My Mum again

Here's my mum again. Finally finished yesterday!

Mum was a good sitter although I'm sure she won't mind me saying that she talks a lot. I think it is because I know her so well that I was able to get a good likeness! My mum likes it. Both my dad and my brother think that it is an unflattering painting but to me it just says mum and I am pleased with it. I think it's finished although if I keep looking at it from time to time I will probably find things to change. That is what usually happens.

Our house move went ok but we are still living in a bit of chaos. I hope to do more painting from now on though (and I don't just mean the decorating walls kind!)

My mum in acrylics

My mum... well half of my mum! Hopefully the other half will get done today. I'm fairly pleased with it but I think I might move the lips up a bit. My dad said that it was very good and that she looks as if she's just told him off. Not the facial expression I was looking for!

It feels good to be painting again. I found it really hard to get back in the saddle after Christmas especially with the house move coming up. We're moving next week and I feel as though I'm stuck in limbo. I can't wait to get settled in the new place.

My sister's Mince Pie Recipe for Matthew

10 oz Plain Flour
5 oz Butter/Margarine (Hard)
3 oz Lard (Hard)
Tablespoon Lemon Juice
Level Dessert Spoon Caster Sugar
Pinch of Salt
1 Large Egg Separated - Use Yolk and a little white (White remaining for brushing over pastry)
8 oz Mincemeat ***
Icing Sugar (Dusting)
Greased pie/cake tins

1. Use all the ingredients (except the mince meat and most of the egg white) to make the pastry.
2. Chill it in the fridge for at least 30 mins before rolling.
3. Cut out rounds using crinkle cutters (you'll have to judge the 2 different sizes for the top and bottom) and put into your greased tins.
4. Put a heaped teaspoon of mince meat in each pie and cover with your smaller pastry circles.
5. Put 2 little holes in the top of each pie to let the steam escape.
6. Glaze with the remaining egg white.
7. Cook for 10-15 minutes at 200 degrees C (not sure what that is in Fahrenheit).

*** Edit *** This is the fruit sort of mincemeat which contains dried fruit and spices

Happy new year!!

Just a quick post to say happy new year to everyone and to apologise for the recent lack of blogging. I hope you all had a happy and peaceful Christmas too.

P and I made Christmas dinner for both sets of parents which went surprising well (it was the first time either of us had ever attempted it) although I think I may have mildly poisoned P's parents with some chocolates I made. Maybe I will stick to painting them in the future.

The best ever recipe for mince pies is from my sister, the secret ingredient being lard (yuck, it really stank!) but the pastry comes out soooo short and delicious.

Our purple chilli lights got rave reviews. You can see some of the salt dough snowmen decorations that I made last year.

A Northwich Christmas

'A Northwich Christmas', Acrylic on board...

This is my home town in all it's Christmas glory. I really enjoyed painting this for Anthony at the Chronicle. I was quite nervous earlier when I took it to their office. Everyone crowded round to see as I took it out of the bag. I think they were expecting a snow covered scene of Cheshire and were pleasantly surprised. It will be published on the front page of the Christmas edition of the Northwich Mail.

I have wanted to do some night paintings of Northwich ever since seeing the work of Manchester artist, Liam Spencer.