Blog
Honing and Kibbling
Once I’ve carved my sculpture the surface can be ‘dressed’ to give textures and finishes, and there are many different surfaces I can create. Any finish given will alter the percieved colour of a stone, so I think about this when deciding. You can see the difference in the little samples above, they’re both […]
My favourite symbol
Most of us I think like to set off on little expeditions to seek out the new or adventure close to home. Walking explorations nearby are my favourites. I like to get the map out and plan a little route, usually there are features marked – old workings, a monument – I like to […]
Ferns from an Ancient Woodland
As the chippings and shards fall away, ferns and plant life from another world scatter to the ground. I’m trying to concentrate on carving, on my sculpture, but the stone transports me to ancient woodlands, pre-historic lush terrain, club mosses, fiddleheads and fronds.
What is it with Mice and the colour Red?
As the weather gets colder I find the little creatures start to come indoors – when I say indoors I mean the workshop. I can tell, as they leave little brown tell-tale signs, and also footprints in the stone dust. Once I came to put my gloves on and found the fingers chewn […]
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust – work day
Yesterday I spent a brilliant time with a group of volunteers at Appleton Mill Farm on one of the conservation work days with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. The Farm is managed in partnership with the Trust and the day’s work involved clearing a steep, wooded, muddy bank of all the scrub and branches left […]
A Kestrel’s Chiding
Have you ever been scolded by a Kestrel? It is new to me – but there’s absolutely no doubt about it when it happens! This is the reason. A few days away from the workshop and wildlife has taken up residence – of course I’m delighted – but hadn’t expected it to be so […]
Winter Workshop
My workshop this morning, in the first of the real winter frosts this year. The light through the fog is spectacular. My stone is cold. I shudder and reflect on how wildlife survives such a freeze. Everything is cold. Gradually the sun pushes through the fog and my frosted workshop doors turn to […]
Merry Christmas
On mid-winter night the sky was clear and the Winter Solstice stars shone bright. I gazed. It sparkled. Wishing you a very M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S & H A P P Y N E W Y E A R
Birds Carolling
December days are just flying, already it is the Carol Service here in Lastingham this Sunday, 18th – I rather enjoy singing along to carols, though I don’t know this one, or its tune. I was introduced to it by Rosemary Roberts, of The Celtic Cross Press who created a Christmas card with her […]
A gift for a garden and its birds
Earlier in the year I watched a robin visit my Birdbath here at the workshop – it perched on the edge, bobbing and flicking its wings. I thought at first it was in distress. Then it flew, without drinking or bathing. Moments later it returned with three other birds – all newly fledged robin […]