Cambridge Artist

Easter Tree

2026-03-26T17:46:00.000+00:00

An Easter tree that resembles birch wood can be bought or made and hung with eggs that you have bought or made for a pretty Easter decoration.

Children enjoy decorating foam eggs which are cheap to buy.

This is a lot less expensive than buying flowers which die very quickly .

The Bayeux Tapestry

2026-03-17T16:47:00.012+00:00

The Bayeux Tapestry

Many years ago my father told me about a battle he had taken part in just after the D Day landings in Normandy, France.

In the town of Bayeux there is a beautiful and ancient tapestry ,hand worked by many embroiderers which describes the invasion of the Normans in England in 1066.

Hitler wanted his Nazi soldiers to remove the tapestry and take it to Germany.

British soldiers were sent to Bayeux to prevent this from happening, my father was one of them. On arrival in Bayeux there was a short battle but most of the German soldiers had fled.

My father was able to see this fascinating embroidery which is 76 feet long .

In September 2026 the tapestry is coming to The British Museum in London ,tickets for the exhibition will be in great demand.

I have decided to master the way in which the women and men who sewed it worked.

A good reference book is Bayeux Stitch by Tanya Bentham.

I have completed two examples from this book and am now tackling a more advanced piece illustrating a boat of Norman soldiers crossing the English Chanel.

Norman Soldier

Medieval Lady

Change and Loss

2024-11-05T15:16:00.004+00:00

Life Changes

It is over a year since I posted on this blog.

I have learned the hard way that life can change in an instant.

One morning in June 2023 that had started like any other morning, my dear, kind husband suddenly collapsed onto the kitchen floor. He had suffered an attack of tachycardia. His bones were already damaged by metastasised prostate cancer, the fall onto the stone floor fractured his skull causing a bleed on his brain, twelve hours later he was dead.

A few weeks after this I suddenly lost the sight from one eye through retinal occlusion. No more driving and hardest of all no more painting and drawing.

I have sold my house and moved to a Retirement Village outside Cambridge .A new downsized life style has begun.

And now a new craft to enjoy, Tapestry Weaving which I am going to write about .

This ancient craft is not about producing fabric but about making pictures .These can be very large but I make small, decorative items on table top or laptop looms .Craft shops sell the equipment quite cheaply .There are some lovely yarns available which are a pleasure to handle and easy to store.

I have viewed instructions on You Tube and bought several useful books which I shall review.

To start with I decided to work on some samples and put them in a journal. I hope to produce some Christmas decorations that are made of natural materials like wool and cotton.

These are the first pieces that I made.

First Weave

Seascape

Mug Rug

A Coronation Cake

2023-04-17T16:20:00.001+01:00

How to Make a Coronation Cake

I have been asked to make a Coronation Cake for a local party to celebrate

the coronation of King Charles 111.This needs to be a large cake.

I have started by making a decorative crown in modellers sugar paste to decorate the cake. This paste is different from fondant paste , it holds cut out designs well and hardens quickly.

The Cross will go on top at the last minute to avoid damage

I shall make the actual cake near to the day so that it is fresh .The crown will fit a six inch cake and then this will be put on a larger 9 inch base.

Betty Crocker vanilla cake made with butter not oil gives a good result and is easy to mix up in a large quantity.

I found a good set of instructions devised by lucyssugarshack which are available at

http://hobbycraft.co.uk

These instructions list what ingredients to buy for the decorations

My crown is based on the hobby craft design

Needlefelted Eggs for Easter

2023-03-14T17:22:00.005+00:00

Eggs

I am working on some owl faces as needle felted eggs to hang on my white tree.

Chicken themed decorations

Needle Felting Instruction Books

2023-01-15T16:24:00.172+00:00

Needle Felting is becoming a popular craft and one that I enjoy doing .It is a way of sculpting with wool which can be done at home without making too much mess or huge expense. I have bought a number of books about it ,I have divided up the books that I own as follows

Detailed instructions of animals and birds, seasonal items such as Easter Eggs and Christmas novelties, mainly for beginners

Sculptures of the human figure

Painting pictures using wet and dry techniques

Apparel , scarves, slippers, hats.

These are books that I bought in my first category ,small items mainly for beginners .

Roz Dace and Judy Balchin are two of the best known authors on the craft of needle felting .There are detailed descriptions of the kind of wool that can be used and clear photos of the equipment that is needed to carry out the crafts and designs shown in the book. There are templates at the back of the book which indicate scale and detail .I found the easiest thing to make was the poly bunny and the cat shown in the picture using a polystyrene egg base.

I bought Wool Buddies because I thought the figures would be simple and adapt to making Easter Egg shapes. The only thing that I made from this book was Eunice the sheep. I found the designs a bit too funky for my liking and quite complicated in some cases.

I have only just bought this book, the designs are charming and there are instruction for small things like brooches and magnets which make nice little gifts. I am looking forward to making the hedgehog design and have sent for some of the hedgehog spine fabric which is needed for a realistic look.

Rachel Austen is another popular author of needle felting design books .I bought this one just before Christmas, owing to a late delivery I only had time to make the Holy Family trio and an angel. They were much admired and I shall work on making the whole nativity scene , shepherds, three kings sheep and so on ready for next year.

Sculptures of the Human Figure

Moving on to making three dimensional wool sculptures is a step up in from basic skills. These are not toys and are not suitable for children to play with. The most comprehensive book that I have is :-

There is a lot of detail in the book and making some of the figures take a long time. Needle felting is not a craft to be rushed ,much of the pleasure comes from handling the wool and watching your work take shape.

There are a number of useful websites from which instructions may be down loaded for less than buying a book.

The Woolly Felters have instructions for making popular figures like this one of the late Queen .

http://woollyfelters.com

I am looking forward to receiving the newly published book

Needle Felting Dolls by Roz Dace and Judy Balchin

Painting Pictures with Dry and Wet Felting

Using needle felting techniques to create paintings is a move into producing works of fine art. I have only used dry felting, the books that I have provide plenty of inspiration , once you have understood the techniques it is easy to move to using photos or drawings of your own.

Landscapes in Wool gives examples of impressionistic work, layering the wool and attaching to a base of felt.

Moy Mackay is well known for her lovely textile landscapes, she adds detail with sewing by hand or machine stitching to give extra depth to the work. Details and examples of how to do this are included in Felt and Stitch.

Garments and Apparel

I have not yet tried making anything to wear but for fabulous ideas about what can be achieved have a look at

www.etsy.com/shop/SkyWool

Needle Felted Vikings

2023-01-01T15:34:00.009+00:00

St Giles Church in Cambridge UK has some lovely stained glass windows and at Christmas members of the congregation decorate the window sills.

This year I have done St. Clement. I have made some needle felted Vikings to illustrate the Vikings who settled to trade in the area now known as Quayside.They became Christians and built a Church devoted to St Clement.

St Clement was martyred by being thrown overboard with an anchor around his neck and is the patron saint of seamen.

Needle Felt Pussy Cat Portraits

2022-11-01T17:15:00.015+00:00

This Alley Cat portrait in wool and felt was popular at a local craft exhibition I have just taken part in.

Alley Cat

A companion for the ginger cat I did a while ago

Needle Felted Christmas Baubles

2022-10-28T14:49:00.011+01:00

Christmas is coming, time to start making things.

Christmas Baubles

Legend has it that in Pagan Times in Northern Europe The Fire of The Gods was stolen and given to man by Snake Lightning which lit up The Tree of Knowledge that granted consciousness to man. In order to appease the Gods men hung offerings of apples, bread rolls, and flowers on the branches of a tree. The tree would be set on fire in order to return the gift of fire to the Gods. This tradition was adapted to the Christian faith in the 8th Century.

St Boniface used the triangular shape of fir trees to introduce the concept of the Trinity. Apples were used to decorate the trees until a harsh winter killed many apple trees in 1858.Other forms of decoration were invented such as glass balls and the Christmas bauble became popular as the use of fir Christmas trees as a decoration spread around the world.

I use needle felting which uses wool to make baubles ,replacing my old plastic ones for a natural substance.

Traditional forms may include the fir tree, the candy cane, candles, wreaths ,bells ,stars and more recently birds, and snow men.

Needle Felted Broody Hens

2022-03-20T16:02:00.007+00:00

More needle felting with some hens on nests .Getting ready to use these with some eggs in the nests for an Easter display at home.

A Russian Gun in Ely

2022-03-13T16:13:00.001+00:00

This cannon was captured from the Russians in Sebastopol in 1860 and given to Ely City by Queen Victoria after the Crimean War in recognition of the successful formation of the Ely Rifle Volunteers.

It has been decorated with the flag of Ukraine.

Ely Cathedral has been a place of prayer and pilgrimage since the 8th Century.

BBC Access to News

2022-03-06T16:44:00.002+00:00

How to receive BBC News from Ukraine

Ukraine's National Flower

2022-03-01T12:11:00.000+00:00

The National Flower of Ukraine is The Sunflower

Painting and Crafting with Wool

2022-02-28T16:59:00.025+00:00

Felting

I have decided to work with a new medium for producing paintings ,sculptures and craft work.

Wool is a wonderful, natural medium, best known for lovely clothing but also used for painting sculpture and craftwork.

Here in England we have factories that are still producing beautiful wool both for spinning into fabric and unspun for artists and crafters.

I have been using dry felting techniques ,

This is some of my work, I am improving with practice.

A Marmalade Cat

Winter Night

Easter Eggs

Felted Easter Eggs

Using traditional wool from Teesdale

Memories are Made of These

2021-07-05T16:43:00.031+01:00

It seems amazing to my grandchildren that I grew up without TV, Wifi ,the internet and mobile phones. How did we face the summer break from school , what did we do in the 1940s and 50s?A simple holiday on the east coast of England was something we really looked forward to. My Dad would also add to my book collection with a story like this parent free adventure by Enid Blyton .

No burgers or pizzas were on the menu. A big treat was a bar of chocolate like Cadburys Dairy Milk. There were almost no sweets or candy at all until about 1947.My Dad was in the army , the soldiers had generous sweet rations and Dad would save his share until he came home on leave to give it to us . A Mars bar would be sliced into slivers and made to last a couple of days .

Loose leaf tea like this was the drink of choice for most people. It would be made with boiling water in a well warmed teapot and served in cups with saucers after being left to brew for a few minutes to draw out the flavour . I hated the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup. All sorts of signs were read into the formation of the tea leaves. A large floating leaf meant a significant letter was coming. My grandmother would spend hours ruminating over the possibilities. Mugs were unheard of in our house except enamel ones sometimes taken or picnics.

Food was pretty tasteless, the English had a love for boiling everything to a pulp It was not until I went to France at the age of 12 that I realised what food could really be like. Marmite which I like, was good on toast, crumpets or in sandwiches. It is enjoying a revival as it is suitable for vegetarians. There is a new version out with peanut butter added, I am not enthused by this.

Bisto was another great food improver added to gravy. Once the war was over we always had a large beef joint for Sunday lunch. These days a joint of sirloin that size would cost about £30 .The smell of it cooking was delicious .Cooked until very well done the Bisto gravy added moisture. Left overs were served cold on Monday as my Mum would be busy with washing day.

Every thing was cooked on a stove that looked like this

In 1952 Dad bought a TV. Black and white of course and 11 inches wide. Our entire family watched the the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2nd on it. My grandfather stood up every time the National Anthem was played which was frequently.

A new invention in 1964 was the introduction of Pyrosil cookware. Said to have been invented to use in connection with rocket ships this oven to table ware was popular. I still have some. I was shocked to see some on display in a museum.

Remember These?

2021-06-22T16:28:00.000+01:00

Do you recognize these from your childhood?

Then you probably grew up in the U.K before 1960

Summer Staycation Art

2021-06-13T18:27:00.143+01:00

Summer in England is going to be controlled by the pandemic.

Boris has messed up again by failing to close the borders allowing a dangerous Indian covid mutation to enter the UK and spread.

This year we have arranged to go on vacation in England. A couple of hours in the car to a nice hotel in Aldeburgh in Suffolk

No manic airport, no testing , no worries about that group coughing in the swimming pool or putting their unwashed hands into the dinner buffet.

A room with a sea view, six delicious dinners and breakfasts, nice little shops and cafes and a trip to one of the other nearby villages.

The Way We Were

Here are some of my favourite paintings of summertime in England with reminders of how holidays used to be.

Two Women in a Garden by Eric Ravilious

This reminds of the days before frozen peas when sitting in the garden shelling home grown peas was a job usually given to me. I hated finding maggoty ones.

Sea Shore by Mary Fedden

Family holidays spent on the east coast included my Dad buying us shrimping nets like these along with buckets and spades. Catching little crabs in the rocks was a great excitement.

Dandelions by William Nicholson

Picnics in the Cotswolds were popular with my family ,cheaper than cafes which were few and far between. Sandwiches, boiled eggs, home made cake and flasks of tea would be eaten sitting on a rug in a field like this. Blowing dandelion clocks were part of the fun.

Cambridge, St John's Bridge by Gwen Raverat, an LNER poster design

This is very close to where I live now.

Many people travelled by train to holiday destinations in the U.K. encouraged by posters of attractive places

I do not know who this painting is by but it reminds me of my grandmother preparing to cook fish.

Roses by Diana Armfield.

This artist is 100 years old this year. Her paintings of flowers and the country side are exquisite examples of a loose style of of art work. Reminders of the jugs of flowers from the garden my mother would have around the house in the summer.

Swimming by Janet Cockerill
Warmer days would offer opportunities to swim either in the sea or at a local lido.

Green Fields by Joan Eardley

A Scottish painters work. Cliff top walks were a bracing afternoon activity by the sea.

Heat Wave, Janet Cockerill

Where ever you are going let us hope for a heat wave so we can all get our feet into the sea.

Travelling Home for Christmas

2020-12-10T17:09:00.136+00:00

Most of us will not travelling anywhere this Christmas while the Covid 19 pandemic is still with us. Some sentimental illustrations for you dear readers to remind you of the way we were.

Home for the Holidays, Norman Rockwell

Murder on The Orient Express,Book Cover

Cambridge Market, Janet Cockerill

The Toy Shop by Timoleon Marie Lobrichon

Coach Ride, Anton Pieck

Westminster Bridge,London

Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly, London

Evening Sleigh Ride, Beinke Fritz

The Spirit of Christmas, Regent Street, William Heath Robinson

Going to School, Janet Cockerill

Piccadilly Snow

A Good Cause, Janet Cockerill

After a Hard Day, Janet Cockerill

Frozen, Janet Cockerill

Blizzard in New York, Janet Cockerill

Wherever you are and however you are getting there I wish you all Happy Holidays with your loved ones. This piece of music is an old favourite ,Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.This must be viewed on the web version if you looking at this blog on your phone.

Destitution and Poverty?After Covid 19

2020-10-15T16:07:00.032+01:00

This morning a commentator suggested that a result of the loss of incomes and closure of work places will result in destitution and poverty for many people.

In case you have never seen these scourges this is how some artists have drawn them

The Stone Breakers ,Courbet

Beggars At The Door, Rembrandt

Brot, Kathe Kollwitz

The Absinthe Drinker, Degas

Tenement Children, Joan Eardley

Slum Children Joan Eardley

Plague,Disease,Death, how artists have reacted.

2020-03-15T17:06:00.001+00:00

The world is facing a new plague,Covid19,these are some paintings and illustrations from the past showing how artists reacted in their own time to similar disasters.

Death Seizing a Mother by Kathe Kollwitz,1934

The last great pandemic, Influenza 1918

The Doctor,Luke Fildes, 1891

Applicants for Admission to a Casual Ward, Luke Fildes 1891

Diptheria,Richard Cooper Tennant

Widowhood

Snow Scenes,Favourites Ancient and Modern

2019-12-23T17:39:00.000+00:00

Painted Winter

We have not had any serious snow in the UK yet, I love it as long as it does not go on for too long.As soon as there is some snowfall I go out with a camera to find suitable views to turn into paintings.Given that I live in a city with many lovely old buildings that is not hard.
Winter snow scenes remind me of memories of Christmas, friends and family returning home ,and the cool, cold silence and peace that a deep fall of snow imparts.
Many famous artists have painted snow scenes , here are some of my favourites.

Winter Landscape ,Rowland Hilder

Painting by Jack Sorenson

Cover for The New Yorker 1942

Village Scene Christmas Card by Evynd Earle

Snow Scene ,Pissaro

Hunters in The Snow ,Breughal the Elder

Blizzard by Nina Macquire

Returning Home, Ellison Hoover

City Under Snow by Anton Piek

Selling my stuff,Ebay or Amazon?

2019-11-19T16:21:00.000+00:00

My Cambridge Attic is still full of books

After a week of trying to set up an Amazon Selling account I have got absolutely nowhere.They keep telling me I have to send different documents to prove that I am me,
perhaps I should stick with my ebay account.

At least it has given me more time to select a few books to sell.

When the account is finally set up I shall start with these two.

This book published in 1985 is full of charming illustrations to well known poems
about elves and fairies.

A more recent book is

I bought this book very recently,it is a very full account of modern still life .It was not quite what I wanted and I shall be selling it for a lot less than the £22 I paid for it.

Too Much Stuff

2019-11-11T11:37:00.002+00:00

The time has come, I have to get rid of some of my stuff, it is taking over especially the books so I have spent hours opening an Amazon (UK) selling account and will be selling some of my lovely books under the name

Cambridge Attic

My attic is not quite as bad as this but it will be if I do not start downsizing soon.

Photo by De Mies found on Pinterest

Witches ,Goblins ,Mischief, Famous Scary Illustrations for Dark Nights

2019-10-27T16:38:00.002+00:00

The clocks have changed, the nights are getting darker .Time for witches and other spooky characters to step out .

Something Wicked This Way Comes

The Autumn People by Frank Frazetta (1965)

On a Bat's Back I Do Fly by Helen Jacobs (1880-1970)


Two Witches Inscribed Teheran

The Wind's Tale (Hans Anderson) by Dulac (1882-1975)

The Witch from Walt Disney's film of Snow White

Rip Van Winkle by Arthur Rackham

Halloween Illustration for War Time 1942

Hansel and Gretel, Arthur Rackham

Summer Days Turned Into Paintings

2019-10-12T16:12:00.000+01:00

Summer is over and I have used the things that I saw around me to make 3 paintings for an exhibition.

One of my academic neighbours let a rose bush grow wild and it has reverted to natural flowering for a brief period in June showing the pretty traditional Tudor rose blossoms. Still to be seen in our hedgerows in England.

I have inherited a lot of pottery and china from my grandmothers and mother .I shall have to cut down on it sometime but have fond memories of drinking tea with my family brewed in this old teapot.

Sunflowers did well in my garden , their big golden heads alive with bumble bees and butterflies.The shops were full of big cheap bunches of them too.I saw the Van Gogoh exhibition in London in July, who could resist having a go at a sunflower painting after seeing his?

The Final Result

Three paintings entered for the Cambridge Open Art Exhibition

Grandma's Teapot sold already.