Hello! Fancy seeing me here...............
I've been away because of illness, and I'm still not back to full health, but I had to pop by and say hello.
And I have to say a huge thank you for all your encouraging comments on my last post. Gosh, thank you so much, you were very, very kind and generous with your comments, thank you so, so much.
So yes, I've been down with a particularly nasty racking cough, which has now become a cold, and as with all things, feeling sorry for myself hasn't helped me get better.
Just being here does make me feel I've returned to normal a little, and that is something to rejoice over. Don't you find that when you get well after illness, life seems ever so wonderful? I'm not at that stage yet, but maybe I'm getting there.
I've been enjoying the Primulas on the window sill, they've been cheering me up a lot.
Aren't Primulas the most gorgeous cheery flowers? Just so vibrant, which is perfect for this time of year.
Whilst I have been pretty ill, as is often the way if you're self-employed like I am, illness is not allowed to get in the way of work, we just have to soldier on, however lousy we feel, and soldier on I have. Mostly.
I've been doing some work to this painting I started a while ago, and enjoying working with the warm colours.
It's following a similar theme to the painting above, which is still on-going.
I've been doing some work on my paper mache figures too. One Evangeline finished but not photographed yet.
I also managed to venture out of the house last Friday night for the private view of the exhibition I'm in, in Edinburgh. I felt slightly drunk with it all. The exhibition is very impressive, beautifully displayed in wonderful rooms. I still can't quite believe my pieces made it into that show. Both works are displayed on some plinths Hugo made for me. A couple of days before the show opened, there was a call from the secretary of the SSA saying that we had to provide the plinths, or my work would sit on the floor (!). So Hugo made two in one evening, and took them up to Edinburgh for me the next evening. I'm so fortunate that Hugo is a whizz at making things, and he missed his Life Boat meeting to take the plinths all the way to Edinburgh.
Righty-ho, that's all I've got the energy for today, so I'll say cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx
Vanessa
I hope you're feeling better soon!
As you know I check your blog regularly and was quite worried when you hadn't posted - glad to hear you are on the mend!!!
Jane x
Posted by: jane smallcombe | February 07, 2011 at 07:31 PM
Vanessa, I missed you last week, so I am glad to hear that you are feeling a bit better.
Posted by: Jacqueline | February 07, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Sorry you have been ill.Glad to have you back.I missed your blog.Hope you continue to improve and quickly.
Posted by: barbara | February 07, 2011 at 07:44 PM
Yeugh coughs and colds are most unpleasant and really do interfere with the business of getting on with life, hope you have a full recovery soon and continue to have those pretty primulas and your paints to cheer you up.
So pleased the exhibition is going well too, well done you and sidekick Hugo xox
Posted by: Penelope | February 07, 2011 at 07:52 PM
Sorry to hear you've been under the weather Vanessa, must be all the more difficult when you are self employed and your work space is temptingly at home. Glad to hear you're on the mend. The Spring flowers available now are wonderful aren't they? I bought a few mixed bunches just from the supermarket today but they had anemones which I love and also paperwhites and narcissi which smell heavenly.
Take care of yourself. Was thinking of you today as I made up the spare bed and admired my Fair Isle hottie which you created, clever stick (lucky me)!
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | February 07, 2011 at 08:05 PM
all that colour must help....wish you well
Posted by: ella | February 07, 2011 at 08:12 PM
Vanessa, we may go to Edinburgh over the next 3 weeks at some point and will pop into the RSA and have a gander! Well done Hugo for rescuing the situation - it's not always clear what they want for submissions. It's such a marvellous, grand building. Did you meet lots of interesting folk at the private view? My parents used to exhibit there, once or twice a year for the RSW and RSA Annual exhibition and the highlight was going to the viewing and observing! The Annual exhibition is held else where now, so I haven't been into the RSA for a couple of years. ls Evangeline going to be for sale? Are you considering doing any more pigs - could you let me know your thoughts, only I'm due a birthday present! Katie x
Posted by: Vintage Squirrel Katie | February 07, 2011 at 08:12 PM
Hope you feel better soon! My hubby went thru that one in November, I know just how you must feel. We had too many late nights trying to get him to stop coughing, he finally had to have two courses of v. strong antibiotics.
You've done some wonderful work while you've been poorly, those flower and teacup paintings are really outstandingly gorgeous!
Posted by: mlleparadis | February 07, 2011 at 08:22 PM
Lovely art work and colours - get well soon x
Posted by: faith76 | February 07, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Vanessa Sorry to hear you haven't been well - I hope you're soon on the mend!
I love your flowers in their teacups and the lovely colours of the primulas
Take care of yourself!
Posted by: Gill | February 07, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Colds are so pesky! I love your paintings and I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by: Kimbles | February 07, 2011 at 08:38 PM
I love your cup of tea paintings so much, they satisfy me on so many levels. So sorry to hear you have been unwell, I have a picture of you in my mind wearing a long, pale musliny dress painting away and looking very consumptive and 19th centuryish. Take lots and lots of photos of the exhibition, lots of love, Kate xxooxx.
p.s. you are so right about the bunnies taking all of the attention. They are so cute I have to duck out and feed them dandelions every two minutes... as a result though they are becoming very tame and one even began grooming my hand for me today!!!
Posted by: kate is greedy | February 07, 2011 at 08:50 PM
Hope that you are feeling better soon. If it's a nasty cough you have I had the same before Christmas and it did seem to drag on forever which is debilitating in itself. The primulas are lovely and good luck with the Exhibition and hope you shift the lurgy soon!
June.
Posted by: June | February 07, 2011 at 08:56 PM
Bless you, Deary, and feel better soon. Please take care of yourself as much as you can, what with having work to plow through regardless of the sniffles and coughals.
Posted by: Liz W in Missouri, USA | February 07, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Sorry to hear you've been unwell Vanessa! Wishing you a speedy recovery to full health and wonder at life....
Hugo is such a legend making you plinths and delivering them, isn't he just the best.
Hoping we get to see some pictures of yuor work IN the exhibition so it can be like we are there too!
Lots of love from Alice and Raymond XXXXX
oh and your primulas are so healthy and beautiful!
Posted by: Alice and Raymond!!! | February 07, 2011 at 10:17 PM
Hello Vanessa, I'm sorry to hear you've been feeling poorly - a cought can be a horrid business. I do hope you feel all better soon - I know what you mean about enjoying every minute once you're well again.
Your primroses have cheered me up too!
Posted by: Emma | February 07, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Hope you feel better soon Vanessa- my sympathies, I have a persistent sinus infection that just won't go away- roll on Spring and sunshine!
Posted by: Kate | February 07, 2011 at 11:13 PM
Sorry you've been poorly Vanessa, hope you're back to full health soon!
Those primula are just what the doctor ordered though. :)
Vivienne x
Posted by: greenrabbitdesigns | February 07, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Hey Vanessa, looking at those gorgeous Primulas certainly must lift your spirits and inspire you to pick up a paint brush they are just gorgeous.
Well done Hugo and your handyman skills. Vanessa I think he deserves one of your wonderful little 'prize winning' ribbonny things for saving the day.
Claire :}
Posted by: Claire Smith | February 08, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Get well soon, Vanessa. We missed you! love Penny and Higgins xxx
Posted by: Planet Penny | February 08, 2011 at 08:00 AM
Go Hugo!!!!!!
xx
ps: feel better soon
Posted by: Veronika | February 08, 2011 at 12:13 PM
I'm so sorry you haven't been feeling very well and happy you are starting to feel a little better again. Please take good care of yourself and try not to push yourself too much. Being self employed is not an easy option is it; no built in safeguards and comforts to take for granted, like the odd duvet day.I hope you are managing to get lots of rest and with a bad cough it's important to stay warm and dry too. Hurray for Hugo being a champion at diy and coming to the rescue and sorting out a plinth. It all sounds amazing though and you should be very proud! Your flowers are stunningly pretty - the paintings and the 'real' ones. Gorgeous colours all. Hope you are back to your usual vitality and good health really soon. xxx
Posted by: Siobhan | February 08, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Hope you feel completely better very soon Vanessa. Those beautiful primulas must help recovery, the colours are just so bright and beautiful. Congratulations on the Edinburgh exhibition - how exciting!!
Gill
Posted by: Gill | February 08, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Get well soon. Love the flower paintings.
Posted by: paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com | February 08, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Hello Vanessa! I hope you get better soon! Thank you for a lovely and colourful post!
xxx Teje
Posted by: Teje | February 08, 2011 at 04:36 PM
Here's some extra big wishes that your cold doesn't last too much longer. Those nasty coughs do hang on, don't they? Hubby and I are finally over ours. Tea with honey and lemon does seem to help.
Posted by: Jan | February 08, 2011 at 06:56 PM
I was very sorry to hear you've been ill, Vanessa - there seems to be a lot of coughing about at the moment. Your new paintings are coming along beautifully despite that! I love all the primulas - such delicious shades - I've got quite a few too now and in fact can't have too many... Lovely to hear about the exhibition, and the plinth panic being resolved by your lovely husband. I hope you feel much better soon. Helen x
Posted by: Helen | February 08, 2011 at 08:21 PM
You poor old thing. I hope you're better soon. In the meantime take good care of yourself, promise?
Lovely colours and stunning pictures, as always.
Claire xx
Posted by: Claire Boynton | February 08, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Hi! I hope you feel better soon. I love your paintings, they're very pretty, as are the Primulas.
xxx
Posted by: Hayley | February 08, 2011 at 10:48 PM
Hi,
Do hope you are feeling better, at least you got to go to the opening of the exhibition. Well done.
Cherry
xxx
Posted by: Cherry Cabban | February 09, 2011 at 12:29 AM
Vanessa, I am another big fan of primulas, and your photo has got me wanting to get some for my window sill...tomorrow morning!
Your bright painting's colors are such a subtle heating up of another palette I identify as yours. Really lovely!
Hoping that you will continue to feel better each day. Bravo to Hugo for that double-quick plinth building. Wow...he is a star.
I am sure you will be getting lots of acclaim from that exhibit. xo
Posted by: Frances | February 09, 2011 at 01:36 AM
Oh Vanessa I lOVe your pretty flower and cups painting! So bright and cheery! I'm going to have to buy some primulas to brighten my world now. :)xx
Posted by: Jessie | February 09, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Vanessa, I put a few piccies on Lalomino out of an old children's book. Though you might be interested.. :)
xx
Posted by: Veronika | February 09, 2011 at 11:30 AM
I love your knitting -the scarf is gorgeous. I have to get some of that wool! Lovely!
Posted by: ilsa-fay | February 09, 2011 at 11:04 PM
Oh Vanessa - so gorgeous! Your paintings and the scarf...I wish I had your talent! xxx
Posted by: The Curious Cat | February 10, 2011 at 01:24 PM