Paintings

I've never done anything like this on canvas before…...

I submitted these for an exhibition today. It was pretty scary. I'm really pleased with myself for actually getting round to it, whether they are selected or not!

A happy craft fair

Saturday was another 'Cake and Craft Fair' at 'The Hub on The Green' in Exeter.

As I have mentioned before I dislike doing craft fairs, but the Hub is very different. 

The Hub is a community organisation run by a wonderful and very enthusiastic lady called Joey. The place is a real 'hub' of caring and sharing, and I always feel good after spending time there. 

I run a 'makers table' at their monthly craft fairs. It's for all ages, which isn't as challenging as I thought it would be, because I keep it simple and find that adults love cutting up and gluing bits of paper as much as children do. I'm also quite a good listener, which is possibly the most important part of the job.

The fairs are fund raising events for the Hub. I charge a small fee for participants, and I sell a few things. I make very little out of it (I usually come home, after bus or parking costs, with about £15), but it enriches my life enormously.

I did card making this month. Here are some samples I made before the day, the theme was flowers and collages.

Here is a card made by a little girl who was very clear that she wanted to 'do her own thing'

 What a proud young lady (and great face painting by Sonia)

Behind her you can see jewellery and knitted hats

Another pretty card

Knitted 'jelly babies'

 Sparkly sonia (who does the face painting) makes these amazing sparkly creations

 Not brilliant photos as the sun was behind them, but you can see the amazing detail in this, I thought the were wonderful and would love one on my wall.

 And finally my stall. 

I was quite pleased with this stall, I have splashed out on some cardboard shelving. I have branched out into handmade envelopes and paper bunting. They were priced rather low, but it makes me happy to sell stuff, and gives me an idea of what people like. I even tried (unsuccessfully) to sell some of my handspun wool!

Here are some quotes from the Hub about what they are and do.

"We are a social enterprise community interest company which means all our profits go back into the community.The Hub on the Green offers a venue to a wide range of community organizations and activities in the heart of Exeter. It is run by Sustaincare Community Interest Company, whose principal focus is to develop a new community approach to health and wellbeing."

https://www.facebook.com/hubonthegreen

http://hubonthegreen.net

Slow photos

My Dad's old camera

An S.L.R. camera my parents bought me, second hand
in 2000

 I still have these two cameras, and some films, and I've been making an effort to use up the few films I have. I had these developed recently (and put onto disc as well, old meets new!) I took the pictures last winter, I think with my dad's old camera. I love the quality of the images, this is just how they came, no editing. I have another film finished and one still in the camera. It's been lovely remembering 'slow photography, really thinking carefully about each image and not just snapping away.

Budleigh Salterton beach

Cross at Budleigh Salterton

Tree trunk with ivy

A lane near us

Firewood

Our bit of the river Teign

Another tree trunk with ivy

River bank in winter

Village cricket

Vince plays for a local village cricket side. During the summers of 2011 and 2012 I would tag along at matches dreaming of summer evenings, the nostalgic sound of leather on wood and polite clapping. Every time I went it was b****y freezing.

This year the dream came true.

I took my knitting and sewing along and had some lovely lazy days.

A charity match at Chagford cricket ground
Roses round the balcony

Vince off to bat
(he's a bowler mainly,
but my camera isn't good enough to get decent shots of him bowling) 

Moretonhampstead

Moretonhampstead cricket pavilion
(they need some roses round the balconys!)

And here is this years birthday cake. Can you tell what it is?!

Oh dear it's a bit wonky.

 I'll get the hang of this cake decorating lark one day