NEW VENUE FOR THIS SATURDAY

As of this Saturday we will be at our new venue Helena Lane Day Centre, off Hamlet Road , Ludlow, SY8 2NR.

Its a lovely room, lots of good light and parking right outside the door.
Looking forward to using this lovely new venue--for details on how to find it please get in touch-though its literaly just round the corner from our previous room!

Gift Vouchers

I always have the house phone calls diverted to my mobile when we are away from home.

While we were doing the class on Saturday I had 2 calls from people wanting gift vouchers for classes-- and they couldn't see how they could buy the gift vouchers direct from the website because there wasn't a 'buy it now 'button to click on there.

That has now been rectified and the button is now in place. The gift vouchers are no extra cost and come with a free card and envelope .

I also had a call from a lady who wanted to buy her hubby a surprise pressie of a painting class.
She is sending him off on March 6th from Birmingham with the postcode of the class venue put into his satnav, some sandwiches and my mobile number to be used only in emergency's!
He is in for a big big suprise when he knows what he will be doing! His wife rather fancies the poppy field painting for her hallway!

We have arrived

Well we have arrived at our first destination -Bournemouth--it was further than I had thought-155 miles from home. We stopped off for a beautiful Sunday Lunch at the Travellers Rest near Newent ,Gloucester-they had had just uncovered the meats and the roast beef was well cooked on the outside-as we were first in queue I was asked if I wanted the outside bits----I didnt need asking twice! It was delicious -brown and tasty-just how I like it!
All the veg were freshly cooked and the horse radish sauce was some of the best Id ever tasted.

We are just relaxing with a nice bottle of bubbly and having look at the menu to see what we will be having this evening--
tomorrow we are off on the second leg of our trip-on round to Rye--calling en-route at a gallery that sells my work!

Twilight Tree

Painted in acrylic on a deep edge box canvas measuring 12in x 24in--''Twilight Tree''
An atmospheric painting that will look great in a contemporary rom or a more traditional one.
£130
The price includes P+P in UK
For more details please take look at my website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Bromyard Gala

We had a lovely day out yesterday-we took a ride over to Bromyard Gala-the sun was shining and it made a lovely change for us to be able to walk around together instead of one at a time while the other watched the stall!
There was lots to see from the rabbit show to the beautiful heavy horses.
There was also a stunt man-who was hilarious-he had everyone laughing at his antics.
It got so hot at one point a visit to the refreshments van was in order and a lovely cold pint of cider went down very well!
We walked miles around the big site,chatting to the various stall holders-we will hopefully be doing this venue next year-either in the craft marquee or as some of the other traders have done-setting up in the awning of their caravan!
Its certainly one of the busiest ones we have seen for a while!

Lay Beneath The Trees

Lay Beneath The Trees
I think everyone at some point in their life has lain down beneath a tree and looked up at the sky.The painting is bright and vibrant I have used many of different shades of greens and yellows in this painting,and black to create the trees-which stand out against the sunny blue sky. This painting will make a big statment in any room it is hung in! the photos do not do this painting justice at all. All the sides of the deep edge canvas are painted and staple free and it does not require framing.It measures a massive 3ft x 3ft

£300.00 including P+P in UK-please contact me if you are outside the UK
THIS SERIES OF PAINTNGS HAS BEEN LOGGED WITH
www.protectmywork.com

Lying Beneath The Birches

Lying Beneath The Birches
Description	Painted in beautiful soft shades of browns and creams with a touch of very pale blue where the sky is showing through the tops of the birch trees. To lie down and look up through the trees is something most people have done when children--and something we should do more often in adulthood! Its one of the most relaxing things you can do--watch the clouds floating by and listening to the birds! The painting is 24in square and all the sides have been painted for a contemporary look.It has been varnished to protect it. It is part of my most recent series of paintings looking up through trees.
Size	24in x 24in Price is £205 please contact me through my website if you would like to purchase this painting.Price includes P+P in UK by special delivery-if you are outside the Uk please contact me for details www.paintingmyway.co.uk I have logged all of this series of paintings with www.protectmywork.com

The Western Wheel-BIG MISTAKE!

While in Weston on holiday we were able to watch the Weston Wheel going round from our hotel room.
Now Ive always had a really really morbid fear of heights from a child-a step ladder is too high for me most of the time!
I convinced myself and Bill that I would conquer the fear by going on the new attraction at Weston-the 40 metre high Weston Wheel!! We walked along the seafront watching it go round-convinced myself it would be ok and I would handle it-paid at kiosk and waited for the posh air-conditioned pod to come round! There was seats for 4 people inside-We sat down and the door closed. I got my phone out and set it to video--then we started moving---------OMG before we had got 15 ft off the ground I started a panic attack! The pods were clear glass down to the floor-- I think maybe if they were like a car with solid pieces at the sides all round and just glass at the top I may have been better-but every time I opened my eyes to look at Bill I could see below him and it was bloody horrible!
I got on there with a full face of make up and got off there with non--Bill was laughing cos I had tissue stuck all over my face-it was the longest 10 mins of my life!
I have never been so scared-I cant describe the feeling-my legs were wobbling when we got off and I really was scared I would have a heart attack on there-my heart was beating so fast!
Never again-have to accept that I have a fear of heights and thats it!

Hollie and Lucie

we have had Hollie and Lucie tonight-our little grandaughters.First time we have seen Lucie-she is a little darling bless her! Had her bottle and went straight to sleep! Hollie wasnt far after her!

Absolutely Unique

I have some more paintings on display in the new gallery that has opened up in Corve Street , Ludlow, Shropshire.
"Absolutely Unique" has lots of beautiful furniture in there as well as paintings and jewelry etc.

I am going to be Artist In Residence at the gallery on 11th and 12th of February. I will be taking my easel,paints and canvas to the gallery and speaking to the public about my work etc.
Must say Im really looking forward to it!

Michael Jordan

I mentioned the other day that one of my students had a blog on which he has his paintings-well he has gone one step further now and has his own website on the brilliant website http://www.affordablebritishart.co.uk

He has started to put his work on there already-take a look-there is some lovely work on there, Im sure Michael will do very well.

http://www.affordablebritishart.co.uk/gallery.php?artist=MichaelJordan&aid=386
CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL!

New Grandaughter

Our 3rd grandchild -a little girl arrived this morning at 6.30am.Her name is Lucie Marie and she weighed in at 7 lb 12 1/2 oz.
No photos as yet, will put them on when we get them.

Ive got a bad chest infection at the moment, so off to Docs in the morning for antibiotics.

Gloucester Arts Summer School

I have been asked to be a tutor at the 28th Gloucester Arts and Crafts Summer school on 20th and 21st of July 2009.
I will be able to take 8 students on each day.
On the 20th July I will be teaching the ever popular Birch Tree painting and on the 21st July we will do the Summer Day painting.

I will put more details on here as soon as possible.
Im still busy doing the new website, its all exciting stuff-not sure when it will go live just yet but shouldnt be too long!

Test Results

well Ive had the last of the tests at Hereford hospital. I had to go to go for an endoscopy yesterday--not the most pleasant experience Ive ever had to be honest-but I manged to do it without the sedation and just had the spray to numb the back of the throat.

The good thing is they told me the results of all the tests Ive had while I was there-and the good news is that there is nothing serious to worry about---Ive got an hiatus hernia and diviculaitus-which can be controlled by diet and some antacids.
So cut back on some foods and just be careful when I eat and things should be fine.

Happy Birthday Jim

well 31 years ago today I was in hospital for another reason---My son Jim is 31 years old today-- I cant belive where the time has gone!

Class of Feb 28th--Forest Dawn

Forest Dawn is a new painting subject.
Its suitable for all ages and abilities.
It is created using acrylic and oil paint.

If you are interested in joining this class please get in touch with me via the website www.paintingmywy.co.uk

or give me a ring on 01584 872013 if you have any questions about this class

Class of Nov 8th -Stormy Skies

We had a lovely time in class today-there were only 4 of us so it was quite cosy!
Bev on the left of the photo was doing her 3rd painting while Chris and Pauline have been lots of time before!

It was amazing to see just how different each painting was created-as you can see from the photos-right from the start when they did their skies, everyone interpreted what I had shown them differently to each other
.Chris put a volcano in his painting-it doesnt show up to well on the photo but looks great in real life! (By the way Pauline and Chris-let us know what your night out was like! :) )

As usual there were some nerves about using the knife to do the waves-Bev amazed us all by using it as if she had used one for years-when in fact she had only used it once before!
Chris is quite easy on when using it and Pauline is still a bit nervous of it, but quickly got into it!
Everyone is different and some people find things easier than others to do-that is just human nature-if we were all the same it would be a boring old world!

We had lots of laughs as usual throughout the day over different things, and they will all be meeting up again in Dec for the Mellow Moods painting.

Jills Class--Emerald Forest

I had a most enjoyable day today with Jill who came over from Telford for the Emerald Forest class.

Jill and myself have been in touch for a time now, emailing and we met a few weeks ago when she came over to Ludlow to pick up an encaustic kit.

We were giggling most of the day at one thing or another--Jake and Paddy were outside on the patio and Jake was talking non stop most of the time, which creased us up!

In between painting which was very leisurely, as I showed Jill some interesting websites on the computer--she loved www.quidco.co.uk

and www.hotukdeals.co.uk both sites are very worth while looking at if you like a bargain!

Jill has gone home with lots of new ideas!

The time flew by and before we knew it , it was 3pm!

They say time flies when you enjoy yourself and its true!

Im looking forward to meeting Jill again!

The two other ladies that were coming couldn't make it at the last minute, but are coming again to do this painting.

There is also one place left in the Birch Trees class in November as Bev cant make it due to having visitors that weekend-however she is coming next weekend to do the Summer Day class which now has the full capacity of 7 people.

Birch Trees class full--Nov 1st

This class for November 1st is now full.

I have 7 students booked into this popular class.

There will be the option of painting this in the brown/sepia colours as well as the black and white.

I will be setting another date for this class for January 09 and will put the details on here and the website as soon as a date is set.

If you would like to be put on the waiting list for this painting please get in touch.

Tropical Sunset Class Aug 30th

We had a lovely class today, 4 students-- Oliver, Jack , Pauline and Chris had been to me before but Beverly and Doreen were first timers.

Doreen and Beverly had been going to watercolour classes and fancied a change of medium!

The class went very well with some really vibrant skies emerging from the brushes.

Olivers in particular was very bright to start with, but after some careful tickling with the tickling brush it mellowed down nicely.

The palm trees caused a few laugh among us all--we had all sorts-helicopter rotors and wind turbines to name a few, but as I told the students , real palm trees do come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

I must cut out some pictures of some to take to class to show them!

Everyone was really happy with the end results--Beverly and Doreen have booked for another 2 classes -The Birch Trees and the Poppy Fields and Pauline and Chris have booked for the Poppy Fields so they will be meeting up again soon.

Thats what I love about the classes, everyone makes firm friendships with the other students and its a social event as much as a painting class.

For once we finished early in class and its lovely to relax with a glass of Tia Maria and Baily's on ice while doing some updating!

Back to the grindstone tomorrow -after the bootsale.

It will be my first Sunday off for what seems like ages-but have got to get cracking on the commissions in the afternoon!