With Mr Cooper away skiing this week, I have been engaged in varied tasks around the home, from dawn to dusk.  It is truly amazing how much you can achieve, if you start work at 7am.
 It is also truly amazing if you find you have to get up at 6am, when you find out that Mr Cooper's temporary toilet repair has failed dramatically. There is a limit to what a rawl plug is able to fix!

At least I was able to let my rabbits out extra early that day, to nibble dandelions in the morning sunshine……

I was asked the other night if I collected anything and my first response was 'not really'.  But upon further thought I am continually, if slowly, adding to my collections of rabbit moulds, egg cups, bad taste snow globes, little wooden houses that tell you the weather, dolls' house food, old kitchen paraphernalia, blackbird pie funnels and bad taste shell and seagull art.
So, if you have any rabbit moulds that are loved no longer, they are very welcome to join my herd of rabbits.

Continuing with a rabbit theme; last week I left with mention of rabbits, as I am making a chocolate  rabbit cake for the family gathering at Easter.  This is for all the children (age range, 6-26).  The cookery book, which like my collections, progresses slowly but continually, is very much based on my Granny Beba's collection of cake and pudding recipes.
 When we were all gathering together, with all the aunties and uncles and cousins, she often made a chocolate blancmange rabbit, nestling on chopped green jelly grass, for us grandchildren.
We had this treat for years, even when the older grandchildren were probably leaving to go to university, which used to make us smile.  And now here I am, looking forward to making fondant ears, paws and a fluffy tail for my rabbit, for children who are at all at work or university, apart from 2!

I have created a lino-print of the blancmange rabbit, as a potential illustration for my book, and inspired by all the many chocolate rabbits I have enjoyed over the years.

 This is one of a series of lino-prints I have made which also incorporate the illustrations from cookery books of the 1960s.  If you look at the background to this one, it features a jam tart with charming pastry decorations.  Very much a feature of a 1960s tea table.

When I was chatting to my fellow 'Young At Heart' group members ( to be found working away at the Greyhound on the Test, Stockbridge ) we started to reminisce about jam tarts and lemon curd tarts, and how good it tastes when the lemon curd becomes a little burnt round the edges.
 I have promised to make a large lemon curd tart for us all, after Easter.

This brought back memories of how Granny Beba always used to decorate the edges of  her plate tarts, with lemon curd tarts having their own sun rays around them.
This became the inspiration for another lino print, featuring a large jam tart, treacle tart and the luscious lemon curd tart.  Another potential book illustration. (So things are progressing, really.)

After Easter I will get started by making the lemon curd.  To me, there is absolutely no comparison between homemade and shop-bought lemon curd.  I would rather not make the tarts if I couldn't make the lemon curd myself. 

If you are getting really excited looking at these very attractive and yet reasonably reasonably priced unique lino prints, come and visit me and buy one.  Lots will be exhibited in my garden studio during the first 2 weekends in May, as I am part of the Chichester Open Studios Art Trail. http://www.chichesterarttrail.org/

The Art Trail is always a really fun and informative event, featuring an amazing range of artists and their work, and I always make cakes and tarts for my lovely visitors. Sometimes there is a theme to their production, one year it was cakes shaped like breasts, which enjoyed a good reception.  

 Look out for me at venue 92.

This week, as I said, I have been very busy.  Usually when Mr Cooper is away, I undertake one large project.  In the past these have been decorating the hall and stairway, totally transforming our bedroom, including sanding and varnishing floor, etc.

This week, it is more about completing several smaller tasks, such a suddenly learning how to replace the broken bits in a cistern, to stop the waterfall effect. (It is jolly handy to be able to turn off the water quickly to stop the flooding, but a little bit limiting if it is kept off to avoid the same.)  Thank you Mr Lemon, for telling me about ScrewFix, they are great; as well as open on Sundays and nearby!  And thank you George, for helping me over the phone, when I got a bit confused with my 'righty tighties' and 'lefty loosies'.  Even though I think I heard you say 'give me strength'!

So Mr Cooper will return to see a vegetable garden that has dug over; and planted with new potatoes.
Our bedroom is sparkly sparkly clean, and I have now used the steam floor cleaner we have had for quite a while! For those of you who know me well, you will know that I am actually good at cleaning, but only tend to do it for other people, and when paid.
There isn't the time to create art and clean, although I do manage to cook, which comes under the 'creative' heading.
2 paintings and drawings are nearing completion, and I am baking cakes from Granny Beba's recipe book, for when I am with Mum and my brother's families at Easter. 

 Yesterday it was Chinese chews I was making, and today I will bake yum-yums ( and very yummy they are too)  The chocolate coated orange drizzle cake is already in it's cake tin, ready to go.

Another idea I had for creating the illustrations for the book was to also use materials and processes that were around in the 60s, in most households. I have experimented with using knitting as part of an illustration, and the picture below contains knitted and collaged Chinese chews as well as an assortment of coconut cones

My niece Olivia is very fond of Chinese chews. Yes Olivia that was on Master Chef!  My son John is looking forward to Owl Eye Biscuits, but that is a story for another time. 

In the meantime, wishing you all a very happy Easter, whatever you are doing.

This week, pictures of lots of people, and only one cake

To start with, a little journey back in time,
Having to work inside……

…….creating a miniature heaven.


Last year, 3 of us spent a really productive day painting a celestial mural inside a lovely Chichester coffee shop. http://www.whippedandbaked.com/
It is almost always fun to spend the day with other artists, creating art, and this was one of the  fun days.
Here I am with Jeanette Sutton (mural designer) and Allan Davies, both former art teaching colleagues, who became and remain friends. We remain united by our love of art and alcohol as well as each other.
But, as responsible members of society, of course we do not exceed the government guidelines.

By all means visit the coffee shop, it is truly lovely and delicious, but our mural was always designed to be temporary, so expect another.

Returning to this year and the weekend.  I worked inside again on Saturday with two lovely friends, and PVA glue, and tissue paper. And again, the results were heavenly.
Diane and Jan had seen artwork created by layering tissue, and really loved the idea, so I had offered them a workshop so they could create their own.
Diana and Jan arrived equally prepared in their different ways.
One of them knew what they wanted the outcome to be, and the other brought a collection of things which would become part of the outcome.

We all had a really fun time. The only time we weren't talking and laughing was when we were all concentrating on our work, and then enjoying a productive silence.

 Mr Cooper loved it too, as he was left in peace to watch the rugby, with the bonus of having a really tasty lunch with wine on a tray, plus tea and cake to follow.  He did look a little surprised at the level of service he had!

Here are the fruits of our Saturday inside the studio.

Here is Diane and her beautiful tissue image, inspired by Franz Marc

And here is Jan, with her friend Frieda Kahlo, and exciting additions.

Next time we will explore the 3rd dimension with tissue, PVA and wire.

In the meantime, Jan might gain a Frieda Kahlo tattoo, and I might buy a pair of Frieda Kahlo earrings, and add more colour to my existing tattoo.  And Diane will put a lot of thought, care and love into planning her next work, as she does in her life.
And both of my beautiful friends, when you see them, always leave you uplifted and laughing. Definitely radiators not sinks!

I am now painting away at my 'toadstool' cake, and developing the idea for the part of the jigsaw that features Sam; ever conscious of my May deadline. http://www.chichesterarttrail.org/ (venue 92)
Yesterday I got him to pose him for my studies.
 He gave me many poses, but seemed to think the porn- type shot was the one for me to add .
  Sadly no, Sam, but here you are fully-clothed and chopping.

Will keep you up to date with the jigsaw image featuring Sam,  I am starting it on Sunday.
And also, if you wish to see a glimpse of a naked torso and porno pout, contact me, not Sam direct.  As a mother, I must vet the applicants.  Do not consider applying unless you are female, single, and possessing a brain.
Sam said 'female', we both agreed on 'single' and I said 'brain'. Sam is not too fussed on that point.

Next week, a burst of baking ready for Easter.  Watch out for Owl Eye Biscuits, and Chinese Chews.
Lemon curd tarts might feature too, as requested by the 'Young At heart' team at work.  We snatched a meeting in the car park, before returning to our cleaning, painting and washing up duties.

A chocolate rabbit will also appear, a friend of Barry.
His body is now in the freezer, awaiting de-frosting, buttercream fur and fondant features.

I might give the rabbit a less mournful expression than Barry had, as he is to be eaten by small children.
 Having said that, they will probably hack his head off, to eat first. Unless I get the eyebrows just right!

Good news to start the week.  My work was accepted by the Oxmarket, for their 'Awakenings' exhibition.  All framed now, and ready to go. http://oxmarket.com/

Here it is.  'Awakening Conscience….. Is That All?'

And then also a lovely surprise.  Rachael,  Mr Cooper's eldest beautiful daughter, sent me a wonderful bunch of orchids from her and Ben, hoping I have an enjoyable Mother's Day.

Thank you both, and Banjo. They are so exotically beautiful.

I had another less happy 'Awakening' on Mother's Day. As it was not raining, and  the soil was dry enough to work, I needed to start reclaiming the garden: starting with the vegetable patch.
After 2 hours digging, I was able to plant the broad beans. Hurrah, just what I wanted to do on Mother's Day.

Then off for my swimming practise.  As learning to swim properly has been a significant feature of this year, it has also formed a part of my 'Jigsaw' drawing, and last week I completed that section.

Swimming technically correctly was the first challenge, but after my promotion to the next group, I have to practise regularly to build up my stamina whilst remaining technically correct!

I do have a non-conventional family life.  One wonderful aspect of this is how wide, varied, fluid and creative my family life is.  Another aspect is that some conventions are not always followed.

Sam had sent me a present that was 'off the chain' for Mother's Day', but sadly it still hadn't arrived byMother's Day.  Now he is worried that I am looking forward to it too much, and will be disappointed.  (He may well be right, I got so excited when a parcel arrived yesterday, but it was only  equipment for Mr Cooper's next skiing break.)

I rang the boys, to ask them to call me. I spoke to John on the phone later on, who was involved with gathering the tools he needed for his new job; assisting in the building of a Saxon long house.  This is to be traditionally built from scratch with Saxon tools. Starting with felling the trees. ( The Saxons didn't have saws)
My Mother's Day message, as I had left a message for him to ring me, was 'Are You Alright, What Is Wrong?'
Sam had just finished a busy session, and had had enough of Mother's Day by then.

After swimming, Mr Cooper took me out for a drink, as I was feeling sad in a conventional sort of way.  Whilst out, I planned and discussed 2 more sections of the 'jigsaw' picture.  These may or may not have to remain under wraps, because of their controversial content.  Will keep you posted.

As I am running a workshop this Saturday, (looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, Diane and Jan) there has been a lot of Studio tidying this week, and also in preparation for the 'Open Studios Art Trail'. (Like Christmas, each year I vow to never leave it to the last minute, but it never happens)

We have been asked already to supply details of the work we are submitting for the pre-trail exhibition at the Oxmarket. http://oxmarket.com/chichester-open-studios-art-trail
But as yet, mine are not only incomplete, they haven't completely left being the thought processes of my mind!  I am thinking of painting a 60s cake which features on it a fairy ring with a snail.  It will have boats with rice paper sails whizzing around it for background.  We certainly had a lot of fun in that decade!

Here is one idea for it, all I need to do now is to start it, and have it finished by April 13th.

 This is as well as completing' Cinderella', and my 'Jigsaw' drawing, and starting another major drawing entitled 'Shelf Life' which will be one of two for the National open Art Competition. http://www.thenationalopenartcompetition.com/how-to-enter.php

And all before May, when the garden is also to be reclaimed, planted and beautiful.

During which time, I also need to spend some time working for actual money.

I think if I painted my life just at this moment, it would be called

 'Awakening conscience…..This Feels Like Too Much!……….But Fundamentally Good!'

Or perhaps,    'A Little Frayed Around The Edges'

How lovely to see the daffodils coming out in force.

And in my garden, growing near my studio, are some very rare ones indeed!

This week has been busy as always, but this time more productive in a social way.

At the weekend we set sail for East Anglia, to visit my Mum.  These trips usually include a festive feast along the way, and for this one we visited 'The Chequers in Gedney Dyke. http://the-chequers.co.uk/

For those of you who are near enough to visit it, please do.  The food is delicious, each course was a real treat.  And to add to a lovely time, the service is really good, friendly but efficient.
 Just as it should be in that department, and very rarely is!

One purpose of the visit was to plan this years' North Norfolk road trip.
Last year Mum and I had a happy and sunny time driving to Sheringham, stopping often to eat seafood and drink wine. As we stayed at the 'Two Lifeboats' in Sheringham, we were of course drinking and walking, not driving. http://www.thetwolifeboatssheringham.com/

This year, we are also including Mr Cooper. He seemed rather sad last year to have missed out on lobster salad, crab sandwiches and rooms with excellent sea views. But that is what happens when you choose to play cricket on a Sunday.
We did have to think long and hard though, because it was a choice of including Mr Cooper, or being able to borrow his 2 seater!  And although Mum is extremely fond of the car, Mr Cooper had the edge for her.

All this talk of food and summer makes me excited about the approaching picnic season.
A good thing about the way I work means that I am always surrounded by visual picnics in my studio,

And the elements for an impromptu picnic are always close to hand.  In this case, on the landing.

I did manage to complete the next drawing for my 'jigsaw' drawing.  I will show you now.
Sadly, after I had finished it, I realised I needed to do it again. I did spend a day pretending I didn't have to, but in my heart of hearts I knew.

All very annoying, frustrating and time-consuming.  To draw this again will take about 5 hours.
But that is also part and parcel of being an artist.
 Lots of fun, ideas and imaginings.
But at the end of the day, it requires hard work, mistakes and a lot of effort to make it all happen.

Lets have a cup of tea and a slice of cake!

The week gone by has been a week of many parts.  

Lets start at the very beginning, with the best ever retro starter; the Prawn Cocktail.

On Monday, I attached my much-loved knitted Prawn Cocktail brooch to my lino-printed apron, and set off for the Cloudhopper Gallery, where I was to model the apron, and another garment at their 'Wearable Art' fashion show.  http://www.cloudhoppergallery.co.uk/#!events

To print and hand-colour the fabric for the apron, then make it had been a very long labour of love, although I am really pleased with the result.

The other garment I modelled must also have been a very long labour of love.  It was a dress made from video tapes woven together with fabric.  This created a great contrast between hard and metalically shiny, soft and matt.  It was a great dress to wear, along with the hair accessory made from records!

The creator of this amazing dress, Michelle Quick is seated on the left wearing black and red.

The evening was a lot of fun and I am already planning in my mind my outfit for next year!
Last year I modelled my skirt and jacket which showed an embroidered earthly and a flying picnic.

When I knitted the Prawn Cocktail brooches, I also gave one to my mum, my friend Sarah, and to my beautiful nieces. One of my beautiful nieces, Olivia Haslam, is providing the culinary element for this week's blog.  And what an element it is!
This coming Tuesday at 9pm, she can be seen as a contestant on Master Chef.
Olivia is a talented and vivacious photography student in Glasgow.
Well done Olivia, I don't know the results, of course, but I hope it was great fun as well as hard work.

instagram @oliviahaslam  blog oliviabeba.tumblr.com

Last week I was beginning a drawing based on the concept behind  'Awakening Conscience'.
Painted by William Holman Hunt in 1853.

This week, after intensive effort and much listening to Radio 4, I completed it.

Here it is,  ready to be submitted for the 'Awakening' exhibition at the Oxmarket in Chichester. 

http://oxmarket.com/

The only thing I have to do now is to confirm its' title.  

With this image, this aspect is as important and as hard as actually drawing it.

She is sitting there, late 50s/early 60s with the realisation that her life is basically going nowhere. 

 Being a housewife is going to be the only thing that she will ever be.  

There is no other identity, or status, or freedom to be part of a larger world.

So something like 'Awakening Conscience…..Is This All It's Going To Be?'

or, 'Awakening Conscience…..This Is What My Life Is'

Not sure about this one, I must do some thinking over the weekend.

If it was me seated there in the picture, at that time, I would have gone crackers!

Oh well, must go and complete another part of my jigsaw drawing, one piece down five to go. 

I have finished drawing green plastic donkeys on trifle.  I am now working on a self-portrait, mainly surrounded by cakes of the sixties. Then, I am attempting to depict, in a surreal way, a figure being chased through Winchester, evading capture and always running. 

 Good job I avoided being crackers, isn't it?

This week, 'awakening' is all around us.  I am driving along with snowdrops gleaming in the verge on  one side of the road, and lambs gambolling in the fields on the other side of the road!
Also, Mr Cooper is emerging from his lengthy spell of ill health, and is actually taking an interest in life again.  As you read on, you will find it's probably a strange kind of interest…..

Last week I was so pleased that I had a painting that I felt was just right for the forthcoming 'Awakening' exhibition at the Oxmarket Centre of Arts in Chichester. http://oxmarket.com/about
This week, after reading the small print, I find that it is just 20cm too big to meet the requirements.

I did think of entering the painting above, but I wanted something that hadn't been in an exhibition before. Then a glimmer of an idea appeared.

After a few days driving to and from work, surrounded by lambs and flowers, and then the solitary hours spent at work at the steamy sink (A good place to think, I find) these thoughts came together to form a single resolve.  I decided that I wanted to create a detailed drawing based on idea behind the  painting by William Holman Hunt, titled 'Awakening Conscience', painted in 1853.The painting is shown below.

My drawing will be set in the 1960s, and be titled, 'Awakening Conscience…….' and then a pertinent sentence to follow.You should see my completed drawing inspired by this this next week.  I am starting it after writing this as I have only 15 days to get it completed and framed.  Nothing like a deadline to spur you on.

Back to the awakening of Mr Cooper……….
Mr Cooper astounded us all in 'The Travs', our much-loved local.http://travellersjoyemsworth.co.uk/

We were enjoying our usual Sunday afternoon drink (pint of the visiting bitter and a large Shiraz) when he announced he was bringing a new dish to our weekly roast.
 He proudly announced he was going to roast cauliflower leaves.  Not only was he serious about this, he was not at all hampered by the expressions of disbelief on all of our faces.
Colin, Christian, Erin and I all said 'Cauliflower leaves!?!' plus a little more than that, but Mr Cooper remained undeterred.  In fact, you could say he was not heeding any advice offered at all,  such as, 'That sounds disgusting';  'You can't be serious'; ' Why would you do such a thing?'

Then we returned to The Gables and set about preparing our meal.  One of us preparing the cauliflower leaves, the other preparing the rest.

After a very enjoyable roast chicken, there was only one thing left on both of our plates.  Strangely enough, a roasted cauliflower leaf.  The tasty onion, garlic and chili accompaniments were gone from them.  There they lay, tasting just as you would imagine a singed and roasted cauliflower leaf to.
 Not one for the Green Donkey Cookery Book.

Returning to my artistic achievements from the last week.
I have had such fun painting Cinderella, as you can see.  Here she was at the start of the week,

And here she is now.

Sadly, this is the way she has to stay until I have completed my 'Awakening' drawing.  And, what is much harder than drawing it, I have to decide on it's title.

Just one more thing before I go.  On Monday 2nd March I am taking part in the 'Wearable Art' fashion show at 'The Cloudhopper Gallery' in Bognor Regis. Tickets £10, 7.30pm start. http://www.cloudhoppergallery.co.uk/#!events
I will be modelling my lino-printed prawn cocktail apron, and also a dress made from video tapes made by another artist.
I will get Mr Cooper to take a photo of the video tape dress for you to see.  Here I am wearing my Prawn Cocktail apron on a lovely sunny summers day at the Stansted Park Garden Show.

A good reminder that winter does not last forever.

The nights are noticeably shorter and the daffodils are growing tall, but there is no escaping from the fact that we are still in winter.

In fact, here in 'The Gables', we are enduring a real 'low' on many fronts; Mr Cooper has been ill and out of action for over 3 weeks now.

Time to invent a spring all of my own, and put my thoughts in a warmer, more positive place.

The real spring is after all just around the corner.

The Oxmarket are feeling the approach of spring too. They are asking for a submissions for an future exhibition titled 'Awakenings'. http://oxmarket.com/

As I sat in my studio painting away at the odd jam tart and magic wishing chair, I wondered if I already had a suitable image for 'Awakenings' or if there was indeed time to paint one.  And then I saw one of my paintings so familiar to me that I had temporarily stopped seeing it. Bingo!

This image really was painted as a result of an awakening, an awakening that occurred many years ago in Springtime……….

So on the practical side, a little tidying to the edges, and then the completion of the online submission form.

Even Mr cooper agreed last week that it was too cold for me to be working in the studio (he has a fear of my creative processes invading the house). I have to paint in there, but smaller works have made their way to the kitchen table, where I am compiling my entry to the Jerwood drawing prize.  http://parkerharris.co.uk/artists/awards/index.php?ArticleID=277

The first part of my jigsaw drawing is nearing completion. A now familiar sight to you all, the Green Donkey with new life attached ( on a trifle, of course).

My drawing will consist of 6 aspects from 2014, one of which in particular is to come forward into this year and most likely for many years to come.  All will be revealed as the pieces are completed. 

When I can bear to, I leave the warmth of the radiator and go outside to add more to 'Cinderella'.

On the one hand this has become much more fun as, like in decorating, all the ground work is now complete and I am now painting the parts that are fun to add.

But on the other hand, the time to actually paint Cinderella is drawing near.  I must soon admit that all the images around her, including  Siamese cats, green and yellow stripy wings and smiling green fish are all complete, and she is the only thing (and also the most important part of the painting) left to do. Scary.

When younger, how many of you wanted to turn into a princess, like she did?

Like an early Spring, this happens in my head. Now, as then.