Trafalgar Square...

Continuing on from my day Thursday before last, 17th June.  About 6pm, walking towards Trafalgar Square - I hadn't been there for ages up until then. 

This elephant #144 named Kings XI Punjab was created by Lalit Modi.  Artist's Inspiration:"This elephant was inspired by the Kings XI Punjab, an Indian Premier League cricket team". 

This elephant #147, named Delhi Daredevils was created by Lalit Modi and is part of the same family of the Indian cricket team! 

Another one - #150 - Royal Challengers Bangalore - again by the same artist, Lalit Modi. 

Right in the centre of the Square - #145 Mumbai Indians - the name of another Indian Premier League cricket team". 

I like the sunburst effect on this blue one!  This next one, #143, is very aptly named "Rajasthan Royals". 

Didn't quite mean to have a bus sticking out in this picture, but there you have it!  Another instance of inferior photography.  :lol:  #149, Chennai Super Kings. 

Here's the famous Square, in action .... and a lovely day to rest a moment, watching the crowds, and the blue sky ....

After a brief respite, onto Leicester Square.  This is the Tommy Hilfiger Red Elephant, #247.   Artist's Inspiration: "Inspired by popular culture, I combined red and green pop colors to design a high-gloss elephant with a Mohawk planter effect. This elephant is unique as it continues to evolve throughout the parade, while juxtaposing nature with the unexpected."

Loving the punk hairdo!  At this point, I am in Theatreland proper - round the corner, in St Martin's Court, is Figgy, #110.  Figgy was created by Hannah Griffiths and her inspiration - "Figs are a beautiful fruit and I love their lush colours and the gorgeous pattern of their leaves. I wanted to create a precious richness by adding a mosaic element to my elephant."

Very difficult to get that photo, even what it is - there were LOADS of people milling about - being a Friday night after work.  What a spectacular facade to that pub! 

I was so disappointed when I got to Leicester Square to see it all partitioned off - they were preparing for about 50-60 of the ellies to be together in Leicester Square the next day - but that didn't suit me!  (Spitting dummy there .... :lol:) This was the only ellie I could get in Leicester Square - and that is by leaning over the partition.  No 126 - Untitled (Gajaraja) - created by Jitish Kallat.  I was quite amazed to see how many of the ellies were actually unnamed - it's a wonder they didn't do names out of the hat, or something of the like! 

I decided to wend my weary way home, but on the way, ran into one more elephant - this time, on Jermyn Street.  #200, Dickinson Elephant and one of my favourites.  This beautiful elephant named Dickinson Elephant was created by Phoebe Dickinson.  Artist's Inspiration: "Great Flower paintings associated with Dickinson; from Old masters to Impressionists, including the Van Gogh Sunflowers and the National Gallery of Scotlands Botticelli."  This elephant was kindly sponsored by Dickinson Fine Art - a family affair, perhaps? 

What a dandy!  Guess who this is - you probably got it - Beau Brummell. 

I love the fruit tree on the back left leg, and her impressionistic trunk! 

I still have to upload all the ellies from Green Park Friday week ago, and then the ellies from Royal Chelsea Hospital and Westfield.  Should I carry on - that's an awfully big job!  Still, I suppose it would make my life easier when it comes to making an art journal, I suppose ...

Cards and Alcohol ...

Inks, that is!  :lol:  Something to be said for catchy titles!  I have a friend who is just brilliant at thinking up really witty titles and they are so humourous - I really struggle, and may occasionally come up with something vaguely amusing.  I console myself with the thought that my talent must lie in other areas - I'm still waiting to discover it!  Ha! 

Anyhoo, a friend's birthday was coming up, and I decided to make her some vintagey arty cards, which is exactly her style.  She is not a card maker, but does heritage layouts with her seemingly endless supply of gorgeous family photos of ancestors. 

Living in my own little Alis world of delusion and fantasy half the time, I missed her birthday and had to scurry to make up.  (get the pun - ha ha!)

Here was her belated birthday card - made using alcohol ink on left over photo paper, embossed with shiny pink embossing powder, and then grunged up a bit with black pigment ink, heat again to set. 

I thought that Prima ribbon coordinated at the time, but now I've decided that it really doesn't!  I added silver accents.  That little gauze butterfly I received in a swap.  I don't even mind the dark image of the photo coming through the background.  It adds to the effect.  Shame that the photo paper pops and buckles with the heat coming from the heat gun - but again, I won't lose sleep over it.  On a mission to use all my left over peel-offs that I've accumulated too!  Some of them are quite decent, and look good in the right place, but most of them are just naff. 

Here's another card using those Crafty Individuals' images - love the ethereal quality some of them add. 

Also using up the stash of aperture cards my friend donated towards the charity cards.  They have temporarily stopped, because we've built up quite a collection - but then I will substitute my own card blanks for that, so it all works out the same in the wash, I think!  I stamped around the edges, and the gun metal frame for that Creative Imaginations image was from HOTP, which I've had for many years.  A scrap of punched out decorative edge finish the card off. 

Here's a friends card with a difference.  Linda sent me a sheet of vintage images some years ago, and I accented this very cute picture with some pink patterned papers from my scraps bag.  I don't throw anything away, which my groaning scraproom and my groaning husband would testify to! 

A very simple card.  I bought a kit from Craftwork cards a little while ago and received a pack of these curved messages.  I was a bit concerned that I didn't like them and would struggle to use them, but I think that it works really well on this simple card, and helps to avoid everything being too square.  I inked the message in pink chalk ink to coordinate, and job done! 

This next card could apply to both men and women - probably more men though I guess - made from more scraps and another one of those Crafty Individuals images. 

Unearthing things in your scraproom really helps - I've dug out my 6 x 6 pads which have been hiding, and now I am delving into them, in between elephant hunting, scrapping and domesticating, working etc ....  I used a friend's scallop circle punch, and colour coordinated this with a Promarker.  My colouring is not very even though, is it?  Pah ...

I used a left over rectangle from one of my alcohol ink backgrounds, and added it to a card ...

On reflection, I should have added some copper or gold for impact, as it looks a bit flat to me.  Another lesson learned! 

A friend gave me a sheet of green mirri card.  It really works well with this next card, I think.

That black lace, again given to me in a swap, really adds impact.  I had one of those happy birthday toppers left from a pack from Hobbycraft some time ago, and I glimmer misted some mulberry paper behind the image.  Otherwise, pink and khaki paper from scraps bag. 

Last card - I guess most suitable for a man ....

Alcohol ink background.  Collage stamp inked with white stazon.  A thin statue image triple matted - blue, Basic Grey pattern, then green mirri card.  Tara gave me the message, which I knocked back with a Promarker.  A small flower altered to Navy with a promarker, and then a green gem added to the middle, finish it off nicely. 

I love being able to adapt styles and themes to whatever suits your mood - one day vintage, the next day bright and funky, and then grungy ...

Floral Display

Continuing on with my mission to use old stash, I did this layout as part of a challenge on one of my social groups on UKS. 

The fuschia cardstock is Betty in Love, love Elsie - not THAT old in terms of my stash, but the striped patterned paper is Made to Match Valentines, by American Crafts.  I don't think stripes or cardstock ages that much, but these stickers hark back to the start of my scrapping days, so over 6 years old.  I don't like them now, but I've got it, so I will use it! 

The photos are of the Floral Display in the Great Pavilion at the Chelsea Flower Show, 2009.  The floral displays were created by the National Association of Flower Arrangement Society - blimey - try saying that 10 times really quickly!  That's a real mouthful. 

Additional parts of the challenge were to use distressing, stamping, and a frame.  I distressed the photos by adding a thin border of green paint.  After mixing a colour and painting the Fancy Pants chipboard, I then stamped over the top of the mauve with white.  After that, I added some stickles at the end to bring some refracted light into the layout.  I added more stamping with the tail of the butterfly and the motif in the top left hand corner - it reads:  "Beauty is all around us".  The stamp is "Word Flourishes" by Rhonna Farrer - I love those swirling words.  If I want the flourish but not the word, then I stamp the image and cut the word off. 

I have had the Cuttlebug butterfly die and embossing set for about two months now and finally got to use it today - hurray!  Once embossed, I outlined the butterfly in white ink, and then added stickles to the embossed parts, so it adds some impact.  The green pearls also add some lift. 

The shape of that Fancy Pants chipboard bothers me - and gives me the impression that the layout isn't balanced.  But it is done now, and I don't have the inclination to do a triple part process just to add in more chipboard!  This also acts as a frame for the accent bead inserts.  It adds quite a lot of dimension IRL. The photos were quite drab before I added in some white cardstock cut into a flower shape - white brings in a lot of light, and it was just the touch I needed here.  I made three cardstock roses and added in a Prima leaf - I am not sure if that works or not - but it's there now, and stuck down - so that's the way it will stay.  Job finally done after a lot of time faffing!  :)

Group Herd...

If you can manage to get to London between today and 28th June, do try to go and see all the elephants in situ at the Royal Chelsea Hospital ....

Here's a brief taster ....

Well, greetings from the jungle, the urban jungle ....

South Bank Elephants

In the latish afternoon last Thursday 17th June, I walked over the Golden Jubilee bridge to cross the Thames to the South Bank. 

Here's the first ellie of the bunch, Brambles, #89.  This beautiful elephant was created by Diana Ralston.  Her Inspiration: "The fast disappearing Rural English Countryside". 

Aren't the toenails fabulous? 

I have a particular weakness for this next beautiful elephant - #61, Shaanti Haathi was created by Arabella Sim.  Artist's Inspiration: "I have used the symbol of the Poppy on my elephant because this flower is ephemeral and delicate in the extreme but it is a survivor and symbol of peace. By contrast the very existence of the elephant, though a physically powerful and noble creature, is seriously under threat in Asia."

This next elephant is #157, Deliverance, created by Loz Atkinson.  Artist's Inspiration: "The dark, almost apocalyptic sky is eclipsed by the peaceful freedom of the open birdcage and birds in flight. This gives a sense of hope in an ominous situation, reflecting the amazing work of elephant family in Asia and I hope will awaken something positive in onlookers."

This next poor ellie has been a bit bashed and battered.  #129  - this beautiful elephant named Sally was created by Joanna May.  Artist's Inspiration: "One of Joanna's best loved subjects is the 'Hare'. She illustrates this, taking a piece of Wiltshire up to London. The design incorporates mystical scenes of the moon, stars and crop circles; and connects the hare to the fertility goddess."   I don't know about all that, but it does look very like Nicole Kidman to me! 

Here is Sally's other side - the hare. 

The next elephant is her partner here seen at the back, #161 Maureen.  This lovely, cheerful happy elephant was created by Mackenzie Thorpe.  Artist's Inspiration: "I wanted to create the elephant in honour of my mother (Maureen) and the colours are inspired from my daughters first bedroom".  

This elephant was kindly sponsored by Mackenzie Thorpe himself.

For the next lot of elephants, I was a bit confused as to their location.  So I turned back on myself and walked to the front of Royal Festival Hall, to the market square.  This is where I found #136, Julia's Elephant, created by Joseph Paxton.    Artist's Inspiration: "My initial concept was to show these magnificent animals alongside other animals with which they coexist in certain parts of the world, showing that they are all part of a connected chain. I want the energy of the charcoal lines to give life to the surface of the sculpture, echoing the incredible marks and textures of an elephant’s skin." This elephant was kindly sponsored by HSS Hire.

Further along Queen's Walk, towards Hungerford Bridge, here is 117 Untitled, created by India Jane Birley.  Artist's Inspiration: "My late fathers house".

This next elephant #177 named Utopia was created by Mitch Freeman.  Artist's Inspiration: "I wanted to use an original image I have been revisiting and redesigning since 1992." This elephant was kindly sponsored by Mitch Freeman.  It looks very Art Deco to me! 

This is #121, James Bond.  A master of understatement, I think?  This elephant named James Bond was created by Oliver Lloyd & Lucy Fleming.  Artists Inspiration: "James Bond started on the page and was then brilliantly reimagined on the screen. Manuscripts and screenplays are nothing but words. Bond is universally loved, as are elephants, and we hope that this double-0 elephant will raise much needed money to help ensure their future."   This elephant was kindly sponsored by Lucy Fleming.  Not such a great angle for Monsieur 007, but you can see the lovely setting.

This street performer was very funny and talented.  He pulled the most marvellous facial expressions!  Quite a crowd gathered to watch. 

This student definitely did not know what to make of him!  After this photo, he went back and back ....

From here, I walked back across the Golden Jubilee Bridge, to Trafalgar Square.  Across the bridge, I took this photo of the Thames. 

More to follow ...

North, South, East, West ....

More travels on my ellie journey - continuing on from last Thursday, 17th June .... From Greenwich, I took the DLR back to Bank Station, exited there, and walked to Lime Street.  I walked through Leadenhall Market on the way.  I love architectural facades and how spectacular is this one? 

Such a wonderful change to have a brilliant blue sky as a background!  I love taking photos of the inside of buildings with light streaming in - I think it is so atmospheric - this inside is so rich and full of light, it seems like liquid treacle. 

Just as well you don't have smellavision!  While things look visually stunning, it is amazing to me how many gorgeous places in London smell so strongly of drains!  Eergh ..... Dodgy plumbing is a terrible thing, but you have to take into account the age of most of the city, I suppose.  A bit more of a walk, turn a corner, and here is Izzy, #196.  This beautiful elephant named Izzy was created by Paul Roberts.  Artist's Inspiration: "Isambard Kingdom Brunel once said "Nine tenths of all failures in this world are from not quite doing enough". This was exactly the message I wanted to send out, he never took no for an answer and saw a project out till the very end, much like our determination to save the Asian Elephants."

I actually think Izzy is one of my favourites.  Not flashy, like some of the other elephants, but I think Paul Roberts has been so clever and incorporated so many elements of what Isambard Kingdom Brunel achieved on the surface of this ellie - the stream trains, the railway lines across Britain, making parts of the country accessible, and so many of his marvellous engineering feats - including a tunnel which circumnavigates Izzy's bum!  :lol:  Though because I am a lady, I refrained from taking a photo, for the sake of Izzy's dignity.   

Such a juxtaposition of different shapes, colours and textures - very satisfying taking photos on such a beautiful day as this was.  From Lime Street, I proceeded to the Tower of London to seek out that ellie - #124, Elfreda, created by Jeff Hoare.  His Inspiration: "I wanted the elephant to look as if it had walked out of the sea and that the sea was all the different colours."

The mix of old and new is fantastic.  I don't think it always works, but it seems like you could almost reach out and touch the GLA Building which is across the Thames.  Whilst this was a normal work day for millions, something life enriching to know that there are yet many more people enjoying the sights, sounds and smells!  of this amazing city. 

From the Tower, I took the tube to the Embankment - Victoria Embankment Gardens, to be precise.  Three ellies here, and a very clever pun - Mr Brown, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg.  Unfortunately, no insight as to the artist's inspiration, because they were all painted by Anonymous!  Here's #230, Mr Brown. 

Here are all the sparring partners together - Mr Brown, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg.  You can recognise them by their party colours!  Don't you love their boxing "trunks"!?  :lol:  (Their numbers for my reference - are #228 Mr Cameron, and #257, Mr Clegg). 

You get a great view of the London Eye from the Embankment.  No doubt, there is probably better views - not in front of the bridge, for example - but you take the photo where you are, don't you? 

Two more elephants to be seen at Cleopatra's Needle on the Embankment.  Back to some va va voom!  #227, My Gorgeous Jungle.  This vivacious and very bright elephant was created by Shunyam.  Artist's Inspiration: "My elephant will be fully covered by a gorgeous jungle, in which he/she can hide, be safe and enjoy!"   Hope the jungle is just as bright, to ensure full camouflage! 

The next elephant is #197, Haathini, created by Penelope Patrick.  Artist's Inspiration: "The Palm trees are symbolic of the diminishing vegetation due to mans necessity for land. The space above the palms represents the corridors that the elephants need to connect their habitats. The Butterflies mean freedom."   A masterpiece of subtlety compared to the previous ellie! 

Here's a bit of info that I gleaned from Wikipedia:

Cleopatra's Needle is flanked by two faux-Egyptian sphinxes cast from bronze that bear hieroglyphic inscriptions that say netjer nefer men-kheper-re di ankh (the good god, Thuthmosis III given life). These Sphinxes appear to be looking at the Needle rather than guarding it. This is due to the Sphinxes' improper or backwards installation. The Embankment has other Egyptian flourishes, such as buxom winged sphinxes on the armrests of benches. On 4 September 1917, during World War I, a bomb from a German air raid landed near the needle. In commemoration of this event, the damage remains unrepaired to this day and is clearly visible in the form of shrapnel holes and gouges on the right-hand sphinx. Restoration work was carried out in 2005. The original Master Stone Mason who worked on the granite foundation was Lambeth-born William Henry Gould (1822–1891). 

I think things are brought to life when you know a bit of history about them.

I would have taken more time with these photos, and honed in on Cleopatra's needle and perhaps taken some shots of the river, but within 5 seconds of this photo being taken, this whole monument and these ellies were covered in swarms of Italian school children!  Pandemonium and chaos reigned, and I couldn't rush enough to get out of there.  I have now covered the morning and mid-afternoon shots - my next post is about the late afternoon ellies across the other side of the river.   I haven't made an exact count of the number of elephants I have seen in total, but the number wasn't that large compared to some others.  It was probably about half - I shall tot it up exactly in my next post, once I've worked out who is who!  It's taken me so long to get this number - I am amazed that some people got more, in only one day!  I have no idea how they managed it, but I would like some of their energy, please.