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I want to be by a beach

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An old watercolour of Bovisand Bay. Choppy waters, Devon coast near Plymouth. Cornwall in the distance. Thus is where I want to be. Staring out at sunshine or showers, paddling in the water or splashing about further out. Looking at the plants and animals in the countryside around the bay.

The rocks on the left hand side are where local youths “tombstone” or jump off the top into the bay when the tide is in. Round the headland is another part of the bay. A woman died trying to swim round to it several years ago. There are shops and bungalows High up on the cliffs in the other part of the bay, but the last time we went the carpark above it was partly fenced off due to the cliff collapsing. With more storms and bad weather it is possible that costal erosion will increase and many costal properties and land will be lost to the seas.

Flower photos

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I took these photos a couple of days ago outside the studios at Spode. Su Hurrell is an artist there and she works with urban garden planting. She works with other artists and uses objects like washing machines, old chairs, a chest of drawers and other objects.

Other places are being greened in the town centre. There is Spode Rise garden by the China Halls in Kingsway, Stoke, and then some wild planting along London Road and Hartshill and in Lonsdale Street.

I enjoy seeing  these plants, it’s great to see people using planting in exciting new ways.

Staffordshire knot

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The Staffordshire, or Stafford knot, the symbol of the county. It was painted on a  wall in the Beehive pub in Honeywall, Stoke-on-Trent. I had a look at Wikipedia and there is a lot of information there about it. It seems to have a celtic derivation and can be seen in celtic patterns. A noble family in the country town of Stafford used it as their symbol in medieval times. The design is also linked to the Saxon Staffordshire hoard of gold artifacts that was found a few years ago.

It is the simplest knot and this can be multiplied to create various patterns. There is an old stone cross in a churchyard in Stoke-on-Trent which has the symbol carved on it. Incidentally it was used as a surgical knot but was found to be dangerous and would slip if not used correctly.

It was also said to have been used as a knot to hang three men because the hangman could not decide who to hang first. This is not believed to be true and is probably an urban myth.

If its Thursday I must be painting.

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Penkhull Christian Fellowship was once the Methodist Chapel in Penkhull. It is on a street corner opposite the church yard and across from the Marquis of Granby pub. There is also the Manor Court Ale House and the Greyhound pub situated around the green. Nearby down one hill is the terrace pub and down the other hill are the White lion and Beehive pubs. The village is therefore well supplied for spiritual and liquid refreshment.

I’m working from a photo in a book. I’ve left out a street lamp and some street furniture because I don’t know if they would have been there. I’m going to paint cobbles as I don’t know what the road surface was in the 1840s. I wanted to give it a warm glow as the sun sets on that side of the hill. I’ve got to paint in the window frames, add details and maybe work on the sky. Finishing it off tomorrow.

Reflections

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DSC_1979I took this photo in the pub tonight, it was of a picture of old terraced houses and factories, but the reflections on the glass make it look odd, almost like an alien invasion.

Imagine the world a century or so ago. Electric light was just starting to be used although many people still used gas light. Someone trips a switch and bright blue light shines out… Amazing.

In actual fact there was an arc light on display in Blackpool when electricity was introduced and people came for miles to see it. (I may have got this wrong ! Don’t quote me).

Anyway it’s funny what you find interesting.

Argh! Dress rehearsal

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Tonight is the dress rehearsal for “one night only” which we are performing on Friday. It’s come round too quickly. I’m very nervous. It’s a long session, with climbing up and down on wooden blocks, standing in formation and ‘trying’ to sing in four part harmony.

The church needs a lot of work it was built on the church yard in the 1840’s. It was designed by Pugin and the floor tiles are by Minton. The collection will go towards the restoration. It won’t go far towards the cost but it’s worth doing.

I say argh because I am really tired. I was helping cut back our hedge earlier and my arms ache.

I also have a costume change. My top is drying outside on the washing line, I’m hoping it will be dry in time.

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Making glass pieces

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I went to a glass workshop with my friend Angela Ashton at Spode today. I’ve previously made square or oblong pieces but today I had a go at curving the edges to make round glass cabochons. I was allowed to use a glass grinding machine to create the curves. Then you place coloured glass on top in strips and small pieces. I used some glass with a special shiny sheen, dichromic I think it was called. As you tip it in the light it changes colour.

At the end of the workshop I decided to create a long coloured strip that could be hung up in a window. I’m hoping this will be an interesting piece. I used clear and opaque glass in horizontal layers over the top of a long transparent oblong. Once the coloured pieces were laid on and tacked in place with glue I placed clear glass in vertical strips on top. Each of these will prevent air getting to the glass. When the glass is exposed to high temperatures it can change colour due to chemical reactions including oxidisation. The heat fuses the glass together.

I should get the resulting pieces in a few days. Then I will go back and may make holes in them using a diamond bit drill so they can hang up or be turned into necklaces.

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Whitby Abbey

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I need a holiday, a proper long holiday. One where I can explore somewhere like Whitby on the North East Coast of England. I like quirky, interesting places. Places like The Shambles in York, the Lake District and all its little picturesque villages and towns. The South West, Devon and Cornwall. And then placed I’ve never been like the home counties and the Norfolk broads.

I need to get a pet sitter and go!