I sat at my mum's this morning eating a hot cross bun with a Lady Grey tea. Mmmm... and watched the pretty orange fish swim gently around the tank. It's one of those round ones with the bubbles coming up the tube in the center, quite hypnotic. I thought about the benifits of their captivity, food on time, stable temperature, no threat of being eaten....versus life in the ocean.
They say what you don't know you don't miss but I'm not so sure.
As the fish faded out of focus I noticed a row of windows in the reflection and my shadow in the center. Sat at the table in a bubble of my own. Looking out there for answers to questions from in here. Yes I like creature comforts but being tossed on the ocean...what a ride that would be!

If you feel like making your own Christmas cards, this won't take long at all. Rip some paper into squares and paint a few small simple trees, I used my little water colour set but felt tips or coloured pencils are fine.



Then glue on some stars or beads, buttons or silver paper.

     

Go on it's nice to let the inner child play. Use some glitter glue!

It was my birthday at the weekend and this is my favourite card.

A photographer from the Lancashire Evening Post came in to take a photo of the Rainbow Roses.



Flowers such as chrysanthemums and carnations have been dyed since the Victorian times but what's different about these is that three colours are used instead of just one.
They have been created by Dutch flower grower Peter van de Werken. The stem of a white Vandela rose is split into three and placed in a test tube of yellow, magenta and cyan dye. The rose drinks up the coloured water and when the colours reach the flower, amazingly the petals are not only three colours but in between they become purple, green, orange, turquiose and peach! No two are exactly the same.

My favourite rose at the moment is the 'Norma Jean' created by Van der Hulst in the Netherlands.



They have a large head and look like a garden rose with lots of petals and deep green shiny leaves and most of all they smell sweet and beautiful.
I enjoyed watching 'My Week With Marilyn' at the cinema last night.

Here's a new demo called 'Superstar'  x

It was remembrance day and my heart went back to my Grandma and Grandad's generation who were forced to fight. The red and the white, the blood and the bandages. We are very fortunate now in many ways and I do believe there can be peace and at the same time people can still express who they are and be all right without making everyone else wrong.



A Chinese student came in and I made this bouquet of 99 red roses for him to give to his girlfriend. You can't see from this picture but it was huge and really heavy!
In China it's a romantic gesture is to send 99 flowers - meaning together for a long time. In the background you can see a copy of 'The Kiss' by Gustav Klimt that my brother painted.



Here's a funeral tribute for a gentleman from his buddies who played pool with him. I used strips of pussy willow for the triangle. Yellow and red roses for the balls and sprayed a red one for the black.
The textures and colours in the third picture are lovely so I thought I'd put it on here too.

   

I've been busy making Christmas cards and I'm thinking about Valentines ideas. I have a Valentine song to finish. I've got the chorus and the melody for the verse, I just need to write the story.
I was going to put up 'Day To Remember' with it being close to Remembrance day but it's a bit sad and so I'll put another song up next time.
Bye for now x

I'm in Portugal for a week and I feel so calm it's wonderful.
My eyes are closed and I'm lying feeling the warmth of the sun. I can smell coconut oil and there's nothing to do but relax. People are telling stories in different accents, a little girl laughs and I hear the soft sound of water as people step into the pool. Quiet voices, creaking chairs, pages turn and the birds sing. A church bell rings in the distance.

  



   

   

   



   

There's a singer with a wide smile and a lively dance accompanied by two guitarists tonight. She's singing Portuguese and Brazilian songs as her little boy wraps himself up in his sleeping bag on the flower bed close behind her.
A dog jumps up to see what the fuss was about but the boy closes his rucksack and settles down to sleep. The dog walks round in circles a few times before flopping down beside him.
There's a lot more people now, gathering to listen to the music and a young girl sitting by the statue seems mesmerized. I wonder if tonight she'll decide to be a musician. There is a real smooth flowing joy about the three people performing. I like it here.

       

The square in the center which is more like a circle is paved with these beautiful square chunks of black and white stone, as are all the streets in the old town. No cars drive through and the local family dogs call on each other to join the pack as they walk loops of the narrow streets of small shops and cafes before curling up to sleep.

   

I'm pleased to find out that the instrumental for 'Bon Voyage' has been played on Junior Doctors and 'Easy As 123' on Waterloo Road!
Although I'm not able to put these songs on here for you listen to I can keep sharing with you some demo ideas I've written and recorded at home.
'Stop The World' is on the music player.
I'd been in the doldrums yet again when David played me a tune he'd written on the piano and within no time the fed-up-ness turned itself the right way around again into inspiration.
It's a simple, happy, cheery tune about wanting the world to end! Ha Ha! Have a listen...

When I first moved here I used to look out onto this wall and feel a bit confined. But today, maybe because of the rain, the beautiful colours made me stop, look closer and think everything is changeable when our outlook can change. Nothing out there can truly limit us.



I came across some music I haven't listened to in ages, 'Voice Of The Beehive'. I love how music can lift us up! It reminds me of being away from home and this music really helped me when I felt isolated. I think sometimes being in an 'out of the ordinary' place can help me build momentum and the desire to push back or change in some way.
It's Autumn, time to let the old leaves fall and rest. Remember the good things. The nights are closing in and there's a chill in the air. I'm going to light a fire and make a start on my Christmas card ideas and listen to Voice of The Beehive.

It was Harvest festival last Sunday. I don't go to church very often but I do like the Harvest service.
The Brownies and Cubs sang songs of thankfulness and abundance and the windows were full of flowers,
fruits and vegetables.
We walked though the village and took some pictures in my Aunty's garden.

     

     

Walking in the woods this morning. The leaves are turning.

 

I went to the Mad Ferret in Preston last night to see Sara Gillespie and Rae Morris and had a very enjoyable evening!
Click on the photos below to find out more about them...

 

I went over to Amsterdam recently and came across a gallery showing these beautiful works of art by Ger Doornink.
I was mesmerized. The eyes are so beautiful.
This one is called 'The difference'.



Click on the painting above and check out more of his amazing work on his website.

Went up to the Lake District this weekend and found lots of little stacks of pebbles along a stream...


We saw a red squirrel! Yes a red one!! It was so bushy and vibrant it looked too beautiful to be true.
I wasn't quick enough to capture it on film though... so here's a sheep...

If you're going to eat these things make sure you chew them! This is how big one expanded overnight in a glass of water... I've eaten a whole packet before thinking...well they're only small...

It's funny how some flowers don't smell but if you sratch under the surface of the stem some of them are absolutely gorgeous, like wax flower. I love cutting it. Also hypericum. Whenever I'm away from home and missing everyone I go into a flower shop and take a few deep breaths and I'm back :-)

The first flowers I received were freesia from my mum when I was about 9 years old, in hospital having my tonsils taken out. I felt so grown up.

I asked a lady to smell the mimosa in the shop but sadly she lost her sense of smell 12 years ago when she had a sinus operation. It made me remember how grateful I am. Scents have the power to bring back so many memories, lift the spirits, make you smile and remember there's a lot of beauty in the world.

A gentleman came into the shop wanting me to make a gemstone out of flowers. He brought in magnificent photographs of Australian Opals.

    
Opal derived its name from “Opalus” meaning “to see a change in colour”. Click on the images above to see more info.

I've only seen this type of stone once before, in Vancouver. The colours are truly amazing like having a rainbow in your hand.

  

I loved making it because it could be as vibrant as I liked and twinkle with glitter.

Blackpool illuminations are on. I feel the need for some aniseed rock! There's something nice about a chilly night walking on the sea front. The lights, the rides and the donuts!
Have a listen to a new demo... Rollercoaster.  Let me know what you think :-)

I bought myself a little water colour set. It's tiny, must be a travel size one. The brush is minute, you can turn it to extend the length. Very nifty.
I painted some tiny roses, boats and flowers just doodling, then thought they might be nice on gift cards. I drew a neater version of four of the designs and had rubber stamps made to make the process quicker. They look nice. I'm thinking of a having more made. Maybe a house for 'New Home' and a Christmas tree, hearts and flowers for a wedding card ect.. Anyway I've enough to be getting on with for now.

Both my brothers became fathers recently and it's wonderful that they've brought amazing gorgeous energy into the world. Great to see them making families of their own and having so much fun! So naturally I made a few cards and a few extra to put in the flower shop...

 

 

   

I've been busy collecting pretty materials and tearing up old clothes into squares for my gift cards. I've mainly used bits of paper up until now and I've enjoyed making my own paper in the past but just recently I've started using up ends of rolls of ribbons and pieces of lace kept from I don't know when. If you can't make do and mend why not recycle into something else?
I found an old amazing hand made bedspread in a charity shop. It's all colours - perfect for my cards. And a couple of summer dresses I know I won't wear again. I probably ought to be thinking about Christmas cards soon but my head is stuck in pinks, blues, yellows and flowers at the moment so best just to roll with it!

I was listening to songs from 'Sunlight' and when 'Bonds Are Broken' came on it reminded me of a conversation from years ago.
My friend told me that whenever she felt confused she'd say a prayer something like
... please remove everything in my life that is preventing me from being clear...
and that change happens regardless and so to focus on what you wanted to happen, where you wanted to be and how you wanted to be feeling rather than what you've already attracted up until now.
Which I think is good advice.

As for 'Bonds Are Broken'  I'd written and burned my list down by the sea I watched the tiny bit of ash blow and disappear. Then I stretched out my arms and opened up and let go. I washed my face in the salty water and felt so light like I could have blown away myself. Pushing my fingers into the sand like roots I held on.

I think if you want to be clear you're going to attract a clearing and sometimes that brings unexpected changes. It's good to do what recharges your batteries. I tend to plug back into natures energy and remember we are all clear, bright shiny things under all the nonsense. We aren't meant to be exactly the same but I think we are here to bring out the best in each other. And not to forget ourselves.

Time has flown by so fast. Sorry I've not been on here for a while.

I wrote a new song called 'Change With The Times' and I've been busy working on the texture for the paintings that go with 'Angel' 'Second Chances' (a dove holding an olive branch) and 'Day To Remember' (the song about the war...so it's a poppy). Here they are in the early stages...

   

Then I got food poisoning AGAIN the third time in a few months so I was wiped out for a week.
The good news is that while I was horizontal I listened to some of my favourite songs and I'm thinking of mixing in some covers next time I go out gigging. I've only ever sung my own songs up to now so it'll be great, I'm looking forward to it!

Last week I finished the paintings for 'Time Is A Healer' 'Second Chances' and 'Day To Remember'







Also started a new song called 'Superstar' I'm looking forward to recording it with 'Change With The Times' and 'Rollercoaster'.
They're all really upbeat like 'Easy As 123' and 'Stop The World' I love them!!

Also I came to the opinion that it's a good thing I haven't found a record label yet to make the next album because I'm enjoying writing so much and each time I think of a new song it knocks one off the list of favourites, so it's getting better all the time. I'm very excited!

Children Around The World                                                 Rainbow People 1

 

Rainbow People 2                                                                Rainbow People 3