Inspired Naturally – Kate MacAndrew, artist and school workshop leader based in Derbyshire

It’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it – this last weekend we decided to tackle a large area of a sad-looking flower bed. Firstly, as the picture below shows, we dug into the soil, breaking up huge lumps of hard dirt and bits of dead plants/tree trunks etc.

Then after a trip to our favourite garden centre, we planted a whole bunch of new plants and the magnolia tree and climbing clematis we brought with us from the old house. It’s looking so much happier now and hopefully the foxgloves will self sow some more plants ready for the following year.

Here’s one of my favourite of the new plant (the name of which I can’t remember) the blue colour is so vivid – absolutely gorgeous!

The hydrangea below my bedroom window is also in full bloom – the garden is really coming alive and it’s fun to start noticing different things each day – something a new and unfamiliar garden does well I guess!

And finally, here’s my completed painting of Smudge – I have to admit I am very pleased with it and it’s a lovely memory of my cat. I am considering painting his brother Fudge, who is still alive and well at my parent’s house. I’ll have to wait and see if I can choose a photo I like!

I’m off to Scotland again tomorrow, this time on the East Coast to the Black Isle to see the dolphins. I’m hoping to be able to share lots of photos when I get back! If I have time before I leave tomorrow (which is going to be hectic because we’re setting off late in the evening after our friend’s wedding) I will try to update you with my fruit and veg plants – they are growing so well now.

Until next time, take care!

I’m almost there in more ways than one, life has been quite hectic of late. I naively thought as soon as we’d moved that I’d have time to update my blog as often as I liked. However, unpacking has taken much longer, finding new homes for things has taken longer than I thought etc etc. Anyhow, enough of the excuses as to why I have been absent here and more about this post! I have very nearly finished unpacking and sorting things AND I have nearly finished the painting of my cat Smudge:

As you can see he now has an eye! I have got to mute it down and add the highlight. The whiskers still need to be done and a few tweaks to the fur in places but the end is in sight! I thought it would be interesting if I showed you a progress sheet of the painting so far. After each of my painting sessions I scanned the image so I could look back and see how it evolved. It is the first time I have done this religiously – many people ask to see my paintings progression and how long they take. So here it is, an image showing you this painting on its journey from the first brushstrokes to almost finished piece:

So far this has taken me about 10 hours to do – not too bad really

I have really been enjoying my new home, photos to come when I find the time organise them but here’s a few iPhone photos of my fruit and veg progress and new kitten to leave you with:

My pepper (more are starting to grow now)

My plum tomotoes – I’ve counted about 20 so far

And here’s Archie (finally decided on a name!) at the breeder’s home – not long now until we can bring him home!

That’s all for now, take care

Hello everybody, I’m back! I think I’d temporarily forgotten how long and tiring moving house is! We have literally not stopped since the end of last week and, even now, we have a few boxes left to unpack. However, the new house is fantastic: situated in a beautifully rural village, open countryside around us and very friendly neighbours. What more could you ask for?! The photo above (sorry about the poor lighting) shows the new wooden sign and clay birds I bought especially for the new house. The sign is from this lovely Etsy shop and the birds from here. I’m hoping things will start to settle down soon so I can dedicate more time to writing posts and also to my artwork. I feel I have been neglecting actually making art and this isn’t a good feeling!

Whilst moving here, as we went in search for food during the unpacking of everything, we came across a little market town a few minutes away with a beautiful vintage furniture/accessories shop, an antiques shop and a FANTASTIC French restaurant (so much so that we’re taking some friends there this weekend) I can’t quite believe it’s all on my doorstep – I hope to take some pictures the next time we go so I can share them with you.

 It looks like I’m going to have my work cut out over the next few days – until my next post have a great rest of the week!