Festival At The Edge

Had a busy few days getting ready to do the Festival At The Edge...we had a wonderful time there last year,,meeting up with friends we had not seen for ages...

Lovely atmosphere in the evening....

Deb made a great job of her Summer Day painting--I will be running small workshops while I am there all weekend ..

With luck we won't need too have the sides on the awning and gazebo this year! We had a huge thunder storm on the Friday night last year--which is quite something to behold when you are in a caravan LOL...Hopefully we wont get a repeat of that this year!!

And Relax.............

It was the hottest day of the year on Thursday and we were in a marquee at Burwarton show! Hot wasn't the word for it! However I have never seen so many of my students in the same place--it was non-stop all day of students past and present calling by to say hello-and all of them were telling everyone how wonderful the workshops are! You cant get better advertising than that can you? It was lovely to catch up with everyone ...

I had been up painting late the night before--the little tiny canvas pictures always sell well, so did loads ready for Burwarton and Tenbury-they sold well at Burwarton..and I don't have many left for the market on Wednesday!

My latest Cats In A Tree painting also went to a new home in Bridgnorth..

While we were setting up at Tenbury-the sky went so black---and we had the most awful thunderstorm...bit scary when you are in a metal framed marquee! However it passed over as quick as it started  and we got finished setting up..

The Mellow Moods painting (yellow ochre background with tree)  that is in the middle of the above photo sold today and the lady that bought it is coming to a workshop in Oct..and may be coming next week with luck too..It was an exceptionally busy show for us..most of the mini paintings sold-loads of interest in the workshops,,and bookings for 3 workshops coming up..2 possible workshops coming up in Cardiff and Blackpool--both very different ! Watch this space..

we had the most amazing storm when we got home last night--the hailstones were huge..I was outside feeding the fish when I heard the most amazing sound as the hail storm came over Ludlow..incredible--I called Bill outside as I wasn't sure what the noise  was at first....what the photo does not show is the hailstones were white in the middle but had a huge clear ice around them-making them as big as ice cubes almost!.       Well I am completely knackered tonight...am looking forward to a family BBQ tomorrow for my lovely daughters 29th birthday...it may be an inside one if it rains--We wont mind-will be lovely to get together with everyone again..And then I have Monday and Tuesday off--completely free except for some housework! I have been asked several times over the past few days if I have the dates for next year done yet-- I will be trying to get some of them done over the next few weeks...keep checking the website  www.paintingmyway.co.uk the 2014 dates will be underneath this years.And then I can relax!!!!!!!!

Serenity Workshop

Josie's 3rd time painting with me--her confidence is growing and she has bought a set of brushes from me so she can have a go at home-she knows she can give me a ring if she gets stuck on anything...I'm always happy to help students who want to try it solo! She called by the market this morning to pick up some odourless turps, and she was telling everyone how wonderful the workshops were bless her! I think I will be getting a few new students to the workshops now LOL..

Martins wife Anne came long to paint The Waterfall the other week--he fancied having a go at the Serenity one  with her... he made a grand job of his painting--though at the end he joked ---"Ive been less nervous resuscitating someone"--he is a first responder! I don't think he will be as nervous next time though...he made a lovely job of his painting..

Anne used the dusky lilac shades for her picture-- it gives a completely different feel to it--quite a warm feel to it! She mastered all the different stages quite easily,,and remembered things from the previous workshop!

Sue was with me for the first time--she absolutely loved every minute of it--she came by the market today so happy with herself and chuffed to bits with her painting! She wants her hubby to join her in another one soon! Its so satisfying for me to see the end result and see how happy it can make people to achieve something they thought was beyond them!

We met Katrina recently on the market--she is from Tewksbury so had quite a drive to get here...she was a little nervous but surprised herself with what she achieved--she said once she had booked on-line she thought "OMG what have I done-well Ive paid so I have to go!"  But she is so glad she did--it really does boost peoples confidence when they see the painting develop before their eyes..

We had a group of  5 friends join us...Debbie didn't seem to struggle with any of the steps at all..

Martin chose the green version to do--its still my favourite colour for this painting...his background trees were lovely-its always amazing for everyone to see just how different everyones painting turns out--all as individual as they all are!

Angela was amazed with herself and what she achieved..

Margret adding her snow to the bushes---she didnt seem fazed by any stage of the painting!

Jennifer adding her finishing touches to her painting--   I really enjoyed teaching this painting..its lovely to watch the confidence grow with each brush stroke and see the students making decisions, and comparing each others pictures..there are always bits that would be painted slightly different if they paint it again..but that's only natural and its part of the learning curve--I still do it with every painting I do now!

WOW what lovely results from everyone-- they all want to come again and do another one!

Its always quite amazing how different the paintings turn out-- a bit extra paint here and a little less pressure on the brush there makes a big difference to the end result...

Lots of depth and distance in all of the paintings--well done everyone!

Workshops..

Mellow Moods workshop on Sept 22nd is now full...new dates will be on the website soon for 2013

"Yesterday" workshop on Nov 3rd at our new venue in Eardisley is now full...but I still have a few spaces left for the workshop in Ludlow on Nov 24th

I have had a couple of cancellations for this Saturday 8th Sept for the "Serenity" workshop.This one is great fun to do--you will learn to use a variety of brushes and techniques..you will also have a choice of colour in which to paint it..suitable for all ages and abilities..contact me via the website for more details and to book..www.paintingmyway.co.uk

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Chloe-Babes 18th Birthday

 

It was lovely to have everyone together for my niece Chloe's 18th birthday last night....my lovely daughter Becki and her partner Wayne above...we had so many laughs with them both......

me and Bill -we had a busy day making a birthday cake and decorating it....

 

Birthday Girl   -Chloe-Babe...where have the years gone to? I cant believe its so long ago I used to look after her when her mum went to work!

 

Chloe's reaction when she opened her pressie off us....a weekend away at a lovely hotel...I had wrapped up one of the hotels business cards and tied it to a balloon for her...me and Bill have booked into the same hotel for  September 2012 so we will  have the reviews of Chloe and her boyfriend James by then!

waiting for our meals...

a great choice of meals--and everyones was just beautiful--we had steak and ale pie with blue cheese pastry crust---loads of it as well! And proper home made chips too......

Becki is the only person I know who cant go cross eyed! Here she is trying--we were all creased at her!

a lovely pic of my mum,Chloe and Becki

My brother Andrew,Chloe, sis in law Jan and Nat a Tat..

Chloe's niece Katy admiring the birthday cake....

well we can highly recommend the Boyne Arms pub in  Burwarton for meals--there were over 20 of us and all the meals came out together all cooked to perfection---

A Squirrels Eye View Workshop

Joy was painting with us for the first time--she made the journey from Llanidloes with her friend Elaine (my personal manager!) Elaine has organised 2 workshops in Llanidloes in Nov for me and has got one full and the other nearly full--hence her new title of personal manager!

Cynthia getting her sky done---

Irene has quite a journey and always comes down the day before and stays at the nearby Travel lodge,she chose to do the browns and creams version of the painting...

Elaine chose the fresh greens and yellows version--

the scary part of the painting was doing the black tree trunks--everyone was holding their breath at this stage!

Getting there Elaine.....

you would never believe that this was Joys first painting would you? She seemed to find it easy to do and followed my instructions carefully. Adding the trees as the canvas was turned round on the easel made it easier!

Elaines painting is coming along great here..

as is Cynthias...

Bill had to go and take some paintings to Church Stretton for an exhibition after I got the class set up this morning. When he got back he got roped into doing some finishing touches to my painting as I was busy supervising the students....

what great results ladies----everyone enjoyed their day---and we will see everyone again soon---maybe see Cynthia and her hubby at the Private Viewing on Monday evening!

Market

We were up at 6.30am this morning to go down and set up at the market for the green and craft fair--Maureen whose daughter had a stall there came along to say hello-Maureen has been to 7 workshops. I was doing an encaustic demo and Maureen just loved it--she ended up having a go--and bought the last encaustic set I had left. Im sure we will be seeing some of her new encaustic art work when she comes to class next Saturday!

The lull before the storm--it was hectic all day on the market---loads of interest in the workshops-I must get on and do some more dates for them soon.One of my ''must do's''  for this week. I will try and sort out the dates up til September!

I always paint while there--and this little 8in x 10in oil painting was soon done.A passing lady spotted it and fell in love with it-and even though she knew it was wet she had to have it! So Bill disappeared into the back of the van and came out with a cardboard  box to put it in so they could get it home safely!

we went to my brothers and his family for a BBQ after getting packed up.We had a lovely time there--here are my lovely daughter Becki and her partner Wayne enjoying a beer and the sunshine!

this little chap was busy catching a huge worm while we were eating--must have some babies nearby! All in all a lovely -if long day! Tomorrow we are off to Tenbury Boot Sale--its always a good one, then we will be seeing our youngest little grandson Ollie-so another good day in store for us!