Things I learned in Scotland

Things I learned whilst we were in Scotland:

1. the three of us can be in a room or a car, pretty much 24/7, and get along just dandily! Not bad at all for our part-time little trio ♡

2. I love being outdoors - my chest feels open, I breathe more deeply, my head clears, I feel hopeful and excited. I feel joy.

3. I love a good walk/stomp/hike - it is invigorating for the body as well as the soul.

4. I love exploring - on foot, or in a car. My favourite grey Sunday activity is to sit in the car whilst Paul drives...exploring around where we live, tunes on, eyes ever looking out at the passing scenery.

5. variety really is the spice of life. Give me somewhere to walk around or drive around, over a week by a pool, any day!

6. being outside awakens my creativity - I see patterns, colour and inspiration EVERYWHERE.


























7. I don't need to be trapped indoors by my anxiety - I went out, for seven days, slept in 5 different beds and not only survived, but had one of my favourite holidays to date. Go me!

8. faced with wide open spaces, I feel ALIVE.

9. the ocean...oh the ocean!

We did a mini tour of Western Scotland's highlands and islands, taking in Bute, Inveraray, Oban, Mull, Iona, Fort William, Glen Nevis, the Nevis Gorge and Steall Waterfall, and finishing in Drymen.

Sarah
x

Daily(ish) Drawing

Hello!

Here are a few photos of recent daily(ish) drawings, that have been posted to my Instagram feed - I say (ish) because daily really isn't happening.

Life got in the way before the Easter holidays, and since then I've got out of the habit of sofa doodling on an evening...just way too tired..and my mojo is still on it's jollies I think!

I'll get going again once other jobs are out of the way, and there's a little more time in my head and life.

I do miss it, as I enjoyed the constant and consistent creativity, so I will be working hard to get back into the rhythm of daily drawing.

Spot the button themed drawings? They were fun! I may go back to this at some point, and create some mini original art on the same theme.

☞ To see all my daily(ish) drawings in one place, simply search under the #dbd2016dailydrawing hashtag, on Instagram.

Have you taken on a challenge for 2016, creative or otherwise? Are you managing to stick to it, or do find that there are times where you simply have to roll with it, and take a break?

Cheers for now
Sarah
x

Clearance sale

Hello, and how are you this soggy (well it is here in our corner of Yorkshire) Friday evening?

I wanted to let you know, that there are bargains a plenty to be had on my, second, Instagram account @DitsyBirdOutlet, as I'm having a stock clearance of my fabric and felt makes.

Think brooches, purses, rings, coasters and the like. All featuring a variety of creative methods such as: beading; hand embroidery; machine embroidery; appliqué; and a spot of hand painted fabric here and there. There are also shrink plastic items, and a whole load of craft destash items.

Pop on over and have a looksee - they are perfect for stocking up on birthday gifts for the year; or a great way to buy handmade party bag treats; or even, dare I say it, a chance to get some stocking fillers for this year’s festive season, for a steal!

I quite fancy sharing some of the methods I have used in my past crafty endeavours...anybody up for a few tips and 'how to's'?

I will be adding more books and makes to the Instagram account soon, but I shall leave you with some pretty pictures for now!

vintage threads

week 40 issue of Selvedge

fab book full of cute projects to make

Good ole Cath, and a bit of sewing

do you remember buying a 99 from the ice-cream van?

ahh celebrate the big three oh in a traditional tattoo style

a sweet little frosted cupcake...hand beaded don't you know

One of my Doodle Blossom flower designs

a super sweet (!) little felt brooch

another Doodle Blossom brooch in the softest felt

oh hello tiny little bird brooch!

I love the zing of the colours in this machine embroidered & beaded leaf brooch

there's nothing so delightfully British, as a pot of tea - all beaded by hand too!

zesty little beaded, butterfly brooch - such a summery little thing

go green with this beauty

celebrate your 2nd birthday with stripes and zing!

a very cute little 8th birthday brooch...for the understated type

oh how I love this - the mustard felt, the loopy loop of the embroidery *swoon*

one of my all time favourite, machine embroidered designs...and colourway!

Cheerio for now
x

Create consistently

Hello!

Back in December, I think it was, my friend Helen and I, set challenges for ourselves - mine was to draw daily. Now anyone who follows me on Instagram, will know that my mum sadly lost her fight with cancer earlier this year...so there were a number of days where there was no drawing. Having said that, there were other days that were entirely spent drawing...it is very much my therapy, solace and sanctuary - a place where I can be entirely in the moment.

To sum up, after that waffly preamble, I have been endeavouring to draw daily, and to create consistently.

This has been challenging some days, but also incredibly rewarding - I find that when I'm on top of the challenge, a few wonderful things happen together:

• ideas flow more freely, making it easier to think of something to draw and waking up my creativity
• I'm becoming more and more confident with my tools, through regular use and practice
• I'm getting the chance to play with more mediums - watercolour, ink, gouache, mixed media
• my personal creative style is becoming more and more apparent
• I'm quickly finding out which ideas work and which don't - you know that gut feeling you get, about whether a certain style / design or medium 'fits'? I'm finding it much easier to spot what is and isn't me...Sarah and Ditsy Bird
• I'm getting quicker - much quicker - at knocking a quick sketch out - much less pondering and worrying, and a lot more of the 'just going with it'. This is a very good thing. Trusting my intuition.
• I'm happy when I draw, and as I'm drawing a lot at the moment, I am feeling generally happy most days - even bearing in mind recent events, this is still true. And I'm very grateful for it.
• I'm managing to maintain a creative momentum that I haven't achieved in the past. Because I am drawing daily, I'm already in the creative mindset, which is making it easier for me to stay on track with current projects, and actually complete some! Boom!
• my Instagram feed is looking good too, thanks to regular process shots and finished doodle photos...always a good thing, as I have a terrible habit of simply retreating from social media (and social life) when life gets tough

All in all, I'm mighty glad to have taken up the challenge, and aim to stick with it for the rest of the year, and hopefully catch up with the days I've missed so that I have the full 366 posts by the end of it!

Have you set yourself any personal challenges this year, and how have you benefitted from them?

Sarah
♡

PS if you fancy a looksee at all the drawings, head to my Instagram feed, or in Instagram search for the following three hashtags #dbd2016dailydrawing #draweveryday2016 #2016creativechallenge xxx