Painting my Way

New Class Subject

2012-01-29T17:35:00.001Z

This is the new class subject for May 19th---Lavender Lake-- as soon as I put it up on Facebook I had 3 people book for it--and one request to do it in blues instead of purples.....I can see this getting full quite quickly so book up early to ensure a place..

Stormy Skies Workshop

2012-01-29T17:17:00.000Z

It was lovely to see Christina back again--its been a while since she came to class though we are in touch regularly via emails etc..today she was painting Stormy Skies for her Dad..

when we stopped for lunch Wendy got out the suprise birthday cake she had bought for her mum Sylvia who was 79 the day before---the painting workshop was Wendy's pressie to her--Sylvia said it was the best Birthday pressie ever!

Rosemary had to leave a little early as she didn't feel well....this was her second painting--lovely job she made of it too...

Wendy, Joanne and Christina with their finished master pieces...lovely jobs they made of them...

Diane , Sylvia and Vikki with their lovely paintings---all first timers with me..though you would never know it to see the end results..

Looking forward to seeing them all again soon..

when we were driving home we noticed this strange part rainbow in the sky---weird because there was no rain around at the time--in fact it was a really lovely day...it stayed in the sky for ages--long after we arrived home ,so I got the camera out and snapped it!

Minatures...

2012-01-27T17:23:00.001Z

Minature version of Stormy Poppies measuring 6cm x 8cm in oils,,,the texture on the canvas is showing up more because I got so close with the camera, it dosent show like that in real life!

Ive had great fun this week painting on some tiny little canvas that have been here for ages waiting to be done! The canvas measure just 6cm x 8cm so they really are tiny! I decided to do some birch trees on some of them to see if they scale down OK--and yes I think it does work, I haven't quite finished the birches yet--I will maybe sit down on Sunday and finish them off!

I will get Bill to add a small D ring to the back so they can be hung on the wall, then they will be varnished to protect them as well.

After the acrylics I decided to do some oils, you can see from this photo just how little the picture looks compared to the original 16in x 20in...I enjoy working tiny--its great fun!

I had ordered some new brushes on line--ordered a size 4 as that's what I usually use in filberts--but when they arrived they were tiny--but they are ideal for this size canvas so wont be sending them back! Different makes are obviously very different in size!


I love this little tropical scene..

Getiing There....Slowly But Surely...

2012-01-25T22:07:00.000Z

I haven't updated on here about the health matters that have been going on for some time.....I went for my Dexa scan at Hereford Hospital yesterday...first shock was finding cost of car parking had risen again! £3 a hour, what a bloody rip off...anyway the scan -which checks out my bone density,didn't take long and we were out of there inside the hour..I'm still on quite a high dose of steroids still and they can make your bones brittle when taken long term-hence the scan.
I have to take high doses of calcium and vit D to try and prevent damage to my bones.
The steroids are working well re the Polymyalgia -I generally don't have any pain in my body at all--until I try and cut down on the steroids--I started on 20mg back in Sept and have managed to get down to 10mg once in Nov-but all the symtoms came back and I had to increase again...Ive since been on 12.5mg until last Sunday when I cut down to 12mg.It looks like the way forward for me is to cut back just 1/2 mg every 2 weeks.
The specialist said it would be a long process to cut down and it looks like he was correct.It look like I just have to be more patient than Ive been! The only side effect I get at the moment is some weakness in my body first thing in the morning before I have my tablets and towards evening when it can be a problem to lift my arms for long, but it hasnt caused any problems re everyday life .

The tinnitus that has been a real pain in the arse (well my head to be more precise LOL) is comiing and going---it still gets really bad at times..but recently it has been going away almost alltogether for a day or two-before returning with a vengence!
But there seems to be a bit of a pattern, Im marking it down in my diary--giving it marks out of 10 for loudness each day so I can show the doc--not that Im sure it will make any difference lol.
Nothing I do seems to make any difference to the sound or loudness so dont think there is much they can do.Maybe one day it will go away.
Im having some huge hot sweats as well--I dont know if its the menopause (or mental-pause as Bill cheekily calls it) or the steroids--both can cause the sweats..certainly dont need the central heating on lately!

Other than that Im fine!

Bills been on insulin injections for his diabetes since before Christmas , that seems to be working well and his count is coming down nicely now his cold has cleared up at last--its been hanging on since Christmas, maybe because he has been on insulin?

Anyway-its all coming right-if a little slower than Id like, but at least Im still able to cope ok with the everyday life and my workshops as normal..I rest when I feel I need to rest instead of pushing myself like I used to, and Im organising things a bit different to before, but on the whole its all getting better and with careful managment will continue to keep getting better..

Winter Wonderland Workshop Jan 21st

2012-01-22T16:22:00.000Z

What beautiful results we had in the workshop

Janet was amazed at her results-and the fact that she could produce a lovely painting without having to be able to draw! She followed my instructions well and seemed to find the process an easy one!

Neil came along with Bob and Laura, he got on well with his bashing brush and tickling brush and his painting developed quickly,,

Bob hadn't tryed oils before-and he liked how the worked--he was a competent artist...

Ann had been once before and absolutely loved it---all of her friends have admired her picture and want to join in some workshops in the future..

Trevor made a beautiful job of his picture-he was painting with me for the 4th time,

Trina's painting was to be a present for her Mum-who was very impressed with her last Winter Wonderland, this panting was equally impressive!

Mathew came along with his Nan Pearl-first time for both of them...Pearls son and family came to paint the Waterfall before Christmas.Pearl has used watercolours before but never oils.

Jane was paining for the 2nd time--I don't think she was quite as nervous as last time-and she said everyone loved her last painting!

Pearl about to add her water to her painting

Laura made a beautiful job of her painting....

You could cut the concentration with a knife at times during the class---as you can see here!

Janet,Bob,Trina, Laura and Neil with their masterpieces..

Trevor,Jane, Ann, Pearl and Mathew with their lovely paintings--well done everyone!

Sparkys on the mend...

2012-01-15T15:15:00.000Z

For the first time Sparkys eye is shining when there is light on it.....it has been completely opaque until now, so that's a good sign that its getting better! He went to see the specialist at the vet eye hospital on Tuesday and after a thorough examination he has been prescribed Interferon drops, human anti-viral tablets and anti-viral cream too.He is feeling better in his self-he is playing like a kitten at times--he is now nearly 11 years old---but being kept in as a house cat now he needs to get some exercise or he will get too fat!

Fast asleep after playing with his toy mouse,,,

I put the aloe vera plant in the bath to water it--and Sparky soon followed---he is a bugger for chewing up all my house plants....

is that a guilty face or not ? I think so!

One of Sparkys favourite games if fetching a rolled up lottery ticket and dropping it in Bills slippers....

then he likes to roll them under the furniture so we have to get them out--I swear he laughs to himself watching us do it for him.We are so relieved he seems to be getting better though---its been a stressful time for all of us..back to the eye hospital on Wednesday for a checkup.Our local vet saw him on Friday and he said the eye looked 50% better and it looks better since then so hopefully he has turned the corner now.His shoulder had healed up beautifully, don't know when we will be letting him go out again though--the black cat we suspect is bullying him is still around the area..lets hope he finds another one to pick on and leaves our Sparky alone when he does go out!

Mellow Moods Workshop Jan 14th

2012-01-14T21:32:00.000Z

Hazel and Vanessa starting their paintings--first time for them...

Bill and his wife Pat were also first timers with me..Bill didnt seem at all nervous,,he got straight on with each stage , even the trees didnt faze him!

Chris had been once before to paint Reeds In The Breeze-and she found this competly different to do--but mastered it none the less!

Bills wife Pat....her painting took on a spooky feel at one point---which wasnt a bad thing at all---lots of charactor in it!

Ruth came along with Chris-it was her first time and in her initial email she said how nervous she was...but she neednt have been--she listened carefuly to my instructions and followed them very well..Her results showed that---

Vanessa adding the waterfall and bushes...

Hazel adding her trees--she seemed to find it quite easy...her trees took shape , she found it easy to get a wobble on her branches,and didnt seem to get scared of doing the big tree when it was time to do it!

Lovely results everyone...

well done everyone!

Lovely results!

Sparky

2012-01-09T22:59:00.000Z

Well poor Sparky still isn't well...and he knows he can settle down on any seat in the house and he wont get moved bless him--so when I came downstairs yesterday to find him in my seat on the sofa--what could I do but leave him there and set up the laptop elsewhere!

when he woke up he couldn't be arsed to play with his Christmas mouse....

He saw his vet -Andrew on Friday afternoon-who said he needs to be seen by a specialist now as its been going on long enough with his eye, so he is going the Eye Hospital in the morning to be seen .No food or drink for him after bedtime tonight...he will not be a happy pussy in the morning! His shoulder where he had the huge abscess is very much better, healed up nicely and Andrew was very pleased with it. Sparky has accepted being kept in the house much better this time--he was an evil bugger a few years ago when he had to be kept in due to another serious injury-nobody was safe from his teeth and claws then--we joke he is a Jack Russell crossed with a tabby cat!So we will see what they have to say in the morning when we get there...all I can say is thank goodness for pet insurance!

Baby Griffiths -Growing fast!

2012-01-09T20:57:00.000Z

Well Baby Griffiths is growing very quickly now---Becki and Wayne went for the 20 week scan yesterday and baby certainly gave them a good show! They said it was amazing to see the baby moving around, waving its arms and legs and even sucking....They have decided not to find out the babies sex but to have a surprise when its born which I think is lovely! The names have now been chosen ..and lovely names they are too! The time is flying by so quickly ,May 25th will soon be here-we have had to do some rearranging with our holidays as we were due to be away when the baby is due....so we are having a week in March for my birthday and we are going away for a few days a month earlier than planned for Bills birthday, so I can be sure to be around when the new baby comes---we have a lot to look forward to this year!

The Gorge WI Ironbridge.

2012-01-05T23:14:00.000Z

We went over to Ironbridge yesterday to do the first demo of the year...Maureen the club secretary has been to quite a few of my workshops after we met at Ludlow market over a year ago..so she recommended me to the organiser Ann..we put up the display of paintings and greetings cards as well as it was quite a big room.I was able to do my demo first before the ladies did they meeting and then we stopped for coffee and did the raffle for the paintings. There were quite a few ladies who painted already there so there were some questions from the audience about the techniques I used.I painted the usual pictures I use for demos--The Waterfall and Summers Day as they use a wide variety of techniques and brushes to achieve the picture-they are also very quick for me to do as I have had lots of practise doing them....I actually had the waterfall picture done in less than 20 mins right from blank canvas to signing it much to everyones amazement,,,,the Summers Day took a little longer at 25 minutes! That left 15 nmins for me to chat to the ladies about the workshops in more detail.

the paintings were passed around after so everyone could take a closer look..

Elizabeth won the Summer Day and Jenny The Waterfall... we will see one of the ladies here at Ludlow for the Stormy Skies and it looks like we may go over there and do a workshop with the ladies as well...

Poor Sparky -Again!

2012-01-04T23:05:00.000Z

Sparky cat never does things by half....not content with having herpes in his eye-requiring anti-viral and anti-biotic cream being put in it 4 times a day, he has managed to acquire a huge abscess on his shoulder as well.We noticed he was quieter than normal yesterday and he dint want to go out, but we just thought the windy weather was upsetting him,,and his eye looked sore as well but late last night we noticed the swelling on his shoulder and realised it was probably an abscess.Took him to the vets this morning who said he would have to stay in and have an op to drain it :-(( so we left him there while I went to Ironbridge to do the first demo of the year.....

We picked him up at 6pm m the vets nurse said he was fine and he had been a little darling with them,,,,hard to believe he can be such a little monster at home--he is always sweetness and light when he goes to the vets bless him.He had a buster collar on his head to stop him licking the wound which has been left open and not stitched so it doesn't heal too quickly with bacteria still inside it..and poor Sparky is scared stiff of it! As soon as the cat basket was opened he went loopy--ran off bashing into everything, up and down stairs ,into windows, he was just terrified...we managed to catch him and stick him back in his carrier..and rang the vet who said he must keep the collar on at least overnight.So we have borrowed a big dog carrier to put him in so he has more room to lie down and move about in there..While he was under the anaesthetic the vet took some blood from him and they spun it to get the white blood cells out of it, these have to be dripped into his poorly eye along with the antiviral cream as well, hopefully this will help the eye to heal--if not he will be referred to the specialist veterinary eye hospital nearby.So he is feeling rather sorry for himself at the moment...so fingers crossed it wll all start to get better and we can get the collar off him,,I have ordered some Feliway for him to help him be less stressed..we have used it once before when he had to be house bound and it worked wonders---he hates being kept in the house-and using a litter tray-but he will not be going out for some time by the look of things!

dates for 2012

2012-01-03T16:22:00.000Z

I have made a start for the dates for your diaries in 2012----there are a few new venues this year.....and no doubt I will be adding some more as we go!
ALL DATES ARE WHEN IM AT THE MARKET IN CASTLE SQUARE, LUDLOW UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED-THERE WILL BE MORE VENUES/DATES ADDED AS I GET THEM!

FEBRUARY DATES

SUNDAY 26th FEB--LUDLOW CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET

MARCH DATES

SUNDAY 11 th MARCH--LUDLOW CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET

SUNDAY 25th MARCH --LUDLOW CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET

APRIL DATES--

WED 4th APRIL -LUDLOW MARKET

WED 11th APRIL---LUDLOW MARKET

WED 18 th APRIL----LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 22nd APRIL-LUDLOW MARKET

WED 25th APRIL --LUDLOW MARKET

MAY DATES---
MONDAY 7th MAY --DILWYN SHOW-FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 9th MAY-LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 13th MAY--MARCHES FOOD SPRING FESTIVAL/MARCHES TRANSPORT-FUN FOR ALL ON CASTLE SQUARE

WED 16th MAY --LUDLOW MARKET

WED 23rd MAY --LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 27th MAY-LUDLOW MARKET

JUNE DATES

WED 6th JUNE--LUDLOW MARKET
SUNDAY 10th JUNE-BOOK AND CRAFT,CASTLE SQUARE ,LUDLOW

WED 13th JUNE--LUDLOW MARKET
WED 20th JUNE --LUDLOW MARKET
FRI 22nd/ SAT 23rd /SUN 24th JUNE SHOBDON FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL-FANTASTIC WEEKEND FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 27th JUNE-LUDLOW MARKET

JULY DATES

WED 4th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET
SAT 7th/SUN 8th JULY--BROMYARD GALA-STEAM ENGINES AND LOTS OF FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 11th JULY-LUDLOW MARKET
WED 18th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET

SAT 21st/SUN 22nd JULY-- MUCH MARCLE STEAM SHOW

WED 25th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 29th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET

AUGUST DATES

WED 1st AUG --LUDLOW MARKET
THURSDAY 2nd AUG -- BURWARTON SHOW--LOTS OF FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY..

SAT 4th AUG- TENBURY SHOW-LOTS GOING ON FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 8th AUG --LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 12th AUG--CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET
WED 15th AUG ---LUDLOW MARKET

WED 22nd--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 26th /MON 27th AUG BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND-ONSLOW PARK STEAM RALLY-LOADS OF FUN AND THINGS TO SEE.

WED 29th AUG---LUDLOW MARKET

SEPTEMBER DATES

WED 5th SEPT---LUDLOW MARKET

WED 12th SEPT---LUDLOW MARKET
SAT 15th /SUN 16th SEPT--BISHOPS CASTLE MICHEALMAS FAIR-FANTASTIC SHOW WITH LOTS GOING ON FOR ALL.

WED 19th SEPT--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 23rd SEPT BOOK AND CRAFT FAIR CASTLE SQUARE

WED 26th SEPT-LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 30TH SEPT --ART MARKET--CASTLE SQUARE , LUDLOW

OCTOBER DATES

WED 3rd OCT --LUDLOW MARKET

WED 10th OCT--LUDLOW MARKET

SAT 13th OCT -TENBURY APPLE FEST.TENBURY WELLS
SUN 14th OCT -- BOOK AND CRAFT, CASTLE SQUARE,LUDLOW

WED 17th OCT--LUDLOW MARKET

WED 24th OCT--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 28th OCT --- HALLOWEEN CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET

WED 31st OCT---LUDLOW MARKET

NOVEMBER DATES
WED 7th NOV--LUDLOW MARKET
WED 14th NOV -LUDLOW MARKET
WED 21st NOV--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 25th NOV --MEDIEVAL FAIR CASTLE SQUARE,LUDLOW-LOTS GOING ON ALL WEEKEND FOR ALL THE FAMILY
WED 28th-NOVLUDLOW MARKET

DECEMBER DATES

WED 5th DEC--LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 9thDEC-- CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET ,CASTLE SQUARE,LUDLOW

WED 12th DEC--LUDLOW MARKET

WED 19th DEC --LUDLOW MARKET

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T11:50:00.001Z

The girls went back to Sunderland in the morning, so then then we got stuck in to getting the food ready for our News Years Eve dinner for our friends Marion and Phil....

table laid all ready....

pink bubbly....yummmmmmmy

garlic mushrooms to start.....

and the leg of pork was just beautiful....best we have had for a long time..

and you just have to have some seasonal sprouts! Everyone was too full up to have any Christmas pud after all that...though me and Marion did manage some at 10.30pm with some brandy sauce! We had a great time..listening to some oldies on a Sky channel Marion introduced us to no 369 plays nonstop golden oldies---we laughed our heads off at some of the fashions they were wearing ! All in all a great start to the new year for us.Wishing all our friends and family a wonderful new Year xxxxxxx

Grandchildren At Christmas

2011-12-30T23:55:00.000Z

Hollie and Lucie came down from Sunderland to stay for 3 nights on Wednesday,,,they were full of beans to say the least....they got stuck in to opening their pressies..

and Lucie fell in love with Biscuit the doggy,

and they both loved my magical snow globe (that is hidden behind the vase with lights in !)

loving Biscuit the doggy...

and Sally the dolly..

we went visiting on Thursday,,,,,to see Auntie Maureen , Uncle Roger and family..

and poor Lucie was quite tired out by it all bless her...

they we went to see my best friends----they had a whale of a time there....

then home to get changed and have their hair done ready for a party at my brothers house...

little Lucie has the prettiest blonde curls..

my niece Natalie made these beautiful cup cakes...

that the girls just loved...

and then she kept them occupied with the crayons and paper--thanks Nat!

they ended up dancing on the worktops.......

today we had our youngest little grandson round to the house--Ollie...he joined us along with his mummy for dinner....it was lovely to see the little cousins getting along together..they grow up soooo fast....the girls are off back to Sunderland tomorrow with their Daddy...and then we are getting ready for our friends to come round for a slap up New Years Eve meal.... Garlic mushrooms, roast pork and all the trimmings and Christmas pudding and brandy sauce...I cant wait!

Snowmans Winter Wonderland

2011-12-28T00:22:00.001Z

Way back in the summer I met a lovely chap called Trevor and his son Mark when on Ludlow market..we got chatting and Trevor asked if I could do a commission for him. He explained that he collected Royal Doulton snowmen and every Christmas he set up a nativity scene with them and wanted a backdrop to put behind them...so I got out my oil paints and a 36in x 14in canvas and got cracking! Trevor wanted Cotswold stone walls, a 5 bar gate, hills and a distant village, all in shades of blue ,black and white. I was pleased with the result and when Mark bought his Dad to collect it -he loved it but I couldn't quite imagine it in situ with the snowmen! How chuffed was I tonight to open an email from Mark with the photo of it in situ with the snowmen...Trevor had promised me he would let me see what it looked like...I love it! Thank you both so much for letting me see it---Happy New Year to you both, and I will look forward to seeing you both on the market again in the spring when we are back!

Christmas...so far..

2011-12-27T15:22:00.000Z

Christmas Eve and I had a large glass of lovely Baileys while I was getting all the Christmas goodies prepared before our friends came round for a few hours....

The ham joint got cooked in Coka Cola....if you have never tryed it-you don't know what you are missing!It gives the meat a beautiful flavour and turns it a dark brown.......I would cook ham any other way now...

the cranberry and port sauce didn't take long to do...

and the luxury bread sauce was done in the microwave,,,I have to make enough for my sisters family as well.......its one of my favourite bits of Christmas dinner..

my special layered stuffing was soon prepared-mainly by Bill this time as I was busy getting the table done..

A black and white theme this year...

The Camembert was studded with loads of garlic and Bill made some mulled wine -and we had a lovely couple of hours with Marion and Phil, dipping crusty french stick into the gloriously melted garlicky cheese,then we started on the pate! Christmas feel like its really here when we start on the mulled wine with our friends!!

My son Jim called by to drop off some pressies and Jake decided he was going to take advantage of Jim's slightly drunken state and try and tear the buttons off his shirt!

Christmas Day----The turkey this year was one of the smallest and cheapest we have ever had---only me and Bill for Christmas lunch this time so we didn't need a huge one----have to say it was one of the best we have ever had! Bill covered it in bacon , loads of butter under the skin and it was just beautiful and moist and very tasty--thank you Aldi! As it was only a small one we cooked it on Christmas morning instead of Christmas Eve which was another first for us! We had a huge piece of beef to cook in the afternoon ready for Boxing day..

the stuffing was cooked to perfection..lovely and crunchy outside...and moist inside.It was first for us to have just the 2 of us for dinner---its usually a very busy day--so it was nice to have a relaxed day with no pressure to get things done to a timetable...my lovely daughter Becki and Wayne called by for a couple of hours,which was lovely!

Boxing day we had 15 for lunch so we had a very busy time from when we got up...I got on and made a lemon and lime cheesecake, while Bill was busy making a beautiful cheese,ham and tomato quiche....

the table was groaning with food by the time we had finished--besides the heated food warmer keeping the buttered potatoes, bread sauce and other hot bits warm and another table with all the sauces etc on..

Bill quiche was still warm when everyone arrived---it really was scrummy

Bill got the cream done for the trifle,,

while everyone was having a breather from all the food--my niece Natalie gave me a manicure, couldnt decide which colour I wanted so ended up with 10 diferent ones...

I wish we had a bigger front room,half of us were in the kitchen lol....

looks like my brother had enough to eat and drink.... we are having another quiet day today .Hollie and Lucie are coming down from Sunderland with their dad tomorrow and staying for a few nights so the peace will be shattered then , but it will be lovely to see them and help them play with their huge sack of new toys they have off us for Christmas!

Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year

2011-12-25T00:30:00.000Z

I would like to wish all my family, friends students and future students and very Merry Christmas and a Happy,Healthy New Year....lots to look forward to for me and Bill with our new baby grandchild expected in May around Bills Birthday....some new shows to attend and new students to meet and teach to paint...an exciting year ahead....

Congratulations!

2011-12-23T20:34:00.000Z

A huge big CONGRATULATIONS to my lovely daughter Becki and Wayne her fiance.....they got engaged in Cuba last week while having the holiday of a lifetime! Wayne did it properly down on one knee on a moonlit beach---very romantic! I can honestly say I couldn't have picked a more lovely husband for my Becki if I had tryed..he is a real darling--- and we love him to bits! Everyone is soooo happy for them...So we are looking forward to a new baby in May next year followed by a wedding the following year---unless those 6 numbers come up first of course!

Poor Sparky -Again!

2011-12-21T22:57:00.000Z

Poor Sparky is in the wars AGAIN! This time he has been fighting with another cat and has 6 yes 6 scratches on his eyeball. So He was down to the vets yesterday who put some dye into his eyes which showed up the scratches. So we have to put cream into his eye 3 times a day and he has to go back tomorrow for the vet to see if its helping. Thank goodness we didn't cancel his pet insurance as we were tempted to do when it came up for renewal....they upped the excess to £100 as he has turned 10 years old now...but its looking like a good job we didn't cancel it , the vet said eyes can be hard work to get right,,so fingers crossed the cream does the job!

Artist Of The Week

2011-12-21T22:45:00.000Z

Im Artist Of The Week on the Affordable British Art website this week,,,http://www.affordablebritishart.co.uk/gallery.php?artist=DianeJennings&aid=12 a briiliant website that Ive sold lots of paintings off--its easy to use both for the artists and their customers.... Many thanks to Ros Callander who runs the website!

Christmas--Feeling Festive!

2011-12-18T22:07:00.000Z

Well at last I have got the tree up and am feeling a bit more festive! We have had a very busy day today--Ive shampooed all the downstairs carpets, cleared away all my cat ornaments, given everywhere a good dusting to get rid of the never ending parrot dust that gets in every nook and cranny, while Bill had the unenviable task of cleaning out the parrots cages and giving them a real good deep down clean! Since Ive been on the steroids for the polymyalgia I'm better some days than others and have to do extra stuff when I can. On Friday morning I went out and for the first time completely forgot to have my steroids---by midday I had completely seized up and could hardly drive myself home.. a lesson learned the hard way--there is now a dose of tablets in my handbag in case I ever forget again! I'm seeing the specialist again tomorrow (Monday) so will know a bit more of what is going on....should have the results of my kidney scan as well..

The tree is looking all bright and sparkling--I like to buy a few new decorations each year--mainly in white/silver colours, Ive got some lovely cut glass ones for this year they are catching the light beautifully...

Now the cats are packed away and the Santa's, snowmen and reindeer are out its looking a bit like Santa's Grotto....we have the 2 little granddaughters coming down from Sunderland to stay for a couple of days on the 27th Dec...they will love it!

We have a huge silver twinkling star on top of the tree this year--the fairy always ended up looking slightly drunk as she slipped from side to side and back to front...lol!

A Squirrels Eye View Workshop

2011-12-18T21:44:00.000Z

We had a last minute panic on Friday when we found out that the room we usually use was double booked for a lunch party of 30....fortunately the other smaller room was available..but we only use that if we have less than 5 booked in and we had 10 booked for the Squirrels Eye View.....we had a lot more work to do when we arrived there--furniture to move out and rearrange...but we managed it--it was a bit of a squash but everyone was very understanding about it.Lunch was cosy to say the least! We had a mix of first timers and more experienced students-it was lovely to welcome Maureen back-she fell and cracked her hip back in the summer so hasn't been able to attend class for a while...also lovely to see Chris and Pauline back as well..

Maureen making a start..

Maureen,Katherine and Pauline adding the trees..

I couldn't get over how much Hannah had grown since she came to class for the first time 6 months ago--she has shot up really tall..She made a beautiful job of her painting, taking her time to make sure she did her trees perfectly..I remember when she came for the first time to paint Mellow Moods she excelled at her trees...

Katherine came for the first time last week,,here she is adding her trees, turing the canvas on its side as she goes round it.makes life easier!

Chris adding the sponging..

Sean came along with Wendy for the first time..we met them at the Food and Drink festival..both seemed to take to it quite easily,,,and they created some stunning pictures..both got their perspective correct and made some great shaped trees..

Wendy wanted to create a wintry scene and added some white paint to the end which worked really well...


Maureen had to leave a little earlier has her son had come to fetch her...didn't she make lovely job of her picture?

Lovely results--well done everyone...that was the last workshop of 2011...I will be starting back on January 14th painting Mellow Moods..a few spaces left if you want to join us...

Christmas and Stuff....

2011-12-16T01:15:00.000Z

We are way behind getting everything ready for Christmas in the house....I washed the curtains last week out of the front room and found after they had dryed that one curtain out of each pair had shrunk......how the hell did that happen? Very annoying! Couldn't leave them like that so off we went today to but some new ones---I joked with Bill that we needed some 'parrot dust' coloured ones as the birds seem to produce so much of the bloody stuff its unreal sometimes! It doesn't matter how often I hoover and polish there is always a thing layer of dust on everything! Anyway I decided on some lovely cream ones with a ''Paddy-- amazon parrot'' green leaf on them in the end! And of course had to get some cushions to match them as well..Got them ironed and hung tonight,.just got to shampoo the carpets tomorrow and we can get the tree up...I will be packing away all my cat ornaments so the Santa's and snowmen can come out and then maybe I will be feeling a bit more festive...I'm off to see the specialist again on Monday, had a kidney scan last week and a letter came through the door on Monday saying I needed to see the specialist again ---at 2.30pm on that Monday!!! It had been posted 4 days before but sent 2nd class---and we had to be at Bridgnorth hospital at 2pm for Bill to see the diabetic nurse as he has had to start insulin injections so we could go to Hereford...so I'm now going next Monday to see him and see whats going on re my Polymylagia .kidney problems..looks like I have 2 different things happening at the moment. The steroids are working really well as regards the pain and stiffness in my body but they do have a side effect of making my arms and legs feel weak sometimes, and the tinnitus is also still with me on and off which can be a real bugger...at the moment its quiet, but tomorrow it could be ringing away like mad..luckily I'm able to ignore it when I'm busy and it just bugs me when I sit down quiet..

I'm going to have to tie the rubber plant back in the morning--it obviously loves it where it is as its grown and grown--and as we put the Christmas tree down in the bottom end of the front room it will be in the way! I got the dusting and polishing done down that end tonight ready for the tree,,and am quite looking forward to getting it all up now...have bought some lovely new decorations for it as well as the old faithfuls that come out year after year.Well bed is calling me now...nite nite everyone !

Latest Christmas Cards

2011-12-16T00:44:00.000Z

The metal benches have been in place up on Whitcliffe since I was a child....a perfect place to sit and watch the world go by....but not on a frosty day....would be a bit cold on the bum! I have sold loads of cards with this view...and haven't had time to get them onto my website yet--between face book and the market/demos they have been selling like hotcakes! And because they are blank inside they can be used for any occasion-not just Christmas!

This is one of the most popular views of Ludlow---looking down over the town off Whittcliffe--the castle stands out beautifully against the frosty scenery..


Lin has got my latest cards done in time for the markets and the demo last night....I just love the spiders web one--I hadn't realised quite how much detail I had captured on the photo til she sent me the cards...just look at the drops of water underneath the web-isn't it beautiful?


This is another new one---I just love the little Tom Tits--we have loads of them here in the garden feeding at the moment...and I captured this little fellow last year--doesn't he look cute?Im hoping to find time to make a new page on my website www.paintingmyway.co.uk in the next day or so to sell the local scene cards so keep an eye out for them...

Bridgnorth and District Art Society Demo- Wed 14th Dec

2011-12-16T00:29:00.000Z


After a busy day on Ludlow market yesterday we rushed home and got everything ready for the demonstration at Bridgnorth and District Art Society.. we arrived at 6.50 pm and were met by Sandie who had organised the evening.She kindly helped us unload the van..We soon had everything set up in the room -stands with paintings on , photos of students etc.

I did my usual demonstration of The Waterfall and Summer Day..both went down well with the audience and there were lots of interesting questions asked ..I think everyone was surprised at the speed of the technique ,and also the lack of horrible smell that can accompany some oil painting demonstrations when the artist uses ordinary turps! Why some artists still use the smelly stuff amazes me---its very nasty stuff-very bad for you and your health! I always use low odour white spirit to avoid that!

The winners of the rafffle...Ann on the left was over the moon when her number was drawn...I thought we were going to have a few tears there for a minute...she had been over chatting after I had finished painting and had been saying how she would love to win the Summer Day painting! Her hubbys number was drawn next --it was their lucky night but they kindly let someone else have a go for the Waterfall painting! Sandie won that painting and she was going to donate it to one of the members who was at home poorly--what a lovely gesture.We had a lovely evening and the time flew by...we had a lovely moonlit drive home--and a lie in this morning which was just great! For once the phone didnt ring or the postman kock the door...and I woke up when I had slept enough!

Reeds in The Breeze Workshop Dec 10th

2011-12-10T22:55:00.000Z

Richard and his family , wife Lynn, 10 year old son Zak and daughter Alice have been to me once before last year to paint Mellow Moods.This year Lynns mum Peggy joined them--she came all the way from Didcot in Oxfordshire to join us...and would be here every week if she lived nearer she said bless her!

Peggy getting stuck in to her beach---she really loved it-after working in watercolour she found the oils really easy and forgiving..

Zak was very bold--as 10 year olds often are--they have no fears as the adults can do..its quite normal for all the adults to walk in the room terrified--after all --if they have never painted before-they have no idea of what to expect.All the nerves have usually gone after the first 5 minutes though,,,,after a good laugh with the'bashing' and 'tickling' brushes and a touch of the 'bush' brushes everyones nerves are gone for good...

Alison made a lovely job of her picture, she chose to add add a touch of purple in the sky-and she applied it very delicately...beautiful Alison-well done..

Jenny has been once before--to paint Grasses...using acrylic..This time she wanted a painting to match her bedroom--so she did the sensible thing and bought along a pillow case in the colour she wanted--a lovely duck egg blue.I quickly mixed up the colours for her and got a great match for her..

I met Katherine on the market a couple of weeks ago, she is coming again next week to paint Squirrels Eye View.

Margret was a first timer--and loved every minute of the workshop--her hubby came in just before we had finished and was amazed at the results of everyone...sounds like he would like to have a go as well..

Julie was another of the first timers---she quickly settled down and produced a lovely tranquil painting

Jacqueline was another first timer-she got the hang of the knife very quickly--as did most of them today...sometimes the knife can be a tricky tool to master.. getting the angle correct can be hard but we had no real problems today with it!

We met Alison at Onslow Park earlier this year..and she bought along her mum Pauline-who drove all the way from the Wirral to join us..both first timers--they were both very good and sat down after each stage-thus avoiding any fiddling with the paintings that can go on otherwise!

Ann was another first timer..and she loved it--and seemed to find it all pretty easy...

everyone hard at work...

wow--beautiful work everyone...

don't they look great? Well done everyone..

well done--some lovely paintings there everyone..

Alison and mum Pauline had to leave a little earlier than the others because Pauline had a long drive home--so I got their pics before I did the final line up--lovely calm , tranquil results--loved Alison's purple poppies!

More Cards

2011-12-09T21:20:00.000Z

My lovely friend Lin has sent the latest in my Winter Wonderland Christmas cards--all of local Ludlow scenes I took with my camera when we had the hard frosts last year....the one above is taken on the Middleton turning just outside Ludlow--the dead oak tree is just begging to be painted......

Sparky Cat has commissioned some Christmas cards of his own this year---to send to his special friends....I love the snow flakes on his back! Isn't he a handsome fella?

this scene is taken on the Millenium Green ,Dinham----you just wouldn't want to park your bum on that seat that day!

Latest Cards

2011-12-06T20:20:00.000Z


I have a new card range in time for Christmas..taken from some original photos taken of the snow and frost last year. My lovely , very patient friend Lin has turned some of the snaps into wonderful Christmas cards for me...I'm chuffed to bits with them! Lin always gets my cards done in record time for me--for some reason the cards always run out all at once and I end up sending an order for 100 cards at a time--poor Lin works very hard to get them done for me bless her . They have proved to be popular on Facebook and I have lots of orders for them as I haven't enough here left at the moment...they are left blank inside so could be used for other occasions as well as Christmas..they are all of views around Ludlow so will be popular with locals and visitors alike.Above is the classic view of Ludlow taken from Whitcliffe--showing the castle, St Laurences Church and Clee Hill

The sun setting behind these frosty bushes look like they are on fire...

Ludlow Castle

Dinham

The Breadwalk

view out towards Bromfield

River Theme

Ludlow castle

Ludlow Town. We are on the market tomorrow and Sunday and then the next 2 Wednesdays--then we pack up the markets until April.. as its so cold up there..It will be lovely to have some time at home to catch up with some new painting ideas for workshops! The cards are available from me at the markets and will be avaialble on my website www.paintingmyway.co.uk shortly..

Poppy Field Workshop Dec 3rd

2011-12-06T20:00:00.000Z


We had a lovely time in the Poppy Field workshop on Saturday...had some lovely photos of it as well.....until my camera decided to delete 1000 pictures again off the SD card.... that is the 3 rd time it has happened and Ive no idea why its done it ..it never happened once with my cheap point and shoot cameras---I'm looking for the receipt so I can send it back to the company I bought it off. I'm not a happy bunny at all.So ladies you will have to wait til I can recover the photos and put them on to my website and here I'm afraid..I will be taking along my old camera in future until I get the problem sorted out..

Wribbenhall 1st Brownies

2011-12-06T11:02:00.000Z

We went to Bewdley on Sunday to teach the 1st Wribbenhall Brownies how to paint! It was a huge room and it was freezing cold in there when we first arrived as the heating was playing up! By the time we had got set though we had warmed up nicely!

10 girls and 2 adults chose either reds/oranges or purples and blues for the small version of Yesterday.....

the paint didn't only go onto the canvas as you can see here.....

the girls enjoyed looking at the photos of previous workshops and seeing other peoples paintings...

concentrating hard on painting in the rabbits....

working hard...

everyone enjoyed themselves and some lovely pictures were created...the girls were a credit to Brown Owl Carol and her helper Ruth...

Poppy Field Workshop Dec 3rd

2011-11-30T23:39:00.000Z

I have a few spaces left in this Saturdays workshop due to poor Janet having sciatica....her friend doesn't want to come without her so I have booked them in for Winter Wonderland in January--and also recommended my osteopath Kevin Jones to her.... Poppy Fields is a lovely easy picture to do--we use oils and you will learn to use several different brushes and techniques..if you want to know more or to book into the class please contact me via my website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

yesterday Private Class

2011-11-30T23:02:00.000Z

Suzanne had this private class arranged ages ago as a surprise fro her daughter Stephanie's 30th birthday..I went to Suzanne's home on Monday morning to do the workshop, Stephanie's cousin Abby was also going to have a go....

they all decided to use the purples,yellows and pinks as their colours.... 12 year old Abby is making a start on her sky here

I think it was the smallest space Ive ever done a workshop, but it was great fun, and it shows you don't need a huge room to be able to do it either! Stephanie made a beautiful job of her painting and had a magical scene quite quickly...

Suzanne was very nervous and didn't think she would be able to make anything of it....but she surprised herself , her sky was very dramatic...and as soon as the horizon line went in she could see it was working well...

Stephanie got right down to it when it came to doing the rabbits.....literally..on her knees...

Abby's painting was lovely....and the rabbits added a finishing touch...they all found them easier than expected to do...the final touch was to use some of the special metallic paint to add some flowers to the grasses--it will catch the light when they are hung on the wall. I left them some gloss varnish and instructions on how to use it--the colours will come out much brighter and the paintings will be protected against the heat , damp and steam in the home...

Suzanne adding the final tree to her painting..

last little bunny rabbit being added for Stephanie..

well Stephanie will always have something to remind her of turning 30.....I hope she has a lovely time at her party on Friday x

well done girls!

I was given these beautiful flowers as a thank-you from the girls---they are stunning...thank you very much x

Busy Times Again...Demos,Workshops and Fairs...

2011-11-27T23:02:00.000Z

We were treated to a beautiful sunset over the town when we were packing up from the market on Wednesday..

beautiful

Friday night we had a longish journey to Weston Under Redcastle to do a demo for the local villagers...they were a lovely bunch of folk and we had a right laugh with them....lots of interest in the workshops as well and I think we will be meeting some of them again.... thanks to Sharleen for organising it !

Bill spotted the lovely cakes ---and yes--they did taste as good as they looked!

Silvia's raffle ticket was drawn first and she chose the Reeds In The Breeze painting and Chris won the Waterfall painting.. it was late when we got back to Ludlow,, luckily the brushes and paint etc had been got ready to load onto Bunty the van before we had left so all we had to do when we got up on Saturday was load the boxes ...

the calm before the storm... 14 students about to descend upon us....

the time flew by,,,,and in no time at all we had some stunning paintings going on.. they ranged from tranquil and warm

dark and mysterious..

to vibrant and dramatic

Bev got down to signing her painting lol.....

10 out of the 14 artists were first timers-though you wouldn't know it from the results.....and they came from far and wide---Clacton on Sea, Derby,Leminton Spa, Uttoxeter, Telford....

well done girls...

lovely results..

stunning...

beautiful! Well done everyone!

the room where we have the workshops was very festive with the Christmas tree up and loads of Santa's around---getting right in the mood for Christmas now...

after a hectic day yesterday..and a late night last night we were up early this morning to set up on the Medieval Fair..and we had our usual next door neighbours Dave Bytheway and Margret by us.Dave does chainsaw carvings and he had some stunning pieces with him today...there wasn't a little owl to be seen when it came to packing up this evening.. they proved very popular!

Bill looked the part in his outfit....

and moi....

a quieter week for me this week...got a class tomorrow, market Wednesday and I'm off for a renal scan on Friday..After seeing the rhumatologist at Hereford Hospital and having some blood tests done while there, the tests revealed another problem ..this time with my kidneys...so that has to be investigated..watch this space....

Demo at Weston-Under-Redcastle this Friday

2011-11-20T20:34:00.000Z

Llanidloes Workshop -Nov 19th

2011-11-19T23:00:00.001Z

We had an early start again to go to Llandiloes this morning...and what a beautiful sunrise we watched!

Laura has painted before but never with oils using my method.....she seemed to find it easy!

Elaine was painting her 5th painting,,,,,so an artist brooch for her next time..

Brenda has never painted before--and was quite convinced she would never be able to paint in a million years...well she was soon proved wrong!

Pauline is a member of the local art club but had never tryed oils before--she loved it, and made a lovely job of her soft teal coloured seascape...

Vera has also painted before but never with oils,,,,I think I have converted a few more water colourists again!

There was a huge range of colour choices in todays subject--and Christine chose to use the greys,,she had a really stormy sky going on very quickly!

Barbra was completely convinced she couldn't paint a straight line....well she had to in order to put in the horizon line! But she managed that OK and even mastered the knife quickly as well..

Rita had a really lovely sky going on quickly...everyone was surprised at the fact there was no smell to the paint or the turps we used....as some of them had seen people using 'normal' paint and turps and the smell was very strong...none of that in my workshops though!

Pauline has also painted before--but will be a convert to oils----

we had everything from dramatic to tranquil in today's workshop....

hard to believe that some of these paintings are by first timers..

lovely paintings--and we all had a lovely day...

and we were treated to a lovely sunset on the way home as well to round off the day!

Reeds In Breeze Workshop Nov 19th

2011-11-13T21:43:00.000Z

There are a few spaces available next Saturday Nov 19th at Llanidloes Community centre due to a couple of folk having to drop out due to work commitments...so if you fancy having a go at this lovely subject please contact me---its a very easy one to do...you will use oils on a 16in x 20in box canvas and a range of brushes such as my famous bashing and tickling brushes.....you have a wide wide choice of colours in which to create this painting....and its suitable for all ages and abilities.. the cost of this workshop is just £35 which includes all the materials you will use including light refreshments -contact me via my website if you would like to join us there! www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Birch Tree Workshop

2011-11-13T21:33:00.000Z

We had an early start yesterday to go to Llanidloes to do the Birches workshop--Elaine had organised it for me and sorted out the room..the light was good there and there was plenty of room for all of us..

most of the folk were first timers...and nervous as is usual! However the nerves soon went when we started to paint...

Karen had made the journey from Bishops Castle and chose to do her painting in shocking pink,purple and silver..a combination that worked well--and it took on a lovely fantasy feeling to it....its being hung in Karens conservatory which has a pink theme...

This was Joy's second painting ever....you wouldn't believe it to see her end result---she was joined by her hubby John who painted for the first time..

John was very confident with his brush...his monochrome colours made his painting come to life very quickly

Elaine organised the workshop for me...and she wasn't feeling 100% bless her...but it didn't stop her creating this lovely work of art...

Tracey earned herself a nickname yesterday----Bull At A Gate....we were all creased at her --there was no stopping her when she was in front of her canvas...she found it hard to be slow and controlled at times when painting the trees etc.but she turned out to be a champion splatter er....being a bull at a gate doing that turned into the right thing to do!
The whole class erupted into hysterical laughter at one point when I started telling someone to do the splattering "harder ,harder, faster , faster--that's it--it coming now" Rita had tears in her eyes from laughing so much--and we couldn't look at one another without starting to giggle again.....but you have to do the splattering hard or it just doesn't work!

getting the splattering done..

Catherine has just started using acrylics and said she had picked up some great tips in the class..

Rita was great fun and we had lots of laughs with her...she surprised herself with her results..

Christine has made the journey over to Ludlow before and was very happy that we went to Llanni to do the workshops there..

Mary hadn't painted before,,and seemed to find it quite easy--she was quick to make decisions about where to put trees in her painting

Di made a beautiful job of her painting--only her 2nd one ever....

brilliant paintings everyone..well done

Catherine had to leave a little early so isn't in the final line up..

lovely everyone----Johns trying to hide behind his painting

well done everyone!

Suprise..

2011-11-10T20:53:00.001Z

When I looked out of the window this morning I saw a light coloured bird way up the top of the field behind us...grabbing my camera -which has a good zoom lens , and zooming in.I realised that it was a pure white pheasant....along with her normal coloured mate...

what a lovely surprise...

the white tail seems longer than the normal coloured one...

we have thrown out the excess parrot food out into the field to try and get them to come nearer so I can get some better photos...Jake and Paddy waste such a lot of it--especially Jake who chucks it for yards! We usually throw it out on the bird tables for the wild birds who love it!

When I first spotted the light bird I thought it was the local heron who has been a cheeky bugger lately...he was stood on the shed roof the other day,,,,

so we have double netted the pond as a precaution and left the lily pads for cover for the fish to hide under...the pond is very deep and has very steep sides so he cant land in the water and he wouldn't reach far into the middle of the pond from the edge ..but better safe than sorry...

I nearly got a shot of him flying off---he is just behind the trunk of the tree where the branches come of near the top..

Bits and Pieces...

2011-11-09T21:48:00.000Z

It was a cold day to start with on the market today, a couple of the stall holders hadn't come so we were able to spread out onto the next stall...the racks of plants at the back provided a lot of shelter against the wind and rain!

with the plastic sheet up in between the stall as usual it meant I could put my smaller paintings out on display without them getting wet..

We needed 4 lights up today for the first time..it made it nice and bright inside the stall and also made it nice and warm as well!

We have a friend on the next stall called Dave Bytheway who does chainsaw carvings....we always love to see what new carvings come off his van each week...today it was this lovely life size badger...what a beauty.

Dave carves all manner of creatures...owls,hawks and hares among them, I love the toadstools as well...

wonderful stuff..

there isn't one of them I wouldn't like to take home!

This fox was new last week...its life size.

Ive been doing some more to this painting that's been hidden away in the depths of the garage storage! Ive got paintings everywhere and forget what I've got where til we have a sort out and find them again! So I added some more wax detail to this one and Bills mounted the 4 canvas onto a board to make them easier to hang on the stands!

part of the paint detail

some wax detail--very touchy feely!

Well much as I love Christmas I think its far to early to put up the towns Christmas tree...blimey its only the 9th of November!

I was contacted by a lady via Affordable British Art at the weekend--she wanted a larger version of one of my paintings on there "Serenity ll" After agreeing a price I have got on and done it for her---its seen here on the left of the original one...its as near as dammit! Just got a few more grasses and poppies to add.. in a few days time when its dried off a bit..the new big one is 50cm x 70cm .. a pressie for her hubby for Christmas..hope he likes it as much as Dorothy does!

When I was painting on the market today a couple came by and wanted a small painting like the one below...however I had sold out of all those colours so offered to do one for them to take away wet...they jumped at the chance! So I quickly got my brushes out and painted a smaller version of it 10in x 12in--the original is 16in x 20in--they were chuffed to bits with it when they came back for it! I have got to get busy this week and get some more small paintings done ready for the Xmas rush..I bought 60 small canvas fairly locally last week and have another 100 on order for a couple of weeks time so that will keep me out of mischief for a while!

Whoooopppppeeeeeeee!!!!!!

2011-11-07T20:44:00.000Z

We are very pleased to announce that we are going to have a new grandchild...my lovely daughter Becki and partner Wayne are having a baby next year after nearly 4 years trying to conceive....they went for their first scan today and it looks like the baby will be due around Bills birthday in May next year..huge congratulations to them both....they will make fantastic parents!

The Waterfall Workshop Nov 5th

2011-11-06T21:51:00.000Z

Many thanks to everyone who fitted in with the request to have an earlier start in the class....the family who were coming had to be somewhere else at 2pm so I said we would start at 9.30am so we could finish earlier......luckily everyone could make the arlier time!! Sue decided to use the yellow ochre and reds for her painting and it worked really well.

Virginia's painting was very subtle and mystical...you would never believe it was only her 2 nd time painting to see her finished result..

I hope I have got the names and ages of the boys right..,lost my list again! Anyway I think this is Benjamin age 9 nearly 10..... he and his brother have been once before with mum Alison--this time dad Tim joined them as well..both boys were very bold and not scared of the paint...big strong trees and his waterfall was just perfect...

Julia made a lovely job of her painting..she wants to join us next week and the week after at the workshops we are doing in Mid Wales...

Barnaby aged 11 years was very good at following instructions from me,,

Alison was a bag of nerves at times during class...but she thrived on it and created this beautiful picture...

Margarita really enjoyed painting on the black canvas....

Tim seemed to find his first go at painting quite easy..and was soon making decisions for himself about where things should be....he made a lovely job of his painting and I'm sure we will see him and the family again!

The Happy Artists!

well done everyone--stunning paintings....

Julie, Virginia,Margarita and Sue with their masterpieces

Break Away in Stratford Upon Avon

2011-11-02T18:31:00.002Z

our room at the College Arms was small but lovely,very quaint...

view from the window..

and looking the other way..

lovely bed..

the pub had everything including this secret door up to our rooms from the bar...

all was going well until 3am when there was a huge crash and the bed collapsed on one side! we got up and moved the pillows to other end and got back in and it collapsed again--by this time we were creased with laughter...its a wonder we didn't wake up the folk in the next bedroom! And we were asleep when the bed fell apart as well.......when we checked the bed it had obviously been broken before as it had been cobbled together with bits of wood and nails...so it want our fault!

one lovely feature is this huge fireplace downstairs---with table and chairs set inside--this was reserved for us for breakfast!

Good Morning!

the other huge fireplace in the other end of the pub..

we went for a ride into Banbury on Monday..we have been there before a few times and I love it because it has loads of charity shops..

the oldest pub in Banbury..

lovely cobbles...

the swans at Stratford Upon Avon...

Stratford Upon Avon

when we returned to the pub we had been moved into The Black Velvet Room..very nice.....

I loved the black furniture...and the beautiful beams...

love how the TV is balanced on the beam..

wish I could be more minimalist at home but have far too much clutter!

no wi fi signal in this room though--the walls were too thick!

and the only place I could put on my makeup was in the fitted wardrobe....the lighting was so subdued and the window so tiny it was impossible to do!

just down the road...

The College Arms where we stayed.

Broadway on the way home

I always call at the Christmas shop in Broadway and buy another bauble for the tree! But just look at me--no coat-we had beautiful warm weather!

Little Artists.....age 2 and 4

2011-10-30T00:44:00.001+01:00

We have had our little granddaughters Hollie and Lucie staying with us since Thursday--- and I had promised them they would be painting a picture with me to take home to their other nanny for her new house..

Little Lucie is just 2 years old bless her...but had great control on the big brush I gave her,,,some bright blue sky with some bashed on clouds together with some green background for the poppies was soon done..

Hollie being 2 years older had a bit more control over the brushes,,and decided that she she didn't want poppies in the sky as Lucie had done! But as I explained to Hollie afterwards---the poppies would look like they were in the sky when you are as tiny as Lucie is--looking up at them from her angle would look like they were in the sky!

Lucie looking very proud of her finished painting..she will grow into her apron as time goes by bless her

Hollie with her finished painting-lovely job Hollie!

Beautiful paintings girls!

Grasses Workshop Oct 29th

2011-10-30T00:17:00.000+01:00

Everyone gathers around to watch each step...we are working in acrylic today so we have to work fairly quickly...the paint dries very quickly and to get it to blend easily you have to work wet into wet.

everyone is hard at it--its always amazing to see just how different everyone tackles the subject at each stage..

Karen has been just once before,,,and travels all the way from Mansfield..today she bought along her mum as well..

Irene travels a fair way too..from Stoke On Trent but comes on the day before and stays overnight ...she made a lovely job of her picture...

Ron was painting for the 3rd time with me...

Sandra was a bit nervous--understandably so as it was her first time painting....but she soon realised there was no need to worry..she blended well in her sky and sea...

I loved Karen's dramatic sky...and he tree suited the painting well--it looked like it had been stood there in the wind for years--

Lyndsey received her artist brooch today for attending 6 workshops...

you would never believe that this was Jenny's first painting! We met on Wednesday at the market when Jenny said she had found my website but she was a bit scared to book up--after we had a chat she booked up for today's workshop and she really enjoyed herself..we will see her again soon...

We had some lovely results today--I showed the students a lot of variations that they could use in their paintings..from trees to poppies and daisies -we covered everything...we had lots of laughs-- and several sessions of everyone holding their breath when doing the trees ! All in all a great days painting...

West Shropshire Flower Club Demo

2011-10-27T22:24:00.000+01:00

We had a busy day yesterday..on the market until 4pm then home to sort out everything ready for the evenings demo for West Shropshire Flower Club...we had a longish journey to Yockelton and arrived there at 7pm and was set up ready to start at 8pm. There was a good turn out of ladies there..all very interested in what I was doing and having a good look at the paintings and photos I had on display. The time as always flew by and I had the paintings completed in the hour as usual! Afterwards we had time to chat and answer questions with the ladies.My greetings cards proved VERY popular and I have sold out of loads of the designs again...we arrived home at 11pm completly knackered and ready for bed after a nice hot mug of chocolate!

Sue and Liz won the paintings....

Ollie---Growing Up Fast

2011-10-25T23:25:00.001+01:00

We called by to see our little Ollie when we got back from the hospital today---took him a few toys around to play with that I had picked up at various boots sales etc..Ive had some lovely bargains--and they are soon cleaned up with anti-bacterial cleaners to make sure they are safe for him! He loved this toy that makes various car noises..

and the Bob The Builder phone too...

he looks like butter wouldnt melt here bless him!

Think he is telling Grandad a secret here..

I could munch him to pieces!!!


isnt he cute?

Busy Week Ahead...Bits And Pieces...

2011-10-25T23:18:00.000+01:00

We are on the market tomorrow -I hope the rain has stopped by the time we go down in the morning..We will finish a bit earlier than usual because I have another demo tomorrow night at Yockleton which is quite a way from home.One of my students Caroline has organised it for the Flower Club..should be a busy evening as there are quite a lot of members..but it will be a long day for me!
I managed to drop another 2.5 mg of my steroids in the past week with no ill effects as well which is VERY good as its recommended that you choose a quiet period in your life in which to do to minimise the effects of taking less.
LOL ...Its turning out to be one of the busiest weeks Ive had for ages....on Thursday I have got our 2 little granddaughters Hollie and Lucie coming from Sunderland to stay until Sunday with their mum and dad so Ive been busy getting their bedroom sorted out--it was full of the Christmas pressies Ive been getting throughout the year,,,so they Ave all been sorted out into the various Christmas sacks for all the grandchildren, children, friends, family etc ready to wrap ! It also means I know what I have already bought for everyone now as I found loads of stuff I had forgotten about!
So it will be a busy few day with the girls, have found their favorite games and will be having a look through the Wii games to see what we will be playing--am quite looking forward to that now I'm feeling so much better than I was! I have a workshop on Saturday as well so it will be a tiring time for us all...but its been months since we have seen them and cant wait to see how much they have grown!
Then Sunday we are off for a short break--we need it after the busy times...we are off to Warwick to stay at a pub/inn for 2 nights to refresh our batteries,,another KGB deal that was too much of a bargain to resist! I will cut back on the steroids by another 2,5mg on Sunday morning before we go and fingers crossed will drop with no more side effects...the quicker I can get down to 10 mg the better! My diabetic count is getting better as the steroids come down so again,,,fingers crossed I can get down quickly!
We had a visit to Bills diabetic specialist at Shrewsbury hospital this morning and he has had the news we have been expecting for a while--he will have to start a small dose of insulin as well as the other injection he has daily along with various tablets, looks like his pancreas has stopped producing insulin altogether..he has been on insulin before when he had his heart attack so he knows what to expect with it...

Alveley Ladies Guild Demo

2011-10-25T22:47:00.001+01:00


We were at Alveley Ladies Guild last night to give a Painting My Way Demo...it wasn't the biggest audience Ive ever had but that didn't make it any less fun to do ! It was a lovely cosy room and I was able to set up my paintings around the room and the smaller ones on the table by me..

The Summer Day painting is always a popular one with people..

I did the 2 paintings in an hours as usual....lots of interesting questions from the ladies while I was painting as well...

Lynn won the Summer Day painting and Beryl The Waterfall..I hope they managed to get them out to the cars OK without getting them wet! It was pouring down when we left...called at a great chippy in Bridgnorth called the Seagull on the way home---the fish and chips were to die for!

Stormy Poppies Workshop Oct 22nd--results!

2011-10-22T22:54:00.000+01:00

We met Ebony and her mum at Burwarton show earlier this year...it was Ebony's 7th birthday yesterday and Mum booked her in as a surprise ---she didn't know until this morning what she was going to be doing-and she was chuffed to bits to find she was coming to paint with me!

Lin hasn't painted before but has done creative things like making cakes and icing them--even down to making the flowers from icing for the decorations..so she has some creative flaire to start with....

Pearl making great progress...first time for her with oils..

Svana made a beautiful job of her painting...she used the bashing and tickling brushes with ease..

Kay is making a start on her grasses here...a mix of light and dark ones before we get to the poppies....

Wow Ann...you are making a lovely job of those poppies..

Laura came along for the first time with her aunty Elaine-who we met recently on the market...they were both astounded at their results and how different they turned out to each others...

Elaine decided not to add poppies to her painting--but to just emphasise the grasses instead....and it worked well..

hard at it..

hardest part--the signing of the paintings!

Lovely work from everyone....

some great stormy skies and poppies!

Ebony's mum wanted to get some pics of everyone's results as well...I'm sure we will be seeing everyone again for some more painting workshops!

Some very happy artists!

Back Home!

2011-10-21T21:34:00.000+01:00

Well we are home and unpacked and Jeannie has been returned to her home after looking after all the livestock and the house for us...one little extra that we bought home with us was this lovely little artist bear, I found him in a charity shop for just £1....he will sit along with all the other artist bits and pieces I collect!

The scenery has been just stunning--Wales is hard to beat on that score...I forgot to take the camera with me yesterday and I missed out on loads of beautiful photos---but never mind-we will be going back soon and will make sure I have it with me at all times LOL..

We stopped in Rhayader on the way home today for some lunch...we found a quaint pub called The Eagles Inn...

it was choc a bloc with all sorts of interesting things..

the specials board had some interesting things on it as well--we opted for lambs liver peas and chips though--and very good it was too...will leave the crocodile for the more adventurous!

it was lovely to watch the red kite start to circle overhead as they wait for the feeding to start at the nearby farm...we went there to watch them being fed last year and it really is worth going to see for yourself....

the sky was looking quite stormy...and dramatic

we are painting Stormy Skies tomorrow in class--cant wait--its one of my favorite ones!

Watercolours On Holiday part 2

2011-10-20T22:22:00.000+01:00

Ive bought lots of bits and pieces of arty stuff while we have been away..yesterday I got some charcoal and some watercolour boards...along with some new acrylic silver paint--a different brand to my normal one....I started the scene above with some soft pastels and oil pastels-followed by charcoal....very interesting to work with..

after using the soft pastels,oil pastels and charcoal I decided to add another medium--watercolours....and I quite liked the end result....

I then tryed watercolours on a tryed and tested scene---using the silver acrylic paint to add detail....it worked well-though doesn't show up well in this photo...

this one is pure watercolour..and I'm quite happy with it...done on the watercolour board, will be mounting it ready for my stall on market on Sunday..

another one done on watercolour board--I have used the silver acrylic paint to add detail to the sky and water--it doesn't show up in the photo..

Aberystwyth Holidays-day 4

2011-10-18T22:31:00.000+01:00

After a nice lazy morning watching TV we set off for a ride round the coast to Cardigan...what a lovely little town,,we always end up there when we come to this area. After a mooch around the charity shops we headed back and stopped at Newquay.....

parts of the beach is covered in shells--couldn't resist picking some to use in my next huge seascape I have planned for when I get home..

some very interesting rock formations there as well

some beautiful waves crashing n the rocks

then on the way back there was some stunning skies...

can feel a painting coming on....

just crying out to be painted this one ! I will be getting the watercolour paints out again in the morning..have been and bought some other bits and pieces today---including charcoal which Ive never used before...have also bought along my soft pastels and oil pastels as well...will see what the weather is like..will stay in the caravan and paint if the weather isn't great--otherwise we will be out and about in the area getting more inspirational photos!

Stormy Seas

2011-10-18T12:45:00.000+01:00

After the calm mill pond sea when we arrived on Saturday it was lovely to see the wind whipping up the waves yesterday....

Bill admiring the view...

mind you don't get wet Bill!

and watch that giant seagull doesn't carry you off!!!!

I just love it when the sea is rough--will have a wander down there today -its been really windy so it will be looking even rougher today!

after all that fresh air we had worked up quite an appetite,,,,,ribeye steak with all the trimmings...the mushrooms were topped with garlic butter and dolchette cheese and was to die for!

Watercolours On Holiday

2011-10-18T11:06:00.000+01:00

I bought along my watercolours on holiday just in case we had some days when we ddint go out because of the weather.....Ive not touched them in around 4 years so Im well out of practise..I couldnt find my big watercolour mop brush at home so picked up a blusher brush from the local £ shop and it worked a treat! So I spent an enjoyable evening having a play with them and was quite pleased with the end results! I will be mounting them and sticking them on my website when I get home!

Great fun using salt and tissue to create the different effects..

a touch of pink warmed this one up..

this is my favorite one--really pleased with the crashing waves on the beach..

a bit more work required on this one but am pleased with the way its coming on..

Aberystwyth Holidays

2011-10-16T20:20:00.000+01:00

We arrived in Abber yesterday to find the bright sunshine had followed us there! We quickly unpacked the car--good job we don't have kids to bring with us--there was no room for them....everything bar the kitchen sink is us when we go away! We went for a lovely walk down the seafront---it was really busy with people making the most of the lovely weather!

as usual, lots of photos to use as inspiration when I get home--I have bought along my watercolours for a change-haven't used them in ages-so might have a go with them tomorrow if the weather changes!

One of the nicest war memorials Ive ever seen stands on a hill over looking the sea...

beautiful....

one thing I always do before we go away is to check out places to eat/stay on Trip advisor--one place that came up with great reviews was The Druid Inn just outside Abber---on our way in actually.Sunday dinner to die for most of the reviews said.So We stopped on the way yesterday and booked us in for 1pm today. So just cereal for breakfast for us before heading there for lunch...to be honest its the sort of place you wouldn't stop at when driving by----it looks quite ordinary .....but its a hidden gem.....

waiting patiently for food.....

and boy was it worth waiting for....roast beef,Yorkshires pud and roast potato and horse radish sauce came out on the plates--followed by 2 huge dishes of veg,carrots,broccoli,cauliflower,cabbage,mash potato,boiled new potatoes and a gravy boat full of delicious gravy...it really was good and loads of it...

how could we resist? Home made bakewell pudding and apple pie .....the bakewell was the best Ive had..though it really was struggle to eat it...at £9.95 each for 2 courses you cant go wrong...and we will be going back there again for sure!

After all that we needed to have a walk and we headed for Borth and we found the loveliest little gallery there along with the artist Eve Smith. After we got talking and she knew we were from Ludlow she asked if I knew a lady called Kay --it turned out I did --she had been to some of my classes in the past! Isn't it a small world? Kay used to stay nearby on holiday and used to call in and see Eve... I was able to let Eve know that Kays hubby isn't very well and that was proberly why she hasn't seen her recently! Eves work is just beautiful--she works in oils and has paintings in every size and colour there--she hasn't got a website yet and so I pointed her in the right direction of Affordable British Art that is run by my dear friend Ros---its an easy to use website that I have many sales off, and I'm sure Ros will be having Eve on board soon....

some more of Eve's work,--I love her use of colour--very dramatic!

this lovely bench has been made by a local man from one piece of cedar....isn't it wonderful?

lots of changes going on in Borth,, a new sea defence is being built there--£13,000,000 is being spent to help protect the beautiful town from the sea.

I love the scenery in the area--we always took the kids there for a holiday when they were little--

I will be painting this scene tomorrow I think..

We went on to Clarach Bay after Borth and had a little mooch..picked up some drift wood that I will be using in my paintings when I get home.

I love the way the sun is catching the sea on the horizon

Eve's gallery--The Art House--if you are in the area call by and have a look...

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

2011-10-16T18:37:00.000+01:00

This could be a bit of an epic post!!!!
Polymyalgia Rheumatica....what a mouthful....its a nasty illness that affects mainly the over 65's..unfortunately I have it as well at my age !
It has been creeping up on me for at least 4 years that I can trace..its been so easy to put down aches and pains to age,weight,cold weather etc etc when in reality it has been PMR.

Ive had aches and pains in my legs and hips for ages-years in fact but it hasn't stopped me doing anything-in fact the only times I have never noticed it much is during my workshops when my mind is so focused on what I'm doing that I haven't noticed anything much amiss--until we have stopped and its been time to get in the van to go home! Then in recent months Bill has had to help me get up the step into it!
Then the past 6 months or so its been hard to lift my arms at times and I had to keep stopping and painting in short bursts...
My knees have been the worst thing to deal with--they didn't like going up and down steps and stairs,off chairs, getting in and out of the car has been hard at times as well--at its worst I have been unable to drive at all! The pain in them was dreadful..
But the strange thing is Ive always been able to walk for miles on the flat--so it has been a bit of a puzzle when Ive been to the doctors with the symptoms.X-rays revealed nothing at all..so I was just taking the maximum dose of painkillers and anti-inflammatory which was doing very little at all..

The illness reached its peak a 6 weeks ago when it suddenly went into my back and neck with a vengence--I couldnt move at all in bed, couldnt get out of bed or off the sofa---I couldnt hardly move..Bill put the tens machine on my back for me with no effect--I was in such agony..so back to the doctors I went...
She gave me some extra strong anti-inflammatory tablets which worked ok and took the edge of the pain but gave me the most awful tinnitus you can imagine,,after just 2 days and 4 tablets I had 6 whistling kettles going off inside my head...it was awful...and constant--no let up at all.
After checking them out on the internet I found that it is a side effect of the tablets and could be a permanent thing I would have to live with.... not a great prospect at all..
I stopped taking them and went back to another doctor who sorted out blood tests and 2 days later I was diagnosed with PMR....at least that is what the new doc suspected I had!
She gave me some very strong steroids (20mg) to take and said if it was PMR they would be like a miracle and I was to ring her in 3 days time and let her know how I got on.Well I went from not being able to get off the sofa without Bill pushing me up to shampooing the carpets right through the house 2 days later! A miracle was an understatment to say the least!

With the pain gone all I had to contend with was the bloody tinnitus--in many ways it was worse than the pain--it drove me up the wall--never going away-sometimes going quiter and playing games with me as several times I thought it was going away--only to come back with a vengence..I had to resort to wearing earplugs when drying my hair and hoovering as any loud noise started it off worse again...
Anyway back to the docs I went after 2 weeks and another blood test---feeling quite on top of the world and with NO PAIN at all only to be told that the steroids have made my blood sugars go through the roof--so the doc told me to cut them back to 15mg and see if it made any differnce to them.
Well after just one day at that dose I was almost back to square one with the pain--has 15 mg on Saturday and couldnt move on the Sunday
It would seem after speaking with some very knowledgeable people on a PMR support group that the steroids need to be cut back VERY VERY slowly or the pain comes back because the tablets havent had time to work properly.So I upped them to 17.5mg and have stayed on that since then -the pain is held at bay--its not as good as when I was taking the full 20mg dose but its not too bad and it hasnt stopped me doing anything I want to..

Ive been back to the docs again last week and she wants me down to 10mg asap--which is going to be impossible to do quickly..
There is no way Im going back to being in that pain again--and no point in taking the steroids if they are not ging to be doing their job of clearing the inflamation in all my muscles...It looks like its going to be a bit of a battle between my PMR and my diabeties and my doctor until I see the rheumatlogist early next month!
The good news is the tinnitus has finaly gone away by the look of it---it gradualy got quieter and with time in between episodes this last week and today its stayed away -was there when I woke up for a few minutes but has stayed away-so Im confident its gone for good.

The good news is that PMR can and does burn itself out in a few years--and I figure as Ive had it for at least 4 years its reached its peak and will go quickly now Im on the right medication--fingers crossed anyway.

Ive been lucky that I have never had one of the other bad symptoms of it and that is the tiredness--its never effected me at all---burning the candle at both ends as usual...

Every blood test Ive had for the past 4 years has shown the markers that indicate PMR were raised--but because I had other issues going on like an abcsess the results were always put down to that....anyway its being sorted out now thank goodness--looks like the docs will have to treat the diabetes as well as the PMR as it will be impossible to get down the steroids as quickly as they want me to just due to the nature of the illness....have had a bit of a run in already with one of the docs about it--but its my body and Ive got to do it at a pace that is right for me..hopefully the specialist will sort me out once and for all soon!
I'm feeling great now and can go up and down the stairs like a 2 year old--we have walked miles today on holiday...and thats how it must stay!
Sorry about the epic length of this post..but lots of my students have been asking how I am and I promised them Id let them know when I knew myself what was happening!
So Im noise and pain free now-and enjoying a week at Aberystwyth where I can relax and rest until Friday--we have a class of 10 so far for Saturdays Stormy Poppies class.

Eardisley WI

2011-10-14T22:29:00.000+01:00

We were at Eardisley WI last night to do a demo.Its about 3/4 hour away and we arrived early and got set up before the ladies did their part of their meeting.I'm never sure just what the people at a demo are really expecting....there are always a few surprised faces at the beginning when I explain that I will be painting 2 oil landscapes from start to finish in front of them in the next hour! I start with the black canvas and explain what I'm going to do...and then in just seconds I have a background of bushes and trees ...the water goes next..and in no time at all I have a finished painting--I take the painting round to show everyone close up and they are always amazed at how much detail there is in there..all the time I am painting I am also chatting to everyone about the workshops I run and my paintings etc.The second painting is quickly finished and passed around...people are always interested by it and it gives them the confidence to want have a go! At the end of last nights demo I ended up arranging to go back there and do a workshop in April. Virginia had been in my workshop on Saturday and had got instantly hooked--she had bought along some of her friends from the craft club..Sue from the club had a quick word with me and within minutes she had 10 names from the room who wanted to come and paint! We soon sorted out which painting would be a good one to do for the ladies and we settled for Mellow Moods.A quick call today from Sue and she confirmed that she has 15 possibly 16 people who are going to learn to paint Mellow Moods on April 14th next year..looking forward to it ladies!

there were a few artists in the audience who asked some interesting questions.....

Virginia and Margret-winners of the paintings...my Bill had a big kiss and hug off Virginia who was chuffed to bits when he pulled her ticket out for the paintings...excited wasn't the word for it!

Stormy Poppies Workshop Oct 22nd

2011-10-12T21:16:00.000+01:00

There is a lot of preparation for some of the workshops-some more than others.. Stormy Poppies is painted on a 12in x 24in chunky canvas using oils. As we cant paint the sides of the canvas during the class because of the difficulty getting the wet painting home we prepare the canvas by painting the edges with black acrylic paint and then varnishing them.It means that the painting looks more ''finished'' and is ready to hang when you get it home! As we are going away to Wales for 6 nights on Saturday the canvas have been done today so we don't have to start doing it when we get back off holiday! You can see them drying off in the garage in the photo above!

I'm looking forward to doing this workshop again,its a lovely one to do--always great results even for first timers, there are just a couple of places left in it--if you would like to join us please contact me via the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Button Oak Art Cub Workshop

2011-10-11T21:39:00.000+01:00

We went back to Button Oak art club today to do the Birch Tree workshop..it was our third time there to teach and it was lovely to see some familiar faces again! My camera has managed to lose over 600 photos today somehow-so I have only got a few of the class...don't know what has happened to it--2nd time that's happened :-(( Anyway above you can see the birch trees taking shape ....the splattering is great fun--once you get the hang of which brush stays still and which one moves...

Gail is the organiser of the club and what a grand job she does too....we had a lovely lunch of carrot and coriander or mushroom soup with nan bread and some lovely cakes for after all sorted by Gail.Tea and coffee were supplied regularly as well....here you can see Gail finishing her painting..

Mary adding the finishing touches to her painting...

Gwyn is nearly done here too-she extended the branches out a bit further across the birches and it made a huge difference to the finished painting.

Beryl's painting was quite subtle compared to some of the other ones--but that is the beauty of this painting--it works no matter how you decide to do it..

Mel is pointing out something to Olga as she dries both their paintings with the hairdryer! We had lots of laughs with them today--was great fun...

Sue adding some branches to her trees....

We had some lovely results today..even though a few of the students found it very tiring to do..it is a very physical painting to do with lots of getting up and down to do watch me and do splattering on the birch trees...we are looking forward to going back in 2012 to do another painting--but I think we will stick to the oils then--its much easier for the students to handle I think..I forget that the majority of the students are not as able bodied as they were! Anyway judging by the comments in my book-everyone enjoyed the workshop today--I bet they all sleep soundly tonight after I tired them out! See you in 2012 Button Oak !