Autumn is finally here!

Autumn is officially here again. It's that time again to get your giant pile of jumpers out of the jumper again. It's time to order every yummy hot drink from Starbucks. It's time to wrap up warm with your old scarves or maybe even purchase a brand new one. It's time to go looking for beautiful coloured trees and leaves. It's time for cuddles in the evening to keep warm while watching Netflix. It's time to start thinking about Christmas, but before that start watching loads of horror films. Oh and of course go purchase a new bobble hat, or just steal your boyfriends.

Hi! My name is Nicola!

I wanted to re-introduce myself as I'm back on the blogging game, so here goes! Hi! My name is Nicola! Or better known as helloitsnicola on social media. I'm an artist and blogger. I'm a lover of rings, giant jumpers, tea and comic books. I am a true collector. I love to collect toys, postcards, records and cute stationary. I enjoy taking photos and having adventures. Currently living and working in Kent, England.

I created my blog when I was at university a very long time ago. It all started out as a way to document my life because my memory isn't very good! 4 years ago I travelled all the way to Seattle from the UK to meet 7 other bloggers for the first time. We now meet up every year with other bloggers who are a part of our blogging family. I met wonderful friends, visited amazing places and countries through my blog and that's all thanks to blogging.

Then I started using my blog for posting my artwork. Social media really helped me with creating my artwork and defining my style. I started to post snap shots of my desk, sneaky peaks at work in progress, and chosen materials helped me gain confidence. The positive feedback from wonderful bloggers and instagrammers gave me the push I needed to start creating work to sell.

Paper inspires my artwork, from vintage books, to sheet music and cigarette cards. I have always been inspired by the sky. This led to clouds and rain. The raindrop is a beautiful shape and still remains the leading presence in my work. My clouds are very close to my heart because that's where it all started. I have recently started working on brooches based on my current designs which I have been selling at local craft fairs, along with my prints and cards.

When I'm not working on new pieces, I'm going on adventures. Whether that's a little trip to the seaside, walking round a local art gallery or spending a day hoping from tearoom to coffee shop. Sitting down in a quite tearoom with a pretty cup of tea and a new comicbook is simply my idea of heaven.

You can see what adventures I am up to day to day over on my Instagram; www.instagram.com/helloitsnicola

You can also find my paper inspired prints/cards/brooches over in my etsy store; www.etsy.com/NicolaJenningsArt 

Or find me on Twitter; www.twitter.com/NJenningsArt

A weekend in Cardiff

'Let's take a trip to Cardiff!'---- that's a thought I have had for many years. But like anything you things come and go, and important things happen, and you don't end up going, and your heart still wishes for it. Well my wonderful friend Laura recently moved to Cardiff, which of course meant, LETS GO AND STAY!

Laura organised it all, and myself and my uni friends all decided to meet up one weekend. After a crazy train journey I was finally in Cardiff. I was greeted at the station in Welsh by some lovely ladies, and then I spotted my friends. They had spent the time waiting for me to guess the colour kanken I had. (I brought my orange one with me). Our first stop was some cute gifts shops and of course a cup of coffee.

I got to wander around Cardiff with my friends, catching up, telling stories, laughing and just having a perfect time. It rained so much. We got soaked, and purchased ice cream while it was raining, like you do.

I visited lots of Doctor Who and Torchwood locations which did make me a little teary. Doctor Who is my favourite show. I have fallen a little out of love with it, but being in Cardiff made me remember how good my favourite show was, and how much I loved it. I also managed to visit the Doctor Who experience, which was very emotional and amazing. I shall save all this for another dedicated blog post. 

We had lots of yummy food and visited cute tearooms for cake. Even though it was still raining, we eat cake and drank tea and just enjoyed all being together.

I'm nearly hitting 10 years of friendship with my wonderful uni friends, and we are planning what to do in our 10th year. It's crazy to think next September it was 10 years ago I started university. Time really does fly when you are surrounded by friends that love and support you.

Rainy Margate day

Last week I spent a whole day with some friends. The day started early. We went for breakfast at the American Diner. It was a fond farewell breakfast for my friend Charlotte. She currently now living and studying in America. Of course I am so jealous, and I wish I had done that. I will miss her so much, but I know she is going to have the best time. She's going to learn so much about herself, live life, do things she's never done before and make so many new friends.

After a sad goodbye (I tried not to cry in front of Charlotte) the rest of us headed to Margate! One of my favourite places! We headed straight to the Turner Contemporary. Not just because we were dying to see art, but also because we chose the wrong day to go to the seaside and the clouds had opened and it was raining so hard.

We went to see Grayson Perry's new show. I really enjoyed it, bright colours, work questioning real art and of course what is real art? He is a very clever man. My favourite part was watching my friend Matt (who had never been to any art gallery or show before) experience this show. It's so interesting to get other people perspectives on things, and someone who doesn't necessary like or enjoy art. But he had a good time none the less.

After the gallery I wanted to take everyone for a cupcake in the coolest place, but of course the rain was so heavy and everywhere was packed. We walked through town and then came across the cutest coffee shop. I have wanted to visit for ages, but never did. Now I know I was waiting until this moment. It was so quite, they served good coffee, yummy sandwiches and even had a pile of boardgames. That's a good sign.

Later in the day we managed to get a cupcake, and it was just amazing. David treated me to a pretty little cupcake. But of course we shared each other's.

Then later we went to see my gorgeous friend Emily perform in Whitstable. She was perfect, and I'm so happy I have finally seen her live! She is currently on her seaside tour, you should check her out! Emily Watts music!

It was a perfect end to a perfect day. When we were driving home I just felt so happy. Moments like this are there to be enjoyed and remembered that life is good.

Recent comicbooks

Blogging seems to have taken a step back, but I'm all in gear to blog again! Lots to catch up on, and stories to tell. But first, I picked up a few new comics in America on holiday. This week I have had a little bit of time to catch up with them all. I'm a fan of boom. Months ago Uncle Grandpa came out and I couldn't get hold of a single issue in the UK. I walk into the first comic book store in America and find ever single issue. So I decided to buy the first two. They are so fun, bright and light hearted. Plus mega crazy!

I picked up Adventure Time's Card Wars comic, which also came with a free card to us in the actual game! Plus it's all about Fionna and Cake! I love these characters. Getting a free game card was such an awesome extra!

I also picked up Bob's Burgers. Now I have already read this issue, but I loved this cover, so I just had to buy it again! I mean look at it! Super cute!

And I also picked up Power Up. I'm still unsure about this comic. It seems like it ticks all the boxes, but there is something about it I'm really not sure if I actually like it. Maybe I just need to try the second issue and make up my mind then.

What comic books are you reading? And any I should be checking out?