TAKE A WORD

Our word for inspiration this week at TAKE A WORD is CONTAINER and that reminded me of the lovely gift of flowers I received from 'daughter number 1' last week.  She knows I love Lilies. 

Of course, I had to place them in my favourite container for that purpose .. to show them off at their best.  A few days later and their perfume was intoxicating.

Making flowers into pieces of art is essential I think.  That way they live for so much longer.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

THE QUEEN OF SHEBA

Bev has chosen FLYING as our theme at the Three Muses this week and that reminded me of what I saw from my window a week last Tuesday.   It was a full moon and I was just about to draw the curtains when I noticed something quite strange in the night sky.  Was it the Queen of Sheba ... I'll leave to make up your own mind!

Credits to Pixabay, SharingTubes and the public domain.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

Silhouette is our word for inspiration this week at Take a Word and this is what came to mind.  Ta Dah.

Credit to Flordeneu, Evelyn Flich and the public domain.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

TRANSPORTATION is our theme for this week at the Three Muses and I thought perhaps buses. 

After all electric buses are clean and quiet and transport a large number of people quickly and easily.   Perfect. 

As I pondered this I came upon some very smart ladies waiting for the number 99 bus.  We chatted for a while and it is wasn't until later I realised that the majority of those ladies were actually riding skateboards.  Mmmm perhaps I'll think about skateboards.  Perfect.

Credits to Pixabay, JoesSistah and the Public Domain.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

BEST CHINA is the  theme at Take a Word this week.   Not sure it's my best china but it's what I used at this crazy birthday party!

Credits to Bluesse, Granny Art, HolliewoodStudios, CAJoline and the public domain.

Thanks for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

I think everyone is just a little bit quirky whether they own up to it or not.  At least I hope that's true as otherwise it would be just me!!

I was once asked (as an 'ice breaker' during an information session at work) to tell the rest of the group one thing that only I knew about me.  As I watched many of my colleagues begin to panic about what they could tell I knew exactly what piece of information I would divulge to the rest of the group.

And this is what I told them :

I always put my left sock on first as it's the world's best cure for toothache.

Reason : 
During a childhood conversation with a friend she told me she always put her left sock on first to ward off toothache.  Not wanting to chance toothache I have dressed my left foot first ever since!

Credits to Irene Alexeeva.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

FLY LIKE THE WIND

Marie's Take a Word challenge this week is WINGS and this is what came to mind!

Credits : everything free to use from Pixabay.

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

Created for the DIGITALMANIA challenge where this week we're taking inspiration from the ART DECO period.

Credits : all in the public domain and altered by me.

Thanks for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

WASH DAY

This week at the Three Muses Bev has chosen WINDMILLS as our theme for inspiration and that made me think about how we are often nostalgic for the windmills of old but not so happy about the modern windmills or turbines.  Me, I like them.  I like their beauty and grace ... and I find them quite handy for drying my washing on wash day!!!

Thanks, Bev.

Credits to Pixabay, NummBum and the public domain.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

CHILD CATCHER

This week at Take a Word Marie has asked for balloons and that reminded me of what happened a week last Tuesday.  There I was minding my own business taking a walk in the park when I came across a little man with rather a large nose which I hear he uses to stiff out children ... and perhaps he does because he was holding on to a whole host of those  'little people' who are so fond of lollipops!

Credits to behindinfinity for 'alice', whilst the remainder is either in the public domain or my own.

Thanks for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

Across at Digitalmania on Flickr we've been taking inspiration from the style of CARME MAGEN.

Here is what I was inspired to create in the artist's style.

Credits can be found on my Flickr stream.

Thank you for looking.

ITCHY FEET

I'm gadding off to Wales for the week.  Be back soon ... with photos perhaps!

THE THREE MUSES

 TIME FOR REFLECTION

MAGGIE TAYLOR, whose work is softly surreal, is one of my favourite contemporary artists and here is my interpretation of her style for the theme at the Three Muses this week.

If you'd like to see her wonderful work you'll find her here Maggie Taylor

Credit to FinecraftedDesigns, SharingTubes, Bluesse and PlayingWithBrushes.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

Our theme at Take a Word this week is ORANGE and BLACK.  Ta Dah!

Credit to Pixabay for the mysterious lady much altered by me.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

Bev has asked for CASTLES this week at the Three Muses, so here is one made of sand .... floating away on its own little island.  Makes me think of that song Sand Castles in the Air!  Hee hee.

Credit to SharingTubes and Pixabay.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

BEWITCHED is our theme at Take a Word this week and that reminded me of a night not so long ago (it might have been a week last Tuesday ... or may be not) when the moon was large on the horizon and I was watching it and dreaming dreams when a bird (or perhaps a witch) sailed past on a twig (or was it a broomstick).  As I stared I happened to look down from my window and there I saw a whole host of black cats and a lady looking slightly green which left me wondering whether it might be the witching hour!

Credit to SharingTubes, Kubivet and Pixabay.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

WISH YOU WERE HERE

I've chosen POSTAGE STAMP PEOPLE for the theme across at the Three Muses this week and so it will be no surprised to hear I was inspired to choose that theme after having bumped into Dame Edna on a sunny beach recently.   I was taking a stroll when I came upon her ... purple hair and sparkly spectacles gave her away immediately.  I was about to bid her good morning, but as you can see she didn't seem that pleased to see me.  Shame that, since I was just about to mention her newly toned figure.  Ah well!

Credits in the main to Pixabay, though I did find Dame Edna on the interwebby (labelled for reuse).

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

It's MAIL at Take a Word this week and that reminded me of the letter I received a week last Tuesday.  As it popped through my letterbox I'm sure I saw that lady smile and wink at me.  Don't believe me ... well here goes!

Credit to Pixabay.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

Our theme this week at the Three Muses is MUSIC and as I'm quite obsessed at the moment with manipulating text I chose a Plato quote to illustrate the theme.

Credit to SharingTubes and Bluesse with a little help from me.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

SUPER MOON

The theme at Take a Word this week is MOON which is just in time to celebrate the red super moon and total lunar eclipse scheduled to take place in the early hours of Monday 28 September.

So when at 3.10 am I take a peek from my window this is probably what I will see!

Credit to Jinxmim (DA) for the moon in profile, the clouds (as always) are NummBum and the sleeping lady is Itkupilli.  The full red moon is in the public domain.

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

An exercise in blending layers for the Digitalmania challenge this week across at Flickr. 

Credit : Gene was in the public domain and the remainder is a selection of my own 'weather' photos layered and blended to set the scene for Gene's rendition of Singing in the Rain. 

Thanks for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

APPLES

This week Bev has called for APPLES as her theme at the Three Muse.   Here is my interpretation.

Credit to SharingTubes for the apples and vase, whilst the background is one of my own.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

It's MAKING MEMORIES this week at Take a Word and that reminded me of this lovely poem I've wanted to use for a while now.  So here we are!

 ..... Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me.

Be Still they say.

Watch and listen.

You are the result of the love of thousands.

Linda Hogan.

Credit to Itkupilli for the children whilst the background was a free to use wallpaper.

Thank for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

SHADES OF WHITE

It's my turn to host at the Three Muses this week and I've chosen SHADES OF WHITE as my theme.

Credits to HolliewoodStudio for the background, whilst the text is my own.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

SHADES OF BLUE is our theme at Take a Word this week.  Ta Dah!

Credits - with a great deal of help from Mucha!

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

MAIL MAN

It's AUTUMN LEAVES this week at the Three Muses .. where did summer go! 

Credits to Tammara and Graphics Fairy for the postage marks whilst the postage stamp, leaves and background images were created by me. 

Thanks for looking.

TAKE A WORD

Our theme at Take a Word this week is SCHOOL DAYS.  Did you ever have to wear the Dunce's Cap?

Credit to Bluesse, SharingTubes and the Public Domain.

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

Created for the Digitalmania challenge where this week we are taking inspiration from the work of LYNNE K PERRELLA.  This one was inspired by her Illustrations.

Credit to SharingTubes and the PublicDomain.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

Bev, who is hosting at the Three Muses this week, is asking us to create art using a QUOTE of our choice.   This is what I chose.

Credit to Itkupilli for the elements.  The font is 'That's It'.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

UP, UP AND AWAY

Marie has asked for ALTERED VINTAGE at Take a Word this week and that instantly reminded me of the girl I saw pass my window one morning recently.  It was quite a breezy day so I didn't think much about it when I saw her fly by ..... until I realised she seemed to be from an earlier time.

Credit : The Magna Carta and other scripts and other bits and pieces were all free to use from the public domain.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

INVISIBLE ME

My challenge at the Three Muses this week is for my blog friends to choose and illustrate a SUPER POWER for themselves.  At the same time I feel it is appropriate for me to confess that I have a real live super power which is an ability to become invisible at will.  Come on ..... how else would I be able to observe the strange sights and situations from my window that I tell you about each week!

Credit to FoxeySquirrel and Itkupilli.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

THE GET AWAY

Our challenge at Take a Word this week is to create art with the MALE of the species in mind and that reminded me of great uncle Norman who swore a change was as good as a rest!!

Credit to NumBumm  for 'Egypt' and the window, CaliDesigns for the curtain, NicolaYoung for the floor , and great uncle Norman for being himself!

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

LET'S HEAR  THE MUSIC AND DANCE

Marie has asked for a BACKGROUND OF TEXT for this week at the Three Muses and so here we go!

Credits : The public domain for the dancers and the excerpt of the 'magna carter' blended with several of my own textures.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

Marie has asked for a GLAMOROUS LADY at Take a Word this week, so here is mine all done up in lovely blue hat and ruby red lips.

Credit to SharingTubes for the 'glamorous' lady and Simka for the taffeta and swirls.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

Bev's theme for the Three Muses this week is FEATHERED FRIENDS and that reminded me of the beautiful bird I glimpsed from my window a week last Tuesday.  Tall and elegant and sporting a top hat to complement her snow white feathers she dazzled all who set eyes upon her.  What a woman!  Hee hee.

Credit to SharingTubes and NummBum whilst the background layers are from a selection on my own.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

LOCKS AND KEYS

Marie asked for LOCKS AND KEYS this week at Take a Word.  Ta Dah!

Credit to HolliewoodStudio for the rose, the lock and the piano (much altered) were in the public domain whilst the textures were a blend of several of my own.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

RAIN STOPPED PLAY

Every year here in the UK we get all geared up for Summer ... and then it rains.  And rains and rains some more!

We did enjoy high temperatures and sunshine for months on end in 2006.     We got our hopes up.

Then last year we had a fantastic Summer, sunny and hot from April to October followed by a warm Winter.    Oh wow, perhaps this was the Atlantic tide turning.

This year we hoped .. but the temperatures are diabolical and it's raining.  It's the gulf stream apparently ... and this year it's also el nino.

Still, mustn't grumble! 

Hee hee .... no wonder we Brits jet off to warmer climes.

Credit to SharingTubes whilst the backgrounds and rain textures are my own.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

HEARTS AND FLOWERS

Marie has challenged us to create art inspired by the theme of HEARTS AND FLOWERS at Take a Word this week and I thought it was about time Gloria got a taste of fame and adulation!

(I will be away over the weekend returning Monday evening so I will pop this on Take a Word then.)

Credits : CAJoline for the frames and flowers, whilst Gloria was found in the public domain.

Thanks for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

TIMELESS

Created for the Digitalmania challenge where this week we are making 'mashups'!

There is nothing so timeless as a little black dress ... says Mona!

Credit to Teddi at Elegant Whispers for background elements.  The dress is a Dover sample and Mona is, of course, herself.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

Having recently enjoyed a couple of weeks on the Greek island of Kos where the landscape is dotted with the most beautiful blue and white houses and little churches I was inspired to choose BLUE and WHITE as my theme for the Three Muses this week.

Credit to NBK at E-scape to E-scrap and to SharingTubes.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

HER NAME WAS RUBY

MAINLY BLACK AND WHITE is Marie's theme this week at Take a Word and there is nothing I like more than creating art in the pure, clean and refreshing tones of black and white ... unless it's black and white with a 'splodge' of red! 

Credits : Well, Modigliani, of course!

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

BEDTIME STORIES

Marie has chosen BOOKS as our theme this week for the Three Muses and this is what came to mind!

Credit to MartaVanEck for the light show, SharingTubes for the moon and PingImg.com for the book.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

HELP!

Marie has chosen SEA LIFE as our  theme for this week at Take a Word and that reminded me of something I saw whilst on holiday in Greece last week ... honestly.

It was for all the world like watching the hand that lifted Excalibur out of the Lake at Avalon ... only the hand in question here was actually rising out of the Aegean Sea and brandishing a bottle.  At first I thought it might be a drunken sailor with his tot of rum but then I realised there was a message inside  the bottle.  I couldn't be certain, from so far away, but I think the message read H E L P!

Credit to EenasCreations and Pixabay.com.

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS

Picture yourself in a boat on a river


With tangerine trees and marmalade skies


Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly


A girl with kaleidoscope eyes

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green


Towering over your head


Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes


And she's gone

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain


Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies


Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers


That grow so incredibly high

Newspaper taxis appear on the shore


Waiting to take you away


Climb in the back with your head in the clouds


And you're gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds


Lucy in the sky with diamonds

I had some fun with this one people, almost imagined I was on the same 'trip' as Lennon and McCartney! 

Credits - mostly free brushes from a number of sources.  (Why don't artists label them so we can give credit where it's due?).  Also SharingTubes and MartaVanEck.   The newspaper taxis and rocking horse people are my own.

NOTE : I will be away from home (holidaying in Greece - hee hee) for a couple of weeks from tomorrow so won't be able to comment on your lovely work until I get home.  Back on 15 July.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

Marie has asked for HOT COLOURS this week at TAKE A WORD and that reminded me of the strange dream I had a week last Tuesday night.   There I was dancing the Swan Lake and the audience were applauding my beautiful light touch and lovely moves when I was rudely awakened by some strange noise from outside.  I got up to look out of my window and could hardly believe what I saw.  There it was, a dirigible floating (almost silently) across the sky, and there were people in it taking in the wonders of the scene below which I think was somewhere in Africa.  There were animals and people and those strange flat topped trees they have in Africa and it looked very very hot indeed.  I can't be sure but if I had to guess I'd say it looked for all the world like a steampunk safari!

Credit to SharingTubes for the setting sun, whilst the trees, animals, people and dandilion clocks are brushes.  The background is my own.


Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

Bev has called for APPLES as the theme for this week at the Three Muses and that reminded me of the apples I spied a week last Tuesday.  On first glance they looked shiny and healthy enough, but on closer inspection I'm sure I saw a caterpillar sitting there as bold as brass ... smoking.  Imagine!

Credit to NicolaYoung, FinecraftedDesigns and Pixabay.com.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

We have DANCER as our word for inspiration this week at Take a Word and here is my interpretation.

Credit: SharingTubes, JoesSistah and Anoident (free to use at Flickr).

Thank you for looking.

THE THREE MUSES

Our challenge this week at the Three Muses is to create art containing fish and that's when I remembered what I saw a week last Tuesday.  Just as I opened the curtains to a new day something caught my eye, and I know you'll find it hard to believe, but there was a lady sailing a beautiful silver fish with green fins across the sky.  I stared at her for a while transfixed and she seemed to look my way for an instant too before she continued serenely on her way.

Credits to Frank-1956 for the birds, Pixabay for the fish, NumbBumm for the clouds, me for the background textures layered and blended,  and the lady, well she began her life elsewhere!

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

It's BEAUTY this week at Take a Word which could have been a tricky one.  However,  just as I was giving this some serious thought the decision was taken out of my hands as this little lady had already decided who was the most beautiful of them all!  Who am I to argue.

The raven haired beauty is courtesy of the public domain, though she did get a bit of a makeover from me.  The mirror was labelled on Google free for re-use and the background is a number of  my own textures layered and blended.

Thank you for looking.