I Have Smurf Fingers!

I love the smell of white spirit and ink in the morning? I have spent another day making prints as that's what I do. I am happyish with the outcomes. I don't know if any of you are like this but I do work then have to hide it away from myself as my instant reaction is that I do not like it. So I'll look at them again next week and see what I think.
I think it is ironic that I am a printmaker as I really hate mess and printmaking has to be one of the messiest mediums to work in. Admittedly, if I was to follow correct practice I would wear latex gloves to stop the deep staining that takes place when you don't. But I hate sweating inside latex gloves and it adds a layer of detachment that I don't enjoy. So I will sport my Smurf coloured fingers with pride.
I am now counting down the hours until I shut the gallery for two weeks. I cannot wait to get stuck in and get it all tarted up. The question is do I buy a new step ladder? Know I need one but also hate getting up them. But in order to do the redecorating I think I need to get some.
I ordered the mother load of books this week. I have probably mentioned that I am an avid reader. If you are too then you should definitely check out the Book People Sale. It's really good. I bought 50+ books for £25. I am now stocked up for the best part of the year.
Other news is that we are holding another Bizarre Bazaar in February and if you would like to be part of it them let me know as we need to get some idea of numbers.
I have got so much work to do that involves being sat in front of the computer that I could almost cry. Give me smurf fingers over that any day of the week. It's crucial that I crack on and get it done though as my future income depends on it.

Who Says Rudolph Is Just For Christmas?

I don't know quite how I've managed it but I am on cold number 3 for this unseasonably warm winter. Really not happy about it as I need to concentrate and my tap like nose is a constant distraction.
I have got all the good stuff ordered for the gallery revamp it is really quite exciting. I am quite looking forward to whiting out the windows and getting on and dealing with it. I have said it before but 2012 is really the time to shine. Especially as I'm cranking up the amount of light that there will be at the gallery. No more comments about how it looks closed I hope.
I have been over the road to Sansom to talk to Chris about my framing, I think he can do what I want. I am probably going to put about 8 pieces in this anniversary show. So you should come and see it even if it's just to be nosy about my new work. It is all brand new and has never been seen anywhere before. Literally, hot off the printing press.
If you have seen my old work be warned it is quite a departure from that.
After the relative busyness of yesterday, today is very quiet. Probably a good thing as my ability to string a coherent sentence together is probably about -5 on the sneezing scale. I have sneezed in excess of 100 times today. I kid you not.
Who says Rudolph is just for Christmas? I'm doing a stellar impersonation of him right now and we are well into January.
For all of you out there who are suffering from horrible colds, flu or the dreaded stomach bug I wish you all a very speedy recovery and I hope that you have a really healthy 2012.
I'm off to rouge up my nose a bit more with rough toilet paper! All of you who are full of cold know exactly what I mean.

Bloggus Interruptus

I hope that you all had a good weekend! I did, crammed lots of socializing in and even managed to make my garden look less like it belonged on a housing estate. I don't know whether it is because it's on the road that used to go to the dump or the road that leads to a massive caravan site but fly tipping is live and well and living in my garden.
Not anymore, it is looking very tidy and now I am plotting what I intend to grow next year. The truth is I need to grow a few additional hours on to each day if I am going to do my garden justice this year. I am hoping that Shirley will come to the rescue so that I can spend a little more time there.
I have produced my first prints of 2012 this morning and I am very pleased with them. I thought I had better do some of my own work as I intend show them at the anniversary exhibition. I may well do some in colour too. I should explain that they were embossed images so no colour whatsoever on them.
I have had an incredibly busy day as my phone has not stopped ringing and I've sent 15+ emails.  Maybe my phone would stop ringing if I answered it. Just kidding.
I have updated my website and and phone site and I will shortly be revamping my blog. So I envisage another few days in front of the computer.
If it wasn't enough that the saga of 'The Black Cat' is still rumbling on, Barney my fat cat that is on a diet is depressed. I think he had been comfort eating as a result of the bullying. If you have seen Shrek you will know Puss In Boots. Barney is ginger and does the whole eyes thing every time I go in the kitchen. He jumps up in anticipation of food and I then proceed to give him 25g of diet biscuits. It is truly tough love.
I am going to end with a question. Do you decorate in sock, shoes or trainers? Or do you have a designated pair of shoes?
My last blog raised lots of questions about the correct decorating attire. Please let me know what is your preference.

I'm Here, Where Are You?

I am the Red Balloon

I am happy to report that Barney and Puss Puss (Yes, I know it's a silly name, but she had the name for a year before I got her and she's stubborn and obstinate and refused to answer to any other name) have been given a clean bill of health. Well, Barney has got to go on a diet as he is a kilo and a half over weight. So it's super expensive diet biscuits for him for the next 6 months. Why is it that I think it will be my bank account that will be considerably thinner in 6 months time?
My article is in Evolver magazine so please make sure you keep an eye open for it. I have not achieved any of my lofty decorating ambitions as it's freezing and I forgot to wear my decorating shoes. Everyone has decorating shoes don't they? I actually meant to write clothes but I quite liked the idea that special footwear is required for decorating. Like I need an excuse to buy shoes. I do not.
In typical Swanage fashion we convened the first 2012 meeting of Friday Club last night. It was a good laugh. We have decided that a group holiday is required I'm a little scared of the idea as I feel sorry for wherever we may end up.
There are so many interesting and exciting possibilities in the pipeline, none of which I can really go into at the moment but I promise you that you're on the list for those to find out first.
I am blogcrastinating as I have a nice long list of things to do so I'm going to go and get on with them.
A bit of gossip though before I go, I may have got it wrong about what my new neighbour is going to be. I have now heard that it might be a deli. I think that would be great but it might make me fat as I love food from delis. Not so much artiarse as lardyarse. That is not what I meant when I said I want to grow my business.
Enjoy your weekend!

Cat Fights and Late Nights

My favourite spelling mistake has to be when I sign off emails 'Shaton'. Every time I do it I am tempted to leave it. I could add location, 'from a Great Height'.
Youth speak would have me declare today an 'epic fail'. I had all the ideas of sanding down my paint work outside getting it ready for a new coat of paint. I have been sat in front of this computer solidly bar two toilet breaks since 11.30.
Admittedly I have achieved quite a lot but it just wasn't the kind of work I felt like doing today!
I did however spend a pleasant hour with Jan Dagley today, we are trying to come up with a new name for  our collaborative workshops. The one that made me laugh the most was Artiarse. Apparently,  the domain is free. In another lifetime I would so have chosen this. Good job that I have grown up just a little bit.
I'm tired today as the saga of the black cat drags on into it's 10th day. I haven't told you about it but to cut a long story short, my three cats are being bullied by a big black cat. He waits for them outside the catflap ready to pounce. He has wounded two of them badly enough to warrant a vets visit tomorrow morning. I am a cat lover but I would quite happily give this big bruiser tom a swift kick up his artiarse! Do you see what I did there?
I have sorted the writing for my windows at the gallery. It will be put on in the next couple of weeks. The thing that I need to do most is paint.
Maybe tomorrow if the weather holds and the rain doesn't come bucketing it down I'll get to what I thought I'd be doing today.
Where would I be without the Internet? I cannot actually envisage life without it. Since writing this I have sent two emails just because I remembered that I needed to.
Slightly busier at the gallery today, and I mean slightly. Let's hope that it's sunny tomorrow and that people are fed up with the January sales and fancy some fresh air and a bit of culture and go to Brighton. Just kidding, and come to Swanage.
Have a great weekend whatever you have got planned.

Sshhh....Swanage Is Asleep. Or Is It?

I spent the morning teaching so that is a great way to start the day. I really enjoy the whole getting people interested in art and design. Especially kids, it's very rewarding.
I've started getting organized for the gallery make over, and that means spending money. Something I usually enjoy. But I much prefer spending other peoples money. Don't we all?
I have been experiencing a few problems posting my blog on Facebook as it keeps telling me that I am posting abusive and offensive material.
You know that I'm not! I just don't do abusive or offensive.
A date for your diaries is Saturday 12th February, there will be another Bizarre Bazaar. If you make anything a bot unusual or quirky then you might want to have a stall. Let me know and I'll make sure that you get one.
I have new neighbours at the gallery, it is going to be a cafe. I'm glad that there will not be two empty premises next to me. The more reasons there are for people to come up the High Street the better.
As I expected it has been very quiet at the gallery. It is the quiet season now in Swanage.
I have so much to do that it is probably a good thing.
I hope that you have had a productive start to 2012. If you fancy doing a really good workshop you should make it your mission to come and see me. I will be teaming up with the fantastic painter Jan Dagley to do painting and printmaking master classes. If you want to unleash your inner artist you should definitely come and visit us.
There will be an Open exhibition in July called Kimmeridge, if you have been inspired by the place and produced work in any media based on the place you should seriously think about entering it.
I'll be putting an application form on my website very soon.
I'm off to fill some holes so see you tomorrow!

Back To Life, Back To Reality!

'There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.'

Ok, so I've womanhandled the Christmas Tree back into it's box. Considering the care I took decorating it, I was once again the queen of grab, shove and bung when it came to dismantling it. I'm guessing my patience levels may have taken a post festive season dip. Would I be right in surmising that, that would be me and everyone else who had their first day back at work today. A longer break after Christmas would be great wouldn't it?
Things you need to know about the gallery. The opening times have changed for the next two months, this is due to the fact that Swanage will now go into hibernation until February half term. I will only be opening from 12-4 everyday except Sunday and Wednesday. Which is apparently a word that I cannot spell. 4 attempts later and I managed it.
I will also be closed from the 14th January until the 28th January. I will be working hard to do all the refurb bits and pieces that I want to get done before the grand reopening.
If my blogs start to get a bit heavily ladened with comments about how much painting a person can do. You'll know why.
I have been writing the most extensive lists and they are starting to make me nervous. It got me through 2011 and I am hoping that it will get me through 2012. I have resolved not to make any resolutions, at least not make them publicly known. I can pat myself on the back if I achieve them but if I don't I won't have to face the look of disappointment from all the people I told.
I believe that 2012 is everybody's time to shine. Anything is possible, if you work hard enough at it.
I really hope to see some more of you through the door in 2012. There are some really good exhibitions lined up.
Be creative, or else!!