I have a spare room that was supposed to be the studio. It has turned into a sometimes chaotic storeroom. As it turns out it’s just better working out on the kitchen bench and table. The kitchen is warmer, lighter and has the room to spread out. Daily I gather up bits and pieces, drag them all out and (mostly) take it all back. Sometimes the putting back goes astray and things build up until I’m forcing the door open and pushing stuff into whatever gap is on the floor.

I like a clear bench when I turn to cooking, so I spend a reasonable time shuffling things from one end to another. There’s a bit of paint splatter up the kitchen wall, and a reasonable coating of glue on the tap, but hey, it’s all for the art cause! Occasionally though, there’s extras in the food.

This week I decided to make macaroni cheese for lunch. First mistake! going straight from arting to cooking. As I was busily mixing the cheese sauce I noticed a few red streaks, being unsure where it had come from, I decided it was probably food safe and ok.. Not wanting to waste another 10 minutes making more, I quickly mixed it in.

However, when beloved hubby put out his, there it was, evidence of my crime hiding under a piece of pasta looking like a piece of congealed blood.

The next day, on discovering colourful streaks on the cheese for a baked cheese sandwich, all was revealed.. The dye I had been using and all over my hands was not permanent as I thought, but water based.

AND food safe.