England's frosty blanket fell.

England's frosty blanket fell,

under a blue sky we headed out to Wisely.

The cold left many behind,

so together we played in the long grasses.

Our smiles splayed across our faces, 

above the frosty curl of fallen leaf.

Last leaves clinging to branches,

like twinkling stars in the night sky.

Days like these make me grateful.

I hope you all had just as much fun this weekend.

Were all in it together.

found via chestchest

found via blackpool

Erik Madigan Heck via abundance

Nick Knight rose found via dear ada

found via bienenkiste

found via cottageinthewoods

Chelsea Abril found via artpixie

found via chestchest

found via pinpricks

If I have said it once, I have said it a million times...I love tumblr and all it offers.

I love that others look, love and then tumble themselves.

Check Audrey's lovely blog Laura.

I love the fact we are all looking at the same page and seeing something different.

Rue, right up my street.

I think I might be the only person left on the planet that doesn't know about Rue magazine. 

I found it while browsing Decor8 last night. Instead of going to bed with my sore throat, it stayed right here with me in this chair. 

For a very long time.

Let me tell you, you will never need to buy another interior magazine again. 

(Hurrah! I hear my husband shout. Magazines no, printers ink, yes, and lots of it.)

Now go and get some refreshment, perhaps even lunch, and sit back and be rocked, this is one razzle dazzle of a magazine, with killer rockstar styling.

And let me tell you, you will be throwing paint at the walls once you have finished browsing, as your home is never going to feel the same again.

Iris Velghe

I am totally smitten by the work of Iris Velghe in Bloom magazine.

The spill, the swish, the splash, the seep, the stain, the saturation.

Divine.

Divine.

Divine.

Inspiration.

Possibly sashaying it's way in some form or another, to a canvas near you soon.

Beauty on a foggy day

A few pictures from a lovely foggy day at the well converted Petersham Nursery, in Richmond Upon Thames.

This place is so well documented you don't need me to tell you more I am sure. 

The tea and cake as always, was well beyond lip smacking.

Two little ladies dressed in fairy dresses danced in the puddles, and left most of the mud in my car, which in about 10 years time I am sure I will look back on and smile. ;)

One thing you should know if you live near, is that they are having their candlelit christmas market with carols on the 8th and 15th December. (8th Jasper Conran will be there to sign his new book 'Country').

A good good day.

 

Hello and welcome to my first open house studio.

Here are some shots of my house before everyone arrived. 

I did not manage to take shots during the event, as thankfully it got a little busy!

I tried to emulate a gallery feel, but I wanted it to be a relaxed experience as it was in my own home. This was the most popular room, as always...the kitchen. 

While my paintings were for sale, it was not the sole purpose of the event. I wanted to get feed back about my work. So I invited friends and anyone who had expressed an interest in my paintings. I hoped to delight all of the senses, scented candles, good food and wine, chill out music and great friends. 

Everyone chatted, ate and drank, it felt like a party. Or was that my adrenalin?

I decorated the windows at the front and back of the house with garlands I made from paper buttons and leaves. I looped them across the window like a pearl necklace and let the ends hang down.

 

It was nice to hear comments about my work, all very positive, and it was great to meet new people, as some friends brought some of their friends. 

I hung as many of my pictures as I could, and if a painting sold, it got decorated with a red dot. 

I hope that everyone had a wonderful time, and I want to thank all who came, and made it such a magical day.

It was great fun.

I will throw open the doors again next year.

Stay tuned!

Here are a couple of night shots taken after everyone left last night after my open house studio. 

Tomorrow I will post some pre event shots for you.

It was great fun.

I had a ball.

A little peek.

Just a little one, just for those of you who have been coming back to read my blog while I have been busy and not posting. Thank you. Have a great weekend, I hope you have fun and get a little crazy.

Gathering thoughts.

Rita Bernstein- Understudy

I am just sitting here gathering my thoughts , while the rain tumbles down outside. 

My weekend was cozy and filled with good friends, wine and food, just how I like it. My friend asked me to be her bridesmaid, an honour that takes my breath away. It made me think of my friends and how we have all traveled through life, holding hands through good times and sad times, but some how we get through it, and we watch as our children dance at our feet, and still we are there, holding hands together, leaning on each other when we are in need. And we will continue to watch, as our children then join hands together and begin to walk along the path of life.

So here I sit, trying to gather some pace to finish the last of my paper cuts for the open studio.  Everything is ready, my paintings have been hung, the wine has been drunk.... and re bought, sushi has been ordered and re ordered in panic as more people are coming than I thought. (I hope my husband isn't reading this.) 

The butterflies are falling from the paintings and dancing in my tummy, and I know my friends will be there to catch them.

Rita Bernstein- Fugitive

Found at scatteredvision

Mrs Rosy Bloom

While I am wiping last nights images of pop, wizz, and bang from my tired eyes. (Guy Fawkes night fireworks, not some mad party)  It seems a little peculiar in the midst of misty moons of November to be presenting this piece to you. 

But here you have it.... Mrs Rosy Bloom.

She is bright and spring like, with many layers of greens and blues, and swirly pinks. 

She is stilling pretty above a piano we were lucky to acquire through good friends. We are having a run of luck, don't you think? 

I like the kids plinking and plonking on it, somehow they make it sound jolly, even musical. Now that is something I never thought I would say!

So now they have found an audience with Mrs Rosy Bloom.