Diane Jennings meets Diane Jennings

Almost as soon as we arrived home last night I had a phone call asking if there was any room in tomorrows class.
As we were chatting the lady said-you will find this funny--My name is Diane Jennings!
She had googled her name and found me!
She then asked how long to get from Liverpool to you?
At that point I passed her onto Bill who is like a sat nav when it comes to directions/miles etc!
Diane is setting off to Ludlow at 6.30am as it is a bank holiday weekend--we are really lookng forward to meeting her-will be posting the class etc on here tomorrow all being well!

Holiday --so much to put on here!

Got back last night- from a lovely break away. Havent stopped all day,getting ready to go to Weston Super Mare tomorrow.
Took over 500 pics while we were away in Torquay-had problem with computer til tonight so couldnt put any pics on the interenet til it was sorted.

Holiday -last day

We had a lovely last day in the village-lots to see and do-will add to this soon!

Torquay -Holiday

We have arrived at our hotel--we are well pleased--super king size bed--spotless clean-lovely host-- we are off for a walk around Torquay to grab some fish and chips to eat while we are mooching!

We are going to have a look at the Eden Project in the morning--its Bills birthday tomorrow.

Cant belive its been a year since the suprise party last year for Bills 60th-

If I get chance I will upload the photos I have taken so far!

TODAYS CLASS-EMERALD WOODS

We had a lot of fun today in the Emerald Woods Class. I met Andy and Andy-yes that's right-hubby and wife both called Andy!- on the craft market last Sunday. Both of them wanted to learn how to paint but were convinced that they couldn't.
They came along today and asked if they could do a diptych-a 2 canvas painting.
I couldn't see a problem with that and it turned out to be great fun. Once we had the pond shape sorted it wasn't too difficult. There was a little bit of competition between them from time to time and it was fun to watch them both deciding for themselves where to put things.
We ended up using my easel a lot of the time as it was easier to have both canvas's on there to match things up.Oliver earned his artists badge today-he is the first student to have one of the new style ones.
He has grown into a very confident little artist and I'm looking forward to seeing him again soon!

New Stands

My stands that we have been using for years on the craft markets have been getting tattier and tattier over time-there is only so much damage that the black paint can hide!
I have splashed out on some new stainless steel ones that will look smarter and be easier to lug around the country.The old ones were heavy and cumbersome but have served us well.
I have 12 like the one shown here, they will be joined up in sets of 2's -There will be a variety of ways we can have them, so very adaptable.
I have bought a roll of black material to put behind them so the background will still be basically be black.
The paintings hang lovely on them-brilliant service from the firm I bought them off-ordered at 2pm and delivered next morning.
Cant wait to try them out at the next craft fair!

Market

After an early start the weather wasnt as bad as forcast and we managed to get set up in the dry!
It wasnt very busy most of the time, but we met some lovely people there-earlly on a couple called by the stall-Ding Li Hua just loved my work-she came into the stall and looked at every painting-she paints herself using chines brush technique but have used nothing like I do.
We had a long chat and off they went to look around Ludlow--a short time later she was back--I had to come and see you again she said! Her partner came and found her and she insisted on having her photograph taken with me on her camera , so got one on mine as well! She enjoyed seeing the encaustic art being done, and wants a kit when I get some more irons, she left me with her name address and phone number to stay in touch with her-she lives in Llandudno in Wales and they have a camper van, so will be looking at the sites I have got on my website with the view of coming to classes!
Paula who has the stall opposite selling beautiful shawls and wraps has a 50th birthday today, so she had a suprise when she turned up to find a balloon and a beautiful flower arrangment off some of the girls on market.

Leominster Vintage Club

What a day we had yesterday-an early start on the market-up at 6am to get down there and set up early, then back home for quick wash and change and an hours sit down before we were off again to do the demonstration for leominster Vintage club.
Alf had booked me from a recommendation for a lady who had seen me at a WI talk.
He told me that all the members were a great bunch with a good sense of humour, and enjoyed a laugh.We arrived at 7pm to set up-the room was massive-it was at the British Legion Club in Leominster.
We got the stands up with all the paintings on and the tables set out with odds and sods for people to have a look at before Alf and co went through their bits and pieces of the meeting.
There was lots of humorous barracking from members which was nice, then it was my turn!
I'm not sure what people expect when they book me for a demo-they are always astounded when they realise that I will be painting the 2 pictures from start to finish in front of their eyes-I decided to paint Winter Wonderland on the black canvas- and the usual Summer Day on the white canvas.
Lots of questions from people about the technique I have developed, and loads of interest in doing classes.
I was told after the demo that it was the best night they had ever had-what a compliment! And I was told I would be going back there to for another demo.We cant wait! Best fun we have had in ages too!

The Marches Transport/Food and Drink

We were up at the crack of dawn yesterday to go down to the Castle Square for the Marches Transport Show which was combined with the new Food and Drink festival.We were down on the square for 6.45am and we were set up by 9am. Its amazing how long it takes to get sorted. I had to send Bill home for some more paintings as we were able to move from our allocated spot to a more suitable one where we could take the stall further back.!
The weather was beautiful all day-no breeze at all, so no need for the paperweights to come out for a change.
As usual lots of interest in the classes-there were visitors from all over the country there.
My ''managers''Pauline and Chris called by to see us-and were praising the classes up to everyone!
Lovely to hear all about Chris's new painting project-will look forward to seeing that Chris!
Had a little chuckle when Pauline said that their kitchen was covered in painting stuff--they had started out using a downstairs garden room as a studio, but it sounds like the addiction has really started-its creeping out of the room and taking over the house!!
It was lovely to see Jan and John as well,had a few minutes away from the stall to have a breather and chat with Jan.
Bill went off to have a look round the various things on display-the trike was the main thing that caught his eye-and I can see why-what a beauty!
We were trying all sorts of different foods and drinks that were on offer n the surrounding stalls,quite a mixture-beautiful chocolate cookies to lamb kebabs!
We didnt get packed up and finished until turned 6pm-so a long busy day.
We went off to the Squirrel for a meal after-too tired to cook!

Models

After doing the class today, we went out with my friend Jane to take some photos of our little great niece and nephew in the clothes Jane is selling for her flyers and advertising etc. We had a lovely few hours-Hariette and George loved trying the clothes on and Hariette proved to be a right little poser as you can see, her little friend joined in at the end too.
Its not as easy as you would think getting little ones to look natural in photos. I was trying to get some at the same time as Jane was taking some too!
Bill came in handy hanging everything off the bars in the conservatory that none of us could reach!
Everyone was taken with the quality of the clothes and there is even a first clothes party sorted out already.
We wish Jane all the best with her new venture!

Todays class-

Today Rachel who came to class last week brought along her 7 year old granddaughter Molly.When it came to putting the aprons on-we had to laugh-Molly's came right down to the ground! But it really wasnt needed- she kept herself lovely and clean!
As they were the only students I let them have free range on which painting they did-Molly chose the Summer Day one and when they arrived here chose to do it landscape style instead of the usual portrait style.
After being introduced to Paddy and Jake-who were to keep us entertained throughout the day we got down to painting.
Molly really was natural with the brush-she didn't need telling or showing twice with any of the stages.
She used the knife as if she had used it for years!
She decided against doing the usual poppies-preferring to do some fantasy flowers which in the end we decided were of the Alium family! :)
All in all a great day-very laid back-Molly loved making friends with the birds, Sparky Cat and then we went out and fed the Koi in the pond.
Molly and Grandma Rachel had started out from home at 7.30am this morning in order to get to us on time, we were finished for 1pm so they could have a quiet journey back home.
Molly has stated in my comments book that she loved it and cant wait to come again! We will certainly look forward to meeting them both again

I have had some unexpected places available for the next 6 classes as the 2 children who were booked in were unable to come due to family circumstances. Hopefuly we will see them later in the year when they come back to live with their daddy again.