the patchwork dress

my creative space

I had an interesting conversation with Suzanne yesterday, and following her post 'my creative space' - I have snapped mine this morning!

This is one of my favourite (bar my garden bench) places in the house, and failing good weather this is my default position for daydreaming, interneting, drinking coffee, shopping online, etc.  It is also where I prepare dinner, bake, and unpack shopping.

The window looks out onto a small tree which is somewhat of a bird theatre.  It is where I hang the feeders, put out seed, or apples and berries down for the blackbirds.  Maybe I love it because the view is always changing as the birds come and go - just watching their antics and behaviour is a gift.  New life is always springing from the garden.  It is also where we buried Murphy (so he can torment the birds - or vice versa!).

As I write, a cheeky jackdaw, who has learned to pull up the wire on the feeder, so that peanuts are dispensed from the bottom of the cage - is trying to do his 'trick'.  This leads onto a rugby type game by the sparrows who are opportunist looters once the deed has been done.  There is then much chasing and stealing of nuts in various scrums around the garden.

The reason I wanted to post this place is its simplicity and 'un-glamour-ess-ness' (?) tucked between the cooker and the washing up bowl, perched on a stool by my recycling containers.  I have been ruminating on why I have this blog, and whether I wish to continue.  It has been 4 years (May 3, 2007!) - and although I do want to keep and continue it, I feel a change is needed.

A need for simplicity and authenticity is prime.  I feel a deep need to stop trying to be what I'm not, and I'm terrible for hiding what I am!  And so I shall bring a change to my posts.  Posting when I want, rather than through a need to keep the blog going.  

The next 8 weeks will be busy for me, so free time will be minimal.  My posts may reduce, or I might need this as a sounding place for what's going on.  Anyway, change is afoot - so I hope, if you do read this, you will find something in it for you in future posts.

Thanks.

earth day offering

As a special thank you and to celebrate Earth Day on 22 April, followed by Easter... I am offering a 20% discount to any purchases made in my OneGoodMarket shop until midnight (GMT) on Monday 25 April.

Just enter the code EARTH11 at the checkout.

10% of sales will still go to Scottish Wildlife Trust, and postage + packing is still free in the UK.

Can you see the tiny sliver of moon in the top left corner?  This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago when the sun was setting on the horizon and sending an amazing beam of light up into the sky.

oh happy day

...just because they are so cheery.  They are actually more purply than this, but loved the way the light comes through the petals.  

Have a good week :)

a hungry hedgehog

On Saturday we came home to an unexpected visitor behind our garden.  It was around 5pm and this little hedgehog was being barked at by a dog (who may actually have saved him!).  So I picked him up with gloves into an old fruit box and put him in our garden, where he proceeded to speed off... in search of food.. He showed no fear, but was obviously desperate to find edibles.

I wonder if he had just surfaced from hibernation.  Quite small and a bit tick ridden.  I put an egg out on a plate, which he sat in, and devoured it!  It was quite a small egg, but filling for a wee hog - I think the protein and moisture may have done him good.  However there was no interest in a second, he wouldn't hang around and took off out of the garden again.

I was quite concerned as he was heading for a busy carpark and possibly the road, when N also remembered we had hedgehog biscuits from last autumn.  So I caught up with him (now asleep between 2 bricks) and sprinkled some around.  

That caused much nose twitching, crunching, and waving of paws. Quite an amazing scene.

Last we saw he had turned round and was heading off up the hill to safer havens, and snuffling at full pelt for any other tidbits he could find!

I've never seen a live hedgehog so closely and so animated - it inspired me to get out my sketchbook and record the event!

deep appreciation

Images from the weekend's snow on Saturday.  Deep appreciation for peace and the environment - especially in sight of what has happened in Japan.  Looking out from Duncryne over the Highland boundary fault (3rd picture) that runs through Loch Lomond, forms Incailloch island and Conic Hill - and separates the Lowland plate from the Highland, and over our little village in the last picture.

I can't imagine the devastation and sadness Japan must be feeling, but all our thoughts are there.

2011

I found these photos from our Boxing Day walk, when the Loch and River Endrick were frozen and the trees thick with hoar frost..

Looking back to 2010 - thanks to everyone who read, left comments and supported my blog and bought or commissioned things from me!

Into 2011 - I've had a bit of time to catch up on things I've been wanting to make for the shop or as gifts for others, just a few more to do, including the Pay it Forward, which is much delayed although not forgotten about!  I've also a plan re creative tithing in 2011 which I will share here with you soon.

Meanwhile, wishing you a creatively dynamic year - with plenty of time for rest and play in between!

Happy 2011 xxxx

snow on snow

The only time I stepped outside today was for a short walk up the lane in the snow.. I love how everything becomes so black and white - rather like a pencil drawing.  You might just make out the geese circling in the pictures below.  Like little lead marks on a white page.

I think they were looking for somewhere to land where they could graze - but of course everything is covered in snow.  They were flying around quite a bit, their calls against the muffled white of sky and snow was quite haunting - but beautiful.

These hedges looked as if they had been sculpted from polystyrene with windswept formations.

Hope you are keeping warm!

inspecting hedgerows

I have become increasingly fascinated by what is to be found in the hedgerows recently - along with random self seeded wild flowers that have grown in the garden. It's like free gardening. Last week I bought some books so I can identify the butterflies, flowers and moths that I keep wondering about.

Tonight - these lovely white flowers that remind me of vintage linens and embroidery...

 

 

...and these tiny white flowers that remind me of stars..

 

 

On the way home, two other ladies are out inspecting the hedgerows...

...a pair of guinea fowl!  They remind me of old ladies.  I imagine them carrying their handbags high infront of them, with both hands, clasped up by their chests.

 

"Hm... What do you think that is dear?"

"I don't know - lets go home and look it up!"...

  
 
 

 
 

sylphs

 

...amazing whispy cloud formations in the sky last night.  

roses

I love the way dog rose petals are like little hearts confetti'ed on the ground.

 

Thanks for all your recent comments and continued support for my blog, despite my posts having been further apart these last months..  I appreciate all of the comments and apologise if I don't answer them all personally - in fact I wish some of you would delurk and say Hi - would love to hear from you!

I've got 5 weeks off work! and have been getting back to what I love to do... wandering along taking photos of flowers in the hedgerows, catching up with Polkadotfarm sitting outside at the Courtyard Café with its beautiful flowers, and getting inspired to bundle up some cards I've had printed recently... 

Here's a sneak pic of one of the card bundles (thanks for the inspiration Rebecca).  

There will be 3 different bundles each with 4 cards plus envelopes.

In addition, there will also be a pack of 5 postcards with envelopes - featuring some of my 'core' images.

Will post as soon as I put these in the shop!