Here comes one of my 'quick catch up' posts. I was busy just before Christmas making commissioned work which I couldn't show you for obvious reasons. But I guess it is safe now!
I was really pleased with this cutout picture which was commissioned for Marilyn at the Norfolk Children's Book Centre.
I have shown a boy reading with his back to a pear tree, a hare in the foreground and the bookshop and wind turbine in the background. Anyone who knows Marilyn and the book centre will appreciate the references.
I did another pre-Christmas commission which was not in my normal style. One of the most exciting things about it for me was when I sprayed the artwork next to the one above on a sheet of newspaper. When I lifted off the paper cuts I was left with this – too interesting to throw away!
Once my commissions were finished and safely packed off to the new owners, I began decorating the house. Nothing too 'over the top' or artificial this year, just nice natural foliage and flowers mixed with lights and a few stars and snowflakes.
Above, my lovely eldest daughter decorating the tree.
Below, what my friends have irreverently started calling 'Claire's bush'. It is a self-seeded hawthorn tree between our cottage and the road, that I am topiarising into a sphere and which makes the perfect place for some Christmas lights. I usually leave the lights on this tree from the Winter solstice 'till the Spring Equinox – the darkest most depressing months of the year.
I tried to get a photo of the moon tonight – did you see it? It was amazing; orangey, very slight, tipped almost to horizontal. But my camera wasn't up to the job.
Yesterday afternoon and today my youngest daughter and I have been working with Jamie Shawcross at the Emma Bridgewater sale in Aldborough. Yesterday we sorted and set out hundreds of pots.
Today the doors opened at 10am and the eager collectors flooded in.
We had two tills on the go each with a 'wrapper' and the four of us worked solidly from 10am 'til noon before the queue stopped! Phew! It continued with a steady flow of customers all day. There are still plenty of pots left, if you feel like a more relaxed look around tomorrow!
House looks lovely. And love the by product of your paper cuts. that needs framing.
Posted by: Fiona | December 29, 2011 at 01:21 PM