2 January 2017 A new obsession: Catherine Holm & French Bulldog

This is the lotus pattern of Catherine Holm design enamelware. It is a mid-century dream. The lotus pattern was not actually designed by Catherine but by Grete Kittleson for the company. Catherine was said to not really be a fan of the design, but it is the most popular pattern in the Catherine Holm enamelware line.

How I came to know of it and now love it is when we inherited Toad Hall. When it was our turn to live here the house had been sitting empty for about 6 months and my hubby's Mother had been feeding the cat, (now our dear Puss) out of one of these bowls.

When I first saw the bowl I gasped at its simple beauty. These are the two bowls here in the mustard yellow colour. They are heavy enamelware. They have the feel of the lovely vintage farm sinks or an old bathtub and they really ware well. My MIL was using them to feed the cat because she would set them outside and they just happened to be in a cabinet here and she thought they were garbage.

The truth of course is that because they are so durable they didn't mind being out in the cold rain and snow for months at a time full of catfood and knocked about by racoons and other wildlife. I know am very proud of them.                           

I collect a few patterns of mid century china. They are all practical and were not considered very up market in their day, but I love them none the less. My latest china pattern I have collected is the Swiss Chalet Alpine pattern.

The blue in it goes well with the vintage blue in my other dishes and it has a lovely avocado green in it as well. These leads me to my coveted colours for any future Catherine Holm Lotus enamalware: the blues and greens.  This coffee pot is dreamy

 and I really think the blue and green go quite well together and bring in the colours of the Swiss Chalet. 

This all inspired today's artwork. I was thinking of animals with bowls, after yesterdays drawing of a hedgehog with a pyrex Butterprint bowl, and considered my new love of the lotus pattern. I happen to love French Bulldogs and if I were to get another dog, I think it would be one of them. And thus was born today's drawing. I saved it both with a white and a blue background. I might have to order it myself for my kitchen as a clock or a pillow for my living room.

I hope you all have a lovely puppy filled vintage day.

1 January Toad Hall. A morning walk and a hedgehog in a bowl.

Having recently begun to do artwork every day has made me miss blog posts. It has felt good to return to a daily schedule. I think, therefore, that I shall park my daily thoughts and work and musings here.

This morning I started out the new year with my morning walk. I am lucky in our surroundings, as it is a very quiet private area that is mainly used in the Summer. The houses of our neighbours dot the landscape but are mainly empty this time of year.

It was bright and sharp and cool this morning. The kind of morning that you see your breath and don a hat and gloves, but feel the warmth of the sun on you as you meander along.

My walk is a wander through wood and field and often finishes on the shore. I took our beach back home. Here you can see the old brick path and our neighbours dock and as you turn onto the beach back to our place you can see our old Boat house peeking out of the trees.

My daily scribble today is a hedgehog in a vintage bowl. On my walk I was thinking how lovely it would be if we were lucky to have native hedgehogs as does England. I also collect the pyrex butterprint pattern and thus was born today's drawing.

I hope you all have a lovely bright start of a new year. 

10 November Let the healing begin

Despite their differences the Ladies Anoria and Adrienne put aside past hurts and shared their love of coffee; it was the polite thing to do. 
It was this same politeness which did not allow them to discuss the vast differences between white and black coffee. A feeling of unity was soon restored. Let us follow their example. #25coffeetea #DonnaDavisArt #artdaily

4 November Imogen on All Souls Day

The one page eight panel graphic novel page is now done. On all souls day the children of the poor would often go out "A-souling" that is singing for soul cakes that were handed out rather in a Halloween door to door fashion. Imogen, of course, has her own idea of just how to make a Soul Cake. #DonnaDavisArt #artdaily #graphicnovelnov

3 November My panels continue for novel page

My six panel page is now an eight panel page. It is a lot of inking and colouring so, today, I will share one of the panels. It is not in any particular order from the previous two. Then, perhaps, tomorrow I shall have the entire page done and we can see what imogen is up to ;). #DonnaDavisArt #graphicnovelnov #dailyart

31 October Happy Halloween from Imogen

Imogen waited patiently for the children to come with their sing song "Tricks or Treats". She knew which of those two options she was most like to dole out. Happy Halloween. #DonnaDavisArt #inktober2016

30 October Hellena's mending

#inktober Day 30

The Victorian Aunts were finally leaving. Hellena had heaps to do to prepare for a dinner party that evening. And now on top of everything else she had to mend the tear in the Space Time Continuum as well as scrub muddy carriage tracks out of her living room carpet. The to-doing was never done. #DonnaDavisArt #inktober2016

29 October The Victorian Aunts find fast food

#inktober Day 29

The Victorian Aunts were not impressed with the TV dinners. Hellena's next choice of fast food seemed to be a hit. #DonnaDavisArt #inktober2016

28 October Agnes' day comes right in the end

#inktober Day 28

The day had come out quite fine for Agnes. After the mishaps of the morn, she now found herself happily enjoying her Toadstool Tea party after all. The fairies turned out to be rather understanding. They donned their Sunday best and laid out the most lovely tea. Even Puss joined them, with a little punishment thrown in for good measure. A fine day was had by all. #DonnaDavisArt #inktober2016

27 October Agens' Bad day continues

#inktober day 27

Agnes' day was not improving. She hadn't got her tea under the Toadstools. She was currently being kidnapped by Puss. And to top it off, she was spotted by some Fairy Folk. They were the biggest gossips going. #DonnaDavisArt #inktober2016