http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm Sat, 05 May 2012 21:43:23 GMT http://bandzoogle.com http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=2050501 I met the lovely Steve Norman at the Harris Library in Preston this week and we talked about the MFest with Rachel from The Lancashire Evening Post. Each time I think about it I get more excited! I need to find a distraction technique before I burst!! We have two warm up gigs booked in and another on the way so I'll update the News page when that's confirmed.  Also good news about Easy As 123.... It will be released very soon!! I know it's taken ages but the good thing is it'll be downloadable on itunes very soon! I'll let you know when I know the date 
We have two warm up gigs booked in and another on the way so I'll update the News page when that's confirmed. 

Also good news about Easy As 123.... It will be released very soon!!
I know it's taken ages but the good thing is it'll be downloadable on itunes very soon!
I'll let you know when I know the date ]]> Sat, 05 May 2012 21:43:23 GMT E4F9ED030DB565DB81839DC495F1CD04 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=2006845 I'm feeling very happy today. It's been a busy week for me, I had three gigs singing to some residents in local nursing homes. I loved it! I met some really interesting characters and I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I'll be off out again. Singing songs from the 50's and 60's. This afternoon I'll be rehearsing with my band, going through the songs for MFest. <a href="http://www.themfest.com/" target="_new"> Also I've put a new demo on the site player...Sky High. Have a great week!&nbsp; ;-) It's been a busy week for me, I had three gigs singing to some residents in local nursing homes. I loved it! I met some really interesting characters and I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I'll be off out again. Singing songs from the 50's and 60's.
This afternoon I'll be rehearsing with my band, going through the songs for MFest.



Also I've put a new demo on the site player...Sky High.
Have a great week!  ;-)
]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:11:25 GMT EEB3EF7083363B7FC1A900166EE37DEE http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1959382 New demo on the music player....Charming Man
]]> Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:46:00 GMT 8035CCF6EADBCE0A0607CD798C72BE95 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1959362 David and myself went over to Canada - it was amazing! Absolutely beautiful! I haven't smiled so much since I was a little kid! Skiing on the mountain as the sun went down was magical. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Here are some designs by the native artists.. Click on the photos to go to Native Northwest. <a href="http://www.nativenorthwest.com/" target="_new"> &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.nativenorthwest.com/" target="_new"> &nbsp; &nbsp; Absolutely beautiful! I haven't smiled so much since I was a little kid!
Skiing on the mountain as the sun went down was magical.

     

     

Here are some designs by the native artists..
Click on the photos to go to Native Northwest.

   

 
 
]]> Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:35:00 GMT E85283578D2F1C8E37C3AE31730726AE http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1808405 Have a listen to a new demo....
]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:26:26 GMT 46CFCC84E7F5B5512CE778AE88B139C2 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1770023 Happy Valentine's Day! I know it's not until Tuesday but the fresh flowers are coming in over the weekend and I'm excited! It's sooooo cold in the shop but we'll be moving so fast we probably won't notice! I made some Valentine's cards with pieces of lace, ribbon, sequins and little painted hearts and there's a cute shop in Preston town centre thats selling them called Miss.Matilda's. Happy Valentine's Day!

I know it's not until Tuesday but the fresh flowers are coming in over the weekend and I'm excited!
It's sooooo cold in the shop but we'll be moving so fast we probably won't notice!
I made some Valentine's cards with pieces of lace, ribbon, sequins and little painted hearts and there's a cute shop in Preston town centre thats selling them called Miss.Matilda's.



]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:50:00 GMT F1E24EFC5155A7494EFEA61B429D51C3 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1740916 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&nbsp;creature comforts&nbsp;but being tossed on the ocean...what a ride that would be! 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!]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:37:47 GMT 344419CA386BB114D2F6936DDD1B5812 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1569715


]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:50:49 GMT 7FC30D2496EB710528A8E72D243D4100 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1564685 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. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Go on it's nice to let the inner child play. Use some glitter glue!


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!
]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:40:00 GMT F3939E12B459C11C6B709754A68ABE6D http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1554748 It was my birthday at the weekend and this is my favourite card.

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

]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:39:33 GMT A22B995B7CF3426752D018AE3E1A4325 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1554722 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.

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.
]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:30:00 GMT 5406CA47900036471D015743F47C2F36 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1528553 Here's a new demo called 'Superstar'&nbsp; x x
]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:39:24 GMT 563FB3CA63C2A8733097609ACED7887B http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1528504 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. &nbsp; &nbsp; 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


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
]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:10:00 GMT 798D56ED39C6A93F8B69C2EA6A7A27F0 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1448610 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. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; &nbsp; 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.

   




]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:10:00 GMT 1A5FD76666EEAF3879DAC35C4D8E753D http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1382914 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... 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...
]]> Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:05:00 GMT 86A7F2D406FB12282693DDB82E7DC125 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1382829 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. <a target="_new" href="http://www.voiceofthebeehive.com/">


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.



]]> Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:40:00 GMT E26B089D9948E9B265E0F465027875E6 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1379796 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. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 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.

     

     

]]> Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:45:00 GMT ABE1A957C4ADAE2AAD6EC0426FAA25F8 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1369024 Walking in the woods this morning. The leaves are turning. &nbsp;
 

]]> Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:07:44 GMT 75857BBC09EA3603FB8B0D51EBCE8CB9 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1358943 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... <a href="http://sarahgillespie.com/" target="_new">&nbsp; <a href="http://raemorris.co.uk/" target="_new"> Click on the photos below to find out more about them...

 
]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:10:00 GMT 8C1B07A5FD1A4620EC27EB2123CECB20 http://stephaniekirkham.com/diary.cfm?feature=98637&postid=1344797 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'. <a target="_new" href="http://www.gerdoornink.com/index.php?/2010/paintings/"> Click on the painting above and check out more of his amazing work on his website. 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.
]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:10:00 GMT 86660B88862BF9DF0CC8C52C407B95A5