Two more photo shoots, probably the last for a while.

Had two photo shoots this week and I am thinking they will probably be my last for a while because on Monday I go back to the day job as an Art teacher in a secondary school.  Can't say I am thrilled about it to be honest because I really have had a wonderful holiday and am topping off by going to my friend's wedding tomorrow, and nothing beats a good wedding.  I have really enjoyed feeling like I am my own boss this summer, selling on Etsy, doing photo shoots and art commissions, it's been lovely.  This next half term will determine what my plans will be for the future, stay in teaching or leave, we will have to wait and see.  For now anyway I hope you enjoy these last photos of the summer:

My "Studio"

When I am not teaching, taking photographs, working on my allotment, scrapbooking or making stuff for my Etsy shop I like to do the one thing that really brings me joy, the thing I am trained for and the thing that I most want to do in the future, and that is my art. Sadly my darling husband and I do not have a lot of money and thus no space for a permanent studio. To get by I have a sort of "get-it-out-when-you-want-it" studio that normally lives in the corner of our living room come dining room, and when it is out it resides on our dining room table. Like today for instance. I am currently working on some artwork for a friend of mine's partner who is a musician; he has commissioned me to produce some mixed media paintings that might work well on the cover of his next catalogue of sheet music. The music is all about different types of flowers with the lyrics to famous floral poems, so I am trying to make the artworks flower related. Anyhow, here is what my "get-it-out-when-you-want-it" studio looks like today, followed by some photos of the artworks:

I like to have my laptop with me when I am working so I can look online at different techniques and styles for inspiration.  I am fairly pleased with the artworks although I felt the second one was too pink, and the first one could have had a larger group of flowers in the middle.

Now what to do for the rest of the day?  It's a lovely summer day here in Berkshire, and I am being draw outside, maybe I will go for a walk.  Only two more days of my summer holiday left after today, and i am trying to live each one as if it were my last day on earth, thinking, "what would I want to do today if I was going to die tomorrow"  and not in a crazy kind of "I am going to do a bungee jump" sort of thing, but in a "living each day to the full" sort of way.
What are you doing today?

Hels
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New item in my Etsy Shop

Just posted this ietm in my Etsy shop, it is another of my upcycled paper, resin brooches, this one is made with my vintage music sheet, I added the word "serendipity" and a glass pearl to make it extra special.
Would love to hear what you think, I am not sure about the photos, are they too fussy?

foraging finds

Found these beauties whilst on a stroll yesterday, I was so excited and surprised, they are called Puffball mushrooms and totally safe to eat so we had them fried with butter, garlic and bacon in a toasted sandwich, delish! (And we didn't die....bonus!)

Gorgeous photos

Take a look at this gorgeous girl I photographed recently.  She was so beautiful and I am so incredibly pleased with the photos.  When I take photos like this it makes me feel good because I think, oh, maybe I am good at taking photos, I sort of surprise myself.
If you like them you could join my facebook page or take a look at my website.

Do you like the little montage I did at the end?

I am thinking of doing some kind of photography tutorial at some point in the near future, what do you think?

Ooh, I also created a new blog just for Helen Jackson Photography, it has the same photos I post here but focusing just on the photography, here it is.

Caravans

My husband Paul and I were having a conversation in the car when we were on our way to our holiday in Cornwall.  We were observing the number of ugly caravans that people own and how they all have the most inappropriate names.  We decided that there were basically three styles of caravan names out there, firstly those that make the caravan seem grand, second, those that make the caravan seem fast and third, those that make the caravan seem adventurous.  Take the following for example:

THE SWIFT CHARISMA 220

Personally I don't  find this caravan to have much charisma, nor do I imagine it to be swift!

Or how about:

THE CRUSADER STORM

Hmmm not sure this model could withstand a shower let alone a storm.

So we decided to come up with our own names for caravans, check these out:

The Home from Home,

The Cosy 200,

The Comfy Slipper,

The Take It Easy,

Do you think they would catch on?

I then lamented that there are no nice looking caravans out there and that I should design one myself, but then I found these beauties on weheartit:

 

Gorgeous or what?  Now I really want a caravan.  I would like one on my allotment instead of a shed.

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

Through the process of random selection I can now announce that the winner of the 100th post giveaway is Fran.
Thanks to eveyone who left a comment, I really enjoyed doing a giveaway and will definately be doing more in the future!

Hels
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