Sweetpeas...

Sharone's Sweetpeas were picked in huge handfuls from her veg patch, I wish I could have captured the scent......

Sharone's

I often meet up with friends from my Art group and we gather to chat, draw/paint and eat cake......This time it was Sharone who was our host and there were lots of things which caught my eye as we sat outside on a hot summers afternoon......

Moelfre, Ynys Mon

Anyone who knows me knows that Wales and Ynys Mon especially, has a special place in my heart.  Ynys Mon for purely romantic reasons, but Wales in general because it is in my roots, with Griffiths and Evans from either side of my parents, it's in the blood.....

This particular view from Moelfre towards Penmon and the mainland and Snowdonia appears time after time in my work.  I've produced it in many different media, from pen to textiles.....I never tire of this wonderful view....

Bill and Liz came to tea ...

Friends from my art group were visiting for tea, but Bill and Liz just ate cake and drank tea, no pen was put to paper, so I quickly captured them........

The Retreat...

Visiting an artist friend who has the most amazing garden in north Shropshire.  This little gem of a spot is referred to as 'The Retreat'.....

Tulips, thank you x

Tulips are always a welcome blast of colour in late spring.....

Pomegranates

Whether its picking with a cocktail stick or bashing a cut half on the back with a wooden spoon, I love these amazing fruits.  I just had to do a quick scribble sketch before eating .....

Bramleys...

When someone gives you fruit from the garden it's a great excuse for pudding, these lovely Bramleys were soon prepared for baking in the oven, well no naughty pastry anyway.......so yummy x

Houseblend....

Tony and I enjoy having a cup of tea in china cups from my collection...... We mix our 'Houseblend', a packet each of Assam and Lady Grey, it gives a touch of Earl Grey, when you don't feel like the full on flavour..........

Shallots fresh from the plot ...

Pots of different varieties of shallots brought into the kitchen by Tony, we decided to put them in clay pots so that we could keep the varieties separate, but not take up too much room on the counter.  They looked neat in a row and lots of visitors commented, I think we set a trend.....

China Blue, Shifnal ..

My friend and fellow Artist and Florist extraordinaire, Jan Park, owns a lovely business in Shifnal, which combines flowers, gifts, gallery and clothes.  I often pop in if I'm passing and rarely come out empty handed.  After our chilly outdoor sketching session, Susanne and I quickly agreed that we needed tea and cake........but we still kept sketching, well you have to don't you x

Tong Church...

Outside the Church and it actually seemed warmer..... So, trying to capture my thoughts on paper,  just some quick sketches with pen and watercolour crayons.   I keep one of those tiny jam jars for my water, it's a good excuse for a cream tea!

Rubbings..

Inside the church, so much richness of texture, I decided just to capture some by doing a bit of rubbing....

Tong Church...

We escaped the cold and found the door to the church was open..........  The page was open and I copied these words......

Cottages in Tong .....

A bit further down the lane, moved the picnic blanket, but it is so cold so no hanging about....

Church Farm and The Stables, Tong

I've known this lovely group of cottages for years, passing them every time we travelled to visit my grand parents.  
On this cold October day I sat with my friend Susanne on our picnic rug with our backs against the wall, a flask of hot tea, it was so cold, so it was quick sketching.  We soon moved on ......