So, my hair salon, teams up with my favourite local gin distillery and puts on an annual art competition! Each participate, decorates an empty Brighton Gin Bottle! There's a a cash prize of £150, as well as gin and merchandise to winners in each of the three categories; Artist, Student or Amateur.
As part of my PMR/GCA "Slow the F*@K Down" Healing Process, I decided (well actually my monster, "She-that-shan't-be-named" decided) that even though we have NEVER been artistically inclined and NEVER ever entered a competition before... we'd give it a try!
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
The judging was supposed to be last night, but Storm Emma freaked everyone out... so it was postponed until next Thursday.
My entry is titled "Divine Gintervention" and I hope you can access this GooglePhoto Album Link... if you cant, please let me know.
What an absolutely, absorbing thing to do and the result is witty, quirky and very arty. So your monster has released this part of you by suppressing analytical project manager you? Never let it go.
I think you’ll win. You just can’t keep a good girl down. It’s made me crave a gin and I hardly drink these days.
I did way over 200 jam jars and bottles covered in hessian ribbons, and spring flowers for table decorations for my daughters wedding. I really enjoyed it. I was dreaming jam jars. All my idea. Don’t know where that came from either.
Oh yes and the name’s genius! It’s in the bag girl.
Spend all your prize money on crafting materials, It is a wonderfully addictive world. Try hobbycraft on line. I have a hamper basket full of the most amazing things from my Theo Care days. He would like me making things while he played with his engines and tracks - not really my plan - but he was only 2.
He is three and living in Australia, along with his baby brother, two cousins aged 9 and 4, my two daughters and their husbands. We miss each other a lot. It’s supposed to be temporary, his daddy is a doctor and life is better for doctors there and I’ve got an awful feeling that they might stay. My eldest has been there for 15 years.
Ohhhh SheffieldJane, that's sad... would you ever consider moving there? Nice warm weather... your kids, your grandchildren. After this week's UK weather, it sounds good to me!
My son is still here. I love Europe and architecture and History. Australia is great if you’re young and fit and engage with the natural environment. Who knows though. It’s what you get for taking your kids on great holidays. It’s too bl*dy hot mate!
Hi,. My son went to live in USA twenty years ago and although I missed him I have another son who lives here who I loved just as much. Good news is he quite unexpectedly came back five years ago with his American wife and our only grandchild. So all is good.
Not ALL parts of OZ SJ -the more southern climes are quite temperate and great - like we are at the very bottom of WA - but very likely your family is in the East. Must admit though I also love European history and 'culture' and just lap up as much as I can whenever we get up there. Still as you say 'nature' here is marvellous - and getting outdoors helps to keep people fitter - well we try ... but with this AI stuff you have to rest a lot anyway wherever and whatever the weather - snow storms or not ...
Yes, they live in Sawtell on the East Coast about 8 hours North of Sydney. Hot seaside resort ( beautiful) I would probably love Melbourne, with its cultural scene. I love Sydney and Bondi Beach where Angie used to live. She also lived near Katoomba in the Blue Mountains which I adored. Byron Bay made me ache for my lost youth.
I didn’t mean to be rude about Australia, it’s just that it swallowed my whole family. If I managed to be accepted as an immigrant, it would be to be a part of my grandchildren’s daily lives. Therefore, hot, sandy beaches and rainforest would be my environment. I have been to Australia 10 times, but only to where my family is. I have never seen the Red Centre or Western Australia. I have been to Queensland though.
They hike, swim, surf, climb and camp. A rocking chair on a green Queenslander deck might suit me.( Apparently what the Victorian style houses with wrap around verandas that I like are called).
Oh snap sheffieldjane! I did the same for my daughters wedding. Used to dream about hessian. Made table runners too and put little sparkly lights under them. In fact the girl who supplied the chair covers asked to buy them because she loved them so much. Made bunting and pompoms and all sorts. Good fun but couldn't see me doing it now. Nice to remember though. Thanks for reminding me 😊
Yes I still keep any unusual jars and bottles I come across. Nice to decorate and put tealights in. The bunting I made for the wedding now decorates my granddaughters bedroom. A nice reminder of a lovely day
Fantastic Melissa very imaginative !! - a delightful and slightly 'scary' personification of your wee 'beastie' who certainly exposes your creative side. Whatever happens in this competition WE here all think she is winner - and with the prize-money think of all the bottles of gin you'll be able to buy to form a 'community' of beasties so as to overcome any 'sociability' issues ...
My sister painted poppies on everything in her kitchen, jars pots lampshades etc. I would nurture monster while she is around and let here take you to new experiences.
Absolutely brilliant Melissa! You have made something truly amazing! And thank you for being brave and sharing her with us. Do let us know what happens on Thursday. As the others say, let your creative “ monster” out and have a play!
Thank you Lizwillis! I appreciate your support! I don't expect to win, but as I have NEVER done anything like this... I am just excited to be part of the experience!
WOW. She is amazing. Your creative monster is really having a field day. I was going to say "I'd like some of whatever you're on", but hang on - I'm already taking it (pred) and it ain't having this creative effect on me!!! Keep it coming Melissa, we're all loving it.
Well done for your divine creation, she's fab. I wondered if the spiky pink mascara brushes were a physical manifestation of your GCA headaches!
I hope you will share some of the other entries with us at the Show on Thursday.
I have had moments of creativity since life changed with PMR but mostly find it hard to be enthusiaistic about anything which is a shame given all this empty time I now have in my life. I wonder if you will have carry on being arty!!
Hmmmmm? Interesting question... It's weird that is one of the first ideas that bubbled up. Mascara brushes for hair; before she had a face, before she had a name, even before I knew she was an angel! When I googled "disposable mascara brushes, and saw the PINK, I knew that was it! ...although I didn't know much else!
I will share other entries, yes! THEY ARE AMAZING!!! They made Divine Gintervention look like an amateur!!! I felt bad leaving her in the company with all these remarkable works of art, but she's feisty, she'll hold her own!
I'm sorry you're at a low point... and yes it is hard to be enthusiastic about much. I think the fact that I have been ingesting between 80-60 mg of Pred now for 3 months has sparked this manic, creative journey... You are right, we shall see as I come down, if it carries on.
Love it! I’m wondering if every time you put on mascara, monster thought, “Oh, if only Melissa would let me out, I could have fun with these brushes”. Going to be fun to see where she takes you: writing, poetry, art. I think you need to get some canvases and brushes.
I think she's the one who talked me into buying/using them! She also loved using the drill to drill 100 holes in the head!!! Ohhhh, canvas and brushes.... really? That is some serious shit! : O
Just seen your Brighton Belle and, weather/time permitting, I might just drop in to see your brilliant creation... do hope you won. It's SO satisfying doing something creative huh? I have just finished a large fairy/butterfly collagey painty thing for my adult daughter and, like you, had no idea where I was going with it but am quite proud of the result. Best of luck and hope you win
Pls stay in my life. Sorry to sound like a needy weirdo. I am not one. I just like you xxxxx
Ohhhh cool! Are you local? I'm sure I won't win (judging is next Friday), but as I have not done an "art project" since I helped my kids with their's when they were in school, I chuffed that I was inspired and entered her! Good on you on for creating the "fairy/butterfly collagey painty thingy! Hahahahahaha
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