Baby it's cold outside ☃🎵🎶

There's been snow over night - a soft wet slush and the garden is full of the sound of rain dripping and sloppy snow dropping off the trees. There is a bitter damp chill to the air - the sort that makes you pull your coat tighter around you and your toes curl with the cold.

Christmas, just like that, was over with a blink of an eye - this year is will continue to be a gentle spread out affair, the meal was on the eve, then my folks, Youngest, pressies and a shared lunch on the day. Now, during twixtmas, Eldest and his girlfriend and Youngest's girlfriend will return (restrictions and isolations permitting) and they'll find their gifts under the tree. A good excuse to make brownies, share stories and sip warm drinks around the fire with the family.

Himself, as I type, is in the kitchen making 'Sunshine Soup' - a butternut based thick and warming soup that we'll have for lunch. The scent of sautéing onions has drifted into the dining room where I am working and is rather enticing.

I'm painting - a birthday commission - won't show just yet as it is a surprise but I will share the first step ....

So, that is today in a nutshell, a quiet day at home, gently doing simple things which I have to say, I am rather enjoying and the best of it all? The complete lack of inane festive songs and jingles on the radio - aaahhh, yes bliss!

Hope your day is as kind and as loving xxxxxxxx

Excuse me while I .... oh - forgot what I was doing.....

On Monday evening, I had written (what I thought was) a really good post about the bank holiday weekend when my laptop had a funny turn and I lost the whole thing just as I pressed publish. I just shut the laptop and put it away - there was nothing I could do to find my lost words.

This morning, Tuesday, I tried again, but my heart was not in it, I could not get my words to be as lyrical and expressive about my weekend as before - so I deleted my feeble attempt and instead got ready for work. 

Now, at the end of the day, as the sky fades from a rich blue into a soft dusty shade of blue and peach I finally feel ready to try again. But this time with new wafflings and stories.

***************************

Funnily enough - I only got as far as that and ..... closed my laptop. All story telling having fizzled. Hopefully this attempt (now Wednesday afternoon) will sort that out :)

Most folk will have noticed the painted stones which have popped up around their local area, mostly painted by children during the lockdown. After the initial flush of cute pebbles, it had gone quiet and I must admit to missing not being able to find them.

So yesterday, four of us (yes we are all from one household!) sat round the dining room table and painted pebbles to our hearts content. You could hear a pin drop there was so much concentrating :D

This morning, along with a pile of huge sunflower seedlings and a forest of tomato seedlings, the pebbles were quietly put on our wall and over the course of the day have equally quietly been adopted - it has put such a smile on my face :)

Some of our painted pebbles never made it out on to the wall - they were kept however another painting day has been earmarked to supply some more smile makers - watch this space! xx

An 'Elfy' pastime

You know when it has been a good day ... 

when you end up covered in paint and glitter.

The studio today was a hive of activity fueled by liberal quantities of tea and coffee.

What is all this busy-ness about?  Well, we have turned into elves 

and the studio into a festive workshop.

There has been sanding, drilling and painting...

All for a festive winter bash!

Did I mention I love the day job?

Sun between the showers

Bathed in a welcome ray of sunlight after a few days of (necessary) rain and (dull) cloud - I have just finished another mini book.

I can not explain or believe the pleasure it gives me creating these little creatures. Each one I have completed has found a home rather quickly so they must be sharing that happiness too.

A Thursday, a Saturday & Sunday then a Monday.

Thursday

Plein air at a country park with friends and fellow artists.

Saturday

Watching a fiery sky turn to inky black scattered with a gazillion stars.

Sunday

Hot black coffee, black beef cows and calves.

Monday

East Riddlesden Hall

Inside and ...

... Out

Now, that is a good few days if I say so myself :) and don't be fooled - there were many (and I mean many) more photos for each jolly here, just not going to inflict them on you xx

Racing the winds

Yesterday blew old air away and brought in a fresher cooler feel.

Yesterday - I wrap my arms tightly around my bag as I am blown down the garden path. The cats run on ahead, ears flat to their heads and whiskers fly around their faces. we reach the gate, the dog pushes it open and we tumble through.
Still being buffeted about, all four of us head for the shelter of my studio. One cat submerges herself in the undergrowth - vanishing from sight, while the other looks accusingly at me as I fumble with the key - her tail flips up and over her back while her fur ripples like blown wheat across a small and furry field.

Door open we fall in - relief. Leaves and pine needles follow too - seemingly they have had enough of the wind and try to escape along with us.

I shut the door, Pepper falls upon her emergency-in-the-studio-biscuits - it has been a long 30 seconds since her last feasting. Moss seeks the sanctuary of her bed-box - relieved to be out of the wind. Pan merges with the garden and relishes being 'at one with the wind and the sky' and has become a 'wildthing'.

Brushing my hair out of my eyes as I watch the garden twist a tortured swaying dance to the tune of Storm Hector. My alliums stretching to their full length - their pompom heads acting as sails catch the wind and decide to lie horizontal. My eye is caught by the large conifer my studio hides behind. He sways a slow and ponderous movement and I wonder briefly (before I quickly push that thought out) if he fell, how much my studio would lift as his rootplate tore out of the ground. I ask him gently if he could remain windfirm, only swaying to Hector's music and not taking a tumble.

fuzzy photo - thanks Hector for bumping into me

My head is full of ideas I want to put on slate, wood or paper so arming myself with a mug of tea, a paintbrush and a cat on my lap - I start.

A border collie start to emerge off the brush, a hare is mesmerised by a golden sunset, sheep appear on the grassy fields, rustic wooden signs take on life. (and yes, I do paint several things at the same time - so at any one moment I can have up to 6 or 7 paintings waiting for the next step).

There is a constant change over of cats - they go in and out of the studio, fortified by biscuits, invigorated by the blustery air they keep themselves busy. The wind has put the birds off so I don't worry that Pepper will attempt 'a rescue' of any fledglings as they flutter around the garden.

My day flies as fast as the wind and soon it is time to round up the girls and usher them back inside, they are reluctant to go however, as soon as we are home - the cats find somewhere to nap and the dog stretches out on the carpet. We are all blustered out. Hector however is still full of energy and blows on.

Gentle reminder that you are more than welcome to join in our Scavenger Photo Hunt - the list of words is always at the top right of my blog and it will always have the posting date.

There are some equally gentle rules - the photos do not have to be current, they can be something from your archives and we try to 'look out of the box', so if the word is 'SPRING' it can mean ... for example ...

1. A coiled rusty spring from an old tractor
2. The season of spring - so could be lambs or daffodils
3. A source of water - a well
4. A movement or action - springing into action
5. A mathematical term - a geometric surface in the shape of a helically coiled tube (don't worry - I had to look this one up!)
6. Spring tide - as in oceanography, the maximum tide, occurring twice a month during the full and new moon
7. As part of a name - of a book you have read, a band you like to listen to, a song you love.

So you see - one word means so much to so many different folk - we are spoilt for choice :)

You can join in each month or only when you are inspired, you can be from anywhere, any country, any county - you are more than welcome. All you have do is post your photos, a bit of a story with each one and then add your blog on the 'Link up Party' then we can all come and find you and your post.

Welcome to our little corner of the world xx

Post show recovery mode

Hello?

*taps screen tentatively* .... hello?

Are you still out there? 

I'm back - sorry I was so quiet, been a bit busy you see.

What? Sorry missed that? 

Oh you were wondering what I was up to. Ah. Let me see...

We've just had our first 'Annual Trawden Artist Maker's Art event' and I am absolutely shattered! 

I would like to write down all the stories that accompanied our weekend but you would probably fall asleep by the time I'd only got quarter way down, there are so many. I won't put you through that.

So, instead, I will just pop in to say hello (oh - already done that), say that I am here, in post weekend recovery position, I have an art studio in a topsy turvy but happy state, have a list of commissions and sales that I have to work through, stock to replenish and coffee to drink (that last one has got to stop though... need to get off the 'hard stuff' and get back to peppermint tea and the like).

Our weekend had loads of visitors, including 'Storm Brian' who although not as large as the hurricanes and tropical storms that upset other events, nevertheless stamped his rather 'moist' mark on our weekend.  However we did not let him 'rain on our parade' and surprisingly we still had many many visitors. At one point, there was standing room only in my little studio with a small queue forming outside. Other artists said the same, saying their venues were full of folk and the hall several times was fit to burst with our wonderful 'bouncer' on the door advising folk to do the trail first before coming into the hall as there was no room - now that can't be bad!

Fortunately my dear Himself had rigged up a gazebo outside my studio door as a porch to help keep Storm Brian out - it happily sheltered my visitors from the rain too.

Right, I really must get on ... below are a few photos taken before we opened the doors, while we still had space and time to drink a final brew and breathe.... will I do it again? ummm - probably. (I can hear my Himself shrug his shoulders and sigh!)

View down the back wall, textiles and art

Gable end, jewellery

Our local nail room kindly hosted a mini display for us

Storm Brian seemed to approve, rainbow over the hall full of artists.

.... and yes,I have included an image of myself.

Hi,

my name is Kate

I am an artist,

please to meet you x

Tuesday's chatter

Thank you everyone who was so kind and didn't laugh at my 'oops-a-daisy' moment - it was also interesting how many of you have had a similar idiotic mishap or knew folk who'd also suffered a balance malfunction. It makes us all human! My bruises are changing colour now, they have evolved from the initial bright blue to shades of autumnal yellows and purple  :)

Talking of autumn, today there is definitely a nip of frost in the air, the top of the glasshouse twinkled in tiny frosty crystals.

I am in two minds about autumn.

I am not a cool/cold weather person although I have over the years learnt first to live through it, then accept it and now, strangely anticipate winter.

I did wonder if, in particular this year, because summer has not been particularly brilliant, the slide in to autumn was a gentle one of resignation rather than a crashing out of warm days into cooler ones. This morning's frosty start is a definite reminder that the seasons are turning.

I will be off to my studio shortly - I am loving having a space that is mine to create and 'be'. 

I have started meditating seriously recently too - it certainly helps with the mindset. Before I had the studio I would sit silently in the house....  until the cats found me, or the dog would wonder what I was doing or phone rang or the washing machine trundled to a halt, the distractions were just that ... distracting.

But now, in the studio in my garden,

I can quietly empty my chit-chattery head

breathe

relax

and then start the day!

Right, before even that can happen, I shall put on the kettle.

Have yourselves a lovely day xxxx

Well, what's been happening?

I know I have been a little quiet on the blogging front, I promise that I am still around - it just seems that we seemed to have been somewhat busier at the moment and certain things have sort of fallen to the wayside.

However, we all took a day off yesterday, 

to breathe and walk and it felt good. 

Seems a long time that all four of us and Moss had time out together.

We did about 10 miles (13.6km) in the afternoon - suffice to say, I am tired today!

Moss who probably did double and Youngest who seemed to lollop around as much as she did,

both morphed into semi-comatose lumps last night, moving only to eat and then go to bed.

Why are we so busy?

Well, we are still working on the summerhouse studio (still makes me smile when I say that)

Not fully completed, 

we need to finish insulating the roof,

board the walls,

board out the ceiling,

lay some sort of warm but tough flooring.

But - I have lights,

it is warm already.

The windows are in - my favourite being the one we call...

'The frog pond' window - a double sized pane of glass down to floor level.

Most of the exterior has been painted, just a few bits remain - the weather kept beating us to it.

I've got back into baking bread - the boys requested cheese and basil lunch loaves,

seemed silly to deny them seeing they are building my studio for me :)

Painting stock for October is still happening

but not nearly as much as I would like,

need to 'get to it'. 

And, in the midst of all this busy-ness

a friend of mine has recently started leading guided meditation classes,

they are just what I need.

An hour and half of kind and gentle 'nothing'

where my brain tries to switch off (however, not always successfully!) 

Plans, organising and interviews with artists

for our October Art Trail are on-going.

I still waiver from uber excited to positively terrified!

But we are getting there....

the only way is forward!

 

I even have an 'official' event advert for my part of the Open Trail.

So you see, I've been a bit busy...

And you can always find me here,

have a happy week xxx