this was my day

Rafferty's first day in nursery.....he loved it...no tears from anyone surprisingly......flowers flowers everywhere.....

Whoopppeeeeeeeee, look what I can do with Picmonkey.  I finished this painting (bottom image) and I cropped it slightly in picmonkey which looks nice as a composition but then I managed to put one of  their frames around it. It will give me a whole host of ideas for framing. I don't usually frame my paintings as they are on deep canvases but I think this finishes these flower ones off beautifully.

I am getting excited about these paintings.  I'm onto my third, and LOVING painting them. I'm thinking of putting together a little exhibition for the Autumn in the gallery. All things floral...... xxx

Here's a glimpse of one I started late this afternoon

Summer flowers

 With all the gorgeous colourful Summer flowers around at the moment, I felt inspired to paint this today. There is a lovely article in Country living this month with stunning photos of fields of wild flowers which I wanted to paint. 

 There are a lot of bright florals around at the moment in fashion and interiors and I have been dying to have a go. I haven't painted for a few days, I paint Tues, Weds, Thurs and sometimes a Friday. and for some reason I just wanted to flit around a few canvases today just experimenting.  I am actually really happy with the result.  I might have a play tomorrow too and see where we get. Thursday is finishing a commission of Burgh Island.

See you tomorrow x

The Twits

This was our Saturday....... We are one of six businesses in our town that organise events in Beaumaris castle in which all profits go to charity. This Saturday we organised for Illyria theatre company to come and perform Roald Dahls, The Twits. Could we have asked for a more perfect day of weather? We sold out on the day, no surprise, and had to sell extras as there were literally children crying when I told them we had sold out!!!! So more than 600 people sat down and laughed their socks off for 2 hours. 

I am more so unbelievably proud to say that we have raised over £2000 for Sands, maybe even more but figures are still coming in. This is a charity WE chose as it is very close to mine and Sean's hearts, after we lost our little girl Poppy in 2009.

The day was brilliant, really brilliant. A lot of hard work but so satisfying to see the smiles on everyones faces as they were leaving. One little girl came up to me at the end thanking me and told me it was the best night of her life! 

So if you fancy a great day or night out this Summer, check out Illyrias schedule, you won't be disappointed.

Music in my life

We need some colour in our lives and cheeks. Instead we added music.

 What a busy old week....and long. Raffy isn't quite himself, another blasted tooth causing him and us sleepless nights.  The gallery has been REALLY busy, some schools finished so they are all starting to arrive for holidays.  We weren't quite prepared so have been cleared out of so many things so amidst the madness I had to do a mad stock collection this morning of framed prints of mine.  Doctors this afternoon, seven deliveries in the gallery and more unpacking of deliveries. Gorgeous new products, I'm excited to show you next week. 

I've been listening to wonderful Beth Orton.  She reminds me of my favourite job (bar this one) working in a coffee bar in the Northern quarter in Manchester. That was a good Summer. It's been a long time but she is releasing a new album in time for us to to see her in December.

And another I have been humming all day..... the beautiful Feist.

Happy weekend all. xxx

I love peeling paint....sadly our local boat sheds have been torn down and I wasn't quick enough to salvage any of the wood. I love the patterns in the top photo. 

There have been glimpses of sun in the last couple of days but our favourite pastime is still hunt the puddle and splash splash splash. We even got a local shopkeeper joining us yesterday, so out of character but he just couldn't resist, think it made him feel 5 again.

Even when the sun is out Raffy insists on wearing his wells, I literally cannot put anything else on him.

Work is starting on our extension on Monday so I shall keep you updated on the carnage. We are ripping up 50 sq ft of quarry tiles to be replaced by beautiful white wooden floors.

I am off to finish a commission of St Ives, I haven't painted Cornwall for a while so its a real treat. Dreaming of a holiday.....

xxx

He bangs the drums

What is with this weather? We need some sun, I googled "things to do with an 18 month old" yesterday as we had exhausted finger painting, baking, play doh, water play, films, toys, books etc etc. The problem is my boy likes to be outside, he is an outdoors type through and through. So when the rain just didn't stop yesterday we donned our wells and embraced it. In a Peppa pig style we went in search of puddles to jump in. It made me so happy to just watch him jump and splash to his hearts content in the biggest puddle ever. Oh we did have fun and I had to prize his wellies from his feet last night, he nearly went to bed in them, he is in love with them.  

p.s How gorgeous are these flowers from my friends garden? I can't stop looking at them, summer in a vase.

Right, a film and a snuggle tonight, what film though, anyone have any recommendations? x

glimpse of my studio....before

I have had a major magazine get in touch wanting to do a feature on me and my studio!!! I am bursting inside with excitement but I am pretty ashamed of my studio in the state that is is right now.  It serves me well but I think it could be a lot more inspiring. It is in the back of the gallery....bonus, and it has a whole wall of frosted windows, so tonnes of natural light....double bonus it just isn't very organised.
 I have been coveting some plan chests for a few years now and have been scouring ebay but can't justify the huge prices. I thought I had found something that "would do" in Ikea but they still weren't perfect and this time I just want to get it right.  So I went to see a local carpenter yesterday who was really enthusiastic to make me some pieces for less than half the price and made to my exact measurements. I am very happy to be supporting someone local too and not be buying from the Swedish giants once again. So these are the before shots....and in a few weeks time I will hopefully show you my after ones. 
I can't say anything more yet about the magazine but its definitely one of my all time faces so this is more than a bit exciting xxxx

I have been a busy bee recently.Three paintings finished and another to show you on Monday.  They are all sold, one heading off to Australia and one to Abu Dhabi....and the third to my biggest collectors in the UK.
Hooray for the sun, myself and the little one enjoyed fish and chips sitting on the beach at lunchtime. It feels like so long since we have had our toes in the sand. So even if it last just a day, well its been a joy. Now I have swapped in the gallery with Daddy who has gone to the park for a kick about of the football. Leave that to the boys, big and small. And tonight we are getting all glammed up for our anniversary dinner at 
The Loft at The Bull, in Beaumaris. Our real treat place, birthdays and anniversaries only, to keep it special.


Hope you have had a bit of sunshine on your faces today. See you on Monday x

My beloved 07.07.07

The reason I have been a bit quiet this last week is that after 5 years, I am finally trying to edit and turn our wedding photos into an album. Its a mammoth job which is why it has taken five years but as its our anniversary this weekend, I think its long overdue. Only another 168 photos to edit and then start making a blurb book.

Some very happy memories here x