Trying to find 'My Rag Doll'

I adore Rag Dolls and would love to own one but finding one I truly love is difficult....I will know it when I see it but don't think I've seen 'The One' yet.

The following is a selection I really like......

MY  Rag doll will, I think, have plaits with ribbons, a mop hat maybe a gingham type dress over bloomers with a cream pinafore, perhaps striped tights and lace up shoes and I would like her to be holding something and so shes not lonely I'd like her to have a brother like the photo above, with freckles and glasses.

MY  Rag doll is out there somewhere I just have to find her ....I am willing to compromise a little in her style but she definitely will not be in a lacey pink party dress lol.

If you see one that you think I may like please leave a link on here ....I will find her one day, of that I'm sure :)

Painted Patchwork....

Well if you can't sew it .....paint it :)

My attempt at a patchwork heart for a friend Lissylou, off the SCC forum

who posted this.......

This year i am going to take part in Red for Heart to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, a cause very close to my heart (hee hee)

Red for heart day is on Friday 26th of February as February is National heart month.

I am going to hold an event at my house for family, friends and school mums/children on that Friday. Everyone who comes must wear red, we will play games, have a raffle and all the food provided will be red.

I had an idea to have a stall where people can buy little crafty bits.....and this is where i need your help if you would be so kind.

I will not have enough time between now and then to make all the things i want, so i was wondering if you would be able to make and send me a little something to put on my stall. Something that people would pay just one up to four pounds for to help raise money.

It would need to be red and/or heart themed.

So I quickley painted this wooden heart for her

and I hope it goes towards making alot of money for the foundation.

I first posted a photo on my facebook fanpage and it made me smile as not everyone realised it was painted lol.....anyway I may do some more as they were fun to do.

Now my lovely bloggy readers these are so easy to paint you really need no artistic ability at all, the overall effect may look difficult but if you break it down and enlarge mine you can see how basic the pattern is ....
really ....go on have a go :)

Latest commision

Completed this last night , emailed some pictures to the buyer and she loved them , made her cry, hope thats good lol...she commisioned a portrait of her grandson as a present for her daughter and son-in-law

This was a portrait drawn on A3 paper and I loved doing it though I hate doing hair.....well thats until I've finished then its always ''well it wasn't too bad really''

I have another portrait to carry out but have some hearts and canvasses to do as well which I am looking forward to as it is quite a while since I did any painting ...and it is far more relaxing than drawing.

The Incredible art of....

Leaf cutting......

I saw this on another blog and was just amazed at the intricacy in the work, that after hours of patient cutting, if not sprayed with a preservative, will just turn to dust.

I can only admire this truly beautiful craft.

Link here for more  Leaf cutting

I don't think this is a craft I am EVER going to attempt :) 

Leave it to those carry it out so beautifully.

1 year Blogversary

Sheeeeesh where did that year go then????

Blogversaries usually call for giveaways but that unforunately will have to be put on hold for the time being until I have time to sort something out for you special ladies as I am still painting away ;)

In this last year I have mades some very special lasting friends which I know non forum/blog users just cannot understand......

The lovely thoughtful gifts/giveaways/swaps I have recieved take some explaining as most ''outsiders'' just cannot grasp the concept lol.

This past year has held some surprises to me that I never thought would happen...I have now got a blog shop and Facebook fanpage which I so enjoy ...I just didn't think I would ever have an online shop ..it's so great I love it...infact the FB fanpage is by far the easiest to get out there....after networking for about 1 1/2 hrs yesterday I woke this morning to find I have 21 new fans , growing by the hour .....lol how good is that ??

So to all those thinking of having an online shop/fanpage GO FOR IT!! :)

Happy New Year to you all xxxx

Thought I had better post this now as I have just started drinking, my first being a Whisky and Dry which I haven't had for an age , it was my mums tipple really but as a young lady, I was one once honest, not sure of what to drink I used to ask for Whisy and dry....this progressed to Rum and black which at the tender age of 18 made me vomit on the upper deck of a bus and was never to be drank again...

My friends and I on half price Tuesdays would then drink Barley wines which were apparently the equivalent to a dble Whisky but quarter of the price.

I have since had various tipples Gin and tonic, Vodka and britvic O, Martini and lemonade and the the assortments of house wines thank goodness there were none of these shots that they drink now lol

On a serious note I often wondered what made an alcoholic as when I was younger, approx 16 to about 25ish I drank alot, infact that was our aim on a night out to get drunk...not fall down drunk, though I have been there but what I would call a stage further than tipsy.  Now I would say I drank almost everynight whether at parties or clubs sometimes as much as 20 shorts but never of a morning .....and I did it consistently through my late teens early twenties...now why didn't I become an alcoholic ....

I basically think alot of us just grow out of it and move onto lifes next stage but why??????

Anyway OH has just topped up my glass so cheers to you all and I hope you all have a fantabulous year ahead wherever and whoever you are mwah xxxxx

EDIT....Just to add I had 2 whiskeys then I went on to coffees...just can't hack it anymore, but I'm honestly not complaining :)

My latest commision & I treat myself :)

Last night I finished this commision of a lovely dog called Molly, it is a Christmas present from a friend to a friend.  She really loved it, thank goodness and has commisioned another 2 dogs in the NY.

This is the first portrait I have done since the ones I showed you of my son, which I did about 14 years ago, sheeeesh I didn't realise it was that long ago, no it can't be...think I must have just made that up lol.

I very rarely buy items from blogging friends, in fact I have only ever done it once before and that was these lovely items from Lalabibaby

Gorgeous hanging heart which is now in my bathroom and....

These adorable cats which are looking down on me as I type as they are hanging from my shelf unit in the kitchen ...I just adore them, fell in love at first sight lol...

Anyway this morning 2 packages arrived from Bloomin Myrtle and the contents were just precious and I fell in love all over again with my 2 new friends

My Sleepy Snowman and...

The gorgeous Snow Angel...they are exquisitely made and are just scrumptious

and thats not all I also got this lovely Bedpost bag that was supposed to be for a work colleagues 8 yr old daughter but..... sorry sunshine no way no day I'll get her something else :) evils my middle name lol

Elaine attaches the prettiest of tags on her items

so am now off to pick her brains and ask her how :)

Well I think thats all folks signing off now

Stay safe xxx

Facebook Shop

I have made a facebook page of my work ...not quite sure what you do with it but  I  think its a case of showing your wares and people ordering if they like it ...well thats how Im treating it....

Pop over and have a browse in the albums and if you like what you see you can become a fan ha! ...

bit like bloggers and followers I suppose,

I thought I would give it a go and see what becomes of it.

Stay safe all x

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lajonis-Place/179889537982#

xxx

Winnie and Thomas.....

Well I've put my paintbrushes down for a while and will be picking up my pencils instead as I have a few portraits to do before Christmas, one being a dog, so that should be interesting.

I've done a couple of Winnie the Pooh hearts ...oh I adore him he is my all time fave I think I especially love the origainal sketches but I can understand children loving the more modern Pooh

 

Thomas is in there as well and I will always have fond memories of him as he was both my boys favourite and at one time I knew all of his friends names ....now I can remember James and Harold and thats it!! oh the shame :(

A few more commisions

At the moment I am watching a ''Paint Sprayer'' on Ebay which finishes today, so fingers crossed, as that will allow me to get back into painting the furniture pieces I find on Ebay, as painting them by hand was just too time consuming, but I love doing the decorative arty farty bits.

If all goes well the next post should be showing a dog portrait and if it doesn't...well it could be anything, wish me luck :)

Edit: I won the 'Paint Sprayer' can't wait to have a go :)

HELP Decision needed within 6 hrs ''To Bid or not to Bid''

Hi ladies

I'm afraid I haven't blogged for a while as I have been busy with commisions which has been just lovely But that does not stop me from having Ebay on in the background, which leads nicely to my dilema.

I have seen an over mantle mirror which I adore, not kept gilt but painted cream.

I did this with an oval ornate mirror which I bought from a CS for £3

I  don't usually like ornate items but love theses mirrors as my rooms are of average size and decorated in neutral creams etc and I think evey room should have a WOW piece which this room hasn't, well to be truthful I'm not sure any of them have but I am trying to plead my case :)

I wouldn't keep it gilt as it would over power but as before would paint it cream rubbed back with

touches of gilt showing through.

Now I know it won't be to everyones taste so don't worry I won't be offended if you secretly vomit, biut I love it.

Its on Ebay atm for £50 ...having been bought originally 2 yrs ago for over £400 and its just up the road...have deffo got o mull over tis one ...opinions appreciated please gals xxxx

Well ladies I won it and am really pleased xx

A few finished commisions...

These are a few commisions I have had, finished and posted.  The heart shaped one has been received and thankfully Claire says she loves it, I didn't like to leave it plain on the reverse so just added a few words to inspire :) which I'm pleased she liked too ..good job really as I added them without asking .

The next items commisioned were for Heather  and all she said was that she wanted 3 chickens as long as there was 1 Blue Cock amongst them. Well as you can imagine we had fun with that request on the SCC forum as she recently acquired a Blue Cock for real....oh dear I'm giggling again.

She is another who hasn't seen the finished items so keep them fingers crossed abit longer :)

Well thats all folks ...will be doing some more this weekend

Take care and stay safe

xxxxxx

Lovely Gifts and Arty Farty

 I got home from work today to find I had received the most gorgeous heart from my SCC friend Beki

I saw one similar it in her shop and on FB and loved the material but it was not suprisingly sold ....very folk arty which I love so I was thrilled to find she had sent me one as a thank you for a tiny bit of help I gave her

Beki hunny thank you so very much it means alot to me :)

And if that wasn't enough she also included some really pretty CK tissues which I am actually going to try some decoupage with...wish me luck

On Sunday my DD dragged me screaming to Fosse Park shopping centre ...she does this occasionally as I'm the only one who will give her my honest opinion on whatever she trys on and I tend to get her to try things on she wouldn't normally and she usually ends up buying them so anyway she bought me this lurvely purse/wallet  20x11cms and I love it....don't really like UJ stuff but I think its the subdued colours I love on this ...so I have really been spoilt ...thank you girls xxxxx

Now who do you think would buy this coaster with a daisy on....hmmmm sorry but no prizes for a
 correct answer.  I added the name and a pretty pink hanging ribbon with bow.

Well I think this has become a very strange post ...nothing is where I wanted it and the text is all over the place, I think it will take me a while to get my head round this new format.

I am really enjoying my painting and drawing at the moment and have so many ideas I want to try but sometimes not the energy to attempt them.

I really have to leave the arty farty stuff until the weekends as after work am just too knackered after making teas and pack-ups ......... the mojo just aint havin' none of it!