Beautiful Arundel, Paint workshops, chests and other stuff

Good Morning

from

Arundel Eccentics

It's dawned wet and grey here in Arundel,

but we have had some beautiful mornings just recently.

Dancing horses

On Monday, I had a paint workshop here,

 at the Riverside Studio

 studio and hence was up

 and around early, preparing.

I glanced across the field opposite our little Victorian cottage,

 and here was the lovely scene that met my eyes.

It was frosty and  still cold, but the sun

 was just up and the ground 

was starting to warm,

so there was steam rising.

 You could see the horses breathe as

 they gambolled around the field.

The light was just stunning.

I ran in for my trusty camera.......

Watch the sequence...

the three horses were dancing

 around the field together.

 a little roll around..........

but...dont' leave me behind

Until eventually, they had a little conference in the middle of he field. 

It was a lovely sight first thing n the morning.

vintage chests

We have had several paint and distress and decoupage

 workshops over the past week.

Somehow, though, I'm still managing

 to finish chests of drawers

and get them down to our antiques warehouse.

I'm really pleased with how this one has finished up,

as it was in a bad way when we found it.

We can send him on his way for another 100 years now. Ha Ha

Arundel Walks

As you walk down Mill Road in Arundel,

you might notice that the last 

of the adolescents in the Swan family

appear to have flown the nest. 

I noticed just one staying put, last week.

It feels very much as if Spring is approaching

The ducks are getting pretty frisky,

so, no doubt, it wont be long before

 we can watch the new life

 on the streams down there.

Each year we watch the swans and their new brood.

On my walk on Sunday, I went down Mill Road...

and around Swanbourne Lake

 and up into Arundel Park..........

Swanbourne Lake

This sign made me feel sad as we wont be seeing the horses galloping again, in Arundel Park

One of the joys of walking through Arundel Park
early in the morning
was watching
John Dunlop's racehorses
 being exercised.

 you find the most stunning views up there..........

back down to Swanbourne lake

First signs  of Spring in Arundel Park

Paint workshops

I had a great workshop day on Saturday.

Nancy was lucky enough to have the day by herself and my undivided attention,

so we managed to transform two pieces and she went home a very happy person.

This was the box she had found.
It's probably 19th century , heavy lovely old pine.
She said it cost her about £40

We took all the tacks and bits and pieces off first.

This chair had been hers as a child and had been either in loft or garage, and was in quite a state.
She wanted to restore it for her little girls room.

We had a great day and she went home with her pieces really happy.

paint workshops

Do you have an old wreck of a piece?

Ha Ha

No, I'm not talking about spouses.

An old sad looking item.

Actually, even a new sad looking item

You can manage to change

 it's entire persona,

have a fun day,

 eat a great veggie munch at lunch time

with a glass or two of wine,

(if you promise not to fall asleep in the afternoon)

make friends,

and learn a new skill.

It will open up new worlds, if you haven't had a go already.

People leave our little studio,

 proudly clutching their transformed pieces and

head straight for the nearest car boot sale to buy more items,

 or the paint shop for more materials,

or they empty out their garden shed to use as a workshop.

We've had them all.

One friend who was on a workshop,

 went home and was inspired to begin a whole new sideline.

Working in a punishing full time job, 

she said returns home and paints until silly o'clock

in the morning,

and has sold loads of the pieces

 she makes from driftwood.

We, at Arundel Eccentrics 

are excited to see how the one day we offer

does not exactly change someone's life,

but certainly it seems to add a new dimension for many people 

Workshops early 2013

Learn to
paint & distress,
wax and age,
crackle and craquelure
decoupage,
& gild.....
make an old piece of furniture
you
found unloved,
looking seriously
destined for the rubbish tip,
into, at the most, a work of art
& treasured heirloom
at the very least
very much more beautiful than it did.
At the same time, enjoying
the tranquillity
of our
Riverside Studio
in the beautiful,
country town of Arundel,
where
you will be learning in a small friendly class
and enjoying a tasty, vegetarian lunch
with a glass of wine.

I know, I know, LOL, they really are as fun as they sound

We have met some lovely people and had
some great workshops over the past few months.

Here is what some of them have to say.....

"What a wonderful, inspirational day,

I loved every minute of it"

"What an incredible experience

 doing decoupage with Brenda."

Ha ha this person added

"her ideas and her talent are endless,

her charm is delightful,

now add her scrumptious lunch

and you won't want to leave"

Thank you Sandy,

I only just noticed all those 

wonderful things you said, 

and now my head is 

so large I cannot get

 out of my house through the door.

I would also like to officially

 sign you up as my agent.

Ha Ha

" I never thought I could 

do anything remotely usable"

said Chrissie,

who turned this

and this

into this...she had NEVER done anything like this before.

We use all sorts of products

and introduce people to 

painting, distressing and waxing,

crackle glaze,

craquelure

gilding,

decoupage,

 and aging pieces in all different ways.

Dates for workshops

A day costs £95, but if you would like to do the whole weekend,with a friend or two,

we will do both days for £150 per person.

Dates for workshops 2013

Preparing, Paint, distress, 

crackle glaze and wax a small item of furniture

Course code 1

Saturday 16th March

Monday 25th March

Thursday 4th April

Tuesday 16th April

Introduction to decoupage

Paint , distress and 

then decoupage and finish

 a small item of furniture

Course code 2

Sunday 17th March

Tuesday 26th March

Friday 5th April

Thursday 18th April

Introduction to Craquelure,

 varnish, wax and 

finish a small item of furniture

Course code 3

Wednesday 20th March

Saturday 13th April

Friday 26th April

Introduction to gilding with decoupage
on a small item of furniture

Course Code 4

Friday 22nd March
Sunday 14th April
Saturday 27th April 

So saying, 
if absolutely
 none of these
dates are any good to you
and you would like
 to come on one 
of our workshops
 please email me
 a few dates that 
are convenient
to you
and lets see if we 
can coordinate something

arundel.eccentrics@sky.com

If you would like to join us

just print off the booking form

(link below)

BOOKING FORM

and send a deposit cheque with the completed form.

All the details are on the form.

or email me
arundel.eccentrics@sky.com

Have a great day

www.arundeleccentrics.com