Time for something a little different: 2011 challenges

Since becoming self-employed, I've realised that training and development is completely in my own hands.

That sounds a bit corporate doesn't it?  But on chatting a while back to the OH, who has been self-employed for more years than either of us care to contemplate, he couldn't remember the last time he did anything of the sort.  So we signed ourselves up with Business Link, and have been to some seminars for small businesses (at least now we have something in common about work apart from the fact that we are now both in the "creative industries").   I've also been to HMRC's workshop on tax, which was both surprisingly interesting and seriously helpful.

As someone who used to be responsible for making sure all our office got their targeted 9 days or more of training a year, I thought it was time I exercised my corporate muscle on a little personal development.  So here are my 2011 personal challenges:

Drawing Every Day
Inspired by Rachel at katzelbows, I've made a resolution to draw something every day.  Efforts thus far have ranged from the frankly piteous (Ernest the lovely bear transformed into a beast of spindly legs and a wonky neck) to the almost passable (the metal heron that stands on our hearth).  I'm laying bets with myself as to when you might get around to seeing anything I've produced...

2011 Playing Cards
Again led astray by Rachel, I've signed up for this challenge.  The aim is to create a playing card each week, using a medium of your choice.  So far, I've decided on my suits, - the elements of earth, fire, air and water - sent off for sufficient ATCs, and planned a theme for each card.  My first card will be the Ace of Earth, and I've chosen a theme of Hearts of Oak.  

For more details, see the linky to the left.

2011 Calendar Challenge


I saw this on a couple of blogs, was intrigued, and next thing you know, I'm sucked in and playing along.  Linky to the right - via the Kathryn Wheel - if you fancy joining in.

I love journals.  I've been keeping a personal journal incorporating a little bit of art for many years, and I also keep a series of travel journals (travel being my biggest personal vice, or maybe virtue).  So when I saw this challenge, I was almost salivating, and immediately started rummaging in my stash of pristine journalling books.  Having located an A4 plain paged number, I was immediately inking away at January 2011.  Here's the story so far:

Think we may need a bit of an iron there...or at least some pressing with a heavy book or two.

The background is a selection of inks: little pigment pads from the sale at Hobbycraft, and Brilliance pearlescents.  The inks have been pressed and rubbed onto the surface with scrunched up kitchen roll.  The tree stamps are in the same inks, with a bit of Promarker to fill in any gaps (oops).  I would like to tell you where I got the tree stamps, but after a bit of surfing, I can only conclude that they are no longer in business.  Which is a real shame, as the stamps are beautiful clear clings, and I love using them.

February is going to be a riot of reds; the inks are already lined up and ready to go!