22 Feb

#shoutoutrevolution – Cara Lou Paper Cuts

This week I am introducing Emma from Cara Lou Paper Cuts, a multi-award winning business and artist who hand cuts the most incredible designs out of paper.

Who are you and what do you do? 

I’m Emma, a self-confessed rainbow addict, mandala loving, typography techie. I’m a Paper Artist.  From my home studio, I design and hand cut a range of art, mostly centred around the beauty and symmetry of the Mandala, but also incorporating my love of typography.

I also offer a range of printed designs to enable everyone, of every budget, to enjoy a Cara-Lou piece. After all, I believe everyone should get to experience art.

What inspired you to create your form of art?

My Children, I know it sounds cliche, but 5 years back I found myself in a pickle with my health, and not very much to look forward to, when my children described me as “oh Mummy doesn’t work, she sleeps” I knew it was time to do something drastic, ever the craft lover I discovered Paper Art 2 years later and the rest is history.

Is your artwork physically tough to create?  Do you obtain injuries from all that paper/blade action?

This is a tough one, it can take its toll, I have to schedule in regular rest breaks to prevent me getting pains etc in my rusty old body. But overall I would say no, something I consider to be physically tough is something that’s physically demanding like farming. Touch wood I have been extremely lucky regarding injuries, with the odd minor cut from lack of concentration, other than that I’ve been pretty lucky. I have had a few paper mishaps when the blade slices off an important part of the design, then its time to start all over again, even if its a 20 hour piece and I was 19 hours in, its the luck (or not so luck) of the draw.

Where can I find you on the web?

I’m like a bad penny! I’m everywhere you turn! but if you want to seek me out I’m at the following links:

Website:  http://www.caraloucuts.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/caraloucuts
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/caraloupapercuts
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cara_loucuts
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CaraLouPaperCutsGB (I use Etsy to sell my designs to other Artists)
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD35V5rAY__oMmA-DBbyyTw (I dabble in YouTube occasionally)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-lou-paper-cuts-552493141/

What do you like to do when you are not creating?

When I’m not designing or cutting, which, might I add, is rarely, you can find me snuggling my sausage, Frankenstein, the dog or helping to run my Husbands Martial Arts Business! I live in Greater Manchester with my Husband, Craig, aka Chief Brew Maker and My 2 daughters, Katie aka Little Cara-Lou and Kiera aka Littlest Cara-Lou.

Do you have any pets?

Yes! I have a gorgeous little Pug called Frankenstein, He’s only 10 months old, and is like the little boy I never had. I also own the most beautiful black cat known to mankind, He’s almost 5 and he’s called Fluffy, he’s extremely cuddly and was feral, he lost his mum when he was born on a farm because he doesn’t know how to miaow!

What are your reading at the moment?

I am currently re reading 19 minutes by Jodi Picoult, I have 95% of her books so far and this particular one got me into reading as an adult. It’s a phenomenal book if you can handle her style of writing.

24 Jan

#shoutoutrevolution – Sue Kerrigan-Harris

So, who is Sue?  Sue Kerrigan-Harris is a pastel portrait artist based in Marchwood in Hampshire which is on the edge of the beautiful New Forest. She specialises in amazing realistic pet portraits and child portraits.  She works from photos and beautifully captures the character and energy of the person or animal she is painting.
Where can I find her? She’s active on Facebook mostly and dabbles with Twitter and Instagram.

How did she become a professional artist?  Sue has honed her skills over 40 years not thinking that a career in art was ever possible, but when she had her son and could no longer run her private tutoring business she started drawing in earnest and sharing on Facebook.  With the huge encouragement of her friends and family she started getting commissions of children.  She was then asked to paint pets so she gave it a go.  Having spent all her life drawing people, she discovered that she could paint pets right off the bat and so begin a budding pet portrait business and also the child portraits – it turns out that people love their pets way more than there children as she gets far more requests for pets!  Haha, that is just a joke, I’m sure that’s not the case.  Our pets are only with us a short time and don’t change how they look whereas our children are changing constantly – I’m sure this has something to do with it.

What is her favourite artbook? Eternal Truths for Every Artist by Harley Brown*.  He’s a renowned pastel artist primarily but also oil.  It’s a delve in and out of book and he says at the start that he wants the book to end up dog eared and full of notes which I love the idea of.  His use of colour and the use of the Munsell Colour system is mesmerising and he has a lot of good tips.  I read it all the time delving in and out of it.  It almost feels like you have Harley in the room with you – you can feel his personality through the book.

*Amazon associates link
22 Jan

#shoutoutrevolution – Phantom Art Drop

Phantom Art Drop is a beautiful project akin to the Random Acts of Kindness movement.  Rather than dropping notes and acts of kindness, Phantom goes a whole leap further and drops her/his beautiful artwork in a public place with an accompanying handwritten note attached.

The project tickles my soul, and as soon as it stops raining so damned much I am going to join in.  Part of my fear of involvement is a fear that someone will trash my hard work, either binning it or otherwise vandalising it.  It takes a brave soul and a leap of faith to transcend this.

The Phantom Artist’s concept is beautiful, spiritual and heart blossoming.

So, I asked a few questions:

Who are you?  I’m a hopeless idealist. An anonymous artist who believes that through art we can learn to care for each other more. Strengthen the bonds of community and recognize the need for kindness without the want of fanfare.

Where can I find you?  I’m found in the Caribbean. I live a life of sand, sea and sun. In a way it influences my art. The people and the island life, it’s all apart of me and who I am.

On the web:

https://www.instagram.com/phantomartdrop/

https://www.facebook.com/fantomuartdrop/

What made you come up with your unique idea?  I can’t attest to the novelty of the idea but the reason behind it stems from the need to truly make a connection with someone. To reach out and provide both solace and inspiration.

How I’ve chosen to do it simply happened as a result of my skill set. Honestly the ‘what’ and ‘how’ could have been anything so long as the ‘why’ was satisfied.

So the art and the handwritten letters were my means of doing that. And that’s really the point. For each to take what they have as a gift or talent and give that freely to another in an effort to touch their life positively.

How can I join in?  I encourage any and everyone to take up this cause for kindness. I think we live in a time where it’s desperately needed. Love has become so conditional. Favor and kindness are typically only served if reciprocated with attention and adulation.

This is why I remain anonymous. It’s not about who does it but rather; simply; that it’s done for its sake and nothing more. So to join, do a kind thing for someone for no other reason than to see them smile. Using whatever God has given you. The Phantom Art Drop project is a notion of selflessness and giving… One that I hope we all can embody in our own way.

Note- creatives try leaving a random gift out in the open for anyone to receive. I promise it’ll give you a fresh perspective on life. ?

Can you recommend and amazing art book?  Oh wow hmmm, I quite like ‘ The Story of ArtThe story of art‘ by E. H Gombrich*. It outlines how art developed alongside the people it was made for and how it helps shape and transforms civilizations. It forces one to consider just how influential and important art is or can be.

I love the style of the Phantom Artist, what do you think?

*Amazon associates link

02 Jan

#shoutoutrevolution – Kathy Grillo Design

Happy New Year!

What better time to start on new voyages than the beginning of January.  Last was fairly traumatic (see previous posts) and when I have had life difficulties in the past I’ve always found that instead of getting angry and bitter, if I do random acts of kindness, I get back to the positives much more quickly.

Kathy Grillo is an a artist that I’ve been following on Instagram for a few months now and she dedicates her valuable time to supporting other artists.  I loved this idea so have just joined her #shoutout revolution and will dedicate blog posts here to finding out a bit more about some of the artists that I follow and giving them a little shoutout of my own, right here

So, who is Kathy?

Kathy Hartwig Grillo is a digital artist and illustrator from Michigan specializing  in custom pet portraits.  Working from several photos she paints portraits with attention to detail.

She is very active in the social media art community and can be found on several platforms sharing her Art and doing Live Art Broadcasts

Where can I find her?

Www.facebook.com/kathygrillodesign
Www.twitter.com/kathygrilloart.
Www.instagram.com/kathygrillodesign.
https://www.pscp.tv/kathygrilloart/follow
https://www.youtube.com/user/msryllo


I asked her what gave her the idea to help and encourage other artists?
Recently returning to creating after a 20 year hiatus I have discovered the amazing social media community. Social media is a game changer for creative people as it gives us a platform to share our Art with the world.  As much as I do share and put myself and my art in front of the people I do remember how scary it was when I first decided to do so.

Maybe it is because I am a mother that I found myself naturally reaching out to support those that were bravely showing that creative side.  I quickly learned you get what you give and welcomed answering questions and giving tips, passing along things I have learned along the way.

Then I started getting the solicitations from places offering followers and features for the small price of……..  These companies taking advantage of people who just want to gain an audience and have exposure really ticked me off. So I decided last year to dedicate myself to sharing and feature one artist every day of the year on Instagram. This has naturally  flowed over to other social  media and I have been blessed with some amazing friendships, opportunities like this, and connections around the world.”

It costs me nothing more than a few minutes a day to share wonderful art that will hopefully encourage that artist and also introduce others to the art that is being made.

Finally, can you recommend an amazing art book?

I am reading one right now that is neat.  I just bought it at the Museum book sale.  It’s all about artists, musicians and writers when they were young and just starting out. *

 Here is a selection of her amazing art:

 *Amazon associates link
03 Dec

Working tax credits – challenging the “commercial” test.

In early January, HMRC had requested a set of very specific information from me – accounts, receipts, that kind of thing and I had sent them exactly what they asked for.  At the end of January, I went to check my bank balance one day, expecting to see my working tax credits and…nothing.  No working tax, and no child tax credits. I rang the office, expecting for there to have been an error of some kind, only to be told that I had failed their tests and that they would be taking my child tax credits – the money meant for my son – to repay the alleged debt that I owed them.

Devastated, I asked for further information but they could only tell me that the decision-maker’s word was final.  No advice, no word of where I had gone wrong, nothing.

Back in 2015, the rules changed for self-employed people claiming working tax credits and anyone that didn’t meet the new criteria would no longer be eligible.  I thought nothing of it, after all I worked regular hours, was profitable, and my business had a future.  Someone, somewhere, had decided otherwise, and nobody could tell me why.

Ten months later, I have won my appeal against their decision in a tribunal.  It has been tough, stressful, I have used food banks and borrowed money for bills, my son has gone without clubs and classes but we have won, just in time for Christmas.

I could not have done it without some key information, which is what I am going to share with you now, for if this abrupt removal of your lifeline happens to you.  It is cruel and inhumane what they are doing to us self employed people and if you are a) in a creative business and b) universal credit is coming to your area, you are at risk.

To avoid all of this, to exempt yourself from the profitability and commerciality test: 

  • Register as a limited company.  As  company director you will be an employee not a self employed person so the new punitive rules no longer apply.  Be aware though: as a company director, your name and address will be available to the public.  This is a risky move for some people.  Do your research. Be safe.

Prior to your tax credits being stopped:

  • If they ask you for a set of information, receipts etc., know that you are being assessed.
  • Send what they ask for, plus: a business plan for the financial year in question, future financial forecasts for the year in question, flyers, business cards and a comprehensive explanation of your business.  They need to be reassured that you have four weeks’ work in the future to do.
  • Send photocopies only, because I hear they lose a LOT of information that is sent to them.
  • Send it all by special delivery, so that they cannot deny receiving it.  This will all cost quite a bit of money, but trust me, it is worth it.  Losing your documents is a common occurrence.

I can’t guarantee this will, help, but that is the kind of thing they look for.

If you wake up one morning and have no cash, if they have stopped your money:

  • Ring and ask for a “mandatory reconsideration”.  You need to send them anything that you think might add to your case.  Tell them you can’t feed your kids and they need to start paying you your child tax credits back.
  • Citizens Advice can help at this stage.
  • IMPORTANT (because this takes a long time to come) put in a Freedom of Information Request asap. This is VITAL, they will not tell you the exact reason that your claim has been terminated, you will have to scour the information here and find out for yourself.  Within it is a score sheet. This will tell you more.  You won’t get this in time for your Mandatory Reconsideration, but you will do in time for your appeal.

If they turn down your Mandatory Reconsideration:

  • Citizen’s advice cannot help you here, they are not qualified enough.  If you are lucky and live in the right place, see if you can find a Law Centre.  If like me you don’t have the right postcode to get “free” help, you have two options: pay for a solicitor, or, do it yourself.  As I had no cash for a solicitor, I took the latter.
  • Begin your appeal straight away.  Revenue Benefits has loads of information about how to do this.
  • TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. You have a tiny window of time to appeal in and chances are any letters they send you will be dated several weeks before you receive them, so you have to work fast.  Don’t worry, you will have plenty of time to prepare your case – between three months to a year before your case is heard in the Tribunal court.
  • Use this time to go through your FOI with a fine tooth comb to find out how they have marked you down on their score sheet and find evidence to disprove their (what are likely to be) assumptions.
  • Back this up with evidence that you’ve been working hard in the meantime.
  • Keep a time-sheet, make sure your accounts are kept up to date etc, because when they call you to court, you’ll have maybe two weeks notice.
  • Make a formal complaint.  For me, this confirmed what I had discovered via the FOI, that they had marked me down for information that they hadn’t actually asked for! if you’d like an email address, ask me.
  • Check case law.
  • Try to find someone to go with you.  This availability varies drastically area to area, so you’ll have to do your own research here.
  • Don’t give up.

 

25 Jun

On being vegan

People ALWAYS say (amongst other things)”but don’t you miss [xyz animal based product]”.  I have to admit that prior to the full swing to Veganism, I was worried that I would miss cheese, and a nice portion of fish and chips.  Ice cream, cream, I thought that I’d miss them too but as I age I find that my body is less tolerant anyway to fatty foods, particularly dairy based, so no, i do not miss eating pure artery-clogging animal fat.  My health and the planet are way more important.

I first went  vegan twenty-plus years ago and back then it *was* hard – all nut cutlets and expensive specialised health food shops.  Now, you can buy vegan ice cream for about two pound fifty in Aldi and cheap fruit, nuts and seeds there and in Lidl.  Frys and Linda Macartney do amazing reasonably priced stir  fry strips which go far as long as you are modest with the servings and combine them with ample veg.

But then there’s the cheese thing. That was a major thing to give up for me – after all what is more comforting than a nice cheesy baked potato or some macaroni cheese? For lush melty cheese-alike and for a slice in sandwich or melted in a toastie pocket I got for Violife. It’s more expensive than dairy cheese but any cheese is not great for the health so it’s a reminder to eat less of it..

For a home made recipe that is great with everything from nachos to macaroni cheese, I use this recipe, from Veggie on a Penny.  Nobody can believe it’s mostly made from carrots and potatoes! The bonus of vegan cheese is that it lasts a lot longer than dairy cheese in the fridge.

But a nice chippy tea is hard to beat right? The Avant-garde vegan made my tastebuds beam with happiness (if that is even possible…probably not!) with his vegan fish and chips recipe. The fish is made from tofu and noori and is every bit – if not more – melt in the mouth than battered cod. With the added bonus of not destroying the oceans and hurting sentient beings.

Being vegan is not hard these days. Eating out is not withing my meagre budget so is not an issue but I am told that restaurants and chain pubs offer an ok selection these days.

So, what are you waiting for? Give up animal products for your health, the animals and the planet.  Make this next month Veganuly and take an exciting leap into new cuisine.