The Stamp Lady of Stroud

.. and thanks to our wonderful postal service it arrived!(even though the stamp hadn't been postmarked).

Balloons on stamps and over the Stroud valleys.

One thing that visitors to Open Studios like is visiting artists' homes as well as looking at the wide variety of art on show.  Like many of us who live in Stroud, we have the advantage of living in a wonderful area of the country and my own studio, attached to our house,  benefits from a wonderful view.

Yesterday morning, in preparation for the last week-end of this year's Open Studios, I got up early, woken by bird song and another fairly familiar sound, that of an air balloon inflating nearby! Looking out of the window I saw a brightly coloured balloon drifting gracefully across the valley in front of our house,  and then another, and another, and another!

 I grabbed my camera, flung the windows wide open and settled in to a chair to enjoy the spectacle!

Over the period of about an hour I watched them drift by, seeing  twelve following each other at one time.

I won't promise visitors here that they will see the air balloons, as it's often early in the morning that they are launched, but the scenery will always be here to admire!

Can't help thinking this would make a wonderful subject for a stamp collage.  Air balloons have indeed appeared on many stamps over the years and form a subject for thematic collectors. The USA have also recently issued this colourful set.

Multi-tasking - in preparation for this week-end's and next week-end's Open Studios in Stroud

Exhibitions and Studio openings don't just happen - there's a lot of hard work and preparation involved and it's a time consuming but hopefully mostly enjoyable task, and if you are well organised in advance will be a rewarding experience!
Here's a list of all the jobs that have to be done to get ready:
Months in advance - decision making - making sure you will have time to get enough work to show, so getting busy and creating new artwork is a major part of it which can be ongoing right up until the opening day!  Making payments if you're involved in a joint event, such as Open Studios.
- Getting publicity via social media, press or handing out and delivering leaflets and brochures
- Having cards printed, and then putting them with envelopes and packaging them
- Getting prints of original work
_Having pictures framed, either with ready made frames which have to be chosen - involving trips to suppliers, or otherwise having them custom made - also involving trips to framers to choose mouldings etc.
- Sending out invitations by email and snail mail ..
- Hanging pictures and making card displays etc
- Making labels and deciding on prices for all your work
- Composing, typing and printing information which may be of interest to visitors
- Putting up signs
- Cleaning your house and studio ready to receive the public!
- And maybe even arranging flowers!!
- Baking cakes and making sure there will be a constant supply of tea, coffee, refreshments.
Putting up the signs so people can find the studio!

Have I forgotten anything?  Well, I hope I have remembered to do the washing so I've got something to wear!!

Jamaican Flag Stamp Collage

Finally finished my Jamaican stamp collage last night.  Love the bright colours black, yellow (or gold) and green and pleased to get six different stamps with Bob Marley in the black triangles - three on each side. Other stamps include the Jamaican bobsled team, cricketers,  Jamaican landmarks and personalities including Marcus Garvey. Native plants and butterflies also appear.