Snapshots

...This week...

Houmous and grilled veg on toast with lots of oliveoil anbd a sprinkle of rock salt. Mmmm.

This made me cry. I wonder how old Patricia is now... Her name is not one which you would say is in fashion right now. I wish I knew who she is.

A parcel of little ladies are making their way up to Scotland as we speak! 

This is almost finished...I'll share it properly when it's done ;)

 

xxx

Wuthering Heights

"Wuthering Heights" 12 x 12 acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PAINTING ON ETSY.

I hope I've done some justice to Emily Bronte's original description:

 

"Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed: one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. " (Wuthering Heights. Chapter1)

A little photography has been in order recently to prepare for this painting. I'm so lucky the skies complied :) I just switched the direction of the lighting around a little.

 

xxx

A Few Animal Paintings

"Terrys Heart Jumped As He Realised He May Have Left The Gas On..."

 

Hello there! This is Terry, so named in homage to the great wildlife man himself, sadly missed (mostly by we in the UK). See what I cleverly did with the name there?

 

I have a soft spot for these little guys, as the town I grew up in - Southport, on the northwest coast of the UK, and the nearby reserve of Formby has been quite a refuge for them.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAINTING ON ETSY

 

I've been saddened to read that Hesketh Park, my local park where they thrived for a long time, is now mostly home to greys.

Oh! I feel sorry that the greys are now classed as vermin - it isn't their fault...but still...there it is...

 

50% ($37.50) from the sale of this item goes to the Red Squirrel Survival trust: http://www.rsst.org.uk/

Found mainly in Europe, red squirrels are now highly endangered due to the influx of grey squirrels, which carry the squirrel pox virus, to which greys are immune, but reds are not!

Please help the little reds out by either donating your own amount, or purchasing this unique piece for your lovely walls :)

 

Some more facts (taken from the red Squirrel Survival Trust website):

They have four fingers and five toes.
They can be right or left-handed when eating a pine cone.
They can swim.
Reds’ coats moult twice a year, once after winter and then in the late summer before the weather gets colder.
They moult their ear tufts once a year, in late autumn

 

How cool is that?!

 

Oh yes...and I've finally put these smiley fellows up for sale too. I've named them Billiam and Sven!

"Billiam Had Really Enjoyed His Early Morning Fry-Up"

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAINTING ON ETSY

 

and...

 

"Sven Was Excited About Attending His First Fencing Class"

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAINTING ON ETSY

 

I kept these two for a few months because, well, I just found it tough to let them go. It isn't usually a problem I have - not with my human portraiture anyway, but the animals, that's different... So if you're out there, good customer, please be sure to treat them well. I have a feeling they bring good luck! ;)

 

xxx

 

 

Hot Prairie Fire and all the Colours In Between

Unintentionally, this post has turned out very red-and-yellowy. How apt for our season :)

 

I've been working away on a new painting. Here are a few glimpses. I thought  would have had it finished by now, but Amelia has had a couple of days off school poorly, so i haven't had quite as much time as I though - AND I always mis-time these things, so it will be finished when it's finished. I'm pretty sure we're close...

 

Ever dependable Gardener's DelightTomatoes are ripening in the conservatory :) yes - this year, I just went for the good old faithfuls instead of the usual rare varieties! Yum!

 

...and these chillies are crazy hot! They start with that lovely, capsicum taste, then the tingle begins... Now, Rob isn't one to turn down a good chillie challenge and can usually take the heat, but this is a tough one! If you're interested in trying it out for yourself (or surprising a loved/hated one with a bit of spice!) the variety is Hot Prairie Fire. My friends in the US can also find it on Amazon...and you ovely peeps in Aus, there are some on Ebay too ;) OK. I would love to list every country and continent, but that could get crazy. I'm sure you can find your own if you're at all interested and live elsewhere).

 

 Since Sunday, Amelia has been trying something new. As I got to grips again with the sewing machine (hadn't touched it in three years), we decided to make a little mini cushion, onto which Amelia begged to sew 'something'. I remembered we bought a little pack of pink buttons from Liberty's last year (also have a look at their children's wear - woohoo, but costy!!).

She did get a little frustrated when she realised she had gone and made loops and put the needle in and out the wrong places, but I kind of love it like that. It will be lovely to keep these little mementos and see how her skills develop over time. I can't wait to see her finished product!

 

I've packed and parcelled all orders to date, so had better get off to the village Post Office, then back for a little scintillating karate uniform ironing for Amelia's class later!

 

Toodlepip!

xxx