Ireland, Sillier Than Sally adventures (part 2)

The journey through Ireland continues...onto Carlow, to my uncle and auntys place for a Walsh clan catch up! There are a lot of Walshs =)

Family came from all over Ireland for a big catch up party, it was so great to catch up with so many relatives and get in some well over due hugs.

A video was pulled out of the huge and highly entertaining Walsh family Christmas's of 85 and 86, it was full of retro jumpers and brilliant hair do's on the adults/parents, the cousins (such youngins in the video) singing and Irish dancing away.... and santa (uncle Peter) making sure he got a kiss off every niece and nephew before he handed over their gifts...and all the while, me with my little bowl hair cut, trying to show up everyone with my not so great singing and dancing!
It was a hoot!

Quick snippet of me smacking around some kids (my Walsh cousins little ones) at our Walsh family get together....this could be one of the reasons I never get asked to babysit!! 

Sillier Than Sally Youtube link...I am king of the castle!!

.....and I never let anyone forget it =)

I was thinking if I put a lot of my family photos...they might track me down and kill me...so you get stuck with a cheesy snap of Brett and I.

After the brill Walsh family catch up, we headed to off for a fabulous catch up with the fabulous O'D side of the family, my mums side.
The above photos are of my aunty B's art/scrapbooking studio... I fell instantly in love with this beautiful space. The talent that poors out of this family is amazing, and my auntys B's art work inspires me so much.

 Me checking out my cousin Damians studio space in Dublin....studio spaces are my idea of heaven.
This fantastic fella is one seriously good artist/illustrator, I think if we had an art off, he would kick my butt!!

The brill illustration above is his...you can check out more of his work here -  Web Site
....and if you are greedy for his work like I am, you can check out even more of his work here Portfolio

So time for me to get back out side and explore some more, catch you next time...probably from somewhere in England.

Ireland, Sillier Than Sally Adventures (Part 1)

It has been a great few weeks full of adventures, side trips, family catch ups, boating and plenty of sketching on our journey through the beautiful Ireland.

It was a busy week, so get ready for some jam packed blogging...this is part one, part two coming your way tomorrow.

From Bonnie weee Scotland, Brett and I headed to Ireland...to visit family and to stock up on fond memories. Ireland is a stunning country, the countryside is wild and as green as the eye can see with wild flowers dotting the landscape. I have always loved my Ireland...and if you have ever visited you will completely understand what I mean when I say - Ireland sneaks into your soul and will always have a place in your heart, when you leave, you will yearn to go back....and why wouldn't you it's full of the Irish =) =)

From the airport, my lovely cousin Karen picked us up (after a little car dilemma....I can't say any more on that subject as i was actually sworn to secrecy), we were on our way to Atlone, the very centre of Ireland. For a 2 night boating adventure down the river Shannon on my uncle Peters barge.
Lots of good food, plenty of good alcohol, glorious weather, bloody good company, made for some great crack!
A brilliant time was had by all!

Peters barge...who could ask for a better form of transport?!

 Captain Sally!

Sketching away.....

The River Shannon....as you can imagine with surroundings like this, floating along via barge...I was a pretty happy little chappy!

*Sigh*.....

My absolutely awesome, fantastical, lovable uncle Peter

Sunset at around 10pm from inside the barge

Shannon Bridge and the Shannon Fort at dusk...

...Shannon River and Fort the next morning, brought to you by Sallys sketch book and peerless watercolours =)

Sally (the stupid head) going for a swim in the Shannon...

...and yes it was a tad cold....for some reason, no one else would jump in?!?

But it's ok, I made Karen, Peter and Brett feel included by giving them wet hugs as soon as I hoped out! I did not want them to miss out =)

Two sunny days in a row...I think that was a first for Ireland this summer.

Brett and the lovely Karen (being engulfed by Brett) at Clonmacnoise on the Shannon banks, Clonmacnoise Monastery origins date back to 545AD.

More Irish Shenanigans to come tomorrow, in part two of my Ireland blog....so stay tuned!

1st Sillier Than Sally UK post! Art journalling and train trips!

Late like usual with my blog...but well....I am on holidays =)

Brett and I are having such a fabulous time galavanting around the UK. We are now in Scotland....I could easily pack up and move here, it is such a stunning country, so vibrant and green, you  have charming Scots everwhere, loads of sweaping landscapes, castles around every corner, fairy grotto around every other corner...and sheep everywhere...Scottish sheep like most other sheep do not like to be hugged....but they do like to hang out on the road and have staring competitions with your car, to see who is going to move first!

Sillier Than Sally Youtube video -train from London to Edinburgh, with a bit of art journalling along the way!

Youtube link here

100%Finished page, with a wee run down on our first few days in Edinbrugh.

 The lovely Edinburgh Castle

Cows with the best hair dos around - Highland Cattle

Stunning Inveraray, towards the west coast of Scotland.

Crinan Canal, West Coast of Scotland.

Random out of the car window snap, while driving towards Oban....Beautiful?? I think so =)

Talk again soon xxx Sally

Also, if you are interested in watercolour painting, here is how to make your own watercolour palet as I have, brought to you by the fabulous Jane Davenport.