All Out for Open Studio

Friday was the first day of the Open Studio - preparation had got frantic - days before were spent cleaning out the workshop of stone chips and blocks of stone and I worked flat out to have everything presentable.  My idea was to have finished pieces on display, with work in progress, drawing books and maquettes showing the processes of making sculpture.

It all took much longer than I thought, and I got up an an unearthly hour on opening morning to do final arranging of pieces and put out my signs.

Last touches were put in place as people began arriving. 

As if to celebrate the opening - the Blue Tits nesting in the workshop decided it was time to fly, and out they popped from their nest place flitting and flapping amongst the sculpture, with great noise to let the parents know where they were, who dutifully attended with caterpillars to encourage and cajole.  Eventually they got to the great outdoors - this one made it up into a hawthorn tree safely, although it took all morning.  My visitors were lovely and listened to the how's and why's of stone sculpture and watched the fledgling saga.

The morning was extraordinary anyway - and then it was made doubly so - as my little goose hatched her first gosling, and it pipped its yellow fluffy song and I was so excited and proud. 

 

The weekend was busy at my studio - thankyou for all your purchases, compliments and kind words, advice and sculpture talk - despite having been hissed at on arrival by the new mother goose.  It has been a tremendously enjoyable few days - though I am glad of the (recovery) week inbetween opening next on the 19th and 20th, when you are all again welcome to my Open Studio.