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| Muldoon Studio's is run by Manth Keeley - this is not just a website designed to sell products, but a showcase for my work and other artists whose work I enjoy. |
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| So following is Manth's blog.... |
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| Honey Bee visitors |
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| During the warm weather of last week, a swarm of honey bees decided to visit our garden. An incredible sight when on the wing, they circled the garden for about a quarter of an hour, before settling in a rosemary bush. Fortunately, as the studio is located above a beekeeping shop, I have been learning more about these fascinating creatures - and knew just enough to not be alarmed by so many of them arriving in the garden!
Honey bees swarm to multiply the number of colonies and thus propagate and perpetuate the species. When a swarm leaves the hive, those left behind have a store of honey, along with a young queen, in her special cell, and young bees ready to hatch. The bees that leave with the old queen to search for a new home will not travel far from their old hive - possibly because the queen does not fly as well or as fast as the workers - and may stop to rest several times before locating the perfect spot. These swarms can only survive for several days on the honey they filled themselves with before leaving the hive, so it is important for them to find a new home quickly - and we can help them do this. If a swarm happens to arrive in your garden, the first thing to do is not to panic. Whilst they can look - and sound- very alarming, they are not aggressive creatures and will not actively seek a fight - despite what the movies say. They are, however, best left alone and undisturbed for the duration of their stay as they will defend the queen, and themselves, if provoked. The next step would be to ring your local police station (definately not 999) or local council to find a local beekeeper who would be willing to collect the swarm (some do make a small charge for this - to cover travel expenses - but they should always inform you of this beforehand and many are happy with just a cup of tea!). It is of great benefit to all if a beekeeper is called quickly, as the bees are at their most docile whilst still full of honey. There are many websites available, offering a wealth of information on honey bees - along with all our other essential pollinators - including how to identify them and who to call in your area should you find yourself with a swarm. |
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| Well Done, Denman! |
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| Well, Cheltenham is over for another year and the mighty Denman stormed up the hill to win the big race. As a Kauto Star fan, I was a little sad to see him unable to match Denman's relentless stride on the day - however, without taking anything away from Denman himself, Kauto did not seem to be on his best form. I was thrilled to see Neptune Collonges run up third, partnered with Mick Fitzgerald - particularly as we had a small wager riding on him, so 'thank you', Mr Fitzgerald! Congratulations must go to Paul Nicholls, who trains all three - a feat not seen since Michael Dickinson saddled a unique first five in the Gold Cup, in 1983. All in all, a great day, despite the weather - just another 361 days until it starts again, next year! |
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| Good Luck, Kauto Star! |
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| Just one day to go until the Cheltenham Gold Cup and we would like to wish Kauto Star and, indeed, all his fellow runners, a safe trip round. I would like to see Kauto Star retain his crown, whereas James has a fondness for Kauto's closest rival, Denman. The hype around the two of them has produced a wonderful atmosphere of anticipation and drama - not that the Festival is ever lacking in either of those. |
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| An Unusual Commission |
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| I have just finished a commission to restore the colours of this wonderful Italian headboard. This came via Neil Busby, a craftsman specialising in bespoke furniture and antique restoration. The headboard had been in a very sorry state - large pieces of the base had been broken off, along with some of the decorative carvings on the front and much of the original colour had either faded or been worn away. Neil worked his magic with the structure, carving a new base and replacing all the missing decorative features on the front. Before beginning to restoring the paintwork, I had to do some research into what colours and techniques would have been used originally - a task made much easier by the internet! - as this would help me blend the colours in with what was still there and avoid the finished piece looking 'brand new'. To this end, the large areas of solid colour were blended with different shades and hues to avoid them becoming 'flat' and the decorative paintwork was completed with muted tones to give an 'aged' feel. We decided not to replace the gilt to the gilded areas as, once again, the solid colour would have been to harsh - instead, I applied and blended four 'shades' of gold to complete the antique effect. If you would like to know more about Neil Busby and his work, you can access his website via our 'Links' page (accessable from our homepage). |
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| Wincanton Races |
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| As it was such a lovely, sunny day on Saturday, we decided to head down to Wincanton racecourse. Set in the rolling countryside of Somerset, this is one of the friendliest racecourses we have visited - it even welcomes dogs in the Course enclosure, so Moose was able to come and enjoy the day. I was thrilled to see one of my favourite racehorses, Neptune Collonges, win in grand style and managed to take lots of photographs to help inspire me for future paintings. James also picked a couple of winners - Moose, however, had trouble diverting her attention from the roast pork stand (who, I should mention, also offered a decent cup of tea - something of a rarity at most outside events). I'd also like to put in a mention for the ground staff, who were, without exception, extremely helpful and friendly. All in all, a grand day out. More information on Wincanton Racecourse is available on their website - www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk |
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| Cheltenham approaches |
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| Firstly, apologies for the length of time since the last update - unfortunately, a combination of illness and workload has left little time spare. We are back on track now, though, and looking forward to the upcoming Cheltenham Festival. This is our annual holiday and a wonderful spectacle for anyone interested in racing. This year's festival runs from Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th March and during that time we will, unfortunately, be unable to process any orders placed online - orders may still be placed, and will take priority on our return, but we will be unable to dispatch any goods until Monday 17th (obviously, no payment will be taken until items are dispatched). Our showroom will still be open, though, and welcome to visitors. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Cheltenham Festival may visit the racecourse website - www.cheltenham.co.uk |
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| You can purchase all of our art products in a wide variety of formats securely and safely. |
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| Postage and Packing! |
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| Greatwood - Caring for retired racehorses |
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