Autumn Art Fair

At the weekend I took part in the Landmark Autumn Art Fair. Busy, busy. Friday nights private view had lots of visitors and footfall was good for the whole weekend.

I would have liked to have sold more work, however, the artist notebooks I made sold out on Saturday and the Starter Printmaker Packs I had with me also sold out so I took orders for extra, posting them out yesterday. . . . good-oh

I also ran out of cards and had to improvise. . . . . 

The fair was held in what was once St Alban's Church. 

Built in 1887 by public subscription to replace the old parish church which was too small for the growing Teddington congregation. In deed, more was subscribed than expected, stone was substituted for brick and a whopping great French Gothic Church complete with gleaming copper roof was erected.

Falling congregations meant that the building became redundant and neglected for many years and by the 1980's vandals had removed the roof, the congregation had returned to the old parish church opposite and St Alban's was deconsecrated.

However local people campaigned for the building to be saved, both for its architectural merit and to serve as a building for use as a community arts centre, the role it now fills.

One of the windows damaged by vandals.

Second-hand Bookshops

Second-hand bookshops are my true (not so very secret) vice, and like a true addict I just cannot help myself, even though the weight of books in my shed brings the threat of subsidence, and I constantly tell myself, 'this is the last time!'.

Looking for something on Amazon recently I found this brilliant little book by chance, how could I resist? it was meant to be . . . .

Which colour??

I have spent the morning trying out different colours on this woodcut . . . . and still don't know which to go with. 

It's definitely time for a coffee and a restorative chocolate biscuit!

Weekend workshop at Dillington House, Somerset

I'm wishing now that I'd had all this ply cut for me!

Getting ready for a weekend residential workshop I'm running at Dillington House.

It's quite different working away from home, here everything I could possibly need for a workshop is at hand in The Shed. 

I have so many check lists but still I worry something will be left behind.

My first view of the house, doesn't it look stunning in the late afternoon sunlight, all gold and green.

Dillington House dates back to the sixteenth century and has been Somerset County Council's residential centre for adult education, the arts and professional development since 1950. 

It's one of a number of centres throughout the country that specialise in offering non-vocational adult education courses . . . . . and they have a blog. 

http://dillingtonhouse.blogspot.com/

Dillington’s spectacular new building - The Hyde - has just won the 2010 Regional Architecture Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects. 

You'd think that putting a contemporary building, in concrete and black wood, slap bang in the middle of a collection of honey stoned buildings dating back to the 16th century and what was once the west country home of George III’s Prime Minister, Lord North, might jar, but no - it's fab! 

Good news, our studio is also here. 

The venue for morning coffee

A misty October morning view from the studio

My students were in the main, beginners, but came with a great deal of enthusiasm, working hard all day and then on into the night. 

And, I was in danger of loosing my voice!

Preserving the bounty

Picking raspberries (again!) in sunlight with bees busy in the last of the flowers, disturbing overlarge spiders grown fat for winter. My plans for the freezer thwarted, therein lies number 2 son's stash - pizza and milk.

Raspberry Vinegar
500ml cider vinegar
1.5kg raspberries
Sugar
Put raspberries and vinegar in a bowl and leave for 3 days, stirring occasionally. Mash well and strain through a jelly bag. Allow 450g sugar to each 500ml of liquid, mix together and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil slowly, stirring well, then simmer for 20 minutes. Skim and leave until cold, pour into screw top bottles and seal


A teaspoon of raspberry vinegar in a glass of water, recommended as a cooling drink to sooth a cold or fever (Mary Norwak 1978 Book of home preserving)

Bonfires and picking apples, disturbing earwigs and looking out for angry wasps

All this bounty makes work. It's satisfying when everything starts growing and I gaze proudly at our garden, then reality hits, either I let the fruit rot or I preserve it . . . NOW! 


It just won't wait for me. On the other hand I could just grow flowers and get down to the supermarket and buy stuff.


Apple Chutney
2lb apples
1lb onions
*1 lg red pepper
3/4lb sugar
1/2pt vinegar
**1-2 tsp ground ginger


Slice onions finely. Peel, core and chop apples (but not too small), place in a pan with the vinegar and bring to the boil. Add sugar and spice and stir well until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to stand for 4 or 5 hours (or overnight). Bring to the boil again, keep stirring, before pouring into clean Kilner or screw top jars. Leave for two weeks before eating.


*yellow and orange are also fine
** any pickle spice can be used.

A quick scout along the drunken hedge means we'll have plenty of sloe gin for winter, ummm

The weather has been all over the place this week, rain, sun, grey skies and now bathed in sunlight. It makes the colours in the garden look spectacular.

Today I have a little shadow, she scratches about my feet searching out tasty morsels

Start of a wet weekend!

Picture the scene, rain and the wind not whispering but raising it's voice to a lusty shout and I'm in a hat and coat picking raspberries! Yes the 1st of October

So I scuttle back into the warmth of my kitchen, soaked through, and drink tea while I contemplate the elements in comfort. . . .