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Living The Dream

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My Dream!  It's always been a dream to own my own business and the journey has been rocky. Steering the ship through turbulent waters saps your energy but with help and the support of friends, family and suppliers there's light at the end of the tunnel. There's been some tough decisions along the way but it's all come together to bring this exciting news...  It's certainly a massive decision considering the high street has taken a big hit and many big stores have gone. We've been growing at an alarming rate and to keep up with demand we've had to expand to show more originals and limited editions.  It's now official, I've signed on the dotted line and ready to move into kiosk 1 on the Trentham Shopping Village, Stone Road, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 8JG  Posters are going up this week and I'll be in from the 14th January on sporadic days adding artwork and gallery fixtures and fittings. The sign should be in place before we open on the 1st Febr...
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Don't Just Think About It!

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 It's been three weeks since my biopsy, my eye is a little sensitive, very bloodshot and i'm struggling to get a goodnights sleep. It's so frustrating and boredom fills the day unable to paint, I suppose it's understandable under the circumstances and I do need the rest to get back to full fitness. Having said that I also need to get out there and be part of the community. I've just completed a Makers Market at Trentham on Saturday 16th. It felt good, it's always hard work but enjoyable.  It's always been my philosophy "The time to do something is the time you're thinking about it". It's not something that you can always act upon. I've always been spontaneous and at the same time hesitant, yeah a bit mixed up, I suppose. As you get older those inhibitions that held you back in your younger days get pushed aside. You tend to mould your goals into reality and dismiss negative vibes from others and life choices become clearer. Join me at T...
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Location: Cromer Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 6QN, UK
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Monday, Monday

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 " Monday, Monday, so good to me  Monday mornin’, it was all I hoped it would be..." that was the opening lyrics to the hit song for The Mamas & Papas in 1966.  Monday 4th November 2024 was the day of my biopsy. It went well, well, as well as it could have gone, I do look like I've gone a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson with my hands tied behind my back.  I have to wait 3 weeks for the results, so fingers crossed it's not something major! Before my biopsy I was told to decrease the steroids along with other medication so that the procedure could go ahead. Medication have kept the inflammation at bay for up to 14 months, but now all medication has been restored to the prescription levels that were prescribed before the procedure.  I'll be keeping busy in my studio and looking forward to a hectic upcoming event days throughout November and December with Steven Howard Gallery  at Trentham with The Makers Market. Click image to learn more
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Location: Cromer Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 6QN, UK
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Good News?

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 I have waited such a  long time for my biopsy slot and finally the date has been set for 4th November 2024. The procedure will only go ahead subject to my HbA1c being below 69 which is considered to be safe in the control of infection for any medical procedure.   My  HbA1c  level has been high, a reading of 74 for quite sometimes but has now come down to 64. I've no idea what I've done differently to get my  HbA1c down but it's, I suppose, a good position to be in.   Thank you to everyone who has sent their good wishes and support. I will hopefully get more originals out there soon. I've certainly got some time now, I've got to keep away from crowds to minimise infection for 72 hours before my biopsy so I'll be painting to pass the time away over the weekend. If you want to see my latest work "What's on the easel?" Join my art group:   Stevens Art  Framed Originals can be purchased from the website:  Website All completed unframed origi...
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Location: Cromer Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 6QN, UK
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My Biggest Risk

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 Although I've always had the creative ability. I haven't always had jobs that stimulated my creative ambitions. The biggest risk I've taken was the decision to become an entrepreneur, a decision that wasn't taken lightly. When you enjoy what you're doing and working a 100 hour week it certainly doesn't feel like work. When you're working so many hours for someone else and you don't enjoy it! Then it's time for a change.  School, college or university doesn't teach you how to become an entrepreneur! That's something you and you alone can only bring about. To some people it's a natural ability, I just knew that I needed to make money from something I enjoyed doing.  I enjoyed drawing and painting, it's something that came naturally, I didn't really have to think about the process. The difficult part was selling my art for profit and that proved a huge task, a task that I had to learn fast.
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Location: Cromer Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 6QN, UK
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It's getting worse!

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 Well, the condition affecting my eye has got a lot worse, it's now affecting my good eye! How the hell these experts cannot detect the problem I have and diagnose the cause from the symptoms without performing a biopsy is beyond me! Surely there are other people that are suffering or have suffered the same or similar symptoms worldwide?  All the scans, appointments and the many answers i've provided to the questions asked must have led to some discovery. It's bloody frustrating and upsetting me on a daily basis now. I'm not religious! But if I thought it would help regain my sight, I would follow that cult.  I have a biopsy pre-assessment on 19th September, hopefully I'll get a date and what is entailed in the procedure. Click image to View the full picture.  It may be taking me a lot longer to create the detail I was once renowned, but I'm determined to provide the same standard of accuracy and detail in my paintings.
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Location: Cromer Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 6QN, UK
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Girls can't play football

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Back in the late 60's early 70's, I must have only been 6 or 7 when I used to play football with friends in the street and back alley ways of Manchester. I remember there was a girl that used to hang around but not having the confidence to ask to join in, she would just kick a ball against the wall close to where we were playing. One day when we turned up to play and as we were placing jackets and jumpers for goalposts, we noticed we were a man down, only 7 of us! I suggested the girl (who had shown up again) make up a team? "A girl?" said Bunker who was, let's just say a large boy for his age and always black from helping his dad who was a coalman. Bunker finally succumbed after some bickering and we put the girl on the weaker team. The girl scored 7 goals! The very next time the girl showed up, she was first pick to play on our team. 😁
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Location: Cromer Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 6QN, UK
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