Paper Arts on a Mug

I got a parcel yesterday - always exciting!  This one was especially wonderful as it's the mug I ordered from Katie Almond and I just LoVe it :)  

I'd seen her work in the craft shop at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester a couple of months back, and decided it would make a great 20th wedding anniversary present.  Unfortunately, when Malc and I went to choose a piece they were all sold out!  Apparently they just fly off the shelves.

Katie very kindly emailed me some pictures however, and I chose this mug which arrived yesterday!  I love the combination of music, teacups and teapots and handpainted hearts.

It is now safely on display in my craft room (studio sounds just too posh lol!), along with my collection of jugs and other nice ceramics!

just FaR too exciting!

I'd already spent yesterday very excited about taking a class as an attendee, and had only just sat down when Tracey arrived with a present for me - my very own minions :)  Woohoo!  How lucky am I?!!  If you don't have a clue what I am talking about, check them out here:

They really are the stars of the show 'Despicable Me'.  So a huge, huge thankyou to Tracey, I LoVe my new friends ;) er, decorations!!

The evening continued brilliantly.  We started off making a variety of marks with big fat graphite sticks, 

...before adding layers of paint and coloured pencil...

I really didn't want to finish for the evening, it was very relaxing.  We were even given homework, sorry, we think it's called 'extended study'.  These classes will be monthly, starting from January.  Before then we need to compile a picture board full of inspiration on the theme 'landscape'.  I'm working on a city theme, based on the mills of Manchester and have enjoyed researching artists that create cityscapes...

...and have been out taking photos of some of the mills...

Working through a theme from images, drawings and photos etc right through to a finished mixed media piece has been something I've been wanting to do for ages so it was great to finally get started :)