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ART It's all about Stoke this week, if you haven't guessed by the title. Here are some Stoke artists that I've found and quite like. There is a few this time (thought I would treat you budding artists or onlookers) so they will be short intro's Starting with.. Rachel Grant is based in Stoke living and working out of her terraced house. A lover of films, fresh air and snuggling under crochet blankets on the sofa (a lady after my heart me thinks), except I can't make bread and I've not had much veg appear in the patch last year. She exhibits up and down the country, but if you live in Stoke you can see her work at the Barewall Gallery in Burslem. You can find Rachel here on her website with links to Twitter and Facebook Next up Sid Kirkham. Known in the area as The Potteries' Lowry. His work dictates life in the surrounding area of Stoke-on-Trent in the 1940's/1950's. If you are a footy fan he's painted most grounds but the one here is Stoke City (Sorry Port Vale fans). He paints Social history too and I love the silhouette painting. If you are in the area pop down to Theartbay Gallery in Fenton and check out his work first hand. Sid's website is here. Lastly hmm who to pick?? Professor Pigment. Described at The Banksy of Staffordshire, his stencil work appears on a few walls. Some people call it Graffitti others call it Street Art. Back in 2014 he gave a stencil (although it was on a wall) nicely wrapped to a local Journalist – read about it here. If you are interested in Street Art you can find him/her on Facebook. There is a link to another artist (sculpture) in The Covered In Weeds section. And another in Musings. BEER Normally I would tell you about the beers I have tasted in this section. But I'm sticking to the theme this week and alas I haven't tried any beers from this part of the country. So from the breweries below, why not tell me which beers of there's you have tasted and recommend to others in my comments section. I love to discover new beers or even old (there new to me), and one year ago I wouldn't have been saying this so please indulge me. Titanic Brewery – Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire Brewery - Leek Lymestone Brewery – Stone Have I missed any out? Are you from that brewery? Go big yourself up in the comments, I don't mind. COVERED IN WEEDS Trentham Gardens. Have you ever been? Well if you are passing that way or even live there go and visit it. We have been a couple times now on the visit to My Brothers. Its a great place to wander. Photo is pinched from my Sister-in-law, can't find mine. Shhh don't tell her. Visit the Italian Gardens which renowned Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medallist Tom Stuart-Smith was commissioned to revive. It has one of the largest contemporary perennial plantings in Europe. Another fact – there are over 80,000 perennial in this particular garden, with over 400 varieties in 70 different beds. There is only a Fairy Trail there! Which wasn't there the last time I visited! With 14 fairies to find along the trail, alongside the mile long lake, through the wood, don't get lost in the maze because you have a few more to find dotted around the garden too. Robin Wright is a local artist who sculptured them. The River Trent passes through the gardens and close by the Eastern Pleasures Garden. Where tail grasses sway in the breeze and a sense of calm whooshes over you. You could spend all day at Trentham Gardens it's great for the children as there are play and sensory areas for them to explore (and the big kids too). They welcome dogs, but remember, small children wanting to stroke or play with them lurk round corners and no matter how friendly your pouch is I would be scared if some excited child pounced on me. If you get the shakes from not having a least one day in the week to shop well Trentham has a little shopping village too. I think another visit is on the cards the next time we visit Stoke. MUSINGS So the whole reason for this post was because the other week I took a trip to The Brothers to see the Sister-in-law and my Nephew and Niece who I haven't seen for awhile. Boy don't young children grow up quick!! They live in Stoke and I thought why not do a blog featuring Stoke. So here it is. We had a short walk in the miserable weather on the Saturday up The Roaches. It's about 40minute drive from where the Brother lives and is in the Peak District National Park. Where we walked it was to the left of Hen cloud a nice little easy walk up to the Grit stone boulders and weather beaten rock ridge. Not much climbing was being done but I caught someone having a go ;-). As we reached halfway in our little exploration we came across a Bunkhouse. Fabulous place to rent for a weekend of climbing and walking. As the weather started to turn for the worse we headed back down the road to the small Roaches Tea Room that was quite busy. Lovely welcoming cake, ice cream, tea and coffee were had by all. Stuff of interest to read about. There's been deaths, Knights and zoo's there. Rob Pointon has done a great painting of Hen Cloud The second day we had a leisurely wander around Consall Nature Park. The majority of the park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest so the emphasis is on nature conservation. There is lots of wildlife and fauna to look out for. The visitor centre is always a great place to start and find out what you can spot on the trial around. We didn't really stick to the any of the four colour walks they have laid out for you, but probably touched on most of them as we meandered through the woods and stopped to net any Pond Life. Then across the train tracks for a spot of lunch (blumming good portions!) at the Black Lion. Opposite the Pub on the right are some old Lime Kilns you can have a wander to. We spent the rest of the afternoon in a sunny spot near the car park watching the Men folk try to out throw and catch one another, after the children got fed up of football and moved onto Ice Cream. It's funny because when you live in a place that has lots to see and do or maybe one small attraction that appeals to you, you always say -'Next week I'll go visit that' and inevitably you move out of county and never get to see that 'thing' you was always 'one day' going to visit. So go today, you never know what may happen tomorrow. Is there somewhere in your county you do the same with? Or somewhere you go every month (if not every week) and love it so much you want to tell the world. Tell me in the comments, you never know, I may live (or someone reading this) may live in the same county and have never heard of the place. Tunes for the week - Mis-Teeq - Scadalous Timbaland - The Way I Are ft. Keri Hilson, D.O.E., Sebastian Are you watching the new series on 4 at the minute (America have already had it) 'Empire'? Timbaland did the tunes for it. Iggy Azalea - Trouble ft. Jennifer Hudson Incase anyone was wondering (someone asked me) I don't get paid for this blog and anything I promote is out of my pocket and because I like it. I don't get freebies or discounts and I don't ask for them. It's pure love or like that prompts me to tell the World. Thanks for checking out my blog. Pop onto the comments and say Hi to everyone. Have a great weekend and week all.
4 Comments
Halfpint
9/5/2015 12:42:54 pm
Thanks Nicola. Have a look at my archives if you like there maybe a few other artists that interest you. Feel free to introduce me to artist too, so we can share the art love. Thanks again for dropping by and leaving a message.
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9/5/2015 12:40:47 pm
I love the sound of the fairy trail, my little one would love that! We've recently watched the Labyrinth and he was quite interested to know about the fairies in that! x
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Halfpint
9/5/2015 12:47:07 pm
Labyrinth - David Bowie in tights - yes please lol. Love that film. I haven't seen it in ages. I'm defiantly dropping hints next time I see my sister-in-law that perhaps my 3 yr old niece may like to go look. Just so I can go lol
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Places to visit Whitby Robin Hoods Bay Sweetheart Abbey (Scotland) Isle of Wight P1 Isle of Wight P2 Stoke-on-Trent HoleHird Gardens (Cumbria) Brougham Hall (Cumbria) My Journey to Cumbria and brewing beer!
Part One - Friends, Neighbours and Countymen Part Two Life's Sliding Door Moment Part Three Brewer - That's not a Job Title I Expected! |