May 2015.

We've been very remiss with this poor neglected blog but the last few weeks have been remarkably busy, a great deal of time spent in the Studio with us both creating lots of new work. So this post will be crammed to overflowing with photo's showing just what we have been up to.

To catch up from the last posting here, we enjoyed our weekend at the Printmakers fair at the Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield. It was great catching up with other printmakers plus meeting people we know from both this blog and Twitter followers. Think our feet have just about recovered from all that standing!

This weekend we are exhibiting at the Saltaire Inspired Art 'Open Houses' event, 23rd - 25th May. Held in the World Heritage village of Saltaire, just to the west of Leeds, residents open their homes as temporary gallery spaces and allow the public in to view the artwork hanging on their walls. We have some of our prints displayed at 15 William Henry Street, there will also be an opportunity to purchase our work from both within the house and also at the Maker's Fair in Victoria Hall. So if you are within travelling distance the event is well worth a visit for both browsing the artworks and having a peek into the houses!

Wintery Windermere appearing at Saltaire

Back here the garden is moving into it's early summer outfit. We have a battle with slugs and snails at present but have applied some nematoids in the hope they decrease the population. The veg garden is the worst affected with several attempts at growing saladings before they are consumed completely! The flower garden is looking pretty in pink presently but will soon be moving into a purple haze with lots of alliums about to pop.

Waiting in the wings...

The printing press has seen lots of activity, it has acquired an interesting squeak through all it's hard work.

Heather's Auriculas - 3 colours, all potted in terracotta

Dusky Orange Auricula - limited edition print

Gary's new black cat - Curiosity

Gary's Sussex Hens titled - The old man and his girls.

Heather's Sweet Violets

Gary's Blackbird titled - Hidden in the Crab Apples

Heather's Summer Dales a companion piece to the Winter Dales.

..Phew, told you we'd been busy!

Do enjoy your weekend.

'I'm creative - you can't expect me to be neat too'.

Anon

Nearly the weekend.

Friday came around in a flash, doesn't seem five minutes ago since we were last saying this, it's...

.. Fabulous Folksy Friday Finds!

Had fun this week choosing items beginning with the letter 'C', very difficult trying to whittle down to just four items to showcase but these ones just shone out as fabulous!

Do take time to visit the shops, their shop url's are under their photo's, you're in for a real treat.

  'C' is for...

'Cap'-tivating - fabulous and fun too!

This Cap Bag is genius, we love it for it's clever re-working of flat caps, it's in the Christmas wish list here. You can find it in Rebecca's Folksy shop:

https://beta.folksy.com/shops/girlwithbeads

Like gazing into the depths of a rock pool

A lovely modern twist on a charm bracelet. We especially love the soft hues of the sea glass. Suzanne's Folksy shop is full of delicate and thoughtfully designed jewellery pieces: https://beta.folksy.com/shops/WashedandFound

Worth putting the kettle on for a proper pot of tea!

We love hens so this stylish Tea Cosy caught our eye for it's humorous applique illustration. This and other pretty home accessories are available in Sheila's Folksy shop: https://beta.folksy.com/shops/Sewchet

Simple and useful too - just want to fill it with strawberries...

This fresh looking colander resonates to the wise words of William Morris, that all items in the home should be either beautiful or useful, this fits well with both these descriptions. Lots more pots like this in Martin's and Pam's Folksy shop: https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TrawdenPottery

So tempting to let our new cat linocut print, titled 'Black Velvet' wander in here, she does comes under the category of 'C', but she had an entire blog post dedicated to her yesterday if anyone is curious to know what she looks like, she's a pretty furry girl and no mistake. And she is available to purchase in our online shops now.

Wet prints of 'Black Velvet' pegged up to dry

Princess B - she so loved to talk

Our little black rescue cat loved to pose for the camera, we have a wealth of photographic material stored away, she is one of Gary's favourite muses, (more fitting to be meowes!)

Cannot let this week go by without a mention of the loss of Maya Angelou, a Warrior of a woman, with such wit and wisdom, she will be sadly missed.

'Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realise that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art'.

Maya Angelou.