Artful Readers Club - September Read

This month's book is a departure from my original list and what a good decision!  I thoroughly enjoyed Enigma by Robert Harris, so much so, I couldn't put it down and read it in two days - a record for me.  You may have seen the excellent  film Enigma starring Dougray Scott, Saffron Burrows and Kate Winslet and this is the book the film was based on.  As always, the book is better than the movie version which I also found exciting and very entertaining.

Enigma is the name of the German code machine used by all Nazi military during World War II.  The fact based story is about the mathematicians and scientists employed at Bletchley Park Intelligence Gathering and Decoding Centre. Their  battle  was to break into the German Navy's  Enigma code 'Shark' before the submarine wolf-packs could sink the convoys of supply ships making their slow and ponderous way across the North Atlantic  to the UK from America.  A nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat read wonderfully wrapped up in intrigue and betrayal.  Thoroughly recommended!

Here is my pastel drawing of a cargo ship on the North Atlantic at night in 1942 having been spotted by a German U-boat.  The 4 character codes were transmitted to other U-boats and they took up positions in line, as much as 20 miles apart, and then set about blowing the convoys out of the water with great success and huge loss of life.

Thank you for stopping by and do feel free to leave a comment, all are much appreciated.

DragonsDream TIO #119 - Don't Fear

You amateur psychologists out there will have a field day with this week's challenge!  My tag is coloured with PanPastels and has been embossed with a time works embossing folder and sanded lightly.  The stamped images are an angry eye from Stampscape and a laughing clown from Hampton Art (I loathe clowns). The snake's head is hand drawn (traced) and coloured with PanPastels and sprayed with iridescent Spray and Sparkle and added for dimension.
There are quite a few other things that I find scary but as I don't like them, I haven't bought any stamps.  In fact, I don't know how the clown snuck into my stamp collection!  Thanks for stopping by and do feel free to leave a comment - I appreciate them all.

Postcard Travels with Roland Poland - Week 25 Australia

Xui is on a trade mission.  Roland Poland is visiting some aboriginal friends.

He writes to his half-brother Malcolm, in Carlisle.

G'day Malc,
As you can see I am in Australia - geez the flies.
On the trail of Uncle Hughie who, as you know,
worked for years on a cattle station, but who went
walkabout with a dingo and mysteriously hasn't been 
heard of since.
Looking forward to some bush tucker.
RP


Here is the page I made in his travel book

We have included some iconic Australians, Sir Les Patterson, Dame Edna Everage, Miss Kylie Minogue, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo and  Aborigine Trugannini.  A copy of the original text of Waltzing Matilda is on the back of the pocket.  The fabulous coat of arms is in pride of place.  I was lucky enough to spend my school days in Adelaide, South Australia and my brother lives in Perth, Western Australia.

My postcard is of Uluru and was coloured with Pan Pastels. Roland Poland's hat is his own design.

Thanks for stopping by and I do hope you will visit the other travellers on this most interesting postcard challenge (link in sidebar).

Postcard Travels with Roland Poland - Week 23 Poland

Xui is visiting shipyards in Gdansk this week so our canine warrior, Roland Poland,  heads into the countryside in search of his family tree.

He writes to his brother Malcolm,

Hi Malcolm,
Came to Gryfino to see the Crooked Forest.  It is a 
very spiritual place and I have soaked up quite a bit
of the local spirit (vodka).  The trees now seem to be
straightening up!
The trunks are conveniently close to the ground.  I have
made my mark but not sure if it was our family tree.
RP
Here is the page I made for his travel book

You can see a corner of a  photo of the Crooked Forest that was my inspiration this week's adventure.  Famous Polish people form the basis of the main page, Pope John Paul II, Marie Curie (parents Polish), Nicholas Kapernicus and a happy couple in traditional dress from Lublin. Music tissue tape on the pocket represents Chopin.  Some Polish canine postage stamps complete the picture.
My postcard was hand drawn and coloured entirely with  PanPastels, using the little applicators that come with the sets.  It took me ages and the trees still look to be floating in mid air despite going over the shadows again and again!  I guess practice is the only cure!!
Thank you for your lovely kind comments and do follow the other travellers on this most ambitious challenge (link sidebar).

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #202 - On the Street where you Live

I don't live on a street up here in bonny Scotland, in the middle of a field is a better description!
For my 8x8 card I have used a stencil by Imagination Crafts called The Village.  The sunset background is created with  PanPastels and has been stencilled using Black Soot Distress Inks.  Mounted onto black card and then onto a scrapbook paper from I know not where.
I tried using black PanPastel through the stencil, on my first attempt, but the result was disappointing as it was not sharp enough.  Trial and error is the watchword as I experiment  and find more uses for them.  The guy who invented these should have a knighthood!
I should also like to enter this card into the Craft a Scene challenge - Silhouettes.
Thanks for stopping by and do feel free to leave a comment - I appreciate them all.

Postcard Travels with Roland Poland - Week 16 Romania

Last week saw our intrepid hero afloat on an oil rig supply vessel in the North Sea, having missed the Xong family holiday and rock festival in Iceland.  Despite foul weather conditions, the Captain  has managed to
put him ashore on the beach in Whitby.

He writes to his brother Malcolm,

Hi Malcolm,
Got dropped off by the supply boat last night in Whitby, just below
the Abbey, despite the stormy seas.
There have been reports of a large viscious black dog running about
loose causing mayhem.
Some think he's a Count from Romania.
Bit worried as Xui can't come until the weekend.
I can hear him howling on the cliffs as I write ....
RP
Here is the page I made for him in his travel book

My postcard has been made using PanPastels for the background and stamping using versamark to catch the PanPastels and also black Memento ink.  The stamps are from Stampscapes (eyes) Crafty Individuals (Whitby Abbey) and Chocolate  Baroque (howling wolf).
I have been away on a crafty visit this week so everything has been a bit rushed today.  If I haven't been to see your work I certainly will over the next few days.  Thank you for your lovely comments I find them all very encouraging and look forward to seeing what everyone else has done on their travels.

Postcard Travels with Roland Poland - Week 15 Iceland

The Xong family are in Iceland for the Easter holidays.  Xui has tickets for the ALDREI FOR EG SUDUR Rock Festival (transl. I  Never Went South), which is taking place this weekend.
Roland Poland is down at the harbour, having made the acquaintance of two sailors, when he overhears one say to the other. "Time we went to the Gig".
He writes to his half-brother Malcolm, in Carlisle.

Hi Malcolm,
I should be at a rock concert but I am on a supply ship in the North Sea.
I got confused by the sailors' foreign accent and instead of a GIG, I am on my way
to an OIL RIG instead.
It's disappointing but from the deck of the ship I can see the laser lights in the sky.
RP

Here is the page I made in his travel book.

I have incorporated his rock festival ticket, the flag, dog sled and the lovely knitted textiles made with Icelandic wool.  The wonderful Icelandic horses performing the unique tolt pace (the one on the right looks very like my Fell Pony Finn) and a typical Icelandic church.  I found it very interesting whilst researching this country that the architecture is very similar to the north east of Scotland where I live (Moray Firth) and the church is actually one that overlooks Macduff harbour, just along the coast from my house.  It would not look out of place in Iceland at all.
My postcard is coloured with PanPastels, copic markers and white gel pen.
Thanks for all your lovely comments and I look forward to visiting you all over the coming week.

DragonsDream TIO#113 - Angels and Demons

Tried out my new toys - PanPastels for the background on this tag.  I stamped the Clarity wire heart in Versamark onto a blue tag and then sponged two shades of blue and one of green PanPastel over the top.
Then with black Archival I stamped the female statue face from Graphicus and  with blue Archival stamped the crows from Lost Coast Designs.
The statue has the face of an angel, the crows are the demons.  Unfortunately a pair of crows are building a nest in a silver birch tree in my front garden.  They will be moved on tomorrow when the snow has melted a bit more and it is safe to put up the ladders.  I wouldn't do them any harm but they can relocate themselves in the wood across the road so that the little garden birds can bring up their young without having baby eating monsters right on their doorstep.
Thanks for stopping by do feel free to leave a comment.  I appreciate them all.