SNOWDROP CARDS FOR THE GALLERY!

This is what my garden looked like last Friday!  We don't have snow very often in Shepton, so it was quite a shock!  Perhaps it was appropriate that at the time, I was working in the studio on finishing some snowdrop cards - as seen below.

I used the painted backgrounds that I had made when doing my urban valentine cards.  On top of them I painted stems and leaves with various shades of green acrylic, and then collaged on paper petals.  A few details were added with a black marker pen before they were mounted onto 6 inch square textured card stock.

The cards are for sale in the One Craft Gallery and are part of my contribution to the Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival 2019 which is taking place on the 16th and 17th February.

CHRISTMAS WINDOW DISPLAY

Christmas shopping is in full swing and at the One Craft Gallery we have dressed the window in the hope that people will come in to buy hand crafted gifts!  There are tree decorations hanging from wooden branch trees and a 'tree' of white boxes topped with a white star.  Twinkly lights and white fir cones and painted twigs complete the scene...  

MORNING WALKS

I love my 7am walks in and around Shepton Mallet.  I just walk from my front door, call in for my friend Jenny, and away we go.  We don't have a map, we just go wherever the fancy takes us.  We go three times a week, whatever the weather, and talk and talk!  We have seen many interesting sights, local wildlife and the beauty of the landscape in all sorts of weather. At the moment, cow parsley is centre stage amongst the wild flowers.  It is everywhere in the countryside - clouds of billowing lacy white flowers among shades of fresh green.

Some photographs taken on our last walk.  Top left is Jenny walking among the cow parsley.

DECORATIVE DOORWAYS

I have always been fond and interested in doors.  What lies beyond?  All these doorways are to be found in and around Shepton Mallet.  Yes, these were also taken on my early morning walks.  I have explored parts of Shepton I didn't know existed!

BLACK & WHITE SHEEP

These photographs were taken on one of my early morning walks around Shepton.  I think that some subjects, such as sheep, look better in black and white.  I have sold out of the cards that I had printed of another black and white sheep.  These would also make good cards.  Sheep are the unofficial emblem of Shepton, as at one time, it was a thriving wool market town.  The sheep below is moulded from an original stone sculpture by local artist Jeff Body.  There are many other copies on a roundabout on one of the roads into Shepton. They have become a local landmark but being in the middle of a busy roundabout they are hard to photograph!

CHRISTMAS MONTAGE

I put together this montage of Christmas decorations from photographs I took on one of my early morning walks in Shepton Mallet.  This year we have fantastic new silver and red street decorations and new red and blue lights on the large tree in the market place.  My walking companion reckons that in the distance some of the overhead lights look like lacy knickers hanging on a line (see top right photo)!

I wish to thank everybody who has visited my blog.  I have enjoyed sharing some of my ideas and projects during this past year.  A HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you all. Here's hoping that 2015 is going to be a successful and creative year.  I am looking forward to starting another exciting on-line course with Jane Davies early in January.....

FRIDAY FLEA

Lizzie's daughter helping out.

Last Friday, I helped Lizzie Oliva, the fabulous hat maker member of the One Craft Gallery, with stalls just outside the gallery at the first Friday Flea market organised by the local independent traders - Shepton Mallet Shopkeepers (SMS).  I regularly go to meetings of this group which is trying to raise the profile and encourage more people into the centre of Shepton.  It is hoped that this is the first of many events organised for the town.

Lizzie had her own stall selling hats, bags, bunting etc and we had a shop stall selling slightly imperfect samples of our work or materials that are surplus to our requirements.  Best sellers were wool and beads, showing us how creative our customers are!

The sun shone, we had great live music close by - T4Jazz made the market cross their stage and the crowds were out.  It was a fun day that even made it on to BBC's Points West News that evening!

 Lizzie and me with our stalls outside the gallery.

 Take4 Jazz perform in the market cross.

SHEPTON SHOW

Yesterday was the our local country show, known as the Mid-Somerset Show or locally, the Shepton Show. It is one of the largest free shows in the area with over 15000 expected to attend. The best thing of all, it is within walking distance of my home!  It is a show with plenty to see - horse jumping, rural and agricultural displays, livestock, dogs, birds of prey, arts and crafts, bees, pets, classic cars and vintage motorcycles, shopping, food and drink stands and lots more with many events and things going on.

For the first time the One Craft Gallery,  the makers co-operative that I belong to,  took a stand in the shopping and craft marquee.  We felt that, as we are based in Shepton,  we would like to raise our profile with local people and show them what we can offer.

We had a successful day.  The sun shone, there was a bit of rain but that encouraged more people into the marquee!  We met lots of great people - some of our loyal regular customers came to see us and we met some new friends - including Nyra, this beautiful Eurasian Eagle Owl.

In our marquee my favourite stall was this lovely one with loads of lavender wreaths and products.  It wafted wonderful scents in our direction.

Some of the beautiful animals at the show - photos by Dawn Porter