There is still time (just!) to enter the Whitstable Post Nude exhibition!

I meant to post this a while back...and if you still want to send an entry, you'll have to be quick, as pictures need to arrive by the 5th of June.  You are invited to send a postcard to the Horsebridge Centre, depicting the nude - up to you what process you use...paint, ink, collage, thread etc etc...
Full details can be found here - http://www.horsebridge-centre.org.uk/?q=node/6348

As the first years know, I was always a bit cowardly when it came to the life drawing classes, so I thought I should 'bite the bullet' and have a go. Here is my first try! :)

 

And second effort...

 



 

Go on, give it a go yourself! :)

Too much time on my hands...?

In the gym by 7am, shopping done and home by 10....

A dozen blackberry and apple crumble muffins, 30 chocolate covered cake bites and 3 shepherds pies later; probably just as well I have joined the gym! :)

 

(PS - I am available for weddings, christenings and Bar Mitzvahs!!)

Rachael v the Himalayas !!

Hello friends!!

My daughter Rachael, who some of you know already,  has set herself a MASSIVE challenge for next year - she is trekking the Himalayas !  Please check out her fundraising page, and if you could donate, that would be fantastic! She is raising money in memory of my Dad, who passed away 3 years ago today...

http://www.justgiving.com/user/41702397

 

Cheers, from all of us - and from my Dad....!

Clove abstract animation

Short and sweet..

Speedpainting - When good toys turn bad...

10 minutes with Murderous Ted...

CGAA Speedpaint - day 2

Jack Frost's Asylum for Malcontent Snowmen

 

So I figured if the snowmen were standing outside in the cold and snow all day, their asylum would be somewhere that appeared warm without actually being so...(warmth = bad news if you are a snowman!)

And this was hardly a speedpaint - I got my stamp-sized tablet out, and it took AGES!!!  :)

CGAA Speedpaint challenge

OK, so first out, I don't have Photoshop, and although I do have a very basic tablet, this was not done using it, as it is so covered in dust upstairs, and  I feared for it's viability! So, this this is some free programme I downloaded... Twisted Brush, I think... and just me and the mouse! :)
About 10 mins...once I had worked out how to access the brushes! :)

Jiggling juggling Santa!

My zoetrope animation....Happy Christmas everyone! :)

Successful zoetrope animations! :)

Well done to all the 1st years today - there were some really charming zoetrope animations going on today....looking forward to seeing the videos! :)

Handmade goodies for sale - Thursday 15th in cafe.

Start your Christmas shopping early!

Come along to the Rochester UCA cafe between 4.30 and 6 this Thursday 15th November, where you will find a sale of 'pre-loved' items, along with original handmade goodies.

I will be selling some of my own handcrafted bits and pieces, including handknitted scarves, hand knitted and felted hats and jewellery, greetings cards, wall hangings and much more! 

 Similar items to these have been previously sold in my Rochester pop-up shop, but I am slashing the prices to give you all bargains in the run-up to Christmas!

Hope to see some of you there :)

Problems logging in to ucreative.ac.uk

I don't know if it is just me, but the last few days I have had some issues accessing email etc via www.ucreative.ac.uk.  If you go to www.myuca.ucreative.ac.uk though, you seem to be able to bypass the initial problem.

Christmas pudding time again!!

Ok folks...it's time for the gas bill to rocket again, as I spend whole days steaming christmas puddings for your delectation!  Those of you that have been good enough to place an order with me before will know the drill... I make large puds for 6 hungry people in a traditional stoneware pudding bowl for £12 and am hoping to make the smaller ones in large teacups for 2 or 3 servings which go for £10.

This is one of last years teacup ones, so this years design may be a little different to look at, but will still be the the same delicious pudding inside!

 

 

The puddings are generously laced with brandy, and are rich in fruit and nuts without being heavy or oversweet.  I steam them for up to 10 hours (hence the big gas bill!!) which leaves them really extra tasty.  They come festively covered and wrapped,  with their own genuine (lucky?) sixpence, for you to hide in the pud once you have heated it.  Would make a lovely Christmas gift, or why not just treat yourself? :)

If you are interested, please let me know as soon as possible, as the sooner I can get them made, the better they will taste at Christmas!!

The last day!

Before the heavens opened...

Festive cheer!

Once again, the same sign has reappeared to brighten up my pre-christmas mornings when I am struggling round to Tesco at 7am...so for those of you that haven't seen it before, here it is...



...I know, I am easily pleased! :)

First pudding ready to go!

My first batch of xmas puds are all steamed and ready for rehousing....here is the first one dressed in its Christmas finery!





Another thing that I have 'discovered' recently - cake pops! Yes - cake lollipops! Easy, I thought...until I tried it and ended up with, well mush and chocolate! But I have just about mastered it now, and plan on making Christmas-themed ones nearer the time. Just to give you an idea of scale, they are about the size of a ping-pong ball..

Award-winning jazz at the Eagle today!

Why not come along to the Eagle Tavern in Rochester this afternoon, where you can listen to tenor sax player Simon Spillett with his quartet...
Simon recently won the prestigious "Tenor saxist of the year 2011" in the British Jazz Awards.

Doors open at 12, band starts around 1pm....

Renato D'Aiello in the Eagle tomorrow

Tomorrow sees the return of Renato D'Aiello to the Eagle in Rochester...this Italian quartet are always worth a listen - maybe see some of you there!

Taking orders for Christmas puds!!

It's that time of year again, where I spend entire days slaving over a hot stove, to bring you deliciously boozy christmas puddings...

Same as last year, I will be making 1/2 litre puddings in a traditional pudding basin that will serve around 6,(£12 each) and puddings for 2-3 in a large teacup - 2 gifts in 1! - at £10 each. Both are festively presented, and come with their own 'lucky' sixpence.

The puddings are made to my secret recipe,adapted over the last 20 years, and contain a rich assortment of fruit and nuts, all generously steeped in brandy, and steamed for up to 10 hours. If you have only ever had shop-bought xmas pud, you will be in for a treat when you try my homemade ones! :)
Place your orders now!

Normal service has resumed!

Ok...today we took Rachael off to Uni in London. The last baby bird has flown the nest :( I am currently in text convo with her, as she tries to fathom the workings of an electric cooker...
Anyway, just to let you know that tomorrow is Christian Brewer at the Eagle, if any of you fancy it...

Come and see me in the Pop-up Shop!

I have a pop-up shop for a week...please come and visit me! :)
It's the Strood end of Rochester High Street, and I am there until Sunday lunchtime...