Christmas 2023

 I know no one comes to this blog anymore, and why should they when I never post here? But I just wanted to add some photos. I had to close my other blog for reasons I can't go into here, I didn't want to, but certain things happened, and I had no choice. My life has changed but it some ways it's just the same. I did manage to wrap up a few presents for a couple of family members that appreciate my tacky efforts.

I also did a couple of diamond drill wine bags for people that were hosting us over Christmas. Surprisingly they always go down well. 

I also received some amazing gifts from my family. My younger daughter is now engaged and her partner bought me the Chicago Bulls shirt and the stud earrings. Seems he knows me quite well already!

If there is anyone out there that reads this blog I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and although I don't celebrate new years, I hope 2024 is a good one for you!

More fun than decorating!

 I know I haven't posted here for ages but I thought this was the best place to show the last batch of Diamond Drill paintings I've done. As I've said before some are partial drill and others full drill.  I find them very therapeutic to do, and always have one on the go at the same time as a jigsaw.

 

Partial Drill Skull Candy.  

My Granddaughter asked me to create the picture of lions for her bedroom. This is a full drill picture. (Younger daughter's photo).  

Partial drill tree

Converse shoes, full drill. I put this picture in the room we called the "playroom" back when the kids were young. It sits amongst the Keith Haring and abstract art quite well, even with the 80's vibe. It also covers up the blemishes on the wall!


The finished image of the full drill pictures looks a bit like a tapestry as it's made up of dots. The larger the picture the clearer the image, although I tend to do pictures that are 50cm x 40cm as they fit perfectly into a certain size Ikea frame and mount. You can supply your own photo too which I've done in the past, so if you have a pet or family member you want to create as a diamond drill picture you can. 

Style Icon

Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE HonFREng is a British racing car driver. He is the most successful British driver in Formula One history, and has won the British Grand Prix seven times, but to be honest that doesn't interest me at all. To me, it's his image, which has made him unpopular with the sports mainly white elderly male fanbase, but he's definitely one of my style icons. 

Gone too soon

Luther Vandross would have been 70 today. Nice to see Google's tribute to him today. I was at this concert and he was brilliant. 

Empowered women

31-Year-Old Independent Woman Draws Comics On Her Observations About Society

Lainey Molnar is on a mission to empower women, and she's using her creative expression to do so. Molnar creates honest comics that cut through all of the filters and focus on women's role in society and the way it perceives them.

 

I really like Lainey Molnar's work and sent a link of it to both my daughters. 

Oh Santa

 Definitely my favourite Christmas song this year! Synchronised whistle notes from Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey at the end. It doesn't get better than that! And Jennifer Hudson's vocals are always amazing.

Mariah Carey has always had a reputation for not acknowledging other women's singing abilities, so she's obviously now confident enough to share the spotlight with others. 

Partial drill

I've mentioned a few times on my other blog about Diamond Drill painting, and if you are not sure what it is, here is a link.

These below are partial drill pictures. You only add gems to part of the canvas, and they come in different shapes and sizes, unlike full drill images. 

 I did this notebook for my mother-in-law.

And this notebook for my older daughter. 

And I cut this one out of the canvas and used it for a Birthday card.

What you can't tell from the photos is just how much the shine in the light. They've been a good hobby to do whilst in lockdown, but you can only fill your house with so many pictures before it goes from hobby to an unhealthy obsession. 

 

Amazing Grace

I must have heard this hymn hundreds of times over the years but I think this version by Pentatonix is about the best I've ever heard. The vocals are stunning. You don't have to be religious to appreciate this. 

Come shop with me - you know you'll regret it

Is this the year to fill your Christmas tree with the most tacky ornaments you can find? If so I have a few suggestions. 

A friendly greeting that your mother-in-law or gran is sure to appreciate.

Santa Claus dressed as Tarzan. Why not?

Why not replace your elegant glass baubles with a packet of sandwiches, pizza and fries?



As the UK goes into another lockdown for a month, the only thing that Brits seem to care about is wiping their arses. So every Christmas tree should have at least one loo roll hanging from the branches. 

Still we have time to do some diy now. 

And let's be honest this year has been pants so far.

 

Hello Coolness my old Friend

Last year when life was more normal I went to see Elton John in concert in Brighton, which I blogged about here. I took a few photos before the concert started, only with my Sony point and shoot camera, but the one below of the bandstand is probably my favourite photo. It feels like I just caught a moment in time. I wonder if the couple are still together? 

Brighton Bandstand selfie

Seagull

I've had the photo below as my screensaver on my computer for the last year. 

The remains of the West Pier in Brighton burnt down in 2003

And a couple of recent photos taken very close to our home 

Talking of photography, this image of a tree hugging tiger "The Embrace" by Russian photographer Sergey Gorshkov is the winner of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.