Update on Christmas Fayre

Well - Christmas Fayre in the village is tomorrow. Been busy getting the cards into clear cellophane bags, making up tags with ribbon and packaging them, making the key rings etc. Also got delivery today of the bookmarks I had ordered - so I think everything is under control!

Tags are now attached to smart ribbons I found in similar bright colours, which makes them look much better - selling them in packs of four. I found that black backing card worked really well to show them up - looks much smarter now. Thought I had done loads of them, but once they get put into groups of four, I suddently realised I should have done more - oh well - too late now as the paint would never dry in time....

Did the same type of packaging for the key rings. Thought it fun to make up something like this with mini works of art in them. The way the acrylic ink mixes on the page produces some really wonderful effects - think I'll keep a couple of these for myself!

Whereas the last two products are proper works of art in miniature - acrylic ink on thick Bockingford watercolour paper, the bookmarks are printed  professionally. Found a company that did these bookmarks in aluminium and you can upload as many designs as you want - so this is the range. I had to limit the designs to ones that would reduce down to this tall rectangle. Some of the designs I have don't work in this format. As this was an experiment, I only went for five designs. Anyway, really pleased with these - they only arrived this morning (cutting it close), but are now smartly packaged up in a similar style to the other products, so visually on the table everything works.

Now just hope the weather is OK, so people turn up. Will be really interested to see how these new products (ie not my normal paintings and cards) go down with the public. If they work, I'll do them again for the Open Studios in the summer, as it is nice to have a range of things on offer.

What's happening after the Christmas Fayre? Well - apart from debating whether I attempt going for the Cambridge Drawing Society - which means having four paintings to submit to a panel of judges - I really do need to sort the studio out. It is a complete mess and I am hoping that some work will be done on it early next year - a basin for a start and maybe shelving, as everything is stored away in plastic boxes at the moment and very old melamine furniture (that goes back to the ark!) Sounds like I am going to busy - oh - except Christmas is coming and cards have to be written and presents bought. Don't think I have enough hours in the day for all this....

Christmas Fayre in Hilton

I have been very quiet on the blog recently. I have actually been busy doing art, but not enough time to upload things on this site. I have done another trip to West Dean - absolutely great course with Sarah Bee who paints with pastel on top of acrylics. Very intriguing technique and one which I plan to do more of when I have a break in other things.

However, everything is focused on a craft fair in our village this coming weekend. This is a fund-raising event for the Church, which Nina and I are very happy to support. Pauline Lee, another friend, is bringing her pottery - can't wait to see what she's been up to recently.

Obviously I am having to rethink what I put on the table - there isn't any room for a browser, so I am only going to take my smaller mounted work. However, I have got some new designs done for cards - some Christmas one, which can be seen here,












and a few new ones from paintings I have recently done. So I'll be taking these, along with other cards I have done previously.














I have ordered some bookmarks of some of my paintings, but I don't know whether they will arrive in time, or if they'll have to be used for the next exhibition, which will be in the spring.

However, I have been trying a few other things - making gift tags and keyrings out of my work. This is specifically for the craft fair, as people tend to want to buy little items at these events. It will be interesting to see if they are popular.

Every key ring is different, as obviously it is an original piece of art work - but has been done in my trademark bright acrylic inks. Don't mind if they don't sell - I would like to keep a few myself! A few examples are here.

I have done a few different styles of gift tags - one design shown here.

It's quite fun trying to make things that are more accessible to people. Paintings can be viewed as rather expensive and I know I often buy other products when I go to an exhibition.

I have signed up for the Cambridge Open Studios next year, so all these things may be of use when I do that. It looks like I'll be doing the Open Studios in conjunction with Nina Sage, which will be fun - we've done a few exhibitions together now and work well together and our subject matter is the same - the natural world. Obviously information about that and also the next Carnelian exhibition will be posted here nearer to the events.