busy, busy, busy

Spring is finally here with some fantastic warm sunshine over the last week. Alexander came home for a break and has been helping with some planting. Georgina has spent some time at the beach and even swam in the sea! Well, she went in and back out again, not really swimming as it was freezing. I love not having to go out for the school run each morning, it's lovely walking in the sunshine with the dogs rather than dashing about to get ready.

I have been busy with quite a few classes down at Pickleberry but forgot to take photographs, I need to remember my camera when I go. I am slowly getting back to scrapbooking and even made a card! The second one since the shop opened two years ago.

I still love playing with paints and inks more than anything else and have been working on some art journal pages and a circle journal for a group at the shop, although my cover and tag page have been binned, I just didn't like what I made. I am going to start again today (we all meet tonight for a technique workshop so I have to get it finished in time)

A few of us meet once a month on a Tuesday night, we all started working together when I taught an art journal workshop but once it finished we decided to keep it up. We all work on different projects, Barbara was making a gorgeous bead necklace, Erin and Sandy worked on their journals and I had a go at a canvas to hang in our guest room at home.

I have been wowed by the canvases I have seen from an online class by Christy Tomlinson called She-Art, I missed the launch and didn't sign up for it but I have heard such great feedback. I searched youtube where I found that Christy has kindly shared some instructions for her collage techniques.

I used spray inks and paints, some knowledge learned from Dina and Dyan and got messy. I was aiming for something in blue and red but it didn't happen that way, I just let loose with the colours and ended up with this. I love it as a first attempt but I wish I had stuck the quote higher up, I can't wait to try another one and will sign up for the class next time it is released.

We have been busy at home too, I was given a poly tunnel for Mother's Day and Alexander has helped me plant some strawberries and tomatoes so far. I have also sown some seeds which are starting to peep through.

Helen gave me some old wood stepladders rescued from a skip, I added some old pots and cans and have a herb garden right outside the kitchen door

The next job is making some raised beds for vegetables. The soil here is very heavy clay and useless for growing anything. I found an advert for some fruit bins in a local paper an had them delivered earlier this week.

There are sixteen of them, great, until I realised that they will take a tonne of soil for each one and it all needs to be paid for, I think we might start with a few for this year unless I can find some very cheap topsoil. 

The next project is some fencing and a chicken compound although with two resident foxes we will have to make sure the fence is secure. This time last year I thought one of my friends was mad when she had chickens, I argued that it was far easier to buy eggs at the supermarket but with the move to the farm it seems the perfect thing to do. Gillie, you were right.

Alexander is still trying to convince me that we need a donkey and a micro pig, even though he is hardly here to look after them and Georgina is still holding out all hopes for her own horse. We'll see...

Comments

[Sarah]

Stunning canvas Jane, I have seen lots of people's work after the class and it has amazed me - I wouldnt know where to start on something like that! I love the colours and all the designs in the background!

[Jude]

There has been some building work on waste ground near to where I work. They have "carted off" lorry loads of lovely looking topsoil on a daily basis. It could be worth looking around and asking if you could have/buy a truck load. And just wanted to say..... chickens!!!! I am soooooo jealous! :-D And I'm loving your Tomato Soup 'plant pot'. Jude.x

[Sandy G]

That canvas is amazing - nice to see the finished article, having watched it's 'birth'!

I showed my daughter the garden pics - she has serious poly-tunnel envy!

[Sandra Hall]

Your canvas is fantastic Jane! Really, really!
Lots of elements and texture, just fabulous! I too missed the launch of the She Art classes and will be watching out for the next release.
I found my way here from another blog - I have met you years ago at a Bonanza event, Ascot.
I used to get Scrapbook Inspirations and I could pick out your page at a glance - I love your style. Dyan mentioned that you were calling off at AFTH a few weeks ago for a visit and I wished I could have been there to say hi to you :)
Its been lovely to read of your 'home news' with the poly tunnel and all - good luck with the growing :D

[Alison Evans]

Hi I would just like to tell you what a pleasure it has been having a look around your blog : ) I too have dreamed of a home away from anywhere and chickens, lots of cats a goat ...more chickens an maybe a dog or 3 lol. Your very lucky but it looks like lots of hard work too. I love your style and photos : )