I thought, under the influence of paracetamols, hot lemon and honey, cups of tea and a huge box of tissues, that I'd share with you a photo of who sneezes loudest in our house... Yep, "Gizmo", my husband's female African Grey parrot!

You tend to forget that these birds are fantastic mimics, having a vocabulary that can exceed 1000 words, and that's without the noises, birdcalls, whistles, doorbells, telephone ringing, etc. that they can get down within a matter of days. She is only 4 years old and already has conversations with herself where she will intelligently rearrange learned phrases to make completely sensible conversations. Scary, huh?

Although her vocabulary does include swear words, she is remarkably polite when she thinks she's on the phone! Nice! However, to my mind, there is no sound more irritating than a loud cough and repeated sneezing... especially when you have the flu and are not the one doing that!

Oh and she sings too!! I think my daughter is the one who is most worried - after all, she inherits the bird!

Well, the little Gothic Arches booklet came together nicely in the end, but the brain definitely slows down when the virus gets its claws into you! It was tricky - lots of stitching and very little glue - so a lot of planning required! If you'd like to see it, it's on my Art Blog!

Does Halloween bring out your "dark side"? In a strange way, I have really embraced the Gothic this year - something new to me! I made these little pendants, which I named "Vile Vials" for The Seventh Wave Gallery's window display for this month. Would YOU wear one?

You just know that when your kids are off school with a virus that it's only a matter of time before it gets you! Well it hit me late last night and I'm dosing my self with paracetamols and hot drinks, trying to keep my brain functioning so that I can get creative today...

I shan't be listing because that, to me, is a "higher-brain" function and I'd probably make a complete nonsense of it, so I shall just get creative while my eyes hold out! So just a short post today to let you know that I'm around, (just about!) and working on some fun projects.

I put this altered jigsaw together last night with a little acrylic paint and the "key" that came with a tin of Corned Beef to open it. I like these and always try to remember to save them for use in my artwork. The slot makes a great place to use a bead as a stopper for wire-wrapping and the shape of the jigsaw makes it interesting to wrap and bead.... hope that makes sense to you?

This afternoon I shall be making a small book in the shape of a Gothic Arch for some rather "risque" vintage images from Ten Two Studios. If you look on the Home Page, you'll see a funky skellie jewellery set I created for this "Hallowed" month... It's at The Seventh Wave Gallery till the end of the month! If it doesn't sell during that time, I'll list it here!

Another busy day ahead for me! Poor DD is sick with a virus and while she's sleeping, I can get a few more listings up... I have a couple of small quilts, some handmade original Arty-Farty Birdie Bags, complete with waxed Designer Tags, and some mixed media paintings on wood - one of which is a gorgeous mirror, complete with collaged elements!

Thank you for stopping by my Artfire Studio Blog. I'm delighted to be able to share more about what I do, how it comes into being and why I am here with you! I already have an established art blog on Wordpress.com, which has been running regularly for about 3 years now. That's where I talk artwork and creations, show my pieces for challenges and art groups, and promote the samples and projects I create for the 2 companies I am involved with: Lisa Vollrath's Ten Two Studios and Ria Vaneman's Home Impressions Rubber Stamp company.

I love what I do, and I love the contrast of working with 2 completely different companies - Ria's in The Netherlands and I submit to Craft Stamper magazine for her; Lisa is in Texas, USA and I create lots of very different samples using her 'surfaces' and huge range of collage images. Both ladies have encouraged me and helped me to grow as an altered and rubber stamp artist, and also as a Mixed Media artist, for which I am so grateful.

I do hope you'll pop in and read about my continuing art-ventures and what I'm currently working on...