photo: recent sketchbook pages
Hello Everyone, I hope you are keeping well and enjoying just a little sunshine - if that is not too much to ask of February in the northern hemisphere, at least.
The first month of the year has gone by in a flurry (snow-free) and I have been thinking carefully about how I must pace myself this month. If January felt at times overwhelming and full-on, I think February needs to be a little less intense. It can be a tough month for me, with low light and mood. Being gentle with myself is an obvious thing.
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A Quietly Scented Path into Spring
Oh February, let’s be honest -
I dread the washed-out muddy feel of you.
I have tried to mangle some joy from your feeble light
but try, try and just about fail myself February.
Rotten as the dead tree in a frozen pond, February,
with your memories of loss and emptiness.
But somehow flowers, February.
What are these flowers, where, how?
They, the flowers are pushing on with it
like true friends.
Flowers with just enough scent,
blossom - wakes the fat bee.
Oh, whoever you are,
my dear dark February,
be kind.
May you be a necessary path
into spring, quietly hopeful,
one I may follow
without trepidation.
photo: a drawing from February 2019 - one of a series of daily drawings I made that month
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I have decided to embrace February and fill plenty of vases with cut flowers. I will go on as many short walks as I can enjoy. Making time for personal, slow stitch projects and my sketchbooks - I am looking forward to so much.
It is time to take a short break from stitching my machine embroidery pieces. I want to give Margery a little overhaul/clean. Then I will be playful with my stitching and ease my way back. I’ve enjoyed stitching very much recently, which is why this is actually a good time to pause.
It feels like a most fortunate thing that I can do this, knowing I have my painting and drawing to explore. I may make some hand stitch pieces to offer for sale. So I will focus on so much else for a while. Thanks for your understanding.
Shop News
Sunday 4th February 7pm UK time - a new selection of tiny portraits
Wednesday 7th February 8pm UK time - a new selection of artwork including more tiny portraits and other works - possibly drawings, paintings on paper.
Sunday 11th February 7pm UK time - a new selection of artworks
Postcards - I had hoped to have my Feb/March postcard sets all printed and ready by now. Alas! I have been so busy and therefore a delay - but hopefully I will have the new sets very soon.
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Photo: tiny heads created in February 2011! The things I will do to brighten up a difficult month! I am not suggesting you need make a daily fun sculpture, but exercising your ‘silly side’ can help out just now. I decided this year NOT to do a daily project in February. Though it has helped me in the past. Perhaps I will instead attempt a daily project in March. Suggestions on a postcard?
A few Small Stories
My son and I are having a coffee out. We don’t do this so often, these days, but here we are. To the left of us are a man and woman talking invoices. It appears to be a business meeting and they are in their own little bubble. The man has a sweaty brow and large, ringed, gesticulating hands.The woman with unmoving hair tries her best to show enthusiasm but what she really wants to do is tell him all about her skiing holiday.
He won’t take the hint. He needs to know if she has heard from such-and-such. Why doesn’t he wipe the sweat from his brow? I wonder. It must be uncomfortable or maybe, and I feel dreadful thinking about this, but maybe he is always sweaty. I can’t bear it. I want to know about her skiing holiday. She tries again: of course, we’ve been to Italy before, but never skiing. This has given us a whole new perspective on the country.
But Denise, he says, waving his hand across a pile of paperwork.
Denise is adamant. She will get to tell him about boozy evenings and the great food. Of course, you’re not really a skier, are you, she says to the man and he finally takes a massive blue handkerchief from his blazer, and wipes his head.
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One sunny afternoon at the start of February, is not a phrase I often type. But it was so mild, I looked out of the kitchen window at the old terracotta tiled roof below and there was a large huddle of pigeons all sunbathing. Lazy sunbathers, I whispered at them enviously, though I hardly think any bird can be described as lazy. Just thinking about all they have to do to stay alive in this world, from always being alert, to finding food on frozen days. The song I hear in the dark early hours is not just an idle tune but a news bulletin, a call to arms and a territorial war all rolled into one. The birds deserve restful, sunshine moments. We all do.
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Daughter and I go for a walk, we call it the meadow loop. It takes us through the churchyard where now snowdrops are growing in profusion, their pearly flowers so innocent and pure-looking. We walk through an alleyway with old painted brickwork and the scent of daphne, then through to an open green space where dog walkers seem to think it is ok to leave little green plastic bags hanging from budding branches. On we walk, past the football pitch, empty and quiet. There are small office buildings and someone has put a cryptic sign in a window: ‘what has a foot but no legs?’ Neither of us know the answer (see below) and so we walk on. It takes us a while, we sleep on it, but finally my daughter, intrigued, has to look up the answer.
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Many thanks always for your kind comments and likes. Thanks indeed for subscribing. I need to catch up with comments and emails - and will do asap. I appreciate all the kind ko-fi coffees and am grateful for your continued support.
And the answer to the cryptic question -
what has a foot but no legs?
A snail!
I love your posts so much! The idea of having many things to look forward to is the secret to a good life! At night I think about what the four most satisfying things I accomplished that day were, and in the morning I imagine four things that I am looking forward to doing. I don’t want the days to pass by without due reflection. It also feels more imaginative than the dreaded to-do list.