Celia Hart's blog about what's going on in and around her studio.
Art, printmaking, inspirations, gardening, vegetables, hens, landscapes, wild flowers, East Anglia, adventure, travel.

Friday 31 December 2010

2010 . . . slip sliding away

Christmas is over and the snow's all gone . . . 2010 is fading into the fog as we slide into a new year . . . and a new decade!

Our end of year walk wasn't a crisp, frosty white one that makes the cheeks glow instead we had to be content with muddy tracks and puddles. Cliff is leading a walk for a local walking group at the end of February, so it's high time we got out there to reccy the route; this is an area between Cambridge and Saffron Walden which we haven't explored before by footpaths.

We set off into the melting distance down a Roman trackway.


Passing a burial mound, much reduced in height over millennia but still a mysterious presence in the misty landscape.


The hedgerows are still heavy with indigo sloes, clearly we're not on a Sloe Gin maker's patch!


Rose-hips splash the hedges with vivid red – do birds eat rose-hips?


On the edge of a little copse, a small orange teddy bear is perched in a tree – is he yours?


Along straight grassy tracks between fields of rape, the distance dissolves away.


Dipping down towards the dark woods that look like a back-drop for a pantomime – Little Red Riding Hood perhaps? or The Babes in the Wood?


There are deer in the woods; we've seen their track in the mud, heard twigs snap and the leafy woodland floor rustle. We have not seen them. They are watching us.


Our way back to the car has to be via a path over open arable fields, clay-rich mud, claggy, heavy on the boots and pulling on the leg muscles. Six and a half miles is more than enough for me – time to go home for tea!


However you see in 2011, have fun!

Happy New Year!

Celia
x

Friday 24 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 24



Twenty-four sheep visiting the manger

Oh yes there are!
– there's a little one hiding behind the angel ;-)


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Plastic

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing you a peaceful and happy time this weekend

and here's hoping for good times in 2011 – Cheers!


Celia
x


You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Thursday 23 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 23



On day twenty-three

I went to the farm to collect the turkey


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Magazine

A Bronze Turkey reared by Ian Wylie
of Carlton in Cambridgeshire.


You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 22



On day twenty-two

Only go outside if you're wearing
a big fluffy hat!


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Instant



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 21



On day twenty-one

She sat in the old rocking chair . . .

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Colorcast

. . . and it was just right!


You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Monday 20 December 2010



On day twenty

A walk in the snow

Last night was the coldest night for many years here in Suffolk, -10C ! Tomorrow will be the Winter Solstice – it's really is mid-winter.

This afternoon I went for a walk to enjoy the last rays of the sun as it started to dip down low over the fields and hedges – through the churchyard opposite my studio, over the fields and back into the village along the sunken lane with colourful thatched cottages perched high on the bank above. Tomorrow the cycle will start anew and slowly slowly the days will begin to lengthen.



Todays slide were taken on a Fuji Finepix F10,
compiled using iMovie and the music is Joy of Bethlehem
played by the International Staff Band of The Salvation Army.




You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Sunday 19 December 2010

. . . and then it snowed!

Hi there! If you live in all the snowy bits of the UK (and let's face it that's most of you) you won't understand why I was so excited to see the snow last night. But we really hadn't had much up until late yesterday afternoon . . . it's all changed now!


We awoke this morning cocooned in a fluffy blanket of powdery snow. It lay thickly along each branch and thin twig; and covered the ground 'deep and even'.


The roads into the village hadn't been gritted, so they were white with compacted snow – but not so bad, we drove into the local town and bought a few essential things and filled the car with fuel.

When we got home, we were amazed find a voicemail message telling us the Village Carol Service planned for this afternoon had been cancelled – what?! why?! People were happy to drive to Sainsbury's but weather conditions are supposedly too bad for the Carol Service . . . mmmm?! Confused?


Before we had lunch we decided to set off on foot to deliver the last few Christmas cards and guess what? on our return another message had been left for us . . . "Carol Service cancelled but there will be a gathering in the church to sing Christmas carols" . . . spot the difference? It's subtle!


At 3.30pm we 'villagers' gathered – I got my arm twisted to play tunes on the organ as best I could, sight-reading without any rehearsal time whatsoever! and after a short pause for quiet thoughts about fifty people heartily sang six well known carols at a ripping pace and with lots of laughter. After which someone read this lovely poem:


Eddi's Service
It's the year AD 687 . . .

Eddi, priest of St. Wilfrid
In his chapel at Manhood End,
Ordered a midnight service
For such as cared to attend.

But the Saxons were keeping Christmas,
And the night was stormy as well.
Nobody came to service,
Though Eddi rang the bell.

"'Wicked weather for walking,"
Said Eddi of Manhood End.
"But I must go on with the service
For such as care to attend."

The altar-lamps were lighted, –
An old marsh-donkey came,
Bold as a guest invited,
And stared at the guttering flame.

The storm beat on at the windows,
The water splashed on the floor,
And a wet, yoke-weary bullock
Pushed in through the open door.

"How do I know what is greatest,
How do I know what is least?
That is My Father's business,"
Said Eddi, Wilfrid's priest.

"But – three are gathered together –
Listen to me and attend.
I bring good news, my brethren!"
Said Eddi of Manhood End.

And he told the Ox of a Manger
And a Stall in Bethlehem,
And he spoke to the Ass of a Rider,
That rode to Jerusalem.

They steamed and dripped in the chancel,
They listened and never stirred,
While, just as though they were Bishops,
Eddi preached them The Word,

Till the gale blew off on the marshes
And the windows showed the day,
And the Ox and the Ass together
Wheeled and clattered away.

And when the Saxons mocked him,
Said Eddi of Manhood End,
"I dare not shut His chapel
On such as care to attend."

by Rudyard Kipling


So that proves that we didn't need the rector, the curate or the missioner; or the organist and choir from the nearby town; or the readers and service sheets and all the other organised stuff. We'd taken a lot of trouble decorating the church for today and so we all turned up in our thick coats and hats and scarves and boots; we felt just a bit rebellious because we'd been told not to do something and we went ahead and just did it anyway! We sang, laughed a lot (mostly at my inept playing of the organ – as the late Eric Morecambe once said, I played all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order), we drank sherry and wished each other Merry Christmas, then walked home through the snow.


Isn't that just how it's meant to be (but so often isn't)?

I hope to finish my Advent Calendar count-up to Christmas this week, but we have some travelling to do and you never know what the weather may throw at us!

I'll be back soon
C x

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 19



On day nineteen

"The Snow Scene"


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Fisheye

Last night it snowed – and there was a scenery change.
This morning the curtains drew back and 'Aaaaaaaah!!'
a magical winter wonderland, with a little house,
deep fluffy drifts of white snow and frosted trees!

I wonder what will happen next . . . ?


You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Saturday 18 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : days 16, 17 & 18


Oops! missed a few days –
so here's an update of what's been
happening around my studio . . .


On day sixteen
I made a wreath for the old stable doors

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Instant


On day Seventeen
Out and about in a frozen winter wonderland

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Instant


On day Eighteen
The morning after the night before's
Village Carol Singing
(Two hours singing outside in icy lanes and gardens followed
by over consumption of mulled wine, mince pies and stollen)


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Instant


and just for a laugh . . .

in the post office in the next village

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Instant


Take care on the ice today!

C x



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Wednesday 15 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 15



Fifteen bright beads on my necklace

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Plastic

It's a day to wear colourful layers!



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Tuesday 14 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 14



Fourteen Christmas Cards posted

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/1974

At least I've made a start!



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal

The British Postal Museum & Archive


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Monday 13 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : days 11, 12 & 13



Yesterday we bought our Christmas Tree
– a tree grown on a Suffolk farm –
it's ready for the decorations . . .



Eleven ceramic hearts and stars
and tin doves


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Helga


Twelve glass baubles

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Helga


Thirteen red and gold paper hearts
and little Ukrainian dolls


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Helga


Thank you for the kind comments on the previous post,
in fact life is easier now there are practical things to organise
and we've started to enjoy the festive season.


C x



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Friday 10 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 10



Ten shortbread fingers (not all for me)
and a mug of tea

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Magazine

A cup of tea, a biscuit and a sit down
– comfort on difficult days.

PPPs doesn't usually dwell on the difficult stuff of life
but you've probably detected the theme isn't very festive.
The reason is that my mum-in-law has died after a long illness
and we are now arranging her funeral.

I hope that I can continue to count the days through Advent
but I think you'll understand that there may be some gaps.


C x



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Thursday 9 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 9



Nine random wood-block letters

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Mono

... and not very useful ones
I can't even print 'NOEL' !



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Wednesday 8 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 8



Eight eccentric chimney pots
(a postcard of Brighton Pavilion on my studio wall)

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Instant

Where were you 30 years ago today?

It was nearly the end of my first term at Brighton Art School,
I was sitting at a desk in my room at the 'Seafront Halls'
looking out at the early morning view – drainpipes and fire escape.
The radio news-reader said John Lennon was dead.




You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Tuesday 7 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 7



Seven 'Zimbabwe Bird' chilli peppers
(seven hot suppers)

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Original

I love the muted shades of winter,
but if you crave some warmth for the eye
instead of the belly, pop over to Silverpebble's
Splash of Colour for a cold December day.



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Monday 6 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 6



Six pebbles on the bedroom window sill
(six walks on faraway beaches)

Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Cinema




You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles

Quad Royal


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Sunday 5 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 5



Five hens (not laying)


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Magazine

You have no idea how difficult it is to photograph five hens without Tarragon the cockerel getting in the shot!



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x

Saturday 4 December 2010

PPPs Advent Calendar : day 4



Four angels


Taken using my iPhone and CameraBag/Plastic

I'm busy packing up my printed tree decorations to sell on my stall at The Withersfield Christmas Bazaar – in our Village Hall from 2-4.30pm today, CB9 7RX if you want to find it on your sat-nav.



You can visit more Advent Calendar blogs at:

Fan My Flame

Jamjar Art

Dragonfly

Happiness is a bottomless button box

77 Belle

Oodles, noodles, poodles and doodles


Tizduster

The patchwork dress

HandmadebyMia

Stitch&bake

Pebbledash

Art of Textiles


If you're joining in with the Advent Calendar blog posts please let me know and I'll add your link.

Celia x