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Wednesday, 29 November 2017

A Winter Scene - Watercolour Class

Every year our Winter Scene watercolour class sells out so quickly, we have to put on another one, it's really popular.


Claire finds beautiful images, this one is from the Cotswolds, and shows us that winter is not just white snow, there are colours and reflections to be found too.


Some of our artists, use their painting to print as a Christmas card or to give as a gift.


For this painting, Claire used SAA watercolour paints, starting with two very useful colours Potters Blue and Cobalt Violet, both opaque colours.

These were used to create a wash before she moved on with one of her own paints, Honey, perfect for the Cotswold stone of the buildings.


We used some great heavy paper by St Cuthberts Mill (based in Somerset) called Saunders Waterford, it's a 300lb weight, and is great at holding the washes.

It is endorsed by the Royal Watercolour Society


Other colours used during the day were neutral tint and for the shadows a mix of burnt sienna and ultramarine.


The shadows in the snow were created by making a very watery potters blue and cobalt violet mix.


Claire had a new pen with her today called Posca White Pen, it is a liquid watercolour pen, basically paint within a felt tip pen, it stays wet so you can move it around on the paper, but when it drys it is permanent.  It was very useful for helping touch-up snowy areas, especially as we didn't use any masking fluid today. 


Thanks everyone for coming, the paintings are beautiful.


For more information about this gorgeous village in the Cotswolds, click on the link below:



Sunday, 26 November 2017

Winter Wellbeing Relax & Restore Retreat Day


Laura and I had a fantastic time at our Relax & Retreat Day on Saturday

A great group of people, who came together to enjoy yoga, meditation, a delicious lunch, a mindful walk, hot tea and hot water bottles by the outside fire in the woods, a gut health and wellbeing talk, followed by making our own sauerkraut, finishing with some restorative yoga (stretching) and yoga nidra (sleeping snuggled under a blanket!)

Perfect 


The fire was lit and our yoga room was ready

Lunch followed, the pudding was a particular highlight!



All our food is dairy free, gluten free and vegetarian, and we can also cook for vegans.

Healthy, warming and delicious.


It was such a sunny day, after lunch the frost had disappeared and everyone put on layers and layers and headed out into the grounds.

Laura took everyone down to the woods where we'd lit a fire with a circle of chairs around it.

Hot water bottles and herbal tea ....

Eyes closed ....

Laura lead a relaxing meditation



Heading back up to Treetops .....


Once dark, everyone relaxed their bodies and minds, all we could hear was the fire crackling; it was a great end to the day.


Our next Relax and Restore Retreat day is on Saturday 20 January 2018

It costs £75

11:30am - 4:30pm


Friday, 24 November 2017

A little update .....



Latest new from Treetops....

All of our Art classes are booked until the end of the year.

We will be announcing 2018 Spring classes starting in February very soon, so keep your eye on this blog and your email, as once out they will book very quickly.

***

There are spaces available on our Christmas Parties Aga class next Thursday, the 30 November
9:45am - 1:30pm
£75

***

A great gift voucher idea would be an invite to our next Relax & Restore Retreat day on Saturday 20 January
11:30am - 4:30pm
£75

A mix of yoga, relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, healthy eating, a creative activity and a gentle walk.

A great way to start 2018

***

Before then if you would like to come and try Yoga or Meditation (or both) with Laura, you are very welcome to come to our Monday morning sessions, we have 2 left before the end of the year.

Monday 4 December
Monday 11 December

9:30am - 11:30am
£25 per session


Monday, 6 November 2017

Cosy Yoga on a Frosty Morning!


This morning's white frosty lawn took me by surprise.

This morning's restorative yoga and meditation was perfect inside with warm blankets as the golden sun shone through.

Laura took us through a guided meditation, using all of our senses and I found myself looking out to sea, it was so calming.

The deep stretches are perfect after a busy weekend, especially the hip ones, having had my 10 month old nephew on my hip this weekend!

Today's cake after class today was a warming apple, cinnamon and chocolate chip cake, with warming pukka teas.

Come and join us for a session, perfect for beginners or those looking for some calm in a very relaxed and friendly setting.

Laura is here on:

Tuesday 14 November
Monday 4 December
Monday 11 December

9:30am - 11:30am
£25


We have 1 space left on our Candlelit and Fireside Yoga Evening on Thursday 7 December

7pm - 9:30pm
£30
This includes a warming soup supper and hot drinks.

The evening will include restorative yoga, meditation & breath work, finishing with yoga nidra.
(pyjamas and onesies optional!)

Thursday, 2 November 2017

Autumn Watercolour Class



A beautiful sunny day for our Autumn Watercolour class.

The lunch table was covered with just a selection of the colours and leaves I found in the garden the afternoon before, plus conkers, feathers and fircones.


The paintings were full of rich warm colours


You can hear the leaves crackle


Darker hues needed to be dropped in to make the conkers stand out amongst the leaves










The sun streaming in .....


Lovely smells from the kitchen were coming from this pan full of plums, port, fresh ginger, lemon peel, cardamom pods and sugar.

I used them to make a delicious Spiced Plum Trifle 


Before we know it we will be back for our Winter Scene classes!