It's September 1st and now things will start to slow down a little bit after what has been a surprisingly lively two weeks.
I am delighted to say Kara managed to get 4 A's, 5 B's, 2 C's and a D in RE - so she starts her A levels at Penwith College next week.
It hardly seems a moment since she was a baby......
I have some kind of horrible flu virus which narrowly missed killing me in the night...so am not feeling 100% today - not like me at all!

It did stay fine for Lafrowda Day which was the best yet so far - AND neither Kara nor any of her friends got arrested.  There was an Ab Fab moment when she snapped a photo of me sipping from a can of lager whilst sitting on the grass watching the band in the Plen at 7pm....
Business continues to be brisk - despite there being far fewer visitors this year.  Where are they all and do they know what they're missing?  Cornwall is a fantastic place to be at the moment.
It's my favourite month and the Cape Cornwall School  Arts and Crafts Show is on until 17th where artists from all over the area - professional, amateur and in between enter work for sale at 25% commission in aid of Cancer Research.  Tens of thousands of pounds are raised and I bought some fantastic pieces - for me or for the gallery....a tough call!
Fred Poulter makes 'constructions' from driftwood of the sea cliffs, birds and boats - see below
He has promised to bring some more for me to exhibit - if he has any left after the show.













I also bought a delightful little painting of a cat by Gabrielle Hawkes who is well known in St Just having her studio just up the road at Turn of the Tide on Fore Street.
You can really tell what this cat is thinking...


 
I like to look out for up and coming people and this year spotted  Alex Titley - (more cats) who paints onto box canvases in a contemporary style - I'd like more of this work soon....
There was some brilliant jewellery and I liked this the best 'Hand Made by Choughs' with resin and a map of St Just on the back - I hope to have some of this work for sale soon.

I have been tempted by this beautiful Owl by John Maltby - a birthday present to me from me...isn't he magnificent...

New work by David and Louise Salsbury has arrived - lovely hand painted tiles framed in driftwood of puffins and chickens... very reasonably priced at £19.95!

My work has gone a bit Egyptian - back to my roots in fact - and I'm working on a new range now - the first lot are on display in the gallery ...






I hope to get chance to get in the pottery some more - but am going 'up North' to join my Aunt Vida for her 90th Birthday next weekend - what a fabulous age to be!

Fingers crossed that pesky jet stream will have moved a little more and we will have fine weather for Lafrowda Day on Saturday.
If it does stay fine we will be opening the TEA GARDEN and serving cream teas, cakes and sandwiches all day long.




I am also delighted with the new work that has arrived from Cecile Sea Ceramics - beautiful cast porcelain oyster shells for dipping pots and tea lights.  They are a delight to look at and touch.



Jane Booth's clever terracotta jugs, mugs and bowls have also arrived and I sold one even as I was pricing them up!




Finally a couple of shots of the gallery as it currently looks.







We will be so busy on Saturday I will need to call on my two lovely gallery assistants Margaret and Kara to help - we'll all need a long rest on Sunday.

It's sunny...

I just made one of these....

Just in case you were wondering - here is a picture of Kara in her prom dress - and yes! they all behaved and had a great time!

Poor visitors - no wonder everyone is in a bad mood - the weather has only slightly improved today - and I was going to go and see 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Plen here in St Just but couldn't face the soaking!
Sales still seem to be holding up against all odds in the gallery and the new stock is selling well.
I have been busy making in the pottery and concentrating on new work - such a luxury to have time to do that - helped by my beautiful daughter Kara who is now an official member of staff - and very good she is too!

Here is the latest Cow Family.

I have returned from Brighton much inspired.
I have seen lovely new work and was delighted to find out that one of my favourite artists personally and from the gallery's perspective has had a painting of a hare accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition!  Not only is this a great honour and compliment - she sold it on the first evening!!

So just in case I bought three more by her as you can see above!  They are called 'Whistful Cat', 'Posh Pug' and 'Slightly Irritated Pug' and I love them all.
All the best to you Sally - you deserve it!

I also think caterpillars will be big this year - and birds and all things British seem to be everywhere in the shops still.  I did see one or two empty shops though - so nowhere is immune to the recession - not even beautiful Brighton!