Todays class

We had a great time today in class! It was laughs from the word go!

As you can see from the photos, we had one unruly student who kept playing up!!

Ron was the only first time student today and he soon settled down after reassurances from everyone else that he would be fine!

Jane managed to join us again-and was really happy with her pic until she put in the suns rays, I showed her how to get rid of them and all was well.

I stocked her up with painting materials when she had her one to one on Wednesday--the few things I didn't have I gave her a list to go shopping at The Range in Kidderminster,just a couple of brushes and an easel were what she was short of.

She phoned this afternoon while she was there at The Range to check she was getting the right things --all my students know that if they are in any doubt about anything they can ring me anytime and ask! Whether its about technique or materials I am always here to answer their queries.

Michelle had to leave a bit earlier than everyone else-she had a new grandchild to go and see in Northampton, so she is not in the final photograph.!

Bill from Shrewsbury was using his 3rd gift voucher that he received from his wife--he loves the different techniques that he has learnt in each class.

Kay recieved her advanced artists brooch for attending 6 classes-she was thrilled with it!

I will finish the update tomorrow because we have little Holly her for the weekend and she is fast asleep in the room I have the computer in!

Birthday

I had a lovely birthday yesterday, I received lots of lovely cards (and emails) and pressies from family and friends.
Bill bought me some Armani Code perfume and I also had a lovely surprise when I opened the front door to find a beautiful bouquet being delivered from him too, they are absolutely beautiful.
I had more lovely flowers off my sister and daughter too, so have run out of vases now!
I have been thoroughly spoiled by everyone.!!!
Bill cooked a delicious meal in the evening for us to round off the perfect day!

Callums 1 today

As you can see little Callum, our first grandchild is enjoying ripping open his bithday presents.
Its hard to belive hes a year old already, hes a happy little chap and he looks just like his proud daddy!!
Dont they grow up quickly!!!

African Dream Class--Full

11year old Oliver who came to the Tropical Summer Day class on Saturday is coming to the African Dream class on Saturday March 8th.

This class is now full.

Another busy day.

Well I suppose its normal to a certain extent to be busy at this time of year!
After spending the morning finishing off the last of the wrapping, we then went off to deliver the pressies to the respective homes.
We called by my daughters new home-they have just got back from the Dominican Republic-they had the keys to their new home on the Friday and flew out on holiday on the Saturday! They got back 2 weeks later on last Sunday, and then the decorating etc began.!!
We called by with a couple of pressies and ended up helping to paint the bedroom and living room----thank goodness for slow cookers--I had started a chicken and pepper dish this morning and it was cooked to perfection when we arrived home this evening!! We were both starving, and with all the garlic that was added , the dish was absolutely beautiful! Its one of our favorite dishes and being done in a slow cooker , you dont have to worry about it once its in there!

Lemon and Lime Cheesecake

I have been busy tonight making my popular lemon and lime cheesecake in preparation for tomorrow's Sunday lunch. We have Wendy and Gil, Rita's daughter and son in law coming round for lunch, so its given me the perfect excuse to get creating in the kitchen!

I haven't made this sweet for ages and couldn't put my hand on the recipe as everything is still a bit upside down from when we were decorating the kitchen, so it was a guessing game to some extent!

However with regular tastings of the cheesecake filling I got the tangy lemony,limey topping just perfect.

The cream thickened up lovely when I added the fresh lemon and lime juice and when the condensed milk went in , it tasted beautifully creamy.I baked the biscuit and butter base in the oven to make it extra crispy, a lovely contrast to the creamy soft topping.

Brians latest Painting

Brian, one of my one to one students came over with his wife this morning to buy some canvas off me and to show me his latest painting that he has done on his own at home.

Very impressionist to look at with his bold sky that had a hint of pink that stopped it feeling too cold.

He said that he had used a knife to do the sea, which works very well.

The addition of the little yacht with the red sail is a clever touch!

Brian had used what he learned in the classes to do this painting and I hope there will be some more paintings included in the exhibition that have been done out of classes.

When Brian has the black frame around the box canvas it will set it off a treat!!

I will be ordering some more frames this Friday for students who want them ready for the exhibition.

Robbie , craft fair and radio shropshire!

I have had a call today from Robbie from Wolverhampton, who has been to me many times, wanting to know if I can squeeze in another private class this week--he has a fantastic idea for a painting-unfortunatly I havent got a spare minute between now and next weekend. I will see Robbie in Oct to help him create his painting!

We have just got back from setting up at the craft fair at the college--Chris who organises it for the air ambulance is very good-she gives me plenty of space because I demonstrate.


We had a terrific plug on Shropshire Radio from Colin Young who I met at Onslow Park, his young daughter had an encaustic lesson and was so impressed with it her dad came back and bought the entire kit for her! I had a lovely letter off Alice thanking me for her lesson.
It sounds like her dad is getting good at encaustic art too as well!
Thanks Colin for the mention,I am sure we will get some more people coming in for a go after all your praise!

For once I hadnt taken enough paintings down there with us--I usualy take too many.I have had another sort out and some more to take with us in the morning.

Ive Lost------

Had a great surprise when I went to weight watchers yesterday--Ive lost 5lb !!!! Im a happy bunny now--although after the beautiful spread ( the coffee and walnut cake in particular!) we had at the WI yesterday I may have put a Lb back on!

Just checked and and Ive lost another LB !

Im going to try really hard to shift some more before we go on the Painting holiday at St Audries Bay. I will without doubt put some on while there-the food is second to none and 3 courses every night--there is aways a salad option but the other stuff always smells and looks so nice it will be hard to resist it!