Clifford WI

We went to Clifford WI last night to do a talk/demo.

The evening was great-a lovely bunch of ladies they were! We had hoots of laughter all night as I told them all about my life as an artist!
Some of the ladies are going to do a class later in the year,end of September/early Oct time-its pretty manic til then for me.

Silvia won the raffle and chose Summer Day as her prize. The other painting shown ''The Waterfall'' was donated to the WI to use for fundraising.

For Sale (sadly)

This is Bessie the caravan.

She is for sale due to us buying another caravan.

She is 17ft 6in long including towing hitch.She is in very good condition for her age.

Bill has done a few jobs on her that needed doing and she is a lovely little van.

The upholstery is beige draylon and is in excellent condition. It is a 2 berth which can be as 2 single beds or one very large very comfortable,double bed.

The curtains are cream and there are brand new net curtains, less than 3 weeks old.

Loads of storage space in cuboards all around the van.

The fridge is a 3 way one and even has an essentual freezer compartment for the ice cubes!.

It also has a 2 burner hob, a grill and oven.There are 5 electric sockets in place-more than enough.I have included the water containers and waste water container.In the shower room there is a fold down basin and a brand new porta potti, still in its box.There is also a shower, but the shower tray has a crack in it so it cant be used at the moment.There is some evidence of previous damp in the van(in the wardrobe) which can be traced back to this leak in the shower.We have seen no evidence of damp at all elsewhere in her now, even with all the wet weather we have had lately, so think its ok as long as you dont use the shower.Most sites have great showers anyway.

It comes with a PDQ awning, and a inner tent, a toilet tent which we were told was only used to hang their coats up in.A very long electric hook up cable, gas bottle, also a little 2 man tent.

She tows very well, and is an ideal 1st caravan. I am only asking £550 ono with everything.

We have had a lot of fun in her and will be sorry to see her go!

Meet Gertie!

This is our latest caravan Gertie. She is a little younger than Bessie, and came with a much bigger awning, thus giving us more storage space-essentual when we go off for the 2 and 3 day craft fairs.She has the all important wine glass cabinet with stained glass doors and is really immaculate inside and out.I just know that me and Bill will have a lot of fun in her!

Clifford WI

Here are the ladies of Clifford Wi getting ready for the demo , last night.Also pictured is the lucky winner of the raffle with her waterfall painting.

We had a lovely night and we managed to get home fairly early because the ladies allowed me to go first before they had their usual minutes etc!

Tom

Today is the anniversary of my dear dads (Tom) death, just got in from taking him some flowers at the cemetary.
It does not seem possible that it is 2 years since we have seen him.
I am donating some money to the British Heart Foundation in his memory-last year we had a write up in the loving memory section of the papers but he wouldnt have approved really-he would rather have had the money doing something useful!
I am rushing round like a headless chicken at the moment, trying to get sorted for the WI talk and demo at Clifford tonight, and I know he would have been laughing his head off at me!

Craft Fair.

This is me and Helen, a fellow artist member of the forum I am on, she was in the area on holiday with her husband for their anniversary.

They called by the craft fair, it was great to meet up with her and have a chat and a laugh!

All in all we had a very good day-the weather stayed beautful for us and there was LOADS of visitors about!

What a start to the day

This beautiful bird flew into our patio doors this morning as we were getting ready to go to the class.It must have been attracted to the ponds.
Bill had never seen a kingfisher in his life-the only time I had seen one before here,it flew off before Bill saw it.
Unfortunately this one broke its neck when it hit the glass.
My friends son used to be a taxidermist and he came and collected the dead bird from the class. I do not like stuffed animals myself but kingfishers are so rare to see these days, I am glad that Dave is able to preserve this beautiful bird.

Festival Night

The weather forcast is good for the weekend so we will be shopping after the class tomorrow for some BBQ food for Sunday Night.
We are at the craft fair on Sunday and as it is the last day of the festival it should prove to be very busy.
We will be inviting friends around for drinks and food Sunday night and we will be able to hear the Robbie Williams and Kylie sound alikes and see the grand firework display with ease from our patio.
I cant wait--its seems ages seen we had a BBQ due to the awlful weather so its something to look forward to!

Frames

I have been asked several times in classes lately about getting the paintings framed when they are dry.
I have been to see Dave The Frame-- the chap who does my mounts and frames and he has agreed to frame the box canvas at a special rate for my students.
The frames will cost just £10.
I have left 2 paintings with him today and Bill can pick them up in the morning while I am doing the class.
He will also give me some samples of the different frames that can be used on the canvas so people can see which they prefer.

The class is only a small one tomorrow because one of my ladies has gone into hospital and her friend usualy had a lift to the class with her, so we will see Pauline and Irene in the near future.
I wish Irene a speedy recovery.

Encaustic work

Examples of some of the paintings created using the melted wax today on the craft fair. They are all for sale at £5 each including P+P

please get in touch if you would like to purchase one of them. They all come unmounted and unframed and is the latest affordable way of collecting my art.

Craft Fair

After a wet start to the day-fortunatly it stayed dry while we set up the stalls, we had a very good day.

We had 3 stalls today because some people didnt turn up, due to the weather forcast.

We had one good downpour at 10;30am and then it stayed fine.

I was busy with people doing encaustic paintings most of the day, although I did get some other paintings done as well, I have a lot of uploading to do to my websites.

I have booked 3 more dates for the craft fairs they are Sunday 22nd July, Sunday 29th July and Thursday 30th Aug. All are taking place on Ludlow's Castle Square.

Another Day

We are busy getting ready for the festival craft fair in the morning.

Lots of packing to do, and things to check!

The weather forcast isnt great but we are well covered by the stalls and backsheets, so should have a good day!

Day Off

It was lovely to have a day off today for a change.We went round to see mum and had a catch up with the news, been too busy to call for a couple of weeks.
Then me and Bill went to Hereford to buy some more paint and brushes to replenish the stock sold at yesterdays class.
While we were walking down the High Street we smelt a wonderful aroma of roast beef coming from one of the best hotels-so on the spur of the moment we went in and had the best sunday dinner that we have had for a long time!
Bill had a field mushroom sauted with garlic on a large crouton and I had an asparagus and cherry tomato tartlet with warm salad and redcurrant jelly to start and then we both had roast beef and all the trimmings!
It was beautiful, the veg's were cooked just right, not hard but not soft either. There was carrots,broccoli,swede,cabbage,roast parsnips, and poast potatoes! As well as a gigantic yorkshire pudding!
We have both worked very hard lately so we enjoyed the treat and will cook the shoulder of lamb that we had bought for today,tomorrow!!!

Todays Class

Here is the class of today,We had a great time- we spent more time in giggles than we did painting!from left to right---

Pauline and Irene'1' on the left of me had never painted before,Carole on the right of me has been to me before and is 'addicted to my classes' according to what she has written in my comments book.

Brian, to the right of her had tryed and failed to paint in other classes , and Hayley-- Caroles daugter was here doing her 3rd ever painting and Irene '2' on the right was scared stiff that she would not be able to do it!!

Every body enjoyed the class today-we were in uproars at Pauline who decided that one of her tree's was to be called'Angela'Why '?-we dont really know-she just thought it should be!

Irene'2' was a scream--she was to be todays ''fiddler''of which we always have one!

In every class we have one person that 'fiddles the most' that just wont leave the painting alone-and today that prize went to Irene '2'

And in the other competition of ''''the person who used the most white paint''--another contest that we have in each class it was a close contest between Brian and Irene 2. And again Irene 2 won it!

The winner of the most paint on the hands and anything else was a toss up between me and Irene 2!

And I won it hands down when we counted how many baby wipes we had used!

The muckiest palette was won by Brian-whose palette was a mud bath by the time we had finished! Everything was grey!

4 of the 6 have booked for next weeks class which has changed from 'Snowy Day' to 'Summer Day', as I have said on my website -nothing is set in stone with the classes and if people want to paint a particular painting we will do so!

Wild life In The Garden

We decided that the small pond that we had let go 'wild' had got a little too wild and the 4 fish that we had put in earlier in the year hadnt been seen since! So Bill started to pull some of the reeds that had taken over when the little frog appeared out of the water.!He seemed very quiet concidering what was happening and hung around til Bill had finished! You wouldnt belive how much stuff was in the pond-the fish will be much happier now they have room to swim more freely!

I was tempted to move the fish and put them into our big pond, but the fish in there are getting so big I think they had better stay where they are!

Getting Ready

Bill has been busy today, getting the canvas prepared for tomorrows class.As you can see they are drying on my worktops .

The brushes are in the garage being sorted out their box's, so we are all set for the Winter Wonderland class in the morning.

Our Little Muchkin

Little Callum is 5 months old tomorrow,where has the time gone to?

He is such a happy little chap, always smiling and laughing! He is moving home tomorrow with his mum and dad-lets hope it doesnt upset him too much.

Our 2nd grandchild is due in less than 2 weeks, but will be a bit further away for us to see as Bills middle lad Darren lives in Sunderland with his partner Lyndsey.

Latest Painting

This is my latest painting-well not quite-I decided that I wasnt completely happy with my latest Summer Day painting so decided to make a few alterations to it!

It was just crying out for some palm tree's on the tranquil beach.

So when we had a quiet few minutes on the craft fair today I added these palms.

I am a lot happier with it now and it will be the subject for a class later on in the year.

Bills Painting

I thought Bill was winding me up today at the craft fair-he picked up the brushes and started to paint one of my small canvas that I use for my 4 minute paintings!

Within 10 mins he had produced this lovely painting! Not bad for his 3rd attempt at painting ever!

He has cleaned hundreds of brushes but he surprised me big time by using them to paint with today!
Several people watching thought he was the artist with all the work on display!

I am going to be able to let him do the craft fairs and classes on his own if he carries on at this rate!

He is a real help in my classes as he knows what is suposed to happen with each brush stroke at each stage and if he see's anyone who does not look sure about what they are doing he can advise them what to do, while I over see the others and get round everyone.

I have a full class this Saturday and I am looking forward to see if Carol from Leominster has done any painting at home since the last class, she bought a knife from me at Shobdon and said she was going to have a go on her own.I am going to take Bills painting to show them all, what a clever hubby Ive got!

Craft Fair

We are going to take a chance on the weather and do the craft market tomorrow.We have loaded the car and trailer so we can have an early start in the morning.

We are taking some different paintings to the ones shown--the poppies have sold and I have painted some more but using silver wax for the centres instead of gold!

My sister-in -law Jan is on the next stall to us , she will be selling her quilling work,she makes fantastic cards and pictures with very thin strips of paper-she has more patience than me!!!

Unfinished

This is my latest in my monochrome collection.It is called ''unfinished ''because that is what it is!

I usualy add detail of bluebells or foxgloves in melted wax to make them 'almost monchrome' but after painting one at the Three Counties Show and adding bluebells, deciding I prefered foxgloves and painting over the bluebells-then of course someone wanted one with the bluebells in it!

So I had to paint one all over again!

This gives you your own input to the finished painting-let me know which you prefer and I will add them for you-you can even have the choice of what kind of varnish you have on the finished piece! I have both satin and gloss-the choice is yours!

The price is £120 including P+P to the UK if you are outside UK please get in touch.

Flooding In Ludlow

This bridge was once the main route into Ludlow, the river Corve burst its banks last night and this bridge collapsed just seconds after people got off there.It will take months to rebuild the bridge.A lot of homes and cars have been destroyed.

A lot of sheep were also washed away.

The bridge at the top of the page is Ludford bridge and the amount of water going under it is scary, the noise is so loud.

Lets hope we dont get too much more rain.

Snowy Day

I ahve spent an enjoyable afternoon painting the latest new painting that we will be doing in a class on Saturday 7th July.

It is quite an easy one for beginners and more experienced students alike.

Cats--Who'd Have Em?

I knew Sparky had caught something this morning as I could hear him yowling as he came accross the roof with his catch.
Although he has a perfectly good cat flap, he prefers to come in the hard way--up onto the wishing well--onto the fence--onto the sloping roof--in through the en-suite window-down onto the loo and down the stairs!!!
This morning he had another baby black rabbit--it was already dead by the time I caught up with him.
We have more black rabbits wild in the fields behind us than normal ones, and Sparky seems to catch more of them than the others.
He ate every bit of it when I put it outside on the lawn, and is now sleeping it off on my bed!

Sparrows

Its a little hard to see but these 3 little baby sparrows were looking so sorry for themselves today! It was pouring with rain all day. They just sat there in the bird table huddled up together waiting for mum and dad to bring then food!

I didnt wake up til 1pm and then if Bill hadnt bought me a cup of coffee into the bedroom I think I would have been there all day!

The past couple of weeks have been so hectic it has caught up with me I suppose.

I have nothing to do now until next Saturday when I have a full class--- so I can have a nice rest!

The festival craft markets have been cancelled due to the bad weather.

The painting knives will be here tomorrow , and I have got the new landscape and large oval brushes ready for the students who ordered them at the last class-they are a a bargain at just £1 each

It was great to be home and take a look at the fish in the pond-they have only had a quick feed lately, havent had time to enjoy them!

The picture at the top shows the 'Fairies Fishing Rods' that I have growing in pots around the pond-we will have a good show of them this year-the flowers are covered in buds-they look so pretty bobbing around in the breeze.

The 2nd pic shows some of the fish in our pond-the big white one is my favorite one-he actualy comes right out of the water when its feeding time-as you can see!

Great Encaustic Pic!

I failed to get this talented boys name today as it was so hectic! He painted the most beatiful encastic painting of a butterfly in no time at all!
He went away with the full kit of the encastic set and extra wax's and card-I just know I will be seeing more of his work in the future-he was a natural at it!
Within seconds he had reconised that he had the vague shape of one butterflys wing and quickly added another, then the body and some more colour to the wings!

Beautiful Scenery

You can see what beautiful scenery we have had while doing the Shobdon Food and Drink Festival.The avenue of trees is just beautiful on the approach to the venue.Some of the trees are so big they have great big supports under the branches to hold them up--I bet they can tell some stories!!!

Busy Weekend

I have sold out of the painting knives today.

After seeing what they could produce-everyone wanted one and at this price who could blame them. I gave several demos of what could be achieved with them during yesterday and today-the garage is full with 20 4 minute paintings hanging there drying! Bill has to watch his step when unloading the trailer and car, he could end up with multi coloured hair if he's not careful!

Zak doing encaustic art

Here is 5 year old Zac being shown how to make his own encaustic art painting, he loved every minute of it.

Shobdon

We had a very busy day today-the weather was very kind to us and there was loads of people at Shobdon.
This is 5 year old Zak who had a go at encaustic art ! He loved it !
It goes to prove that you are never too young to have a go at art!

Shobdon Festival

We never seem to set out the paintings the same way twice at these craft fairs!

Here you can see the latest version of Poppy Quartet . Bill has given them a couple of coats of varnish to protect them and they are ready to go on sale.

We have had such a laugh today at the craft fair--no-one is safe from us-we have such fun telling each other about what has happened since the last time we met up--its a real community -the craft fairers.

We all have stories to tell!!!

I could write a book to be honest-one day I might share it with ALL my regular readers-although one or two are already in on it already and waiting for the next episode!!!

Landgrove WI

This is Maggie-the president of Landgrove WI.

We first met at last weekends Three Counties Show when she was helping with the refreshments.

When we arrived last night to do the demo/talk the rest of the WI'ers sang 'happy birthday' to her -and guess what --she won the draw too---she was over the moon to choose 'summer day ' as her prize.

The WI will be holding a special draw for the other painting 'the waterfall' next month to raise money for the 'Acorn' childrens hospice, that is local to them.

We had an earlier night than expected because I did my talk and demo before they had their normal meeting as they knew we had to be up early to be at Shobdon Flower, Food and Drink Festival.! So we were back home at 10pm in time for me to clean my brushes and pack the bits and bobs that hadnt been taken to Shobdon earlier in the day!