Inspirational Sister

All, well almost all, the photos of me...or should I say photos of bits of me on this blog, seem to involve pyjamas!

In this case rather crumpled ones in a very blurry out-of-focus, badly lit shot. That's because I'd excitedly sneaked downstairs at the crack of dawn (hence the poor lighting) whilst everyone was still snoring and crept into my inspirational sisters studio in her lovely interesting old house, that nestles in the shadow of Chester's Roman walls. I wanted to record the gifts from her and husband (I suspect more from her, than husband.) A beautiful linen and leather bag she'd made, complete with the original linen quality guarantee stamp and an equally beautiful vintage Finish plate in my favourite grey colour. I also took loads of photos of her wonderful work space...but they were similarly out of focus and blurred so I can't share them...just one...I'll get better ones next time...

She has the most amazing studio. Large canvases are mounted on all the walls, some that she's just completed, others works in progress, still others primed and ready for the next masterpiece. Her desk is covered in sketches of clothes that she's making (her wardrobe is full of her imaginative designs) and then there are shoe-trees and cut-out sections of shoes, and bags, and little soft leather slippers that would happily sit on the feet of a Tunisian princess. Oh and the illustrations for a children's story she's writing... She inspires me so much...I came back from a couple of days we spent last weekend...managing to catch up with their equally talented illustrator daughter too... fired up to do a twelve hour drawing stint...it's ages since I've done that...and don't let me start talking about her great baking and cooking...

Here's a much clearer image of the gifts I took when I got home...not quite sure where's the best place for the plate...but I'm having fun trying it in lots of different places...

It was a great couple of days ending up with breakfast at Carluccio's in Chester...that has a lovely bustling vibe great food and really friendly service and a shop where she treated us to even more good things...

..I can't wait to catch up again...