And the winner.....

 

71 entries! 71 small pieces of folded paper went into the bowl, and the owl - daughter  chose one with eyes tight shut. The name that came out , and the new owner of the Beltane hare is Sage Jay Crosby.

Because there were so many entries, and it felt mean to only choose one winner (and because the wolf boy wanted a turn at picking a name from the bowl) we decided to choose a runner up, who will receive a print of the Beltane Hare. The second name out is Lyra.

Both of you need to contact me by email (dbarlowart@aol.com) and send me your details so I can get your gifts in the post. 

Thankyou so much for entering and spreading the word :)

'Stiniel Down'

10/5/12

ink and watercolour

I've got some new large work to show you next time, once I have good photos, but in the meantime I managed to do another local landscape. The weekly landscape has fallen by the wayside at the moment, but I'm trying to get back on track!

Win the 'Beltane Hare'

'Beltane Hare'

Ink and watercolour, approx A5

I've been working so hard on big paintings recently, preparing for an exhibition next month, that I have had very little time for the computer, or anything else! However, there are a dozen more paintings trying to escape from my head, and countless playful ideas that I want to experiment with. So, as a break from the larger, detailed work, and by way of a 'Thank you' to all of you who take the time to read what I write, and are kind enough not to take it personally if I don't always have time to reply to comments (though I read them all, and DO try to answer them all), I thought it was time to offer up a little original.

If you would like to have the chance to win this, you need to post a comment on THIS post, or on my facebook page (link on sidebar), and I will put all the names in the hat and draw a winner next Sunday evening. You could, of course, put a comment in both places, and I guess that means I can put your name in twice! You are also very welcome to share this post, or the facebook post , I'd be very grateful  - however, this is NOT a condition of entering the draw. I hate feeling pressured to share stuff - it can feel horribly spammy - so don't feel obliged at all! 

So, Thank you, and please leave your name if you would like to win the Beltane Hare :) xx

The winner is.....

And the winner is.........Number 5, Laume ! Congratulations!! (and you need to contact me with your address, so I can post your painting to you)

And this is the reason I have been busy the last couple of days.
Last Thursday was Chagford Pony Sales, (which I have written about in previous years HERE).
As always, I went down for a look. It was pretty depressing - lovely foals, hardly any buyers. This little fellow above is from our local herd - born on Meldon, the hill which runs down into the village. I had noticed him over the summer, and liked him, and he caught my eye again in the sales pens. I had deliberately left my wallet at home, and resolutely not registered a buyers number, so I couldn't be tempted. He came through the ring early, and I watched without bidding. Not a hand went up, not one, and he was run out of the ring unsold. Colt after colt went through, nobody wanted them. Those colts can't run back out on the moor, and the plain truth is that they are worth more at the slaughterhouse than in the sales ring. I couldn't bear to think of him ending up there this week, so I went round and asked the farmer what he wanted for him. So here I am, £15 poorer, with a large, plain, big boned colt in my stable.
I know it was the right thing to do ;-)

Giveaway Time!

"Chalk Hare - Summer"
6 x 4 inches watercolour painting


So, it's Giveaway time! I'd like to say a HUGE thankyou to everyone who follows this blog. As promised I have a little original painting to offer up in a draw. In fact, you have the choice of either of these chalk hares - summer or winter. All you have to do is leave a comment saying which one you would prefer to win. I will draw all names out of a hat ( or maybe the Random Number Generator) once comments have closed on Sunday night (17th October) at 9pm UK time. Good luck ;-)

"Chalk Hare - Winter"
6 x 4 inches original painting

And as we strolled through the meadow last night in the evening sun, the ponies shone in the golden light. Sandpiper is the colour of a polished conker!

And The Winner is ....

Number 31, Melly Testa! A copy of Long Lugs will be winging it's way to you as soon as I have your address. ( UPDATE : I gave you the wrong link for Melly's blog - I have now changed it to the right one, do check it out)

"Stook Deer" progresses nicely, although I have had less time this week. There are more hare and fox paintings in the pipeline too, but I have seriously neglected my drawing so far this year, and need to go back to sketching a bit, just to remind myself !

Celebratory Giveaway!

OK, it's celebration time! I thought that reaching over 1000 hearts at my Etsy shop was something of a milestone, and deserved a big blog giveaway to celebrate. Plus, it's been a rather testing start to the year and I really need to do something cheery and fun! So, I am going to hold a draw here on the blog. The winner gets to choose their prize from my Etsy shop - 1 large print ( A4/ 8 x 12) or 2 small prints (A5/ 6 x 8). In order to enter, you need to leave a comment after THIS post, stating which print, or pair of prints, that you would like to receive if you win. You don't have to be a blogger, but if not, you need to leave me a way of contacting you should you win. It's open to anyone, anywhere in the world. I will close the comments next Friday 12th of February at 9 o'clock UK time, and draw a name at random.

And here is a peek at the first stages of the third hare quilt.
"Stook Deer"

And the winner is ....

gtyyup from Life at The Rough String!

This evening was a rare one, with no rushing around after school. Instead we had a treat tea - drop scones, our favourite comfort food, with lashings of butter and we tried all the varieties of jam made so far this autumn ( though personally I like them best with honey!)

Illustration friday "strong"

Here is a little cartoon style illustration for this weeks Illustration Friday topic "Strong". It is A5 sized, on watercolour board and was a chance for me to play with my NEW paints! It is really a working sketch for a larger piece I am toying with.
So, to mark the start of me getting back into the swing of things, and especially, as a 'thankyou' to all my readers who have stuck with me through the summer holidays, despite blog posts that have consisted mainly of "too busy to talk now, having fun!", I have decided to put this sketch up for grabs.

So, anyone who is interested needs to leave a comment after THIS post, saying something along the lines of 'enter me'. You can still comment of course, if you wish, even if you don't want the painting! I will only enter those who ask to be put in the draw. I will close the entries next Tuesday ( 9 pm Uk time) and draw the winner at random. Obviously, if you want to be entered, you need to be contactable, so anonymous commenters need to leave an email address please.

And the Winner is .......

Mary! Congratulations ! If you could let me know your address, either through the 'contact' button on the blog, or leave it as a comment ( and I will delete it instead of publishing it), then I will get your hare painting sent off to you!

I think that Beth Grim deserves a special mention for offering up the tastiest nettle suggestion- Thankyou! So, as promised, Beth, you can choose a 6 x 8 image from my Etsy shop, or the blog if there is a print I haven't got round to listing yet, and I will print it up for you and send it off!

And, continuing the themes of transformation, here is yet another painting. I am really enjoying myself painting these - I could go on for ever!

One year Anniversary Giveaway!

It's one whole year since my first blog post! In this time, I have met so many wonderful people, discovered so many other brilliant blogs, and found such inspiration and support. I have enjoyed every minute of it, and so, in celebration, and in thanks, I am going to hold a draw for this little monochromatic, mixed media sketch of a hare. It's an original, measures about 6 x 8 inches, and is on watercolour board.

So, what do you have to do? Just leave a comment after this post. If it's an anonymous comment, then make sure you leave me a contact email. I will close the comments a week from now, next Wednesday, and draw the winner at random. So, if you want to win a Hare, get commenting! Open to everyone - existing customers, blogreaders, friends, random passers-by, don't be shy!

I am also going to have a celebratory SALE in my Etsy shop, lasting from now until Wednesday next week ( 29th April). All prints in my shop (Any size, includes ACEOs) will have 40% off to all blog readers. To make sure you get this, just convo me after your purchase for a revised invoice, asking for the blog anniversary discount!

And now, I thought I'd better explain the 'nettle thing' from the last post! It all began over an extended family supper at the weekend. We were discussing nettle soup, and all the children promptly went "yeeeuk, you can't eat nettles!", and all the adults said " Oh yes you can, they're delicious!". So, in an effort to prove this I have been trying to cook this week with nettles as a major ingredient. It's been pretty good fun, although they are not all converted yet. Tonight's offering was chholle with nettles ( spicy, sour chickpeas with nettles). A favourite of mine, although my husband felt it was a bit too worthy and good for you. I'll post the recipes if anyone is interested, and likewise, if you have any good recipes using nettles yourselves, do let me know. I might even give away a print for the best recipe!

One World - One Heart Blog giveaway!

Well, I decided to jump on the Gypsy Wagon as it trundled past me. I am rather late, and had to run down the road after it, and jump on the tail board, but here I am!
So, for those of you who haven't yet encountered the 'One World - One Heart' phenomenon, it is the brainchild of Lisa Swifka, and the full rules can be viewed on her 'One world - One Heart ' blog. Basically, it is a huge blog giveaway! There are hundreds of participants, all of whom can be found on the right hand side bar of the main blog , here.
The event runs from January the 19th to February 11th, and winners will be announced on the 12th of February.

I am offering this little original sepia ink and watercolour sketch of a fox, to the winner of my draw. In order to participate, you must leave me a comment after THIS post. The comments will close at 9 o'clock UK time on the 11th of Feb. You do not have to be an active blogger, but you MUST be able you be contacted should you win. If you cannot leave a blog, website or email address in the comments ( which will be visible to all) then you need to check back on the 12th of Feb. Should I be unable to contact the winner in the 3 days following the draw, I will draw a new winner.

So, get yourselves off around the blogosphere entering draws for wonderful prizes. There is no limit to the number of blog contests you can enter!


We have had Jackdaw, Magpie's son ( who belongs to my mother) to stay for a couple of days, which is always fun! He is 18 months old, but probably twice the size of his mum. Dog dinner in our house is a bit later than in his - but he couldn't be telling me any more clearly just how hungry he is!

And I couldn't resist snapping yesterday's beautiful rainbow!

The Winner is .....

.....Leola, better known as 'South Shore Artist' to many of us! So, Congratulations Leola, I will send you off a set of ACEOs as soon as I have your address.

As an irrelevant aside, the flowers in the little jug are ones I picked from my garden in the rain this morning. I love the fact that it is the depths of winter, and I can still find flowers! The yellow are Mahonia flowers, which are just coming to an end, and the lovely coppery flowers of my Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena' ). Also , smelling divine outside my studio, is the pink flowered Viburnum x bodnantense. It is weighed down with clusters of pale pink flowers, but sadly they seem to brown very quickly on picking, so it is difficult to bring their scent indoors. (Apologies for the latin names - a legacy from my RHS training!)

New Year Giveaway!

Happy New Year!

I've been remiss in my blogging while the children have been off school for the last couple of weeks, but as I haven't been painting, I thought there were only a limited amount of frosty walk photos people would want to see! Instead I have been enjoying time with my family - my husband has had some rare time off work - and precious things , such as riding our ponies, and reading books, and the joy of browsing new seed catalogues and planning how this year we really are going to have a shot at self sufficiency. ( I say this every year, but then struggle to put enough time in)

I also made the decision to close my Ebay store. Fees are so high, and Etsy is just a so much nicer place to be. I will still list originals on Ebay as I have some wonderful customers there, but will keep the whole print inventory on Etsy.

So, for the last couple of days I have been making new ACEO prints ( namely the rabbits above), and have several to list. I make them in limited editions of 9, and back them with stiff coloured cardstock, and then trim to exact size ( 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches) before popping into a snug acid free sleeve. They are titled, numbered and signed on the back. It is pretty time consuming , but I love the way that backing them with coloured card makes them look so much more substantial - little treasures in their own right.

And finally, that brings me to the giveaway!
I am going to give away a set of 10 ACEO's - perfect for someone just starting their collection, or ideal to give as little gifts to friends. There will be a choice of three 'themes'. The winner can choose either a 'CROW' collection, a 'FANTASY ' collection (fairies and unicorns/pegasus) or a 'HORSE' collection ( non- fantasy horses).
It will be a draw, open to anyone , whichever country you live in, with just one condition of entry: You need to check out the ACEOs in my Etsy store, and choose 1 favourite which fits in one of the three collections. Leave a comment after this post, including the title of your chosen ACEO. If you win, I will send you the ACEO of your choice, and 9 others to fit the theme. Hope that makes sense! If you don't have a blogger account, you can leave an anonymous comment, with your name - just remember to check back and see if you have won!
I will draw a random name from the hat on Sunday 11th January, 9 o'clockish UK time!

Happy New Year!

And the winner is .....

....Jen!

With help from Miu, I drew put all the names in a hat and drew one out.

Jen is Jen Macneill-Traylor of Gypsy Mare Studios. Check out her work, it's really beautiful!

Jen will you email me your postal address?

Illustration friday 'Pretend'

Lets pretend ...... that the woods at the bottom of the lane are enchanted! Imagine that the little copse is actually a magical forest, and deep in its protected heart a winged horse has given birth to a foal.

I am going to give away a print of this, "The First Light of Dawn" printed at approximately 6 x 8 inches. To enter, all you have to do is leave your name in the comments section of this post, and I will draw a name out of the hat on Sunday 23rd November, at about 9 o'clock in the evening, UK time.

Prizes, a Poppy, and Painted Shoes

Okay, first things first! The Blog Giveaway was drawn tonight, and the first name out of the pumpkin bowl was Maggie Summers! Check out her great blog A Latte A Day . Maggie, you need to let me know your snail mail address. You can email me at dbarlowart@aol.com

Congratulations! You know, that was really good fun to do - though I feel terribly guilty about people who didn't win. Thankyou so much everyone for taking the time to leave a comment. I think I will make this a regular thing, maybe monthly?

Secondly, here is a quick ACEO for this week, entitled Luna Hare. Up for auction on ebay later tonight.



And finally - the real reason I haven't done much work this week! I'd been having one of 'those' weeks - you know the sort, where everything that can go wrong does, culminating in a shopping trip to Exeter. I haven't been shopping for about six months, partly because there is never a penny to spare, and partly because I hate shopping, with a passion. Nevertheless, the girls REALLY needed some tights for school, so I steeled myself for a trip. Once tights were sorted, I wandered round a bit, as I have had a burning desire for a pair of red shoes for a couple of years. I saw a couple of pairs, just the shade I wanted, but at £60 each, I just couldn't justify it. I got steadily grumpier throughout the day, and came home and threw everything out of my wardrobe, all the old clothes that I don't wear because they no longer fit, or I just don't like them, and then Da Da! I found a pair of handmade shoes that I no longer wear because they were a rather unpleasant shade of yellow. Well, a trip to Bowdens ( the best shop in the world - but that must wait for another post) turned up a cherry red pot of shoe polish, and an hour later, with as much shoe polish on my hands as on my shoes , I have a pair in just the shade I want! This has led to a flurry of mending and making do, and upcycling old clothes.

A rummage through my fabric boxes has provided a gorgeous selection of fabrics, and I have added a strip of this beautiful striped fabric to the bottom of a red knee length skirt (which made me look even shorter and squatter than usual) to make a great full length skirt. I also dyed a nasty grey parka a lovely chocolate brown ( had to boil it up in my enamel bread bin as none of my pans were big enough), and I'm now going to jazz it up with these fabrics. My absolute favourite is the printed needlecord in the centre which I got at a garage sale in the village. So this might mean not much painting for a few days. But you know, there are times when a girl's just GOT to have some new clothes!

Who wants a print?

Ok - here goes with my first ever blog giveaway! This is a print of an original of mine titled "You are the Queen of Birds", and is from Aesop's Fables. It measures approx 11 x 7 1/2 inches ( A4 for fellow UK readers) and is printed on glorious Hahnemuhle fine art paper, which shows up every beautiful detail of watercolour.

Here is what you have to do! Check out my etsy shop, and tell me which piece is your favourite in the comments section. Title will do - don't feel you have to put something witty or clever unless you want to !( I speak from the heart here - I often don't comment on stuff for that very reason, the 'oh my God, I'm not nearly as amusing as everyone else" moment of self - doubt). It is open to everyone, friends, customers, complete strangers, in any part of the world, and at 9pm UK time on Friday the 17th October, I will pick a name at random from the 'hat', and send you the print!