Conkers, A New Painting And The Shoes of A Different Era

Where did those Autumn children go? Those who collected these woody treasures in excitement and laughter, in competition to get the biggest and most perfect winning conker to hang on a string?

All grown up, with children and grand children of their own, yet I'm sure there are conkers in their grown up jacket pockets, or on their window sills just like my own?

There were so many on our walk, we just couldn't resist stopping for five minutes to have a play.

As we left I'm sure I heard the faint echoes of that laughter of years ago? And I smiled remembering.

I love Autumn with it's fungi. 

 Golden leaves and bright berries

There are late jewels in the garden. Flowers that are having a second wind in this mild October weather after being held back in the hot dry summer that we had. They shine even brighter now everything else in the garden is falling asleep in muted russets and brown.

During dry days I've been saving seeds for next year. And making sure I put them in marked packets and keep them indoors. Last year a cheeky mouse feasted on all the sweet pea seeds that I had saved as I left them in the greenhouse.

On my desk...

I have been longing to paint Autumn things! I have a huge desire to paint toadstools!  However am so behind on my winter paintings, they will have to wait for now. 

I took some 'in progress' shots of one of my paintings recently completed. 

You can see how long I've been working on and off on this one, as I'm still wearing sandals in the photo. :/ I painted it A3 size though which didn't help with speed, as I had forgotten just how long that size takes to paint.

Here's the finished piece....'Spellbound in the Forest'

And a close up...

Although I haven't finished (it's sort of) partner painting yet, I've made this one available as cards, a print and a notebook as I felt time is ticking on and some folk like to get a head start on their Christmas gift organising?

You can find all my new additions to the Etsy shop here.

Wooden Hanger Update

I've had some people messaging me recently regarding wooden hangers ready for Christmas.

I'm so sorry to disappoint, but I won't be doing any this year, as I just haven't had the time.  My little shop has done soo well, which of course I'm extremely grateful for. But being busy comes with a price and this year I've just found it really hard to find the extra time to create as much as I would have liked. It's hard as although I'm busy, I've not reached the stage where I can afford to employ help to pack orders to free up my time. This is also why I haven't (as promised to some) organised my wholesale either. So, a big rearrange and organisation needs to be done soon. And a new batch of wooden hangers will be first on the list for the new year.

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I am guilty however of taking two days off to be an artist of a different kind a few weeks back.
We often get film crews come to our little village and it's been used for numerous movies and tv dramas. Being a villager we sometimes get the chance to be background artists or what they used to call extras. This was the case for me.
The late September weather was in our favour as I stepped into shoes of a different era...
Back to 1928

 to celebrate

and cheer the kings royal artillery.

and band

I'm not going to show you myself in full costume, but will tell you that I looked more like a Mary Poppins than a Lady Mary ;)
Can you guess what the movie is?
It was Downton Abbey! which should be coming to the big screen next year.  It was a fun two days, making memories with my Son and Daughter, who also got to be extras too!

Until next time...
I hope your October is filled with magic?
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