is it just me or do cup handles and ears seem very similar?

Have you ever noticed how much like an ear a cup handle is? Perhaps it is no coincidence that we often listen to our loved ones hopes and worries over a cuppa.

some of my 'Thinking of the Forest of Dean' art journal/sketchbook

snap of one of our long ago walks in the Forest of Dean, with one of my children behind the tree, (we still can't recall which one!) this walk was along some of the route I used to take to school as a child myself.

ink sketch of the bluebells

fabric collage onto acrylic wash

this was exploring the view between the trees, how there is often just a peek of what is further down the overgrown path

Twigs from my favourite tree, the Silver Birch. Favourite because as a  child in Canada I had learnt how important this was to the indigenous people of the Canadian mountains, woodlands and lakes. I also love the use of the bark as paper and of how ghostlike the tree is in the twilight. My mystical tree.

Silver Birch Leaves

a bit of paper and paint collage, just for fun!

using arcylics to explore the texture of bark

mixed media

thinking and doodling

my own Bluebell wood

a nice cup of tea and a good book, Happy Birthday to Me :)

This is a small section from one of my tea towel designs, digitally printed onto a lovely sturdy English Cotton. The initial art work was created by my first carving out some blocks and printing into my Art Journal, then manipulating with Photshop and finally having it digitally printed. I am sipping from  a nice big hot breakfast cup of tea as I write this. Later I will be starting to put together my Art Quilt which will be called Conversations. All about the connection people have over a cuppa and the related paraphenalia. It's my birthday today and as per tradition later on I will be treating myself to a wonderful book. This years will be; '1,000 Artisan Textiles, Contemporary Fibre Art, Quilts and Wearables' by Sandra Salamony and Gina M Brown........can hardly wait :)

Dedication

appliqued table piece

Found this oval cotton table centre (35 x 30 cm) in my favourite junk shop. Its colours are very appealing with these flowers and branches as a full border. I love the simplicity and its tiny stitches. I can't help but wonder at the pleasure someone must have felt completing this and then seeing it on the table it was intended for....