Marsh Harrier
Gold wings in late sun
Struck from Thor’s hammer, bright streak
Of talons and beak
Starling Murmuration
Front row gathering
We wait for the performance
A winter ballet
Sky whale! Sky whale! Swan!
Starlings flow shapes across sky
Nature’s movie show
Find more of my birdwatching haiku here:
Using the whole of an A4 sheet of paper for one basket(zero waste), I’ve created this simple paper basket for a great little craft project. Ideal for parties, egg hunts, Easter table decorations etc.
You can either draw out the grid on your sheet of A4 paper or lightweight card using the pattern as a template or print the pattern direct to your A4 sheet.
You can use pre-decorated or colour paper, draw your own patterns on it or add your own paper decorations or stickers to it (remember to pattern the reverse side of your sheet if printing pattern).
The heavier weight paper or card you use, the stronger the basket but the harder it will be to cut out!
You will need:
A4 paper, scissors or craft knife, ruler with finger guard, sticky tape, double-sided tape or paper glue. (I prefer to use sticky tape and double-sided tape.) Stapler for handle if necessary.
Directions:
Using pattern as a guide, mark or print out pattern onto A4 paper.
Cut along the solid lines, fold along the dashed lines using the edge of the ruler as guide.
Stick Tab A and Tab B to inside of Panel C.
Stick Tab D and Tab E to inside of Panel F.
Secure the corner edges of the basket with tape, if needed.
Fold two handle strips lengthways. Overlap ends and stick together securely with tape to make long handle. Attach to either the outside or inside of basket (where Tabs meet on panel to hide seam).
Staple handle in place for extra strength, if needed.
Warning: Please take care with sharp edges, scissors and glue with young children!
I am delighted to release this new omnibus of my lyric poems, pulled from fifty years of poetry writing, on subjects ranging from dreams and mediations to walks through local landscapes, art and nature.
‘Instead, I am reflected as I am in the silver puddles
Imperfectly reduced to wiggly lines and shifting shapes
Drenched full of light and singing with wild birdsong’
(poem excerpt from Freedom 2017)
Now available as a Kindle Edition eBook on Amazon here.
New Year picks from my Etsy shop this month:
Hand Stitched Paper Bookmark Cards: Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a good book and my hand-stitched paper bookmarks, sent with a blank card are perfect for booklovers. Pair it with a good book for a great gift idea.
Cotton Kitchen Set: Need a bit of post-Christmas kitchen clean up? Spring clean with this crochet cotton cloth, eco sponge and organise your bread bin with this cotton bread bag. Green and clean!
Silver Birch Abstract Collage: This little abstract collage of Silver Birch trees in woodland uses some of my watercolour test sheets to make the bark. These sheets are made when I paint with watercolour and test the colour before applying to the painting. I was struck by the way the paint, cut into strips reminded me of the trunks of Silver Birch. This collage has a textured gloss varnish to it which is hard to catch in the photos.
Three Mini Good Luck Cards: I’ve hand-made these good luck cards featuring lucky coins and a lucky cat. Perfect for wishing your family and friends a Happy Lunar New Year.
A look back at some of the art I’ve seen while out and about this year. (Stripes, lines, red, threads, waves, shadows, surface, time, stance.)
From top to bottom:
Myths & Machines exhibition, Niki de Saint Phalle
Myths & Machines exhibition, Jean Tinguely
The Madonna and Child with St John the Baptist, Giovanni Bellini
An Uncommon Thread exhibition, Max Boyla
Bronze Age Beaker, Broadmayne
Ship of Fools, Kehinde Wiley
Gromit Unleashed 3 Art Trail
Ton of Tea, Ai Weiwei
Street art, Mau Mau
October sees the return of the huge flocks of starlings to Somerset and I am very lucky to be able to watch these extraordinary little birds locally. They are an endless source of entertainment and inspiration and they definitely brighten up those grey winter days with their rowdy antics.
I’ve posted before about my bird haiku book, available here, and during the year I keep writing about the birds I spot, an ongoing project for me. For the last few weeks the starlings have been gathering on the lines in our road, reminding me of that Hitchcock movie classic ‘The Birds’, very appropriate for this week!
Wishing you a Happy Diwali, Halloween, Samhain and Allhallowstide at this turning point of the year.
Starlings
This morning’s laundry
Already flapping in breeze
Starlings on a line
In the grey rain-light
A steady drizzle of wings
Storm clouds of starlings
This weekend we had stormy weather which left some late blooming gladioli blown over in the garden and so I decided to pick a few for the house and use them for drawing practice this week.
These late bloomers have all been this lovely white and red bicolour, making beautiful structural shapes and welcome flowers after a dry summer and early autumn.
I started with a quick pencil sketch to loosen up and then a couple of studies in chalk pastels. I will probably use the pastel sketches as a base or inspiration for either cards or artwork.
I thought I’d put a few handy tips if you’re thinking of using chalk pastels for the first time:
Chalk pastels are crumbly and very easy to smudge, I recommend trying pastels in a pencil form if you want detailed, crisp lines as they are easy to sharpen to a point and create far less mess.
Try keeping a clean piece of paper handy to cover areas you have already worked on in order not to smudge pastel as you move over your work.
These white gladioli are much easier to pick out on a colour background than on white paper. So, if you can find a pad of pastel paper with various shades, you can pick a background to maximise the impact of your work.
This month, as Summer turns to Autumn, these are my four picks highlighted in my Etsy shop this month (click on the titles to go direct to shop):
Top of the Tor: The Portal, a set of three blank greetings cards. Perfect for the card drawer, you can frame them as a mini gift as well!
Linocut Pumpkin Garland Decoration. I’ve drawn and hand printed this original linocut pumpkin design which I’m sure will add a festive touch to your Autumn décor and festivities.
Two Wool and Cotton crochet storage bowls. Featuring lovely natural materials and beautiful autumnal tints, I’ve crocheted these soft bowls so they won’t scratch furniture. Great for coffee tables, hall stands and dressing tables .
Little Egret Linocut. This little original linocut of mine, ready-framed, is perfect as a gift or an addition to your decoration schemes. Find out more about the inspiration behind it in my Etsy shop.
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