Christmas presents

Happy Christmas to you all.

Its very difficult painting pictures and not being able to show them to anyone,

finally I can share them, keeping quiet till Christmas day, when the lucky recipients have received their present.

 

This first one was for a young girl who loves climbing and is very good at it, the painting is based on some images that were taken at a competition she was in, I love how it has come out.

The next was to fill a space on a newly decorated wall.

The rugby player with the ball being the subject.

 

My third and final picture was a lino cut,

The recipient was unaware that I had been in receipt a few photos of his guitars and chose his favourite 3 to transfer into the lino print, its extremely rewarding as it is so personal to him.

 

Christmas card lino prints 2

Well here we are this is my finished card, they will be heading out to family and friends any time soon.

 Next year I shall definitely work on some to be available for sale.

Christmas lino prints

Well, I am thoroughly enjoying playing with inks and lino, This year I have decided to make some Christmas cards so here is the first stage in the printing process.

Just letting them dry ready for the next layer to go on....watch this space.

Halloween Pumpkins

Over the last few years I have been trying my hand at a bit more detailed pumpkin carving, my ultimate goal is to create a face of some sorts, however as it only comes around once a year and I usually  suddenly remember the day before, it doesn't leave me much time to practice, I suppose I could use a turnip or similar during the rest of the year, I'll see .

These are this years efforts



 

 

Guitar Lino prints

 

 

I have still been busy playing with the lino printing, as well as finishing of some other paintings.

This week its my husbands birthday, what to get for him.... always tricky so how about

a lino print of his other loves in his life, I cant compete with one guitar let alone 4 of them.

this was my inspiration.

A few practice ones first, without writing , I have learnt after a few mistakes how hard it is cutting out text, let alone doing it backwards.

This is one of the first ones

 

Here are the finished prints mounted and framed, I have to say I was really pleased with how they turned out, and yes my husband loved them.



Beach Huts

Earlier this summer I came across this great picture that my brother had taken on a trip to Brighton.

Immediately I could see the potential in creating a painting from it.

 

This is my interpretation , a storm on the horizon,

Lino Printing

I have fancied having a go at Lino Printing for a while now and after watching numerous tutorials and getting info from my new book, talking to people experienced in this art, I equip myself with basic cutters and various other necessary bits and bobs,
I spent today having a play, getting a bit messy , this is my first attempt.....

Using a piece of glass from an old picture and a few pages from my sketch pad, my first idea was based on the viaduct, as it is a regular feature in my work.
Obviously its going to take a bit of practise, watch this space.!

Stockport County

 I have finally finished my trio of Stockport County pictures. However there will be more to come, over the next 12 months.
Happy to see the start of the new season is going pretty well.


This is 'The crowd at County ' my first image inspired by my many visits to Edgeley Park.

The second painting was based around the pub, with many of Stockport's pubs being our very own Robinsons, this was the focus for this image, either before the match or after for a de-brief.
 This one is on wood, I wanted to try my hand at painting on a different surface, I shall use it again as I was pleased with the end result.

The third and final painting for now is the crowd outside, they could be waiting to go in or just leaving, that's up to the observer to decide.

My cake

I have just returned from a very relaxing holiday to celebrate my birthday and after making lots of cakes for other people, I wondered what was in store for me, well my daughter came up trumps and produced this masterpiece, my little mini, what a great surprise when I arrived home.

Birthday cake

What a busy month August is, having just celebrated various family birthdays, and my wedding anniversary, I have just finished my cake for my daughter's 21st birthday.

I have been waiting for a chance to try a 'Naked Cake' that's( one without fondant covering it,) and have to say I was pretty pleased with the outcome.

It was delicious with all the fresh fruit adorning it.

Next week I celebrate my own milestone birthday, I wonder what's in store for me!

 

Tea Towels & Mugs at the Handmade Market

And relax........
The past few weeks have been really busy, aside from getting on with my day job, I have been sorting out an order of mugs to head of to Maryland USA.
The Stockport Metro Lacrosse team are heading over seas for an exchange programme, with around 50 members from over the county looking forward to some great games in the States http://metrolacrosse.co.uk
They decided to take with them my mugs to give as gifts to the host family's, I have to say I was delighted that more of my work is now heading abroad.
   Over the last few months I have been working on getting a Tea towel of my Stockport image produced, I think the end result is pretty good. They will be stocked in the Staircase House and available from www.jules4bedding.co.uk within the indoor market.
I will be at the Handmade Market on Sunday 20th July from 11-4pm come along and have a look.
An ideal gift for family and friends abroad.

 

All packed up and ready to go

Old Stockport

 

Stockport from times past.

My latest painting has been inspired by the architecture of buildings in around

Stockport that are no longer on the landscape.

The only permanent structure is the viaduct, waiting to welcome us home.

 

Some amazing buildings have  been demolished some out of necessity (falling down, unsafe) others

to make way for the council planning our 'modern 'town.

Give me old any day, it makes me feel sad that some of these buildings have been left to go derelict

or just pulled down and replaced with some monstrosity.

 

I am fairly sure that most of you Stopfordians will recognise the images on my painting.

most probably a lot of you will have worked or danced and drank in some of them.



 



Cake Painting

Well, its been a busy week, I haven't been in my studio for a while , my son has taken it over to do his revision , its a chill out space which has suited him, now exams are over I can get back in there, thats not to say I haven't been busy painting, I have just spent the last week making 2 cakes for an 18th Birthday and my own big family get together, my painting on fondant has come up pretty well.

This is my Vintage cake, I am so pleased with how it turned out.

The flowers were a challenge, but the results were pretty good.

 

 

This is my family home.

I've had great fun decorating these, and its so nice to see them being eaten afterwards

Exhibition vist

 

I have just spent a wonderful day with my Dad at the John Rylands Library in

Manchester, we were aware a couple of exhibitions were on and I've not been in there before

so I was given my own guided tour, from the fabulous Victorian Loo's (dad didn't join me )to the amazing 3rd floor with its Cathedral style architecture.

We came across a fantastic local artist Anthony McCarthy .

Well worth a visit, check out his website  http://www.anthonymccarthy.co.uk/

 

Stockport Viaduct Cards

Good evening,
What a busy couple of weeks I have been having.
I have been working on a commission for a birthday present which is coming along nicely and getting some cards produced of my 'Stockport Viaduct ' painting.
They are on sale at the Staircase House in the Historic Market along with my mugs of the same image.
They will also be available at the Handmade Market on Easter Sunday 11-4pm.
 I will be there with some of my other work too.
So come along and walk of the Easter eggs and chocolate.
 Check out some of the amazing handmade crafts available  .
See you there.  Lucy :)

 

 

 

1973

Take yourselves back to the 70's, that great era of bad fashion and terrible hairstyles.
Showaddy waddy and skinny rib jumpers.
Endless carefree summers, where we could roam all day and just go home at tea time.

This picture captures me and my brothers and sisters on holiday in 1973, David the youngest not quite 2yrs old wasn't on the original photo, but how could I leave him out, he was probably asleep in the carrycot which balanced between us in the old VW camper van.

 I think the photo  was taken by my grandfather on one of our many days out , we were not allowed to stay indoors and mucked about together, climbing trees, building dens ,catching sticklebacks and bringing them home, later to be disappointed they didn't survive our makeshift pond, usually an upturned dustbin lid.

I felt inspired to have a go at recreating the image feeling a bit nostalgic.

 I hope you like how its turned out.

Handmade market stall

All set up ready to go!

Handmade market

This Sunday 16th March, I will be having a stand at the Handmade Market in Stockport.
There will be a variety of stalls selling lots of lovely things to inspire you, with Mothers day soon approaching I'm sure there will be some lovely treats to pick up.
The event is in the indoor market and runs from 11.00am till 4pm
See you there:)

Rope Race Climbing and Activity Centre

 

 

 

 

I have been having a play recently and found some odd pieces of wood

what to do with them?

I decided they would lend themselves perfectly to be painted on.

So I got them primed and ready, then decided to

show some of the activities available at Rope Race Climbing Centre.

Climbing,/Archery, Bouldering and Canoeing/Kayaking, to name but a few.

I am pretty pleased how they turned out and will definitely paint on wood again.

Have a look here

http://www.roperace.co.uk/

 

 

 



Stockport Mugs and prints

Its been a busy few weeks since the start of 2014,

 I  am delighted that " Staircase House" and "Stockport Town Hall" are stocking some of my mugs.

The design is exactly the same but I have altered the Grey Skies for a slightly brighter image.

Staircase house have also got a framed print of the new image, unframed prints will also be available.

My Original limited edition prints of the grey skies are still available directly from me.