Seven Snippets

Hello Lovelies,

having accidentally titled my previous two posts with two words starting in S, I'm intentionally carrying it on a bit longer :0)

Here are my seven snippets of happy things from the past seven days.

1. This gorgeous Gerbera was a thoughtful gift from my sister in law. It was pretty small when she gave it to me but it's growing super quickly on the kitchen windowsill, with new flowers emerging all the time...........

and aren't they gorgeous........a wonderful colour and so many petals!

2. This weeks thrifty find is this pretty, hand painted jug. I couldn't resist it for 49p and I love looking at it in the bathroom, filled with this weeks posy of garden flowers.............

 Sweet peas, nasturtiums, Alchemilla and Nigella

3. On Wednesday evening we had sunshine and showers. I looked out of the kitchen window and saw purple skies?..........I dashed outside and was thrilled to see a lovely rainbow.........

 With pink sky below it and purple above.

4. Soaring Swifts
I saw these birds on an evening walk and wasn't sure what they were. Their outline reminded me of a Swallow, but it was more boomerang shaped. Once home I discovered they were Swifts.............

and learned they are amazing birds that fly constantly for the first three years of their life....wow.

5. Youngests return from his school residential visit.
He borrowed my old camera and came home with just a few pictures. I think they were too busy doing activities most of the time. I love this shot of Chatsworth house he took on an evening walk............

 He said he took it as he knew I would like it....bless him.

I love the fact that he came home with handmade wristbands too. I'm glad the boys enjoyed making and wearing loom bands,  thanks to the generosity of the girls in his class who kindly shared their kits..................

6. Yellow Gerberas . I treated myself to another of these great house plants in the supermarket. They were only a pound and they really make me smile...............

 did you spot my crochet and reading material? 

7. We have booked a holiday in Dorset and I couldn't resist a little book about this stunning coastline to take with us...........

It's a part of the country I've never visited before.....but that I feel a little familiar with, thanks to memorable blog  posts like THIS

Oh, yes I'm so looking forward to seeing these lovely places for myself.
 Lucy continues to be a big influence on my choice of crochet too.........remember THIS post.
I'm concentrating hard on this wonderful but slightly tricksy free pattern. I think it's going pretty well so far
Jacquie x

Seeking Shade

Hello Lovelies,

my but it's hot around here at the moment. On Thursday morning I headed out for a walk and found myself looking for the shady side of the street..............

I decided not to go too far and simply wandered along noticing as many of the small details as I could..........

The sky was full of thin wispy clouds as I headed past the horse field............streaks of white across the beautiful blue............

I was looking for somewhere pretty to sit and had the church yard in mind, but as I got nearer I could here the noisy buzz of a petrol strimmer. I decided to sit on the little bench that looks at the parish war memorial instead...............

It's next to the clump of Lavender, which was attracting many butterflies.............

The reason I wanted to sit down was because I had decided to try painting outdoors. Well, the weather is so nice and I've been feeling inspired by THIS sort of post.

I had an old pencil case of the boys containing a little watercolour paintbox and those blank postcards I used for THIS drawing..............

along with a pencil, two brushes and a pot of water.

My paintbox looks well used because it's not mine, but one of mums.
 I know I'm lucky to have someone who generously gives me art materials if I show an interest in their passion.

It's a great, handy design is easy to transport about and use............

It's   THIS one

I quickly drew my view, not worrying about much detail, and got painting. It's tricky working outdoors. The sun was on my paper which meant much squinting, and I was a little worried someone would come along and ask to see my work. I also forgot to take any kitchen roll or tissues ( which are great to blot any mistakes and clean your brush )

But 20 minutes later I had done enough to feel I had got the essence of the view.

I liked the jolly colours  left on my palette...............

And  this is what I had painted....still wet..........

It made me smile, but I also felt that I had really noticed and appreciated this simple, lovingly tended memorial to three young men from a small village ( two of them with the same surname ), who died almost one hundred years ago.

The sunshine made my picture dry quickly and I was soon able to resume my shade seeking walk.

One last look back to where I sat from the shade of the church yard...........

Through the kissing gate.........

And under the mature trees ..........

I love the dappled sunlight.

The Maple trees here have fully formed "helicopters". It does seem early............

Further along the sheep have the same idea as me..............

and so do the calves..............

That field of tall grass I photographed on last weeks walk is now turning into hay...........

I'm close to home, but decide to walk a little further........along this path.............

To see what the wheat looks like now, I love the biscuit coloured fields..........It  looks like a wonderful harvest...............

On the way home I spot the first Dahlias in a neighbours garden......another stunning summer sight..............

It was only a short walk, two and a half miles, but lovely all the same. 

Yesterday I decided to add a little pen detail and writing to my watercolour sketch...........

I'm really pleased with this simple little reminder  of a walk, and some outdoor painting, on a hot summers day.

Thank you all for your encouraging comments on my previous painting. You lovelies are a wonderfully supportive bunch.
It means a lot.
Jacquie x

Starting Somewhere

Hello lovelies,

many of you will know of my affection for this book...........

 My copy was picked up in a charity shop and I've often shared it's beautiful watercolour illustrations here..........

A few weeks ago Mum passed this book on to me, it had been given to her by a neighbour and belonged to his late mother..........

It's by an Artist I hadn't heard of before called Jill Bays.

I loved the colourful and flamboyant paintings of garden plants..............

Pretty scenes............

and wild flower studies..........

It made me think maybe I should give watercolour painting a try. I knew it would be tricky, I've virtually no experience of this hobby. But my drawing confidence has grown since that first coloured pencil picture last FEBRUARY. 

And you have to start somewhere, right? 

The landscape around here is looking so lovely right now I decided to base my first attempt on this photo, it's from last week's walk.................

I hope you lovelies are not expecting too much :0)

It's a much different experience than my usual easily controlled drawing. I was just guessing what to do really, mixing colours is a new thing and so is dealing with wet paint.

But despite all the mistakes and guesswork I ended up with something that's not too awful. In fact I kind of like it..........

It was fun to do and I liked the way I just went with a simple drawing and didn't obsess to much over the details. I love the intense colours you can easily achieve and the whole thing took me less than an hour to do.

The field looks like it's full of Poppies, rather than Knapweed. I mixed the wrong colour and made them too big, but I'm not letting that bother me.

Any hobby is about leaning new skills and having fun I think.....so that's what I'll be focusing on with this one.
Jacquie x

This Weeks Snippets

Hello Lovelies.

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my recent posts.

Once again I've been snapping away at this and that, things that make me happy and things I want to remember.

So here are my snippets from the past seven days.

1. I'm a fair weather cyclist and we have had lots of warm, fair days lately so my bike has been getting lots of use. Most days I've  popped to the local shops.......I like being able to cover the mile distance in just a few minutes without getting out the car. There are hills on the way back, so it feels like a bit of a workout too.

2. A beautiful warm evening on the school playing field. Our last summer get together as youngest will say goodbye to this lovely primary school in just a few days........the end of an era..........

3. Seeing GILLIAN'S home in print. I love this lady's blog and it was so nice to see somewhere I felt I knew a little in a magazine.

Your home looked so welcoming and stylish Gillian, you always inspire me..............

I need to do something like this....I love it............

Gillian wrote about this feature HERE

3. Picking flowers from the garden. Sweet Peas (at last), Zinnias and Nasturtiums............

A happy July posy.

4. Visiting our local show on a super hot afternoon. I was lovely to go indoors and see the entries in the horticultural and craft show. It's my favourite bit anyway.

Lots a of beautiful flowers and home baking.............

This class was to knit a child's jumper which would be donated to sick children in eastern Europe........ lots of kind folk had entered this class..............

the hooded top far left won........It was gorgeous.

I thought this embroidery was wonderful too.......but it didn't get a prize.............

all the fruits, arranged on paper plates with their pretty leaves, were a feast for the eyes...........

5. And finally..... I've been doing a little al-fresco crochet at the park.........just a few circles to add to my latest blanket project. I love looking at them all tumbled together like this :0)

We are on the final full week of school now, phew.
 The holidays are nearly upon us.......can't wait :0)
Jacquie x

Around Here.........

the long grass has a pinky-purple hue, and the sky is the brightest blue...........

I walk familiar paths, climb the same old stiles, but never tire of them...........

as the seasons change there is always something different to delight my eyes. It's harvest time right now.........

and through this door..........

there's a shady path that smells of Honeysuckle..........

it leads to rolling fields............

and places where the undergrowth wants to scratch and sting my bare legs.........

How I love these views at any time of year...........

idyllic..............

odd............

neat..........

Time for a rest...........

just me and the birds............

and butterflies.........

Cabbage White in flight 

I sit on the ground and gaze at a passing plane...........

and wonder why anyone would want to leave Britain on such a perfect summers day..............

There are friendly locals.........

and their pets............

Fields of clover............

and Hares looking for some shade.............

meadows full of wild flowers, buzzing with bees.............

flashes of yellow...........

from birds who think this is the best place in summer.............

Yellow Wagtail

and who could argue with them.............

Flowers bring the promise of fruit to come............

Brambles

and add colour to the wayside............

Purple Vetch

The countryside is busy but at the same time wonderfully calm and peaceful at this special time of year........

I love summer....... and I love it around here.
Jacquie x