A weight has lifted...

...and I am free!! The last fiddly-widdly bit has been filled in, the final sheet of artwork removed from the board. My table is a ruined battle ground of scattered palettes, ravaged tubes of paint and steaming brushes. An air of finality hangs about the studio: it is done. (And it isn't coming out until February, so even I won't know what it really looks like till then).

Time to say thank you to kind people who gave me those award thingys, namely Kim of Oakmoon, Hen of Bee-leaf, Elizabeth of the House in Marrakesh, Pamela and lovely Edward for being so kind about my work and Dana of Calico Cat Press. Phew...I am far too lazy to follow award rules, so instead here are seven blogs which have been added to my ever growing list of favourites. (206 and counting).


Under the Licorice Tree one of the most inventive, original needle felters I have seen (and a set of vintage toy clockwork monkeys to die for).

Anglesey Allsorts, cottage-y, vintage-y, country life loveliness.

So Much Pileup an ever growing collection of gorgeous graphic images and illustration from the 1960's to 80's.

Desideratum a Canadian artist and crafter, a lovely arty, family medley.

The Hogscald Holler - He plays bluegrass, She hooks rugs - they both live overlooking the wonderfully named Beaver Lake, and to an untravelled Brit such as myself, it is marvellously American.

Sea Angels - more vintage, crafty beauti-full-ness and sweet writing.


and not leastly, but in total contrast, Lizard M.C.C; big beardy blokes on bikes. More or less. Not all of them are beardy, not all of them are big, but it is a guaranteed oily, sweaty bike-fest.

I lied, just one more. Dog Daisy Chains. A professional embroiderer from Lancashire - I have run out of flattering words - sublime? Yes.

This has been, for reasons I can't go into, the most intense, complicated job I have worked on. But it is my first UK book, and for that I love it. Though I think people who kindly admire my subdued artworks are going to be disappointed.




To celebrate, New Goosie and I flumped out on the sofa with wine and Mr Kiplings Strawberry and Cream fondant fancies, which I can report are utterly delicious. (Limited edition, so get them while they're in season). Goosie was thrilled to hear that her sister, Lanky Lil had been featured on Snap Dragon's Garden, having been taken in by Jane, who said such nice things about her that I fear her little head may have swollen.




What next? Sobbing with relief I can pick up my neglected felting needle - a backlog of orders to clear, a set of samples for Something, new designs to make up, dusting off my sewing machine, Christmas cards to sort out, oh and I almost forgot, The Green Gallery, in Stirling, Scotland has asked me to contribute to a Christmas show - I am quietly excited to be sending six toys and four paintings. But before any of that, I am going to get myself outside of a bacon sandwich and take my camera for a walk across the fields - it's been a long time, and the Sun is finally coming out.

Oxford

And so we made it to Oxford, and returned in one piece - indeed, we even managed to enjoy ourselves. The tourist season has not started yet, and it was possible to walk along the street without being pushed off into oncoming traffic. The city outdid herself, like a neglectful friend making amends for bad behaviour. She looks her best around this time of year I think, when the sky is almost painfully blue, and the sun bounces off the creamy white stonework of the University.

Ruskin College from the side

You could take several thousand photos of it, and still have only scratched the surface. This is a little present for Elizabeth in Marrakesh, as I believe she once attended the Ruskin School of Drawing.

Ruskin College seen from the High

Oxford was very - Oxford.




All it needed was a body and a rather grumpy white-haired Detective charging up the High, in a vintage Jaguar.

Magdalen College side entrance

Andy must be mellowing, as for the first time that I can remember, he not only noticed that noticed that there are an awful lot of gargoyles around (bearing in mind we have lived in this area since 1994)...

Gargoyles on Magdalen College

...but for the first time ever I persuaded him that visiting the Botanical Gardens would be a fun thing to do. And so it was.
We had a splendid time marvelling at gi-normous ferns, gawping at bulbously sinister carniverous plants, ogling outsized cacti and getting brushed up by impertinent creepers.




I have always had a fondness for the banana tree, and hoped it was still here, as I last saw it back in 1990 when I was a foundation art student. It had moved, I think, but it - or a descendant - was still thriving.

I took more photos than I care to inflict on the unwary reader, so HERE is the entire set of our explorings in the glasshouses. For those of you who like plants and the like.



I even indulged in a little filmy-thing; it has noise but there is not much to hear above the hush of the moist greenery...

So well done Oxford, we are learning to love you again, and although we didn't make it to the Ashmolean, there will be another time. Soon.

For my dear friend Tara - I though of you when I was there, and how much you would have loved it - for you, on your birthday - (as my little posted gift is as ever, sent late)...