A grey Monday with hardly any natural light to work. As you can see I tend to spread out a bit (huge understatement) when I’m working so transferred from my little studio upstairs to the kitchen table. Even less light in the kitchen because we back onto the woods so I pinched A’s work lamp because the bulb has blown in mine. I actually managed to have a very productive day.

I worked on what I think is the final piece for a commission I’ve been working on. But then it began to snow again. Huge big fluffy white flakes of snow. So couldn’t resist a couple of quick sketches of the cherry tree that Deeda bought us when we first moved into the house.

Then managed to do a bit of colour work that I’m actually happy with. Hurray I can start some new work now.

SATURDAY

Spring is definitely in the air. The robin family are building a nest in the garden. The sun keeps trying to peep out between the greyness, the days are getting longer and it’s Saturday. I’ve put away my inks and brushes for the weekend.... well that’s the theory, in fact it’s until I can’t resist drawing something.
‘A’ needed a haircut and so I decided to accompany him on the walk along the river. Any excuse for me to go into town.

His hairdressers are a traditional old fashioned barbers shop located in Walters which is a Gentleman’s outfitters in a lovely old shop in Turl Street. It has lots of little wooden drawers full of socks and ties and cravats that I really envy. The wooden drawers that is, not the cravats! They sell college blazers and funny little hats like the ones Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee wear in Alice in Wonderland. As well as amazing tweed coats and boots and cricket whites etc, all very Brideshead Revisited.

A couple of doors away are the stationers Scriptum. It’s just like stepping into one of those lovely little shops in Venice or Florence. I could spend hours rooting around. They have all kinds of pens and nibs and inks, books and leather bound journals. They do amazing subtly coloured inks in 80ml bottles in shades like Sienna and Bordeaux that I’m going to stock up on. ‘A’ was going to buy a pen for his calligraphy but I treated him to an early valentines present, a wooden boxed set complete with two pens, two bottles of ink and ten nibs. He was so pleased. I’ve just checked out their website it’s on www.scriptum.co.uk I’d forgotten they also sell Venetian masks.

‘A’ had run out of pipe tobacco. He’s convinced that he’s given up smoking as now smokes a pipe and cigars in stead of cigarettes. He promises me that you don’t inhale pipe smoke so it's harmless. Oh well I suppose that it’s better than cigarettes……and does have that 50’s retro vibe going on. Reminds me of a cool photo I have of my father. But I do love going in the tobacconist Frederick Tranters n High Street. They have special little room full of cigars kept at the correct temperature. Cases of pipes in all shapes and sizes and the most amazing smelling tobacco smelling of cloves a cinnamon and chocolate! The owner let me smell cherry and vanilla tobacco that smelt just like Christmas cake!!

We had a good look around Antiques on High. I loved some of the retro Russian pendants but put A off buying me anything as we’re going to Portobello Road next Saturday. Although I’m sure I’ll be going back to High Street.

Passing Sanders Prints and Maps I could’t resist photographing their new window display. You can see the images on the posting below.

When we got home A couldn't wait to play with his new pens, me too.....

Sanders Prints and Maps

I have to be really busy when walking down High Street if I don't have at least a quick look in Sanders. They have an amazingly diverse collection of prints that range in price from £1 to thousands of pounds. They always have the most imaginative window displays... I couldn’t resist photographing their new window display and almost bought a botanical drawing…I’m obsessed with all things green at the moment…but I resisted.

I've been working on a commission that required using coloured ink and is nothing like my usual work. The customer had a really strong image in his head that he wanted me to reproduce and yet likes my quirky style. So far he's pleased with the first few images and my experiments with colour. It's been good discipline for me but I'm dying to get back to doing my own unique style.

Submissions for 2010 Little Women Exhibition, 'Made to Fit'

I've just completed four small pieces to submit to the annual Little Women Exhibition in Hampshire. This year it's entitled 'Made to Fit.' When I say little....I really mean little.....they have to be small enough to fit into a CD case! It sounds a weird concept but amazingly it works ......I shouldn't be surprised cos besides a CD that's what they are made to hold....a piece of art work!

I've incorporated some 18th century French handwriting on lovely tissuey paper into one of the pieces this time. I knew that it would be useful for something when I bought it from Oxford Antique Market a few months ago......






Last year I was fortunate to have two pieces accepted as they had an overwhelming response with submissions from all over the world. It was beautifully curated even though at the last minute the planned venue was cancelled. Renovation work on the building wasn't completed in time for the show and so an alternative had to be found. Hope I'm lucky enough to get in this time. I've posted the images below. The pieces I had accepted are the two on the top left hand side on the top photograph.

Submissions for The Little Women Exhibition

I loved these sculptural 3D pieces at last years Little Women Exhibition.

Driving home from London after midnight last night we were accompanied by the most beautiful full moon that looked like some kind of amazing pumpkin lantern lighting our path. We were also accompanied by the 'gritters.' What? We thought. We can't be having any more snow....but how wrong were we. We were awoken this morning to the same moonlight but reflecting on a beautiful pristine white carpet of snow......