Big Poppy Workshop results..

Well flu, upset tummies and injuries took its toll on some of the students due to come yesterday...so we were down to just the 3 of them.Diane and mum Liz came down from Derby for their 3rd time..Diane chose some lovely bold colours for her paintings,reds,purples and a beautiful turquoise too..

Lyndsey chose shades of reds for hers,,

Liz loved working on this painting,,,she got the hang of blending the colours really easily.

The fun part is adding the melted wax-what fun we had doing that!

Diane used black and silver wax, it worked really well- she managed to be really random with it which can be quite hard to do!

It makes such a huge difference when the wax is added...

The camera does not show the texture that has been created in the paintings at all well..such a shame...they are always hard to photograph..

Beautiful results ladies! Well Done..

Lilies

Its always lovely to get flowers bought for you--but its even better when there is no reason...Bill got me these beautiful huge long lilies today..its a shame I have neither a vase big enough or a room big enough to leave them as long as they were...

However they look and smell divine even if I did have to cut nearly 3ft off the stems to get them in the vase! I love the smell of lilies--its my favourite along with 'rose' Thanks Bill--loves you millions xxx

Easter Market

Well we were up bright and early yesterday--6.30am--which was 5.30am really as the clocks had gone forward...to go down to the Easter Sunday market...we arrived to find someone set up on our usual stall! We then discovered that I had in fact forgot to book and pay for it!  Another case of 'steroid brain'  The steroids I have to take for the Polymyalgia really mess with my head at times and I can the daftest things--and forget to do things as well--its a good job I have Bill to keep an eye on me most of the time!  Anyway all was not lost-Tony the new market manager soon sorted me out a good open air spot and we were able to get a huge display set up..the weather was beautiful--bright and sunny with little wind to blow us about.

We has space to put up an extra table as well..and because it was quite warm I was able to do some painting while I was there...The first painting sold off the easel...before it was even finished..the lady is collecting it in a few weeks when it is dry!

The BBC had cameras in the town to make a programme and they asked if they could record me painting-I forgot to ask what program they were going to show it on though it may get get edited out maybe! It was very very busy all day long..loads of visitors in town as there was lots going on in the castle.We had lots of interest in the workshops and the views on the website have rocketed since!

Josh was one of the people who had a go at encaustic art...he made a beautiful picture!

Tenbury Show

Well the weather held the week before Tenbury Show--so it went ahead--YIPPEEEE after so many disappointments with 6 shows being cancelled due to the awful weather it felt a little strange to be actually setting up on Friday afternoon! We were given our usual space--in the corner where we can set up easily and display the pictures well.!  As you can see--we got a lot of paintings hung, lots of my small paintings and my new prints out on the tables.

We put a huge tarpaulin down on the ground before we start setting up and it stops any damp coming up from the ground..makes a huge difference to me--I find I  don't get stiffness in my body as much from the polymyalgia since we use that..and it keeps everything from getting muddy as well as we extend it out beyond the stall..The 2nd painting from the left of the photo  sold--Stormy Poppies--so will have to paint another one as its one we paint in the workshops and I like to have one as an example when I do the shows/markets.

Sales went well, with prints going and Stormy Poppies going as well..

Scott had a go at the encaustic art and managed to do a beautiful picture--lots going on in there-including the most perfect feather in the middle of it!...many thanks to Rose for organising such a good craft tent!

Some Onslow Artists!

Many thanks to my friend Karen who called by to help with the mad rush of people we had at the show--Bill was able to go back to the van and make us a lovely sausage sandwich to keep us going! When we had a few  minutes I introduced Karen to the encaustic art--she was instantly addicted to it--its a really addictive  art form--and she was engrossed in it right away! She managed some stunning pictures too....

As usual there was a steady stream of folk wanting to have a go at encaustic art---I hope I have got the names correct but the photos have not been loading in the same order as my list of names! If they are wrong please accept my apologies!  Above we have Fallon  Jay--

Kayleigh made a brilliant job of hers---loved the colours---everyone was amazed at the results they got--as usual all manner of weird and wonderful things appeared in the melted wax--faces,animals and sea creatures--we all had lots of fun spotting them!

Alice really enjoyed herself--and the orange and green made an unusual combination--Mum was warned not to hang the finished picture behind glass in direct sunlight as the picture will re melt again!

Isabel used pink,silver and orange and got some great results...

I showed Lucy how to do a landscape painting using the iron--and she made a beautiful job of it--bright and vibrant!

Onslow Park Steam Rally Sunday Aug 28th/Mon 29th

We left Ludlow on Saturday morning to go to Onslow Steam Rally...its one of our favorite shows of the year..and this year was the 50th anniversary with over 100 steam engines taking part..It was the last time out with our caravan as well--we have decided to sell her as its only being used for this event now-so it isn't worth paying storage fees for it....so will be out with the camera soon to get some pictures for auto trader!

Its always amazing how to see the bare space provided in the marquee  transformed....though it is a long job---over 3 hours arranging stands and hanging paintings-setting out tables etc.

The Stormy Poppies on far left, and Grasses with Poppies -the third from left on row above ,and the large encaustic red poppy in foreground all sold--along with 5 smaller ones...

I managed  to get a good mix of paintings up..

dug out some of the older ones to take as well!

I had plenty of space to paint while there..

We have been taking bets on how long til some silly bugger touches the wet paintings on the easels--so far its happened every time my back has been turned---despite there being "Please Do Not Touch-Wet Paint" signs being there--and Ive also added another one-saying "Only An Idiot Would Ignore A Wet Paint Sign" as you can see it made no difference!!!!

You cannot begin to describe the atmosphere of the show when the steam engines are chuffing around--the noises and smells are wonderful.I managed to record the Grand Parade this year on my video camera--and will be uploading it to YouTube shortly---its a very emotional scene--and lots of grown men and women stand there wiping tears from their eyes as the huge chuffing giants make their way round the arena...

Tenbury Show

We set up at Tenbury show last night--so didn't have to much to do when we arrived early this morning-just adding the labels and uncovering everything...

there were some beautiful animals on show there--again Bill went off with the camera and got some great photos

as it was getting on for 8pm by the time we had set up last night we ended up in the food marquee for a meal instead of heading home--we had a beautiful steak pie ,new spuds and peas and to follow the most beautiful local strawberry flan and cream--it was delicious!

we had a friend of ours from the market in Ludlow next to us--Edmund who makes the most gorgeous dragonflies and baskets woven from his own willow...we had loads of laughs all day

Bill managed to watch the Big Foot trucks doing their display in the main arena...

look out or you will get squashed!

we had the most gorgeous miniature teddies on the stall the other side of us--just a couple of inches high-each one hand made..

gentle giant

-I love this pic of these piggies!

Jack made a lovely encaustic painting......I completely sold out of the encaustic kits over the 2 shows...must get some more before the next big show--Onslow Park at the end of the month.

I had a quick mooch round as soon as we arrived there this morning--and on the produce stall found this--the most beautiful lemon drizzle cake..the best we have ever had--light fluffy and moist! Tangy lemon taste to die for. I don't think it will be lasting for long!