My neighbour Jane runs the Garden Station and for Art Tour this year, she commissioned an exhibition called 'In Praise of Sheds'. Seems like everyone has a shed these days, to use as a traditional depository for the lawn mower and old plant pots or some, like mine as their own unique work space. Lots of local artists rose to the challenge and the results make an impressive display at the Station. Rosie Villiers Stuart is a wonderful artist and dear friend of mine. She decided to paint ME in MY SHED!
This photo does not in any way do the finished picture any justice at all as it is merely a photo of the framed picture, but you get the idea
no - you really have to see the original.
look at the detail
my coffee pot and little milk jug
amazing knitting needle shelf!!
Geoff says that Rosie has captured the way i sit at an angle like that perfectly. Also, Poppy looks a bit coy because she knows she is not allowed on the sofa!!
I have never been painted before and I was full of trepidation about how it would be. If you look at the link to Rosie you can see that she mostly paints birds and landscapes and hardly ever uses this much pink!
So - how wonderful to have a shed and be in an exhibition and be doing Art Tour! As if all that wasn't enough, BBC R4 Women's Hour will be doing a feature on the exhibition soon and a lovely reporter came to interview me in my shed, so I have that to look forward to. An ambition realised - always wanted to be on Woman's Hour. (That's one I forgot to tell you about M&D - I'll give you notice when its on)
I am overcome!
Oh Katie - WOW! What an amazing painting - it just captures you and your shed so perfectly. Do you get to keep it? I love that style of painting but even more amazing is how perfectly YOU it is! And to get onto Radio 4 too - double WOW! I definitely think you should let me move into your shed - you don't really need it for yourself do you????
Posted by: Lucy Locket | June 21, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Oh Katie, this is great news. Well done you. The painting is just how I saw you in Blakeney. Please let me know when you will be on R4 as you know I am avid listener. What a dream come true for you.
If you fancy a swap, please see my blog. (Feel free to delete this last bit if you think it is shameful advertising by me)!! :D
Posted by: Zoe | June 21, 2007 at 06:25 PM
What lovely pictures.
Alison x
Posted by: Alison | June 21, 2007 at 08:41 PM
What an amazing, wonderful painting. How precious for you.
Posted by: Megan | June 21, 2007 at 09:34 PM
what a lovely painting. it looks like a fabulous place to create and have a cup of tea...
Posted by: melody | June 22, 2007 at 04:06 AM
What a wonderful painting. I like it very much, please send a compliment to Rosie.
Posted by: minic | June 22, 2007 at 07:42 AM
Lovely painting. Do let us know when you're on Womans Hour, I'm a sporadic radio 4 listener and I would hate to miss it.
Posted by: Jools | June 22, 2007 at 11:12 AM
That painting is wonderful you must be delighted and to think you are about to become famous to!
Posted by: carolyn | June 22, 2007 at 12:34 PM
Wow! A lovely painting of a gorgeous work space.
Posted by: Lindsay | June 22, 2007 at 05:21 PM
What a beautiful painting! I would be really interested to know when the feature will be aired as I am soon to have my own shed for use as a workroom! I'd be very grateful if you could let me know when it will be on. Clare x
Posted by: Clare | June 22, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Katie, that's wonderful - the painting and Woman's Hour fame. Do let us know when it's on. Like Jools, I'm a sporadic Radio 4 listener - usually when travelling from A to B - so would very much like to hear it.
I'm so pleased my haberdashery is beginning to sell - it was a bit of a gamble. Thanks for your lovely comment! - Sue
Posted by: Sue | June 23, 2007 at 08:53 AM
How exiting to be featured in such a wonderful way. The painting looks amazing. Thankyou for your lovely comment on my blog -- it made my day to know someone enjoys my stories;-}
Posted by: wendy | June 23, 2007 at 01:02 PM
i have always dreamed of having a place like this--love the knitting needles and the mosaic-y looking pot. also, thanks for visiting my blog. nice to meet you.
becky
Posted by: becky | June 23, 2007 at 01:20 PM
You must be thrilled !! The painting is amazing, she's so talented but the looks of this painting !! Do you get to keep it once the exibtion is over?
Posted by: weirdbunny | June 24, 2007 at 11:54 AM
What a wonderful painting. That looks so much like you. Congratulations on Womans hour. Are you signing autographs yet?
Posted by: wendy | June 24, 2007 at 08:09 PM
Hi Kate, lovely to see the shed today and the bag is a perfect gift for Traysi - thank you....
In spite of the gooseberry jam fiasco (ask Anne) I am planning to make rhubarb and cormeal cake this week- might you be able to return the Nigella - domestic goddess book - it has the recipe - you could take it along to knitting group Tuesday and give it to Anne if that would be convenient?
Posted by: Sheron Robson | June 24, 2007 at 09:05 PM
Wow, you've been busy - I love the picture, you have a very talented friend :)
We'd love a shed - oh how I could do with one, maybe one day! Enjoy the art tour, there is lots going on around our area (according to the pdf on the site) so I may just go and have a mosey, it sounds lovely.
Posted by: Tash | June 25, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Yo! What a lovely painting. You must be chuffed & with everything else that has happened too! I love the domesticity of it all.... love, love, love.
Posted by: Angel Jem | June 25, 2007 at 05:07 PM
Wow a shed dwelling superstar, even a radio interview. I love the painting.
Posted by: little jenny wren | June 26, 2007 at 12:23 AM
Katie,
I have the good fortune to see you all the time, in person,as our next door neighbour at home, or in the station garden here - or indeed in Rosie's wonderful shed portrait of you hanging in our summer exhibition
inside The Garden Station, a lovely building whose restoration and new construction work owe everything to the skill and design work of your husband Geoff.
What a talented and creative couple you are and the best and most fun of neighbours and friends to boot.
What I was going to say at the beginning (an you know that for me, getting to the point takes more than a line or two ...)was that this is the first moment I have had to pay a personal visit to your blog - as jolly and colourful as all your work, reflecting your genuine pleasure in communication skills as well as creative talents.
Thank you for all your support and enthusiasm.
Lots of Love from Janex
Posted by: Jane | June 26, 2007 at 05:27 PM
this is fabulous. and i bet if your friend did prints of that painting, you could raise even more money for the moon walk cause.
Posted by: islaygirl | June 27, 2007 at 03:41 PM
I agree with Islaygirl - prints of that picture would sell like hot cakes!
Posted by: Lucy Locket | June 27, 2007 at 06:30 PM