Drawing Challenge- The Great Reveal

That's it. My days of commuting from Brighton to London are over and my 19 day drawing challenge is complete. I am going to miss the drawing challenge a lot. I really felt I improved towards the end and became a lot less dependent on using words as part of the illustration. But my word it was hard. The rules I set myself were that I was allowed to think about the drawing during the day and even look for inspiration but then I just had my evening commute to complete the drawing and I couldn't go back to work on it. 

And so without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the fruits of my drawing challenge labours...drum roll...

(Please click the images to enlarge them if you would like a closer look)

Here are the tools of my trade which I carried with me for the drawing challenge. Oh Sharpie pens how I love you...

The Challenge

Day 1: Myself

Day 2: Favourite Animal

Day 3: Favourite Food

Day 4: Favourite Place

Day 5: My Best Friend

Day 6: Favourite Word

Day 7: Favourite Plant

Day 8: A Couple

Day 9: Just a Doodle
Day 10: Something Orange

Day 11: Something I Want

Day 12: Something I Miss

Day 13: Something I Need

Day 14: My Most Recent Accomplishment

Day 15: Scenery

Day 16: Something I Don't Like
Mushrooms!

Day 17: Something I Love

Day 18: A Place I'd Like To Go

Day 19: A Congratulatory Banner For Finishing!

So there you go. I would love to see if anyone else has completed this or the 30 Day Drawing Challenge so please comment with your link so I can check it out! x

Autumnal Colour Palettes

Maybe it's because I am inside when I would rather be outside but I have come over all whimsical about autumnal colours. So today I have brought a little outdoors indoors with this autumnal colour palette blog...I hope you enjoy.

Hampstead Heath

Poppy in Brockwell Park

Horniman Museum, London

Rosehips in Battersea Park

I will find out the artist's name who made this tile

Threads at the Market, Leighton Buzzard

Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

This could equally be a blog in praise of autumn light- every photographers dream. x

A new Twitter fledging

That's right. I have joined the world of Twitter. You can follow me @LauraCraftyBird. Just what you wanted- more insight into my tiny little mind. And just what I needed- something else to procrastinate with!

I know I promised you pictures of my bank holiday makes but the truth is I didn't do much more that fix a hole in my leggings and that wasn't very blog worthy (despite the fact I have just told you about it...)

I have been working on some birthday presents and also taking commissions for some card designs which has been fun. Once they have been distributed I will share them with you but till then it's all very hush hush.

Here is the one I did for Trisha Gee. The remit was "Things specific to Trish, cycling, shoes, boys, drinking!!" and here is the finished card:

The background patterns are images of the specific beverages under a microscope

The feedback I received today was that awesome was used twice to describe it which is good enough for me.
I hope the other birthday bods like theirs just as much!

My new hedgerow foraging book arrived last week so at the first sign of sunshine we were out looking for things to infuse in booze.

I can recommend this lovely book- next purchase
will be the Jams and Preserves one in the series...

So far elderberries and sloes have been gathered, pricked and frozen and are now ready and waiting for the magic to begin. My new place of work is surrounded by woods so with any luck I will be able to do a spot of foraging on my lunch break...might need to take my wellies!

Here is a little Esty titbits I have collected to celebrate hedgerows & foraging:







You may also have noticed that I have a new neat and tidy little chart for this treasury. This is thanks to Craft Blog UK's tutorial. I recommend that you check out the blog- just the ticket for some blogging inspiration.
That's it for now. happy Tuesday everyone x

Hands up if you love long weekends...

ME ME! I Do!

Hands up if you like how long your last day at work is before the long weekend.

Nope, it sucks.

But not to worry- my little brain cells are hard at work planning some crafty projects for my bank holiday stay in Knighton. I was given some amazing West African fabric by Mark & Kaylene for my birthday so I plan to make something from that. So today I am going to be searching for a suitable pattern.

I am thinking either a maxi skirt like this

The romantic in me can't resist a
floor length skirt

which I love but not sure if it will be the right fabric to get this effect or something like this

I do love a good pocket...

The fabric has a lovely lace detail around the bottom so this skirt might be a better way to show it off. And might be more work friendly.

Or there is this pattern that I found a while back.

I like the pleats in this one

but again the fabric might not hang right. hmmmm. I have to admit that I never thought matching patterns to fabric would be so difficult. I think this has been the most difficult sewing lesson to learn. As I still haven't mastered zips or buttons (sewing wise- for the record I am perfectly capable of using them) I am a little limited in my design choices. I guess I will just have to have a play around!

I am also planning to finally finish my camping cushions. They never made it on to my folksy/etsy stores for summer but I am determined to at least finish the prototypes I started back in June.

Stay tuned for a phototastic blog coming soon...

So for now I will leave you with this piece of  photoshopping that occupied me yesterday afternoon.

Happy bank holiday everyone x

P.S. Just to let you know days one and two of the drawing challenge have been completed and so far I am pretty pleased with the results. I hadn't been prepared for just how challenging it would be but that, I guess, is the whole point...Today it is my favourite food- a torturous thing to think about after work. If you're on my train tonight it's just my stomach rumbling!

Drawing Challenge...

Whilst messing 'bout on tinternet at lunch (it is a wet play day- thanks British Summer)
I came across this lovely post by Allison Lehman

And I thought that it would be the perfect way to get crafty on my commute. Now I only have 19 - yes that's 19- working days left of my Brighton to London commute so I have decided to customise the challenge to the "19 Day Drawing Challenge" (I think you'll agree I did something rather special and clever with the title there...)

So here is my drawing challenge list

And I have the perfect notebook to use for such a project: The Library Bear!

I am not a natural drawer so this will indeed be a challenge- and I think today's will be the hardest of all!

I was going to upload them day by day but you will just have to wait for the big reveal on the 22nd September.

Wish me luck! x

Etsy titbits III: Seaside

Check out these treasures in my seaside themed etsy titbits...

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

Cheap Date Brooch, Mermade Jewellry

Best Name Ever! Hand painted plate by BrightonCrock

Mermaid Leggings, Carouselink

Night Swimming by Mae Chevrette

Boat throw Pillow, Mengseldesign

Shell Collage, PRRINT

You can sea (sic) more of my etsy titbits here!

Crafty Birds Spotted on Folksy

Morning peeps!

Exciting news- Crafty Bird Collective have been Found on Folksy and featured in their blog!

Here is their description: "There are many things I like about this blue retro cushion by Crafty Bird Collective. The fabric is stunning, of course, but the maker has also used vintage buttons inherited from her Grandma's collection. A little story behind an already special item makes it even more endearing."


I feel very flattered. Thank you Lucy from Found on Folksy for featuring us! Make sure you visit to check out the other wonderful granny chic items selected for the blog.


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