it's a Bug's Life!

I've been wanting to do this project for quite some time now, but orders and life in general have only allowed me to start this year!  My kids and I spend lots of very happy times at Creepy Crawlies (aka. The Web Adventure Park) in York and I thought it would be nice to give something back...

Using these fab bright paints from B&Q, I first painted the canvas (colours are Grasshopper & Foxy).  

I find no matter how careful I am with the masking tape I get some 'leaks' so I touch up by hand to give a perfect finish.

I gave the wooden letters several coats in Antique White (again from B&Q), sanding between coats.The letters were produced in Creepy Crawlies own 'font' which Infinite letters very kindly cut out for me (they are only too happy to bespoke orders if they can, so always worth asking if you don't see on their site!)

Then for the fun part of deciding what 'bugs' to use and where to position them...

Once I'd decided I placed all but one of the stickers on the canvas in place, double checked their positioning by placing the letters over the top.  When I was absolutely sure I sealed them in place with the ever fabulous Modge Podge.

Once dry, I could then attach the first letter which had to be in place to stick down the last 'bug'...

They get everywhere these bugs!  

Just love the 3D effect and can't wait to deliver to the guys at Creepy Crawlies, I know my boys are very excited!

Hope you all like, for more examples of my work just visit my website, Henry, Fred and Felicity,

Personalised, Bespoke, Unique...

Fay x

  

some Sunshine!

First bespoke order of the year and it's a really cute one...

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey.

You never know dear how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

First off is to mark out...

Then to choose the paint colours. www.anniesloan.com www.diy.com www.docrafts.com 

Then to paint... 

First coat done, it's time to add a little something extra.

These gorgeous wooden shapes are approx. 40mm high and from https://www.facebook.com/lincslasercraftshapes beautifully detailed, well priced and fantastic customer service! 

Second coat done, shapes painted and glued into place. Hope you all like...

Apologies for quality of the photos, was attempting to do from phone to see how it turned out.  Will stick to computer next time! 

projects at home for 2014!

So this year I really want to get some projects at home done. Several of them are years overdue, some new but all have been pushed aside as the end of the 2013 was so busy (not complaining!); so my view is this year if I start early I might be in with a chance of getting them done...

Project One - MERRY CHRISTMAS

Might seem a little untimely,  but as I never managed to get them painted before Christmas I thought i'd paint before putting away again!

Not quite sure what I'm going to do, but will probably be fairly traditional colours with a little bling thrown in, keep an eye on my FB page for progress and I'll blog when finished.

Project Two - SAMUEL'S CANVAS

This is 2 years overdue now and as he's had this above his cot for that time, I think it's only fair I get it done this year!

Project Three - PLAYROOM WALL

Because it brings back many happy memories and because it just looks cool, I'm going to hand paint the London Underground map on the boys playroom wall.  Will add a bit of colour to the walls as well...

Project Four - DINING ROOM WALL

I wanted to do something a little different than either paint, wallpaper or paintings on the wall; I saw this idea last year on Channel 4 and thought it was very effective (couldn't find original link, but found one better, someone who has gone before me LOL).  I'll collect all different sized, shaped plates (especially ones with molded detail) and then paint them in matte finish.  Think i'll do the majority in one colour and possibly highlight colours here or there to match in with the Harlequin fabric of my curtains and blinds...

Project Five - HALL

No idea what I'm going to do, bit it will be a HUGE white canvas from the White Collection, ideas on a postcard!

Anyway that should be enough to keep me out of trouble...

Keep following to see my progress,

Fay x

Working with Vogue

So I still haven't managed to start little Samuel's canvas, bless him.  Lucky he's young enough not to care/notice! LOL.  However in the meantime something quite exciting has happened...

Vogue have approached little old me to work with them, now I am not going to pull the wool over anyone's eyes and make it more than it is, it is an advertorial, but the mere fact that they approached me is enough to make me smile!

It actually took a while for it to sink in, much time scouring the internet, linkedin etc. to check that it was real and not a hoax (who's that bothered...) but there's so much self doubt that I just couldn't help myself. Anyway the artwork and 'blurb' has been sent, it's just a waiting game now...

I asked them how they found me and it was through Stork Up, who I have to say I have neglected badly over the last few months, so am in the process of updating everything. So ladies it's a big, big, mahoosive thanks from me :-)

As you may have guessed it'll be featuring my hand-painted art nouveau / art deco style canvases which are just perfect for your little one, or for a truly unique gift this Christmas! However having finally sorted out my laptop / broadband issue I have managed to update the website to show all canvases that I offer. 

I really hope you like what I've done with the website now that I'm concentrating on the bespoke canvases, but please let me know if there is anything you'd like to see or you think I've missed.  Here's hoping I get the chance to get on with Samuel's canvas soon before Christmas orders start coming in... 

Lots of love and very excited whoops!

Fay x

P.S haven't even mentioned Ginja Ninja who is trying to re-type this blog as we speak...

How Great Britain is!

Finally I've managed to finish middle sons Freddie's canvas!  It's taken me that long that I can't actually remember when I started it! Anywhere he we go hope you like...

Ever since the Olympics, Fred has been obsessed with Great Britain and especially the Union Jack, so after buying everything and anything with a Union Jack on for his bedroom, he asked if I'd do him his canvas the same...

Once marked out, it was time to start painting...

 

Fred chose the paints, so we had pillar box red, antique white and a metallic blue...

Couple of coats of each, the wooden letters also painted in the blue.  Then time to distress with sandpaper, I used several grades to give a more natural worn feel, using higher grade on corners and edges and a finer grade on the front and sides of the canvas

Finally attached all the letters to the canvas (after much discussion as to whether they should be straight, squint, skewhiff LOL) and voila!

Hope you like?! I think it'd also work really well with a decoupage Cath Kidston floral type theme, or some pastel patterns, vintage style.  Anyway on to the next one now, Samuel. He's coming up for two and has blue/white room in Peter Rabbit Fabric so will try to include the fabric in the canvas somehow... 

An ounce of sanity in the school holidays!

So not only has it been the school holidays, but my tablet froze on me twice and my laptop had glass of wine spilt on it, so I've been practically cut off especially in terms of images which were all on the laptop!  Anyway it hasn't stopped me creating and wanted to see what you thought of my new hand painted canvases...


 

Painted in grey, the canvases can then be personalised with child's name and special dates in whatever colour choice you require.  

 

You can choose from two quotes, 'Twinkle Twinkle' as shown or

'The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child'

 

 

Simple but beautiful, I hope you agree! Fay x

 

P.S just realised I never finished/posted blog about Fred's Union Jack Canvas, so will update and post in next day or so LOL.

 

life is tough, but there's always time to craft!

It's been too long, so for that I apologise.  But finally updating you on what I've been up to, the boys (all 3) have had Chicken Pox which in the end from start to finish lasted just under 5 weeks! Poor Fred only went back to school today...

I have been able to get a few bits and bobs done though as helps me relax on an evening. Got some fab stickers from Royal & Langnickel which you can get over here, but typically the ones I wanted were only available from U.S (don't ask about the shipping! LOL).

Used these to mark up some bottles I had in the kitchen for oil.  Purely for my own pleasure, but very pleased with the results...

I'm waiting on couple of spare crates from father in law, that I will paint and then use these stickers to decorate - one to watch for...

Then I used these stunning beach stickers to decorate a box I had got ages ago but never ended up using, is now perfect for my attic bathroom and it's beach theme.

Lastly I decided to hand paint a couple of canvases as have a fair on Saturday in our Village and as well as my usual stock I wanted to try my hand at Rennie Mackintosh font I used to paint all the time when I did art at school. So had a go and will take to fair to see what people think...

Let me know what you think!

Signing off for now.  Loads more to do, so should update again soon.  Fred's Union Jack canvas to finish, curtains to make to match Samuel's tiebacks and I've ordered baby shoe pattern to make some shoes for Samuel too :-)

With love,

Fay x