Edgelands and Autumn

We are well into the Autumn and enjoying the latent warm weather of an Indian Summer. The days although bright in Kent are getting shorter. November is around the corner and this year more than any other we think of the past. 'The Gardens and War' exhibition continues at the Garden Museum until January.

                     

It is also time time to tidy up in the garden and mine has been neglected with so much building work going on in the house but the Bees are enjoying the late sunshine on our hedge and makes me realise how important the edges of our gardens and  the hedges around our fields are to wildlife.

I have had my head down getting back to teaching at Adult Education and handed the copy in for my next book in this month but also managed to squeeze in a lovely visit to Sew Not Strawberry Jam in the middle of the Kent Countryside to run two one day workshops with a look at the surrounding hedges and landscape for inspiration.

Examples of student work in progress. 
Quick sketches in the garden and of plants

Layering Images in Stitch Sketch workshop

Momigami paper for Postcard Places

and a few views of the lovely garden with Geese. Just love the bright pegs.

 

Finally, I am delighted to be exhibiting with Anne Kelly in Connected Cloth at Crowborough Arts Centre, with Anne Kelly, 31 Oct - 13 Nov

Memories of Times Past

As we enter Spring I am drawn to reflect on childhood memories of the season.Gran was a Romany and she and my grandad were a constant teller of stories both over a cuppa or walking in the local park. My sisters and I  were told the faeries had just hidden from view as we looked for them when walking in the local park with grandad. My grandmother loved her tea and always had her favourite recipes for cleaning the kettle. 

 I look back on equally exciting trips of my childhood. It was often during the long Easter weekend break, money allowing, that we would make our annual visit to London with Dad to see the sights The Victoria and Albert Museum and The Natural History Museum were always on the agenda but some of our more intimate museums hold little treasures. A recent visit to the Garden Museum reminded me of drying herbs in my grandmothers kitchen but not nearly a stunning as Rebecca Louise Law's installation is called 'The Flower Garden Display'd' and was created using over 4,600 blooms.to support their current Fashion and Gardens exhibition (on until 27th April). It is a lovely space to visit set in the ancient church of St Mary’s which is the burial place of John Tradescant (c1570 – 1638), the first great gardener and plant-hunter in British history.It also has a great tea and cakes.

Students on a recent course at Maidstone Museum referred to old historic Ladybird book illustrations to draw upon their favourite memories from camping to a childhood swing in a garden in this work in progress inspired by the Ladybird Childhood exhibition. 

Bird Egg book Illustration form the Ladybird book of British Birds (private collector)

These vintage books from their historic imprint on show at the Batsford  Prize 2014 shortlist  have a wonderfully classic feel and I spied a new edition I must get for my collection.

Making my work allows me to revisit favourite places near and far. The planning is full of sweet anticipation and anxious packing. When travelling however, there are times I wish to be home and when home I get 'Itchy feet'. As leave I will enjoy all the new experiences and places and meeting with old and new friends, but equally, as the weeks go by, I think about the changes in my garden and the landscape back home and getting back to my studio

I will keep you posted. The postings may be brief and differently 'managed' as I will only have a tablet..we shall see.