Wales in Yasni Exposé of Gill Cattroll

UPPER LLANDOGO WALK         We did this walk in the autumn of last year and in all honesty we forgot where we had filed the photographs!   As you can see from these pictures it was a break away from the usual mountain walks we enjoy so much but we wanted to make the most of the beautiful colours that were adorning the Wye Valley. So we headed for the woodlands, groves and waterfalls that surround the village of Llandogo.   For this walk you need to head for Upper Llandogo and find the picnic site and car park of Bargain Wood (SO525026).  We then headed North back towards Upper Llandogo before going further up into the hills where we enjoyed unusual architecture and the country side that surrounds this area, passing through Cuckoo Wood and Manor Wood. Heading West and then South, we headed past Cleddon Hall and Cleddon Falls before heading back down the hillside to the picnic area where we had some lunch before heading back home.   It is difficult to be more specific on this walk for two reasons   We did it a long time ago! It is one of those walks where there are so many footpaths you have to take the map and go where your feet take you!  To see photos go to www.arts-wales.co.uk  

  Bedroom Project Two   For the last five months I have been working on a major bit of DIY, turning two small and pokey rooms into a double bedroom with an en-suite shower room.   The project has been fraught with problems not least with the lack of time as trying to juggle, husband's work and my studying, along with having to deal with the constraints of dealing with an old property and all that other people have done in the past, not all of it good!   But today I can finally start seeing my design coming together. The wiring and plumbing finally finished, which is a frustratingly long process as even though lots is being done it doesn't always appear that much progress is being made. What does make me feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel is that the plasterers have been and have just about finished and I can now think about getting on with the fun bit! Getting together the products I have chosen and finally seeing my drawings come to life!   On this occasion I have decided to use (where ever possible) products that have the least impact on the environment and or are natural and are sustainable sourced.   Shower room Nero Riven Slate floor                                       Mandarin Stone, Monmouth http://www.mandarinstone.com   Na poli Stone wall tiles                                     Marlborough Tiles. Marlborough http://www.marlboroughtiles.com   Accent wall tiles                                                 Dee Hardwick Ceramics, Monmouth http://interpretationdesign.co.uk/hardwicke   Paint                                                                      Rendona Paints, Lydney http://www.rendona.co.uk   Shower Room                                                      World of Baths http://worldofbaths.co.uk     Bedro om Furniture                                                              from Leeks of Cardiff Pure Wool Carpet                                              Country Covering Of Monmouth http://www.countrycoverings.co.uk   Fabric    Manhattan Collection                      Designers Guild, London http://www.designersguild.com   Fit ted wardrobe                                                  Re- using doors and fittings from a previous room. Lighting                                                               John Lewis Paint                                                                       Rendona Paints, Lydney   I will of course be posting photos up on my profile on www.arts-wales.co.uk where you can see Bedroom project I did for my eldest daughter along with articles on my hill walking that my husband and I have been doing.      

It was a good friend in Canada, on visiting the house that I had at the time, who said that I should seriously consider Interior Design as a profession. So although it was something that I have wanted to do for quite some time, life always seemed to get in the way - bringing up my two girls, looking after my husband, helping run the then family business, producing the ponies/horses for the show ring and Dressage - before long I was approaching 40 and apart from having fun sorting out Interiors for our own homes, I had not taken any formal courses. It was a period of enforced convalescence that got me going on my first structured course in this subject, and lo and behold I found out that I was quite good! Gaining a distinction!Having taken the basic course, I am now moving on to the next level, which is proving to be a very interesting. I hope in the future to post some of my work up on my profile for you all to have a look at. I'll also put up some photos of my projects, as and when I consider them to be finished; something that can be difficult - as anyone with a creative mind knows, there is always room for improvement!!! In the meantime you can see some of my work and other interests on the site www.arts-wales.co.ukWhen I look at all these impressive Profiles and lovely people who are leading interesting lives, it has left me wondering how best to describe myself to you. My background is in Psychiatric Nursing and running a country Pub; both dealing with people who are not always on their best behaviour, the difference being that those ill in hospitals couldn't help it. Joking aside, both these occupations have taught me how to communicate and to listen. For pleasure during this time, I bought my first pure-bred Arabian horse; he has been a prolific winner in the show ring at County, National and International level. Also during this time my eldest daughter, who has inherited her mother's genes, went on to compete in the discipline and art form that is Dressage. Between us we took a very green horse to the level of being able to compete at the British Riding Club National championships, gaining a third individually and being part of the winning team Nationally, as well as competing at Elementary level in affiliated Dressage - all in the space of 3 years. It was a sad day when we had to sell this horse but these things happen when your offspring go off to University.Showing and competing at this level requires commitment, hard work and a definite eye for detail; all of which are equally needed in Design.As for my youngest Daughter, she is not quite so "obsessed" with our equine friends, preferring to launch herself down rivers at ever increasing speed in single, double or quad sculls! Something that I highly respect as I can't help thinking those boats look too close to the water to me!! Well that is a little bit about who I am; as for where I am heading, Georgina's testimonial (on my ecademy profile) is very kind and correct! As she says, 'Watch this space.'

www.charles-patricia-lester.co.uk   Makers of Works of Art you can wear. Each piece is designed and hand made in Wales. From the dying process to the last stitch and or bead.   The colours, textures and patterns are sumptuous, sensual and beautiful. With Patricia and Georgina's eye for detail and the knowledge of women (i.e. different body shape 's & what makes them tick!) makes shopping at C& P a wonderfully relaxing experience.

Arts Wales UK, the online resource directory for arts and arts related businesses.

Personal profile page of Gill Cattroll - up and coming interior designer based in South Wales.