Take off the handbrake…..

Ever started driving and felt something was wrong, then realised, you left the handbrake on? Well, that’s how it’s felt just lately. Sad things going on in my life over Christmas time, through January and February. Business took a back seat, but one can’t do that forever, so with lots of support from family and friends, things are getting back to some sort of normal and I’m beginning to feel inspired again. Thanks everyone, for understanding me, for all the lovely things you said, or emailed or tweeted or sent by text, just for being there - you are all wonderful x

Spring is in the air...

It’s that time again, time to clear the decks have a good tidy up. The decorations long since put away, precious things wrapped in tissue and not to be seen again for twelve months, now it’s time to start thinking of Spring.

I must admit that as much as I enjoy decorating the house for the festive season, it is refreshing to take everything down. Moving furniture and having a really good cleaning session, great exercise too and rewarding when the job is done, everything shines and there is a wonderful smell of beeswax polish, lovely.

This is when it’s fun to change things around too, put away some pictures and ornaments and exchange them for lighter fresher pieces. A terracotta pot or two planted with bulbs just showing through and a layer of moss on top, always look lovely standing in bowls and on saucers dotted about the house. A few bits from the garden, Witch Hazel, Willow or Dog Wood look good, a sign that spring is not too far away.

All of this activity takes me back years, it’s what my mother used to do and I would help her, I really enjoyed all the activity. It is a great opportunity to actually take stock of the things you chose to decorate your home with throughout the year. A time to actually handle these possessions and reconnect with the sentimental memories they hold. Many of these pieces tell a story, perhaps a picture bought to remember a special holiday, a hand thrown pottery jug that was a gift from a friend. I am lucky as some of my favourite things have been handed down through the generations, but with the ongoing fascination with ‘vintage’ it is easy to find interesting pieces to inject a little nostalgia into your home too.

My own creativity and enjoyment of quality hand produced work, past and present, led me to the Picture Shop and Gallery where we have a Bespoke Picture Framing Workshop, together with a Gallery showcasing some very high quality Contemporary Applied Arts, some of which are local, but all are from British Designer Makers. At the end of last year we began to introduce a few carefully chosen ‘Vintage Finds’ and these were extremely popular. If you haven’t found us yet, then come along and see what we have to offer. We are open Thursday 10 – 12, Friday and Saturday 10 – 4, if those times don’t suit you, then give us a call or email and we will try to arrange a more convenient time.

Images of Japan

Another favourite for the Gallery. Mike returns with his distinctive watercolours exquisitely executed with confidence. Many ‘would be painters’ enjoy Mike’s work appreciating that often less is more, his wonderfully light approach gives a depth of feeling to this Exhibition. It is clear to see that this extended holiday in Japan has left memories that will appear in many more paintings from Mike's studio. The exhibition runs to Saturday 6th November 2010.