Treats!

I won something! Yes! Me! Lucky lucky me! I entered a giveaway over at Silver Pebble and when I won, lovely Emma let me choose the colour of my prize....
Isn't it just the most delicate and delicious pendant? Thank-you Emma! I'm tickled pink. It is beautiful. And I also love the lavender bottle which was in the parcel. I used to make these with the flowers in my grandma's garden, I would use ric rac braid and spend afternoons winding round and round to make the bottles for hanging in the wardrobe. Wonderful memories.
And yesterday I had another treat! I took myself off to the castle for an exhibition I have been desperate to see and for which I have only just found the time!
If you are able get there do take the opportunity! Much of the work is in private collections and so it is very rare to have such a treat as this! I was able to see two of my most favourite paintings! The lady with a bunch of Sweet Williams' which always makes me smile so I have a clipping of it on my pinboard in the workroom.
Isn't that so funny! And this beautiful picture, The apple pickers feast...
The notes at the exhibition were simple comments from Mary and added so much more to the pictures for me. And being able to see works full size is always a joy. She has a way of capturing the essence of what she sees, the movement, colour and stillness of her surroundings...
I would say her work is quintessentially English; for me she is up there with other creative women I admire; Winifred Nicholson, Vanessa Bell, Mary Fedden, Mary Wesley... can you guess that if I had ever had a little girl she might have been called Mary?
Whilst at the museum I took the opportunity again to make some quick sketches in their excellent applied arts galleries.
I only had the paper bag which came from the shop when I bought an exhibition catalogue but these are only scrappy notes; colours, forms, content.
I have been thinking of the things I have not made time for and wondering if I might make time between now and the next Fair in August.
This, this this and these little owls have all been neglected and I am itching to see them through! Added to which I've mentioned before that hubby is always lamenting that I stopped painting. I occasionaly have the guilts when I spy my inks hiding in a cupboard corner...
Each box holds up to a dozen little bottles of vibrant colour wanting to be meet paper!
So busy is what I shall be! Busy as a bee!
But first I am working hard to sort out my new online store! Thank-you to everyone who has asked about this. I shall have it up and running very soon. Photography is proving tricky - it's driving rain or full sunshine here! Often within 5 minutes of each other!
If you would like to be notified when my little shop opens, just drop me an email to hello@teenavallerine.co.uk
and I'll drop an email back to you when it does!
Have a lovely weekend everyone! t.x