Open Studios and some new cards

September 8, 2024

I spotted that this weekend some artists in a village close to us were holding an Open Studios weekend, and so waking to mist and rain on Saturday we headed over to see what there was to see.

The event in Long Bennington was split over two properties and our first stop was at the home of Roger and Carole Lee, both retired artists; him a sculptor and her a fashion designer, but both collectors. As we stepped into their home both MOH and I were wowed, it was full of the most amazing items - and by full, I mean full, though later when talking to Carole it was clear that she was still collecting and so there would be plenty more space for what’s to come.

Both the lives of Carole and her husband were (and are) fascinating, and I am sure they were both big players in the fashion scene in the sixties, making items full of awe for themselves and high profile clients, and with plenty of stories to tell. Carole showed some of the photos, and some of her dresses were on display among the many items - it was a truly wonderful place, and they have featured in Channel 4’s Millionaire Hoarders programme (still currently available), which is definitely worth a watch.

It was great to meet them and to hear the stories from their lives, and to get a glimpse into their wondrous home. We also met local artist Vanessa Stone who was displaying some of her work in the conservatory.

My eye was immediately drawn to the cards, and well it was a done deal really, I was always going to leave with some wasn’t I, because you never know when you’re going to need the right card, do you?

Five cards by Vanessa Stone

It was great to meet with Vanessa too, her art is “all about capturing a time and a place” which she does by making ‘richly colourful cut paper collages and had printed textiles’ of the English landscape, nature and architecture in her local surroundings. She layers paper and cuts them to reveal her design, and to me they have a wholesome and everyday feel to them which is fantastic.

THE VEGETABLE PATCH AND THE WATERING CAN

Aren’t they great?

Each one has detailing that I love, and I’ve a feeling that I may not be parting with the bike one anytime soon!

Our next stop was at the second of the two Open Studios, and I’ll share more of our visit there in my next post.

Eight cards with a zing for spring

May 27, 2024

For my last card subscription box I was convinced I’d jumped ahead a season, though looking out of the window it was obvious I hadn’t - however I now do have the spring season cards from The Card Boys, and they’re good.

A BOAT BOBBING ON A LAKE IN A RICHLY VERDANT HAVEN — ARTIST: JESSICA SMITH

This month my strong favourites are the two designs by Jessica Smith and I’m opening and closing this post with her cards - one of which I’ve already used, there’s no higher recommendation is there than to actually share these cards with others. Though I’ll admit I’ve not been so good at that lately and have been accumulating quite a stash, but a pretty stash so it’s not all bad!

The simplicity of the design above is striking and I know that I’ll be struggling to part with both this one and the one below with the cheeky chirrupy bird on the coffee pot!

TWO CHERRIES WITH FACES - LOOKING AT EACH OTHER AND THE WORDS MON CHERI BELOW — ARTIST: ROSIE FODEN

Each of these cards will I’m sure come in useful for many occasions and while I don’t know right now what they’ll be - I think I’ll know when I know if that makes sense. And that may also depend on the day, my mood and many other things, so I’m going to resist putting a label on them right now, but the one below just screams ‘when life gives you lemons’…

And so that’s it for another box of cards, and I’ll be doing my best over the next few months or so to make appropriate use of my pretty stash, but with plenty of birthdays and more coming up I don’t think that’ll be hard!

PS Also while I’ve been writing this post I’ve realised that our dresser top really needs a good sand - it’ll go on MOH’s list!

8 cards bringing warmth on dull winter days

February 13, 2024

When I received the cards in my most recent card subscription box from the CardBoys I thought they were from a spring box and I’d missed a box somewhere along the way, as I was pretty sure the last set had arrived in autumn. And they had, but actually it’s no bad thing that the February box has a spring-like feel as I think it’s something we all need after what seems a long, wet and windy winter, which I’m sure isn’t over just yet however nice it is to see the days starting to extend slowly but surely again.

As ever I have mixed feelings about these cards, as I can’t wait to use them but also don’t want to use them either as I want to keep them all too! Keeping them all isn’t an option though, and having a stash of cards in the house is really handy, especially now that we’re a lot more rural than we were in London.

The cards in this box evoke warmth with their colours and decor, and that’s much needed on those dull days. Even though the sun has been out, and it’s oh so good to feel its warmth, it’s still pretty chilly isn’t it? Earlier this week I finally took down my winter wreath and while I’d timed it well avoiding the rain, I still needed a sweatshirt on as I stood at the bins pulling as much of the greenery out as I could, recycling it in our brown/garden bin.

I don’t think there’s a card which didn’t make me smile in this box, though I think I’ll have to choose the recipient of the card above carefully - as a thank you card it works, perhaps not so much as a birthday card or note.

And don’t you just want to climb those stairs in the card below, hopefully a thirst quenching drink would be waiting for us at the top.

There’s a few artists in this collection that have a couple of cards, and it’s easy to spot these through their style and the colours they’ve used isn’t it?

It’s amazing how a piece of art - as let’s face it, these are mini works of art - can influence your feelings, from the calming coffee scene above to the tumbling rainbow person below.

My favourite card this month probably isn’t a surprise - but it’s the daisies below, it just something that speaks to me, so this is one that I’ll probably be hanging onto for a while, until the perfect opportunity to share arises.

This box really was a box of warmth, which arrived in the post box. I can’t wait for spring-proper to arrive!