Proper Job Bookstore

I went down to Proper Job yesterday, our local recycling centre (and pirate hang-out ). It's such an Aladdins cave , I could spend hours rummaging around! One of my favourite resources is the 'Book Box' , a beautifully organised and catalogued second - hand book store, packed full of treasures. I always come back with an arm full of books.

I also rooted around in the clothes section ( currently temporarily squashed into a little shed, but in a couple of weeks the huge new cabin opens , where they will have loads of second hand and vintage clothing) As it is, I came away with two new pairs of school shoes in exactly the right sizes. Clarks brand, and barely worn at all. 50 p a pair! I am so pleased - school shoes are so expensive, and my children wear through them so fast (probably because I buy cheap ones in the first place

I've had children at home this week, one after another going down with coughs and colds, so it has been difficult to get on with any painting. That, and the fact that I turned the heater off in my studio because I was horrified by our electricity bill, and now it is far too cold to work out there! There was frost on the inside of the window yesterday, and the lovely cosy spare bed in there isn't cosy at all.

It's a busy time on Etsy this weekend. Jen, from Gypsy Mare Studios put me in her beautiful gypsy themed treasury. I am coveting most of the beautiful things in this collection!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=34198

Also, don't forget the 'Buy 2 , get a 3rd free, and free shipping sale' runs all weekend, until midnight on Monday.

Pre- Christmas Sale on Etsy

This is one of two commission pieces I've just finished today. I thought you might like to see the Work in Progress pictures.





And this is the second. I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out. They are both 6 x 8 inches.


And I thought I'd give people advance warning of a pre - christmas sale. I'm taking part in the Etsy wide promotion over Black Friday and Cyber Monday. ( That is Friday the 28th November to Monday 1st of December ) During that time period all the prints in my Etsy Shop will be 'buy 2 get a third free' AND I am offering free shipping for all orders purchwsed during the sale. I've got a couple of new prints to list too.

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?

The Cake Calamity

Well I tried! After painting a series of wonderfully eccentric tiered cakes, I decided it really was time to try and make one. Cake decorating is NOT my strong point, but I was inspired by Donna (Cookie Sunshine) who has made some truly stunning cakes, ( see them here) and I thought, " come on now, I am an artistic person, surely I can do it!"

It was my middle daughters birthday, so I had prepared the sponge cakes, designed the colour scheme, and was up till late in the evening decorating. Purple and Gold, a cake fit for a princess. Ok, I admit, the cake didn't have quite the elegance I was looking for - it is rather 'lumpen' and my piped lines are very wobbly. I tried to pipe a purple flower on the top, but I can't work out how to make a 'blob' without a long icing point on top, which then falls over. Not an elegant flower. My sister said it looked like the rat had been back and left an offering on top of the cake.

Still, it was my best effort yet, and I was feeling rather pleased with myself.

I carefully put it on the top shelf in the pantry and closed the door because Magpie is rather partial to cake.

The following morning I came down to find a chair in the pantry and this:

And 4 year old son hiding behind the sofa.

So , he is in disgrace, but luckily birthday child managed to see the funny side. I, on the other hand, haven't quite forgiven him yet!

Christmas ACEOs

" SNOW IS FALLING"

"CHRISTMAS CROW"

Busy , busy , busy! I've commissions to finish by the end of the month, but I've been working like a woman possesed all week, and they are well on the way now. I did find time to paint a couple of little ACEOs, which I have listed on ebay.

We have all recovered from the rat incident, except Magpie, who has moved in to the kitchen corner and spends her time staring hard at the cd collection, no doubt hoping for a second moment of glory!

I have been tagged again, by Akiko Watanabe and Annette from Fairyshoes.

I thought I would come up with another 7 facts, but I wont pass the tag on this time. There seems to be a tagging frenzy on the blogosphere at the moment!

1. Sea green is my favourite colour, but I can't wear it - it makes me look horrid!

2. I spent 9 months in Penang, Malaysia, and Bangalore, India, working as a volunteer at animal sanctuaries. A completely eye-opening experience - wonderful and miserable all at the same time, and I came home with very different views than those I went out there with!

3. I am learning to play the violin! (well, that is not quite right - I have always wanted to play the fiddle, and finally bought an old one earlier this year. I have a 'teach yourself' book and cd, but I don't have time to get them out as much as I would like)

4. When I was a teenager, my pony got stuck in a bog on Dartmoor. It was a blanket bog, and she broke the surface and went through to half way up her belly, though I was light enough to stand on the surface. She struggled briefly , and gave up. That was a truly scary moment. I saw the resignation in her eyes, and realised she was just going to let herself sink. We were miles from anywhere, and the only thing I could do was hit her. I shouted and screamed, and smacked her from behind , beside myself with panic, and eventually she gave an almighty struggle and thrashed her way to the edge ( only a couple of metres away).

5. I love white chocolate toblerone.

6. I once trekked out to see the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park ( Then Zaire, but now the Democratic Republic of Congo)

7. The first band I ever saw was The Pixies when I was 15. It opened up a whole new world!

PS. Don't forget the print giveaway doesn't close till Sunday night ( UK time) so there is still time to enter! Add your comments on the IF Pretend post!