Christmas Open Studio

I had a lovely weekend welcoming people to my Open Studio event. The mulled wine went down well, especially the non-alcoholic version, made from red grape juice, orange juice, brown sugar, grated ginger and cloves and a cinnamon stick. It had oranges and lemons cut up and thrown in as well; I was sipping away most of the day, with no ill effects afterwards!! I thoroughly enjoyed talking about my work -much of the time us artists are working on our own; it's great to share with other people.

I've never had a picture of me at my OS, Gina took this one and below we have Gina and her Mum.

On Saturday December 3rd I will be at Ashwell Christmas Fair, held in the beautiful church. There's always a lovely Christmassy feel to this fair and being local you see lots of people you know, so a warm, friendly atmosphere.

I am currently working on a lino cut to commemorate my grandson's birth. He is now 18 months old so a little late but I recently took a commission to create a lino cut for a child's christening, on their 1st birthday and thought I must create a print for Barney.

Here's the start of the design and work in progress.....

I've a printing day booked at the Curwen in December, at present I'm having withdrawal symptoms .. no printing for weeks!!

Alison Hullyer, a Cambridge artist, printmaker and illustrator now has a blog as well as her website - do take a look at her lovely, distinctive work. I first met Alison at her Open Studio in 2010, when I had just started my printmaking journey. When I try to add a link to Alison's blog, my post won't save, so do look her up!

Wimpole Hall Fair

What a tiring weekend but also a successful one; another step to get known by a wider audience. Sales on all cards, my birds and gift tags were steady and I sold both prints and some botanical work. Luckily a friend helped me set up on the Friday; the photo shows the start!

We ended up looking like this....

and this....

My print birds proved popular, they have either sheet music or map wings - so migratory or song birds!



Busy times!

This weekend I have a stand at a large, prestigious craft fair at our local national trust property, Wimpole Hall. A friend is helping me set up on Friday afternoon and then it's open from 10.30am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. It's been a hectic time of mounting and framing prints, packing cards, making my print birds and gift tags. I think it will be hard work but good fun!! The photos show my studio in chaos!

The following weekend I hold my own Christmas Open Studio at my house, I've been putting up posters and delivering my fliers.

I also have work in an exhibition at a new gallery, The Art Nest in Hitchin and there's another exhibition coming up to take work to. When I retired I wondered how it would evolve .... now I know! I'd sum it up as interesting, fun, busy, a learning curve. One of the steepest learning curves has been building my website, which has been live for 3 weeks now! Take a look at

 http://www.annapye.com/

Day 4 and 5 of the walk.....

This was another long day, 18 miles to get to Hay on Wye. It was great weather and a lot of the walk was along a 10 miles ridge with beautiful views all around, We saw wild Welsh ponies, a lovely sight and lots of sheep and caterpillars!!

Not sure what I was doing! My knee survived the track down into Hay and we were pleased to find our B and B, Rest for the Tired!!

We wished we had organised a rest day in Hay to explore the book shops, but no rest for us so the next day we set off for Kington (only 15 miles) in bright sunshine. It was a fabulous walk with lovely views of the Wye as we climbed upwards.

Inspiring stained glass window in the church at Newchurch, where a notice said you could have a drink in the church; so we went in to have our lunch. Sadly, a notice inside informed us that the kettle was broken!!

 BUT, a little further on in Gladwestry there was a pub - hooray! A welcome break. Later Sue went to help a sheep with it's head stuck in the fence.... of course, as she got near, it struggled free!!

Interesting fungi....

and some more ponies amongst a group of monkey puzzle trees.

 The way down from Hertgest Ridge into Kington was uncomfortable and lengthy, but a night in a super B and B, De Lacey House and a meal at a crummy pub made everything OK!!