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I had a little fig tree. I planted it a few years ago and it’s not so little anymore. In fact, it’s making a takeover bid for my little seaside garden. It’s been growing mostly horizontally this year, and it’s reached about 12 feet. I planted it because nothing at all seemed to grow in my dry shady chalky soil, and the snails hiding in the crumbling garden walls would eat any tentative green shoot. But I really love figs. And now I have Mr Figgy and he’s taking over the world!
Granted it’s not quite as spacious in my little urban plot as formerly. And walking down the garden path is a bit of an obstacle course. The dense blanketing canopy of fig leaves has taken the light from my small but carefully chosen collection of snail hardy geraniums. Everything is so dark, strangled and weedy. And will those tiny figs ever even ripen?
Does anyone remember the story of The Old Woman in the Vinegar Bottle? One of my favourites as a child and it often comes to mind at times like these. Sometimes I think I am that old woman. It’s as if the kind fairy granted my wish for a strong luscious plant that could withstand my barren terrain. But as I sit, cramped up on my bench, beneath its rampant sticky branches I find myself wishing for something smaller and more ornamental. And I reflect on how easy it is to be sad and ungrateful even though I have everything I need. And most of what I asked for.
Oftentimes when I feel blank or numb I try to think of something I can create or do to change things up. And there are random unexpected happenings in the air (not least my self-published 2025 calendar with YOUR PETS IN - but more of that later).
It was 2008 when I had my last puppy: the World-Famous Stanley Philpot. How did I manage to find a world-famous puppy? Well sometimes they just fall from the stars and launch a whole range of gorgeous stationery, anyone remember that?!
Dear departed Stan was the mischievous side kick to both Sir Moses Browndog and my very special Betty who joined us at 3 years old. Betty loved to play with Stan but now, unable to walk and run as fast as she used to, misses out on the regular doggie boxing and raggling sessions in the park. For my ‘crossover dog’ and to provide a new lease of life for Betty, I’ve been searching for the perfect little docile puppy lump. And I’ve found a Newfoundland mix who will be joining us in 4 or 5 weeks. I’ll name this puppy Birdy.
But we’ve just found out that Betty will be leaving us sooner than expected. I can’t talk about it yet. But so many of us will know how that feels. The sad part of the circle of life. We have just a few quiet precious days together now. So I’m cancelling my November open studio but still going ahead with the small planned online show. I’ve had to segue this piece of upsetting news into my otherwise informative upbeat newsletter, so please forgive the jolt. The new work will be dedicated to Betty, and indeed all your own pets, both here and sadly departed. I’ve always believed the best way to handle loss is to create something new, spreading a little joy through the sadness.
THE NEW CALENDAR
The regular 2025 calendar is available worldwide right now direct from the publishers The Art Group. But for the first time in many years I’ve decided to release my own self-published calendar. Working with Amber from Little Mustard Club we will be creating what will necessarily be an altogether more exclusive affair.
There’ll be just a couple hundred printed (it’s an expensive business) and when they are gone they are gone. They’ll sell out quickly no doubt. I’ll let you know in the next newsletter when to expect them (mid-November time).
We are thinking:
Beware of unlicensed shoddily produced stolen reproductions. There are so many especially online. Genuine licensed products bear the copyright symbol of both the publisher and myself. If you can, buy from the publishers direct: The Art Group for posters/canvas/calendars/merch, Collier Dobson for limited edition prints, ArtPress for cards. Be vigilant. As soon as we shut them down, others surface. If the price is ‘too good to be true’, it probably is.
THE ALL-NEW LITTLE MUSTARD CLUB
Your valuable feedback has encouraged a new approach to our little Club. If you’ve always wanted to join in but found a £65 annual subscription too expensive in these difficult times, 2025 may be your year to join us: Instead of providing the dear (but costly) membership boxes, we will instead be including offers and surprises in our regular newsletters for a fraction of the cost. And super early signups for 2025 will receive our exclusive calendar as a complimentary gift (while stocks last). All for £22. If you are quick, you could even see your pet in the calendar, and receive your signed priority copy before the holidays … Details here.
2025 Club membership will include further opportunities to see your pet in my pictures as well as the year round discounts, a generous one-time-use sign up discount at www.samtoft.co.uk, access to both the Club Room exclusives and the priority list for the Samtoftoriginals shows, plus exclusive specials at our studio events.
‘Live as you are. But not today’ is the title of my new collection. Something I’ve learned from Betty. These last days, all I’ve wanted to do is cry. But I’m keeping things ‘normal’ for Betty. As a sensitive dog she picks up on emotions fast. There’ll be time enough for tears when she’s gone.
We will have a few jig dolls and ceramic Dorises, brand new mixed media paintings, limited bronze editions and some small original drawings in vintage frames. The last online show for a while.
Priority Access for Club members and previous samtoftoriginals buyers with a secret online code. And in the spirit of spreading the love, I’ll be selling one of the pictures to raise funds for a fabulous little primary school in Kenya I visited on my recent trip. They have absolutely nothing. Children walk miles each morning on an empty stomach. How can they hope to learn on empty stomachs? Hopefully together we can buy a few books, food and supplies to keep them going for another year. We have so much, and they have so little. I may post a few pictures and videos on my new social media account once I have time after Betty has passed.