Harborough Artist's Cluster Open Studios

An recent open studios event in Market Harborough sparked much excitement and anticipation with local artists and buyers alike.

This annual event, usually held later in the year, is a unique opportunity to see talented local artists in the Harborough Artist's Cluster, exhibiting their latest work.

There were 18 artists involved: Janet Alderson-Smith, Maggie Barlow, Roger & Daniele Bradley, Derek Brittan, Kay Carpenter, Maxine Dodd, Kelly Gardner, Mark Hancock, Barbara Hatton, Marion Holden, Mikki Longley, Greta Paradine-Palmer, Dave Rolls, Brian Taylor, Lisa Timmerman, Emily Twomlow and Andrew Wynne plus an exhibition by the Embroiderers’ Guild.

 Armed with a leaflet listing the artists, addresses and a simple map, we chose a selection to visit.

The idyllic setting of the ‘The Chestnuts’, Foxton housed an exhibition by Lisa Timmerman. Lisa uses vibrant colours to create original oil and acrylic paintings of flowers. Her gallery was buzzing and several pieces were purchased while we were there.

 Across the swing bridge and into Great Bowden bought us to Kay Carpenter, who has been part of the group since 2009.  Kay exhibited her colourful watercolours and pastels, in her airy conservatory.

Still in Great Bowden, Pippins Studio is tucked away in the corner of a cul-de-sac. Here we saw two contrasting artists - Maxine Dodd and Derek Brittan. Maxine exhibited an energetic selection of ‘fast-moving sports subjects in watercolour’, while Derek had an array of ‘contemporary block-colour works.’

Onwards to ‘The Limes’ in pretty Clipston where we saw paintings by Janet Alderton-Smith and Barbara Hutton. Janet is an award-winning artist who specialises in line-drawing in bright acrylic ink, while Barbara creates ‘semi-abstract paintings in oil and acrylic.’

We finally visited Emily Twomlow in Market Harborough who inspired by nature, skillfully makes bespoke, hand-tufted rugs using 100% British wool.

With a wide selection of styles and prices, the Open Studio initiative is a great way to access local art in your area, while enjoying the beautiful Leicestershire countryside.

Visit http://www.harboroughartists.co.uk/ for more information.

All the toast you can eat!

Last week I discovered a village called Poundbury, an interesting but unusual 'extension' to Dorchester, which Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall helped create. 

There's an amazing array of houses and shops in numerous styles, which look attractive and almost too good to be true, which makes it all feel a little unreal and left me feeling like an extra on 'The Truman Show'. It would be fascinating to know if Prince Charles' has been to Disneyland and if Poundbury is his idea of Utopia...

 ...my idea of Utopia is the amazing 'Butter Market Bakery', which I visited while I was there.

This attractive café styled on an old Market Hall, is round with a high vaulted ceiling.  Entering through large doors you emerge into a large, airy space occupied by long, heavy wooden tables and benches. 

Blackboards and friendly staff advise you what to do, as initially it feels like you've just come down stairs in your friends house after staying the night and you're not sure whether to help yourself or wait to be served. But once you catch on, it's a fun - if you fancy boiling your own eggs or making your own toast with their fantastic bread, that's fine or if you would prefer a cooked breakfast, they will do that on the grill at the back of the room.  

I have to admit that I did succumbed to a deliciously crispy, pain au chocolat, which I helped myself to from a selection of perfect pastries. 

What's not to like? Rustically sophisticated, laid back and welcoming. No fuss, no frills, just great coffee, delicious pastries and all the toast you can eat!

Unfortunately their website is still under construction but in case it becomes live soon, the address is http://www.ourbakeries.com/

For more information about Poundbury, click here.

In pursuit of a cuckoo

Every year it's the same - have you seen a Swallow, are the Bluebells out yet, who’s seen the Orchids in the field on the corner, is it the Ash or the Oak or have you heard a Cuckoo? Of course the smug inquisitor has clearly heard or seen all of the above and are at pains to prove that they are the keenest naturalist among us.

Competitive by nature, I thought my moment had arrived last Friday morning when I heard a sound a little like a wooden steam train whistle issuing urgently from across the fields. I was off in the general direction with my phone out ready to record this elusive sound, keen to prove my ‘Spotify’ skills. Hurrying along the hedge-line where the Cuckoo was flying along in front of me, I caught a quick glimpse before it disappeared over the fields cuckooing as it went. Not much of a pursuit but the soulful sound left in its wake was sublime.

What is it about the Cuckoo that intrigues us? Being uncompromisingly parasitic, it might never make it into Britain’s top ten nicest birds and it’s not as if it sticks with us through thick and thin – arriving in April and off again soon after to warmer climes. Nevertheless we do seek the Cuckoo every year, as it gives us hope as we want to hear its plaintive call at least once to prove that Spring is with us, indeed it’s said that in our twilight years, if we don’t hear a Cuckoo in Spring, we won’t be around to hear it the next.

Part of our DNA, it must be the unearthly sound combined with their elusive quality that moves us, responding to a primeval feeling deep in our souls of longing and sadness with an optimistic song.

But as if to fulfil its ethereal prophesy, the Cuckoo is disappearing; numbers in Great Britain are reported to have declined by 50% over the last 15 years. It’s thought that climate change and modern farming are the causes; what a world we live in where such a unique bird may disappear simply because humans are a bigger and more effective parasite! 

To watch my video, please click here and to read more about the Cuckoo's decline click here.

Man's best fiend?

Expletives cannot describe how I felt when I came back after a quick shopping trip, 40 mins max, to find my delightful dogs had re-decorated the kitchen floor with the contents of a very full rubbish bin.

Delighted to see me, my three rescue Beagles, not the least sheepish to have caused such havoc were excitedly jumping around my feet, while I loudly lamented their ‘shabby shit’ design across my kitchen floor.

Oh the joy of wet, bloody packaging that formerly held uncooked pork and the even greater delight of the greasy torn foil that I had cooked it in. Empty avocado skins were mushed into the knotted rug, while Waitrose and Aldi packaging festered side by side – this was a diverse mixture of mayhem. A tooth marked dog food tin indicated that no item had been left untouched and left me extremely concerned what actually had been ingested – would it get stuck in the colon or pass serenely out, another treat for later?

Lost in a spasm of apoplexy, I shouted so much and at such a velocity, that the dogs next door started barking and later that evening I was hoarse!

Why do dogs do it – you rescue them, walk them twice a day, feed them, fuss them, pay the vets bills and all they do to say thanks, is chew your ‘Operation Mincemeat’ hardback, ‘Cats’ DVD and poop on the lawn.

It took me over an hour to clean up; while I’d like to think that the perpetrators had time to think carefully about their actions and reflect accordingly. I suspect and secretly hope that they felt queasy but most likely, they were concerned at the delay of their dinner and afternoon walk.

I wish my dogs were perfect – that they sat when asked, came back when called, never rolled in things long dead but they are animals like the rest of us, subject to characteristics and instincts of their type; which is why eventually I did forgive them as I also had conformed to type as a forgetful middle aged woman, who on going out knew to move the bin safety out of harm’s way but forgot!

Please share this rant with a friend and follow me using the buttons below -  thanks x

Welcome to my brand new blog!

Thanks for dropping by to have a look at my 'virgin' blog, which I do hope you will enjoy. I'd like to start by saying hello. My name is Lucinda Merriman and I'm currently studying for a Freelance Journalist Diploma with the London School of Journalism. Formerly, as a Marketer, I've written many blogs for numerous companies on a diverse array of subjects, which I trust will stand me in good stead for writing my own blog. All I need now is the inspiration to write something that you might like and for you to check-in again soon to read it!