Faber-Castell Trip

I have just returned from a fascinating trip to the Faber-Castell headquarters and factory near Nuremberg. This was a preliminary to taking a group there in August. We had a tour of the factory where they make the Polychromos pencils, most other pencils and pens are manufactured elsewhere mainly in a vast plant in Brazil.  There are 180 stages to making a single Polychromos pencil with rigorous testing at every stage. Huge attention to detail both in the product manufacture and the packaging which is why these pencils are so good to work with.  We also visited the Museum and the Castle and then spent some time exploring the old, walled centre of Nuremberg, finishing with a visit to the house Albrecht Durer lived and worked in for most of his life.  So I think the holiday in August should prove a very interesting trip.  Booking details will be available on the website soon.

NEWS FLASH

Also please note those of you who have been already sent details of this year’s workshops that the one-day workshop at my studio on 5th June has been changed to 6th June as we will be having Jubilee celebrations on the 5th.

Trop to British Museum 1

We know how to have a good time!!

The Cygnets at the British Museum

No expense spared, slap-up lunch.

Trip to British Museum

Before Christmas I joined the ‘cygnets’ at the British Museum for a fascinating day studying some of Mary Delaney’s amazing collage work.  The trip was beautifully organised by our chief cynget Janet with some interesting background information supplied by Brenda.  Mary did nearly 1,000 of these decoupage pieces and we only saw about 24 but it was well worth the effort.  We all enjoyed a slap up lunch and a jolly good catch-up and I am already looking forward to our next meeting in 2012.

Latest puppy pics

Sorry not very botanical but I know a lot of you are interested in the little fellow.  Ollie I mean not Alan!!

RHS Wisley Workshops

Happy New Year to everyone, thank you all for your lovely cards and apologies to those of you who normally would have received Christmas cards and who didn’t.  The attached photos will explain why! He’s called Oliver, ‘Ollie’ to friends and is a very cheeky and energetic Miniature Schnauzer.

For those of you anxious to book with RHS Gardens Wisley for this year’s workshops BOOKING HAS NOW STARTED!!!

Also I have had a lot of enquiries re the French holiday for the end of September/October and it looks as though it will be going ahead.  If you are interested let me know and we will be posting full details on the site by February.

Latest Wisley Upate for Workshops 2012

For those of you who are anxious about booking for Wisley 2012 the latest update is that their brochure for workshops should be ready and mailed out to everyone on the mailing list by the second week in December.  Booking on the ticket line will then go ahead.

For those of you who have not been to Wisley before and are not on the mailing list if you email adultlearning@rhs.org.uk requesting a brochure they will put you on the mailing list so you don’t miss out.

I will also post a blog then so you can keep up to date.

HOT PRESS – New Pencils from Prismacolor

Exciting news, I have just heard that Prismacolor have issued 18 new colours. Some are old colours that had been withdrawn and are now reissued. This includes Light Grey Green which used to be in their Lightfast range and was withdrawn a couple of years ago.

This is very exciting for us botanical artists as this green is soooo useful for backs of leaves, bloom etc., etc., so I am very excited.

I will do some research to locate a stockist and let you know asap.

Workshops at RHS Gardens Wisley 2012

The website has now been updated but for those of you who are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to sign up for next year’s workshops at Wisley, I am told booking will start from November. Telephone 0845 6121253.

RHS Wisley

Just a quick note to let you all know that the workshops at Wisley are going on sale in October and that the July date has changed from 3-4th July to 18/19 July and will be held in the new teaching room over by the large glass house.  When I have exact date for booking I will post it on the website.

Happy drawing.