Blog
Nobles of the Woods
This holly tree has the most beautiful pimpled bark. Clusters of nodules and wrinkles which I think tell of its age. Nature writer Roger Deakin describes the burrs and bumps on trees as being “like pearls in oysters”. They’re fascinating – some looking almost like fruit. Are these from insects, or environmental pollution – […]
Objects of Remembrance
The First World War Centenary One hundred years since the end of the conflict. To be honest I find it difficult to imagine what it must have really been like during those war years. All of us have family stories passed down, told, re-told – generations affected. I suppose it is impossible to […]
Inside Outside – Yorkshire Sculpture Park
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is always a place I enjoy exploring and spending time, but I haven’t been for ages. Yesterday, in the glorious October sunshine, I made an impromptu brief visit. The parkland looked magnificent, and so did the sculpture. Of course I was bound to be drawn to Sean Scully’s exhibition Inside […]
A Loveliness of Ladybirds
As a result of the clocks going back I discover that the collective name for Ladybirds (Ladybugs, Ladybeetles) is a Loveliness. A Loveliness I’m sure I should have known this, it seems so obvious now! And perfect! I clambered up into the rafters at the workshop to alter the clock hands, back one […]
Walk with me
This is the beautiful invitation on the back of a little book I’ve just read. The book is Path – A short story about reciprocity by Louisa Thomsen Brits. I was introduced to the book by Hole and Corner – a publication celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and heritage, who had it as their book of […]
Wildlife Artists
The Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition The Natural Eye opens today at the Mall Galleries, running until Sunday 4th November, 2018. Over 350 works are shown – all created by artists dedicated to and inspired by wildlife. What could be better!? If you like wildlife art that is! There’s a […]
When I’m ready to riffel
When I’m ready to riffel, I go to the riffler jar. Here I keep these rather special little tools – they are narrow and elongated with a curved file surface at each end – used for filing. Riffling is a most enjoyable process (it is a lovely word too – I think comes from […]
In the Workshop today – lettercutting
It is fascinating delving into the history of a property, discovering a building’s past. It can come from a simple find in the loft, or behind a wall covering, tucked under a skirting or floorboard, which sparks further investigation or come from dedicated research into the construction and architectural history. I’ve been working on […]
Seasonal Stone
Stone flushed with Autumn colour. I’m collecting these hips, there are lots. It is a wild rose, it grew from seed (delivered by a bird, by the wind, on animal fur?) on a path leading to my stone store shed, and which makes me stoop and squeeze sideways every time I go past. It […]
Barn Owl Sculpture
Over the last few months it has been busy with Barn Owls, I’ve seen them in flight quartering the fields and returning with food for youngsters, and more recently the new-fledged owlets making their first tentative explorations of the world beyond the nest box. Though these initial flights appear rather haphazard and ungainly, (suggesting […]