jamjar

autumn walk

2011-10-07T01:13:00.000-07:00

I love this time of the year, the colours of the trees and a crispness in the air, a great time to don your warm coat, scarf and gloves for a walk with a friend or two. I created this painting with that in mind, an afternoon stroll filled with good conversation and company and then maybe stopping off at a local tea room for well deserved cake and coffee afterwards.
This partciular painting is currently winging it's way via the postal system to a lovely gallery in Suffolk, The Lion House Gallery, well worth a look if you are in the area.
Many thanks for all your lovely comments, I so enjoy reading them.
Hope you are enjoying beautiful autumn days where ever you are.

back home

2011-09-22T11:57:00.001-07:00

I am home again after a few days away at my friends in Herefordshire, sharing her open studio and beautiful ceramic lighting with some of my paintings.

My friend creates porcelain paperclay lighting which is so beautiful, my photographs do not do it justice

Over the week we had lots of visitors and it was great fun, meeting new people as well as old friends.

We are going to be doing it all again, over the first weekend in December, with a little Christmassy spirit thrown in too.

It's been a while....

2011-09-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

I have had my head down for a while, mainly painting, trying very hard to get somewhere in this difficult world of art. My paintings are selling in a couple of galleries now which is so lovely, hopefully I will find a few more places to sell.

I have opened a shop on Zazzle, which is an online store where various products are printed with your own designs, at the moment I have bags, mugs and fridge magnets on there, with more coming soon. here is the link to my store.

I also have a facebook page where I am showcasing my work and would love it if you pop over there and 'like' my page.

This week 10th - 18th September, my paintings are on show during Hereford Art Week at my friend's studio in Lingen, Herefordshire, here is a link to my friends website which includes the address of the studio.

Hope you are enjoying these early weeks of autumn, the leaves are just beginning to turn golden on some trees here and berries are ripening in the hedgerows.

catch up!

2011-06-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

Goodness! a whole month has flown by since my last post, so I think a little catch up is in order.

The beginning of June saw me nipping off to Suffolk to celebrate the wedding of two lovely friends

I stayed at the same place as the bride, so I was honoured to have a sneak preview of The Dress, so beautiful and simple with a gorgeous lace jacket, fab!

We stayed at The Kings Head (also know as The Low House) in Laxfield, which is well worth a visit if you are ever in those parts. A wonderfully unspoilt old country pub with real ale and great food, it was voted 'Pub of the Year 2010' by Adnams brewery. The pub has no bar or counter, instead you are served your drinks from the tap room. This pub has a fantastic atmosphere and I hope I shall visit it again some time.
The pony, called Noah, and trap ready and waiting for the bride.

The church was decorated with hearts and wild flowers, a neighbour of the couple had a field full of dog daisies which they used throughout the wedding as decoration, posies and headdresses.

Sweet little rosebud hearts were at the end of the pews.

One of the flower girls.

And finally we sat down and raised our glasses, it was a perfect country wedding and I wish them every happiness.

On our way back we spied this amazing field full of poppies at Bewdley. It has even made the local news

At last I returned home, where my youngest son was getting ready to go to his first big music festival, Download at Donnington Park, He had a great time and unfortunately lost his I Pod Touch on the way home which was full of pictures and memories, to say his was gutted was an understatement.

On to painting, it is that time of the year when I take part in the Holmfirth Artweek, a wonderful week long exhibition which raises lots of money for Macmillan Cancer Support. It is a great social occasion with the exhibition being open until 9 pm each evening and there are lots of fringe exhibitions in and around Holmfirth too.

Here are my entries:

"Stiff Westerly"

"Bliss"

"Dancing with Angel"All framed, labelled and ready to go!

While I was completing the paintings I received the very exciting news that The Lion House Gallery in Lavenham, Suffolk wanted to show my work. I was so thrilled, I admit to doing a happy dance round the kitchen!

Last but not least, an update on the not so little chicks. They are four weeks old now and are turning from cute fluffy chicks into scrawny adolescents on their way to being the chicken equivalent of beautiful swans!

The four dark chicks are looking like they will be two hens and two cockerels. The colour of these chicks is a bit of a surprise as I ordered gold partridge and millifleur pekin eggs, and while I have two lovely millifleur hens, these dark chicks are most definitely not gold partridge

These are the boys, the one below being much bigger than the other chicks.

Another girl.

And the two millifleur chicks which are both very pretty. Trying, but failing not to have any favourites!!

This one has even got a name - biscuit! I think we will be keeping her.

Right, time to make some tea for hungry sons, not to mention the dog and the cats and chickens..........!!!!

dear little things

2011-05-28T08:18:00.001-07:00

My heart is lost, these chicks are the sweetest thing , we have six now. I am amazed as I had convinced myself they wouldn't hatch as the eggs were quite soiled and this can cause the eggs to fail because of bacteria getting through the shell, but no such worries here, six delightful fluffy chicks for Edith.

I haven't managed to photograph all six together yet as they are being kept snugly warm under their mum, but these two seem a bit more adventurous and have even been tasting the chick crumbs.

Have a great weekend where ever you are. x

Day 21

2011-05-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of blog posts recently, but I have been unable to log into bloger for a while, however, tonight my son has has done some techy wizardery, and we are back in, yeh!

So, onto the important news - an update on Edith, my broody pekin bantam. I said in my last post that we had to wait 21 days to see if any of the eggs hatched, well, I shall keep you in suspense no longer, at the last count just before it went dark this evening, we have four beautiful irresistable dark grey tiny chicks

Here is a photo of number one, peeping out at this strange word. More updates tomorrow.

Happy weekend : )

The waiting game....

2011-05-07T01:03:00.000-07:00

This is Edith, one of my pekin bantams. Ever since I began keeping chickens, I have thought how lovely it would be to hatch a few chicks, our very own little pekins. So I have been waiting for one of my five girls to go broody and Edith has begun. She started sitting in the nest box whilst the other girls would wait at the door wanting to lay. I kept turfing her off, but within minutes she would be back tacking up her position reminiscent of a pancake on imaginary eggs. So I then moved her to a large empty rabbit hutch, set her up with food and water and a couple of non fertile eggs to see what would happen. She immediately took to those eggs and proceeded to sit tight. So then the hunt was on for some fertile hatching eggs. After searching through the chicken breeders online, I opted for a breeder I had visited when I was buying my chickens, I put my order in and a couple of days later very safely packaged the eggs arrived.

When eggs have gone through the postal system you have to leave them to rest point down for 12 to 24 hours. This done, I very carefully picked up a sleepy Edith and removed the dud eggs and replaced them with a mix of gold partridge and millifleur pekin eggs.

Now the waiting begins. Hopefully in around 21 days we should hear the patter of tiny chick feet, fingers very tightly crossed.

Whilst waiting for eggs to arrive and then rest, I dug out my paper clay and set to work on a little doll. more pictures soon on her progress.

We had rain last night, first proper rain for weeks and more is forecast for today with the odd rumble and flash thrown in for good measure, the garden is very grateful.

Hope you are having a great weekend sun or rain, thank you for all your lovely comments, I love reading them. J x

What a day!

2011-04-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Did you watch it? along with millions and millions of others, I sat there glued to my telly, and I loved every minute of it. The pomp and pageantry and the sense of watching history being made, the beautiful elegance of the bride, trying to spot famous faces in the congregation and see what they are wearing, above all the amazing joy of the occasion reflected in those taking part as well as the bystanders and well wishers, it was in deed a day to remember. So I popped out this morning and bought a newspaper with plenty of photographs to pore over it all again.

I loved the idea of having trees placed in the Abbey, apparently they are all to be planted at Prince Charles's home, Highgrove as a memento of the day. But I didn't just sit there watching, my hands were busy too, I always like to have something to do when I watch the telly, so yesterday, I crocheted my way through the royal wedding!

Lots of colourful circle squares which will hopefully become a blanket in time. The pattern that I used is from Lucy at Attic 24, if you don't know her blog I recommend a visit, lots of jolly chat, colour and crochet! She has a list of tutorials on her side bar, my squares are based on her summer garden granny square .

It seems like we have been on holiday for ages with two long bank holiday weekends one after the other and with holiday weather to match. Easter was lovely and much chocolate was consumed. I made some little special Easter cup cakes which it has to be said did not last long

The weather has been glorious, although it has now turned cooler with blustery winds to days, blowing the blossom from the trees, I love the pink frothy blossom at this time of the year and always miss it when it is gone.

In between wedding watching, gardening and cooking, I have also been painting, another little posy of spring flowers, this time in an Emma Bridgewater egg cup. I have been lucky enough to have some paintings shown in a local gallery along with some of my cards, and I was very excited to get a call saying one of the pictures and most of the cards were sold and could I bring in more supplies!

Hope you are having a lovely weekend where ever you are. x

Spring

2011-04-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

Spring has certainly arrived, and for the time being has kindly brought the sunshine with it. Buds are busting all over the garden, including those of the weed kind, but we shall overlook those for now. here are a few of my favorite flowers in my garden at the moment.

Don't you just love the sweet face of the viola, always turning towards the sun and looking so cheery. I love the way it self seeds and pops up in the most unexpected places.

The gold laced primula is a firm fav of mine, I have it dotted about and the edges seem to glow in the shade.

This snakes head fritillary was put in a few years ago and gets better each year. The checkered petals are such an unusal pattern for a flower.

a little corner that I am still working on, but seems to be coming along nicely, there is always something to do in a garden isn't there.

This one came out of a mixed bag of bulbs bought in a supermarket last autumn.

Today, I headed off to my first plant fair of the year. This one was held at bramall Hall near Stockport. It was such a beautiful setting. the house is very impressive, I didn't have time to go inside, will save that for another time. The plant fair was situated on a lawn to the side of the hall.

Here is a view from the front, amazing timberwork!

One of the plants I bought was this little primula, I just couldn't resist the pretty markings on the petals. It almost looks vintage! It's full name is Primula Polyanthus barnhaven Striped Victorian. Quite a mouthful for a little flower.

From my garden, I picked a few flowers to make a posy and decided to paint them, it is quite a small painting just 5" x 5".

Many thanks for all the lovely comments that were left after my last post, I really do appreciate each and every one. Hope the sun is shining where you are.

A bit of a rambling post

2011-03-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, over at Ann Wood's lovely blog, she was celebrating her fifth anniversary of her blog and posted a tutorial on making these little papier mache cups. There is a template to download and instructions on how to make your own cups. Being someone who loves papier mache I had to have ago, and spent a few happy hours getting messy with paper and glue.

They are such fun to make, I can feel a whole tea service coming on!

Something else that has been keeping me busy is that I have been building my own little web site, very basic, nothing frilly. Somewhere to show my work in some semblance of order. The idea behind it is I really really want to get back into illustration. Many years ago I studied illustration at college and was freelance for a while working for some lovely clients, but then family and life got in the way and my path changed. Now the path has changed again due local goverment cutbacks, my job has gone. I am now looking at the possibility of returning to commercial illustration.

But I worry, have I left it too late, so much has changed. It used to be briefs arriving by post and artwork delivered by red star, now it is email and web sites. So I felt a good place to start was to build my own web site, it isn't perfect but it's mine and hopefully gives a flavour of what I can do.

I would be interested in some feedback if anyone feels so inclined.

A glimpse of a painting I am working on at the moment. It is inspired by the plates of eggs that you see at village shows that proud hen owners have brought along in hopes of winning a prize.

Last but not least, I would like to thank everyone who has left a comment here, I really appreciate it and love reading them, what a splendid community this is.

wordless Wednesday - tools of the trade

2011-03-09T03:38:00.001-08:00

wordless wednesday - stone art

2011-03-02T07:05:00.001-08:00

Happy Wedenesday, happy sunny March. x

cloth doll finished....

2011-02-26T05:03:00.000-08:00

Oooops! I pressed the wrong button, so any one quick off the mark will have seen this post with no text!!

However, here she is - finished. It has been a while since I have completed a cloth doll and I have so enjoyed making her, that I think some more may well follow.

I spent a very late night painting her, waiting for youngest son to return from a party until I remembered he said he was stopping over! Still, settled with my paint things and iplayer on my lappie catching up with The Killing was a pleasant evening indeed. Is anyone else following The killing on BBC 4. It is Scandinavian crime drama with subtitles, which can be tricky when you are painting at the same time, but I am absolutely gripped.

Back to the doll, she is a simple cloth doll painted with acrylics with a little scene on her back, she has not got a name as yet, but I am toying with 'home' as that is what seems to be in her heart.

She stands about 22cm tall, with a slight list to the right, I think that is down to my cutting and hand sewing but I hope that it adds to her charm.

She will also be looking for a new home, as I have put her in my Etsy shop, so hopefully someone will love her as much as I do.

Happy weekend! x

wip's

2011-02-25T04:46:00.001-08:00

A small Jenny Wren bird box waiting to be decorated, made from wire and papier mache .

A new cloth doll that just requires a little more painting before I can be satisfied that she is finished.

Hope to post photos of completed work soon!!

meeting Henry and other bits and bobs

2011-02-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

Meet Henry, Henry has been made from a bear kit that I bought from The Old Pin Cushion on Etsy. You buy the pattern (Chopper Bear) and the kit separately, so if you wish you could make your bear in something other than bear fur material.

The pattern comes with very clear instructions and useful tips on how to distress your bear - in the nicest possible way!

Before I move on, I forgot to say in my last post that I had added to my felt stash recently from the wonderful Felt Fairy, great range of colours and fast delivery.

Spring feels like it is on its way today, we have a beautiful clear blue sky which is very welcome after the bitterly easterly winds that we have experienced the last couple of days. There are even a few touches of colour around the garden, although I have to admit the primroses were bought in from the local garden centre and so are a little earlier than normal.
It is always a joy to see the nodding heads of the snowdrop appearing and bulbs are pushing up all over the place. I made a big effort last autumn to plant loads, and I think it may have paid off. First crocus well on their way too, and yesterday the hens did me proud, with two eggs being laid including Edith's first egg. Looks like scrambled egg is on for lunch today! added later: The scrambled eggs were delicious and the most golden yellow I think I have ever seen!

the felt stash

2011-02-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

Recently, whilst delving into the far corners of my bedroom/workroom/sanctuary, I came across a box of rainbow colours just begging me to stop whatever it was that I had been intending to do, and hold the colours in my hand, colour against colour, they were like jewels, ideas floated into my mind, and a seed was sown/sewn.... I had rediscovered my felt stash.
It was not as tidy as this when I found it, it was all higgerly piggerly, but a happy time was spent pulling out each piece and carefully unfolding and rolling into little sausages all placed together so that I could admire their colours next to one another. I wanted to make something there and then, something I had been toying with for a while and now it was quite clear to me what it was - a pin cushion. That most simple domestic tool of the needlewoman, but something that can be as plain as you wish or as decorative. I wanted mine to be like a spring posy, an early summer garden.

All pretty colours jostling together with little leaves poking through and buds half open.

This was my first, in a tiny round cardboard box, this is the one I will keep. Then more began to appear, like seedlings.

I filled tiny plant pots with felt and wadding and flowers blossomed.

Hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them, there are some now in my Etsy shop.

refound

2011-02-01T03:01:00.000-08:00

While I have been sorting through boxes of old stuff, I came across this drawing, havn't seen it for years and it was lovely to rediscover it, memories of college days come floating back. It seems I loved hares back then too.

chickens in the garden

2011-01-28T02:49:00.000-08:00

I have for a long time, had a hankering to have a few hens. Whenever visiting friends who were chicken owners, I would admire them and enjoy the tasty eggs and think how lovely it would be to have some myself. Then I would come home and look at my garden and my beloved herbaceous perennials and change my mind.

Then last summer, there was a piece on the radio about owning hens, most of which I missed, but I caught the end where they were saying 'if you were worried about your garden, then go for something like a pekin bantam'!!! My interest was immediately aroused. However, I had never heard of a pekin bantam, my friends all had large impressive looking birds. So I googled them and in an instant my heart was lost. I had discovered the most delightful little hen with feathery feet and a fluffy pompom of a tail. The search was on, I scoured the Internet and poultry magazines. I read and read and read, it become my sole topic of conversation, I must have bored people rigid. one of my sons' said 'it was just like this with the dog....

That was a few months ago, during August I managed to buy to lovely young pekins and then three more in October. So I have my flock and what a delight they are. then on 29th December, Betty decided to lay an egg!! Our first egg, we all looked at it as if it were the first egg ever laid. She went on to lay two more over the following days and then stopped, obviously she must have thought it was too cold to be spring after all.

They all have names, Arietty (lavender pekin), Edith (white), Betty (black) Lottie (salmon) and Spit (the cuckoo pekin!!)

I love them to bits, just watching them and having them take corn from my hand makes me smile.

Brrrrrr!

2011-01-27T06:17:00.001-08:00

A spring posy to brighten the day and a polar bear, as it's feels cold enough for snow!

Here I am!

2011-01-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

A warm welcome to all and a belated Happy New Year.

The last time I posted - on my old blog over at wordpress - It was the beginning of what turned out to be a very cold snowy December. I had decided to post every day for advent, and was looking forward to it being a part of my run up to the festive period, but my plans were scuppered by a three week break in my internet connection, eventually, after two new routers and a visit from a BT engineer, we came back online just before christmas. Since then I have been trying to post on my wordpress, but it would not let me post any pictures, so I decided to change and make a new start with Jamjar on blogspot. Hope you will join me here now and again as I share my little world with you.

Here is Mitten on his favourite chair, blissed out! take care : )