Colour inspiration

Rose head picked up from the pavement

Apple peel colours

Love these marbled pattern carrier bags in Carluccio's

Pattern inspiration . The grating at Crystal Palace station

This bag is one of the prettiest I've seen

Walked into a church in Southsea and was blown away by the beauty of the interior

Inspiration for creating is all around us. It's so good to get out and explore. And the bonus is more exercise! My goal is 10,000 steps a day although most days I do far less.

I am sorting out shop stuff. Two lots of tax figures this month. I hope that by the end of January all loose (shop) ends will be neatly tied up and I will be able to concentrate on actually making instead of just taking pretty pictures to inspire the making!

Seen when walking

On the Gruffalo trail in Wendover Woods. I wonder if author Julia Donaldson lives nearby?

Oil on the pavement

On a tree trunk. Apparently this is called Rainbow Bracket fungus.

The pretty stream you can follow in Petersfield

My son saw these yesterday when walking in London

Bargain waterproof coat I wear for walking. Just £12.95 reduced from £44.95 in the Joules sale

I intend to get out early every day and get the exercise bit out of the way so I can do other, more creative things. But often the time slips by and I don't get out til nearly lunchtime. The main thing is to stick to a goal - in my case it's 10,000 steps a day ie nearly 3 miles. Of course I rarely manage it but it remains a goal.

There are still parcels to send off and boxes to sort and put away from the shop. I've just realised that I've not yet told Google or changed the details on this blog to say that the shop is now closed. Better get on with that now.

Goodbye shop

SOLD: My top of the tree angel, now with arms!

Love this luxury fabric skirt. SOLD

Goodbye shop. Ready for a new tenant now!

A New Year and a new start!

Since Christmas Eve (the last day of trading) and Christmas Day itself I've been busy clearing, cleaning, sorting, bagging, boxing and painting helped by two amazing friends, Anne and Chris ready for handing the keys back to the landlady on December 31st.

Right now it feels strange to have all this time during the day when normally I would be in the shop. I want to focus for a while on getting fitter having spent a lot of the last 8 years sitting in the shop. Walking, planning, writing and looking forward to painting and making again.

The transition from working to 'retirement'. It's quite an adjustment. So many people say I must be enjoying 'a nice rest' but that is the last thing I want.

So much more to come! 

Sorry I was too busy to write for a while but I'll try to post more regularly from now on. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!