An Inspirational Day! (Part One)

Last week we were very lucky indeed and Sam, Martin and myself visited the beautiful Welbeck Estate and Harley Gallery with the BTEC Fine Art students for a Professional Practice Day.

There was so much for the students ( and very giddy staff!) to see, including the Open Studios, wonderful exhibitions at the Harley Gallery (I'll tell you about those in the next thrilling installment,) and inspirational talks.

But our first port of call had to be the wonderful Hope and Elvis studio of Louise Presley.

I did feel a tad nervous, I knew the Fine Art students would do us proud (and they did) but I hoped they would love it as much as we did.

It is such a special place and I wanted them to feel the magic.

As the students were hard at work gathering knowledge and wisdom from Louise, I enjoyed the atmosphere.

I could happily live in this studio space.

This place is proof that you can live a creative life and forge your own way in the creative world...

If you work very, very hard!

I was so proud of the BTEC- ers

And Louise was so generous with her advice and experience.

Thank you chuck!

How can you not be inspired!

It was a cold day I can tell you!

Louise even shared her journals with us.

Louise's shop was open too!

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Scribbly Hare.

This is my latest painting, and like most of the others, I didn't know what it was going to be until whatever it was decided to emerge.

It's funny but I think that it's not just what's inside your head that affects your painting, but what is going on outside too.

Now that the skies are greyer and the mornings are mistier, my palette has become a little subdued as well.

I think he knows that winter is-a-coming.

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Treasure Hunting...

A couple of weeks ago we had a family jaunt to Whitby.

Marika (my lovely sister- in-law) and myself escaped for an hour or two for a bit of vintage girly shopping.

We perchanced upon the gorgeous 'Treasure Hunt', which is very nearby the famous Magpie fish and chip shop.

Many 'oooohs' and 'aaaahs' ensued.

I found some vintage photographs that will definitely become part of my mixed media dabblings.

Here's a bit of an unintentional selfie!

We also kept falling into little bric- a- brac shops and a recurring theme seemed to emerge...

Now, as a rule, I am not much of a fan of dead critters, but foxes do fascinate me.

I have a bit of a love- hate thing going on with stuffed foxes.

They seem to attract and repel me at the same time (a bit like my hubby! Ha! Ha! Only joking!)

Definitely not too keen on this fellow though!

What, with my penchant for giant plastic ice cream cones and now photographs of stuffed foxes, I dread to think what my next obsession will be!

Hope you all have a cracking weekend chucks, happy thrifting adventures to you all!

X

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Who Lives In A House Like This?

It's chucking it down.

I have a shed load of paper work to do.

And the dusting.

So I'll take some photos indoors for my blog!

Ha!

I guess my house could be described as 'second hand chic'.

It's basically a charity shop with white walls!

Maybe I have split personality.

I like clutter in some places and blankness in others.

I think our homes tell a lot about us don't you?

How rude!

I haven't even asked if you'd like a cup of tea!

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I Can't Get That Enya Song Out Of My Head...

She is finally finished.

Fully resplendent with a boat atop her head.

(And even though I do like that Enya song, it is now getting a tad annoying since it is on repeat in my brain!)

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Whitby I Love You!

I apologise in advance for the gratuitous giant plastic ice cone shots.

I just can't help it!

The weather was glorious last weekend and Whitby was calling...

And so were the fish and chips!

And did I happen to mention the ice cream?!?

Lottie made another purchase to add to her growing goth wardrobe!

(I do think it suits her though!)

Oh! No! Another ice cream photo has just fallen into this post!

The neon lights of the 'muzzies were calling us...Ker! Ching!

Sooty ROCKED!

'What was that Captain, you want an...

ICE CREAM!'

Farewell Whitby, parting is such sweet sorrow...

But we shall be back soon!

Have we got time for a cheeky ninety- nine?

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