I once counted our books. When I got to 1000 I gave up. Some are precious and I devour them regularly. Others I dust off occasionally, but a few I have never read. Mainly because they were my hubbys and generally are about wars, trains or tractors. I like some of them, but they are generally big and heavy, full of pictures and technical details. I think some of them will go to a charity shop.
I guess they could act as insulation! Some of them are high up on tall shelves. I would have to climb up ladders to get up to them. I’m not sure if anyone will ever read them!
A few years ago I painted a picture of the willow pattern on an imaginary platter. I used two seperate images of a willow pattern plate and amalgamated them into one. The willow pattern has several iconic aspects. A pine tree, willow tree, three people crossing a bridge, temples, boats, love birds. I’m sure they will have explanations of what they stand for. I really enjoyed creating this. X
After getting rid of my old armchairs yesterday, I was waiting for the delivery of the second hand replacements today. It’s been a few weeks since I chose them but I couldn’t have them till the old ones went.
I rang up the warehouse to check on the delivery. We will give you a call when the van is near you, within half an hour…
OK I said, so when I got a call I thought I was going to receive them. But no, we can’t find your chairs, they said. Can you come up and identify them? So I went.
Is that the chair you chose? Yes, but I chose two, there is only one? Oh, the woman said, I was off for a week and noticed one was missing when I got back? I was surprised and annoyed. You’ve sold the other one? It was reserved. I needed ones that will go through our front door (it’s narrow), and small so my feet touch the ground (I have short legs).
We looked everywhere but the other chair was gone. But I need two for when visitors come round. I was getting upset. Why do things always go wrong? Another volunteer said they have a similar chair on their van. They will bring it along tomorrow and I can decide if I want it or they will owe me one! I came home feeling dejected. I had to go to a charity for the chairs and so I don’t have the choice I would have in a store. I know it’s a first world problem but…..
I have a few new paintings. Mostly matchbox sized. I’m putting them in the exhibition of Orme Art Group work at the Brampton museum and art gallery in Newcastle under Lyme. It runs from February to the end of March. We will be having the display in the entrance window. Wish me luck, I hope to sell a few pieces.
An empty space…. Twenty-five years had a detrimental effect on our armchairs. The springs were gone and I’d added pillows and cushions to try and build them up. At one stage we thought of reupholstering them, they had been very comfortable. But no, when you have to put books in the base of them to hold them up, and the springs dig into the carpet you know it’s too late! I rescued the seat pads and used them to boost the cushions on the settee which is really only used for guests to sleep on. Waiting for two ‘new’ (secondhand) chairs to be delivered tomorrow.
I just watched the Great Pottery throwdown filmed at the Gladstone pottery in Stoke on Trent. The contestants were asked to create a matching pair of Gluggle Jugs. The characteristic noise or glug they make is caused by air trapped inside when they are filled with water and the glugs happen when the water is poured out… The creations were wonderful and the head judge Keith Brymer-Jones was overwhelmed with the skill of the contestants.
Here is a paragraph from the Internet about their development, I couldn’t see an author.
Originally known as Glug Glug Jugs, they were first made by Thomas Forester & Son in Staffordshire during the late 1800’s, but it was the adaptations created by the Dartmouth Pottery, designed to look like a fish and aptly named Gurgling Fish Jugs, that are more recognised (and replicated) today.3 Oct 2022
I decided to try and draw one to show what they look like. Artrage app finger painting.
I used this for the prompt ‘new’ on our #bandofsketchers challenge as it is a new series.
View over rickety old workshops in Etruria last week. The roof is heavily covered in moss. It’s also covered in leaf litter from silver birch trees growing on the Etruria Flint mill land. It must have blown across in the heavy winds we had over the last couple of months. Today I’m having a rest after loudly wassailing last night.
Imagine 500 villagers with flaming torches. Domesday Morris dance group amongst them wearing ‘tatters’ (white shirts and black trousers and boots with waistcoats with strips of cloth hanging loose, topped with hats covered in ivy and bird feathers.
Plus Penkhull brass band, and us, the Mystery Singers choir regaling the crowd with various Wassail songs.
We walked around the boundary of Penkhull and sang in front of the ancient ‘bloody’ apple tree halfway down Trent Valley road, then around to local pubs to sing a wassail to all of them. For the first time in ages I felt happy.
Mallaband-Brown 