Our Derby Break

We had a wonderful time away in Derby-we stayed at http://www.birchover.com/darley_abbey/

We loved our apartment--a lot of thought has gone into it-and there is everything you need for a luxury weekend break!

 

Our bedroom was huge--with one of the best beds Ive ever slept in--could have brought that home with me!

there was loads of storage in our room--I could have taken twice as many clothes with me!

a lovely extra was this sauna which was off our en-suite--a new experience for us all--and we all loved it! So much so that Bill is going to look into building one at home in our summer house.

our friends bedroom was just as big and had their own en-suite as well.

We went to Matlock to see our dear friends Jan and John who moved away from Ludlow 18 months ago.. it was lovely to see them again.and their cottage is just beautiful!

-their little dog Bonnie is seen here looking for one of her favorite treats--a grape!

the armchair in our apartment was so comfy!!!!

we had some lovely meals while we were away--but the pancakes we had for pudding one evening were just beautiful!

as usual I have come back with more photos of trees than anything else!

couldn't face going on these--they went way up high!

a lovely gnarly old tree

we had a day out to Bakewell--a quaint little town

you would not believe the fun we had playing this game that Marion had bought in a charity shop for her little grandson! We were in fits of laughter at it.I dread to think what the people in the downstairs apartment thought of the noise and laughing coming from us! I had to stop halfway to go and remove my eye makeup as it was running with the tears of laughter!

this was one of the beautiful ornaments in the apartment--very elegant!

packed up ready to leave! We can recommend the Darley Abbey apartments--everything we needed was there--and the sauna was a great extra

New Commission

Ive done quite a few commissions in my time but I had a rather different request last week while on the market--a gentleman asked if I would paint a background for his Royal Doulton snowmen! He collects them and arranges them as a Nativity scene at Christmas....so now Ive got some spare time at last tomorrow and Friday I will be making a start on it. He wants a  36in x 14in canvas--a snowy scene with a wall, gate and path leading into the hills with a little distant village . The snowmen will sit in front of it! I'm quite looking forward to painting this one--as usual I will be sending emails to show the progress of the painting..and he will be able to collect it when its dry.Cant wait to see how it will look with the snowmen!

Relaxing and Markets

We have had some lovely weather lately and been able to enjoy a few BBQ's outside in the garden with friends.

there is nothing like sitting round the chiminea putting the world to rights on a lovely warm evening--its amazing just how much heat they put out!

Bill bought Sparky-cat a new catnip plant when we were on the market last Sunday as Sparky has managed to kill the old one by rubbing it to death--even though it had been covered with a wire hanging basket to try and protect it! Bill put the new one up on the table until he was able to plant it but Sparky smelt it and got up there and knocked it down--he was going mad rubbing in it bless him!

it was lovely to get the lights and fountain going on the pond again--the fish seem to love the lights--they change colour and the fountain changes too--the water goes in opposite direction--lots of excited fishes to watch!

Sparky surveying his territory

the weather was gorgeous on Sunday-so we were able to put paintings all round the outside of ours stall !I have had a lot of new cards done by our dear friend Lin so had to get the small card rack out as well to display them.They sold like hot cakes on Sunday and even more today-so will be emailing her the ones I'm short of again soon!

We spent the whole of yesterday sorting out the van and garage.. what a job! We had so many duplicates of paintings on board the van--now they have all been sorted--as have the boxes of 'stuff ' encaustic art,art materials for sale, brushes etc--now everything has its proper place--for now LOL.....

I have got this version of Frosty Reflections done ready for Saturdays workshop--I had sold the blue version a while back and was left with just the purple version

had some rain today just before we packed up so all the plastic sheets we use to protect our stall had to be hung in the garage to dry!

Dear Dad

I cant believe its been nearly 6 years since my dear Dad passed away--it would have been his 76 th birthday today...and his presence has been felt all day in one way or another...one of his favorite things was to call by the market and have a chat to us--and his name was brought up more than once today when we were up there.We had an exceptionally good day as well today--I like to think that Dad had a hand in that as well!

Spur Of The Moment-Trip To Wales

We decided that we wanted a change of scenery last Saturday so after a quick check on Late rooms .com we booked up and quickly we packed our bags and set off for St Clears in Wales.We had a lovely 3 night break--lovely food and drinks, weather was great and we returned home early this evening refreshed and armed with loads of new photos from which to paint some pictures both to sell and for class subjects.

Its amazing how much interest is got from the adverts on the car! There is always somebody interested in learning how to paint!

one of our favorite places--Tenby

Its a standing joke that I come home from holidays with more photos of trees than anything else!

this reminded me of an enchanted wood--the twisted curly trees are just beautiful!

beautiful sunrise coming up this morning--from our window in hotel!

we went for ride to Pembrook docks......

we were nearly home today and Clee Hill looked really blue in the distance--it doesn't show up to great in this photo..it was lovely to get back home ...thanks to my friends and sister who came and looked after the pets and house while we were away--especially at such short notice! We are back on the market tomorrow-and again on Sunday--so an early night is in order!

Places To Stay

One of my students Christina has the most wonderful B+B not far from Ludlow--its called  Bush Farm and you can see all about  it on her website www.bushfarmbandb.co.uk
You can even take your own horse on holiday there! The surrounding countryside is perfect riding country.
It looks wonderful--you can meet the geese, chickens and piggies that live on the farm and stay in beautiful rooms in tranquil settings.
You are sure of a huge warm welcome from Christina and her hubby....

Ollie

I cant believe how our little Ollie is growing--he is a happy little chap-always smiling and chuckling. 

He is  real little darling x

March 26th Poppies

Stella had to leave the workshop early--her back was killing her after a fall in her garden--she will get the painting finished when she comes with her granddaughter in 2 weeks--I hope she is feeling better soon!

Judy came under the recommendation of Chris and Pauline --my managers! They have referred lots of their friends to e and have been known as my managers for a while now! She loved it, and wants to come again soon!  She was quite nervous to start which is only natural--but when she new you could just paint out any bits she didn't like it calmed her nerves!

Hannah had grown so much since we saw her in October-hard to believe hes only 12 years old-her finished painting was very modern looking with her giant poppies!

Doreen traveled up from Wales the day before and stayed just a few hundred yards from the venue we use--at Henwick House-- she highly recommends it to anyone looking to stay in Ludlow-says the rooms are beautiful and the breakfast was just great!

Gill had been a few times before--and made a great job of her painting--everyone said it was much harder than they had expected--the ones that look simple often are--

well done everyone!