You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2011.
Last Christmas I was given this button teapot and apart from making a great brew it looks good too.
I also struck lucky at the car boot sale recently in finding these vintage Sylko threads.
Then one idea spurred another on and after rummaging further through my Nan’s sewing box, I found a lovely ornate pair of scissors and an old tape measure. And that’s how this still life came about.
I thought you might like to see the process photo’s. This is my under-painting of the shadows and it’s this that gives the objects form before the patterns go on top. It looks rather ghostly!
And here it is with the patterned background painted in. I love this piece of grey wrapping paper and have used it loads. It’s just the right colour and density of pattern and so it often works just right.
And of course you can’t beat a lovely medium weight, slightly rough water-colour paper to absorb all that paint and water that has been sloshed about.
So good, so far. All the enjoyable coloured details next. Lots of colours to mix up for those buttons. Lu came home and decided to take a picture of me hard at it and as it was relatively flattering I thought I’d include it here. Back with the finished piece soon I hope. And I hope I’ll still be smiling!
Autumn is definitely in the air and I think it shows in the colours I chose for this still life; a lovely chocolate mocha, gold and warm pinks. Yum. I could eat that description. Something else that happens in Autumn is more eating – do you find that too?
It’s been hard to concentrate round here lately with the goings on in our house and as a distraction I took to tidying the studio instead. I find tidying cathartic. But somewhere in the midst of it all I finished this little autumn offering.
Purple Orchid © Claire Leggett
A few months ago my Aunty gave me this book on knitted flowers. Some craft books are so seductively photographed that everything in it looks gorgeous and it’s hard to choose where to start. This book has more of the plain cousin about it, but don’t be deceived because the flowers in it are lovely (even if not brilliantly set up for cool photo’s) and what’s more the patterns are easy to read and attainable. So far I have knitted two anemones, another hybrid anemone and two (almost correct) chrysthanthemums. Watch out everyone it’s C’mas soon!
Hello everybody and sorry for the gremlin that has gotten into the comments reply box. While it’s waiting to be fixed I thought I’d post something that will hopefully keep you commenting and showing those lovely IT guys what the problem looks like. Can’t wait to hear what this postcard prompts from you – be kind though 
Emma Williams Orchids and Apricots
It’s cold outside but I’m holding onto a little bit of summer here.
Emma_Williamson_Evening_Primrose
Emma Williams work is so pretty and spring-like in her choice of colour palette.
Emma Williams Day Lilies and Sardines
I love how she portrays objects in their simplest form through reduced shape and colour and then treats other objects with full on pattern, which you will know I’m a big fan of.
Emma Williams Pink Geraniums
And those open windows onto the sea remind me that summer was only a few weeks ago which already seems longer. I feel like it might be a long winter this year so I’m going to keep looking at these until Springtime comes around again.
Thanks so much for all your lovely comments about the blanket box. Here is the finished room which of course looks as tidy as this everyday! Not.
The wallpaper is Antique Rose by Cath Kidson and that’s my Nan’s eider-down – not just vintage but heirloom.
We’ve had this pine furniture set since the early years of our marriage. At the time it was the most enormous amount of money to us and the only things which matched in our house. So for many years we’ve been a little precious about it. Until now when we decided it would suit the room better white and that pine furniture is ‘so last season’. We took a deep breath and slapped on a whitewash and it looks much the better for it.
Our local junk shop came up trumps with this lovely oval mirror. It’s so deep and heavy and finely finished and was only £35.
This photo hides the as- yet unhemmed curtains!
I love this piece of furniture and the whole mirror, dressing table set up. I saw this at the same junk shop months before we even began redecorating but knew, from what Lu had said about her vision for her new bedroom, that this would be perfect. I nearly drove up onto the pavement to snatch before anyone else did!
We didn’t quite get a good photo of the day bed because the truth is that I moved a pile of junk out of every shot and it all ended up under the bed! That’s life.
Lucy was given this blanket box for her Christening thirteen years ago and I’m embarrassed to admit that it was intended back then that I paint it in some way.
It’s done the rounds in our house, moving from room to room in it’s unprimed sate being useful in all manner of ways. Just never Lucy’s and never painted.
Until now. For her newly renovated room (which I’ll show you tomorrow) I used the floral design from the Cath Kidson wallpaper to decorate this box once we’d whitewashed it with watered down emulsion.
Et viola!
She’s very happy with it even after a thirteen year build up. More pic’s tomorrow.
This weekend has been one of harvest. Apples…
…blackberries…
…green beans…lots…
…and yet more apples!
And now we need your help because we have a tree full of these hard pear type things. Does anyone know what they might be?
Edited to add…quinces. Thank you ladies for steering us right on that. Mr L is currently cooking up a storm in the kitchen making Quince Jelly.
Here’s something to pep you up for the day found via Dana (where do you find all this great stuff?)
I also recently read this uplifting quote found via this blog.
Inaction breeds doubt & fear. Action breeds confidence & courage.
If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Dale Carnegie
Don’t know about you but I’m getting off my Beehind to do something creative now!
I’m writing this with the rain lashing at the windows, the cold air whistling through the doorway whilst wondering about re-setting the central heating. So there’s no way I can kid you that these photo’s were taken recently!
One sunny day (long, ago) in the summer sun, I painted this little bunch of lovely Sweet Peas.
Sweet Peas © Claire Leggett
It’ s here and for sale if you want to capture a little bit of summer before it completely disappears.
