Sundorne WI--- Wed 2nd April

After a busy start to the week getting work on a commission nearly finished, we had a trip to the other side of Shrewsbury to Sundorne WI.
The letter sent when booking stated that they met at "The Lantern"
Unusual I commented to Bill-they meet in a pub!
When we followed the directions to The Lantern we found it was not a pub but a community centre!!
It was packed when we arrived, and we set up at the back of the room while their meeting went on.
They turned their chairs around watched my demo -there were a few questions but mainly it was silent!!!.
I finished the first painting in record time-Winter Wonderland was finished in less than 15 mins-and I was stopping to talk as well as painting!
There were many comments when I carried the painting round after I had finished it, -a lot of people said "its the first time Ive seen an oil painting that looks fantastic close up as well as at a distance"
When I started the second painting "Summer Day" it was even quieter-again I finished in record time.
Joan won the 'Winter Wonderland' painting and I donated the 'Summer Day ' painting to the WI to use for raising funds for their chosen charity.
I am conscious that all of the WI and art groups that have booked me to demonstrate all have to pay for the room that they meet in by the hour, so if my demo goes on for too long they have to pay out more money for the room, so I have to keep it as short but imformative as possible.
So my demos range from 60 mins to 120 mins depending on their circumstances!
There are lots of interested ladies in Sundorne WI that will be coming to a class.
I have 3 ladies from Hadnall WI coming again to class tomorrow.
This will be their 3rd time.
I also have one of the WI members neighbours booked for a class at their home for 6 people! Its all go at the moment!

Funeral

Today was a sad day-we said goodbye to Rita-our old friend.She had a great send off, the crematorium was full of her family and old friends.The hearse took her all around the area in Shreswbury that she had lived before she came to Ludlow--me and Bill hadnt known her then, so it was touching to pass by her old home.

I have found some lovely pictures of her on the computer, the one above was taken last Christmas, she loved goose so the past 2 years we have had Rita up for the day in between Christmas and new year and I cooked her a goose dinner-- and she has really enjoyed herself, making a fuss of the cat and the parrot and enjoying her dinner--as you can see from her plate!

She is going to leave a big gap in our lives-in the time I have spare now I will paint and think of her while Im painting.

Lucky Toads

These are my 2 lucky toads-they are very special 3 legged toads that are supposed to bring money luck! They sit on a pile of money and hold a lucky chinese coin in their mouth.

You keep them by your front door and give them a rub when you pass them by!

I keep my lottery tickets underneath them and so far it seems to be working a treat!

When you have some money luck you have to thank them--I bought one for my mum when we went on holiday last year and she laughed when I told her they were for-within a few days she had a big win at bingo! My sister in law also had a lottery win shortly after recieving one as a gift from me!

Stripping

I spent most of yesterday stripping----grime off the top of the kitchen cuboards and off the wall tiles ready for retiling.

Sugar soap is the most amazing stuff ever invented-just one wipe with the sponge soaked in the soloution and the results were amazing!!!

Bill was very impresses with the results.!

He has finished putting up the tiles in the extra bits that I wanted them-after taking down the old cooker hood I decided that I wanted a bigger area tiling than was done before.Bill has decided to tile over exising tiles rather than remove them and risk having to replaster the walls- so today is the big day when the new tiles are going to start going up over the top .

We decided last night that we would like a new double glazed window in the kitchen to replace the secondry glazed one, of course that means that we might as well replace the bathroom window while we are at it , so we have the man coming round at 6pm to measure up!

To think that all this started cos I went to focus to get some odourless thinners!!!

If we hadnt had some luck on the lottery's we wouldnt be able to do it, but the way Im spending it I will need another win tonight! Im off to rub my lucky 3 legged toad!

New Class Saturday 20th Oct

''Mystical Forrest'' is the subject for Saturday 20th Oct.

It is suitable for both beginners and experienced artists alike.

PLease get in touch to book through the website

www.paintingmyway.co.uk

House Sitter

My friend is coming to look after the pets this morning--lucky she has a easy going hubby who dosent mind her coming for a few days at short notice!
The animals are in for an unexpected treat--they get spoiled rotten when she comes to stay!
She will also be checking my emails for me and letting me know if there is anything that cant wait til we get back.
What did we do before mobiles?