Sweet Tuesday!

Indian sweets at Nafees in Shelton, they look so tempting but I got some Samosas instead because I’m not really allowed a lot of sugar. I asked permission to take a photo. I used new felt pens and a new sketchbook… The start of a new adventure. #bandofsketchers prompt for Tuesday ‘sweets’

Blocks

Digital manipulation of paving blocks. The colours are from water and green algae on the blocks. The perspective of them means that because I have mirrored them both side to side and up and down there appears to be a bulge in the centre of the picture. I again used the Layout app that comes with Instagram to do the mirroring.

Teapot at a hotel

A few years ago I did a series of paintings of pottery that were displayed in a local hotel on the Spode factory site. It was great to see my work on show in different venue to a gallery. The hotel staff were very friendly and welcoming. I liked the fact the works were hung on rough brickwork. It gave it more of a feeling of industrial heritage. I’d like the opportunity to do it again.

Indian sweets

I got some vegetable samosas today and was very tempted to buy some Indian sweets. I’m not sure how they are made but they are very nice to look at. I had some a few years ago and enjoyed them very much, but I keep my sugar consumption low so I just asked if I could take a photo. Our sketching prompt today is sweets so you might see a blog with a sketch of them later on.

Art at the Waiting Room gallery

A few paintings and cards at the Waiting Room gallery. I was thinking of doing a craft fair stall soon, but it’s too far away if I have to drive on my own. Since my arm started shaking I won’t drive far without my hubby. Not because I can’t but because I get very tense and my shoulders ache. I might try and get involved with something closer to home. In the meantime I need to work towards the end of my MA and also an exhibition I should be having in the spring or summer.

Trifle and curling, a quiet afternoon

Have you ever seen curling? Curling 🥌 is a game on ice where two teams take it in turn to slide curling stones on an icy surface along to a target 🎯 area. The closest to the centre (button) wins its a game of strategy. Curling stones can be set to guard the target, preventing the other team from getting close to the centre. Curling stones can be sent gently down the ice, or hard, to knock the other teams stones out of the target area. Each team gets the ‘hammer’ in turn, which means going last in the end. An advantage as you may get a stone in the best position on the last curl of the end. There are different games using slightly different rules. I was watching the UK against Sweden at the Olympics today. And that’s where the trifle comes in. I had dome of it for lunch. Then noticed the bade of the dish has circles in it a bit like a curling target! Just a nice gentle lunch and bit of telly watching. X

How do I make my own blancmange?

This is custard powder made up with milk and sweetner with added chocolate. I love making sugar free trifles. I usually use sugar free jelly and add a bit if fruit (used raspberries today) because trifle sponges are covered in sugar. Then I add blancmange when the jelly is set. I have to let it cool because it can re-melt the jelly. But now I can only get blancmange if my sister posts me some (they still sell strawberry flavour where she lives). The trouble is that most people use custard but I don’t like it’s flavour in trifle. This time I did make custard but added four square pieces of no added sugar chocolate and melted it into the milk. I will use this mix and then add whipped cream on top of the trifle to finish it off. But I just wonder if I can make my own with cornflower and flavourings? That would be a lot easier…

Valentines card idea

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

You really SNORE!

But I still Love you!

Hubby laughed! I used a red envelope with a white interior and then just used scissors to cut out the heart shape and I made a wide hinge/ flap so I could write all the way round the heart. I couldn’t get a good photo because the lighting casts shadows so it’s a bit twisted. There are quick sketches of a rose and a violet… Anyway it was quick and effective.