Mellow fruitfulness

 This early autumn sunshine is beautiful is it not? I can't get over how wonderful the days have been in the past week or so. We've been out and about walking the beaches and noticing the change of the seasons as the sun gets lower  but nowhere is the change more evident at the moment than in my garden. After five months and two broods our resident swallows decamped for Africa on Sunday, always a sign that autumn is upon us. I'm watching seedheads and seedpods develop and ripen, already offering treats for goldfinches and chiffchaffs. The blackbirds, having eaten our plum crop this summer are now enjoying the autumn raspberries and it's a daily race to see whether we can pick them before they do. Of course we could net everything with a fruit cage but where's the fun in that?

The fig tree is overburdened and I may have already mentioned that neither my husband or I like them, so we've been picking them for a queue of friends but  losing the battle for some as they are ripening faster than we can gather them. Consequently the tree is festooned in butterflies feasting on the rotting figs and they flop about, drunk on the nectar. After a dearth of butterflies this summer in the wet conditions, we are all of a sudden overwhelmed by the number of them. I'm sure we're not alone and wonder if anyone else has noticed the same?

 There are loads of Red Admirals and Speckled Wood butterflies around and today, I caught the two Comma's (above) absorbing the heat on the wall by my kitchen window. We don't see lots of Commas so to see two was very special.

 Similarly it was special to notice a pair of goldcrests enjoying the hawthorn tree outside of the conservatory this morning. Having just photographed the butterflies I was glad I had the camera to hand but they were flitting about so quickly that the photo below was the best I could get - all very hazy and not exactly clear -

 - so it was an unhappy experience to then hear a thud as a bird flew into the conservatory window a few minutes later. When I looked out and saw the tiny goldcrest stunned on the windowsill my heart sank but we did what you're always told to do, and that's nothing. Leave well alone and let nature prevail.

Well, he/she looks a bit sad here but I can report that after about half an hour it was well enough to fly off but I thought it was touch and go for a while. The little things supposedly weigh no more than a one pence piece and are our smallest bird in the UK along with the firecrest. People often think the smallest bird is the wren but we have plenty of those around too at present and, although they are tiny, they are definitely bigger than the goldcrest.
Although the days are warm, the nights are cold so there are nowhere near as many moths around as butterflies. We have the moth trap set up for tonight to see what is on the wing.It has also been an odd year for moths so I am looking forward to seeing what we find as well as enjoying the daytime treats for a few more days yet.

More bookmarks?

 I had an e mail today to say that Bookmarks X111, the project I've taken part in this summer, has gone live. If you want to see the whole set of contributors  go here for some real treats.

In my abortive starts on the project I cut 100 heavy cartridge paper pieces that I intended to emboss. Regular visitors will know I never used them. So, they've sat in the drawer, waiting, for an idea to pop into my head. It came last weekend as I was working through some thoughts on another project about spoons and utensils. Just when I thought my cutlery obsession was in remission....... anyway, I've been drawing spoons and on my beach walks picking up flotsam and jetsam that I think I can re-construct into spoon like objects. Sounds weird I know but I'm having great fun.

This week whilst having a clear up I did an inventory of all the rusty bits and pieces I have and then I saw spoon or spoonlike object shapes everywhere. I got those cartridge paper strips out and I've made loads of rusty 'spoons' so far. Some are useless but others have potential - for what though I can't say. I'm still thinking things through but as I've said before, there does not have to be an end result as long as my brain is ticking over.

 Today I wondered what would happen if I put that dodgy old cyanotype solution on top of the rust. I know I should throw the stuff away but I just can't. I slopped it on and didn't even let it dry as I should, putting the pieces out in the sun for just a few minutes. The weather is so warm and the sun so strong this week it just seemed like a good idea. Well, I love the results but doubt I could replicate them. The cartridge has wicked up the solution better in some places than others and I don't know if that's the rust acting as a resist or what. What do I do next with them? I have no idea other than maybe put them in the sketchbook to inform future ideas or maybe incorporate them into a book form.I am keen to add drawing to some of them too but I'm definitely going to try the same two part process on fabric now and I'm following the weather forecast to make sure this weekend's weather will do the job. I'll share the results!

Ta dah!

I have now passed on the print I mentioned in my last post - hand held through the process by my lovely friend Sue. I printed the initial proof at home and the print plate needed some altering but I'm pleased with the second attempt and he looked great and was well received.  I doubt I will take another print off the plate but I intend to do something with that as it is a thing of beauty in its own right.

This is a crow called Russell, last seen in Shropshire on my monthly visits to the art group with Bobby Britnell. Rescued as an abandoned fledgeling by Bobby's son, Russell flew all around the place, often into the classroom, where he had a penchant for pulling pencils and pens out of containers and throwing them around. He was definitely a crowd favourite but since July he has disappeared and his fate is unknown. It makes me even more pleased that I opted to make a reminder.

Our art group met this weekend and Bobby shared a sneak preview of the courses planned at Moor Hall for next year. I won't spill the beans here but there are some fantastic tutors coming and a new opportunity to sign up to some mentoring sessions is included in the programme. The mentors are really top notch textile artists and I predict a  fast take up of places. People are already asking for places on courses without knowing dates or anything, such is the reputation of what's gone before. If anyone wants to know more , sign up for Bobby's mailing list and newsletter. It's worth it.