DECEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends
I have finally found the word that perfectly describes my feeble attempts to work in the December heat wave. “Spuddle” is a useful verb from the 17th Century that means "to work feebly or ineffectively, because your mind is elsewhere or you haven't quite woken up yet". It can also mean "to be extremely busy whilst achieving absolutely nothing". I hope you’ve managed to get all your Christmas shopping, baking, and decorationg done, and that you haven’t been spuddling too much!
Congratulations!
Gitta Birk’s number (11) was drawn from the Famous Green Hat. What a wonderful early Christmas gift! Thank you to everyone who bought raffle tickets. We managed to raise R1170 with the raffle, which was added to the Inktober HOPE Basket proceeds. The total amount raised was R12900.
This was a HOPE Basket fund raiser. We thank Shaun for this fabulous donation of Royal Talens art supplies!
2024 Round-UP
To re-visit all the exciting 2024 Workshop and Open Studio events at my Art Studio 112, click/tap HERE.
These fresh watercolours and dramatic acrylics all found new homes this year. I hope they bring much joy wherever they may be. Click/tap on the thumbnails in the photo-gallery to view the images
Inktober was the highlight of my art calendar! The 4 most popular ink drawings were:
“Singing in the Shower” (21 bids)
“Early Bird” (18 bids)
“Honeybee” (17 bids)
“Golden Slumbers” (17 bids)
Here they are again! Click/tap on the thumbnails in the photo-gallery to view the images
Presents vs Presence
Although I’m not averse to receiving jewellery, perfume, trinkets and ornaments for Christmas, the type of gift I appreciate the most is a practical gift, something I can use often, reminding me repeatedly of the giver. Now, I know many of you will roll your eyes or gasp in horror when I tell you that one year John gave me a paper shredder, and another year he presented me with a microwave oven. I was thrilled to bits! It was just what I wanted and I’m still using them to this day. But maybe the greatest gift we can give is our presence, because our absence is more acutely felt than receiving no gifts at all.
Watercolour Workshops 2025
Just a reminder that the Summer Fruits Watercolour Workshops will take place on 11 and 18 January 2025. There are still 2 places left for the 18th, and a few "unsecured" spots, so book your place now by sending me a WhatsApp.
R100 deposit secures your spot. For more information, please visit the EVENTS PAGE.
December Birthdays
Happy birthday to Gary, Shereen, Nelia, Erica R, Sarah, Carol E, Catherine, Charmaine, Celesté, Sherran-Nee, Ellen, Mienie, and Marlene B.
I wish you beauty, grace and peace in abundance. Witness the touching and tender love between father and son - Andrea and Matteo Bocelli - as they perform the beautiful duet "Oh Holy Night" / "Cantique de Noël".
Good King Wenceslas
Wenceslas was a real person: the Duke of Bohemia, a 10th-century Christian prince. The carol about the good and kind king was written in 1853 for the Feast of St Stephen, better known as Boxing Day. It celebrates the long tradition of charitable giving on the Second Day of Christmas.
Here’s a cheerful rendition of Good King Wenceslas by the Irish Rovers, which I dedicate to all you lovely newsletter subscribers. It was one of John’s favourites, and he sang it with gusto every year at Richard Cock’s Christmas Carols at the Linder Auditorium. What happy memories!
The lyrics are on the screen, so enjoy singing along to this rousing rendition.
Thank you so much for subscribing to my art newsletter, and for all your kind feedback.
I wish you joy and peace as you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please feel free to share my website link with your friends and family, and on your social media.
Maria Kaye xx
Subscribers get notified when new work is available and receive discounts, prizes and other amazing perks!
SIGN UP NOW FOR YOUR FREE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION