Sunday 30 January 2022
Creating collage papers and more stamps
So, I now have four papers to rip up and use in collage projects and they didn't cost me anything (except for the original supplies, which I already had). I foresee more variations on a theme to come...
I have also been carving my own stamps again, from pencil erasers. The black images are the most recent ones I have made and I used this 'mop up' sheet to practise applying different watercolour pens and pencils to the stamp to get a multicoloured image too. I found that the distress inks or Zig watercolour pens gave me the best results. I think I may well be making more stamps like this over this year.
Friday 21 January 2022
Hello new plant!
Some of my lovely readers were interested to find out the identity of the new plant that I needed to buy. I can now reveal that it is a Camellia x vernalis Yuletide, which I saw on a blog I follow. It has such a lovely pop of colour that is much needed at this time of year.
Monday 17 January 2022
Hello hellebores!
This is Hello White Pearl, also in a pot. I am really pleased to see them again and perhaps I would like a couple more... They seem to be coping admirably with the frosts at night, so I am looking forward to seeing those flowers. In other news, I received a new plant today, which I needed to buy to cheer myself up, after a pretty rubbish week at work last week (that's my excuse, anyway!)
Sunday 9 January 2022
Stamp carving
I would like to make more of these - they are really enjoyable to make and they are my creations, even if they are inspired by others. I also have some lino and also some softer cutting material, so I could cut that up and make some more...
Saturday 1 January 2022
Happy New Year 2022
Jasminium Nudiflorum flowering in a photo I took this morning
Happy New Year! Let us all hope that 2022 is a kinder year than the last two. As I usually do, I have aims during the year which I look back on at New Year.
Read interesting books: This has certainly continued and I have read lots of old favourites as well as some new ones. Some which I particularly enjoyed were: Wintering by Katherine May, One Moment by Linda Green, The Beauty of Broken Things by Victoria Connelly, and The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H G Parry. I also revisited my favourite Miss Marple stories and Jane Austen novels (of course!)
Get rid of (or donate) things I no longer want or need: I have talked about this for a long time without really addressing it. Having watched several TV programmes about sorting your life out, I have finally realised that this won't happen magically and that I need to get stuck in and make those decisions myself. I made a start before Christmas by donating some of my books but this needs to continue. Once the books are done, there are many, many more possessions which need to be assessed. However, I feel encouraged that I have finally made a proper start.
Take more notice of nature: Being at home more has made me appreciate my little garden so much. I am grateful for this space outside and I need to rearrange some pots of hydrangeas which have outgrown their space. I may have one more rose in mind ('Emily Bronte') but no more large things. I am planning to grow verbena bonariensis in pots and some cerinthe. I need to do some re-potting and dividing, so have lots to keep me busy. Oh, and the compost bin wants turning too. However, amongst all this, I plan to look more, to sit and appreciate more.
I need to remember to be present in the moment and crafting and gardening do help with that. Also, I need to be grateful for what I have. Good things to remember in the coming year.