"You Thrill Me..."

So this weeks challenge over at I ♥ ProMarkers (#124) is Music Related and as you can see I have chosen an image (from the Mimic Creations CD-Rom (Create & Craft)) of one of my all time favourite performers, Michael Jackson. The fence die is a Marianne Designs, the alphas are from Sizzix and the black roses have been in my stash forever, this was the first time it seemed appropriate to use such dark coloured flowers. The colouring is obviously my trusted PM's and some Flex markers too (I love the way the brush tip allows for a really smooth blend). I hope you like it as much as I do. This is one of those rare cards that you make and can't ever see yourself parting with! It would break my heart to give this away to anyone.
So what have I been up to besides card making - well to tell you the truth, nothing! I am now on three design teams and the Squigglefly team start this week too so I don't think I will have a lot of spare time from now on! But I am not complaining, oh no, this has been a really exciting time in my life, I feel like more and more people are beginning to see my work and I get left the most amazing compliments, so much so that sometimes it's a little tough to read as I have never really accepted compliments very well in the past, I like to think of myself as a very modest person (of course, what others think of me I will probably never know!).
I have started another new craft though - knitting!!! I learnt to knit as a kid, my mother taught me, but I only ever really learnt knit and purl and I have never made anything of any note (I did make a cardigan about twenty years ago but it was enormous). Jo and I went to our friend Elaine's house a couple of weeks back and her mum said she would teach me a pattern as I wanted to make a blanket for our bed, I like the thought of making something that will last the pair of us the rest of our days! By the end of the day, Elaine's mum Izzy had taught me a twelve row pattern with a cable design!! I couldn't believe that it was actually me doing it but it was and after a few hiccups I have really mastered the pattern and am now knitting up a storm - well on the rare occassion I am NOT making a card that is!
Picking up the knitting again made me think about all the different things I have had a go at over the years and that I have been crafting since the age of about 12 or 13, so that's over 35 years now. I have made pom-poms, learnt to knit and crochet, used CD-Roms to make cards, done Scrapbooking then Digital Scrapping, Painting and drawing (my favourite medium has always been pencils, especially 2B's), Photography, Digital art using Photoshop, Kumihimo, Stamping, Alcohol Inks, there have been so many over the years it's difficult to remember them all and I imagine it is a similar story for you too, but I have truly found my place in the crafting world now with the use of alcohol based markers and stamping. I used to love colouring as a child but what I am capable of doing now is such much more advanced and so much more rewarding too. It has really helped me over he last few years and I have the Magnolia Ink magazine to thanks really as it was all the amazing colouring going on in that mag that really made me sit up and take notice of what you could do with marker pens. So I now consider myself on a journey of discovery as to where my new found skils can take me but I am sure that the journey itself is going to be ten time more rewarding than the final destination.
Have a good weekend and I will se you again soon,
Hugs and Stuff
Andy
x
P.S My favourite Crafty Passion - easy to answer this one, it has to be COLOURING!!
Entered Into: Bugaboo Stamps Catch The Bug Challenge - Anything Goes
Caft Your Passion Challenge #118 - Gone Gothic
Make It Monday Challenge #97 - Anything Goes
Great Impressions July Monthly Challenge - Show Us Your Best Stay In The Lines Colouring
Stampalot July Challenge - What's Your Crafty Passion?
That Craft Place Challenge - Anything Goes
ATC's and Cards With Attitude Challenge #17 - Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #16 - Anything Goes