Chalk Flowers

Scan1

Another King Penguin from the collection of Evelyn Hallewell. This one’s a beauty but sadly missing a few pages from the middle. The illustrations are by Irene Hawkins but Rampion, Scabious, Rock Rose and Pasque Flower have disappeared. It was published in 1947 and, according to the label in the back, it was purchased from Binns Ltd. (Book Shop), Princes Street, Edinburgh 2. Continue reading “Chalk Flowers”

Frames of reference

Wells & Mells

001

Cathedral Green at Wells, the eternal stone partnered with an inflated upstart. We arrived just in time for the Somerset Schools Folk Dance Festival, a ceilidh for more than 2,000 primary school children, all stepping and skipping and turning circles on the green. Continue reading “Wells & Mells”

Frames of reference

Beetle, Crayfish & Mussel

Tansy Beetle

Two new prints just arrived from Beatrice Forshall, both drypoints printed from multiple plates in small editions and hand-coloured, which means they’re short-lived and not designed for mass production. It’s a form that suits the content, since these are images of endangered species. This tansy beetle is just a detail; for the complete picture, and Bea’s thoughts on the subject, please see below. Continue reading “Beetle, Crayfish & Mussel”

Frames of reference

Vote Fanny!

coadgbursary_Fanny_Shorter_Passion_Pair_Blue_cushions
Fanny Shorter has been shortlisted for a design bursary, courtesy of award-winning blog Confessions of a Design Geek. She is one of five contenders for this prestigious award but she needs your vote to win. Please cast your vote at coadg bursary :: the 2014 shortlist and vote wisely but please vote now! Time is running out. Voting closes at 23:59 Wednesday 27th November 2013. Spread the word!

Frames of reference

I AMsterdam

i amsterdam

We took a half-term weekend break to Amsterdam. It seemed like the city was being relaunched and rebranded/rembrandted. The Rijksmuseum reopened in April following an unprecedented 10 year renovation, the Stedelijk Museum reopened last year after a 9 year refurbishment, and 2013 marks 400 years since construction began on the city’s iconic canals. Continue reading “I AMsterdam”

Frames of reference

New River, Blue River

001

Myddleton House was named after Hugh Myddleton who built the New River, an aqueduct carrying fresh water into London. Over the years its course has changed but originally in 1613 it flowed through here, beneath these iron railings marking an earlier bridge. Continue reading “New River, Blue River”

Frames of reference

Banstead Wood & Mayfield

001

In France in early August we’d been too late to see the famous Luberon lavender, but back in England it’s not harvested until September. We went down to Banstead in Surrey to visit Mayfield’s lavender farm. The flowers bloomed in the late August sunshine and the fragrant fields buzzed with intoxicated bees and butterflies and other lavender enthusiasts. Continue reading “Banstead Wood & Mayfield”

Frames of reference