Family crest

The start of studies for a family crest, the homely comfort I enjoy most. To be developed to include the other interests of husband and kids.  After finishing a big project that took a lot of my free time over the past few months I am taking back the time to paint for myself a little.

Religieuse Pastry.

Paris for christmas is the holy land of pastry. Here is one which is now my phone cover (original inserted in a clear plastic cover). 

The "religieuse" (meaning a nun) is named after its white ( buttercream) collar an silhouette reminiscent of the traditional dress for nuns. 

Holly

A beautiful walk in the more wild parts of Hampstead brought us back a bunch of holly to decorate the front door. Wellies and wet leaves, crackling rain sound in the foliage and a round of brownies for the kids at the Old Bull and Bush, full of Christmas lights. 

Here is a branch for your house. 

A Full English

A "full English" is the full UK traditional breakfast.  Eggs, baked beans, mushroom, bacon and tomatoes and even sausages. And fried toast! 

So abstract is not there yet...obviously! These are a few studies for the royal watercolor Society competition... I plan to submit something, just toying with ideas for now.  

A little chart of Potatoes

We moved house and the owner was so kind as to leave the garden with seed potatoes planted. October will soon come and we will see what kind! 

Chestnut honey

In England the honey production this year has been very low.  Lots of sugar fed to bees for their survival did not even ensure a good level of honey.  In the South of France, not as much. The production this year was lower but healthy.  We loaded up on kilos of the gold stuff to bring back to London. And had to draw the light coming through my favorite flavor, chesnut honey.

Vacances

Breakfast table doodles from the South of France.  "Ricore" is a half coffee - half roasted chicory root drink that is sometimes given to teens for breakfast as the first steps before coffee.  It is a lower caffeine way to start the day for adults and perfect for a vacation cafe au lait!

Messy breakfast table included.

The cherries were hand-picked in a burgundy garden on our way to the South. Drawn under a parasol.