Sharing your news and views of country life
WRITE TO LANDSCAPE
We love hearing about how our readers are enjoying the seasons. Write and tell us about a craft project you have been working on, an interesting place you have discovered or an issue about the countryside you want to share. Letters or emails should come with one or two good-sized photos, taken on a digital camera or smartphone. Write to LandScape, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA or landscape@bauermedia.co.uk.
Summer shawl in changing hues
Here is my attempt at the gossamer wrap knitting project from the July 2023 issue. I did 27 pattern repeats and have lots of the lovely yarn left over for future scarves.
Unlikely finds turned into art
In late 2021, my partner, Derek, had a stroke, at a time when I was getting ready to resume my work as a ‘travelling artist’. The circumstances meant I had to find a way to balance caring responsibilities with my practice. Being ‘out in the world’ informs my work, and regular walks along the footpaths of Mote Park have opened up new discoveries about its ‘hidden edges’. A Walk in the Park contains items found discarded here: old sheeting; a linen shirt top; papers; and the fabric from a sofa. These have been painted and stained with old household paint and reclaimed or natural dyes to reflect plants and patterns. The yellow dandelions and cow parsley are symbols of growth, hope and healing. The leaves and petals of these often undervalued plants provided colour for some of the threads and cloth. Machine and hand stitch is combined in a process I refer to as ‘stitch-sketching’ to both hold the work together and provide texture.
Delicate wings entwined with nature
I’m making butterflies from fatsia leaves for an arrangement planned for RHS Rosemoor’s flower show, from 18-20 August. The theme is: ‘Where winged beauties come to rest’. I cut the leaves between the veins and then wired the veins to the leaf stalk, leaving two veins for antennae. Leaves from the plant which are past their best can be used, instead of putting them on the compost heap. The butterflies are easy to
