I’ve been spending a lot of time in the peaceful gardens of my local Buddhist meditation centre with my new pup. We sit on a bench beneath a small tree with its large, lime green heart-shaped leaves. We’ve been watching as they turn almost  iridescent shades of shell pink. And as they fall there’s a dazzling abstract pattern creating itself on the dew-soaked grass. Fresh coral hearts join the yellows and the russets beneath. It’s an Eastern Redbud I think. Spectacular.  

No time for painting. Not much time for writing. No energy at all for dreaming up new ideas at my lovely quiet studio. The short nights, long days and addled brain will be familiar to all new mums, carers and puppy parents. The eyes may be bleary but my heart is full. And I know I am very lucky to have this time for contemplating the beauty of nature on my doorstep. Pushing an oversized pre-vaccinated puppy in a sturdy perambulator along the early morning streets. My little Birdy is too heavy to be carried far and we have resorted to wheels for our socialising. The mild November weather has been such a blessing.  

I stole her from a farm in Devon.  

I didn’t really steal her, but that’s how it must have felt for my Birdy.  

She’s a large brown mixed breed, cleverly incorporating parts of all of my former dogs. She’s a Newfoundland mix: part German Shepherd, part Poodle, part Bernese Mountain dog. Her coat is a bit curly, a bit fluffy, a bit wiry but with the ubiquitous rose pink puppy belly. Her paws are the size of Betty’s, her eyes are full of love and mischief, her teeth as sharp as razors.  I stole her from her mum and dad and grandparents and siblings. I stole her from the fields, the woods, the lakes and rivers, from the straw and the stables and the huge blue skies. Now she’s landed in a townhouse with a small walled garden and a tiny fish pond with just me and a talking budgie for company. Busy roads and pebbled beaches, seaside piers and promenades, cafés, city parks and cul-de-sacs. But her biggest shock I think was hearing seagulls instead of skylarks. Birdy  is a very brave pup indeed.  

Three weeks in and I’m fifty shades of shattered. Glad I got the paintings for my final show of 2024 to the framers before our trip to Devon. Will I ever paint again?!? 

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Louise (my dear sister, she of MUSTARDHAMPERS fame) has suggested a BUMPER shopping weekend for all! Every order received Friday 29th, Saturday 30th, Sunday 1st December will receive an extra gift (and the more you order the more she will gift!) … think signed Christmas cards, mini jigsaws, notebook and pen sets, lap trays, cushions, signed black and white prints - all absolutely FREE with your orders over that long weekend!

And Nan asked me to remind you of her last order dates to get there for Christmas: Sunday December 15th for UK and Monday 2nd December for elsewhere in the World. Anything after that, email mustardshop@aol.com for possible expedited delivery. 

Along with many other artists, my work is being stolen and counterfeited on platforms like Temu and Shein.  If you value art, please buy genuine items from authorised retailers to avoid supporting theft.

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Anyhoo, back now to puppy pleasures. There’s lots of work to do with the training. Lots of cuddles and patience in between. One day soon though we’ll both be sleeping through the night. And there’ll be a new brown dog sitting at the door of Brown Dog Studio! Can’t wait to get back to painting of course, but for now we have a few tough months ahead of us to nail down that housetraining. Wish me luck! 

Thank you so much for all your love, kind messages and support. It’s appreciated now more than ever. We are all good people living in a scary and uncertain times. Let us be the change we want to see in the world.  

Big love 

Sam Toft 

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