rubykittyruby

  This year continues to race along at breakneck speed.  Already I can see the evenings are getting shorter, and it's darkening by 9.30 when it used to be light until 10.00.  It's supposedly full summer, yet the hedgerows are full of ripened blackberries.  Way too early, and the apples on my allotment trees look as if they're almost ready too.  The seasons are out of whack, aren't they?  Climate change is scary, and we've not even begun to experience the worst of it yet.  Maybe I'm burying my head in the sand by retreating into crafting?  But what can any of us do on an individual level, besides buying less, recycling more, trying to vote for politicians who'll respect the environment. I'll continue making things, meanwhile trying to do my bit to lessen my personal carbon footprint.  These little patches are just calico with lettering inked on them and watercolour paint around the edges.  I've slow-stitched this one to make a fabric tag,...

It's been a really good week.  Lots of tidying up on the allotment and in my garden, plus more fun messing about with acrylic paints and watercolours, making stacks of painty papers.   I've also been having fun making videos for YouTube.  I'm still on a steep learning curve as far creating videos, getting the right length, working out lighting etc, is concerned.  I've also got over my reluctance to talk to the viewer.  If I stumble over my words or babble or get things wrong, then - well - it's not the end of the world, is it?   What I've learnt so far, apart from the basics of uploading a video and adding a soundtrack, is that very short videos get more views.  YouTube shorts, as you probably know, are a minute or under.  I posted a couple of standard videos which got hardly any views.  Not that I'm expecting great numbers.  I'm grateful if even a couple of people look at 'em!  However, I posted one and it got 26 views....

I've annoyed myself a great deal this morning.  Two or three days ago I took delivery of a little packet of jewellery findings.  I fancied making some new earrings as mine are looking a bit shabby, so I bought a packet of 50 silver coated wire hoops.  I distinctly remember putting the packet on my dining table, but was it there at breakfast time when I looked for it?  No.  No, it wasn't...  Cue a fruitless search.  Either I mistakenly binned it when I was tidying up, or I'd placed it 'somewhere' for safe keeping.  I've looked everywhere, even in the recycling bin.  (Honestly, what must my neighbours think?  I'm out there in my pyjamas rooting through the plastic and cardboard!)  The silver wires have disappeared without a trace, but on the plus side I did find a bone folder I'd mislaid months ago, a cardboard template I'd hunted high & low for, and a reel of perle cotton.  There's a lot to be said for 'a place for everythin...

  It won't be long until the blackberries are ripe & ready for picking.  Which means that every time I go for a walk along a country lane or down to the allotment, I'll go armed with either an empty sandwich box or a plastic bag.  Before long the freezer will be full to overflowing with berries, and I'll have enough soft fruit to add to my breakfast porridge to last the winter.  But in the meantime ...  During this third heatwave of the summer I'm largely staying indoors.  Which seems a shame when the sun's shining brightly, but it's so hot I feel like I'm going to melt.  I've started reading this historical novel, set during the reign of Henry IV, and it's very enjoyable so far.  The heroine's self assured and strong willed, and determined to safeguard her family's precarious wealth and social position.  She's not especially likeable, but sometimes characters are more interesting if the reader's doesn't wholly like or admire ...

  The hot weather continues, and Yorkshire Water's finally declared a hosepipe ban.  Frankly, they should've done that weeks ago given how little rain we've had for the best part of three months.  Anyhow, better late than never.   The catananche are looking so pretty, as are the hollyhocks.   Clumps of sweet marjoram on the allotment are alive with butterflies and bees.  That kind of makes up for the total lack of courgettes.  They need lots of sunshine and lots of water, and while the courgette plants have had the sun they've been starved of water.  Never mind, the local supermarket will have them in stock, I don't doubt, and there's always next year ...  At home, I've finished reading 'Scarlet Town' by Leonora Nattrass.  It's a terrific read.  She's one of those authors who are reliably good, and even a couple of pages into the book I had the feeling I was in safe hands.   Another kind of book.  I'm still ...

  ('If I can't have love I'll take sunshine'.  Art installation by Glenn Ligon) Thursday evening:  Honestly, I scoffed a huge mound of pasta, then went back for seconds.  Sometimes you just need to carb load, don't you?  Now I'm lying on the sofa, listening to the test match commentary of England versus India and wondering what's for pudding.  But before eating anything else I'll show you a few photos from Leeds Art Gallery.  I was there yesterday for this month's Stitch Art group.  Because I was early I'd the chance to wander around an exhibition about the representation of women in art, as well as other collections.  Okay, in no particular order -   I love the framing of this.  How the girl's portrait is enhanced by the light purple and blue pattern.  It's by Skye Davies, and is called 'She's in a world of her own, you see, Ecclesborne Lavender'.  This is by Walter Crane, 'At Home: A Portrait' and shows his wife, Ma...