

All other resources my own images or bought stock.

Sisters under the Skin

This is Who We Are

This is Wonderland

This is the Sea

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

this sinking feeling

 

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: CAD7N-MPNLP-H6BS6

Words from my poem this sinking feeling and a photograph I took of an aquilegia.

All other images/textures/brushes my own. Created with Photoshop.

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

All I Ever Wished For

MyFreeCopyright

All I Ever Wished For

MCN: CHPP7-34VPH-6PGR7 

Image to accompany my poem a cake half eaten

All other images/textures/brushes my own. Created with Photoshop.

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Free Pasta and Manicure Recipes

There are so many ways you can be creative. Art is just one way.... however, I like to paint walls and my nails too, and I love cooking. So for something completely different a recipe and a instructions for a manicure. :-)

Food first...

Spinach Squares Pasta with Potatoes and Sage Butter

This is one of my families favouite recipes and a good bet for birthdays and special occasions. It is one of the few pastas that can be rolled if you don't have a pasta machine.

Ingredients (for 4 people) 

Pasta
300g pasta flour (don't use normal flour it won't work properly)
1 egg and 1 egg yolk
1 pinch of salt
1 pinch of nutmeg
150g fresh spinach leaves

1 large baking potato (or otherwise floury potato) per person

Sauce
100g butter
2 table spoons of olive oil
3 table spoons of finely chopped sage leaves

100g parmesan

1. Throw everything for the pasta dough in the food processor (using a blade) and mix until the dough forms into a ball.Wrap the ball in clingfilm and let it rest in the fridge for an hour.
2. Melt the butter, sage and olive oil and leave in a warm place - do not brown the butter.
3. Finely grate the parmesan.
4. Peel the potatoes, cut them into 1inch cubes and boil them in salted water until they're cooked all the way through. Steam them at the end so they're fluffy on the outside. Keep warm.
5. Take the pasta dough from the fridge and divide into four.
6. Take each quarter and either use a pasta machine and roll (upt to setting 4) or use a rolling pin and roll until it's no more than 1 1/2 to 2 mm thick. Use a pastry cutter wheel or a knife to cut into 1 inch squares.
7. Leave the squares to dry for 10 minutes, then cook in batches in salted boiling water. Each batch for about 2 minutes or until the water is rapidly boiling again and the pasta squares are swimming up to the top. Taste one to check if you're unsure. Take each batch out with a slotted spoon.
8. Layer the pasta as you cook it with the  potatoes, some of the sage butter and the parmesan. Season each layer with pepper and finish with a layer of parmesan and butter.
9. When finished warm it through at a low oven 160C normal oven 140C fan assisted for about 5 - 10 minutes (depends on how quick you are layering and cooking the pasta).
10. Serve with a salad and a nice glass of cold wine.

You can probably make a vegetarian version of this - experiment with the pasta using water instead of eggs or adding more spinach. Vegetarian parmesan is readily available and you could use a mix of olive and sunflower oil instead of the butter.

Ice Cream Manicure

What you need:

• I've used a pale green and pale yellow nail varnish, both from Models Own (Jade Stone and Lemon Meringue). You could use any other very opaque pastel colours you like, even a chocolate brown. 
• I've also used a French manicure white tips colour (from Rimmel but a nail art pen in white or similar would work just as well). 
• Finally you will need a clear base/top coat varnish.

1. Rub your nails with nail varnish remove to ensure they are perfectly clean and grease free.
2. Paint with clear base coat and leave to dry.
3. Paint with the darker colour, Jade Stone in my case and leave to dry completely.
4. Paint the tips only with the white colour, again, leave to dry completely.
5. Paint the tips with the 2nd lighter colour directly over the white tips you painted in the previous step. Leave to dry again,
6. Finally, paint over the whole nail with the top coat.

Voilà, ice cream manicure! Pistachio and banana anyone?

Safe Worlds

MCN: C22B9-46MH4-9AKP3

We're all trying to build safe worlds, for ourselves and our children, women, especially mothers even more so than everyone else. This is the unattainable dream.

See also my poem suspended

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0235

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Incy Wincy

 

 

MyFreeCopyright  

MCN: CCJ8H-6X47V-WQ3FH 

A spider and its reflection in a corner of a window. I added a (fake) TTV frame (my own and bought stock) and put it all together to give it this spooky atmosphere. 

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0238

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Silent Tears

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: C9MNL-D3XYR-DQ1DT 

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0229

When I created the book cover for Elemental Rising, I bought a simple papier-mâché

mask, which I wanted (and did) to include in the final image. However, I also wanted to create an image with just the mask. This is the image I made with it. :-) There is something about masks... something magical and a little scary and something a little sad. It always makes me think of Carnival in Venice but also of the Phantom of the Opera.

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

More Cambridge Collection

 
MCN: CTRNW-Q55SY-N5MUV

Vista

MCN: CPY8A-E6KYW-USBQP

From My Heart to Yours

MCN: CTQ2J-X423U-AVJ8Y
Fragile

MCN: CE233-M4168-2F286

Handmade

 

MCN: C5SDJ-8DJS4-DN4KD

Warning Yellow

MCN: CC6V5-7K4A1-UMV58

Warning Pink

All images taken in the Cambridgeshire countryside last weekend - the first four images were all taken around Hauxton, the last two around Haslingfield. All images were taken with Hipstamatic for the iPhone and edited in Photoshop.

Prints, framed, mounted, matted and plain, posters and greetingcards are available exclusively in my Redbubble shop. Check out the whole collection of images in and around Cambridge(shire) here.

Ladybird's Walk

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: CQ3XJ-4URFH-SMW1S

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0233

This was an image taken low on the path in the woods. I loved the way it showed the world from a different perspective and added the ladybird to show his/her view. :-)

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.
 
All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Soul Mirror

 

MCN: CE2U8-SGJWY-RXQBJ

One of my latest images for the 1/52 project. This is week 21. All my own images. I am still thinking about what you see in the mirror and how it reflects not just what is there, but also what is in your head.

All my own photographs.

Poem to go with it here.

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Waiting in the Shadows

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MCN: C9SUE-6ERBF-EWQUD

My image and words from my poem Sadness

The taste of absinthe on my tongue
The sound of raindrops on the window pane
The scent of burnt leaves in Autumn
The feel of a cold draught on my skin

Darkness
Descends
Quietly

 
All my images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Summer Garden and Rockabilly

 

 MCN: CHUQA-RVQF5-L4QJD

A broken rake in my garden. I couldn't resist the wonderful rusty texture nor the beautiful shapes.

 MCN: CRXU8-AA7J8-NHHX3

Marguerites in a meadow. It was sooo hot that day and the light almost blinding.

Both images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Some Rockabilly fimo I made a little while ago and now finally managed to bake and glossify. :-) Soon to be made into bracelets and necklaces. Watch this space.

Plenty More Fish in the Sea

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: CV3LE-JXVD4-JS1MY

Collab with Autumnwind and her new poem Blood Moon

Also part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images (Available soon!)

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.