The first day of June

Today in the rain my first red poppy burst open. There are twelve big fat buds to go. It was my highlight of today to see that flower as the rain lashed against the windows.

 

I took this photograph at 9pm last night. It was very dramatic with huge clouds building up ready for the stormy weather we experienced today.

So the first day of June has certainly made its mark.

And what of May?

I loved the blues of May. I came home with a little blue egg, a single bluebell and a little stem of violets.

 

We had a lovely deep blue sky as the cherry blossom started to open.

 

 

My fritillary crop was amazing and I did manage to draw some flowers which I am very pleased with because they didn't seem to last long. I am glad I walked down the garden each day and enjoyed their elegant shapes and marvelled at the patterns. It seems a long way off until I see them again, one my favourite flowers.

 

I picked some flowers from the garden and placed them on a sheet of paper. I used to do this each year and put them into my flower press. I guess I draw them instead.

 

I have been seeing so many of these patterns on the leaves. It took a while to discover who was making them but I found out eventually with a bit of research. I love seeing them just as I see the silvery snail tracks on paths and along the stone walls.

 

And another thing keeping me busy is the Lords and Ladies. They seemed to be growing everywhere and guess what, the wet weather has totally devastated them. Hopefully I can still find some good specimens that grow on to form the berries. I have been drawing in sepia ink with a dip in pen and captured some lovely specimens.

Talking of sepia, it reminds me of my beautiful hare drawings on the linen fabric For Peony and Sage. I made my friend her birthday present in May using this fabric. She was delighted with not one

But two Hare cushions.

I am particularly pleased with how popular this fabric seems to be. I remember sitting drawing the two hares with a fine paint brush and little pot of sepia ink, this sitting hare and the leaping hare, producing my original drawings that became the beautiful fabric.

 

It has been used by many people and I have seen cushions, lampshades, chairs, pin boards, bags, book covers, blinds and whatever people have made, my hare drawings always look amazing.

 

At this time of bird nesting and eggs I was inspired to make myself a new tea towel. I carved the eggs and hand printed them onto a piece of fabric and sewed it into my tea towel. I love working like this, my original drawings and patterns carved into soft Lino and hand printed carefully by me, then sewing the teatowel and enjoying using it in my kitchen, an authentic piece of creativity. I recommend it to others, to know you made it. A simple and honest piece of work that you look at and be proud that You did it all.

My little sepia study of the violet. I have been working with a fine nib and sepia ink sat at the kitchen table and every so often taking a break and watching the birds in the garden. My usual drawing style, to capture every detail as I like to draw from something I found myself. I only ever draw by hand, every mark and every line slowly formed.

It means I can recognise my own work, just like my hand writing it holds my signature. I know my own drawings, even if it was some time ago. It is simple really, when you spend time really drawing something it stays in your memory and you know it is truly your hand that created it.

The steam train passed through our village on Saturday. I left what I was doing and wandered down to the station to watch it. The oak leaf is part of a collection from the shore, it is going to take a while to finish and I was ready for a break so the train was a good excuse to pack up for the day. It seems my love of oak leaves continues. I like drawing them and to know my work is unique to me, no one will draw the oak leaves the same as my hand does.

The train was lovely to watch as it made its way around the estuary and billowed smoke from the engine. A lovely moment as happy people looked out of the many carriages and waved as they passed by.

You have to catch the moments, they make your memories.

And so the first of June will be the day the poppy burst and cheered up this gloomy grey day. Everything in the garden is growing so fast with all this rain.

Hope you enjoyed seeing a little of what I have been doing during May.

Thank you for your comments which I enjoy reading. Hope the sun is going to shines for us all in June. Millyx

All photographs taken by me, Eileen Postlethwaite who owns Copyright of all art work and writing. All rights reserved.

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