Violet Lake

Woodland Drawing

2012-01-05T14:37:00.000Z

Happy New Year everyone.

New drawing I just finished in Silver point - kind of a botanical/ woodland-ish/ animal theme....The values are slightly darker than the actual picture (due to some digital enhancement) but Silver point is a tricky beast to try and capture. I may colour it but I haven't decided yet - what do you think?

This will be available as a print very soon :)

Happy Christmas

2011-12-27T18:21:00.000Z

Papers from Minimega via Polliblog

WHOOOOOSSHHHHHH! What was that? Oh, that was the sound of Christmas flying past.

Yes, it's been and gone, now all eyes are firmly focused on New Year celebrations. I had the most wonderful time with friends and family over the last few weeks and have been very spoilt. So a BIG thank you to them for making it so special - although I have Wii arm now. I specifically blame my Sister who was an ardent supporter of using it this Christmas. No, I'm kidding it was super fun. I hope you all had a great time too.

We are currently in the no man's land (so to speak) between Boxing Day and New Years eve when everyone wonders what is actually open and looking at the tree wistfully, knowing that it's twinkly days are numbered. Maybe that's just me? I'm trying not to eat all the bad things in the house as well. I had some minor heart palpitations during the Christmas Poirot and knew it was down to all the mega calories I'd consumed since Friday. Obviously my 2012 involves getting fit. Very fit o_o

So I wish you all a fabulous and fun new year. I shall see you in January peeps! *pulls party popper*

xxxxx

Free Festive Tags!

2011-12-14T10:40:00.000Z

As this season is about the spirit of giving, I have created you all some tags which can be downloaded for free! This is Marcel, just hanging out with you for Christmas.

I say I created them, but really I just made a nice design whilst my other half actually made them into the printable form you see before you. Yey husband. I did attempt it myself but it led to an unpleasant episode of mardiness when GIMP crashed on THREE unsaved designs. You might think I would have learned by the second time to save it more than once every 15 minutes?.....Anyway a lot of love went into these tags and I give them to you as my gift for this year :)

(FYI if you open this in Microsoft picture viewer it might look squished. It should print fine)

Marcel :)

Follow the link and print

You can also go to here to download from a larger file. So HURRAH for Christmas, and free tags to grace your presents - like a tag team of awesomeness! Enjoy lovelies, enjoy. Not long now.... xxx

I LOVE Christmas

2011-12-06T15:20:00.001Z

What Christmas news do I have for from Violet Lake Studio? Well firstly - I love this time of year (who doesn't?) but that isn't really news. No, it is that I have just put my Christmas Cards up in the shop! Yes, two designs for your sending pleasure :)

Little Deer

Kitty-Cats

Pretty huh? They turned out really well in my opinion. I have only printed a limited number because I really hate mass produced Christmas cards and I wanted to keep them special.

Also we have our tree up - which you can see sparkling nicely away in the background of my Kitty cat card pic. I spent a very happy Saturday decorating it whilst listening to the dulcet tones of The Buble. We also have the Robin bunting up which I made last year (technically never came down) but it looks happy again now it's old pal the tree has returned!

In other non Christmas news I have been listening non stop to the new Florence & The Machine album 'Ceremonials' which my sister kindly gifted to me. If you liked the last one I suggest you jolly well run (or click) to your nearest purveyor of music and buy it! Honest to goodness, there are some epic gems on there. 'No Light, No Light' is my favourite track so far, enjoy.

How much is that doggy in the picture?

2011-11-25T12:01:00.001Z

Good question, I don't know yet. Or indeed what she is going to be. However she is very cute and her name is Petunia....Yes.

I'm very excited about this make as it has endless possibilities! On to more important stuffs, it is Friday (as if you didn't know). What are you all up to this weekend? I hope its full of fun and frollics for you :)

New Shop

2011-11-22T14:40:00.001Z

Hey, good news! I have a new place to sell my wares :)

Please visit the Stylistic Gallery here to see my work and view other rad things, like these...

Cushion - Sixes & Sevens

Photograph - Gail Griggs

There is something for everyone here, so have a look round.

Shop update

2011-11-20T00:55:00.001Z

Hi, what's up? Welcome to my updated, spanking brand new look blog. Do you likey? I started messing about changing up a few things, then like suddenly it was all different. Not sure if this is staying, but it will do for now. I'm envisaging some fancy things here and there although time probably won't permit them.

So what's been happening with you? I have been super busy over the last month making and creating new stuffs for the shop and finding new places to sell said items. Up for your perusal is a painting and some supplies for all you other paper enthusiasts.

Sweet Pea Abstract - SOLD

Paper packs x3

The Global journal IS going out very soon, I promise! I was all ready to send it on it's way and such when I had a bit of an accident. Funny story, not long after my previous post (mere minutes) we were on the way out when I fell knee first down the stairs. The result was a trip to A&E with a suspected broken hand/knee. Luckily (or embarrassingly) it was just a badly sprained thumb and bruised knee . We can laugh about it now, even though I spent the car ride there crying and repeatedly apologising to my DH! Needless to say our anniversary was a little bit of a disaster. We had a lovely tea from M&S after, so it wasn't all bad.

It messed up my schedule somewhat so I am b e h i n d. Anyone waiting to hear back from me about commissions or projects etc, please bear with me!

Oh, I am also on tumblr now too, 'coz that's where all the cool kids hang out. Apparently. Visit it here, although it's a bit empty at present. Just talk amongst yourselves for a bit whilst I fill it up....

Happy Anniversary

2011-11-09T13:02:00.000Z

Today is our wedding anniversary, It has been four years and I wouldn't have changed any of it for the world. The last year has been tough and I wouldn't have got through it without your love and dedication. Thank you for being my best friend and partner in crime.

All my love

Corinne xxxx

Global Journal - Call for Artists

2011-09-23T16:32:00.000+01:00

I'm back (wooo) and my internet has stopped dropping out. Who knows why, I never got to the bottom of it. Anywho, I wanted to announce the project I mentioned last week and this is it - The Global Journal. See the spangly picture I created for it this very morn. Oooh, the vintagey goodness.

THE IDEA

What is this crazy thing, you say? Well, basically it is going to be a collaborative project between myself and a whole bunch of other people. I will start a Journal and send it on to the next person, who then makes some magical imagery and sends it on again. When we reach the end of a book, a new one is started. Simple. I want it to be an ongoing conversation, with lots of different styles and ideas mish-mashed together in a glorious journal. I'd like to document it along the way so everyone can see it's progress.

My vision is that the end result will somehow be made into a printed book.....I'm still working on that part though.

(After some research, I see it is not an original idea of mine and loads of people are doing them *insert annoyed look here*. Obviously I was slightly deflated and all, BUT it shall happen non the less. Ours will be the best. Besides, the others don't have my great logo/picture thing going on do they? Point made.)

So this is where I need you guys. You don't have to be an 'artist', as long as you are creatively minded, willing to get involved and keep the spirit of the Global Journal going, you can join in.

THE RULES

1. Anything added to the journal has to be flat (paper/fabric etc) as putting in objects will bulk it up and possibly rip through pages. This will also make postage costs higher, which I want to avoid.

2. The work you create shouldn't interfere with or deface what others have done before you. Also bear in mind if you are using glues or paints that they won't stick together pages or smudge something pretty. We wanna keep the pretty!!

3. Have fun and enjoy it (not like organised fun though, I only know one person who is inclined to that).

The only thing this will cost you is postage to keep the journal going, but there should be a fair few people participating so you shouldn't have to do this more than once or twice.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Just email me and let me know you want to get involved. It is that simple.

I can't wait to hear from you :-)

xxxx

A little delay

2011-09-21T12:03:00.001+01:00

Well. I realise this is not Monday like I promised, but I have been working non stop on my exhibition entry. It's all done now and what do you know as I start the post - my internet keeps crashing. Embarrassing.
Technology has been against me all week so it is not a surprise. However I managed to download the Blogger app to my Android so this is how I am coming to you now! Good lord this week has been tricky.
I don't feel I can really do my big project reveal from my phone so let me do some fixing and i'll be back later on. Hopefully.
Till then here is a looksy at part of the piece I entered to the 20x20 show yesterday.

Giveaway Winner!

2011-09-17T19:57:00.000+01:00

Hello :-)

Just dropped in to announce the winner of my very first give away. There were only five of you so the odds of winning were pretty good! I put you in order of the date and time you commented on my blog and/or on my Facebook page (just in case anyone wanted to know).

And the winner is - by magical random number generator....

Number 3 was - Iddrise Ann! Well done lady! If you want to email me with your address I will send your prize. Ahhhhh. You were the dark horse who snook in on FB!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who commented - I wish I could send you all something :-/ Fear not though, I shall be doing another giveaway very soon so please, please, please come back and try again.

In other exciting news, I have a fantabulous (it really will be, so excited!!) project that will require other like minded creatives to be involved in. Make sure you come back on Monday when I shall reveal my plan.

I am now going back to a piece of work that needs to be finished by Monday. I am not even half finished yet *rocks back and forth with panic stricken face O_O *. Yes, my inability to judge dates on a calender has once again come to the fore. In this instance I looked at the due date last week and thought oh yeah, plenty of time. NO. Not plenty of time. In fact not enough, Sigh. This is trouble of my own making and I shall go unravel myself from it now. "We are gonna need a montage (a montaaage...)"

So adieu people, have a great rest of weekend and I shall see you on Monday.

Where did they come from?

2011-09-15T14:00:00.000+01:00

I realised today after taking a look at my website that I totally haven't talked about my abstract pieces - duh! To those of you who have been following me a while, they must have popped up randomly. Like 'woah, where did the rabbits go?' This is part truth as I never really planned to extend down this path AND it is still very much experimental. It will definitely develop over time.

'Cloud Shapes'

The stuff I normally do (especially Silver point drawings) takes me weeks to finish as there is a lot of layering involved. Sometimes I don't have an idea how my work will look at the end, and it evolves magically. This can be fun, but more often than not it puts me in a tight spot and I end up being Mrs Indecisive - which is a part of my personality which serves no purpose other than to annoy and frustrate. Add to this I have been struggling with THE biggest creative block for over a year. I literally thought I was never going to create anything again. Like ever.

When you see drunk people stumbling around with one shoe and crying like a tired child (you know, dry crying. No tears - just noise). Well that was my internal self. Pretty.

So it was suggested to me by my family that I just do something different, throw some stuff around. Enter, the paintings. Let me just say it is one of the best things I ever did and is slowly pulling me out of the black hole of blockishness. Whenever I start a new collage or drawing now and I get stuck, I find doing a painting just frees me a little. That small crack of inspiration starts to push through. I like to think of them as companion pieces - not to be displayed together but as twins of the same thread of creative thought. Or something.

'Rising' This sold today - Yey!

Now don't be fooled, its not that easy to just 'make a good abstract'. There is still a big focus on colour, composition and shapes. I have to be mindful of how the paint goes down and what layers will be showing through yadda, yadda, yadda. Having said that it is quicker and things happen right before your very eyes. I do love that.

In progress, no title. Loving it already.

So here is the painting I am doing right now - yes I am coming to you live from the canvas. I actually started this post in between paint layers. See the camera skills, taken on my phone. hmmmm. Yes, I admit it's a poor quality picture but that doesn't matter as its a work in progress. I shall be using an *actual* camera when it's done. For reals.

I hope you enjoyed that and were not going 'no really, I want some rabbits/birds/flowers' (like my Mum does). Fear not, there will always be plenty of those. These paintings are the rabbit enablers, <3 them.

I shall be back on Saturday to announce the winner of the Give away. Toodle pips x

Pin-up make over

2011-09-12T12:38:00.000+01:00

Hi Peeps!

I just wanted to share a shoot we did at the weekend with my gorgeous friend Lindsey.
She asked me to give her a Pin-Up/1940s style makeover, which was really fun to do. My internal juke box was singing a fair bit of Andrew Sisters, a bit of Bing and most definitely a bit of Caro Emerald. I did struggle with the eyeliner as I had to use a black eyeshadow (gah!). Oh liquid liner -why did you desert my kit? However, Chris took some fab photos and it all worked out OK in the end.
Obviously it is a modern take on that style, I mean the lip shape isn't rounded enough and the eyebrows should be a lot more structured. I like it though.

Let me just say, this woman has a newborn baby and has a lively toddler (both gorgeous as you can imagine). Can you believe it? She looks this fresh faced all the time, my makeup skills had nothing to do with it. My model also came up with a great idea for another shoot (it involves wedding dresses and stately homes) so you will be seeing her again soon - hopefully.

I LOVE vintage looks but have no patience to do them on myself. I would dearly like to be able to just leave the house looking like Dita once in a while but I am not the glam type. My hands are always covered in glue or paint!
Also a reminder, if you haven't entered the giveaway then you are going to miss out people. Get to it! I know it's not much but its freeeeeeeee. It costs you nothing to comment and you might win stuff.

xxx

Give Away!

2011-09-10T01:54:00.000+01:00

Welcome back, glad you made it!

This is my very first giveaway (whoop) and I hope you will want to enter. Firstly let me preface this by saying that these are all items I love - stationary, chocolate and pretty pictures so I'm passing on just a little bit of that to you :-) Drum roll please................

Behold - the items!

Here's what's in the mix -
1) Chocolate. A Whisper and Buttons, both by the Masters of chocolate 'Cadburys'.
2) Two types of Twinings Tea (four packets!)
3) An Eco Leather Notebook (it is not leather but it is Eco. Misleading, I know)
4) An Eco WOPEX HB Pencil (Staedtler, classy.) I don't know what WOPEX is but apparently you get more pencil's per tree and a ' Comfortable and unique writing experience'. It has a sort of plasticky outer coating and it is cheery yellow.

AND last but not least...
5) A picture I made just for you! Its a quirky little piece done on a vintage postcard. I have no close up as its gone 1.30am now and I need some sleep, but I will pop another pic on over the weekend so you can see it all proper like.The frame sadly is not part of the give away. I just borrowed it to showcase the artwork.
Oh the plant is just high-jacking the picture too. Not a freebie.
All together it makes a lovely little break time treat! Tea, chocolate and somewhere to share those creative little snippets you have waiting to get out.
So, the question you are all asking is HOW can I win these free fabulous items? Well all you have to do is leave me a comment on my Facebook page or under this post. I will then pick a winner at random. Closing date is Saturday 17th September at 5pm (UK time).

GOOD LUCK :-)

***UPDATE*** close up of picture

Give Away, Free Stuff, GOODIES!

2011-09-08T21:53:00.000+01:00

Huh? thought that might get your attention.

Just wanted to let you know that tomorrow I will be doing a give away - yay! It will involve some edible treats, creative treats AND a piece of my work. Everyone loves free things, especially free things that are pretty :-) I am sooo excited but won't be revealing it till I have got a photo and some kind of blingin' graphics.....

Ok so don't hold out for the blingin' graphics but the rest is going to be (in the words of my good friend Emma) ACES!

I know the suspense is going to be too much for you to bare.

Small spaces and IKEA love

2011-09-01T12:06:00.000+01:00

Ok, so anyone who follows my Pinterest boards knows that my second love is interior design and all things living (although I do love those pictures of cats with crazy expressions). The above image (which is from Houzz.com I believe) sums up my style - Vintage chic with a relaxed feel. I don't mind if furniture is a bit worn or a leather sofa looks a bit shabby - in fact I positively approve of it. My kitchen is the perfect example of this as I have old tea containers, a vintage style bread bin thrown together with a few vintage dishes. Chris sits firmly in the cool/modern camp when it comes to interior design. You can see where we might have problems.

Our house is on the market currently and I have been eat-sleep-live room designing. Our budget is limited so a spacious cottage might be out of the question. However, my other half will tell you that I will not let that stand in my way! Small space? No worries. I am mistress of making small spaces work. Multi tasking is key people! So when I saw Ikea's latest 'ideas for small spaces' I literally went wide eyed with wonder. Those people really know how to design for the poor person who lives in a shed. Making a walk in closet in a bedroom with a pax wardrobe, a staple gun and some fabric - GENIUS.

Let it be known, I LOVE IKEA and am not ashamed to say it. We had a guy come to view our house the other day who looked in our bedroom and said 'oh, Ikea wardrobes...hmm yes...flat pack.' with such distaste I felt it like a mortal blow. All I could reply with was 'Yes, they are...' whilst blinking back the tears. Joking aside, he was a monumental ASS (this wasn't the only comment he made) and I'm kind of glad he didn't like it enough.

Anyway, the website has other ideas for a kitchen, bathroom (a laundry area in a room that small?? Blows. my. mind) and a funky living room with Chaises instead of a Sofa. Even if you can't stand the furniture, you could take the ideas and create something magical all of your own. Hmmm, only I could refer to room design as magical...do you think I need help?

I have a website

2011-08-29T17:33:00.006+01:00

Word up peeps and welcome back.

I have been busy beavering away creating a website *read sobbing and randomly swearing at my laptop* but it is now done. The cat above mirrors my own slightly vacant, insane looking face thanks to the many hours I have spent trying to make stuff work. Thrown into a world of Favicons and html script, I fear I'll never be the same.

I insist that you all go there directly, make haste. Do not pass go, do not collect £200! Unless you plan to give it to me that is ;-) There are links to all manor of places including my Etsy shop and new Facebook page. Oh yes, you can visit that here. Please 'Like' it and get everyone else to also. Merci.

I have still got a links page (to my favorite websites) to add and mulling the possibility of a news/update page. I shall now be just taking a short, well deserved break from web building to save my and the Cooke household's sanity.

On a totally different note, I managed to shoehorn a novel in this week called 'Delirium' by Lauren Oliver which is a fabulous read. I have a kindle and try to get all my books digitally but I just can't pass up a new book sometimes.....mmmm fresh unread pages. Next I will be getting stuck into the last Harry Potter book.

Ta-ta for now, you beautiful people xx

....and some more

2011-08-02T11:07:00.004+01:00

I have uploaded two more pieces to my shop today! Click here and here to be magically transported to them. Go, go, go people!!

I need to scan them at high res before I put them up (my photos from Etsy look terrible on here for some reason?) Till then pop along to the shop to see what's up.

xxxx

New artworks in My Shop

2011-08-01T12:29:00.007+01:00

Lyme Regis - can be found here

Market Drayton - can be found here

I also have a few more that are ready for the shop, I just need photos of them - yeah baby!

xxxxx

Newest Drawing

2011-06-14T19:26:00.005+01:00

'Warum Night Ich' - Silverpoint on prepared antique paper, gold powder

Book Cover Love

2011-06-05T20:37:00.003+01:00

All my friends & family are fully aware that, at some point they will receive a piece of artwork from me as a gift. I do try to buy actual gifts too but I really love creating something especially for them.

I know, you think I'm cheap now but I cant help it. Anyway here is something I made for my friend who turned 30 the day before me. She is an avid book reader so obviously - I'm making a book cover for a gift! I was pretty pleased at how it turned out.

Lincoln Cathedral

2011-05-06T14:36:00.004+01:00

(Click for full size image)

Pictures taken whilst visiting this lovely place earlier in the year. It provided me with a lot of inspiration. See the super old graphiti, it blew my mind!

Pillow Kits

2011-01-10T21:20:00.004Z

Hola,

Nice to see you again, how's your day been?

I have exciting news - the pillow from my last post has come into being in kit form (yey!) and I have four - count them four kits to go into My Etsy shop. You have a choice of fabrics which are vintage lush, but the pillow case will be cream. I decided on kits and not just selling them pre made because I enjoyed the process and was very proud that I created it. I want you to feel the same. Plus they will be individual, great for one off gifts for friends loved ones :-)

Unfortunately I couldn't source the same bolster pillow case as mine so they are a little bit pricer but very nice all the same. The kit will include -

1 Cream Bolster pillow case 19x54"

L O V E letters & bird motif (precut)

Wunderweb

Cotton Reel & Embroidery thread

I will be listing them in my shop next week, but please do email me if you want more info beforehand. Sneaky peek pics will be on here shortly.

I'm off to make a hot chocolate now, before bed and put on my electric blanket (BEST present EVER - Thanks Dad!) so my bed is toasty warm. hmmmm

Love Corinne x

****UPDATE- The threads I bought for the kits have gone walk-about. Seriously, NO WHERE to be found. Till the time I can get some more or find the former, they are on hold. Apologies.....

However there are plenty of lovely things in the shop to keep you occupied till then.***

DIY Pillow Project

2011-01-05T17:22:00.003Z

What ho people!

Hope you are having a good day. This is something I decided to try and make last weekend, thought I'd pop it here for you to see. I am so pleased with how it turned out.

It was very simple and cheap to make as it was just a case of cutting out the letters and then sewing them on. I did use a projector to make sure they were perfect but free hand letters would be nice too. You could of course buy pre made iron on letters but then....that will cost you a bit more.

The case was one I bought from Ebay for less than £5.00 and I had the vintage fabric already! If you are interested in making this yourself the bolster is 19"x 54" and fits two standard size pillows in it nicely.

Photo credits to my other half who did an amazing job putting the pics together. I do love fairy lights!

Well that's all for now, see you soon chicklings.

xxx

Well, Hello 2011

2011-01-04T12:59:00.002Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Long time no see. Hope you have all been well over 2010, I have been away over a year and yes I am very sorry. I am planning to makeover the site so thought I'd just pop in to let you know. Here is my Christmas card for 2010, better late than never hey?

See you very soon x