Catching up on Shop of the Week

Two shops this week as I fell a little behind last week whilst I was preparing for Reading Arts Week.  The first shop is Kitzie G who sells items with her beautiful botanical designs on.  You can read an interview with Kitzie here.

The second shop is Red's Ribbons where you can buy gorgeous burlesque-style accessories.  You can read an interview here.

  

Last Day of Reading Arts Week - Come Join Us!

Last day of Reading Arts Week 2012 – Come down and bring your art work with an easel and join us!

The Big Art Picnic

Friday 29 June, 2pm – 8pm
Caversham Court Gardens
FREE Entry!

Art stalls, outdoor art exhibition by Reading College, fashion show
and free boat trips (12-6pm)  to Caversham Lock to see the Arts Week Mural!

Performance Schedule

2pm - Street Dance by Geoffrey Field Junior School
2:30pm - Splendour of Misfortune Reading College band performs
3pm - Luke Paulo – Singer/Songwritter

3:30pm - Progress Theatre to perform a teaser from Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare

4pm - Irish Dancing by Scoil Rince Celtus UK

4:25pm - The Mayor of Reading announces Reading Arts Week Winner 2012

4:30pm - Reading Arts Week Fashion Show by Lyndsey Clark & Adrienne Henry

4:55pm - The Mayor leaves by boat to Caversham Lock to unveil the Arts Week Mural by Helen Brady

4.55pm – 50 members of Caversham Rock Choir perform live

5:30pm - Headspace - Reading College band performs

6pm The Patient Wild performs live

7pm - 8pm – The emotive and complex Mercia returns for the second year!

Bring along a rug and a picnic and enjoy an
 afternoon and evening of local entertainment!

www.reading.gov.uk/artsweek

Reading Arts Week is nearly here!

I popped down to the Penta Hotel in Reading to drop of two of my paintings this evening for this weekend's Reading Arts Week exhibition.  It's free to get in and showcases a wide range of professional and up and coming artists from across Reading.

You can find out more on Facebook, the Reading Borough Council website, or you can follow on Twitter.

It looks like it's going to be a soggy weekend so why not pop along for something to do!

New Paintings

I did my Philosophy exam on Friday so no more uni until September now.  That (in theory) means more time for painting.  Good thing too as I've lots coming up over the next month so hopefully I'll sell a few.

I finished this painting yesterday.  More to show over the next few days too.

Shop of the Week - Merry Go Round UK

It's that time of the week again and this week the Shop of the Week is Merry Go Round UK.  Julia makes a range of handmade accessories and supplies. You can take a look at an interview with Julie here.

Turning Veggie

So, after years of attempts & wanting to do it, I've finally managed to turn vegetarian!  I had managed to considerably cut down the amount of meat I was eating and was only buying organic meat from the supermarket.  By adopting an organic-only policy, I found we naturally ate less meat anyway as it's not cheap!  However, it's better all round for health reasons not to mention the welfare of the animals so we were happy paying the extra for it.  Even so, after a while, eating organic wasn't enough to ease my guilt over eating our farmyard friends!

It's been a month now and I'm finding it a lot easier than I thought I would.  I don't eat salad at all which makes it a bit more of a challenge for me.  Yes I know, a salad-dodging vegetarian who ever heard such a ridiculous thing!

I think I've found it easier this time as I'm not doing it because I feel I 'should' as an animal lover but because I can no longer reconcile eating meat with my love of animals.  Maybe I'll share the video that tipped me over the edge with you some time!

To be honest, I think it's never been easier for one to become vegetarian if they want to.  For starters there are some really impressive ranges of meat substitutes now.  Of course, if you love a nice rare steak then a meat substitute may not do it for you but for me, the removal of the guilt when I eat means it tastes delicious!  I've also actually found the experiences with new food really exciting.  Now, when we go for dinner, we try places that are vegetarian-friendly and I've been sampling all manner of new dishes that I would have previously overlooked.

I'm also lucky that my husband Kieren has been incredibly supportive and has enthusiastically tried all the new dishes I have been cooking - gorgeous curries, chillies & stews.  It's been made easier by our joint love of spice - I don't miss meat at all in the yummy hot & spicy curries I've been making.  It's also been surprisingly easy to keep up with my weight loss plan.  Mind you, I was a bit naughty over the bank holiday weekend with some cinnamon buns and a trip to the new Patisserie Valerie in town but I'm back on the wagon now!

I haven't entirely given up milk yet but I have cut out butter and have substantially reduced my dairy intake and I don't eat cheese anyway.  I am still eating eggs although I only buy organic ones.  Long-term I'd really like to get some chickens so I know for certain that any eggs I eat come from happy chucks!

Well, that's about it for now.  I'd love to hear your stories of turning veggie/vegan or even if you've made a decision to cut down on the amount of meat you eat.

New Sale Section

I've now got a Sale Section in my Etsy shop.  This is where you can pick up paintings at a reduced price.  Take a look and you can see some of the paintings for sale!

Reading Arts Week 23-29 June 2012

I'm pleased to share with you that I'm going to be part of Reading Arts Week from 23rd to 29th of June 2012. Two of my pieces are going to be part of the exhibition at the Penta Hotel in Reading on 23rd & 24th June.  There's a flyer below to give you more information.  I will also have a pop-up shop on a couple of dates in that week - more details to follow soon.  

Shop of the Week - Natural Bathing Co

Well it's Wednesday, what a great four-day holiday it was even though it was raining.  Still, only 3 days of work left until the weekend!  Quick blog post to introduce you to this week's Shop of the Week which is the Natural Bathing Co this week.  Natural Bathing Co makes gorgeous handmade organic soaps and other lovely bathroom items.  You can read an interview here and you can visit the Etsy store here.