Gilfling's Designs

A silver lining

Present day standing stones, originally uploaded by gilfling.

There is so much happening at the moment - some good, some distinctly difficult. Lets get the 'not so good' out of the way first....

The Cloud

~Our car....is dying a death. We have already taken it to a garage who refuse to touch it with a barge-pole as there is a huge risk that the repairs that need to be done, could cause it to be broken and broken for good, with no hope of recovery. We are taking it to another garage tomorrow in the hope that they can patch it up so that we can just run it for a wee while until it dies completely.

~Bottom line - we have no means to buy another one - which will have a huge impact on my work - both workshops (out of town - I have already had to cancel this weeks session) and for all the craft fairs I am set to do and those I am hoping to participate in the future. It may also impact on a job which I have been recommended for and was hoping to get news on soon - again it is an hours drive away (once a week) but a brilliant opportunity and it would be sad if it was a transport issue that prevented me from having the opportunity to take on the challenge.

Sorry for the doom and gloom.....

Good news......

~ (or the silver lining). We were supposed to be going away and staying with family this weekend (of course this is also part of the cloud up above - I am so disappointed we have had to cancel this) but it does mean that I am now doing a small craft fair this Sunday with a war time 'make do and mend' theme with lots of tea and cake. It is 5 minutes around the corner to at least transport is not an issue!

~My dad and step-mum are coming to visit for a couple of days next week - having family around is always good although all too infrequent since we are actually living in different countries! (England and Scotland)

~I have been accepted to take part in a really exciting Open Arts event in 2 weeks time. Lady Bay Arts Event is apparently a hugely popular local event (I have not had the pleasure of attending before but I am hopeful!). With gardens and art venues open to the public, I shall be based in a local school with an opportunity to display my art as well as a stall selling my wares. I am very excited!

~I have also just heard that I have been accepted for Flare Christmas Crafts Event (2 dates) in the beautiful city of York in November and December.

~Other imminent events include this craft fair in Derby on the 5th July and this Arts trail on the 6th (one of the venues for this is my very own front room!)

So I am to be a very busy girl for the next few weeks!!!! Needless to say I will not be listing in either of my etsy shops very much although I am going to do a small update in my Art shop next Wednesday - a couple of originals and more dolls.

I am just trying to think postive thoughts regarding the car, and that if it can't be fixed then a solution will present itself.

PS the above photo which I love, was also taken on my birthday day out a couple of weeks ago.

My wee space

My wee space, originally uploaded by gilfling.

A lovely time was had by all over the weekend! Setting up for Sneinton Artists Annual Summer Showcase on Friday along with a delightful preview with us all sitting outside drinking wine at the foot of the windmill - a beautiful summers evening well spent.

A drizzly and gloomy day on Saturday with so very few visitors to the exhibition but a fun party with wine, food and random dancing around a table of pizza and salad in the evening (apparently after we left, the table was removed and replaced with handbags but I shall not say any more about that!!)

A blustery day on Sunday with a steady trickle of visitors and a few wonderful wonderful sales for me!

The two larger paintings in the photo have now been removed from my etsy shop as they are toddling off to Derbyshire at the weekend to take part in this exhibition which is inspired by the sea. I will have another two pieces going in aswell - looking forward to a day out on Saturday which will involve dropping these off, drives in the beautiful countryside and of course tea and cake somewhere along the way!

Not the best time......

the heart that cannot be hidden, originally uploaded by gilfling.

to be feeling ill with numerous art events coming up. I do hope tomorrow is more productive than today has been!

Meanwhile I have a brand new print in my etsy shop - one of my favourites.

Looking forward to a week of creating.

This week.........

Coral handfelted bag, originally uploaded by gilfling.

A wonderful weekend away in London

A wee gig (Foo fighters at Wembley Stadium - absolutely brilliant! Me, Mark and 86,000 other fans)

A birthday (36 indeed - how did that happen?)

An unpleasant experience (spammers taking over my email account - apologies to everyone who received a nasty email from 'me')

A wee bit of felting, a wee bit of painting, a wee bit of doll making.

Being accepted to a craft fair taking place early July - more details soon.

Another wonderful day out in the gorgeous Derbyshire Dales

And for the lack of any new photos of completed work - a photo of a felted bag which was added to my shop last week.

Normal blogging and working service may (has to) resume next week!

Today I found myself......

Physalis mixed media, originally uploaded by gilfling.

wanting to paint something (more) simple. I have had these small canvas boards forever and a day so had a wee while of peace and calm, collaging, painting, layer upon layer of colour.

I feel my painting is going through a period of transition and development. There is a desire to create the atmosphere that hopefully has always been central to my work, but now with more richness in colour. It was lovely to just paint something for the pleasure of playing with paint.

My blog is so work orientated at the moment! But I guess that is just where my life is......and that is good.

Two of thesenew pieces can be found in my etsy shop.

The Lonely Coast at Midnight

The Lonely Coast at Midnight, originally uploaded by gilfling.

Ok - this is strange to admit - but sometimes.... I wonder....is it ok to be so completely in love with your own work? So I said it. But now it does feel strange, for why would I not be? But the shy part of me says that it is pride and somehow 'wrong'.

But let me whisper to you...... I am so completely in love with this piece. It is hard to put on etsy. But I must. For as the way of the world goes, the only way I can follow my dream, my heart's desire, is if I can scratch a living from it. I can always keep a print - and I know this will make a fantastic print - although it will never match the incredible texture of this original.

It is strange though. I (you, us) pour our hearts and souls into our work, the very expression of our very soul....and then we have to let it go.

And that is the life of an artist.

Of course that is if anyone buy's it!

Cara and her handpainted dress

Cara and her handpainted dress, originally uploaded by gilfling.

Again another short post! I have to admit I quite like this short blogging and it prevents me waffling about nothing. It also means I get more done which can only be a good thing.

But I just wanted to show you Cara completed after I had a shot of her in progress last week. She has the oldest - and I mean ancient - buttons on her shoulders - either that or they are just well used and well loved. I must try and get a close up.

Anyway Cara also sold within minutes last night and will soon be winging her way over to The Art and Soul Gallery in Bothell, Washingon State. The wonderful gallery owner Susan has been incredibly supportive of my work and I am over the moon that both dolls will be travelling over there.

Cara spends her days painting the meadow flowers whose colours fade in the warm midday sun. She dreams of travelling to far flung places, but in reality, knows that nowhere is more beautiful than the meadows and streams that surround her home in the countryside.

Off to the painting studio now where I hope to at last be able to get a decent photo of the larger painting completed last week but could not capture as the light was as dull as dishwater.

Have a wonderful day!!

Esther's embroidered cape

Esther's embroidered cape, originally uploaded by gilfling.

So it seems short sharp blogs are going to be the way to go in order for me to be able to include photos! (added straight from my flickr)

This is my 3rd mixed media art doll - hand embroidered windmill added to her aged cape.

Esther - Esther lives in a converted windmill. She watches the shooting stars at night and cares for injured hedgehogs, naming each one after her favourite clowns who perform with the Russian circus which visits her local village once a year.

She 'was' for sale here - but was clearly keen to travel to distant lands as she was snapped up almost immediately! You can see more images on my flickr

I really loved making her and am already formulating ideas and designs and dreams for more dolls so will be sewing and painting up a storm!

Shop Sales!!

 To celebrate my new look shops (they have both had a wee bit of a make-over) and my up and coming birthday I have decided to have a wee sale. Click onto my shops to view my new wonderful banners!

Gilfling Art Shop 20% off ALL prints - I am increasing this to 25% for all my wonderful blog readers (does not apply to postage) - just mention 'BLOG' in note to seller and I shall send you an adjusted invoice. I have also decide to extend my 'soon to be discontinued prints' so that they can also be included in this sale!!

Prints can be found in the following shop sections -

Reproduction Prints

Giclee Prints

and Ending Soon Prints

Gilfling's Designs Accessories Shop - 15% discount on any order (not including shipping) this increases to 20% for blog readers - again just add BLOG in note to seller and wait for an adjusted invoice.

And I really have to give a shout out to Leila of Redheart13 who designed my new banners and avatars. She was a real joy to work with and I think she has done an amazing job - now I just have to get my listings and photographs up to scratch!!

perhaps this will work?

crafting 365, day 45, originally uploaded by gilfling.

I shall give it a try -loading photos into my blog from my flickr - which I have never done before - wish me luck!

Edit: Well I never! The things you discover that you should have known  a long long time ago! Ok so the solution is to enter the photos from my flickr account and it is easy! Who knew? Ok so this is my latest doll - photograph taken at my studio yesterday - she is going to be finished today and has had a coat of antique inking since this photo was taken - arms to be added and a few other additions and she will done!

Oh and I simply must tell you - I am retiring a selection of prints from my shop - they will be ending 31st May and will not be appearing again in this format - (they may appear as mini prints sets or postcards at some point in the future) but for now this is the last chance to get them at the 11 x 8 size. You can see them here

Ok - now to toddle off to my studio!! Have a wonderful day!