Stormy Skies Feb th--4 spaces left

I have just had a call from Janet who has been to a couple of classes with her daughters--they have booked into the Mellow Moods class and the Stormy Skies class as well--unfortunately they cant make it to the Stormy Skies on Feb 5th due to a house move so there are now 4 places left in that class--please get in touch if you would like to join us,,,,,,
Its a lovely one to do-you will learn to use a variety of brushes, a knife and various techniques. You will use a very limited palette of just black and white to create the picture--its a very interesting one to do-and suitable for all ages and abilities even first timers.

Please contact me via the website if you would like to join us www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Damaged Painting

 For the first time in 8 years Ive had a painting damaged when on route to its new owner-- By The Light a huge 36in x 36in canvas arrived with the side stretcher bar broken and the canvas damaged.
It had been wrapped in 4 layers of extra strong bubble wrap and packed into a strong box-that the canvas originaly came in-so it was a suitable box--it had extra bubble and tape over all the edges to help protect it but something has been dropped onto the edge of it at some point and broken it.
Luckily I had paid the extra money to insure it for the full amount-so Im waiting to hear back from the couriers about it--fingers crossed they will pay up for it.

Coincidence!

We bought a new TV recently and I put the old one on Freecycle as there was nothing wrong with it really.
It was snapped up  by a lady who lived in Ludlow--in fact she came from the small street where we had bought it from a few years ago--we bought it from a lady who had 2 parrots--at either end of her sofa-at the time we didn't have any parrots--but we ended up with 2 of them and they ended up at either end of the sofa as well!
That is a bit of a coincidence isn't it?

Birch Tree Workshop Jan 8th 2011

Sioned was painting with me for the first time--she made a beautiful job of her birches..

Sarita was painting with me for the 2nd time--

Maysoon travels from Shrewsbury to be with us-she is developing her own style very quickly

Haley was with me for the 2nd time-though it was hard to believe--she had her own unique style going on this painting right from the start-it had an enchanted forest feel to from the word go--and there was a ladies face along with an owl appeared in the painting right at the end of the path--really mystical!

Maureen was with me for the 7th time--all of her family recieved paintings from her for Christmas-she asked her family to get her anything to do with painting for Christmas-and has ended up with lots of paints, canvas and brushes-all very useful.She showed me some of the work she has done at home alone-and very good it is too--she makes notes thoughout the class to remind herself how to re-create the painting she did in class.There was a choice of canvas size today in class and Maureen chose the 12in x 24in chunky canvas-everyone else did the 36in x 14in canvas and what did suprise me was that everyone did the monochrome version and nobody did the browns and creams--first time that has happened-the browns and creams have always been the most popular in the past!

It was Lindas 2nd time with me today-and it was her birthday as well.She said she couldnt think of a better way of spending it--she made a cracking job of her painting!

Sheila and Sioned travelled from Kidderminster today--they didnt seem in the slightest bit nervous and bith made a lovely job of their paintings

back row Linda,Hayley,Sheila,Sioned, front row, Maureen, Maysoon and Sarita

maureen,Maysson and Sarita

Hayley,Linda,Sheila and Sioned

Hollys 13th Birthday Party

It didn't take very long to get set up for today's painting party.It was 3rd time time lucky for Hollys 13th birthday!The weather caused the first cancellation and my flu caused the second one--today all went well....

Harriet chose the reds and oranges to do her painting-as did all the others except for Beth-Hollys mum who did the blues/purples

Kitty seemed to find it very easy and she had some lovely effects going on in her sky and water very quickly.

Holly had a beautiful vibrant sky and matched up the reflections in the water very well too

Beth, Hollys mum used the blues/purples and she made a cracking job of her painting--she could have left out the black background and foreground if she had wanted to-she had made such a good job of her shading with the colours!

nearly finished..

drying off the paintings with the hairdryers before doing next stage

while we were painting Bill helped Beths son take down the Christmas decorations

lots of concentration here

great results--Ive left a bottle of varnish with Beth so she can varnish the paintings tomorrow-it will protect them and also really bring out the colours. 

Birch Tree Class Jan 8th

Well I'm slowly recovering from the flu and am looking forward to next Saturdays workshop. Its been put off from Dec 2010 due to the weather and fingers crossed its going ahead next Saturday.
There is as usual a choice of colours and canvas size--you can do monochrome or browns and creams--and if you are  feeling very arty you can have a go using brighter pop art type colours if you want!
The painting is very easy to do with great results every time--lots of fun with lots of interesting techniques to learn.
If you fancy joining us please contact me via the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Merry Christmas and .......SWINE FLU

We had a wonderful Christmas Day-with friends Marion and Phil and Becki- the turkey was one of the best we have ever had- and for the first time we cooked it on the morning instead of the Christmas Eve

it certainly makes the preparations go easier if you have a glass or three of bubbly wine when you are doing it!

It was certainly a cold Christmas--the pond was almost completely iced over--but it did keep running--poor little fishes!

We had a whole salmon as part of the Boxing Day buffet for the family--Bill cooked it to perfection and everyone thought it was delicious!

Not quite your usual family Christmas viewing but it was sooo funny to watch and hear everyone shouting in dis-belief at the antics of Dirty Sanchez---we had recorded 6 episodes for them to watch--even Mother loved it!

Somrthing a bit odd happened on Boxing Day morning--I was sat on sofa in front room and I hear a bang as something hit the patio windows--I rushed outside and found this beautiful little gold finch---however it was as stiff as a board-and although it was cold I dont think it could have frozen that quick--8-10 seconds--maybe a crow had been carrying it off and dropped it?

Sparkys had enough of festive cheer and has gone back to being a grumpy cat again!

Well I started to feel ill on Boxing Day as we were preparing the food--and felt worse as the day went on...I was asleep as soon as the family had gone and basicaly slept for 3 days!
Sweating, coughing and aching from head to foot.
I had to ring Beth and cancel the birthday party again as I couldnt get out of bed---fingers crossed for next Tuesday now--3rd time lucky!
The doctor confirmed today that Ive had/got swine flu and that has left me with a chest infection.
Im am feeling a lot better today..as long as I dont move!
But its my first day out of bed since Boxing day.
Poor Bills still coughing from his chest infection he had before Christmas--I wont be long until Im back up in bed -its been a long day--but have got the bits sorted more or less I needed to do-- workshop bookings and paintings sorted out ready to post next Tuesday--I wont chance them being posted tomorrow and getting there Saturday and dont want them sitting round a depot over the weekend.So safer to post next week.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Well its arrived--and we are loving it--family and friends together having a good time!
We have had a busy week-we marzipaned and iced 8 Christmas cakes for various friends and family -major job--made the start of Jamie Oliver's special gravy-which involved cooking and mashing chicken wings and veg--to be finished on the day . Today I made the bread sauce, cranberry and port sauce and my special stuffing !
Its been lovely to get the final bits done today--cards delivered, shopping done and the best bits-friends and family calling by.....little Callum our oldest grandson came by with his mum and dad to have his pressies as they cant come tomorrow--then after they had gone it was time to get the mulled wine going in the slow cooker and the Camembert in the oven along with the french stick and garlic bread.
Our friends Marion and Phil came by and we had a wonderful couple of hours with them--the Camemberts have been maturing nicely in the garage for the past 2 weeks-as they smell the fridge out something chronic--but by the time I had added the garlic and thyme to it-it was smelling just divine!
The smell when we pulled the lovely gooey cheeses from the oven was to die for..
 I have been friends with Marion for ever-she used to babysit me from when I was a little baby--and we have remained the closest of friends ever since-however the only meal we have never shared in all of the 49 years is Christmas dinner---but tomorrow we will be-and we are soooo looking forward to it!
Got some great games to play afterwards..we will have lots of laughs with them.
I am looking forward to some time off over the festive period-but am also looking forward to getting back to the workshops again at the same time-- as long as the weather picks up things should get back to normal --
so I'm just going to wish everyone A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

No Market :-(

Well poor Bills not very well--his cold has turned to a chest infection so we will not be venturing out to the market tomorrow-- the weather forcast is not good either--its snowing as I type--and is supposed to snow much more tomorrow. So thats it as far as the market goes until next March/April-depending on the weather!
Bills off for X Rays on his knee and hips on Thursday---they have been giving him some gip lately-so between that and his chest he's not been great.
 It will be good to have a rest--the new years classes will soon be here,

More Snow....

Well today we should have been over in Kidderminster doing a painting party--however as we were getting ready to load the car (we had already decided not to risk the van in the snow) Beth rang us to say it had taken her sister 2 1/2 hours to get to Bewdley which is a few  miles from Kidderminster.
So she didnt want us to risk it. We knew it was on the cards after speaking with her yesterday--so the girls are still having a sleepover at the house as they all live locally and we are going to try again on the 28th Dec to do the painting party.
We have had loads of snow again today--and we wouldn't have got back from there if we had chanced it.
We are suposed to be on the market on Wednesday for the last time until March/April but if its still like this we wont be going--its -12 here at the moment!

Cancelled--BIRCHES WORKSHOP

I had to cancel the Birches workshop again today--I had spoken to everyone last night and we all knew it was on the cards with the forecast--however when we got up at 7.30am and opened the curtains we knew there was no chance of it going ahead!
Hopefully it will go ahead on January 8th--weather permitting -again-we will wait and see!
I did talk Lyndsey through the painting this afternoon as she wanted to do it for her sisters Christmas present--she is adding some bluebells to it as well--Im sure she will manage it ok--she has been to a birches class before--she just needed some reminders on how to do it!

Snow.. etc

We had a laugh with Angus on the market last week--he bought me a little artist teddy as a pressie when he found him in a charity shop--he wasnt to know I collect them and have 5 others like him already--one called Bob is kept  in the front of the van--we lined them all up in the window so when we arrived at the market he was greeted by this lot! Bill said to him--"That bear you bought Di--you should have got him seen to--look whats happened -they have been breeding!" Everyone was creased--

 

this lovely little wagtail was outside most of the day feeding--quick little thing-had a job to get a decent photo of him!

not sure if this is a dunnock or not

trouble with feeding the birds so well--we get other unwanted visitors as well--luckily this bugger stayed still munching while Bill took aim....... and he is a good shot!

and this lazy lump has been asleep most of the day instead of ratting!

Feeling better , Weather and Christmas Traditions!

Well Ive been for my second and last session with the osteopath-and am feeling better--not quite right yet but he told me I shouldn't need to go again.
Well the weather has made a change for the worse again--we are expecting snow and all sorts overnight tonight and tomorrow.
It felt quite warm when we set up on the market yesterday-but it got colder and colder as the day went on.
We started to pack up at 2.30pm , and we were froze solid by time we came home--thankfully we are doing the last market next Wednesday -until the end of March/beginning of April- again depending on the weather.

I had rearranged the Birches class that got snowed off earlier this month for this Saturday-some of the original students who were booked in were going to attend it--however its looking like it may be cancelled again if the forecast is right--everyone who is coming is travelling from away...we will play it by ear-that's all I can do!

I hope we don't get too much snow--I have a teenagers birthday painting party booked over in Kidderminster on Monday at 3pm--we will be taking the car with all the equipment in if there is snow around--the car is great in the snow-far better than the van!

Cant believe where the year has gone--its flown by-- we are having a change to our usual tradition this year--usually all the family descend on us early evening on Christmas Day for food and drinks and laughs--that's been the way for nearly thirty years.....but we have found it very tiring  after doing a Christmas dinner the past couple of years so we are doing it on Boxing Day lunchtime this year--we have a huge fresh (frozen!) salmon to cook, along with all the usual bits and pieces--we will be able to enjoy it much more after a good nights sleep!
Christmas Eve will be hectic as usual--we have friends round in the evening and we have mulled wine and a couple of melted Camemberts baked with garlic and herbs with fresh baked french stick to dip in and savour-and we have been know to take the legs off the turkey that we always cook on Christmas Eve and make a sandwich of it as well before now!
Anyway--Im really looking forward to it now--have all the pressies wrapped up and ready to deliver--all we need is the snow to stay away until the day--

Sciatica!

I'm off to the osteopath again tomorrow for another session of manipulation..I went on Friday and Kevin did me the world of good--I was completely pain free yesterday from the sciatica that has been bothering me for weeks.
It played up a bit today mainly due to getting in and out of the car a few times-so am hoping that Kevin can work his magic again tomorrow!
 I'm on the market again on Wednesday and again  next week (Wed) -last time before Christmas and the last time until the end of March// beginning of April--depending on the weather!
Must say I'm looking forward to the break from the market--it was -8 last week and it was a long day-brrrrrrrr
Yesterday was warmer up there , but not by much---had lots of bookings and the gift vouchers have gone so well I had to get another 50 printed in a hurry!