Printmaking with Peckham Print Studios at the Good Life Experience

Whilst at "The Good Life Experience" we got to experience the fun of screen printing. The boys from Peckham print studio were really patient in showing us how the process worked, we asked a lot of questions!!  It was a lot of fun, screening the bright orange paint over the surface for it to appear like magic on the tote beneath, I think Maria and I could have been there all day if it wasn't for the long drive home. It was definitely a high light of our day,we thought our luck was running out; we waited with excitement to learn how to carve a spoon with Hatchett & Bear and then learnt that we needed to have put our names on the waiting list, we went to buy a t-shirt at Best Made and they had sold out! But making these bags and eating all the tasty food definitely put a smile back on our faces. Autumn has arrived and we are already hunting down screen print workshops at Poole Print Makers, but perhaps a weekend trip to Peckham Print Studio needs to be added to our bucket list! 

Thank you "The Good life Experience" and Peckham Print Studio

Gem & Maria 

at The Good Life Experience

It's hard to believe that it was over three weeks ago that we went to 'The Good Life Experience', a festival of the outdoors created by Cerys Matthews and Charlie and Caroline Gladstone. Gem was lucky enough to win tickets from the talented Hatchett and Bear, and asked me to go along with her. I jumped at the chance!

The festival took place in the grounds of the beautiful Hawarden Estate, and on the Saturday morning we took out road trip from Gem's folks' house in Bristol all the way to North Wales. We may have listened a little bit too much to this lady (we like to pretend we can sing like Laura Marling. We cannot. Ahem), and this song was definitely overplayed-in a good way.

Anyway, we arrived at midday, greeted by some very Wes Anderson-esque boy scouts who directed us to the car park, the backdrop of which boasted a beautiful ruined castle. To say we were excited was an understatement as we walked down a little path to the Hawarden Estate Farm Shop and its grounds. 

Firstly, we came across the lovely folk at the Pedlars tent which sold lots of goodness, including vintage camping ware and knick knacks. 

Then we made our way to the Best Made tent to have a look at their beautiful axes. Not that Gem and I are really into axes...but we did appreciate the pretty colours painted on the handles! I was gutted that I missed out on getting a T-Shirt. Maybe next year!

We carried on mooching around, taking advantage of this delightful offer...

Had a little chat with these guys (pet alpaca is now on the wishlist)

Gem did a spot of archery...

...and then we wandered through some fields of corn (or wheat?!), feeling very outdoorsy.

We stopped to have a look at what the foraging folk had gathered. What a pretty camping space!

We found the Hatchett and Bear tent, but again missed out on carving our own wooden spoon! Gutted! They looked lovely.

We stayed and listened to some of the music, but missed out on most of the evening's entertainment as we had to get back down to Dorset for work on Monday. I guess we must be getting old! Haha!

We did, however, make one last stop at the Peckham Print Studio. We may have found our new hobby! Post to follow.

Maria

at the Dorset County Show

It was recommended to me that I should go to the Dorset County Show so this I did. I don't know why I've never been as it was just up my street. Even though I have lived in Dorset for 6 years it reminded me that I spend my time in the areas that I have grown to love, but don't really take the time to explore further than the radius of Hengistbury Head to Lulworth.

There was so much to see.....and eat! ....The cheeses.. cakes..pies...sweets!  It is a surprise I didn't roll home. I loved how you could have contact with the animals and talk to the owners and breeders. I had no idea what an assortment of different breeds of sheep and cows you could get. All were stunning in their own little way. I sank my hand into the coat of one sheep and lost it in it's thick fleece. My friend asked me what was my favourite animal there; My answer was initially the piglets, then no the goats, oh and the sheep not forgetting the amazing Bulls.

It was a shame that Maria got stuck in traffic on Saturday and didn't join us as I would have loved to have seen the look on the Little's faces, when they saw the rows of tractors and animals. So that would be my only tip! Come as early as you can to beat the traffic and leave later to avoid it going home. Maria and her family did go on the Sunday and absolutely loved it.  I did really well not coming home with enough animals for a small holding and enough cheese for a cheese cake factory. But I did buy myself a lovely cheese wedge door stop and a sheep skin rug to wiggle my toes in come winter.

This show will definitely become an end of summer tradition and break the fall of having to go back to work.

 Big kids making bees wax candles

 In its life time a bee only produces a teaspoon of honey! 

 Knees

 My dream car!! 

 Didn't bring enough cash for this lovely moon print 

So white and cuddly! 

Stunning - I think these are long horns could be wrong! 

Lets hope the farmer hasn't counted these piggies 

Just like in the film Amelie - I loved putting my hands into these sacks of grain and wheat

Love a goat especially when they look this snuggly 

Could make a great leek and bacon dish with these guys! 

Cheeky Sheep with his cider bucket 

Alpacas are amazing I can't get over their gentle nature and long eyelashes

Loved this inquisitive goat! They have so much personality

This made me laugh! poor uglies! Bet they taste ok! 

We would love to hear from you about your summer finds! 

Gem x