Bucks Open Studios – a big thank you to everyone who came and brought family & friends. It was a great success and over one hundred people visited over the nine days. They enjoyed seeing what we do and we hope that you’ll meet some of them at our workshops! Ruth’s book was very popular and lots of copies were sold. We are already planning next year’s Open Studios when Elsalil will again be exhibiting her lovely Swedish inspired textiles and we hope to also have Pink Katz silver jewellery - see http://www.pinkkatz.co.uk/ and Lyn Halvosen who has a wonderful range of reclaimed and repainted furniture and accessories.

 

Art & Craft Days for Groups – our new venture!

If you know of a group who would like us to come and hold one of our Art and Craft days do put them in touch with us. There will be a £10 voucher for each successful referral! This could be a local Ladies Group, Church Club, Art Group or just Ladies that Lunch!

Click here to for more information.

New Paints – Mustard Seed, Melon and Peaches ‘n Cream are some of the lovely new paint colours available in our shop.

 

 Tuesday Painting Club

This got off to a great start ! We’ve had very positive feedback and there was a wide range of projects being tackled. Ruth was able to offer guidance and support whenever required and everyone was able to work at their own pace. There is still time to join in – contact Ruth for details. The next term will run over the summer holidays between Tuesday 22nd July and Tuesday 26th August.

Canvas Day – the workshop on 17th July is now full so there’s a new date – 23rd July! Try using rubber stamps into texture paste for a great new look as well as experiment with lots of mixed media.

 

Paint in the Summer holidays!

Do not worry we will still be open! New Welly Time Fun workshop – we now have an additional date for this half day workshop – Friday 8th August

Wooden-it-be-Lovely Gets Bigger!

I am really pleased to announce that at the beginning of the year Sarah Webley was welcomed on board in a new role as part time administrator for Wooden-it-be-Lovely. I am sure she will be a great asset and I will have more time to work on developing lots more exciting workshops.

Rustic Cards

 Simply and Stunning Handpainted Rustic Cards by Ruth Watkins is available now -order via the shopping page.  Lots of full colour step by step instructions and full colour pictures. Bursting with projects complete with templates. I do hope that you will enjoy it as much as I have writing it!

Look out for the baby quail chicks that appear, they are so sweet and belong to the photographers wife. You can pre-order via the shopping pages.

 

Christmas Party

Barbara drying her work!	Teacher Liz Black showing how to make star decorations.

Everyone who came to the Christmas Party and painting Day seemed to have fun and enjoyed their goodie bags. If you missed it - you really missed out! The setting was the large hall at the Thame Barns Centre, which is a lovely light and airy venue. Shopping was high on the agenda with stalls from  S and J Woodcraft with their very tempting array of MDF blanks and Auscraft who had  many tempting books and painting sundries for sale. Caroline Katz was selling her handmade silver jewelry and Laurinda brought along some wonderful scrapbooking supplies.

Rachel, Mel and Laurinda.	Sian looking happy!

Teachers Liz Black, Jenny from Auscraft and Sheila Casey all held mini workshops during the day, which were very well received. We all enjoyed a "bring and share " lunch and Christmas crackers.  After some wonderful puddings (funny how I always can find room!) we had a raffle and raised £38 for Cancer Research, thank you to those that donated prizes.

My daughter Emily was a star and helped to keep everyone supplied with tea and coffee throughout the day and did lots of washing up! I am sure you will be pleased to share in the good news that she has been offered two jobs and has excepted one  at Defaqto as a Data Researcher, which she starts in the New Year. She is looking forward to this very much.

Sarah, Barbara, Helen, Sian and Mary	Jenny and Moira with the bag she painted.

Congratulations!

More good news! Mary has become a Grandmother to a beautiful baby Girl!

Jewelry Class

A new venture for Wooden-it-be-Lovely was to have visiting teacher Caroline Katz come and hold a days silver jewelry workshop. We all were given some sheets of real silver and were shown how to cut out our design. Caroline was very patient and explained everything really well. She wasn't even cross when I leaned too hard and broke her drill bit! Sorry, Caroline!

Most of us managed to complete two or three necklaces (mine are going to family as Christmas presents) and a beaded bracelet (I am keeping this one!). We had so much fun that we have booked her to come back and show us some more next year!

Caroline has a project in the current issue of Crafts Beautiful (Jan 08).