Van life
August 11, 2021
In these last two years I have never been more grateful for owning a camper van….
I still haven’t worked out what to do when I grow up! I’m mainly a writer, an artist, and a fairytale dressmaker with various crafty hobbies! Here (and on YouTube) I share bits of my life, thoughts, and what I’m learning along the way. Let’s find magic and inspiration; join me for this creative living adventure!
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Poetry for ease of lockdown
May 18, 2021
Dance of the Butterflies
A semi-circle bay of liquid turquoise
as still as a deep secret
and barely a sound as the languid waves touched the pebbled beach.
It was so much warmer than expected; unneeded layers draped over our arms.
Merlin panting; concerning us for lack of fresh water
until we found a Jurassic filtered stream.
All of us excited for his first trip to the sea
All of us excited for our first day to be free.
I’d only thought yesterday I was yet to see a butterfly,
but as we walked the stony track to the car
we saw a pair of them,
unidentifiable by their urgency.
Enchanted by each others’ spirit
they were trapped in their frenzied jive of spring.
Unable to leave each other, or to leave the dance
Unable to be completely released; unable to take the chance.
Whispers of the Stones
Imagining recollections of the lives of here
The way they felt; the joy, the fear
The mundane, their day to day
The colours of spring, the winter grey
The salty breezes absorbed in their bones
Their secrets and memories whispered by the stones
I’ve started an art journal! And these are the words I wrote to go with the mixed media art I came up with. It was all inspired by the first time we were allowed to leave the house for actual fun! We went to Tyneham Village – an abandoned place where everyone was evacuated for the Second World War, and weren’t allowed back. A short walk from there is Worbarrow Bay; and with the sun shining, the sea really did look turquoise. If you’d like to see our day out, I have started back on YouTube again, and it’s in this week’s video:
Review of the Scentful perfume subscription box
November 12, 2020
I own a grand total of three perfumes. The first is CK One, and yes, I have had it since the nineties! And the other two are by Britney Spears, and were presents from my daughters. So you may not think that I’m the target audience for a subscription perfume service, but actually it’s the opposite. And here’s why…
My husband caught the Coronavirus – Lockdown diaries update
May 28, 2020
There’s a little bit of bitterness in me, that when I see people taking no notice of health guidelines; having visitors etc, that my husband Chris, who followed all the rules and took all the precautions, managed to catch the Coronavirus. And this is what the last couple of weeks have been like…
Lockdown diaries
April 29, 2020
Naomi Bulger from Naomiloves.com is making a collection of our stories from this time during the coronavirus. Please head on over to her website to add yours as it’s important that there’s a record of us ordinary folks. Here’s mine…
Ostara thoughts and news of Loki
March 20, 2020
Today is Ostara, the spring equinox, and it’s an understatement to say it took me by surprise. Having spent six weeks in America again for Chris’s work, I feel like I missed winter. Even though the temperature right now is still very wintry, I look outside and I can see daffodils and the blackthorn coming into blossom, and it makes me smile, even though I’m not quite ready for it…
A Mixed media process of a landscape painting & using up leftover paint.
March 4, 2025
Hello! This time I'm sharing my process of a mixed media winter landscape painting. I talk about trying not to be afraid of making bad art, and feeling freer and looser with my painting. I also use up the leftover watercolour and gouache paint in my palettes by colouring some Flower Fairy greetings cards and preparing some pretty backgrounds. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me:
Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral... Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun
Confidence & Self-doubt ~ Art Studio chats ~ Mixed media art process & timelapse.
February 25, 2025
One minute I'm feeling confident with my art process, and the next I'm full of self doubt. A typical journey in the mind of an artist! Here's a mixed media landscape painting and all my thoughts along the way now that I've finished the Mastery Program. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me:
Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral... Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun
Hidden stories of the stones! A mixed media stone circle painting & Avalon Archeology
February 18, 2025
Hi! This week I have the process of a mixed media painting of an ancient stone circle. It took me a while to finish this one and I tried lots of different art supplies! And there are clips of our visit to the Avalon Archeology Centre in Somerset. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me:
Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun
Back to Somerset, England and the stories of February’s Instagram photography
March 1, 2020
After six weeks away in Connecticut, America, we landed back in a drizzly cold England last week. It was cold there (-6 most days in February), but it never seems to drizzle – sometimes it’s sunny, sometimes it’s cloudy, and sometimes it’s chucking it down with rain, but it never seems to drizzle. Is it weird that I missed it?!…
Mixing casual with dressed up
February 26, 2020
It may be the usual thing when picking your outfit to wear, to go for either casual or fancy items; but I love mixing the two together…
How to dress more creatively (part 5) Be inspired by TV and film
February 11, 2020
If you really are in a style rut, why not take note of what your favourite characters are wearing in the television programmes and films you watch? Even if it’s set in Jane Austen’s times, there might be fashion details that you could incorporate into your wardrobe…
Handmade red dresses for Valentine’s Day
February 10, 2020
My husband and I don’t make a big deal of Valentine’s day, but if you know me at all, you’ll know I’ll take any excuse to dress up in accordance to the occasion / season / basically anything! So I thought I’d take a look around Etsy and see what dresses I could find that would make the perfect date night outfit for Valentine’s day…
Stories of the week’s Instagram photos
February 8, 2020
Come and find out the little behind-the-scenes stories of my photography on Instagram over last week…
In defence of the clothing haul
February 7, 2020
Oh I miss watching clothes hauls. I feel like the few have spoilt it for the many, like when the teacher at school says the whole class can’t go swimming because one kid was caught being naughty….
Graduating in Italy!! Also visiting Foligno, Fabriano, Gubbio & Marmore Falls.
February 11, 2025
Join me for a few days in Italy! I explored the beautiful towns of Foligno, Fabriano and Gubbio in the Umbria region, and also visited Marmore Falls. Plus of course it was the graduation evening of The Mastery Program! This is the online art course by The Milan Art Institute I've been talking about for a while! I have photos and a few words about it on my blog: https://open.substack.com/pub/helenhobden/p/graduating-in-italy?r=1lbf4t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me:
Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun
Complete & Honest Mastery Program Review ~ The Milan Art Institute online art course
February 1, 2025
Find out more about The Mastery Program: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs
This is a thorough and completely honest review! Hopefully in this video I answer any questions you may have about The Mastery Program by The Milan Art Institute - their online art course. If you're interested in something in particular, please click SHOW MORE as just below I will list topics I cover and the time you need to jump to.
Beginning - What is The Mastery Program?
6:07 Is The Mastery Program right for me?
7:59 Is it worth the money?
9:25 How long is the course?
9:51 How much does The Mastery Program cost?
11:55 What are the teachers like?
12:52 Customer Service.
13:49 How to make the most of the course & whether to pay monthly or outright.
17:44 Notes if you're a beginner at art - a beginner's course included.
18:29 Bonus content included
19:19 Materials. Do I buy kits from The Milan Art Institute?
21:24 Can you use water mixable oil paint?
23:24 How to find affordable art supplies.
25:42 How much space do you need?
26:57 Positives and negatives of The Mastery Program & overall thoughts.
33:55 How much time each day to I need?
34:25 How has the course affected my life?
37:05 Do you learn to paint in the same style as Dimitra? Will you find your own art style? Any questions, please leave them in the comments, and here's that link you need again: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me:
Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun
Preparation for announcing my art website & a trip to Italy. Mixed media painting process.
January 28, 2025
It was a busy week! I had more paintings to finish ready to list on my art website, which I was about to announce! I photographed my art and prepared a painting to take to Italy for an exhibition as part of my graduation from The Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute. I also share the mixed media art process of the magical landscape painting that I chose to take. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me:
Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun
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