Yesterdays Market

Although the forecast was for really bad weather we decided to give the new stands their first outing--overall they worked well--I haven't yet sorted out how I'm going to line the back of them with the yards of black material Ive bought, so they were left open.
The new hooks Ive bought worked ok, we didn't need to use the feet I have got to go with them and they are easier to cart around and put up a lot quicker than the old pegboard ones!
We had to put the back sheets up because it was very very windy and started raining as well-but it seemed lighter inside the stall--or The Cage-as it soon became known by our fellow stall holders! The jokes came thick and fast all day from them!
This system will be a lot better than the old for the marquees which we will be in a lot this summer.we will be able to hang the new stands from the hooks around the sides of the marquee instead of having them stood on the ground-so should be able to display the paintings better.
Bill had a car full of cardboard after unpacking the new stands-each 2ft stand came in its own cardboard box--we have kept some to use for posting paintings but the rest went for recycling!
Before we had even finished setting up the stall-we had people asking about the classes--I make sure my leaflets are the first thing out of the car when we start setting up anywhere--its amazing how many people stop to look and chat with us.
Considering the weather we had a good day--the rain drove people into the ''cage'' into the dry!
We are looking forward to seeing some new students from yesterdays market--it's really handy having the dongle for the laptop-it lets me show potential students just what goes on in the classes and exactly which classes are coming up etc.
Plus I can keep up to date with sales and class bookings etc while I'm out from home.

New Date--"Forest Pool" Oct 31st

Forest Pool is back by request--a popular subject with stunning results every time!
Suitable for all ages and abilities from children upwards.
If you would like to join this class-please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

new dates---Winters Walk-oct 17th

We will be painting Winters Walk on Saturday Oct 17th-- it is suitable for all ages and abilities from children upwards--
we will use oil and acrylic and its great fun to do-you will learn to use a variety of brushes and techniques during this workshop.
if you would like to join this workshop please get in touch-
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Under The Sun

Under The Sun
I have used acrylic paint to create this picture.Looking up through the tree tops with the sunshine coming through the branches. I have used a special metallic paint to capture the shiny light in this painting which does not show up that well in the photos. The sides have all been painted and are staple free. The picture has been varnished to protect it.It measures 24in x 24in.

£205.00 which includes P+P in UK
please get in touch if you are outside the uk
THIS SERIES OF PAINTINGS HAVE BEEN LOGGED WITH
www.protectmywork.com

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

OUCHHHHHHHH!!!!!

While rushing around this morning Ive managed to kick my foot against the metal leg of the computer table--to say it hurts is an understatement!
Im pretty sure Ive broken my toe--Ive broken 2 in the past and it feels the same--no point going to the hospital-from past experience I know they wont do anythiing except confirm it , so Im going to keep taking the strong painkillers and see how it goes!
Its starting to change colour now, so the bruising is coming out-- wont stop me doing things though-just have to grin and bear it!

Yesterdays Craft Market

Well the weather was beautiful all day and it was heaving with people all day as it was the secret gardens event in town.
We met some lovely people as usual, and look forward to meeting them in the future in class!
Forgot to take the camera with us so no pics Im afraid!

Another Sale

Had a call from the local gallery yesterday to say that Bizarre had sold.

Chuffed with that-have to get some more done!

Fun In The Garden

As the weather was so nice yesterday we decided to have a BBQ in the evening.Bills eldest lad Carl was here, along with my Becki and her partner Wayne-Bill fired up the BBQ and then decided we needed to get the chimanea going as we hadnt used it last year.
They lugged it up from the lower garden to just below the patio and filled it up with wood.I think Bill got a little carried away judging by the size of the flames coming out at one point!
It was lovely to sit , eat and drink outside watching the flames and embers.It was really late before we went in, good job we had got everything sorted out for todays class!
Im pretty sure there will be another session tonight in the garden-the weather has been beautiful all day here!

CLASS OF JUNE 13th--Mystical Moon

We had a great time in class today as usual--a few people met up again after a break and Tony who was with us for the second time soon found he had 6 new friends!
As Tony had arrived early it was his job to make the tea and coffee while we got the class set up!
As the painting is done using acrylic paint rather than oils it dryed quickly-a bit too quick sometimes--but as soon as everyone had got the first coat onto the canvas it got a bit easier!
Everyone found it funny to be able to use such large amounts of paint on this painting-they are all used to using such small amounts on the oil paintings --Im always telling them-not much paint on the brush-so I had to keep encouraging some to use plenty of it so there were no dry brush marks on the canvas.
We used a new shape canvas for this painting too-a nice chunky deep edge one that suited the new painting subject beautifully.We were able to paint all of the sides, so there wil be no need to frame them.
There were a variety of colours used-Jan and Tony chose to use the grey, Pauline and myself used the purple and Chris,Jack,Bev and Doreen used the blue.
When it came to putting the moon in Chris came up with the idea of using something to draw round-which was a bit of a cheat-but we let him do it!
He used the bottom of the water containers, so Chris, Paulines and Jans moons are all bigger than the rest who did it free hand! He got a lot of ribbing from us I can tell you!(as usual)
You could cut the concentration with a knife when the moons were being done-I think everyone stopped breathing for a while while they were done!
The trees and foliage were the last things to be done- Jan had the advantage over everyone as she has quite shaky hands, which she was worried about before she came to her first class--I had assured it it would be fine-and it was!
Jans trees were beautiful, she didn't have to try to hard to get some lovely wobbly branches , something the others had to try really hard to do!

Chris bought along a painting he has done at home--he had told me he was doing one when he saw us on the craft market.
Its completely different to any class subject we have done in class-a brick wall with ivy and flowers on it.It really is stunning .He worked very had to get all the different shades in the brick work and ivy leaves.
Im very proud of him.Well Done Chris.
As I was busy supervising everyone else during the first stage of the painting I had to ask Bill to carry on doing my painting-he made a lovely job of it and enjoyed it as well.
I shall have to watch him-he will be after his own canvas and brushes if Im not careful.
I have got to have a look and see if I can change the date on one of the classes in the near future--4 of them have booked up for the new birch tree pool class in Sept but they are all disappointed they have to wait til then, as they have done all of the class subjects so far. I have had a look at some of my paintings and have found one they haven't done-so I will be ringing them to see if they want to do Winters Walk soon.

Lots to catch up on! Marden WI

We havent long got back from Marden (Hereford)WI where we have been
to do a demonstration of encaustic art. the evening went brilliantly!
Photos to follow.
Its the second time over to Herford in one day---Bill had to go to the hospital for a biopsy on a growth on his thumb, so we were up early to go there today!
That means that Bill has been let off washing up duties for a few days!

Got back and loaded the car for tonight.

Yesterday we were on the market , and as soon as the market finished we had to go to a meeting about the markets future-the council want to change the layout of the market which none of the traders want.

I have been busy all week getting some new paintings done-am really pleased with them-got lots of computing to catch up on, loads of photos to edit and put on here.

I had a call yesterday to confirm that we will be at Welland Steam Show for 3 days 23rd,24th,and 25th of July,
so we have got a few jobs to get done on the caravan, as we will be going down the night before to set up.
We will be staying on site, so we are looking forward to that, meeting up with friends old and new.

Bonnie

We have been to take our friend Jan to fetch a new doggie. This is Bonnie -she is a 7 year old wire haired fox terrier and shes lovely!
We went to see her in her home and she took to Jan straight away-she has a lovely nature, very playful and bouncy, but let us take her ball off her with no nastiness.
She is used to a crate and jumped straight into the back of the car into the crate when it was time to go.After a quick wonder round her new garden, she is now curled up asleep in her bed-- Jan has just let me know.
Sounds like she has settled in already bless her!
I'm sure they will all be very happy together!

Class of June 20th--Stormy Skies

There are a now only 2 places left in this popular class, its done in oils and is suitable for all ages and abilities even first timers.
There will be a choice of colours for this class-last time it was done using prussion blue and van dyke brown as well as the grey and it worked very well.
If you would like to join this class please get in touch via the website.
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Class of July 18th-- Serenity In Green

The hardest part of this painting is going to be which colour you choose to do it in!
You will have the choice of green,blue, brown or grey.
Its always a popular subject and its suitable for all ages and abilities even first time students.

If you would like to join us please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Class of August 8th-Winter Wonderland

There are still some spaces left in this popular class.
Painted in oil onto a black canvas, the results are always excellent.
Suitable for all ages and abilities even first timers.
If you would like to join us for this class please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

AUGUST 15TH" MELLOW MOODS"

There are just 2 places left in this class.
Its painted in acrylic and oil and is suitable for all ages and abilities.
If you would like to join us in this class please
get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

September 26th--Birch Trees

Back again by popular demand--Birch Trees is one of my most popular subjects to date.
There is a choice of monochrome, sepia tones and the new green version, which Im sure will prove to be popular.
The class is suitable for all ages and abilities from children as young as 7 upwards.
if you would like to join this class please get in touch--but it does get full very quickly!
please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk
THERE ARE 3 PLACES LEFT FOR THIS CLASS

Class of Oct 3rd--Poppy Fields-oil

Bright and cheerful-poppies are always a popular subject.
this painting is suitable for all ages and abilities even first timers.
If you would like to see some students results of this painting and to join this class please take a look at my website www.paintingmyway.co.uk
THERE ARE 4 PLACES LEFT IN THIS CLASS

Oct 10th class'' Perfect Evening''

Perfect Evening is an acrylic painting so it will be dry for you to take home.
It is suitable for all ages and abilities even first time students.
We get wonderful results every time with this.
If you would like to join us for this class please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Mystical Moon class June 13th--FULL

Next Saturdays class is now full with 8 students booked to come along.I will be setting new class dates later today--

Birch Tree Class July 4th --FULL

Two of yesterdays students have just booked for the Birch Tree class on July 4th.That makes a total of 8 students so that class is now full.
I will be setting a date for another class soon.

Yesterdays class "Summer Day"

The weather was horrible yesterday-pouring with rain, so it was nice to be doing a bright cheerful painting like Summer Day!
Kim was back for the second time,Carol and her dad Tony along with Julie were with me for the first time.
Julie had quite a journey to get to us from Hay On Wye.
Everyone was excited about doing this painting although Kim said she was actually more nervous this time than last time , as she didn't think she could paint another painting as good as her first one!She told us that when she took her first painting (Forest Pool) home her friends jaw actually dropped--she couldn't believe that Kim had painted it in less than 4 hours!
Kims fears were unfounded though-her painting turned out beautiful.
Carol and her dad Tony really enjoyed themselves--I was a bit worried to see that Carol had a white skirt and top on--if that had been me I would have been covered in paint-but with the help of one of my aprons she kept herself spotless.
Everyone kept saying throughout the class--"I cant belive Ive done this" The class went really quickly and we were finished before time.Everyone picked up using the knife very quickly and easily which was a suprise as it can be a bit tricky to use first time.
Tony is coming to next weeks class "Mystical Moon" which is now full.Tony and Carol have also booked for Birch Trees , and Kim for Serenity in Green.
The brush cleaning didnt take long as there were only 5 sets of brushes!

Summer Days

Theres nothing quite like a nice rib eye steak done on the BBQ.!Lots of salad and some good wine! Although we have been having a BBQ every evening since Friday, making the most of this beautiful weather,I was happy to find that Ive still lost some weight!
So Im a happy bunny!
We are doing a demo tonight , so hope all our hard work isnt spoiled by the usual lovely food we get at the WI's !