Open House and Garden

Thanks to everyone who made it to our Open House and garden. It was busy but everyone seemed to enjoy it and were very complimentary about the garden and the new shed. Worthing is not known as an artistic town and so the unexpected success of our little open house trail was great, numbers of visitors were just right - high but spread nicely over the entire day and sales were steady so we will eat for another month and be able to pay our studio bills when we start back printmaking with purpose in the Autumn.


Visitors did come to us from far and wide including a steady stream from Brighton enquiring about house prices as well as looking at the art, and a big local contingent who seemed enthused,and impressed that Worthing could support such a good and enjoyable Open House trail. I think it will grow again next year.


Sarah's Sale continues on the website until the end of the Month - anything on the site including the gift vouchers is 20% off, but will go back to normal on the 1st August!

Gift Vouchers

Sarah's designed some gift vouchers which can be ordered from her website. or picked up from the Open House this weekend.


Giving art as a present is always problematic as art is so personal and subjective even if you know that the recipient of the gift likes a particular artist. The gift voucher means that you can let them choose their favourite picture for themselves. Until 30th July - whilst our 20% sale is on we're selling the gift vouchers at a 20% discount. (but you can't use discounted gift vouchers to buy discounted prints!)


They are also available from our Open House so that if you get confused by the choice at the Open House you can take the discount home and think about which prints/paintings you'd like in the comfort of your own home.

Jo Sweetings Open House

I will be having I think mostly my two sets of alphabets , amongst other prints in Jo Sweetings Open House at 72 Ashford Road, Fiveways, Brighton on the weekend of November 16th-17th.

I'm really pleased to have been asked because the many wonderful and various artists and makers will make it a great house to be part of, and it's always good to hopefully find some unique Christmas presents, and then keep hold of them.

jo sweeting stonecarving ceramics and paperwork



joy fox button jewellery and lampshades
amy cooper porcelain urchin lights
betty bib watercolours and fairies
jo riddell prints
victor stuart graham boats and houses
Sharon Schofield jewellery
Katie Brinsley porcelein reindeer and doves
one in the house brooches and angels
carol butler embroidered shawls and pictures
sylph baier domestic tableware
penfold press handprinted wrapping paper

Sussex Gardeners

Here's the third book I've illustrated for Snakeriver Press -'Inspiring Sussex Gardeners'. It's a very interesting book and I like that Lorraine has written about some gardeners who are completely self-taught, and that the gardens ranges from very grand affairs to individuals veg patches - well, maybe a bit more than that!




There is also a good mix of gardeners from past and present, and from well-known to not so well-known.
My illustrations are simpler- a bit more graphic than the previous two books, ' 20 Sussex Churches' and '20 Sussex Gardens' and I think better for that.

Shed Finished!!!

At long last and with various delays for wood to be delivered and painted floors to dry our new shed is finally finished and we are now in and working out how to use it apart from lounging on the deck. It does feel very posh for us, now that we've painted the inside, but it is a studio so it is going to have to get scuffed and paint splattered sometime. It's lovely working virtually in the garden with the doors open and with all the insulation we've used it's beautifully cool for most of the day until the late afternoon sun hits the windows.


We can't be spending too long slobbing in the hammocks yet though, as the pond has to be dug, clay puddled and pond lined and then all the proper work we've been dodging whilst playing builders has to be done - and the sun's out....


Anyway we're very pleased with the shed and it was a pleasure having Damien from Splinterhouse building it. I hear from other people that 'having the builders in' isn't always a good experience but I can recommend Damien both for delivering a building better than we commissioned and being good to have around. We think we got a bargain.

If you are interested in your own bespoke studio drop Damien or me a line.

Posters

The latest posters, hot off the computer. Madame Art Fair started off in 2004 as a Monsieur
but I can't find any of him since our computer melt-down. I do remember he was initially much more cut out from papers.




Our main intention was to make the art and craft fairs friendly and accessible, and show that they were definitely events for buying.


We also wanted it to stand out by looking a bit different, and have a kind of theme that could progress year by year. Although sometimes a little obscure hopefully the feel of the posters and banners around town reminds people of the event.

Bella Bun and the cat

Bella Bun is from 'And so to Bed' by Lucinda Guy, I've used different wools so her clothes are a bit bulkier than they should be, I've also added knickers as it's only right. The skirt felt very ingenious to knit and I wondered whether it could work person-size? She will be Megans' who's 2.