I’m so excited to be having my very first open studio as part of the Dardanup Art Spectacular and Trail. I had a bit of a soft opening a while back to thank a small group of supporters and friends but this is going to a whole new level. The studio is open for two days over the weekend of the 29th - 30th April.

Tree Street Safari was a good practice run and I had a great time chatting to people about my art and everything else all day. I was wondering how I would hold up with all that talking but it was a blast. It’s easy when you are talking about what you love.

The studio is in the paddock overlooking the natural swimming pool/dam so it’s a nice view and we’ve had quite a bit of rain so the paddock should be showing a bit of green for visitors. I’m waiting on advice from the council to see if we can offer some tea and coffee, but we’ll definitely have some chairs around the place so people can have time to chill and take in the view. Of course I’m now wondering about what the weather has in store for us.

Preparations should be well under way but I can’t stop painting, with two small ones on the go and a larger one in my head that I’m dying to start. The to do list is getting longer. I ‘ve hung most of the works that ae for sale and I’ve made a bunch of greeting cards but there’s windows to wash and a lot of tidying up to do.

I’m really happy that my daughter Shae is joining me for the weekend and will be displaying and selling her beautiful ceramics . Many many years ago I had a mother and daughter exhibition with my own mother, who was a fabulous painter. She exhibited her paintings and I had just finished my art degree and exhibited my jewellery and silversmithing work. Now we are keeping the tradition going.