A Day to Paint

Today was an excellent day. I spent the day painting with Jo. I tried out texture paste for the first time and I am very pleased with the result on my ploughed fields. My painting is not finished yet - I still have trees and sheep to add and detail on the stone walls. I should be able to finish next time. Jo also got very close to finishing her painting and it looks fantastic. Below are photos of our efforts and a photo of the picture that Jo's painting is inspired by.

Kate's painting - start of day

Kate's painting - middle of day

Kate's painting - end of day

Painting by Glynnis Carter

Jo's painting - middle of day

Jo's painting - end of day

Getting Plastered

For the last few years I have opted to alternate getting away for the summer and getting a room in the flat redecorated. Since I went to Spain last year, this year it was the turn of the front room for a makeover. It is the last room in the flat to receive proper attention since I moved in. Other projects are still on the cards - the double glazing is shocking and the windows will need replacing soon, but that is the next project.

So once again I am living with half of my flat stuffed into my bedroom and spare room and I am living on my bed. I have to admit that at the end of day four the dust and disruption is starting to get to me. Still, the plastering is now finished and the walls and ceiling looks brilliant. I can see that the room is going to look better and better from this point on.

Clearing the room on day 1

It's amazing what shelves hide

New socket locations

The chaos begins

Day 2 - the boards come down...

...revealing a large area of blown plaster

Plaster board is the only answer

Walls PVA'ed

Day 4 - The plaster goes on

It's goodbye to the rustic walls