May 2023

The blossom has taken a while to open here this year as the cold weather held it back, but at last the apple, pear, cherry and quince are out, each in their own colour and form. Stiff sea breezes up here on the east coast marshes bring showers of petals down, but I am happy to say that there are many bees, of all kinds, busily at work even on dull days. As Shakespeare wrote ‘Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May’.

You may notice that I am gradually introducing a few slightly larger cards, which are labelled as such; the price structure is a little different for these due to the adjustments needed to post them, given the size/thickness restrictions and price increases introduced by Royal Mail in April. (All the card prices include 1st class postage). I am making them available as singles, duos, trios and the popular six card selections. The unit price of each card reduces the more cards there are in the bundle.

The birds I have fed throughout the winter are now nesting around our cottage garden once more, including several new visitors. A Reed Bunting, previously unknown to me despite being classed ‘common’ and a charming pair of Pied Wagtails bob around the pond most days. These little creatures always lift my spirits with their fluttering wings and joyful songs!

April 2023

April brings us Easter; a time when we celebrate Spring, new life and lengthening days. I always think of my father around this time, as his birthday fell in this month. He was an artist who worked in commercial advertising, often from home as well as his London studio. As a small child I ‘worked’ alongside him in his room at the top of the house, at my own drawing board and desk, set up next to his. I would make my own creations, often using offcuts from his collages or 3D models made from card. He taught me so much about design and drawing, colour and form, but most of all he taught me how to look, how to really see. Never much good at school, my father was my teacher, across all subjects. I know now that our time spent together was the most generous and precious gift he could ever have given me. I have inherited many of his tools, including an ancient Stanley knife, intricately graded steel rulers and (still very sharp) paper shears; as I use them I notice that my hands are just like his hands, a mysterious living link to him.

March 2023

An old English folk rhyme states: March winds and April showers, bring forth May flowers! There is certainly talk of colder windier weather to come this month, but it is good to think that Spring is now just about here; I for one am enjoying the daffodils and other blooms which are now brightening up the garden. The photo is Blackthorn, my favourite of all; the photo was taken in March last year although this year’s blossom is not showing yet.

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I have been adding more Alphabet letter cards to the shop so hopefully you will be able to find the letter you seek in a colourway you like!