Owner: Muddy Red Shoes URL:http://sarahwimperis.blogspot.com Join Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:56:16 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: The ramblings and mumblings of an artist in southern Brittany, read about life as an artist. Site statistics:Click here
Advent Door 19, Chocolate Love. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Ash is a Chocolate
Labrador who lives here she hangs around with some very talented folk who have the most colourful web site, do not forget to visit the garden on the site, I think it is wonderful. Anyway dear Ash has sent Coco some Christmas chocolate, but as coco knows very well chocolate is bad for Chocolate Labradors but extremely good for their people. But of course she (Coco) is very happy to be able to maker her loving owner happy by watching, intensely, as every square of the chocolate is consumed.Thank you Ash. Read more:Advent
Advent Door 18, An Expedition. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 To boldly go, I sally forth, Christmas shopping, it has to be done, I am just going out, I may be some time......oh yes, the exhibition was a success, I have to spend some time for my family now. Read more:Advent
Advent Door 20, Misplaced Stockings. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Click the picture to see all the little windows in full glory.Oh no...I have misplaced the heirloom Christmas stockings.The family stockings, stretchy and patterned with stripes and tartans.My Mother bequeathed them to me because I had so many children and indeed they have been used and loved for years. Throughout my childhood, and that of my kids, they have laid, rustling and full of little surprises, at the end of our Christmas morning beds. Now I have put them in a safe place, so safe that I cant find them. I shall be on a stocking hunt this afternoon, wish me luck, I don't know what the fate of a precious stocking looser is. Read more:Advent
Advent Door 21, Hurrah. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I found the stockings, hurrah! Nearly killed myself shopping today, harrumph! The cupboards are groaning with festive provisions, hurrah!HBB is cooking a huge ham, he cooks it in Coke, it is fantastic, hooray!Most of our French friends think we are completely stupid... because of the ham/coke thing.Heh he he?Ah well, cest la vie!Hurrah. Read more:Advent
Advent Door 22, Party Time. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 They arrive today. Party
time.Happy Solstice too.Yesterday I got home, tired out from the battle at the shops, further weakened by an email about some work with a deadline to be finished just after Christmas, that means more night shifts. Feeling very bah humbugish I was in need of a little T.L.C.As if by magic a rescue package arrived, from TLC!Lovely lovely Tara, who knows so well the plight of a lonely illustrator, sent me a survival package, out of the blue and oh so welcome.Sipping chocolate, bath tea bags, gourmet chocolate ( to dip in your sipping chocolate while in your tea bath) A gorgeous little advent calender, illustrated by herself. She is a wonderful illustrator and if you haven't visited Silver Apples of The Moon, do so now. Wish her a happy Christmas for she is indeed a lovely soul. Tara Larsen Chang, a lady full of Tender Loving Care. Read more:Advent
Advent Door 17, An Exhibition. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 It is a busy day today as I have "flung wide" the doors to my studio and invited tout le monde. Hopefully there will be a few people who drop by to look at my work. There will be mulled wine and mince pies to tempt people in.You can come too by watching the little film in the post below. If you have trouble with that one try clicking here. I would of course offer you the mulled wine and as many mince pies as you could manage but technology doesn't allow that yet. Also there is a bunch more work over in The Red Shoe Box.And this is my Christmas card, which is a watercolour of my fireplace looking very festive. I want to send many thanks to everyone who has brought paintings, looked at paintings and commented on paintings. Also a big kiss to all my blogging friends. Thank you very much for your support and interest and general loveliness..Have a lovely, happy and relaxing winter festival, whichever yours may be, enjoy family and friends, lights and good food. Read more:Advent
, Exhibition
HBB Has Made A Film 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Dear old HBB has made a little film, well actually it is quite a long film, about 7 minuets. If you would like to try a visit to the open studio and our house then here it is, complete with a daft commentary by me.
Advent Door 13, Bring on The Pepperkaker. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I adore Pepperkaker houses. They represent everything fairytale and wintry. When I was a young person, about 14, I persuaded my Grandmother that I was the person who could make the Christmas cake into a work of winter wonder. I had just read "Tom Bombardil" and was entranced by the description of a magical cake (made by elves probably). I scurried off with my Grandmothers best Christmas cake, forbidding anyone to come into the kitchen until the magic was weaved. I pictured a twisting, sparkling, snowy mountain, with little scenes of fairy wonder going on amongst the tiny fir trees. I made a cone of red paper to support the creation on top of the cake, as I worked I could hear (in my mind) the gasps of wonder and delight when I emerged carrying the delight to the table. The whole construction was huge, as the icing sugar went on the cone began to go soggy and collapse. I battled on adding more icing until I had used many boxes of the stuff, the cake was buried underneath a rapi Read more:Advent
Advent Door 14, Those Red Shoes. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today I received a very lovely surprise parcel from a blogging friend, she said that she had to buy it because of the shoes. Those Red Shoes again. So go and visit the blog of a truly lovely person who does things "just because," cant get better than that. Thank you very, very much Julie. I love my little-mad-red-shod-friend! Read more:Advent
Advent Door 15, The Tree. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 OK, there is a little debate brewing, a little debate that at the moment HBB is blissfully unaware of. He likes our very realistic artificial tree. His argument is hating the sad sight of all those murdered trees, once loved and twinkled in December and by January lying damply forgotten behind the bins. He thinks it is better Eco Wise as well. I just don't agree, unless of course the Eco that he talks of is the economic one that is our purse and not the planet. I love a real tree, as they grow they breath nice stuff into the atmosphere, the more trees the better I think, also the bigger the better. A Christmas tree grower is bound to plant as he cuts isn't he. They smell great, the trees I mean not the growers. This year I have a secret weapon, Alex, my sons girlfriend, is German and coming for Christmas... say no more. The Germans practically invented the Christmas tree, well I know the pagans had greenery in the house, that's a given that happens anyway, its trees that I a Read more:Advent
Advent Door 16, Cooking Up A Storm. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Making mince pies as if my life depended on it, cleaning the house, arranging and re arranging. Strange activity. Tomorrow is the "open studio" and yes, I am a little nervous. What if no one comes, or loads of people come and I forget how to speak in French, or they hate it all, or the paint falls off the canvas... tune in tomorrow to see just what happens. Read more:Advent
, Storm
Ive Been Driving in my Car 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A new car, well an old new car. Our other car died on Christmas eve, prematurely and much too young but it wasn't a tragedy for me because I simply didn't like it. I would go to the shops and come out again and waste hours trying to decide which boring silver car it was. Anyway it died and apart from the financial thing I think it was a good thing. This is what I have now. It goes very well and the finest thing is having the roof down and the wind in my hair. Coco is a little dubious but I think she will get used to it. I might paint it one day, not do a painting of it but paint onto it. I have a fancy for a car painted like a patchwork quilt, or delft tiles...mmm. Read more:Driving
Happy Birthday Hunky Blog Bloke 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Hooray hooray it is his birthday today, I am being especially happy and grateful given the horrible health thing a couple of months ago. It is so easy to take those which we love for granted and not to see them for what they are...LOVELY!And CUDDLY and WARM and SAFE And looking GOOD in a dress. And just mine.All mine.Happy
birthday my dear and best friend. Read more:Birthday
, Happy Birthday
, Hunky
A Little Case of Artburn 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, along with an awful lot of work. I have got a bit exhausted in the process and I have come to a few conclusions...I want to develop my painting, to explore different themes, to be able to "go large" if I want to. What has been happening is that I have got very obsessed with doing a "daily painting" mostly they went well but I think I was in danger of starting to churn them out. So, before that happens I have nipped it in the bud. I am not doing a "daily" painting anymore, just new paintings. I have met some very lovely people with this blogging malarky, there are some excellent artists out there. It is also exciting the changes that are happening in the art scene, more and more people are trusting the internet and buying art directly from artists, which is great for everyone. It is making original art affordable. I also want to make time to develop my web site and blog sites. I love putting my work up on the web, it is fantastic to
Packages and Babies and Links 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Oooh I do feel better, work is flowing and I feel much calmer, which is so strange as nothing much has changed, just a bit of wording in my mind. I am doing work for a gallery in Ohio at the moment here's the link: The Gillian Jones Gallery she is an extremely nice person and I feel already that she is a friend, which I guess is how it should be with all working relationships. Anyway you can see some of the work that I am sending over on the other side : The Red Shoes and The Red Shoe Box. As you can see I got some things through the post, beautifully wrapped and jolly lovely stuff it is too, isn't that ribbon great, have to make something to use it on I think. Anyway it is a little company called Primrose Hill Interiors I can personally vouch for their superb and swift service, go take a look.Also my dear cousin Don and his lovely wife Emma have just had a little tiny baby girl who is to be called Jessica Holly. I am very happy for them and also for my Auntie Jen, the baby's Gr Read more:Babies
, Packages
Strange Meetings 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This morning, just as it was getting light, I was walking the dog and enjoying the dawn chorus. I stopped for a while to sit beneath a tree and concentrate on sending a text to my son in Australia. Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck rose and I smelt a strange musty smell. Looking up from my tiny window on the 21st century I came face to face with the past. A wild boar stood about fifteen feet (five meters) away from me. For a second he stood there watching me with his little ancient eye. I was rooted to the spot. Then he seemed to shrug, sniff the air before he moved off into the depths of the forest. The dog did nothing, Coco the wonder dog was as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Mind you I was glad that she was a rubbish guard dog, it was a fantastic moment and the dog could well have spoiled it, so well done Coco.I rushed home full of the juxtaposition of time, trying to remember how he looked and how I felt. I felt like Sarah of the clan of the wild boar, ancient woman Read more:Meetings
, Strange
Art Idols 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Its time for hero's, my favorite artists, people whose work takes my breath away. Starting with this man:Rien Poortvliet[Dutch Painter and Illustrator, 1932-1995]You can read about him here I shall just share with you a few of his stunning paintings I would have liked to go for a painting trip with him Just to be able to watch him work. Read more:Idols
Christmas Day, Walks and Family Stuff. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Christmas 2006Family
group complete with cardboard cut-out Joe. Silly family photoWood walk on Christmas day. Old Ma and Pa, me and HBB in other words.Good time had by all, food, walks, fun, lots of presents, big fire, sparkly lights, fine, fine time. Read more:Christmas
Housework, The Call of The Wild. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Crikey I am tired. I haven't blogged for ages. I have been a rubbish host I suspect, trying to work and be festive at the same time. I need to go for a long walk, clean the house, organise and sort out. I may not paint for a couple of days but I will draw.A lot of the paintings start life as a few sketches and some photographs. Here are a couple of sketches, one of the baby who is staying at the moment and one of my son Dan. The painting of him playing the Dobro on 28 December (over on the dark side) began like this. The daily paintings have been going really well, new ones selling as well as some from the archives. Today's would have been the 200th painting but I cant bring myself to paint. I really do need to recharge my batteries, bizarrely housework and a walk will do it, I can understand the walk part of it...but housework, now that is weird. Read more:Housework
Bloody January Again 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Rain rain rain, its grey, its not even very cold. Its January
again. I suppose I should be used to it by now, every year the same, that drag after "the festive season" The battle to rev up again, the niggling slight depression that waits in the background. I hate it.I get all British about it, force myself outside for a good brisk walk, tidy the house up in a bit of a half hearted manner, pull my socks up in other words. But its still pants. January.Maybe I should go for some serious pampering, bubble baths, candles, heating on full blast, loads of chocolate. Rats, forgot, no money. Christmas saw to that, no chocolate, same reason.OK I shall just wish for some serious winter weather, snow, crisp blue sky's, huge bowls of stew and a good fire burning, a great film to watch and a good book to get lost in.Got any better ideas? Read more:Again
Winter Colours 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A bit later in the day.This is Brittany in winter.This is the colour of a walk.I do rather like those greys and sometimes the melancholia can be a useful thing.Sod the inspiration, bring on the chocolates and dreams of springtime... Read more:Colours
Big Fat Fairies 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The postdamme arrived todayWith a well wrapped parcel from the U S A It was very well wrapped, Brown paper moldedTightly taped and beautifully foldedInside was this labeled just for me...tee hee hee Look at the string, and origami hearts and thingsAnd a lovely box full of.... CHOCOLATELots of lovely chocolatefrom my secret fairySoozcatSo thank you for thatyou kind and generous SoozcatNow I am VeryVery FatHappy and Fat Read more:Fairies
More Art Idols 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Andrew Wyeth. He was born July 12, 1917 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Wow. We share a birthday!I have loved Andrew Wyeth's work for a very long time. I am hugely impressed by his use of light. His compositions are beautiful and it seems, to me, that his pictures tell silent stories. It is like seeing your dreams.Apparently his work was criticised by the art critics who accused him of verging on illustration, I don't think that is as much a slur as it used to be, thank goodness. Beautiful, this is watercolour at its best, strong and simply fantastic, I could look at his work for days and days. He worked mainly in water colour and egg tempera. I used to do a lot of egg tempera work, because I admired this man so much. So there you go, another of my hero's of the art world. Read more:Idols
New Red Boots 1970-01-01 00:59:59 HBB has done it again, a surprise present, for me, what a fine fellow he is.I got these boots, I am so happy with them.They are crocks red boots that look like little kids boots...fine and dandy.I have already stomped off to the shops in them. What a lovely lovely chap he is Read more:Boots
Breton Horses 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Yesterday we went to the 150th anniversary of the "Haras National" in Hennebont. In English that is the anniversary of the National Stud. It is the home of the Breton
Horse; this is a huge and very impressive horse. I am told that the Stud at Hennebont was built by Napoleon to breed these horses who were used as war horses and that they were trained to stamp on heads! Now I am not sure of the truth of this but look at these photos and then imagine being charged by these animals, well I know what I would be doing…running for the hills! Whatever they were bread for they are fabulous horses, truly magnificent and yes, I am planning some paintings, how could I not?To find out more about this breed of horse click here and to visit the French web site of the Hennebont Haras click here Read more:Horses
NEWS FLASH 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My dearest friend and slave, Mr Webmaster David, has been working very hard, sweating over a hot keyboard, learning the tricks of the trade of web site design.Now we have the all-new and improved web site, including lots of new features:A place to buy limited edition prints, big A3 size, printed on lovely watercolour paper.A sneak preview of the soon to be released book, containing a collection of the daily paintings complete with musings.A more informative older work section with some interesting pages from travel sketchbooks.Future projects and all about how to commission work from me.There are links to various places including Gillian Jones Gallery who is having an opening show in March, including some of my work.The plan is to make this web site much more flexible, up dating and adding to the pages as we go.Well, I bet you can't wait to go there. We would very much appreciate your thoughts and reactions to it, any glitches that you might find and comments that you may have. Pleas
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