Twenty Seventeen

Here we are, beginning of March already! Linda and I are working through the list of stuff that was put on hold during November, December of last year. Mind you, January was relatively busy
supplying our outlets and website orders and getting taxes sorted. We did manage a belated Christmas works do celebration as a thank you to our wonderful crew of helpers. It began with cocktails at the Blind Tiger and then on to No 4 Butchers Row for a meal. Very nice!!! Thanks again everyone for all your hard work.

Theres been a lot of sorting and clearing out on the top floor where we do all the product packaging for our outlets and online orders. Sometimes you just have to be brutal when it comes to getting rid of stuff.
Get rid of the clutter!!! Efficiency is the key, well, thats the idea anyway.

Talking of which, on Sunday we drove to Oswestry to drop off an order for Booka Bookshop. The idea was to combine this with a walk around the hill fort. We decided to do the walk first. When we eventually got to the hill fort after a couple of wrong turns, the weather had become decidedly bone chillingly grim. This alone did not stop us but the sight of a large number of noisy walkers in high vis who were gathered at the bottom of the hill in preparation for a guided tour of the fort did. So, off came the walking boots and back into the car with the heater full on. On our way to Booka, we were suddenly seized  by the desire to visit Cambrian House Emporium to see if they had any Victorian fireplace combinations and use the loo. We came away with a french oak cheese draining box and two oak foldable trestles and they kindly let us use the out of order loo that wasn't really out of order. More clutter I hear you say; but our reasoning on these particular purchases is geared towards efficiency and practicality and most of all a lovely warm way of presenting our products at open studios and events. The oak just glows!!!

Open Studio Winter 2016

First things first, a splendid tree from Pomona Grocery which Linda and I decorated quite early on to make sure it wasn't a last minute rush before the invitation only date for winter Open Studio on 1st December.  It's the first time ever all the lights worked from the get go. Mind you this was the only Christmas preparation we managed to get in it seems, before the 24th. Our feet never touched the ground!

For the 2016 Winter Open Studios we utilised the basement, ground floor and first floor.
The basement featured Sunny Side Art prints in the gallery section and Sunny Side Art ceramics, textiles, cards and Bargain Corner (always popular) in the basement shop.
The ground floor featured the tree and we were lucky enough to have the amazing Stuart Goodhew on piano. Add to the mix some mulled cider and we had a party going on!! On the first floor Linda entertained guests in her studio and upstairs gallery which featured Linda's oil, acrylic and water colour paintings.

By creating a new space, the upstairs gallery was a huge success. In all, seven paintings were sold; the  hoopoe's with gold leaf proving very popular.

Whether it's the summer or winter, the open studios are always a great social and cultural event. In this day and age where so much time is spent is spent behind computers, it's so important to meet people face to face. We were also able to make a donation of £100 to the Severn Hospice.
So thank you to everyone who came and made it all worthwhile. See you for the 2017 Open Studios.

Linda's Radio Shropshire Interview

                                         


Linda talks about her passion for drawing as a youngster and her early professional career.

Linda's Mural at Salop Leisure Cafe

                                            The cafe at Salop Leisure has taken on a new look featuring Linda's fantastic mural.
Oh yes, also featuring Lottie and Teddy.

Booka Bookshop Window Painting

Theres something special about a window painting, definitely a silver lining on this particular rainy day in Oswestry.

An event to celebrate the exclusive collaboration between Sunny Side Art and Booka Bookshop for Booka's "Oswestry Stories," was hosted by the team at Booka. Linda recreated part of the Oswestry Story design on the shops window.
The evenings event was a great success. The new bone china mug from The Potteries with the gorgeous hand painted rim looked amazing.

Thanks everyone at Booka for being the perfect hosts!

Booka Bookshop Card Delivery

Hot off the press, new Oswestry card designs from Linda.
Quick, get them delivered to the team at Booka Bookshop!

The Noisiest Stairs In The World

One of the best ways to get over a bout of cabin fever is to visit Stoke. We love going to Stoke. Our trip on Tuesday included a visit to two potteries and three trips to the Gladstone Museum.

After numerous cups of tea, we set off in good time for our eleven o'clock appointment. Although it was drizzly and grey our spirits were high.

We arrived in Stoke about 10.30 desperate for the loo. We agreed that the Gladstone Museum, which was close to both potteries and with ample parking, would also provide the necessary facility for our pressing needs. Cautiously we approached the museum. We entered an unmanned door and turnstile and clicked our way in. We read the museum tour blurb (quickly) and discovered that the tour required two and a half hours of our time. The entrance hall was devoid of staff, anyone for that matter. We discovered that the toilets and cafe were upstairs. Brilliant, we could use the facilities and have a quick coffee without doing the tour. As we ascended the stairs, the musty museum hush was suddenly shattered by the most extraordinarily loud creaking, it was like an alarm going off. It was impossible to navigate quietly, we had given away our position. The toilets were very clean and noticeably quiet. Our foil of buying something at the cafe to substantiate the use of the toilets was uncovered by the fact that it wasn't open until eleven.

The only way out of course was back down the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK and then through the shop where we sheepishly brought a couple of marbles  informing the knowing staff that we would possibly be back for the tour later.

Between appointments we had enough time to pop back to the museum, through the turnstile, click click click. Up the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK. Into the nice clean quiet loo's, flush flush. (It's difficult at this point not to turn everything into a techno audio soundscape) Into the cafe; where we grabbed a couple of sweet snack things to go. Back down the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK. Through the shop, hi, yes it's us again and out the exit.

After our second appointment we once again returned to the Gladstone Museum. Through the turnstile, click click click. Up the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK. Into the cafe for a quick pot of tea and a scone. Yum yum yum. Into the loo, flush flush.

 Instead of the usual written descent, here is an actual video account of the

                                              NOISIEST STAIRS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!