lime green

happy accident

I love the way the rain drops act as tiny lens, inverting and distorting this view of the field at the back of our house. I would love to say I intended it this way. But I didn't.  

a crafting diversion

Although I haven't exactly been over-productive in the printing department recently I thought I would take a break from the thinking about printing bit with a wee spell of other making. It was spurned on by some scraps of book binding leather I picked up during a recent visit to Shepherds Bookbinders (a paper lover's absolute heaven). I fancied making myself a nice autumnal feel brooch - and then couldn't stop. It started with a suede and copper version, extended into leather and fabric and now I am immersed in trying to create a rich lacquered effect on card. I'll let you know how I get on.   

a short film for monday - twisting leaf

a very short film for monday (honestly, give it a go, the end credits are the longest bit)

cycle to the beach

Today we took National Route 65 from New Ellerby to Hornsea. This is a lovely flat route and extremely safe for children, essential when you have an easily distracted four year along for the ride. We saw some great wildlife along the way, including a hare which raced towards us with a cloud of dust behind before turning on a sixpence and darting into the neighbouring field, and a fancy dress cycling party, complete with Vicki Pollard.


At Hornsea we paddled in the sea, wondered at the hoards of ladybirds, had an ice cream then headed back to New Ellerby. A rather nice Sunday.

an extra layer of colour

This was a bit of an experiment. I printed the Goldfinches onto a more textured paper (Hahnemuhle) than the smooth white Zerkall printing paper that I usually use to give a more open and less densely inked finish. I then hand-tinted the beech and hawthorn leaves and branches with Rohrer & Klingner antique drawing ink in Ginster, Payne's Grey and Astoria Brown. A very relaxing painting exercise.  

Facteur 10 Prints & Books Exchange

Click here for a pdf of the rules

Goldfinches amongst the beech and hawthorn

I love these small but striking finches. Unlike many bird with interesting plummage the females and males have equal dibs on the glad rags so they make quite a sight when seen together on the bird feeder or in the hedgerow. This latest lino print will soon be in my Etsy and Folksy shops.

Etsy shop

Finally got around to stocking my Etsy Shop. But my is that site BIG, just watch this !.  I'll be adding items through the next week or so but it does feel a bit like tipping them over the edge of one very big black hole. Any tips on getting noticed there will be very gratefully received.  

Nearly there...

Phew my latest print is nearly complete. So far I've hand cut three lino blocks, one for the buff colour, one for the red and the yellow and a third for the black. I've printed a few on newsprint just to check the registration, made a few tweaks here and there and printed the buff, red and yellow on good paper. I've just finished cutting a few unwanted high points off of the black block so am ready to do the next and final inking. I'm really tempted to do it now but the red & yellow aren't quite dry so fingers crossed for a quite hour or two in the morning to get this done.

PRINT for LOVE of WOOD LETTERPRESS: LETTERPRESS GIVEAWAY!

PRINT for LOVE of WOOD LETTERPRESS: LETTERPRESS GIVEAWAY!

Click on the link and share your favourite on the PRINT for LOVE of WOOD blog for a chance to win this print. 

a very short film for monday - cutting the lino

I've been meaning to film a bit of the lino cutting process for a while but only remembered as I was towards the end of cutting this one. Probably a good thing as is took over 5 hours. So here's 60 seconds worth,  at double speed.