chicken

I've no idea why I said I would report back on how I got on with handing out publicity yesterday.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  I didn't do any, in the end. Well, apart from visiting a lovely, tiny, cosy bookshop which is only about a mile from my house, which I have never visited before.  I was delivering some copies of "Pushing Out the Boat", so I suppose that counts as publicity/PR/whatever.  It was a delightful little place, run by an equally delightful little lady.  We had a pleasant chat, then I had a browse and bought a beautiful book about Elizabeth Blackadder, at work in her studio.  I did do a bit of what I like to think of as research, looking in the windows of the local shops to see if they had copies of the NEOS catalogue on show.  Quite a few of them did, so I heaved a sigh of relief.  Hence the title of today's blog.

Today has been more productive - printing out and mounting photographs.  This all takes much longer than you might think.  It certainly takes me much longer than I thought it would.  It would help, of course, if I had all my photographs neatly catalogued....

These are some of the pictures I mounted today; quite small things

North East Open Studios

The countdown has begun.  North East Open Studios starts next Saturday.  So far, my "marketing" has taken the form of posting a different image each day of a watercolour painting as my profile picture on Facebook.  Also, e-mailing friends.  I must do more.  I will be exhibiting original paintings, photographs, mounted works (prints and photos) and also a range of greetings cards.  In fact, as I am now thinking about it, I must go out into the world (well, to the local shops at least) and distribute some catalogues and put up some posters.  Am I brave enough?  I have not done anything like this before.  Surely it cannot be that hard?  I'll let you know...

writing update

So much for the blog-writing, it seems to have fallen by the wayside.  I have been busy doing other things - have just submitted what I hope is a novella to a national competition.  No, international competition, in fact.  Probably has not a hope in h*** of getting anywhere, but hey, we all have to start somewhere.  I'm also in the process of getting a number of paintings (watercolours) framed, in anticipation of some exhibitions that are coming up.   So, yes, I have been busy.  Too busy to blog....

photographs

Finally, finally, finally, I have got myself organised with my Photobox Pro Gallery.  It is now possible for people to buy some of my photographs online.  However, I need to be able to let folk know that they are there, available to be bought (not just photos, but exciting things like coasters and framed prints, as well!).  So far, there are four albums.  More will be added when I find the time/decide which ones merit going up there. 

Should you wish to peruse, they are at :
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/pebblesonthebeach

One of the photographs is included above to (hopefully) tempt you.

dogs

Two new dogs joined our family last week.  I say "new" in the loosest form of the word, as they are eight and twelve years old.  You might say, if you're not that keen on dogs, that they are secondhand.  We have rehomed them, certainly, and many folk have said how good we are to have done so, and how lucky they (the dogs) are to have found us.  So far, we are feeling lucky to have found them!  They are lively, obedient (mostly, as far as a beagle's nature can allow), happy, relaxed boys and have made us all smile a lot more in this house than we have been doing recently...

publishing

Three firsts yesterday :

First ever short story publication -  one year and one month after ceasing work. 
Feels good, feels very good, in fact! 

First ever public reading of my own creative writing also under my belt.  Survived; enjoyed it, even.

First signing of my own publication (creative) - along with other contributors, and committee, a copy of Pushing Out the Boat that may be auctioned one day...

You can visit the Pushing Out the Boat website here :

http://www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/

gardening

Finally, I think my interest in gardening has been rekindled.  By what, I do not know.  Well, I do have a fairly good idea, but am not going into that right now.  Major life events might have something to do with it.  There are probably deep psychological reasons, but I am not bothered right now about delving into those depths.  I am interested in plants again.  Not just flowers, but plants; roots, bark, leaves, textures, colours, scents, petals, buds.... yes, it's spring again and I have noticed.  Crathes Castle was a wonderful place to visit yesterday.  These few photos are from there...