Inspired by Squash

I love growing squash, but this year, I reckon because of the drought, the harvest was disappointing. The squash were much smaller. However they have made a very good Still Life subject. I feel inspired by their textures, colours and those fabulous stripey designs. I actually like the dried slightly mouldy wizened stem!

My painting is work in progress, in oil on canvas gesso board. The oil is quite damp so I’ve got time to think about any changes I want to make.

The weather is warm here, the light fabulous for showcasing autumnal colours everywhere in nature. I’ll miss the swallows though!

I hope you’re having a good autumn.

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Raspberry tassles

Raspberry tassles, tantalize;

Dainty clematis dazzle;

Muscari like mini pyramids of lapis lazuli brighten shady corners

Whilst amethyst anemones smile

Even when their petals are tattered by windswept twigs.

Frozen

Ice fairies shake their wings

Over forlorn umber seedheads, forgotten:

They kiss brittle leaves, weathered

By cruel winds;

Tinged with sweet powder of life,

Russet, Crimson, damson and evergreen leaves reach out for

Spring, which will come soon

Singing in the sweet breeze.

Bright and warm

Shoots produding,

Shiny Buds swelling,

Pussy willow a silver sensation!

Petals waxy, honey sweet.

Catkins like knitted fingers;

Golden rays warming

Our hearts on cold days;

January’s Frosty Jewels

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January’s frosty jewels glisten on a

Salted caramel lawn.

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​Chinking crystals wink at precious paws tingling;

Fairy ice dusted catkins jingle as they mingle.

Hooray! Warming rays ablaze.

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My apologies for not posting for a while. As winter has truly set in, there seem to be so many jobs to get done that  get in the way of creativity. I photographed plants in my garden for this post and one of my dogs of course. They are always wanting to be involved in whatever I am doing. Keep cosy if you have cold weather! 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my blogging friends. Thankyou for visiting and commenting on my blog over the year it is wonderful to have so many online wordpress friends.The last month has been challenging for me because I have injured my spine and cannot sit or stand for very long! Everyday gets better though, but festivities will be quiet for us this year. Hubby has also had a nasty chest infection, there are so many bugs about at this time of the year.

Walking is a great way of helping my back pain but the dogs are having to put up with walks around the village for a while until I get stronger and then I’m sure I’ll feel inspired again to write more poetry. However, I will be keeping warm by my fire, having lots of lovely nibbles and warm drinks.

The mantel decorations are all from our lovely cottage garden. I hope you like them.

Seasons Greetings. 🙂

Autumnal Drypoint Printmaking

I had a lovely time at the Westbury Arts Centre in Milton Keynes on Saturday.The Drypoint workshop was tutored by Susan Erskine- Jones. We began with a sketching and photography exercise in preparation for our Drypoint work. Here are a selection of photos I took out in the rambling garden of the farmhouse.

Here are the results: two plates and four prints. Enjoy!

The test piece.

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Rhapsodic Roses

Rhapsodic roses

Tumbling from pergolas

Showering our senses with

Aromatic essences;

Dreamy marshmallow,

Teeny fairy dancers,

Sprinkles of sherbet,

So tangy with a hint of lemon curd;

Silky peach petals so delightful, 

Fluttering in buttery summer light.

Printmaking indulgence

Yesterday I indulged myself ccompletely.  My inner creative child just loved inking up the two collagraph plates that I designed and made a couple of week ago. At this time of year there are lots of summer blooms to enjoy so I couldn’t resist making a collograph print. The plate was made from mounting board. I used wallpaper samples to get texture, netting, twine untwisted and teased out for the stem and lots of pva glue for subtle highlights to suggest the frailty of the petals of the Peony. Next I mixed vintage coloured inks. The photo above shows the plate after it had been inked and through the press.

Here’s the first result. The colours and detail came out well. I was pleased with the result (always difficult to show on a photo). My print was hand pressed on A3 Watercolour paper.

My next post will show my next collagraph. I hope you enjoy It.

Tick tock dandelion clock

Tick tock Dandelion clock.
Seeds of Thyme and memories like a good wine.
Tompion’s cottage garden is where clock enthusiasts flock:
Little Tom Thumb swings from pendulums of spider’s thread,
Landing in a beautifully scented pink flowery bed.

I have been fascinated by this lovely old cottage for some time,so this morning as I drove past it, the golden early morning sunshine lit up the ravishing cottage garden so beautifully that I had to stop and take this photo. Tompion’s cottage at Ickwell Green, in Bedfordshire, England is very important part of Bedfordshire’s heritage and in fact England’s too. Thomas Tompion was the father of English Clockmakers and watchmakers (born c 1639and died 1713). He was buried in Westminster Abbey,London. The cottage was his home and is now maintained by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. His prestigious clocks are still fully operational today.
I hope you enjoy with me in his garden!