Lantern Festival

In Chiswick, for Chinese New Year 2017, the gardens were transformed into a multicultural light experience, with huge detailed lanterns made from wire and fabric.

It almost feels inadequate to call them lanterns... a more accurate description would be works of 3D fabric art lit from within.

We got there slightly before dark but the effect really came into its own once we had wiled away our time in the cafe at the start of the trail and night had fallen.

The journey started with a lit arch of flowers, and followed a winding path through the park, with each new wonder popping up to delight.

There were scenes from traditional tales, religious themes, cute characters, Chinese New Year characters and cultural scenes.

I hear a rumour it's been an annual event for the last three years. We had not heard of it before this year so, if you missed it (like we had previously), there'll be a guided tour over the next few blogs.

Muji and a Pagoda

Having mentioned the Pagoda yesterday (in the Muji and Hogwarts Blog) I thought I'd better let you see it.

But you can't fit a tea-light up the inside of the Pagoda.

Here is my best attempt with an LED instead.

Muji and Hogwarts

One Christmas, someone bought me a cardboard kit from Muji to make a grand stately home. If you follow the tortuous picture instructions, and manage to slot the bits together without bending them too badly in frustration, its well worth the effort.

I think its meant to be French Chateau style but I thought it looked a bit like the models they used for Hogwarts. Once you put one of those colour changing battery candles up the hollow inside, you can imagine the students are duelling inside and sending up sparks that can be seen all the way from Hagrid's hut.

They do a Pagoda too.

Gold on Black at the Skating Rink

While I sat at the ice skating rink, waiting for the session to finish, I continued sketching in gold on black (like yesterday's post). So these pics are all 'boots on' or 'teen chat/pose', as that is what the rink is full of while my kids skate and I don't dare! 

This session is all about hair, product, gossip and image more than skating- boys and girls alike.

I don't sketch the ones on the ice as they don't stay still long enough and it would feel too invasive (and look mistakenly pervy) to take pics and draw later.

Sketching in Gold

As you know, I try out most arty things for a while, even if I don't carry them on into a full blown hobby.  Recently, husband and I have watched quite a few drawing/ panting programmes on Sky Arts (Portrait Artist of the Year, Landscape Artist etc) and he draws all the time, so I have been doing some sketching too. 

I'm not very patient to be at it for long, or very proficient, but have enjoyed these, using a gold marker on black paper.

These are all drawn in a cafe. It feels a bit odd drawing people who don't know know you're doing it but its not like I'm taking their photo. I'm not so good a draw-er that they could recognise themselves anyway.

There are two different gold pens, so that's where the highlights come from.

Old, but Still Cute, Turnip Head

Well here he is! 
The years (or in his case the days) may have caught up with him...

but he has a bonny spirit and a young heart.

And he definitely doesn't see old age as anything to get in a stew about (LOL).

Actually, by the look of him, he may have imbibed a few bonny spirits too!!!

Cute Turnip Head finds a Dragon

It's Dragon Hunting Season and Cute Turnip Head has always wanted to find one, ever since he was a little sprout.

His luck is in and now he's off to fix up a home for it

...but only if it wants to stay. If not, he will return it to its natural habitat and try again next year.

This is the last of young Turnip Head's adventures. When you next see him, he will have aged considerably, as do we all eventually (but not while being kept in the fridge I hope!).

Cute Turnip Head in Summer

Looking forward to the end of this dreary Winter and on to the short sleeves and fun times of Summer?

Let Turnip Head take you there...

We are nearing the end of the season of Cute Turnip Head's appearance on the blog. Only two more to go...
Stay Tuned  = )

Cute Turnip Head in Winter

Here's what a turnip head gets up to when the weather turns cold and snowy...

Look out! He's a really great shot with a snowball.

Cute Turnip Head Keeps Celebrating!

As if cake-juggling wasn't enough of a celebration...

Cute Turnip Head has broken out the champagne

CHEERS!

Celebrate with Cake!

What better way to celebrate life than to juggle with cake?

We should all learn from the wise words of Cute Turnip Head and learn to juggle cake: entertainment, exercise and a snack all rolled into one!

Terra Firma

Cute Turnip Head claims this spit of land in the name of Turnips everywhere and christens it Veggetania!

(BTW the sand is actually curry powder)

Happy Valentine's day from Cute Turnip Head

Turnip Head would like to assure all vegetable products and peoples of the world that they are loved, both today and every day.

See you soon!

Cute Turnip Head goes Swimming

Does exactly what it says on the title

Reminds me of Summer.

Cute Turnip Head Takes a Selfie

Ever keen to keep up with modern fashions, Cute Turnip Head decided to embrace the trend for Selfies.

Not sure he's quite got the idea... or maybe he's just enjoying a bit of photo-boothing!

He's Singin' in the Rain, Just Singin' in the Rain

What a glorious feeling, Turnip Head's happy again!

Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place
Come on with the rain, there's a smile on his face!
He walks down the lane, with a ha-ppy refrain
Just singin' and dancin' in the rain!

Cute Turnip Head Picks an Apple

Cute Turnip Head is really branching out today (groan) as he climbs up to reach the biggest apple known to turnip heads the world over.

Looks like he's going to need a taller ladder!

Cute Turnip Head does Shakespeare

Alas, poor Turnip Head. I knew him Horatio...

Here is Cute Turnip Head; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot  
 Wait... does that mean ME?

As the teller of Cute Turnip Head's tale, I can assure you that he will be heard more (as the idiot has more photos to share).

But alas, a warning - all these photos were taken on the same night and, although Cute Turnip Head has been residing in the fridge ever since, his youthful complexion will not last forever.

Do you want this series to end with his up to date photo or shall he remain forever young in your minds and my blog?

Cute Turnip Head's Pirate Adventures

Always have pirate accessories around the house, I say. You never know when you might have to accessorise a cute turnip head.

Equipped with cutlass and lantern, Cute Turnip Head sets out to find the treasure!

Success... and celebrate with a new hat and flag as he sets sail in the dingy, back to his ship!

What's next for Cute Turnip Head?
Stay tuned.

Surfing Turnip

As promised, here is Cute Little Turnip Head surfing

And after surfing, there was a little fishing  = )

Cute Turnip Head lifts weights!

Here are the first of a series of what Cute Turnip Head gets up to...

When weight training, start small eg garlic...

and work your way through to something heavier (like a plum)...

until eventually you can lift entire tins of mustard!

Tomorrow... surfing without a surfboard!

Introducing Cute Turnip Head

When I was making vegetable soup this week, I cut the end off a small turnip and found it looked like this...

Its such a cute little face!
So naturally I had to collage it with blueberries, didn't I?

A lion and a juggler.

A mouse out and about... and in its nest

And lastly in its curlers

I say lastly but it wasn't because I suddenly thought of a whole new type of stuff I could do with it before it dries up and gets composted...

Watch this space!