Inspiration

From a card I made

And another card  I made I now find inspiring

Giant flower seen on my walk

Hollyhock time. How do they grow in the dirt next to walls?

The Chiltern hills where one of my daughters lives

I went to stay with my daughter who has just had a baby. That is why I haven't blogged for ages.  As you may have gathered from my last post I was going a bit stir crazy after 12 weeks on my own. It was lovely to be in Hertfordshire walking in beautiful countryside with baby, two year old and my daughter and son-in-law. 

I've come home inspired to start making again and to sort out my craft materials ready for my next project which, hopefully will be jewellery!

I saw the giant flower on my walk yesterday and immediately was reminded of Georgia O'Keefe's paintings of flowers. It was honestly the size of a dinner plate. 

When I looked through old photos of things I made in the past these two scraps from my cards caught my eye. I want to do more combining embroidery with papers. But first I have housework to catch up on after time away.

I hope you are staying well and feeling reasonably optimistic. It's hard when things feel vague and we don't know what the future holds for any of us. I find it helps to talk to friends and family and to get outside into the fresh air as much as possible. Take care. X

Butterfly brain

Butterfly mobile designed and made by Jenny Stacy

Sun hats for tiny babies made by me

Playing with colour and a streak of gold ink

Petersfield has these magical places

This week I've flitted from one thing to another, never concentrating on anything for any length of time. It's week 12 of lockdown here in the UK and I am going a bit stir crazy.  It's great to walk in the countryside and I am grateful for that but I long for the library to be open again and/or the Oxfam book shop. 

I made the butterfly mobile after an art session with my four and five year old grandaughters. They drew round butterfly and butterfly people templates I sent them and added patterns and colour while I watched and encouraged on Face Time.

 The older one is back at school now and doing well with the 'social distancing'. Each child is marooned on their own desk and when they move they are told to walk like zombies with their arms stretched out in front of them. Genius, whoever thought of that. Although she'd like to give her friends a hug she is coping well with the restrictions. 

I made the little sunhats for my baby grandaughters, born this year. Two of the three in the picture are reversible. Most of the fabrics are Liberty tana lawn which is a joy to sew.

As you know I like playing with paint and I was pleased with the effect of adding a bit of gold ink. Encouraged by this I've just done two canvasses using watercolour and gold ink. I've got two more canvasses I could use, so maybe next time I write I'll have 4 new paintings to share with you...

Keep safe and keep well. Above all try to focus on the positive in these very difficult times for all of us. 

Life in lockdown

June is roses month in the garden. Bowl by Ali Cooper ceramics.

I love this Drops fine wool and I found these buttons when sorting 

I've made enough masks now

Discovered this wonderful spot when walking

I try to focus on the positive but I have to say something about the disgusting way George Floyd was murdered. It shocked the world. Every right thinking person is disgusted and shocked. All men are born equal and should be shown equal respect. Why do some people still not know this?

 At the risk of sounding incredibly corny: Let's radiate love and be brave enough to speak out about injustice whenever we see it or experience it.

Sometimes it is hard to see how this world can change for the better. But the eternal optimists among us have to believe it will. The lockdown experience has given us pause to think about the kind of future we want. More than ever we have to take the world view and act on what is best for the planet as a whole. The weather is extreme, giving us daily reminders that climate change is happening right now. It we are to slow it down we all have to act now.

To walk in a park or by a river or in the woods is so good for us. Daily walks are the upside of having to stay at home most of the time.

I've been making masks as you know and those pictured are the last ones I intend making. I offered them on Instagram for free and most of them have gone to new homes. I want to focus on making something else now. Today I'm making a butterfly mobile and some sun hats. The tiny cardigan is for the newest member of our family, born just last week!