Ship Ahoy!!! (or rather canal boat Ahoy)

What a surprise to have some friends come by the house by boat, not bad for a land locked house... needless to say it was a canal boat they were in. The they were some old friends and after all of the hellos and how are yous and a rather nice chunk of chocolate cake, we started to talk about boats and blogs etc. It turned out that our friend John had a blog, where he jotted down his adventures aboard his boat.... got me thinking, hmm! He could mention the 'Studio at lock 4', so hopefully I will get a few visits from some keen , hopefully arty, boaters.
The studio is full to bursting with all of my products for an up coming show and I was shocked to see that my lovely husband had sneaked a few things in for the winter!!!!! I complained bitterly but as the gallery part is closed for the winter, I didn't feel I could complain, just have to make sure that they are removed before the warmth comes again.
Anyway short and sweet, good health, good sales and loads of chocolate cake!!

The whiff of cinnamon

I am exhausted after two days spent having some lovely girlie time. I went to the Country Living Christmas Fair, it was a birthday treat for my Mum, a day out in London. I hadn't been to the fair for about two years and so was full of excited anticipation of all those lovely new ideas.....sadly and I do mean sadly!!! (as I love the show) I was disappointed......sigh. It was truly lovely with all of the shaker decorations and the lovely garlands smelling of cinnamon and orange, it really got me into the Christmas spirit, (even if I am in danger of getting too excited too soon, seeing that Christmas is a little way off). I have been trying to work out what it was that disappointed me and I think that I have figured it out....there were very few new and different ideas, the stalls were lovely but the show looked the same as it did two years ago. I walked around looking out for some really special ,new and different crafts an ideas and I can honestly say that out of all the exhibitors only one stood out....her stall was small and was tucked away to the side but even so, the colour, humour, very well chosen materials brought her little creatures to life and gave them all an illustrative quality. I believe these (cuddly toys/friends) were called Quirkles and really deserve some attention, so take a look at this website www.quirkles.co.uk they are truly delightful! Good presents.

Little furry visitors

I have been in my studio, furiously painting away, trying to ignore the fact that it is bloody freezing in there brrrrr! I am working on some driftwood artworks and am really pleased with the results. I thought that I had collected a sizable pile of driftwood this summer but...(there is always a but) when you are looking for specific shaped pieces to use, the pile you had gets discarded very quickly and I found myself thinking....damn what could I make instead?? using the shapes I did have. I created some boats which I am pleased with. I then got started on a pile of butterflies that have been on my bench, sitting ready for decoration, in the end I painted these sitting in my mum's front room, (in a centrally heated house yeehaa!) whilst looking after their ancient dog. I managed to get a lot of them decorated only being interrupted every half hour by said pooch wanting to pee!!!!
My Mothers dog is not one of the 'little furry visitors'. I have found evidence of little mice in the studio and was wondering how to deal with them....didn't really want to hurt them but can't risk them chewing one of my artworks!!! So I reckon that I will have to purchase some humane traps....they have only come in for the heat!!! If they stay a while they will soon realise that it is freezing and hopefully will leave of their own accord,( she says hopefully!)