Saturday, 14 May 2011

What a week!

'Nether' by Daniel Torrente for Stampotique
Paints and inks by Dylusions

Oooh, you can probably tell by this page that I have had a busy and sometimes stressful week. When things get a bit much for me, you don't want to mess with me that's for sure. Best to hide from me until I have got over myself......

I made this background with Dylusions acrylic paints and ink sprays, with lots of stencilling and splatting nd I chose to use 'Nether' because she looks how I feel. I decided to journal with my dip pen for this page, I love the way it scratches on the page as you write with it. The ink flow is unpredictable so you end up with a slightly wonky look.

I was tired at the start of the week - remember that I had just done three days of fabulous workshops with Dina Wakley (yeah, that's right, I'm blaming Dina!!) and I was going to enjoy a nice quiet day at home on my day off. And then I got the phone call. OFSTED!! (That is the School Inspectors for my overseas visitors). The mere mention of that word sends all teachers into a spin, and these days you only get two days notice. Yikes! 

In the middle of the OFSTED, I was interviewed by Mark Lipinski for a programme called Creative Mojo on Toginet Radio about my article 'Journaling on the go' in Somerset Art Journaling Winter 2011. It may have been late afternoon in America, but it was late here - bedtime - so just to set the scene I did the interview in my PJs :-) Dressed for the radio!! This programme is now available as a podcast if you're interested in listening to what I had to say ...

And to finish the week off my camera has broken. Grrrrrrrr. So, my photos today are looking a little different ... the colours are a bit stronger than they are in real life.


Right, I'm off, I've got a wedding to go to today :-)  

And by the way, just incase you're wondering, the OFSTED inspection went fine, nothing to worry about afterall, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

P.S. I see Blogger has been up to its old tricks again ...... sorry if your comment has not appeared on my blog or if I don't get back to you ... some of my comments have disappeared ...grrrrrrrrr.....

Posted by at 11:01

38 comments:

  1. Jayne C14 May 2011 at 11:11

    YUK!!!! To OFSTED that is, not your beautiful work!!! I think we always get into a tizz about inspections and they are never quite as bad as we think they are going to be!! Glad yours went well...at least thats it for a while now! I love the bright colours on your page and that grumpy face always makes me smile!! Enjoy your wedding.....
    xxx

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  2. McMGrad8914 May 2011 at 11:33

    Sorry things were crazy this week. (They were here, as well.)The best part of it all is the week is over and you have a wedding to go to...that will be fun.

    We haven't had an inspection in years and this is my last year teaching in Texas so ... here's to new adventures for me.

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  3. Sue14 May 2011 at 12:14

    Was just thinking how bright the colours looked....and wishing I could do that too! The stress and tension oozes out of this page!!! Feel better soon :)

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  4. Netty14 May 2011 at 12:33

    So glad all went well with Ofsted. My sister is a head teacher and know what she goes through....complete stressville.....
    Loving your pages and enjoy the wedding. Annette x

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  5. Willy14 May 2011 at 12:42

    Love your busy and stressful pages, Kate!

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  6. Gez Butterworth14 May 2011 at 12:53

    And I thought I'd had a busy week!!!
    I have a friend who's an OFSTED inspector & my eldest son gets in a tizz when she visits as he thinks she's coming to inspect his room! hehe.. Lovely to hear your interview is available as a podcast as I fell asleep & missed it the other night!
    Scrummy page Kate..fabbilicious colours :D
    Enjoy the Wedding.xx

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  7. Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans14 May 2011 at 13:01

    Stunning work, shame about the stressful week but at least OFSTED was ok in the end. Blogger deleted all my comments, I was not very happy. Enjoy the wedding. Tracy x

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  8. Siobhan Brignull14 May 2011 at 14:16

    I love that page, I could substitute the OFSTED for something else but apart from that its a typical week for me too, LMAO hope you have a great weekend, Im back to work Monday after a week off, boo hoo!!!

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  9. Marit14 May 2011 at 15:04

    Quite a story - and quite a week dear!!! I love the way you 'poured the stress onto your page' - using 'busy colours'. I hope you have a relaxed weekend!

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  10. Von14 May 2011 at 15:57

    OH had to click on the date to post .Cor bet we all feel like your from time to time you really have got that feeling pegged .
    Relax and enjoy the wedding :)
    Von x

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  11. Sandra Hall14 May 2011 at 16:31

    OFSTED should be outlawed! Well, not really but they sure cause a lot of anxiety for teachers :(
    Now is that a touch of purple I spy there Kate? hehehe! Right, I'm off to listen to your interview...but not before I say what a wonderful page you made :D

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  12. Carol Q14 May 2011 at 16:52

    lol - great page Kate- definitely gets your feelings across. glad to hear Ofsted went okay!

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  13. Carola Bartz14 May 2011 at 17:08

    Some weeks are just like that... there will be better ones for you, I'm sure.
    And I love "Art Journaling" - I've discovered some great blogs like yours through that publication.

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  14. Carin14 May 2011 at 17:14

    So glad the OFSTED went well. As soon as those words jumped out at me on the journal page I understood you'd been under quite a lot of stress. Fab page though!

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  15. Nicks14 May 2011 at 19:07

    OMG I have gone cold just hearing the word OFSTED - we have had two school inspections this year OFSTED and a Church Inspection, so at least I can rest on my laurels for a couple of years - our poor HT cant though cos she is HT of two schools - I digress - I love your page, sure it got rid of a little bit of stress!

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  16. chrisg14 May 2011 at 21:27

    KAte that stamps is just perfect for the journaling ! Gorgeous vibrant page as always.
    Have to admit OFSTED was part of the reason I got out of schools - ended up more paperwork than teaching. Hope you have a great relaxing day @ the wedding a chilled week to come (will soon be half term again LOL)

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  17. SueC14 May 2011 at 22:48

    I have had a few of these weeks lately, in fact I could have written this page - but after the meltdown you re-emerge as a stronger but different person - think chrysalis and butterflies. Fabulous colours, delicate but strong.
    Maybe this week will unexpectedly be your quiet week.
    Big hugs
    Sue xx

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  18. Terri Kahrs15 May 2011 at 00:43

    You DID have an eventful week, Kate!!! My week has been a bit wonky too. I can't blame Dina or anyone - but I think Pluto (the x-planet) has been hovering over my head! LOL! It's been one mishap after the other.
    I, too, love using a dip pen. I finally learned how to keep my ink bottle from tipping!!! (A difficult lesson learned.) And, yes, I am a Blogger victim too!!! Bummer!!! Hope this coming week hold lots of happiness for you! Hugs, Terri xoxo

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  19. aprilmariecole.blogspot.com15 May 2011 at 01:56

    Even under stress, this page is fabulous!
    The colors on this page remind me of "rainbow sherbet ice cream" :]

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  20. Joy15 May 2011 at 09:45

    Hi kate, the way you can express yourself in your journal pages is wonderful. so often I look at your pages and think that's exactly what I feel. Only you always put it better! Your pages are amazing. I've been listening to this blooming podcast for 20 mins now, at least he's mentioned you and that you are coming up shortly. I have to be patient! Congratulations for making it into Somerset art journal and onto the creative mojo show. Hope this week is a better one for you. xx

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  21. Jill15 May 2011 at 19:03

    In the early years of OFSTED when they came for a week and you had had a term of stress we all brought our dressing gowns and slippers to wear in the staff room after they had gone!
    Love that journal page, hope you are de-stressed now.

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  22. Luna Art15 May 2011 at 20:00

    As always, more great pages! Your work is such an inspiration. I love your use of colours, they are so vibrant. Sorry you have had a stressful week, hope this week is calmer for you x

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  23. Silvia(Barnie)15 May 2011 at 21:44

    Wonderful journaling, love the vibrant colours. Hope the coming week will be less stressable.

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  24. Shelly16 May 2011 at 00:56

    Glad all turned out well... Love the journal pages! I must find time soon to actually finish out a whole journal page (or twelve) :) All I have time for lately are quick doodles!

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  25. Laura Haviland16 May 2011 at 04:54

    "Star Kate", I love the punch of colours. Wowsa, everything about this artful work screams amazing like you.
    Love your blog, so full of positive inspiration always.
    Hugs, Laura. xoxx

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  26. Shannon16 May 2011 at 06:30

    On one hand I feel bad that you had a crazy week and that you were feeling a bit stressed, but on the other hand I'm kind of glad for it because it has generated this amazing artwork. Have I told you lately that you are amazing and that I absolutely adore your artwork? I am in love with the colors used on these journaling pages by the way. I wish I could afford to buy some of the Dylusion paints right now, I'll just add it to my never ending, constantly growing list of what I absolutely have to have. Your artwork continually inspires me and it never fails to make me smile every time.

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  27. Lesley Edmonds16 May 2011 at 11:30

    Oh my I do hope that this week will be less stressful for you Kate. This is a wonderful page, though, and really shows how you were feeling.

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  28. Rosie16 May 2011 at 13:20

    Just as I was feeling guilty about the relentlessly negative posts I've been putting up lately, you remind me that it happens to us all sometimes. Hope things get better for you and I LOVE this page, it really makes me laugh!

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  29. Kathy16 May 2011 at 13:47

    I'm sorry you were in the doldrums but I rather like that unfortunate little person on your stress page! At least your stress was bright AND colorful!! :o) Cheers, Kathy

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  30. Anonymous16 May 2011 at 14:35

    I will agree with the rest of these comments, your colors are just amazing(even if your camera is broken) The colors in your work are always beautiful. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me as well.
    WE NEED THOSE PAINTS IN USA!!

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  31. Vicki G17 May 2011 at 03:22

    WOW!!! Fun and funky!!! Hope this week is calmer

    hugs

    Vicki

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  32. Laura17 May 2011 at 17:06

    sounds like a lovely weekend with Dina shame about the following week hehehehe love this page the colours are gorgeous, when i have a mo im gonna listen to your podcast xxxx

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  33. lilylovekin17 May 2011 at 18:50

    I see the frenzy in your journal figure-it must have been quite a week, I glad it is over for you and you could get your frustrations out on paper.

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  34. Jenny Petricek18 May 2011 at 15:58

    Hi, Kate! Thanks for dropping by my blog, as well as for sharing your chaotic week with us. I feel like we have a lot in common, as I, too, become a lot more difficult to deal with when I'm under a lot of stress!:-) Art journaling is such a comfort at times like these; it's nice to have a place to vent my feelings on paper!

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  35. Unknown18 May 2011 at 17:17

    Ok it's time to throw away last week miss grumpy knickers ;0) The journal pages are cool and BOO to OFSTEAD hope the wedding calms you down and I expect a more cheery you next time I stop by ;))

    Love Dawn xx

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  36. Anonymous20 May 2011 at 07:49

    That must have been some kind of a week looking and your pages ... but If it leads you to making this kind of gorgeous stuff it was a little bith worthwhile (at least to us on the outside)

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  37. I hate to cook!22 May 2011 at 15:26

    I really like your work...very energetic and colourful...full of life :)

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  38. joanne wardle24 May 2011 at 12:49

    Hi Kate, I thought you might like to know that you've inspired me to "try" art journalling, but in my own style, lol
    see my blog

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