Easter Island head ornament

I made him at Etruria artists a couple of years ago. I textured the surface and it is bisque fired. I didn’t get it glazed so I used a pale metallic blue acrylic paint to colour it. It used to sit on the shelf with my orchids but hubby bought me a new orchid plant so it’s now on the kitchen windowledge.

Sawadee Thai taste in Stoke.

A table full of delicious food. We just got back from Sawadee Thai taste in Stoke. We had Thai fishcakes and spare ribs for starters, then Thai green curry with fillet of Sea Bass and jasmine rice. Plus noodles with seafood (King prawns, Mussles and Squid). We really enjoyed it. Can’t say much more. At least I remembered to take photos!

Light in the sky

Half past five in the evening and the clouds scud by. There’s still light in the sky but the rain showers keep pounding the windows. I love the newly washed look of the air. Almost sparkling. When I came here forty years ago there was far more heavy industry in the area. Smoke and dust polluted the air. A smog sometimes settled over the city and you could smell the fumes from the tyre factory or enamel being fired onto pottery if the wind was in the right direction. Now the wind is more a carrier of sound. The local A road and the motorway. The occasional sound of pile drivers when new buildings are erected, which is not very often. Sometimes smoke travels on the forlorn breeze as an old building accidentally burns down. So sad. So much bustle gone. We are a warehouse city of poorly paid jobs. No real chances. No ambition if the naysayers are believed. I think we can do better. Think creative, be creative. Let a bit of light shine on us. X

Bird in snow..

Blackbird

No, it’s not snowing here, but it’s chilly and windy enough to send a shiver through any birds body. We are feeding them sunflower hearts, mixed wild bird food and mealy worms (which the Robin seems to love). I know the weather won’t improve for a few weeks, but I hope when the spring arrives we get Blue Tits nesting again. I might buy a new nest box for them as the old ones look a bit worn out. The hole they get in through was worn away by their claws as they fly in and hop out. Looking after our local wild bird population is a responsibility.

Mugs and Mojo

I painted these mugs with special overglaze paints about three years ago when our art group at Etruria were still meeting. We haven’t done anything recently because of Covid. It’s only when I look back at things like this that I realise I was doing so much more than now. It’s only when I remember these things that you know I am, or was, capable of so much more than I’m doing now. The designs were from my imagination. Painted directly, no sketching out first. Give me my Mojo back!

Ghost in the glass

Can you see my face?

Looking in to your space?

A ghost in the window

Trapped in the glass

An image of when

I came here last!

Little Moreton Hall

Tudor house

I was here a while ago

And I saw your face.

I was startled

Not my reflection

But an old woman

Dressed in silk

The colour of lemon.

So strange to think

You may see me

I see you too

Bizarre

I shout Boo!

Black and white cat

Sits where it likes…

Finds a seat, on anything, climbs net curtains, is lovable, purrs, attacks toes, eyes are bright, eats what it likes. Ignores consequences, follows its own path, pees in the bath, doesn’t know maths. Can eat its own bodyweight in tuna. Dances with wolves? No with kitties! By the light of the moon. Jellicles is a nickname. Fleas are to blame for its itches. Cats mighty have intellects, especially when it comes to food, sleep, and love.

Aitches

When I was at school our teacher taught us a rhyme to remember how to pronounce the letter H (or ‘a itches are wrong’ it means you are dropping your H). It went like this:

Old Harry Oakes,

Host of the Hare and Hounds,

Has Hard, and Horribly Horny Hands!

We had to stand up and say this in class! I think it’s because we all had Birmingham accents and he wanted us to sound more middle class!

I can remember a few more rhymes and nursery rhymes that have popped into my mind recently. Is this a sign of getting old?

Add a filter

Just by adding one filter I was able to give this sky scape a liquid, oil paint looking vibe. The edges are softened and emphasised. The colours remain the same but are smeared across the photo. I used photodirector again. The style can be altered in various ways, I chose the second option. I find the effects vary depending on what photo I chose to work on.