Bank Holiday Monday

After five years of only opening on Saturdays and Sundays, today we are experimenting with opening on Bank Holiday Monday. I usually have visitors calling by on the off chance so we'll see what happens when we're officially open.

Yesterday was a lovely day at the Open House. The rain stopped just in time for opening and held off all day. Today is looking bright and sunny with no rain forest until this evening.

Although most of my artists are the same as Christmas and last May, there is plenty of new work to be viewed. Margaret McGregor Betts has new watercolours, etchings and collagraphs for sale.

Ruth Mullan has some new pieces of her exquisite stained and fused glass, including these fish diamonds.

I have a selection of new photographs including some almost abstract ones of black swans and the bizarre neck of the Greylag goose. I don't know why I take so many pictures of birds given my bird phobia - maybe it's some kind of aversion therapy for me.

Leonor Berdichevsky is back with her beautiful, detailed watercolours. This one, The Wish, sold yesterday but she will be bringing a replacement soon and it can be ordered in the meantime.

Start of the May Open Houses

Here we go again with the start of the May Open Houses in Brighton. I'm happy to say I have six of the same artists who were with me at Christmas with the welcome addition of Araboushikha, a stone sculptor, who has brought along two stunning, wonderfully tactile pieces which are in the garden as well as some smaller ones. "Harold" is a limestone hare and "Fire In the Belly" is a piece in serpentine.

Vicky Scott has brought along one of her original pieces to show the process that is carried out before her prints are made. "Alice in Wonderland" is a collage of detailed card pieces cut by hand (even the whiskers on the mice and cats) which is pieced together to make the finished article.

In addition to his detailed postcard sized original works, Del Thorpe has for sale some larger size prints. Theseus and the Minotaur is a recent work, the original of which was created for a charity auction raising money for Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice. Having missed out on the auction for the original work, I'm thrilled to see the prints here.

Why not come along and see what we have? You can find us at 45 Westbourne Gardens, Hove, BN3 5PN. We are open the weekends (including Bank Holiday Monday) until 24th May from 11am till 5pm.

Last weekend of the Christmas Open Houses 2014

It has been a fantastic Open House so far this Christmas with so many visitors last Sunday we had to send out for more supplies to make the mulled wine.

Gaps are starting to appear as are red "sold" stickers but we still have plenty for you to look at.

Many thanks to all of you who have come so far but if you haven't (or if you want to return), we are open tomorrow and Sunday between 11am and 5pm. After that, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until we open again in May as I need to get the house back to approaching normal before Christmas.

 Alexis Rayner

 Del Thorpe

Vicky Scott

Winter Night by Leonor Berdichevsky

Watching the Sunset by Leonor Berdichevsky (sold but more prints can be ordered)

Helen Chong

Mark Charlton

One weekend down, two to go

The first weekend of the Christmas Open Houses was a great success here and the house is looking lovely after all the frantic tidying last week. We had a steady flow of visitors all weekend so many thanks to those of you who came and especially to Del and Alexis, two of the artists exhibiting here, for their expert entertaining of youngest child after my husband was laid up in bed with back pain.

Ruth's fused and stained glass decorations have been really popular, deservedly so. Her stocks are quickly becoming depleted so please come along soon if you would like to see these.

We are now in December so it doesn't feel too early to be talking about Christmas. We have a variety of cards, decorations and other Christmassy bits and pieces here as well as affordable arts and crafts so if you're in a present buying mood, come and relax with a glass of mulled wine while browsing. We are open from 11am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

Private View

I've been a bit slack writing this blog over the last couple of weeks - trying to get everything finished and set up has taken a lot of time and brain space.

We had our Private View tonight which, as always, was great fun. A good excuse to meet up with people. It was lovely to have such fantastic feedback on how the house is looking. If you were one of those who came along, thank you for making the effort to spend the evening with us.

No pictures for this entry as I have to rely on my phone taking pictures for immediate posting - I've never had a digital camera as I love the anticipation of waiting for a film to be developed - and it doesn't like taking pictures after dark. I will try to take some pictures tomorrow morning and post again then.

Just about washed all the wine glasses and got the recycling ready for tomorrow so off to bed now. If you're in the area, please visit us tomorrow and maybe also call in to the last Kitty in the City fundraising fair before Christmas - just round the corner from us at St Philips Church in Richardson Road, Hove.

2 Weeks and Counting....

Things are really starting to get organised now as everything needs to be ready to go in two weeks from now. Lots of knitting and sewing has been going on here although my efforts to tidy the house in preparation are still a little paltry. I finished the painting of the silk scarves and handkerchiefs a couple of weeks ago but they all need hemming before the Open House starts. I have a few knitted items that need sewing up - always my least favourite job with hand knitting.

The frames arrived on Wednesday for my photographs so they are now all up - at least one wall is ready. Plenty of time left....

Helen Chong and Uranium Glass

Helen has been interested in all things vintage since childhood. In her loft you will find her collection of Pedigree Sindy dolls and clothes, her mum’s old Corona typewriter, and a much-loved toy Vulcan sewing machine. 

More recently, Helen received a treasure box full of vintage family jewellery. Among its contents was a pair of luminous green glass earrings, and research revealed that they were made from uranium glass (sometimes called vaseline glass). 

Uranium glass varies in colour and is fluorescent when exposed to sunlight. It also glows under ultraviolet light (i.e. it glows in the dark) so is perfect for the party season. It is not harmful or dangerous to wear; in fact, many people believe wearing uranium glass jewellery can have healing properties. 

Inspired by her original vintage acquisition, Helen now sources vintage uranium glass beads and combines them with sterling silver to make exquisite earrings and necklaces.