75th entry...

I have just received my 'Artist' magazine and what excitement...beautiful pastels on the front cover...!  I can't wait to read it....
 I have added a card that I did for my boy - not a very good reproduction, but I like the movement of the wings!

Card for my boy...Jigsaw style! 2011

How windy it is outside, and my father has not returned my call - slightly worrying!
So I sit here and will get my paints out and try a pastel pencil transcript...
watch this space!

74th entry...

Life has been very hectic at present.  Had my first 'Art Together...' class today...confused by my feelings about it!  Was excited and positive before hand - did a structured session, all went well and yet I worry about them coming back next week!  Perhaps this is worse than getting it together and doing the first one - wondering if they really will return.  I do hope so...

73rd entry...

 A busy day...sorted my 'Art Together' class for Tuesdays - starting 1st February 10 - 12pm.

Another 'Chinese Whisper' for the Sarum Artist group to replocate....

The first painting is the original - Picasso - Portrait au bonnet blanc; the second is by Moira and her interpretation.  the third is my rendition of Moira's.  I then found Picasso's original work to see how differently I had done mine! I have made the face older looking...

So that is my 'Chinese Whisper's' done...Tomorrow I shall sort my brain out a bit"

Go down to the HVHall and see the room I will be having my classes in!

AND we had snow this afternoon....

72nd entry...

Today I went for a walk in the Forest with a lovely friend. Result being that - other than it was a lovely day and good company - a time ultimatum was set at me to find out about a venue for me to give art classes once a week...4'o clock phone back, to see what I had achieved!
By the end of the day I had set my venue, H.V.Hall Tuesday 10 - 12pm called  'Art Together....'
any one with interested can come....I have 400 flyers ready to go into the local Parish Magazine tomorrow...
Here's hoping; with more ideas in store from my lovely friend who did phone back - at 3.30pm - and was a little taken back with the speed they are to start, but hey! Aren't people magic!

71st entry...

Getting a few responses from my submitted artwork to Greetings card companies!  So far, although all 'no', they are exceedingly kind in either offering other sites to look at or just a nice comment on my work! (and I have more to come...)
Interestingly, I don;t feel rejected - it make me want to put my work out more....This is good, as a year ago one rejection would have made me feel awful! That is a positive in my life...
So onwards and upwards to the future....!

70th entry!

A lovely relaxing day - a walk with my dear friend, then out in the garden for my boy and me...jobs! Very rewarding...
Now we are together in the kitchen one ironing, one on the laptop...all peaceful and quiet....

69th entry!

I have eventually completed the acrylic with pastel that I promised to do - weeks ago!

What do you think?

Girlie in the Forest...2011

68th entry...

and life goes on...was intending to do some acrylic painting with old 'blobs' that I had left....how ever alas alack too hard! So I did an artistic supper instead while watching 'The Pianist' - all about the Jews and how horrendously they were treated in the war by the Nazis! Everybody should see it - it keeps us awake to what happened...puts our lives into perspective! What awful times...am reading a factual book on the D-Day landing in 1944.  It's called 'MONTY'S IRONSIDES'-  from the Normandy beaches to Bremen with the 3rd Division.
Fabulously interesting book...

67th entry...

I am getting some supportive responses back from the submitting artwork - emails!
People are very nice on average....giving me areas to look at if they can't help!
So I am on the move in my; Greetings card area, Receiving the book on illustration artist, Communicated dates for HAC, Looking at aspects of work and found a site that I might put my work on! Keeping focused is hard, as in sometimes I feel like I am in a briar patch or a fog!....There are so many areas I could get into with my art - I need to stay focused!

66th entry...

Bit of a 'blue' day all in all....haven't achieved anything really!  Just fiddling on the laptop!
MOT tomorrow on my 'little man's' car ....waiting for the heating to come on...brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
Art - not really motivated today, don't often get that! Need to sort out an idea for a painting to push me on...

65th entry...my guys have gone...

so now to focus on my life in the art world!
To day I have mostly been sorting out my application for submitting my work to HAC
http://www.hampshireartistscooperative.com/
All these things take longer than you think to get together....

Chinese Whispers for Sarum Artists

Next port of call is to submit my work for greetings cards...

64th entry...

I have my table top at the local village hall tomorrow, so have spent most of my time today printing and sorting for it!
The Glasgow Exhibition at the RA looks good - next door neighbour went today.  She will tell me how good!
If it is Dads and I will go...

63rd entry...and my shoulders ache from being on the laptop too long!!!

Work this morning..back and forward...back and forward...what a daft way to organise it!!! I shake my head!
All cosy cosy again - listening to some 'smashing' music on my 'little man's'  laptop...
It is amazing how I can just switch my brain out....oooh! this one on is awful...I shall have to say something!


So here we go again...Apologies for the repetition!


Once upon a time, in a big Forest lived some lovely, lovely people...It was the middle of a cold, cold, winter and the only place in the whole of the land that had had only two days of snow...They lived in a cosy, cosy bungalow - but not I am afraid to say - made of ginger bread!  Friends of theirs had THAT house...

Bungalow in the big, big Forest.

The Mummy and the Daddy lived there all alone...with their cat - of course! Every one has a cat, or so it seems!
The boy and the girl that lived with them went away on a 'journey of life' but were coming home very soon - however that is another story...
Well on this day it was a cold, murky day and the lady we shall call Mummy, I think, decided to go out in the big Forest for a walk, to blow the cobwebs away - not REAL cobwebs mind - a fuzzy brain sort of cobweb! She put on her big walking boots - no puddle slashing today for her - so boots, for the crunchy hard ground!  Her thick, cosy very, very, VERY old green coat was on and a cap. It was rather a splendid cap with a big peak and furry bit - it actually wasn't hers it was her lovely son's, the one on a 'journey of life'!!  All togged up, and her sketch bag and camera, off she went ..into that very big Forest....
....to be continued....

Why am I doing this...?

It is solely for my benefit - to see if I can do the illustrations  to a book; I therefore thought that if I wrote my own little story I would find out whether I enjoyed it! I could get it printed in one of those little book that they advertise on the internet - if I like it that much or feel ambitious. The choice is mine, mine, mine...ha! ha!

62nd entry...good day all round!

Worked this am, and home to my 'boys' ...We all did our different things together - it was bliss...!
Little man goes home on Sunday - sigh!!! I have enjoyed his company SO much!!! All together though this weekend - my girlie is home too!!! Magic!
This is the result of a card I did for our lovely, lovely friend in the forest..My boy went to school with him...

Jigsaw series -  'lunch at The Farm...memories to cherish!'

We have this for our lunch and it is grand...with loads of wine, splendid conversation, and fabulous company - what more can you ask for! They are truly lovely people...
Now on to a NEW edition of 'Midsummer Murders'....
Talk tomorrow!

61st entry....ooooh!

...feel a little bit tipsy! Poured myself a G&T but it wasn't as small as I thought it would be...yeah! yeah! I don't have one very often - maybe that's why I found it so strong!!
How are you on the old will-power, My lovely little man and I agreed that ours is s"*!*t...ate the remainders of my lovely crisps; was only allowing myself to eat half of the remaining packet...but....Oh! dear...!
Day done: suits cleaned and collected from Morrisons - suede jacket only £30 to clean - jolly good price I'll have you know! - tabs ordered, trousers reduced in size, ironing mostly completed and hoovering done....and what have you done with your day....Mmm!
Now on to the renowned 'supper'- all left overs - lucky hubbie I hear you cry.....
THEN part 2 of 'Silent Witness'!
What an exciting life I lead ..... I know, I know - but I enjoy it!
Have had absolutely MAGICAL times with my little man.  Due to returns to Uni.soon!
On to tomorrow - hair to be done....

60th entry...yeah!!!

Went to Salisbury to see my art group and had a lovely day!!! Walked around the Cathedral and water meadows...I did one quick - and I mean quick - watercolour wash, brought it home and did my jigsaw bit...The others took lots of photos as did I too!

Jigsaw series - Salisbury Cathedral in a jiffy!

So I achieved what I set out to achieve - just...and I have a few lovely photos, with ideas floating around in my mind; plus the acrylic I have to do...might try putting Titian white pastel on the top layer - see how effective that is for my atmosphere! Then I have to write the January edition of my 'All seasons' story ( just decided to do it monthly; I want to have all the 'Forest' seasons included, plus flowers - I love my wild flowers...) If only I had more time...Rome wasn't built in a day I know, I know~!!!!
Yes! Yes! supper calls - sigh! A woman's work is never done....
See ya!

59th entry...apologies for not writing!

Yesterday I did not feel very well, and today am occupied with my 'little man' being in casualty having been hit on his forehead with a hockey ball...blood everywhere!!!!!!!!
Awaiting a call to go and pick them up!
Tomorrow...sketching with Constable - past and present!!!
Will talk more, and HOPEFULLY have some artwork to show!!!

58th entry...shop shop shop...

with my son and then met Dads with a long enjoyable lunch at ASK....looking at old photos!
Have found x2 pairs of high waisted, stretch, long legged, black, drain pipe trousers - from M&S!! I have been wanting trousers for moons and wasted my money buying cheap ones from Matalan years ago - plus I lost weigh and they don't fit around the waist! Anyhow, I am so chuffed...I hate trying on clothes!
About to sit down now and watch the second and concluding part of the WWW2 real life drama...can't remember what it is called!
Work first thing tomorrow, then if I don't feel shattered I shall try some acrylics...watch this space!
Next week I shall restart my story - 'cos I want to....
See ya!!!!

57th entry...what a journey...what a ride...

Drive, drive drive to Coombe Bissett - Stratford Toney - Bishopstone - Broad Chalke  - Bower Chalke up around, back, forward, through, back ....but I know it so well and that is good...!!!
Arrived back home and was quite tired, but I have had a lovely day with my munchies....only draw back is rubbish roast for supper as I promised it to my 'little man'..aaaah!!!!! I really dislike roasts, they are SO boring especially pork!!!!!!!!!!! Sigh!
Yarooh! my 'The Artist' arrived today...so a bit of quality reading tonight, then part 6 of 'Pacific'
Spent yesterday looking at some Forest Artists; I have been promising to do it for ages:  Frederick Golden Short,; Allen Seaby; Lucy Kemp-Welch; are a few that I shall look back at - their work!
Quandary: 
Do I try and do some oils/Acrylics, or do I stick to my lovely watercolours and pastels...oh! what a dilemma. I should feel so disloyal to the latter!
I am so hungry...off into 'Town' tomorrow to meet my lovely Dads xxx
Having talked to my lovely boy it has been ?agreed? - meaning if I still feel inclined I shall do it - to do an acrylic painting, to get it out of my system...
I hope that I hate it...then I can focus..what it is to be such an emotional being....
Anyone for the Manderin Chef?
Signing out until the morro'
AND
do look at my website as more is in the card/illustration section
http://www.sarahorchardfinearts.co.uk/index.html
Thank you...all this is going to make me famous!!!

56th entry...such a dour day!!!

I have done a little art but mostly today I have been working on the laptop - again...but it is hopefully good and beneficial!

Christmas time at the pub...2010

Now I shall leave you and start some food...gosh! my shoulders ache!

55th entry...and welcome back one and all..life is back to normal again!

I have used the day in a very productive manner...and actually am quite proud of myself..although my left hand  second finger is very sore!!!
I have sent emails to about 10 people re: my art work. Have found a MAGIC site on my 'tasks' google chrome, called 'Remember the milk' it's like a list, but better...anyhow all my info on today's work is listed there, and I love it - at the moment, until it goes wrong!!!!
http://www.rememberthemilk.com
I am watching Dr Martin - out of the corner of my eye of course - and can hear the seagulls....Oh how I yearn for the Cornish breeze and the rock pools; with my sketch book and watercolours in my artist bum bag....
such an evocative sound!
Now to supper of home-made pizza 'Powell style...'
Gosh! am I chilli  3.7C and I feel colder than when it was minus numbers.

So! no actual artwork done, but a step to the future...and that can't be bad - can it!

54th entry...all done!

Christmas decorations are down, and I have my art room back!
So tomorrow after work, I have structured where I am going and what I am doing on a daily basis.
I WILL GET THERE - WITH OR WITHOUT YOU...I CAN ACHIEVE IT ON MY OWN...
More tomorrow, and I need to do my story...all this for me!

53rd entry...it is getting darker later...have you noticed!!!

As promised  (to my self)  I have started up my diary, now that the Christmas and New Year festive are at an end. I have done my first little sketch 'jigsaw' for 2011 of our day out yesterday at the hockey pitch.  It was a lovely time with people desperate for a game of hockey that had not played since before Christmas!
I have assessed where I shall move to in my art, and once I get my art room back, tomorrow afternoon, will feel more settled to working...if you get my gist...
So this is why I am writing my diary - to get me to do something, at least on a regular basis - and it is working!!!!!

My boys at play - 1st January 2011

I do hope you enjoy this one...it is really my 'moment in time' and 'jigsaw' series all in one...it is the first day of a new year in watercolour and charcoal for me...and I am so happy1  I love, love, love my art SO much...

52nd entry...AND THE ARTIST IS BACK...!!!

We stand, after a tough climb, weary on the top of the mountain looking out at the view of 2011 in hope of a bright new future.....let us move forward and grab the opportunities with both hands....

...the artist is back.....

51st entry...Hold on.......!!!!!!!!!!!

To all you out there 

In the cold winter air,

May I humbly say 

I shall call it a day

'Til Christmas is done

And  New Year's begun...

So - from me to you

I bid you adieu!

Do visit again 

We'll continue the same...

A Merry Christmas to all

And do have a ball!

Your Artist so clever

The greatest for ever...!

Sarah Orchard

50th entry........

All my babies under one roof....how MAGIC is that!!!
I bid you 'Good night' x

49th entry...and what a momentous day it is...

'Why?' you ask...'what do you mean why!!!! '....it is my beautiful, gorgeous, fabulous, lovely sons 20th birthday this very day!!!!!!!
Should have started my story after Christmas - might copy and paste the first part after January 1st.  I seem to have so much to do...who hasn't!

A VERY SPECIAL MEMORY TO CHERISH...
Met a lady today, at work, who is a very remarkable and beautiful lady! ... She kissed my hand which brought tears to my eyes! I feel very humbled and shall cherish the connection between two people!!!

Final shop, I hope, tomorrow - might go park and ride rather than park and drive - home!!!! Shall have to sit with all the 'bobbly' people though - shall put my trance face on and live another world...my saviour!
So did you like the card of the cyclists that I did for my boy? Tee! hee! he said it was his and I was not allowed to scan it...but I never did do as I was told!!!
Off to see and listen to the Christmas songs on the tv...awaiting half of my babies coming home the morro....

48th entry...a quick diary...

..I know that I am a bit of a 'dawk' at times, but I excelled myself today! Why oh! why you ask...Well I thought my lovely son - who is 20 tomorrow...was coming home not this Saturday but the next one...had it in my head to do some present shopping for his birthday/Christmas presents next week etc - lucky his room is sorted, sort of...- but it is THIS SATURDAY - YEAH......
Meanwhile Christmas cards done, and most delivered...and this is a personal, yearly one for my lovely boy that I am sharing with you!!

Christmas card to my boy... 2010

So there we have it...until tomorrow; recap - presents nearly all wrapped - decs all up - house dusted ready for the onslaught...

47th entry...so sorry...

life has been so racy...and so I have left you waiting!
My girlie was here, now she has bumbled off to Chichester...in my car!!!!
Done the Christmas tree...7' tall - in our little sitting room - but it looks good!
Started to wrap my 'secret santa' pressies...only five more to wrap and one more to make...a very special one for a very special person!
Quite stressed out at the moment which considering life should be enjoyed it tres irritating!
So there I leave you...the 'Once upon a time...' will continue but be patient as Christmas is taking a front stage over my art, and my art room is closed off with furniture until the New Year...!
Bonn appetite... 

46th entry...and guess who's coming home in time for supper...!

...yes my luscious girlie! Sooooooooo I'd better tidy her bedroom of all the Christmas 'stuff' that I have dumped in there!!!!

So here we go...I have been intending to do this for days...it's just finding the time!
Once upon a time, in a big Forest lived some lovely, lovely people...It was the middle of a cold, cold, winter and the only place in the whole of the land that had had only two days of snow...They lived in a cosy, cosy bungalow - but not I am afraid to say - made of ginger bread!  Friends of theirs had THAT house...

Bungalow in the big, big Forest.

The Mummy and the Daddy lived there all alone...with their cat - of course! Every one has a cat, or so it seems!
The boy and the girl that lived with them went away on a 'journey of life' but were coming home very soon - however that is another story...
Well on this day it was a cold, murky day and the lady we shall call Mummy, I think, decided to go out in the big Forest for a walk, to blow the cobwebs away - not REAL cobwebs mind - a fuzzy brain sort of cobweb! She put on her big walking boots - no puddle slashing today for her - so boots, for the crunchy hard ground!  Her thick, cosy very, very, VERY old green coat was on and a cap. It was rather a splendid cap with a big peak and furry bit - it actually wasn't hers it was her lovely son's, the one on a 'journey of life'!!  All togged up, and her sketch bag and camera, off she went ..into that very big Forest....
- to be continued....
Oh some one is knocking at my door so I shall go...

45th entry...life is back to nearly normal...thank goodness!

So a lovely day with my boy and lunch out with my gorgeous daddy...

I have been looking at some of my work...and the St Ives ones. So I have split them apart to appreciate them more!

Jigsaw series -  St Ives - Habour 1

Jigsaw series -  St Ives - Habour 2

I think they are rather lovely - done quite quickly - and clearer to appreciate now that I have split them up - sounds like twins - I do want to attempt to do a larger version of my Jigsaw design, more of  a landscape rather than an individual composition... so much to do!
Have one more 'home-made' to make; 'stockings' virtually completed, Christmas cards to write tonight....
Off to have my shower my leettle pomfrit....!

44th entry...off to our private viewing...

Day's been good! Off to open our exhibition....then see my boy not having seen him for two whole days!
Do I have a shower - it's SO cold...don't want to take any layers off!  Can understand why people in the past didn't bath...and it's so dark! Gosh! what a grumbling wench I am....
Home-made curry for supper, rice and onion bhajis.

43rd entry....I sit here all alone...

in my semi cold home....nobody here to talk to my dear...awaiting the morning to be near....

Sloe gin label

this is my entry for the day...hope you like it...please do I say!

Have had my supper; egg, tomato and chips...my tummy is full but still got sore lips from the central heating being constantly on...the house is empty, everyone gone...the weekend I look to; the house starts to fill...taking away this cold winter chill.

So for now I leave you, big world out here and wait for tomorrow when my munchies are near!!!

42nd entry.....Christmas cards nearly ready to go...phew!

painted, printed, cut, folded - just need to write in them, address and stamp the envelopes after I have found the box of envelopes in my art room! Finally pop them in the letter box, and get one of the others to deliver the local ones on foot. I don't do that bit.....
Went for a long walk in the forest this afternoon to warm myself up - got SO cold I had to put another layer of clothes on, that made 4 all in all.....walked about 3 miles loving the beautiful silver birch trees absolutely covered in frost even at 3.30 in the afternoon! Saw a bird the size of a magpie, but with rust colour on its body....what is it? Will have a look through our bird books.
Have added my 'Chinese Whisper' painting that I handed in to the Sarum Artist group yesterday - we each started with a favourite painting - for me it was one of  Amedeo Modigliani, 1884–1920, Female Nude (c1916).
I did a transcript of it, then passed my version on and picked someone else's etc etc...so this is a transcript by me from one of my fellow artists. 

Jigsaw series - Paul Signac 'The Red Bouy, St Tropez' 1895

This is a copy of the original work.

I hope that you enjoy this ....am off to sit in front of the TV awaiting my little man to skype us...how exciting is that!

41st entry...and I sit here alone....

as my boy is still in the office! Have put our exhibition up in Sarum College - looks good! Private viewing on Thursday after we give blood for the 56th time. Done some more present buying in town - gosh! I hate spending money!...and then visited our 89 year old next door neighbour at the local home he is staying in for a week before coming home after a fall that initially took him to hospital for a few weeks! I bid you good night until tomorrow - gosh roll on the Spring.........

40th entry...da! daaa!

So off to Morrisons we did trot...ten o'clock on the dot...arriving to do the weekly shop...bought every thing except the mop...spent a fortune as we do...back home to the internet to view!
These are what I went and did...

St Ives - Harbour
(inspired by Moira Ross - Sculptor)

plus this one but keep it 'under lid'!!!!...as it is but a small surprise...for one of very many guys...who, special in the heart of one...was reasons for it being done...!

Girlie and 'boy'

The day is ended, curtains closed...let's get to bed a'for I'm frozed!!!!

39th entry...oh! my....

"So where is my 'Winter wonderland!" raged the Snow Queen..."But it SHALL return soon..." she said in a churlish manner, stamping her foot!
And so off to my life class I did go....
Pastel pencils,  I now realise need to be revamped as my pallet is **!?*...however my 3 minute pencil sketches, for the warm up and my 10 minute watercolour sketches, of which this is one, are ok!

Life class - Nude man.
4th Dec 2010

We, my boy and I, have been for a walk, and I have completed three of my Christmas 'home-mades'; printed off some of our family Christmas cards and shall now heat up some left overs for our supper!
Tonight I shall sketch the 'St Ives' ...and tomorrow complete it, put another layer of wax on my logs, and paint my pebbles!
Meanwhile STRICTLY HERE I COME.....
see ya tomorrow!

38th entry...what a productive day, and so pretty from here indoors...!

...although feel awful as our more elderly villagers have just walked over to delivered papers to us...in his eighties - makes you feel VERY small!
And what have you been up to today that was so productive? I hear you say...WELL...we have thrown out our old computer giving more room for my lovely boy to work! I have spent the morning re-arranging the middle and sitting room, and though I say so my self it looks extremely good! Wait until the guys come home and won't they moan that I have changed everything around...!

Redwing...Winter is  here!

very easy to mix up the Red wing with the Field fare, well I find it so...

'Dancing Fairies'

'Hallucinating Rabbits'

So my pictures have been added; I feel better now that there is some more of my artwork on here now!

 Do love writing my Diary...funny how life is...looking to doing a Jigsaw on 'St Ives' saw that program on BBC4 'Art of Cornwall' and thought what fabulous scenes they took of the Harbour! Such fabulous colours!
Off to a 'Life Class' tomorrow...see ya!!!

37th entry...YEAH! Who's the Snow Queen now...Ha! Ha!

...and I have been skidding all over Salisbury - you want to see my hub caps -couldn't find the curbs...!
Am still fiddling with my website; God I need my shoulders massaged! NO... not my boy, he hurts...thinks it's good if it makes you recoil...and now onwards to supper! Spaghetti Carbonara - the proper way!
Tomorrow I shall scan and upload my 'fairies', bird and 'hallucinating Hares'...after we have moved our computer table around or along - any way it will get a good bit of polish...I wish not to hear any rude comments!
SO could you please, all my imaginary friends, go to my website and make a comment!
Thank you!

36th entry...count down time...17 days until we are all together!!!

Worked this morning and have spent most of this afternoon re-designing my website. I just got my head around how the new system works..... and then I lost it!! I now know how to save it bit by bit but cannot for the life of me arrive at the same colour selection ...blast!
NO SNOW... today either and although I have not been cold myself my lovely boy has been!
On with my website - don't visit yet until I have finished all the irritations!
Meanwhile see you the morro'...will try the fairies!

35th entry..what happened to my snow!!!!

So much for the weather forecast..what a load of baloney...!
Today I have mostly been going from here to all over the Salisbury area.  New back windscreen wiper is in place - thank goodness!.  Broken glass from my exhibition watercolour frame has been renewed. Visit to the hospital to see an old, old friend and our next door neighbour completed and enjoyed.  Looking ok!!!!!
Car engine light sorted, and bill paid...Confess to have listened to Christmas songs all the way around - remind me to get the decent ones out of the loft  (have a tape from about 30 years ago with fab music on)
We are now at the stage of closing curtains, supper and maybe light a fire! It has been quite warm however, so we may save the log...!
No artwork achieved; no communication from the outside world wanting my work, so I shall close down feeling a bit low in spirit ...
- to feel renewed tomorrow!!!!!

34th entry...how many more layers can I get on....

Have framed my yesterdays selection and they look good! Ready and waiting for the exhibition...what to charge!?!
Cold, cold, cold only 0c but it seems like -4c, the air is SO cold....
Hope that all the people that I visit are ok and warm!
Done the Tesco shop, and yes! it is Monday..ha! ha! Really I'm just about ready for Christmas!
Wednesday - 1st December - and then I can start to count down the day until I have ALL my family together...
Meanwhile my lovely boy has been in cold, cold London all day and so I shall now cook a nice supper with a cup of tea ready for when he gets back...
Talk again tomorrow! Thanks for popping in!

33rd entry....seen both my babies today...how fabulous is that!!!

My 'little' man on Skype, and my girlie, with her man, stopped off on route to Plymouth... "I NEW SHE WOULD..." I just felt it in my bones! So I am happy, although I await a text to say they have arrived safely....ooh! I do stress so...!
Right - you say - so what happened to the promise of a write up and why did you leave us for a whole day, with out a word...I know and I apologise but what with working, and then well I can't remember what we did...oh! I remember I sorted out the idea for my exhibition piece called 'A Winter's Tale' and have decided to use the words from the film An Affair to Remember 
                  "Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories.” 
Anyhow I did the pencil sketches of my chosen memorable memories last night and have completed them today..

Jigsaw series - 'A Winter's Tale'
'Tobogganing...'

Jigsaw series - 'A Winter's Tale'
'After-lunch walk in the park..'
 

These are they! Tomorrow I shall put them into frames ready for the exhibition. 

So there you go...I am doing well!

This is the exhibition leaflet...at Sarum College.

32nd entry....Harry Potter here we come...

Out for the day to see my sis and lovely Dads...then off with my boy to watch Harry Potter - his idea, how fabulous is that!  Was going to do some 'fairies' today but it shall have to wait until tonight. Hope you can wait that long! Only -0c now, so things are hotting up! My lovely son has got snow in Durham - rang me up to tell me...'like Disney snow' he said...I am so envious!!
Don't get too cold, and put your heating on now.  We shall, but later!!!

31st entry...and quite a successful day!

Out at work this morning, stopped at a friends house on the way home, but no reply so left a flower (from her garden I hasten to add - you won't see any in my'n...) and a note. Back here and have spent some of the day most successfully making some of my 'home-mades' for Christmas...they are: 9 presents to be made for each of my family on Christmas day, price to be spent on bits no more that £5 - so no bought presents...!!! did similar 2 years ago, as a Secret Santa, but only one present to be made for one person...it was a fabulous evening - we opened them one by one on Christmas Eve...made the bought presents on Christmas day quite uneventful..
Can't say what I've done - would RUIN the surprises....
Now I am going to knock up a spag bols for my lovely, hard working husband + a cup of tea!
Arn't I just so smashing!!!!!!!!!!
Most probably talk tomorrow...fairies on the way!

30th entry..Good morning campers! ..Private viewing...today!

Sorry about yesterday...just got mixed up in life...!
Any how, special treats today...the yearly family Christmas card is having a private viewing and here it is!!!!

Jigsaw series - Christmas card
 'Thin ice'

The last couple of years have been quite hard going and so my lovely boy came up with this idea with the caption 'Thin ice'...

I do hope you enjoy it, I am very pleased with it! Next job is to print them off, write and post them before Christmas!!!

29th entry...Good morning people...and it's Monday again...!

Today I shall mostly be going for a walk in the forest for my stones and sticks, and of course it's my Tesco day!
On the agenda art wise...delivering my greetings cards orders and working out my Christmas card design - have changed my idea with input from my lovely boy...Will update you all - ha! ha! - later!!!!

I have just lost all that I have written because the !!!!????** internet went down - some times I do despair!!
anyhow, the evening is upon us, I have achieved all my targets today! I shall now watch Dr Who and sit and sketch up my Christmas card design!

WW2 Stuka Dive Bomber

I have added one of my recent works done with my lovely, lovely pastels...just that I feel that this side of my art is being left behind...and it makes me feel sad!!!

28th entry...sitting by the fire in the sitting room ...watching results of 'Strictly'

and having had a lovely but VERY late night last night we have sort of pottered through our day! Back to work for some tomorrow!
Mustn't forget to look for stones and wood in the forest tomorrow, for Christmas...
God the woman singing on 'Strictly' needs to be put down her voice is SO horrid to listen to...'
Moment of truth just coming up...hold your breath.............................................oh my God it's Felicity and Vincent...! Now what's on to irritate me next...

27th entry...what a satisfying day....

Well.. we have completed our table top,and what an exhilarating experience...thank heavens for my lovely next door neighbour!  Had my 'dizzy' head on a bit - always do when the adrenalin flows - and my lovely boy brought 2 Thermos of coffee...how lush he is!!! So - I sold two thirds of my greetings cards and had some lovely comments...what more could I ask!  Have booked a table for next month!
I now sit here at my laptop, watching the original (pt 2) of 'Pride and Prejudice' writing my diary!
I am on my 27th entry, which is quite impressive, and if I wanted to assess the benefit of writing it, it has spurred me on to keep my art work flowing! I feel quite lost if I haven't put 'pen to paper....' In some ways, for me, I enjoy it more than my website...but that has a very different function!

Jigsaw series - 'Winter Lovers...'

Jigsaw series - 'Snowdrops'

These are two watercolour and charcoal, for my Jigsaw series that I promised you...Now do you understand how good this diary is for me...it makes me have to do things that I have promised...such a sad person that I am - or not?! 

Now the day light is nearly gone - if you can call this glum day 'day light' - and we are off to eat out tonight...so I need to spend an inordinately long time to get ready! I bid you adieu...until the morrow!

26th entry...and still going strong!!!

So - forgot that I had the dental hygienist this morning before I bumbled into town to meet my lovely Daddy, so my ideas of getting into my art room did not come to fruition...ooh! I hear you cry...and I was SO excited about your next work...! Ha! Ha!
Must not forget to try out those pastel pencils, especially as I have sorted out my colour pallet ...
So many ideas in my head and I desperately need to get them on to paper - quality watercolour of course...!!!
I do hope that you aren't too disappointed with me...!
SO... ready to rock and roll for tomorrow...bring yourselves to the village hall and buy some of  the best artist in the worlds watercolour and pastel paintings !...you may be quids in in about 100 years - that's when most artists find fame!!!

25th entry...out working this morning...sun is shining!

So today I can now concentrate on printing some cards for my nay our table top on Saturday...first stop, a bite to eat before I fade away...
Had a sausage toastie, milk, cup of coffee, and on to sorting out my cards for the Saturday table top at our local village hall..
I have printed, into cards, and put in cellophane folders 60...yes 60 different prints of my work.  All from my Jigsaw - Bench people - Moments in time....series!!! Now I can move on to my Christmas card design for us lovely Orchards!!!
Art work tomorrow - maybe a couple of Bench people - have a couple of ideas up my sleeve...mean while I am awaiting my lovely, lovely boy -
 menu tonight is:
 scampi (or it will go off) home made chips, with tomatoes coated in fennel, pepper, garlic and a sprinkling of salt - miss my 'home grown' - mushrooms with goats cheese (needs eating) and maybe a glass of white wine, although a phenomenal amount of calories......Bon appetite - until tomorrow!!!!!

24th entry...wet and warm today...got my Summer clothes on...ha! ha!

So finished yesterdays artwork and here they are...all comments invited...I shall reply later!!!!!

Jigsaw series - We three kings 

Jigsaw series - Christmas Nativity

Here I am again...I am SO cold...I suppose that I can turn the heating on!!!

"I have done it !" -  "Done what I hear you all reply" ha! ha!

I have promised myself for the last year to submit my art to a greetings card company...

One of my lovely friends says that I am running away in fear of rejection - she is SO right!!!

Well...I have done it Lady...whether or not I get any where it is a major step for me, and if I do get rejected I shall submit to others...also I need to look at the illustration companies.  

Any ideas or recommendations anyone - HELLO!!!

Out for a take away curry tonight...Mmm!

23rd entry...and the day is going well...

Cleaned the kitchen...a bit! Fed those greedy birds...sorted out our next door neighbour, and been in my art room - well wrapped up I add!!!, although the sun is shining in the room! I have continued on my project of yesterday and started a new one - one to work on, one to be drying...get it!
And now I have the kettle on the hob, awaiting the arrival of something big and blue....! Write to myself later!

22nd entry...another hectic day...

...wouldn't it be lovely if life settled down a bit!  I shouldn't moan as there are far worse off than I....
So I have scanned some of my art work and was relatively pleased with the results! The charcoal and colours are much ? brighter, harder.!?!
I have started another 'Jigsaw series' but we shall have to wait until tomorrow for completion. Was called away in the middle of laying my washes - so this could be a learning curve or experience for me...normally I do the wash all in one go thus the blending.  We shall see...!
So - how cold it is - 4.4C and yes we have put our heating on for the second time this Autumn...Ha! Ha! Such stingy people we are....!!!

21st entry....worked all bloomin' day...needs sorting!!!

So I sit here while my boy irons his shirts for the week, and write today's entry!
So many things to sort - table top, Christmas Design, and now Hampshire Artist's...
Getting a bit stressed about it all, but I am sure that it will fall into place!
Now off to watch a bit of television with my boy, until bed, with a lovely fire going to keep the room warm....yes just the one log....!

20th entry...YEAH! some art work to add...

So here it is; what do you think?...I am quite pleased with it!  Considering that I worked today and made fish cakes for supper...I feel that the girl's done good! - and I feel better for it - a sort of cathartic moment!!!!

Jigsaw series - Girlies on ice

Jigsaw series - Ice skating

I have scanned these and WHAT a difference....can now do it on my laptop!  So next job is to scan all the others...see - problem solved and with no help from any one but me...thanks me!!!

19th entry....today is Friday...

...and I have just finished my sups!
Been into town to buy Christmas presents - so that's sorted..thank God!  Had lunch with my lovely Dads xxx
Brought myself a greetings card holder - will show 'the lady next door...'....for next Saturday!
So, no art work done again today - are you disappointed in me?
Time is so limiting...working this weekend.  This will have only to be temporary...
But this time a year ago my road was long -  now it's that bit shorter - and clearer?!!!!

18th entry...what a blustery day...said Winnie the Pooh!

Nothing to report other than it is dark, the day is over and actually as no one is reading this, I can honestly say that  I feel quite low in spirits...I have just admitted to a good friend that I am becoming more and more of a recluse and that worries me...I find it so hard to talk to people these days...think that I shall find some deserted island...ooooh! poor little me!!!!!
Tomorrow is another day! Where to go with my art... let me have sups and sit down with a notebook and pencil...my nooni!

17th entry...and what a splendid day weather wise...!

So having hopefully finished work, I can now focus on my life....
1 - card for a friend...
2 - Table top ...
3 - Christmas card design..
The rest will have to wait..though I have sorted out my pastel pencils to have a bash at using on small compositions..and I want a go now!!!
BUT I shall crack on with my list...love lists - the essence of my life and keeps me on track....!

Jigsaw series - 'Mr Snowman...'

Jigsaw series - Nuthatch

So this is today...

16th entry....sooooooooooooo cold and rainy today!!!

Been out at work for a lot of the day and now the light is fading...AND my art room is cold!
So these two sad entries of art work are all I have...however I have been thinking through my strategies of work, and this is what I have come up with - pastels, use the same colours, in crayons though not sticks... that I use for my watercolour pallet and ONLY about ten....very little blending, and use the same composition that I will use for my watercolours...see how this works!
Also - have been thinking through my 'jigsaw series' structure and shall try developing it to suit more compositions! - straight washed as well as blended... you get my jist...!

Jigsaw series - 'Christmas tree'

Jigsaw series - 'Rabbits'

15th edition....such a lovely sunny day today!

This is today's attempt...moving towards Christmas.

Wish I could sort out the back ground darkness of my photos...

Jigsaw series - 'Holly and berries'

14th entry...no art today...again...

but I've had a lovely day.  Felt more like a Sunday though! Had my girlie and her man here - really magic!!!
Sorted out the cars - did like that blue one lots - never mind! Made my cheese cake for tomorrow. Big family bash... Look forward to seeing them, as it is AGES since I saw them....
Meanwhile, one broken nose later - not me - the rugby player of the family!  Stupid boy!!!!!! Bit of TLC and food, food, food!

13th entry...Happy Birthday my lovely Dads xxxxxxxx...

So ...I have had a very busy day, ending with us sitting down to a spag bol followed by baked apple with ice cream!
Cars,cars,,cars have been the major feature today...some to love and some to love and lose, but hey I believe in fate...those lovely mechanics at the garage - no names no pack drill - I thank you!
So not much art done - well none actually! Need to do my Christmas card design tomorrow...all geared up for it.  Meanwhile I bid you good night, and I hope that your day was good Dads x

12th entry....Christmas is coming...BLAST!!!!!!

....so spending most of my day trying to decide what to get people...!
My boy is coming home to faggots and mashed ....yum!

Jigsaw series - Kingfisher on a rock...

Jigsaw series - 'Mr Piggy'

These I have achieved today.  The pig is Dads birthday card....so what shall he say? "Good effort girl.." or " I preferred the cockerel girl...." or no comment at all.  I suspect that it will be the last one!
I have just spent the last  hour talking to my lovely son...how magic is that....xxxxxxx
Now I need to make sups and close up for the night...and the alarm has just gone off on my phone to remind me that it's rubbish night tonight!  We have had rubbish day on a Monday for 20 years so why do they need to change it...hear from me tomorrow!

11th entry....have been out working hard all day....feel so sad.....!

 This is  the work that I did yesterday. Feel sad today...the weather is dreary at only 3.30pm - here we go into the dark evenings again.  Autumn is so very pretty this year, with the countryside abounding with colour, but by now I feel like just closing the curtains and snuggling in awaiting my lovely boy!

Jigsaw series - Autumn tree

Jigsaw series - Little coal-tit 

Jigsaw series - Mr piggy...

10th entry.....worked this am...

...now I can focus on my art!  Gosh I am so hungry, but have promised not to eat until 1pm....other wise the pounds will start collecting around my waist and then where should I be!!

Jigsaw series - 'Deer in the grass...'

Jigsaw series - 'Sheep in a field..'

The bench people - 'waiting...'

These are what I did yesterday!

As I said, I need to look into my approach into the colours that I am using and how I 'lay them' onto the paper...

So I have some books out and am going to study them and then go and do some 'dabbling' in

my art room!!!!

But first SOME FOOD....!

9th entry...and nights are drawing in....!!!

So Monday and my Tesco shop day... Did some art this am but feeling at a loss on my colours...
I think that I am trying too hard, also mixing the colours which makes them dirty!  How to solve this... well I intend to study some of my work and see how I achieved a fresher result...also I think maybe layering the individual colours more - let's see!
So I have a person out there reading my logs...''Helloo Lucian...! Have you left any comments on my work, I do value your opinion...
I shall photo and put today's work on here tomorrow!