Tommy 15 Days + Market

Our little Tommy is such a good baby--cant believe he is 15 days old already...and still being as good as gold for his mummy and daddy bless him.. they bought him down to the market today so I could take him round to all our friends who trade there... everyone loved him!

I had a great day on the market today--it stayed dry and there was no wind knocking the paintings around! I managed to get a 20in x 16in Frosty Nights painting done while I was there ready fro next weeks workshop..I've got 7 in so far for it with another possible going to book.Its a new subject and should be an interesting one to do!

Sold the Silver Birches painting today at the market....

We set up the stall a bit different when there is a chance of rain, makes it quicker to pack up when it rains, and we get almost as much stuff out on show as well.

Grasses Workshop April 21st

Jodie had a gift voucher for her birthday and came along with her friend Catherine from Stratford Upon Avon,,,Catherine had painted before and does abstracts using all sorts of materials but this was a first for her...Jodie hadn't painted since she was at school..

Catherine's painting took on a dramatic feel right from the start....

Ruth has been attending an art club in nearby Church Stretton where she lives, but its been mainly drawing and watercolours and she wanted to try some other mediums, so was here to have a go at acrylics..she did get on with it OK,,,but found the 2nd coat easier as do most people....we use the the first coat of acrylic as a practise run-and get used to the feel of the brushes and paint..

Derek has Parkinson's and has a little trouble with his short term memory so he needed a little more help with his blending of colours on the canvas,,but he really did very well in the end ...

We had a laugh when Jodie noticed she had a badger appear in her sky when she did her second coat---as soon as she pointed it out we could all see it....and I persuaded her to keep it in as it was a lovely feature! However since the picture of it went onto Facebook a couple of Jodie's friends have seen a shark and not a badger!!! And now its been pointed out I can see the shark as well!!!

The results---all lovely---Ruth and Derek decided to add the poppies to the end result which looked great--equally Jodie and Catherine's paintings looked just great with the long grasses...its quite a versatile subject....looking forward to seeing everyone again!

New Class Subject

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..

Congratulations to my brother Andrew for coming 2nd in the local Woodpecker Rally today.
He was navigating for Roger Chilman...I expect there will be some sore heads in the moring after all the celebrating!

Ludlow Medieval Fayre-what a day

Bill and Adrian looked the part--we had set up early and got our electric heater  running in our stall--there is now way we could have managed without it,

I had leggings, tracksuit bottoms and tights under my dress--then I had a wool shawl and a thick velvet coat on top-but had taken it off for the photos

Wilma made my coat for me out of some velvet cutains-she made lots of the medieval costumes worn on the market today!

Jean and Paula are regulars on the Wednesday market and we always have a good laugh with them-

Mark has the cheese stall on the market--Wilma made his outfit too--

Edmound makes the most wonderful things out of willow--we have got a couple of dragonflies he has made in our garden--his hands were as warm as toast all day--nothing to do with the fact he was weaving he said--"come up any time and I will warm you up "he said..... what an offer!

Bob the Baker had to be the bravest or daftest man on the market today--he assured us he was Au Naturale under his kilt--I have to confess--I didnt check if he was telling the truth---the funniest thing is Bob is Irish!

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Debbie and Fleur---a pair of great mates--we always have such a great laugh with them--Debbie comes with Mick on a motorbike-and they were bloody freezing when they arrived  this morning--Fleur and her chap had to leave their van loaded up miles away from their home in order to be able to  come today---Im thinking I wouldnt of bothered if it were me!

Recovery

Well after an up and down sort of week I'm at last feeling something like normal again.
I'm on a new stronger antibiotic which seemed to be doing the trick until Wednesday when after being on the market (which in hindsight I wasn't ready to do!) the wound swelled up again and looked quite nasty.
However after using some great iodine cream the wound has made a great recovery and today I was able to drive the car for the first time and we also went for quite a walk round the town.

I have now only got 9 coming to class as Jackie has to take her mum to hospital for an uclerated eye.

I'm really looking forward to class -they are all newbies except Karen and Gill-but Poppy Fields is a nice easy one to start with-
the results will be on here and the website tomorrow.

Few Places left in Birch Tree class July 31st

I have just a few places left in this class on July 31st. You will have a choice of canvas size 16in x 20in 20in x 16in or 36in x 14in .
if you use the larger canvas the class is just an extra £10 to cover the cost of the bigger canvas.
You will have the choice of painting in the monochrome shades or the browns and creams.
Both look great when they are finished!

If you would like to join us for this class please get in touch for more details by ringing me on 01584 872013 or 07800902488
or via the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Class of June 12th "Serenity"

We had 6 in class today-Elaine, Gary and Sally couldnt come because of illness.
We had three generations of one family-Sam , her Mum Shirley and Sams nephew Will.
Sam recieved her artist brooch for achieving her 6th painting with me-while Will and Shirley were having their 2nd class.
Shirley also bought along her friend Sue who had never painted before .
Then we had Caroline and her Mum Mary-who were both first timers.It was a pressie for Marys birthday!
AS usual with this class there was a choice of colours to use-and we had a mix of blue, green and dusky lilac.Everyone was amazed at just how quickly the paintings came along-within an hour we had some lovely skies, water and some distant trees.
We stopped at 12pm as usual for lunch--the cafe at the centre takes our orders in the morning and has them ready for us-the ham and salad baguettes are stuffed full and are only £1.75 so are a popular choice for students!
The time flew by and although 3 of them were painting for the first time you would never have known it!
There were a few laughs when I explained about the tickling brush, the bush brush and the bashing brush, but it all made sense when it came to using them.
Will managed to get covered in paint several times today and gave the babywipes a bashing-and his Nan had several coloured streaks in her hair by the end of the class!
I dont know how we would manage without babywipes-they are amazing at getting paint off all surfaces!
The time seemed to fly by,everyone created some beautiful paintings-and we are going to see everyone again.

Ludlow Slow Food

Well its not often you get something for nothing-but today we had a full english breakfast free of charge!
It was organised by the local group of Slow Food-its aims are
protecting agriculture and food biodiversity,developing food and taste education,connecting producers and consumers and developing networks. for more information you can see their website
www.slowfoodludlow.org.uk


All of the food was locally sourced-and delicious and they catered for 100 people-all free of charge to promote the worthy cause--

the strawberry and vanilla muesli was from The Ludlow Nut Company
milk was from Mawley town Farm, Cleobury Mortimer,
Bread made with flour from Bacheldre Watermill, Powys-Ludlow Food Centre

then we had beautiful
free range bacon from Tudges Butchers, Orleton, Ludlow,
Free range pork sausages from DW Walls and Sons, Ludlow,
Free Range eggs from Country Flavours, Madely, Herefordshire
Handmade black pudding from the Ludlow Food centre
home made sauces-including damson ketchup which was beautiful came from
Ludlow Jam Pan

then to follow we had some toast and a range of jams including
lemon curd,raspberry jam, lime marmalade,grapefruit and cranberry marmalade.

Everyone enjoyed it and it has certainly encouraged us to go and take a look at the Ludlow Food Centre, just out of the town--its been open a while now but we haven't made a visit there yet--we will be dropping in there this week--I must get some of the damson ketchup among other things--I don't mind paying a bit extra for quality!