Cheap hanging baskets

I have been growing seeds in my mini greenhouse which are coming along nicely.  I would like some nice hanging baskets but they are so expensive.  So, today while its sunny, I decided to take a break from moving furniture and unpacking and sorting bla bla...... and made my own hanging baskets.

I know they might look a bit funny, as they are just ice cream tubs.  But, once the plants really start to grow and trail, you won't see the tubs, maybe a flash of blue occasionally.  I think I should have tried a bit harder to remove the ice cream labels though lol.

I also use the bottom of milk cartons and water bottles for individual plants.  This is a close up of my strawberry plants.  (in the first picture you can see pansy's on top of my hutch in milk tubs)

From the side showing my mini greenhouse.   Just in case anyone is wondering what all the blue is; its sheets to protect my things from the rain.  I have a big sheet on top of the hutch as I have my plant pots there and I don't want the hutch to rot.  The rest covers things like my patio set and bike trailer.

Warrington Art Festival

The studio's are open as part of Warrington Art Festival.  Although I say studios, in fact there is only me, I am the only resident artist who actually uses the studio to work and exhibit.  The main area of the large hall is taken up with other artists work which is on display free of charge. It was originally agreed that you would have to rent a studio to exhibit, that is obviously not the case now as every tom, dick or harry can display free.  I have never ever in all my years found anywhere that lets you exhibit free of charge. 
All my paintings that are on display -in my studio- are reduced as I am giving up painting, not completely but not on such large canvas's.  I am concentrating on my textile art which starts mainly on paper and my bags which are doing really well.  My bags will be on display at the open studio events.  I cannot do textile work at the studio as the darn mice keep eating my fibres, which is no joke.  They have ruined some of my best wools and cottons.
So, come along and listen to ABBA which is nice and uplifting and view my work and, if you feel inclined, make a purchase.  Lots of sale including key rings, postcards, gift tags, bags and paintings.

Zoot Scoot Egg Run

Today was the annual Zoot Scoot Egg Run when all the scooter owners in the North West get together and take Easter Eggs to the Children's Hospital. The Warrington Scooter Club sets off from Zoot Scoot. (photos are not cropped or touched up so all the other rubbish is visible).All these are Italian Lamberetta's.

Love this one with the engine exposed.
This is an original 1950's and worth about 8k !!

Choo choo

It's not often these days you see a steam train. It reminds me of my youth, we lived by at station and the trains would stop and let off steam, which was very noisy. This one came through while I was at my Studio, I missed it earlier and was advised when it would return. So I went off to a nearby car park and nearly missed it again!

Flower Power

For the first time, I have an Orchid that has flowered a second year. Normally they just die.

Orchid

This is mum's cactus, I got it for her just before she died and it has been dormant for all these years, now its started to grow at last.

Snow - what snow

After the country was covered in a blanket of snow, Warrington had hardly any. As you can see from the above, it didn't even cover the grass properly. In one sense we are lucky, our roads are clear, pavements a bit dodgy after the freeze. But, its a disappointment for all the kiddies who see it on tv and want to play snowballs and build snowmen.

Down at the studio what little bit of snow we have had has frozen to a sheet of ice.

Today we have had more snow, but mainly the fog has frozen on the trees, it looks so nice and I really love it.

Snakes

Not a very good photo, but this is one of my snakes. Its feeding time and I have to feed them at the same time, so I put two in separate buckets and one stays in the tank. This one normally eats fastest and will go after the others food, so I have to keep them out of the way.

I just love the colours, I have a black one and a white one as well. I will do some better photo's some time (when its warmer). I have had to set the tank up with another heat pad as its so cold. now.

Busy Weekend

Had a very busy weekend at the studio while I get my self sorted! I have been distracted lately and started to lose my way a bit. Also the police found a cannabis factory underneath my studio which they raided and we got the pleasure of an invasion of mice!!

I have cleaned my studio, cleared the rubbish and organised some storage. No mice now. I managed to get a bunk bed off the notice board at work, its a single with desk underneath, ideal for current storage and a work place. I have also managed to get my small pc desk underneath as well. Its good as I can do some research when I need to or check emails.

Just have to remember not to stand up underneath - lol.
I have also got rid of the massive table I had, I have a smaller one now that is just for my machines, I have them set up so can just sew when I need to without having to keep getting them out and putting them away. This is the view into the room from the window end. You can also see I have put some scaffolding up on the beams, for storage of stuff I won't be needing for a while. (bubble wrap and some materials etc).
Finally this is the view from the door, you can just make out my easel in the distance by the window, and behind the radiator on the right my snakes.

Next job is to sort my workbooks out and keep my inspiration stuff together. I will update you on my latest project over the next few days.

A Day in the Life

Its the 8th August today and would be mum's birthday if she was still alive. Wish I could turn back the clock, what I would give for one of mum's hugs today.

Anyway, life goes on....I have a new job which I've had since October, I work on my own and can more of less choose my own hours as long as the work gets done.....that's the hard bit, getting it done. I just manage to get on top of everything and we get a month end, so I have to do all my reports and bingo....behind again. After work I tend to go over to the studio, relax and do a bit of my own work. I have been working on an installation for the exhibition in Warrington next year, to celebrate Warrington's Industrial past of Wire and Cotton, was trundling along nicely until somebody trashed it! So, I have started again. We now have CCTV installed inside the studios as well as outside so it shouldn't happen again. There is a large open hall with the studio's off to one side, most of the big work is done in the hall, which, when people are in the studios, is open to anybody who comes in.

Its then off home for dinner and upstairs on my pc to play WOW (World of Warcraft). I find it quite amazing that thousands of people play yet I hardly ever speak to anyone, the most I say is thanks and bye after a dungeon. I love Wintergrasp, its such fun. It suddenly dawned on me last week that I do everything on my own and as I haven't had a mobile phone for ages hardly speak to anyone these days. My saving grace is my best friend, Shirley. Thanks Shirl, you keep me sane - lol.

I will make more effort to keep my blogs up to date, especially with bits I am working on at the studio.,

Studio Update

As I seem to live more and more at my studio and my work is changing thought you might like an update.

I picked up this metal shelving for a song in a bric a brac store, its great for my weaving's and for hanging my gift tags on. Fits neatly behind my sofa.
View from my sofa, where I sit to do any hand stitching, reading etc, also now have video and dvd's to watch.
My working end, starts to get very scruffy. Boxes of wire, tools and papers. I tend to kneel on the floor when working here as its usually with a hot iron, poker or other electronic gizmo's! As you can see my bike doesn't go anywhere these days, now attached for indoor riding, but its so noisy it hardly gets used.
Hung a couple of my weaving's, this hides my scruffy area when anybody looks in the door.
View from the door, difficult to see anything as it into the light.
One side of my worktable, with the back of a hanging where I put postcards.
Part of my table where I sit and tend to do most of my work.

More lovely Snow

Overnight we have had another snowfall, not very heavy but enough to put a white blanket everywhere. Being a Sunday I have been able to take the dog for a walk and get some photos.
The pond is still frozen from the last big freeze, above a leaf under the ice.
Birds footprints across the pond. Big bird too.
Frozen pond with bird footprints.
Pathway at the back of the house to the woods.

Happy New Year 2010

A very happy new year to all those who love me and all those who don't.
xxx

Art Exhibition Soaptank Studio

The exhibition was a great success at the weekend, with over 100 visitors. I made a few sales and had a lot of people who were interested in life classes and asking if I would hold/teach them! I have no idea why, as the only bare flesh on the day was my hands and face! My artwork is buildings and couldn't be further from life painting.

I made some Gift Tags and have a few bags left so will be putting them up for sale. Just have to photograph them.

Open Studio & Art Exhibition Today

Come along to the Soaptank Studio's today and tomorrow, several artists are exhibiting their work and the Artists Studios are open, you can see them at work.
Lots to see and all exhibited work is for sale, so you can nab a Christmas present or two (or three or four). Refreshments are available.

Soaptank Studios
Unit 10a
Bank Quay Industrial Estate
Slutchers Lane
Warrington
WA1 1PJ

Ring the bell for our Meeter and Greeter.

Sell Off

Getting my stuff ready for the Exhibition and Open Studio, I have been making small things for selling, tags etc.
I have decided this will be a good opportunity to have a clear out of my books, I will be selling lots of embroidery books and might even bag up some of my threads and stuff.

Open Studio & Exhibition

Visit the website for more details.

Latest Painting from Scotland

This is my latest painting from Scotland, from one of my photographs. It was the first day of snow on the Saturday we arrived, but I have taken a little poetic licence and used part of somebody else's image with my photograph.

Images from Scotland

Just a few images from Scotland, where the weather was lovely.These birds were being fed in the car park to the woods. There were loads more but when I got my camera out they flew away.
This is a little cottage we found in the woods, now being used as an information centre.
This is the amazing stove inside, which as you can see is still used.
This was outside the cottage, quite a lot to look for.
I like sculptures, this was in Aviemore.
This is another, in the shopping centre in Inverness.
Bagpipes on sale in the market. They look like they are marching along.

Studio Update

I have painted the door frame and started to paint the beams, the sparkly pink and purple are just not me. I have covered the sofa properly.
I have painted this one column in red, it sets the prints off really well.
I have acquired a nice big table, all my stuff is stored underneath, so it keeps the place tidy. It gives me somewhere to work when I am not painting. (new canvas started already)
The view up to the window, still have these beams to paint.

Liverpool One

I have finished my painting of Liverpool One, prints will be available as soon as I find another reliable printing company, the owner of my last one has retired. It's in a temporary space on my Studio Wall I wouldn't normally hang them next to an electric socket - lol.
I have lots of photos from my trip to Scotland and I will be selling a few of them as prints, I have also started a painting from one.
Now the triathlon season is over hopefully I will have a more time to spend at my studio and should have lots more to show over the coming months.