Onslow Park Steam Fair

We are busy getting ready for the Onslow Park Steam Rally this weekend.

We are going early on Saturday morning all being well-the show starts on Sunday but its such a great atmosphere there and we have lots of friends to catch up with, we are going early.

It will give us chance to set up our stand and sort the caravan out too--we have decided we dont need the awning as we didnt bother to put it up last week when we were at Tern Valley, not taking any more stuff this week so we are leaving that behind.

If its as busy as last year Bill wont get chance to go and see everything he wants--my stand is 25 ft long and its immpossible to keep an eye on everything when its busy, so I ended up ringing him and asking him to come back every time he went wandering last year!

I shall be demonstrating the encaustic art and also the oils and acrylics too, so I will be kept busy while Im there.

Bill has re-organised all the plastic boxes we lug the bits and pieces around in to the various craft fairs, and found we needed some new ones so we went into town yesterday and replaced the broken ones.

Its been a real spring clean--everything is in the right place for now-hes even made some bubble wrap bags for the lights!

How long it will last for though is any ones guess!

It will only want a cold rainy day when we are packing away after a craft market for it all to get thrown in the nearest box that it will fit in!

My sister in law Jan and my niece are coming to parrot /cat/fish/ sit again--Jake learned lots of new words last week when they were here-he seems to pick up peoples laughs right away and hes been doing Jans and Natalies laugh as clear as a bell all week!

Tern Valley Show

We had a great weekend at Tern Valley Show--there was lots going on there for all the family. There was some beautiful sights-the gypsy caravan was stunning.

The dogs gave a fantastic show-walking along parallel bars and jumping through rings of fire!

The blue macaw was in a cage outside one of the stalls around the main arena-poor thing didnt have any toys or water and he was just going form perch to perch bored out of his mind-we enquired how much they wanted for him but it was way too much--£1600 , I just hope some kind person came along and bought him.He was really friendly and let us stroke his head.

We were kept very busy on our stall both selling and giving demonstrations.

I sold my Emerald Forest painting on Saturday so I got stuck in and painted another one as it is a class subject!

I also got one of my Brown Birch Trees paintings finished that I took with me. I also started some new monochrome birches that I want to get finished this week to take to Onslow Park next weekend.

The weather wasnt as bad as forcast on Saturday during the day but that night it emptied down-all night long.But there is nothing like being snugged up in a caravan having a nice drink and a game of scrabble whilst listening to it raining! We both slept like logs, and of course we had the traditional cooked breakfast to start the day

Of course in the morning with al the heavy lorries etc moving round the grounds it all got very muddy and churned up.When we loaded up the caravan to leave last night we got stuck in the one gateway-as did most people-so we had a tow out with one of the tractors that were standing by for the purpose!

Now just got to unload the caravan of the washing etc and start getting ready for next weekend!

Grimsby!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went off to Grimsby yesterday to fetch our new 4 berth caravan. It was a long journey but worth it. We decided that the other caravan was just a bit too small for us-
The new one has a double bed at one end and a seperate dining area at the other, so it means we can leave the bed down all the time we are away!!
Cant wait to get some nice weather and get away in her!

Babysitting

Look at this little cutie!!! Little Holly was as good as gold for us on Saturday night

Shes such a happy little thing. We decided to sleep in our caravan on the drive as we had Darren, Lydnsey and her sister staying, rather than have anyone sleep on the sofa.

Bill had made repaired the bed which broke when we were at Onslow Park when we playing scabble!.

It was a good job the cooler box was the right height to prop up the bed when we were there or we would have been stuck!

More Boot Sale Bargains

The stick insects have a lovely new home in this tank which cost just £2 at the boot sale on sunday. The biggest bargain though was all these paint and draw books-8 full volumes for just £2 and I had the other 2 oil painting books for £1. I love reading through art books, you can learn so much from them,its interesting to hear how other people do things.

I dont know just when I will have time to read them, they will join the ever growing pile of books in the spare room for now!

Jeannie Zelos

I want to tell everyone about a great forum that I am a member of http://forum.jeanniezelos.com/


is a great site with like minded members on board. Lots of hints and tips as well as being able to make small talk with other artists.
Its amazing what you can learn from forums such as these.Drop in and say hello to me and all the other artists on there!!!

Home again!

Well we are starting to get back to normal again after our painting holiday at St Audries.

All the washing is done and everything packed away again!

I have to get back into the swing of things soon, I have a talk and demo at Ledbury Art Society on Tuesday and a full class next Saturday.

Must say I am looking forward to meeting my ladies again plus one of their husbands as well for the Poppy Field painting!!

I have spent 30 mins updating the latest paintings onto http://www.protectmywork.com/

and I have some time left then to try and understand the new computer!!! Ive lost loads of photos on there somewhere-very frustrating when I have so much to update here on my blog--things may be a little muddled for a while cos I will post the pictures on as I find them, so they may not be in order!

Orange

I was without any internet connection all day yesterday, until late last night--very annoying-my orange live box had gone wrong--will update when I get back on Monday night now--Bill left early to go and fetch my friend who is pet sitting-her hubby needs the car this weekend.

Paddy and Sparky will be spoiled rotten again this weekend!

Getting Ready For Holiday

I have been ordering the canvas's ready for the painting holiday at St Audries Bay.

We are there for 2 weeks this time, so I am having the canvas delivered straight to the venue.

Last year we had to take a small suitcase because the art stuff took up a lot of room in the car, as we are there for longer I need a bigger suitcase!!!

I am working on some new paintings to do there, we will be having several acrylic painting days as well as a couple of encaustic painting days as well.

The Summer Day painting will be popular as always.

Tern Valley Show

We have just been informed that the 2 day event at Tern Valley has been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions.
So we shall spend the weekend getting the house straight or then again, we might just clear off in the caravan for a few days!!!

Flooding

These are a few of the photos we took when in town yesterday.They are all of the area around the famous Ludford Bridge. They have been testing the bridge today to see if it is still sound after the freak weather we have had. In the first picture you can see how the water was banking up before it came under the bridge---you wouldnt belive the smell and the noise that was coming from the water.

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the terrible floods of the past few days.

Spoiling The Little One!

I went shopping this morning and couldnt resist this beautiful little dress-its soooo pretty- it cost more than I would usualy spend on something that will only fit her for a few weeks, but hey if you cant spoil them when they are little when can you?

Todays Class

Here is todays student Penny.What a great painting Penny!!!

This is her third visit to me and we have become firm friends!

She bought me a beautiful gift of some silver earrings--she knows exactly my taste-they are what I would have chosen for myself!

She runs a lovely jewellery shop in the grounds of Ludlow Castle, called Astra Gems.

She sells the most beautiful things there, and always stops by for a chat when we are on the market, as its on her way to her shop.

We have a lot in common and are so on the same wave-length its unreal! We are going to have a girlie painting night at her place with some more friends some time in the future, I cant wait!!!

Her hubby is very much like my Bill--kind, caring and very helpful-as well, they will get on as well as me and Penny do!

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?

Still at it!

I am having a well deserved break for 5 mins after even more clothes sorting!
I have sent 3 black bags full of clothes down with Bill to the local cancer shop, and it looks like there might still be more.
I didnt even stop to cook dinner last night-instead we had a chinese take away and forgot the diet for once! Ive just finished off the spare ribs that were left over for my lunch!
Its one of those jobs that you wish you never started-the place looks like a bombs hit it-but it is nice to have some room in the wardrobes!

I will be at it all day I expect--I want to get finished so we can go off to Sunderland when our 2 nd grandchild is born-its due today.
Dont want to come back to an untidy house and Ive got a full class tomorrow so must stick at it--mind you it must count as exercise, so I may work some of the takeaway off!!!

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!