Meet the neighbours

      Its been a while since I introduced you to some of my neighbours at Clevedon Craft Centre,  but as we have had a few changes recently, I though I would update you.

Sarah and Nigel of  Wight & Wight, have moved into Studio 11 ( my old studio) They create unique and stylish sterling silver jewellery, fused glass, wool felted scarves, hand crochet wire, bead and stone jewellery. Take a peek at their website:www.wightandwight.co.uk

I love the fused glass so pretty

and Sarah's jewellery is gorgeous, I may be tempted soon.

Sorry I didn't get a close up,  ( how silly) but will very soon

We also had Emilie moved into Studio 11a.  This studio has been empty since I have been here, so its brilliant that it now has a new owner and always looks so lovely, with the displays she does in the window

Here is Emilie today,  she had a wedding to sort and did the most amazing Bouquet

and buttonholes

Check out her on facebook page by following this link Here

I will catch up with you all soon

Janice x

SAA and pastels

This week I have been busy painting

 I am running 2 workshops in just over a weeks time on Flower painting in watercolours  and wanted to experiment a bit with techniques for  demonstrating.  This is what I ended up with..

Do you think you would enjoy doing a workshop with such loose techniques??

I also had a a great day out in Bristol.  I went to the SAA ( Society for all Artists),  'All about Art show'

I went expecting it to be a bit like the NEC show I went to last year,  so wasn't expecting much as that show had been a disappointment.  I was so convinced that  I would be home in time for lunch,  I  didn't  take anything with me, But I stayed all day.  I wanted to go to see how other people demonstrated and what new techniques I could pick up,  along with having to buy a few bits and bobs, so didn't expect that to take very long.

It was much more fun than I had expected and I chatted to loads of people about what they liked in courses and how they found out about workshops.   There were lots of demonstrations, in different techniques, I  got to try new materials, like the new Acylic paints from Winsor and Newton and I took part in some workshops.  Each workshop lasted approx 45 mins

First I did a pastel drawing .

Then a waterolour painting

Then another pastel workshop.  However this one was different as it was animals on Velour paper.  What a difference the paper makes.  Of course it helped that Vic Bearcroft was running the workshop and moved us all through the drawing of his cat.  Using drawing, tonal and blocking stages,  before moving into detail.

I loved it

so much so I went back after lunch to draw his husky dog.  And inevitably ended up buying some Velour paper and some more pastels ( as if I haven't got enough!!)

In fact I bought so much they even gave me a free DVD..... now thats bad!!!

At the very end of the day I did an acrylic workshops but it was a bit rushed and not my favourite one of the day,  but still enormous fun!!

So instead of Mounting some picture and finishing a painting I started last week,  on my spare afternoon on Saturday,  I had to have another go with the pastels and Velour paper. 

I think I may have found a new obsessions....


Janice x

No 38 - 50 things to do in my 50th Year

50 THINGS TO DO IN MY 50TH YEAR

Black - completed,
Blue - still may happen
Red - will have to wait :-(


1. Have a meal with Steve and all the kids
2. Try and see a whale
3. See the Angel of the north
4. Photograph wild flowers
5. Paint outside ( not the fence)
6. Search for sea glass
7. Find 50 Art Deco buildings and photograph them - started  about 30 left to do 
8. Swim a mile
9. Walk on a beach at sunset in the UK
10. Sing in public ( not on my own) - Joining a singing group 
11. Make  a sculpture out of found or natural items -  Items found,  just need to sculpt them
12. Pooh sticks
13. Walk up to Glastonbury Tor  - very soon
14. Paddle in a stream   -  Just waiting for a spring day Brrrrrrr
15.  Go on a picnic
16  Climb something 
17. Tea and cake with all the family
18.  Spend a day with Gemma    ?????       
19.  Spend a day with Heather  ??????
20.  Spend a Day with Chris   ??????
21.  Walk a dog
22. Find treasure - Geocaching, about to take place
23. See wonderful stained glass
24. See a David Hockney painting
25.  Visit Scotland
26. Try and see the Northern lights
27. Stargaze
28. Dance in the tower Ballroom Blackpool
29. Road trip
30. Decorate a special cake
31. Do a mosaic
32. Make 50 origami birds and hang them in trees - Only 10 left to make
33.  Throw a pot
34. Have a girly night - I am organising for my birthday  
35. Make a flower arrangement
36. Sparkle
37. Have my engagement and eternity rings repaired

38. Decorate the bedroom

I still have to do some finishing off and get some pictures up but the bare bones of the decorating is now done

39. Make a daisy chain
40. Get a tattoo
41. Have a photo us all.  Not professional
42. Make an album or photo book of the year  -  Progressing on
43. Do something to raise money for charity
44. Candle lit relaxing  bath
45. Kiss in the rain
46. See a film in the directors lounge
47. Have a butterfly land on my hand
48. Crochet or knit myself a jumper
49. Paint a good picture on an Ipad
50.  Surprise me!!!

21 to go  

Waves :-)

Good morning Bloggers,  this morning there s lovely sunshine and I am feeling cheered up by it.  Its still cold but there is a glimmer of hope, that spring may actually arrive soon.

I wasn't feeling so cheerful on Saturday,  I sat in my cold studio with people peering through the window and making comment like,  "its only art work" or "There is nothing in here" and walking away again,  I did wonder why I had given up my Easter break with my family,  but I know when you are in business for yourself ,  you have to take every opportunity to open,  just incase.

I think they see the tables ( which I can't move) and don't look any further,  anyway I put a big sign up in my window to try and stop them seeing in and Sunday was much better.  In fact the best sales day of the year so far.( which isn't say to much as its been very quiet visitor wise). Bank holiday Monday was not as good but I did get quite a few people in chatting who seemed enthusiastic about my work, so it felt like a good day.  I also got a few people who were interested in classes and one booking.

Mr Wellydog came up with me on Sunday so we could at least see each other for a bit over Easter and he took some photos ready for my photo book ( have I told you about that Yet???)  and his camera does snazzy things, like take panoramic views.  Here is one of the ones he took.  I love them.  ( if you double click on it you should be able to view it bigger)

I don't know how well you can see on the panorama but I have since change my wall around a bit.  I have had a couple of sales recently so filled up the spaces with older work,  which really should get put into cellophane bags and sold from the browser, rather than being on the walls.  I got round to finally framing some of my wave paintings and made a bit of a mini display of them, at one end of the wall.  I am pleased with them,  I have a bit of a thing for water, as you may have gathered, so seeing them all together was very pleasing.

This is how the whole wall now looks

Yesterday I also thought I would have  a break and do some glass work,  I am running short of sun catchers so thought I would make some more up.  I wondered if I could use up some of the scraps of glass I have,  so I put together a lots of bits and came up with the following designs.

I am not sure how popular they will be,  But they were fun to do and I quite like them,  In fact I like the bottom one so much, I may keep it.

I am off now to go and try and sort out my car tyre that seems to have got a screw stuck in it.... more expense no doubt  :-(  Then,  I need to get into the studio in time for my classes this afternoon.  

So see you all soon

Janice x

Cake Art

Let me tell you about my Wednesday group.......

Yesterday they bought me these for Easter, how great are they!  But my Wednesday group are also special for another reason 

                                 

I hold art groups 4 Days a week usually in the afternoons but also one on a Saturday morning.  My Wednesday and Saturday group have been running the longest and they are both great groups with regular students who all gel as a group and are both Fun, and are very supportive of me and each other.

But the Wednesday group has become a cake and Art group.  Look at what we got this week as an afternoon treat!

and the week before.....

 
and the week before.......

in fact they have a rota going as to who's turn it is to bake.  I am not complaining,  and my husband is pleased as usually he gets a cake to.  They even joke that if anyone new starts they want to interview them to check they can Bake!!!

Its all started with Sandy, one of my original students who along with a lady on my Saturday group came along to my 1st ever beginners workshop.  She is  a cake maker and runs her own Cake decorating business and teaches people sugar craft,  in fact I have just been invited to help her celebrate 31 years in business.  

On my original workshops I used to get Dot from the Centre tea shop, to bring a cake in half way through,  but as she closes for the winter it stopped and so sandy took over,  then other people joined in and now we have the cake and Art group.

She has been great with me as well, as recently I decided to decorate a cake for my daughters 30th birthday and Sandy talked me through it.  She even gave me some cake colouring to save me buying loads just for one cake.

But in fact a week later it was my sons birthday and he also got made a cake which I also use the colourings Sandy had given me

So if you ever want to join my Wednesday group,  make sure you loosen your belt and learn to bake Hehe!!

Janice x

Quick blog

Look at my fab new brush pot.  I LOVE it!! so much so I bought some more to sell on, When I saw them at the wholesaler I just had to own them, so bought one in each colour.  There is a red one to. 

I finished my driftwood painting,  so that is now varnished and up on the wall

 and just for  fun,  I was playing with the Acrylic inks and had to paint a little boat  I am now imagining who may be sailing in her.....any ideas for a poem or short story??

I also thought I would let you see my work colleague...in his new bed.  Its a tough life isn't it.

Just a quick blog this week as things are manic here but fill you in soon on all the news

janice x

No 30 - 50 THINGS TO DO IN MY 50TH YEAR

50 THINGS TO DO IN MY 50TH YEAR

I am coming to the end of my 50th Year, and I have not achieved as much as I had hoped by this time,  but family circumstances have meant my free time has been swallowed up and our planned visit to Scotland had to be cancelled.  I am not overly disappointed as the whole project has made me think  about those little things that make life so special.  Like this week when I made a celebration cake for my beautiful daughters 30th Birthday, it was so lovely to do something special for her and it may not have gone according to plan but it was fun and interesting to learn a new skill. 

I have gone through the list and have highlighted in red those things that will just have to wait but the ones in blue I am still planning and they may not come in right on time but it shouldn't be to long.

So off I go to try and finish those in blue x

  1. Have a meal with Steve and all the kids
2. Try and see a whale
3. See the Angel of the north
4. Photograph wild flowers
5. Paint outside ( not the fence)
6. Search for sea glass
7. Find 50 Art Deco buildings and photograph them - started
8. Swim a mile
9. Walk on a beach at sunset in the UK
10. Sing in public ( not on my own)
11. Make  a sculpture out of found or natural items
12. Pooh sticks
13. Walk up to Glastonbury Tor
14. Paddle in a stream
15.  Go on a picnic
16  Climb something 
17. Tea and cake with all the family
18.  Spend a day with Gemma           
19.  Spend a day with Heather
20.  Spend a Day with Chris
21.  Walk a dog
22. Find treasure
23. See wonderful stained glass
24. See a David Hockney painting
25.  Visit Scotland
26. Try and see the Northern lights
27. Stargaze
28. Dance in the tower Ballroom Blackpool
29. Road trip

30. Decorate a special cake

31. Do a mosaic
32. Make 50 origami birds and hang them in trees
33.  Throw a pot
34. Have a girly night
35. Make a flower arrangement
36. Sparkle
37. Have my engagement and eternity rings repaired
38. Decorate the bedroom
39. Make a daisy chain
40. Get a tattoo
41. Have a photo us all.  Not professional
42. Make an album or photo book of the year
43. Do something to raise money for charity
44. Candle lit relaxing  bath
45. Kiss in the rain
46. See a film in the directors lounge
47. Have a butterfly land on my hand
48. Crochet or knit myself a jumper
49. Paint a good picture on an Ipad
50.  Surprise me!!!

22 to go  Over Half way now!