YUMMY YULE LOG

For the first time, this year I have made a Yule Log and I am really glad that it turned out so well. Also, it  tasted chocolatey delicious ...

Although the process was quite complicated and long winded, I can now say that it was all worthwhile. This  small edible sculpture shall become a Christmas tradition in my household...

(I later added some edible golden pearls...just to make it look like one of my artworks: a pin installation on a real tree log!)

HEARTFELT HANDMADE...

Season's Wishes to Everyone!

SHOW 4 2 @ 212

 5th - 10th November 2012

Last week I exhibited my work at Room 212, alongside Lorna Rankin's beautiful watercolours. 

We will definitely do it again; our showcase, in fact, was very well received and we enjoyed a great deal being part of it. I personally found the local community very enthusiastic and supportive.

After receiving such good comments, selling quite a few greeting cards, two big paintings and being asked for a commission, I couldn't be happier.

 Lorna Rankin - Watercolour Artist

               

HAPPY MAKING...

             
             

             

ORGANZA AND SATIN DANCE

Thread on canvas, ribbon, 4" hoop

Digital print from an original drawing, organic cotton satin, ribbon, 5" hoop

QUEEN ROSILDE'S TREASURE CHEST

I have just spent two weeks in a beautiful village outside Rome, where my sister got married. 

I had the pleasure to stay at 'nonna' Rosilde's house, an amazing two storey building, which dates back to 1885. The interiors and objects have remained unchanged for decades, it is like going back in time or visiting a museum, something very special indeed.

Rosilde is a really lovely, generous and observant lady who will be 83 years old in January; her outlook on life is so positive that it is contagious. 

She is very proud of her home and her persona. She has no feelings of envy towards anyone, not even the Queen, for she feels like a queen herself amongst the precious memories and familiar corners of her palace. 

The exhilarating scent of her coffee drifts from the kitchen to the upstairs rooms and escapes through to the adjacent narrow street in the early hours of every day. I miss waking up to that, seeing her sweet smiling face first thing in the morning and then hearing her 'Buon giorno!'... 

How could one not have a good day?

Photos courtesy of Alex Rankin

SMALL WORLDS

I have started a series of small canvases on which I am stitching the outline of animal shapes. 

I don't want the embroidery to be perfect, the aim here is to mimic paint drops and, by using this method, place them in line to form an image, something that I have never done before, but thought about for some time. 

The first one had to be a rhino:

My new designs are now on sale on Etsy

RHINOMANIA

Here is a beautiful rhino at Longleat Safari Park. Another inspiration for a drawing...

WEDDING & BAPTISM SKEWERS

My twin sister is getting married on 15 September 2012, on the same day we will be also celebrating the baptism of her baby boy! I have made these wedding 'skewers' using some of my butterfly designs and cut outs. I then added some blue embellishments to symbolically combine together the two events. The skewers will be placed with the flowers in the centre pieces and, perhaps, slightly altered to be made into cake decorations.

PERFECTION

This is a close up of a beautiful orchid I was given by my colleagues on my last working day. 

I just keep looking at them and thinking of how perfect and intricate nature is. 

I intend to do a pencil drawing and, perhaps, I can use it for my fabric collection. Lovely!

ps. Thanks everyone!

TRUE ICONS IN BATH

Here are a few pictures of Bath Guildhall before the premises were open to the public for the Art fair on 14 July. It was lovely to chat to the other stall holders and learn about their creative journey. Also, it was great to receive such a positive feedback from the visitors and sell something...

TWO-DIMENSIONAL COMBINATIONS

'Favolando', 20x20cm, digital print and thread on linen cotton canvas

'TRUE ICON DESIGNS' IT IS!

Here are some tags, which will accompany the finished products; they may not be the definite ones, but, at least, this is a start!

This (below) is one of my drawings printed on linen-cotton canvas, which I then stretched onto a 20x20cm frame. For the first time I have combined my stitching (thread 'droplets') with a drawing. 

I will apply the same method to create some very unique cushions...the paintings on the wall then will match the cushions to make a lovely and lively interior décor.

digital print and thread on linen cotton canvas, work in progress, 20x20cm

THE LION, THE ARTIST AND THE NEW WARDROBE...

Instead of 'Lazy & Cosy', I thought I would use the name 'True Icon Designs' (by Veronica Mulas) for my fabric collection and future range of soft furnishings. It sounds more appropriate and it is meaningful to me, as it is the translation of my name: Veronica, which comes from the Latin words vera icon (true image or true icon).

I am opening my online shop soon at Etsy where my cushions will be on sale.                                                                  
Also, on 14 July, I will have a market stall in Bath Guildhall where I will introduce my designs and artworks to the public.

Safari, Lion print on yellow background, 16x24"

Safari, Lion detail - black faux fur

Safari, Tiger print, 16x16"

Safari, Elephant print, 16x16"

Countryside, Valentine Butterfly print, 16x16"

'LAZY & COSY'

Here are my first cushion designs:

Safari Collection

Safari, Tiger - red chalk drawing, digital print on organic cotton sateen

Safari, Elephant - pencil drawing, digital print on organic cotton sateen

Having studied a short course in Interior Design, I realised that my own drawings could be put into a context that would create decorative and useful soft furnishings, for example, cushions. 

By developing my own patterns, I want to create an attractive collection of fabrics; these will eventually display my stitching work as well, which will make each cushion a unique piece.

Cushions are a wonderful way to showcase ideas and give a taste of how an environment can be changed into something more sophisticated and personalised.

A label called 'LAZY & COSY' (by Veronica Mulas) will give the collection a sense of fun, warmth, informality and accessibility; this name, however, will be a synonym of quality of materials and artistic input.

As well as a Safari Collection illustrating animals in the wild, there will be a Countryside Collection, which will illustrates butterflies, birds and animals from the countryside. In the future I will also use my drawings of cup cakes and other delicious and good looking things, to make a kitchen space or an open plan area more fun. 

Countryside Collection

    

Countryside, Butterflies, colour pencil drawings, digital print repeat

on organic cotton sateen