February 2023

February hosts Valentine’s Day and once again I have been asked to supply heart cards to various galleries and shops that sell my work. I first began designing with hearts after a friend took me to the Shaker Shop in London over twenty years ago which was my introduction to American Folk Art. The Shaker prayer ‘Hands to work, Hearts to God’ is often depicted with a heart and hand. Later I noticed hearts in the Arts and Crafts movement, sometimes as a cut out shape in the back of a simple wooden chair. The heart always seems to bring a feeling of life and hope, as well as love. My heart cards can be found in the drop-down menu in the main Cards category.

The winter-flowering honeysuckle, usually the first to be visited by awakening bumblebees, is now in bloom (photograph) and the Rooks are back in the churchyard making a racket again. The Churchyard is also home to tawny owls, to be heard t-wit-t-wooing at night, and the woodpecker drums loudly on the trees in the mornings. Those resting in peace don’t get much peace, but these joyful sounds all tell of Spring just around the corner!

January 2023

A new year begins today, and the sun is shining. It is a time for fresh calendars on the wall and if, like me, you keep a diary, the smooth crisp page in the new book awaits the first thoughts of 2023. Last year I made the only resolution I think I have ever kept, which was to write numbers more carefully and clearly to avoid confusion later. I have yet to think of one to match it for simplicity and usefulness for this year!

I am currently working on a collection of William Morris themed cards for Kelmscott Manor gift shop (Morris’s one time Oxfordshire home) which re-opens in April and have just completed a commission to celebrate a new baby’s birth. I hope to soon begin designing some single bee embroideries for cards whilst imagining those summer days when they are buzzing about everywhere in our cottage garden here.

It is not an easy time for many of us; amidst the many viruses and anxieties we face it can be difficult some days to feel happy. The special times we share with our friends and families and the loving wishes we send each other with cards and gifts always brings a smile and feeling of connection, sometimes great comfort and joy. I am always happiest when sewing and hope that my work continues to bring a little happiness to others too.

December 2022

The St Martin’s Summer eventually left us, as we all knew it would one day, and now it feels very much colder. Here on the Lincolnshire east coast marshes the mist lingers all day long, shrouding everything in ‘foggy foggy dew’ to quote from the old folk song of that title by Marty Robbins. If I listen carefully, sometimes in the stillness I can hear the cries of the seals who are gathered in great number on the nearby beaches, giving birth to their little white fluffy pups. But in the chilly gloom there are now many lights appearing, twinkling amongst the trees, and around front doors in the lane, bringing some Christmas cheer to things.

The church opposite our cottage has seen more than 800 Christmases and will once again be welcoming villagers in for carol singing and comfort in difficult times.

Recently I have been designing and sewing a couple of framed Birth Samplers which I love to do, stitching in the little one’s names and birth day date. I regularly add new work to my shop here; look out for items flagged with a little green ’sale’ sign in the top left-hand corner which means they are reduced in price.

I took this photograph from the garden, looking across the fields on Christmas morning a few years ago.