Hello Everyone,
I hope you are well and have had a good week. I have lots to share with you, so a very small weather summary: mostly cloudy with one day of stonkingly hot sun. I like the mild, cloudier days. I am noticing how the days are slightly shortening now we are past solstice. Making the most of the light evenings whilst they last.
Daily Drawings
I tried to draw for less than thirty minutes. I attempted to keep things loose but mostly I just went with the flow.
Sunday - gentle, thoughtful Sunday
Monday - possibly my favourite pages of the week
Tuesday - I like the looser pencil marking
Wednesday - I did not like this at the time but that is ok
Thursday - I like the conversation between pages
Friday - seeing the reverse side peeping through is helping me get these in the right order to show you!
Saturday - I was pretty tired and a little bird told me to draw it
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New Embroidery
This week I have worked on three pieces of embroidery - two of which are quite miniature in scale. I enjoy working small, of course. The challenge of telling a story in a small space is one that has delighted and engrossed artists for centuries. I think particularly of books of hours, very early book pages and painted miniatures, as well as carvings and relics.
In my own stories/stitches/drawings I like to explore my own folk art inspired world of women’s work and experiences. Here you can see sisters, wise women and figures celebrating the seasons, nature and cycles of life.
Three sisters (8.5cm x 7.5cm approx)
Wise Women (8cm x 6.7cm approx)
Charming The Bees - (10.5cm x 9.5cm) - a detailed piece featuring two regal ladies
These three will be in my shop later (7pm UK time) - I hope to make more miniature scale works in future weeks and will be pricing them, as always, as modestly as I can.
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Shop News
So yes I am updating my shop today at 7pm UK time - with a preview available to see from about 3pm. I also have a new collection of tiny portraits.
My next update will be next Sunday, July 28th at 7pm - I hope to have another mix of work. Looking ahead to August and beyond, I may continue with my weekly Sunday updates until the autumn. Will let you know.
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A few Small stories
(Attempting to keep each story to less than 100 words, but always succeeding).
Yellow Sports Car
Hottest day of the year so far. Downstairs, a vintage yellow sports car, open top, is parked in full sun. I think it might be a Triumph, but I know so little about cars. All I do know is those black leather seats are going to be a tad warm to sit upon. Part of me wants to stand by the window and wait just to see how the driver and any passengers cope with the boiled leather seats. But I do have better things to do and the next time I look down I see the bright yellow car has vanished into the glinting heatwave.
Not For Sale
I walk past the clothing shop most days but rarely does it catch my eye. This time of year it is all about summer and a seaside theme, with sundresses. But today as I walk by I see a flickering, a dark red glimmer and there is an addition to the dress display: a red admiral butterfly. Just as I stop to look so two girls also stop, dutifully juggle their iced drinks and phones to take a photo. I am glad they stopped and noticed. I hope someone helps the butterfly to freedom.
Green Bus
My daughter and I are coming home from a small trip. We stare out of the bus window at all the green and dots of houses. It is quiet on the bus this afternoon. No conversations to listen in to, our fellow passengers are all in the same dream of waving grasses and fluffy clouds. As we speed along the dual carriageway, it feels like we are travelling through a painting of summer. Someone at the back sneezes and we all say: bless you.
Peas Update
Yes I have continued to eat peas every day.
Big Fish, Little Fish
I wish I knew their names, I say, as my son and I look down at the fish. There are so many in the shallow river. Don’t be silly, mother, my son says knowingly, fish don’t have names. We have come to the riverside to watch the ducks, but are fascinated instead by the many different fish, big and tiddlers. Schools of fish, my son says. Later he confirms this was the first time he had ever seen fish in a river. My son is twenty three. It’s not that I have neglected introducing him to nature, exactly, but I suppose we have not done a great deal of river watching. I just hope the fish are still here to see in twenty three years from now.
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photo: one of nine new tiny portraits - will be in my shop update later (see above)
Thank you for reading here, for your kind comments and likes. These studio notes are sent out most Sundays free to all subscribers. If you would like to support my writing you are welcome to become a paid subscriber - and there will be future perks for paid subscribers in the future. Alternatively, you can buy me a coffee - all your thoughtful and kind support is much appreciated.
Chaque dimanche, j'attends toujours avec impatience vos notes , c'est comme si je recevai une lettre d'une amie .
Merci pour ces moments partagés.
I’m riding the Kamala wave of excitement for the future and it feels as if your modern folk art lady is about to raise her cup to Mrs POTUS to be and say “you go, girl”!