A brief pause in Great Malvern ...

We stopped in Great Malvern for a coffee and fresh air en route to Ledbury ........ Ten mins to capture the scene...........you won't often see people in my pictures ........

Less is more, landscapes in my sketch book ...

As always, I am just trying to capture the moment in my sketchbook, rather than to be geographically accurate, I take photos which I can use together with my sketches and any notes when I return to my Studio ........  So here is a view from the Clee Hill, another from Great Chatwell and a real quick sketch of the Ironbridge.........

More from the kitchen cupboards...

Just having fun with in my sketch book ......

A visit to The Citadel ...

A visit to my friend Sylvia's idyllic home in Shropshire with magnificent views towards Wales, what a treat.  A pot of tea and home made cake spread on the table in the glorious sun of early September and I had a black pot filled with cut herbs right beside me, there were also some white anemone which took my eye...... I could happily keep a daily sketchbook of Sylvia's garden alone .....

A recent visit to Weston Park ...

We had walked to Weston Park from a friend's house and, as always there were endless sketching opportunities.  I advocate having a very small, limited kit to keep handy for sketching, whether that is at home, in your car or in your bag.   A smaller kit means you can easily pick it up and use it, ideally every day ..........

Food ...

Sometimes I really am stuck for something to sketch or paint, but there is always food......

Holiday Sketch Books

Holidays are the perfect time for all of us, whatever our ages, to keep a sketch book.....  You will have the time and will be experiencing different things, so there will be plenty of inspiration.

If you have children or young people with you, please encourage them to keep one too.  Don't be too strict, anything goes, it's the doing it that is important.  If you are accommodating young children, then I suggest collecting some materials, ie paper, card, stickers, glue/ double sided tape, pencils, pens etc, whatever you can collect and afford.  Check out pound shops, markets and cheaper shops, we're going to personalise our sketch books, this is not a time for expensive competition!  

All of my sketch books have been about recording the moment, in whatever form is appropriate in the time available, so that I have resource material to refer to........  here are some pages from a very ordinary sketch book, which I kept during a holiday in 1999, as you can see, I painted, did some sketching and painting, but also used seaweed, took photos and kept cards and info to recollect a lovely relaxing holiday..............have a go x x

Siop Helen Wool

An autumnal stay in Moelfre and I always end up at Helen's buying some wool so that my evenings can be spent knitting, whilst enjoying the ever changing view over the sea and the mountains as the sun goes down, absolutely gorgeous.  The Siop Wool is tiny and, as you can see, perched on the top of the 'hill' as you stroll across the tiny harbour to the cliff walk..........

Sketching from Moelfre

I make no apologies that Moelfre features again and again in my sketch books and my work generally........  here are a few.....

The fridge and the store cupboard.....

Sometimes you just have the urge to do something in the sketchbook, but stuck for ideas, I used items in the fridge and store cupboard at the caravan as inspiration for some quick loose studies.......

Working outdoors......

A busy day today, but time to enjoy doing some paperwork in the garden and a quick sketch of the things on the table.  I'm really lucky to have a studio space at home, close to the house with room to work outside too.......

An afternoon at Sharone's

A lovely afternoon this week with my art friends at Sharone's.  It was cool, but there was a lovely fire going in the outdoor fireplace, what a lovely treat.  Sharone also completely spoilt us with a gorgeous afternoon tea.....  So, whilst we are all chatting away and enjoying tea, I quickly captured the view across the paddock towards the woods, taking in the pool, also through the end of the oak framed structure which houses the lovely fireplace and seating area......and, of course, the tea!!

Nodding off .......

Yesterday afternoon, after a busy week, I sat outside in the sun just outside my studio drawing this rough pen sketch and I fell asleep with the pen in my hand!

Spring Cleaning.....

My Studio I'd divided loosely into two work areas,  a sewing/fabric area and a drawing/painting area, but I still seem to need room, over the years one accumulates so much necessary stuff, or is it just me?!!   I am planning to have a good sort out, I just need a really nice day so that I don't get caught out half way through in a shower of rain.........here is a tiny peep........

My Studio.....

I thought you might like to see my studio.  It's tucked away within easy reach of the kitchen door. I've tried to bring the garden nearer the studio and the house as, unusually, although we have quite a bit of garden, we can't see any of it from the house, boo hoo.  Many of our friends refer to it as the 'secret garden'.   Looking through my blog you won't be surprised that I love gardening and, in particular, spending time in the garden. I think it is where I feel closest to my late mother, who was an amazing gardener, creating wonderful gardens from hard work, lots of splitting of plants and sharing and swoping with friends.  So, I might be sitting inside or out, depending on the weather.  I am deciding whether to paint, but it is the 'bare, time of year that will help me decide on colour........

Sheila's Kitchen....

Sheila has travelled a lot and with her husband has lived in several different countries, so it was no surprise to see treasures all around her home which represented the journey of her life so far.  Sitting in the kitchen, I homed in on a few things that caught my eye, including the shell, which proved to be quite a challenge........tea and cake throughout of course!!

Sunny Afternoon in the Garden,.....

Relaxing in the garden, sketch pad and one pencil, too lazy or too comfy to fetch another pencil, I drew this corner of the summerhouse with the bird bath .........

Hilary's flower arrangements....

Hilary had lovely garden flower arrangements dotted around the house, so I set to moving from room to room, chair to chair using pen to quickly draw them in their various vases of glass, china and pottery....my reward was Hilary's fabulous cakes and biscuits, she is an excellent baker, yummy x x