Tag: nature lover

My favourite month

Hooperhart

Well, I think we can safely say that autumn has definitely arrived in central Scotland: the temperature has dropped, the leaves are turning, and darkness descends at a frighteningly early hour. The end of summer seemed to happen strangely quickly this year, and an Indian Summer looks like it’s off the cards. Despite all that, there’s something about September that I really love, even though it signifies the end of summer and the beginning of the long dark winter to come.

It’s a month for wrapping yourself in cosy knitwear, going for long walks amidst a kaleidoscope of colour, and coming home to a glass of sherry in front of a crackling fire…or in my reality it means donning waterproof trousers, traipsing along muddy pathways with the dog and coming home to spend half an hour cleaning said dog and draping dirty towels over the radiators! Either way, there is a certain atmosphere about the autumn which has long been a source of inspiration for creative types, and as a result I’ve been making a few items in warm, autumnal colours to mark the change in the seasons.

To see all my work currently available, click on the link in the top right hand corner or go to my ‘Shop’ page.

So here’s to a happy, cosy few months ahead, and I’ll leave you with one of my favourite photographs of the afore-mentioned dog, Rudy (aka Mr Biscuits), looking all autumnal…

Screenshot_2018-09-29-15-54-34

Long Hot Summer

Hooperhart

Apparently here in the British Isles we’re experiencing the hottest summer on record since 1976. The day they announced this on the radio I started reading a new book (randomly purchased in a library sale) with the opening sentence: “It was 1976, and the hottest summer in living memory.” Weird, right? The book is ‘The Year of the Ladybird: A Ghost Story’ by Graham Joyce, and it features a two day plague of ladybirds (usually a symbol of good luck?). Reading it I realised that I haven’t seen a single ladybird in the garden this year, which is cause for concern. And I have been spending A LOT of time in the garden, mostly trying to keep the plants from dying of thirst…

On the days it’s been too hot to go outside ( how often do we get to say that in Scotland?) I’ve been getting on with making a couple of new things in time for my first craft market of 2018 (quite late on in the year I know, I’m such a slacker) which is next month in the lovely seaside village of St Monans in the East Neuk of Fife.

These wee wooden house brooches were actually inspired by all the pretty fishing villages of the East Neuk with their coloured 18th century cottages and harbour buildings. It’s an area of the country I love so I’m really looking forward to being up there for the weekend.

20180723_111936_LLS
20180723_095329

I’ll also be taking these new wooden flower stems with me – inspired of course by all the lovely colours we have in the garden at the moment. The flowers in the garden won’t last long though, so these are some you can enjoy all year round!

You can find a link to details of next month’s fair on my ‘Shop’ page, along with links to my Etsy shops where you can browse all my available work.

Here’s hoping the good weather continues (ok, maybe with the odd day of rain so I don’t have to keep getting the garden hose out) – I’m just enjoying the fact that I haven’t worn socks for 2 months.

Into The Woods

Hooperhart

Mad Miss Morag the Lakeland Terrier has come to stay for the day (which always puts my dog Rudy’s nose a tad out of joint); whilst they are both snoozing in between bouts of general insanity, I’m taking the opportunity to write my second blog post!

It’s a bright, but chilly, Monday morning, and I’m watching a robin and a lovely little wren fluttering about in the garden. It’s all feeling rather autumnal so it seems appropriate to bring your attention to the Just A Card Into The Woods Autumn Shopping Guide!

IMG_20170830_110832_158

It’s a wonderful selection of art and craft on an autumnal theme featuring woodland-inspired items from 25 UK based independent makers, and features my Forest Diorama. Find out more about the Just A Card campaign for independent businesses here and have a read of their blog too – you’ll discover so many fantastic makers and get an insight into how they produce their lovely work.

Right, the Terrible Terrier Twosome are stirring – time to go!