Tessa Spanton SWA Artist, tutor, writer



TESSA SPANTON SWA ARTIST, WRITER AND TUTOR

Welcome to my blog.
This is where I write about some of the things that inspire my work,
news of exhibitions and works in progress

Sunday 25 July 2010

Carshalton Lavender Open Weekend


I arrived at 8pm to set up the gazebo. Here is my pitch next to the lavender garden at Carshalton Lavender
South London was once the lavender growing capital of the world. Both Yardley and Potter and Moore made their products with lavender from the region. When the land was needed for housing in the 1930s lavender growing moved to Norfolk. This little patch of land tucked away within suburbia now has lavender growing on it once again and opens to the public for pick your own during the last weekend in July. The bees and butterflies love it.

Here it is all set up. I had paintings, prints, cards, silk scarves and jewellery for sale.The weather was beautiful, I met lots of new people as well as friends and old friends I hadn't seen for some time. Sales were good and I sold the painting shown in the previous post.I bought a few things too including a necklace, lavender cookies and shortbread.
On the second day I managed to do some painting as well.

People arrived to pick bunches of lavender, browse the stands and pick up plenty to eat. There were home made cakes and cookies and breads and a barbeque. Local honey and lavender were some of the ingredients. Local beekeepers had a double stand. The photo below shows the edge of the lavender field.