Carol Coulter Framing

The summer is on its way (well it was up until today) and it will soon be Festival time here in Edinburgh. The one thing that marks the start of festivities for me, is the presentation to the winner in the Fringe 2012 Schools Poster Competition. For the third year running, I have had the privilege of mounting and framing the winners and shortlisted entries from schools the length and breadth of Scotland.

It’s a delight and a pleasure to see such creativity at such a young age. This year’s winner, Marc Robb from Bainsford Primary in Falkirk, is only 8 years old. You can’t help but smile at his colourful, cheery, gap-toothed character, that will soon be gracing windows, billboards and hoardings all over the city.

Regular Fringe goers amongst you may already be planning which shows you’re going to see. And you may even have bought a poster. Either way, I’d like to offer what I hope is an attractive 20% discount for your own framing requirements throughout the duration of the Festival.

All you have to do to get your Fan of the Fringe Framing discount is bring along a ticket or ticket stub from any Fringe event when you visit my workshop on Jamaica Street, anytime before the end of August.

Enjoy the summer and the fabulous Fringe!

Last weekend, hubs and I decided, rather unusually, to do something together for a change. The weather was good so to make the most of the last few rays of summer sunshine (and because our chosen destination was soon to close for the year), we set out for Jupiter Artland on the outskirts of Edinburgh. As many of you will know, this privately owned estate, is home to some truly inspirational works of art which are displayed in the grounds of the family pile (Bonnington House).

Bee hive by Ian Hamilton Finlay

There are several pieces by the late Ian Hamilton Finlay, which touch the typographer in me, including these rather lovely bee hives that have been inscribed with verse.

It’s a great day out, whatever your age or taste in art. But if contemporary art isn’t really your bag, you can have a nice walk, feed the donkeys and have a cuppa and slice of cake from the very cool cafe.

My only gripe is that the place closes to the public very soon for the season and doesn’t open again till May. Which means that we miss the chance to see the artworks in the glorious autumn season and also early spring. Not to mention the snowy winter months.

If you haven’t yet been, it’s worth a trip. (But be quick – closes 12 Sept for the season).

One of the best things, in fact maybe THE best thing about being at the East End of town, is this.

The most fantastic soup that I have ever tasted.
Made from red wine, tomatoes, chorizo, chick peas and chilli, I have re-named it ch-ch-ch soup. But because it’s so good, and because they do sometimes run out of it before I have chance to get there, I’m not telling you where it’s from. Lest you all go.
Oh and before you start scouring the eating establishments of Easter Road, looking for stripey placemats, don’t bother. That’s in my house. They do take-aways too.