Kids Alive

Yesterday I went to a fantastically successful Murder Mystery evening, aimed at raising funds for  Kids Alive.
 There is a group of twenty two members of the church I attend who will be going out to Kenya in support of a Kids Alive project.  The group members are each responsible for covering their own expenses and last night's event raised much needed funds for equipment they will be providing for children, at the school they are visiting in Kenya.  They will be re-furbishing one of the rooms at the school as well.providing shoes for every child and footballs for each boy, among other things.
We all had a fantastic evening knowing that through our enjoyment we were also helping the children in Kenya.
By using the link Kids alive Kenya you will be able to see  more information about the very worthwhile work being done at the centre.
Well done Peter and Ruth, the young couple responsible for initiating this excellent project.  Wishing the whole group every success when they go to Kenya this coming August.

Dog 7 and 8

Dog 2

Dog Pictures 1.

This is the first of a series of dog pictures that were embroidered onto a 'bell-pull' sampler.

The Fourth Card design from the St. Francis Hospice workshop.

These are  materials as supplied to each one of us for the fourth card.

The completed card.

St. Francis Fund Raising Fun

Our local hospice, St. Francis, has many volunteers supporting the work done at the hospice by helping to raise funds.  I was fortunate in meeting a group of volunteers when I went to a Craft Day they had organised.  There was a charge of £10 for what was a delightful and informative day. The three ladies took responsibility for teaching each of us how to make a total of four greetings cards. I made three cards on the day and hope to show you the fourth one in the near future. I believe the day raised between £300 and £400 as there was also a raffle and I was surprised and delighted to win first prize.
There are many ways to give support and you will find information by visiting their web page.

Door, with more shadow

I've added more shadow in the foreground, which I think helps, but regret adding the purple flowers at extreme left of the picture.

Doorway completed.

Whilst I thought the picture was finished, I have a feeling that when I look at it again tomorrow I will see the need for some minor adjustments.  I can see one already, at the bottom right of the door.  It is often the case with watercolour painting that when a picture is revisited the need for adjustment can be seen more clearly.

Doorway five

Just added and strengthened some of the shadows.

Signs of Spring

Snowdrops in my garde have had a tough time this winter.  I think this is a promise of better things to come.

My daffodils are not out yet so I had to buy these.
Looking forward to them blooming in the garden!

Doorway, stage three

 

More detail added, mostly as under-washes in preparation for the final layers..

Doorway, stage two

I have added the feeling of texture to the walls.  This is deliberately uneven as I feel this is part of an old derelict farm building.

Doorway. First sketch and washes.

Happy St Valentine's Day

My father was born on 14th February and christened Valentine. When I was growing up there wasn't the abundance of Valentine cards available  to buy, but I took great pleasure in making a card  for him each year.

We are even able to buy Valentine Cup cakes and I have been tempted to paint some, produced by M & S.
I'm sure they taste delicious!  '

Valentine Chocolate Cup Cakes'  With apologies to the photographer at M & S.

 

The original photo I worked from, they make your mouth water don't they?

Easter Chicks.

 

I have knitted these Easter Chicks, ready to give to my neighbours' children.

They are done using wool and knitting lace and are really very easy to make

and are just the right size to contain a  Cadbury's.Creme egg.

A mountain walk._Painted again in new colours.

Derelict Farmhouse__Snowed In

 

A cold and frosty morning!  

Derelict Farm, snowed in.

 

I love snowy days and was delighted when Steve had this picture for us to paint.

This is the early stages of the painting with just the first sky and tree washes finished.

Rhino, almost repeated.

 

I took the original version of this painting to my art class on Monday, where it was discussed with Steve Cook.

Steve liked the Rhino and made one or two observations which he thought would improve the picture in order to improve the position of the focal point, 'The Rhino'

I accepted his valuable suggestions and implemented those where it was practical to do so. The main change was reducing the size of the picture along the left hand side and also along the bottom.

Two stages in painting a Rhinocerous.

 

I find the early stages the most difficult with this style of painting, it's getting the thickness of the paint just right, not too wet, not too thick.  Then of course it's the frustration of leaving time for each layer to dry before applying the next layer but.......

                                        ....... I am very happy with the end product.

Cross stitch continued.

 

This is the largest picture I have embroidered, it took absolutely ages to do, the design  and all the colours were worked out for me so my  involvement other than doing the embroidery was limited.

A talented mother

This is a sampler embroidered, by my Mother, almost thirty  years ago.  Whilst I drew up the design for this piece of needlework I have included it to show from where I have gained my practical skills  She was a superb needlewoman..

Another of my crafts

A butterfly worked in Torchon lace.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchon_lace

This link will provide some history of Torchon lace.