Today brings a new year.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with peace and kindness.
A few weeks ago I walked past this lovely old oak tree. Then last month when the leaves were brown and falling I found a single acorn on the ground, I picked it up and looked at it, your coming home with me I said. Unable to resist I climbed the wooden gate and dropped down into the wood. It is like entering another world, leaves crunch and twigs send out loud cracks as you walk through the wood. Whilst my acorn is held softly in my hands so not to harm it. I had a special place where I wanted to draw it. My handmade book I created to draw and record my home made inks.
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| First page of my book of drawings from my own homemade inks Eileen Postlethwaite |
I once planted an acorn and now it grows behind my house, last year was the first time it had acorns and this year the first time it had oak galls but each year it gets stronger and grows some more.
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| I made ink from the oak Galls and used it to draw oaks. Eileen Postlethwaite |
I decided to draw acorns and oak leaves,and because of my love of brown inks make my own. This picture above shows my drawings using my own ink made using some oak galls I found. A dip in pen and my ink records oak finds......... a little piece of magic as my natural ink records nature. All found in my own village.
As I have slowly watched my book fill up, a little at a time. I have used plants and flowers and berries and seeds to make different colours to draw with. Just as nature takes its time, I have to wait patiently until things are ready, each season brings something new. During 2019 it has been so exciting finding different colours from nature.
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| New Years Eve....the sky at sunset. Eileen Postlethwaite |
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| Snakehead Fritillary flowers in my garden, looking forward to seeing them again soon. Eileen Postlethwaite |
And I have just planted some more tiny creamy coloured bulbs to grow and add to the snakehead frillary flowers already in my garden. Small things have such potential to make beautiful things happen. I often see my drawings and realise in my own little way I can send and share my love of nature to so many people and make a difference.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year. Perhaps we could all spread some peace and kindness for 2020.
6 comments:
Happy New Year!
I love your acorn story, and you've grown the tree from one.
I'm rediscovering walnut drawing ink. The color has a personality I find soothing.
I would love to learn how to make inks from nature whst a beautiful idea. Uour acorn story is delightfil.
Hi Milly, and Happy New Year from Anita, across the "Big Pond". Loved reading about the acorn, and seeing your new journal, using your homemade inks. This past year, following your example, I made walnut ink also from walnuts I found near our church. I confess that I haven't done much with it, but I will soon. Our own oak trees also have galls, two different types, Apple galls, and Marble galls. Then, I discovered galls on the Spruce tree in the front yard-"pineapple galls", (and they do look like pineapples) Then this fall, I collected some Goldenrod, which also had galls, (do you see a trend here?) :-) I did do colored pencil drawings of the Oak galls and the Pineapple galls, still planning to do the Goldenrod galls. They have dried beautifully. I love following your work on your blog, and am inspired by your stories and descriptions of your travels and things you collect (similar to what I have here, though such a distance away. Again, Happy New Year to you and yours. Spring won't be so far away to see your new plantings bloom--Anita. (I'll be searching for more galls. They fascinate me!)
Your drawings are marvellous, and I love the idea of the natural inks. It’s insp me. Thank you.
Milly so love seeing your post. As always I enjoy your lovely drawings as well as your photos. Hope your New Year is blessed with much joy! Hugs
You remind me to slow down and look down and around at the small things - which can develop into big things or just beautiful things - and can easily be looked over while looking for that next big thing!! Thanks. Looking forward to your frittilaries - they are so interest!!
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