Yes, a revelation that is I’ve decided to start writing fiction again after a gap of many, many years.
To celebrate I have even gathered my courage together and entered the New Voices writing competition with my historical story.
You can read and comment on Miss Carteret’s Maid here. Thanks in advance if you do!
I’d been thinking about having one of my photos made up into a big print for a while now, so when the offer came to have one made up into a canvas print it made perfect sense to try it.
The only problem was to decide which picture I was going to choose. You wouldn’t believe just how long I can stare at photos, seriously. In the end, I focused on my castle pictures. I have always wanted to have something of the castle on display permanently.
So I chose an unusual view of the castle to be sent off to be made into one of the professional canvas prints. That was after I’d tweaked the colours a little, and sharpened the view of the house.
So here is the final product, which I’m very proud of. It only took a few days for the print to arrive, and it’s really nice. Very well made, and packaged and with the appropriate equipment to hang it up straight away. Apologies for my picture, which isn’t doing it justice at all. My version is the 30x40cm one.
You can find out more here about trying online canvas printing for yourself. I’m just looking for ideas on where to hang it now!
Let me know what you think of my canvas picture. I might even get some more made for myself or even as presents…
I can’t believe it’s that time of the year again, and we are winding down to the end of season at the castle.
It’s not exactly been great for weather during the Summer here, but we have had some sunny days, and the annual Steam and Vintage fair, not to mention the Jousting in August had pretty decent weather and went really well.
The leaves are now falling and turning red and gold on the estate, and my thermals will no doubt be soon making a re-appearance, but we do still have some events left to go.
Please see the thumbnails below for our October Halloween weekend, and our fairytale-style Christmas event in December. Fingers crossed that snow does not stop play this year!
We have some Christmas goodies in our shop (stop saying boo you lot!) as well as our other lovely things, second hand books are still available too if you want to contribute.
I am excited to say that – sadly not due to my recent post about some original Raeburns I’m trying to track down – but due to some lovely visitors I spoke to last week, I can finally say I now know where Alexander Mackenzie Fraser’s portrait is!
I have been given the name of the London Club in which it hangs, as he was positively identified as such – name and everything! If I am able I will update further.
Now, just to find Martha and Elyza…
I have been over the Summer wandering around some city graveyards during my lunch – the largest of which is St Peter’s Cemetery, Aberdeen.
This is a massive cemetery on King Street, and has graves from the Eighteenth Century, but the majority are Victorian. There’s some great monuments and carvings, I especially like that many occupations are included and the Scottish tradition of including women’s maiden names. Very handy if you’re a genealogist.
I took some pictures of some of the more unusual monuments (there were A LOT of broken shaft style ones, must have been a buy one get one free offer!) but the most intriguing one, is below. Read the top part carefully…
I know, another Jane Eyre. But somehow, this is ok with me. It’s one of my most favourite books of all time, and as long as the actors get it right, which they often do – I can cope with another version of the story quite happily.
Here is the trailer for the 2011 version with Michael Fassbender *sighs*
I hope I get to see this at the cinema.
Here’s a little something I don’t normally look at – collectible plates. Was probably feeling slightly homesick at the time though. Plus it was a cool gift!
A vintage Houses of Parliament Plate. I’ve photographed it here for your delectation:
This sale is certainly interesting to me for a number of reasons historically and art-wise, but not least because the contents of Dunecht House are included in the sale.
Cowdray Park, when I last heard is also up for sale, but this September sale is the contents of both the houses. From pictures to light fittings, furniture to carpets – though officially it is classed as an art sale.
The sale is from the 13-15 September 2011, and you can view an e-catalogue, listings or buy the catalogue online from Christie’s. You may even be able to bid online should you wish to.
Cowdray Park Sale: Works of Art from Cowdray Park and Dunecht House – at Cowdray Park, West Sussex.
Hmm, to buy or not to buy a catalogue…
Yes, we have a new cat. He was a stray we adopted from the local Cat and Dog home, and he is roughly 7 years old. He also has a slight jaw deformity which gives him extra character, not that he needs any!
Merry has the purr of an overactive tractor, and the cuddliness of the best of teddy bears. I present him here:
All together now…
Oh, and before I forget, today is Bert the Basset’s 5th Birthday – Happy Birthday Bad Bertie!
(Or Woman). As many of you know a hobby of sorts of mine is tracking down lost and missing paintings. Hey, this art historian in training does not have an off button…
In particular at the moment I am looking at copies of Raeburns the originals of which I know were sold at the beginning of the 20th Century, and I’d love to know if any of you have seen them anywhere. If the information is private, you are welcome to email me – I would not make this information public, it would only be noted. Otherwise, please give me a shout if you have seen any of them in public collections anywhere!
The most prominent one I am looking for handily has a photograph on the web – Lt Gen Alexander Mackenzie Fraser. Now, this is the photograph of the copy that was sold at Christie’s in 2001, and the one I am interested in, of course, is the original. This is rumoured to be on display in London. I am aware of one copy allegedly being in Essen, and I know where the other one is!
Another where there is a photo of the copy (though you may need to squint) is that of Elyza Fraser, who poses more of a problem, as I can only find a record of her sitting for Raeburn in a 1908 book about the artist. The NGS has no record of her at all, or of where the original may be. Another is her sister Martha Mackenzie, nee Fraser. I know this was sold, and I have record of this, but I am assuming this is in a private collection as it has not been sighted since before 1920 and may possibly be in the USA. No picture of her, I’m afraid! She does look similar to her sister Elyza however, and if you think you may have seen her, but are not sure if you can find me a picture I can confirm it either way.
Any information appreciated, so do let me know!
Which Grand Duchess Would YOU Be?