Hand Of Friendship

has been kicking around here for a while, a small art quilt, but I decided to list it on Etsy today. It was made for a challenge, but didn't get as far as the actual exhibit, I think I was having a bad patch, and when that happens, everything stops.

I've made a number of pieces using hands. For me they are the ultimate symbol of creativity. This particular piece, though, reflects all the different gifts that our friends bring us; sympathy, love, encouragement, care, help, comfort, understanding, joy, enthusiasm and companionship. And that, of course, is just the tip of a very large iceberg.

I am fortunate enough to have a lot of friends; this piece is dedicated to them. All of them. Those I have met, personally, and my virtual friends. All of them, very special people.

When In Doubt...

try something new. I had intended to make greetings cards before now, but never got round to it. But on a bad day, it's always a good thing to try something new, so out came the card blanks and these cards were created. Both feature a fragment of original painting (acrylic on acrylic paper), and each is unique. Sometimes it's impossible to find just the right card, especially for a man; I think these work really well (she said, modest as ever). To be found in my Purely Painting etsy shop. Guid gear, sma' buik, my granny used to say (great things come in small packages, for those of us not conversant with Scots). Hopefully, that's what I've achieved here. And I had some fun into the bargain! What more could you hope for?

Signs Of The Zodiac

is the theme of a challenge that is currently running on Etsy amongst a group of ACEO artists. You can find our conversations here, if you're interested. I'm not sure quite how the conversation turned to star signs, but suddenly a challenge was born.

If you haven't already guessed, I'm a Gemini (talk too much, artistic, excitable, changeable...), and here is the card I made to celebrate that fact! Just about to pop it into Etsy
along with another card, 'Why Don't You Write?'. Simon and Garfunkel fans will recognise a song in there... See what you think!