bit gloomy

I'm feeling a bit left behind. On a bad day it can feel like everyone has their good times else where and I am left with the mundanity of housework and home-from-school-bossiness. I get tired of having to be almost entirely self motivated and I am a little adrift. These are small gripes in a generally very happy life and an hour listening to radio 4 gives me perspective. A cup of chai in my new mug will make me smile and I will cheer up soon.

half term etc

I wrote this last week, but things have been busy...

today it rained all day. we stayed in all day. eli and i sawed the bunk beds in half. i moved the drawers and the wardrobe and the toy kitchen from one side of a room to the other. reuben and eli dragged a mattress down the stairs and we used it as a slide and then a trampoline then a wrestling mat. cherry set up an imaginary cafe serving soup and cakes and tea and coffee. freddie did a lot of reading. we amicabley pottered all day. sometimes i quite like the rain.

The school holidays continued with trips to the grandparents, the beach with friends, a walk and lunch out just me and the children, the theatre, the cinema, a birthday party, all rounded off with the perfect Sunday: a walk, a roast and a movie. Job Done! 

I am desperate to get back to my map drawings, but probably won't have a chance until Friday. I did finish this illustration for school last week.

And have nearlly finished this scarf.

Am off now to cook everyones's favourite tagliatelle bolognese. Having just listened to a womans hour discussion about fussy eaters I am feeling very relaxed about our family's eating habits and enjoyment of food!

instagram

I have joined instagram, search claire.paisley xx

lots of ...ings

Sitting ...in my new desk space.

Admiring... my children's art work (a panda sitting on a mouse, in case you were wondering)

Finishing... valentines boxes, for Four Doors' window display in Rye.

Reading...The Honours, only a few chapters in, enjoying the words and the cover!

 

Realising... that I may be turning into my grandma. I've just bought these Greydawn 1950s bowls

and theses new shoes

I've actually swept behind the sofa

and I very much enjoyed an eccles cake (v delicious, from Rye Deli) with my coffee this morning.

Thinking of you Mollly x

inspired

One of the problems I have with the internet is that when I have a look around at what other artists are doing, there is SO MUCH amazing stuff out there that it's hard not to feel daunted. So much talent and work I can only dream of making. The flip side of this is that such a wealth of inspiration is so easily accessible (without leaving the house, which on these dreary January days is quite handy!). In a matter of moments I have as many ideas floating around my head as I can cope with and I'm raring to go, pencil in hand and with the little extra time I seem to have had this week, I have managed to get started on a couple of projects....

Valentines boxes for Four Doors in Rye...

And the beginings of an illustrated map of Hastings & St Leonards...

birthdays

It's birthday season chez nous, which leaves little time for my own projects. I managed a couple of hours this week working on an idea to use more figures alongside the houses...

but mostly creative juices have been flowing into other areas!

display

A new years shift around of bedrooms and desk spaces has inspired a sense of display, not just in me! A few compositions from around the house...

Haven't managed much on the work front this week (well they only went back to school 3 days ago!), just 3 thank you cards...