TICKING ALL THE BOXES!

As I type, in the background The Blue Nile are playing a song called 'Happiness', a word which completely describes how I felt when working on these pieces. From the first layer of pastels, acrylics and stencils on to printing and stitch to the final placement of shapes and more stitch, a most satisfying time was had. The last two pieces are finished but the first two I can now see need a little more balance in one or two places. I really should use the camera more often during the making process as it is an excellent method of adjudicating work.

The stitching is very different to how I normally work as it needs to be very slow and accurate; I treat the paper pieces like a fabric but they are completely unforgiving if a mistake is made as the needle hole from a 'wrong' stitch is visible for ever. I have already started on another piece and I expect more will follow, so many colour combinations and ideas yet to play with. 

The ancient woodland I walk in has been a feast for the eyes and senses this month. The beautiful white Buckthorn blossoms are just beginning to fade whilst the Hawthorns are preparing to replace them. This week I was delighted to find some little clumps of Early Purple Orchid at the edges of the woods - so very beautiful. But best of all it has been a delight to watch the progress of the bluebells as they begin to cover the floor of the woods in great swathes of blue. One of the best bluebell displays in Cambridgeshire and I count myself fortunate indeed to live within walking distance of the rich flora and fauna of the wood.