A long walk and a good book

I spent the morning cleaning, then stitching, so a long walk was called for. A circuit of about an hour's brisk walking around my favourite haunt, the local RSPB reserve.

There were plenty of twitchers about, as well as people just enjoying a stroll, dodging the muddy puddles and the occasional cyclists and horseriders.

Back home I'm getting stuck into a Kate Atkinson novel. I'm only a few chapters in, but it's already a terrific read and I'm loving the notorious Nellie Coker. The book's called 'Shrines of Gaiety' and is set in 1926, a world of dancing girls and seemingly glamorous nightclubs, but also of a seedy criminal underworld and people traumatised by the impact of the so-called Great War.

The other thing I've done today is start experimenting with eco-printing. I've seen various crafty types on YouTube produce lovely looking eco-printed material, so it was about time I tried the technique out. Not 100% sure I've done it correctly or what the result will be, but I've used a mix of red and brown onions skins, and a few fig leaves too.

I used an upcycled piece of white cotton, plus rusty water that'd had a bit of metal soaking in it. Bundling everything up, I secured it with a combination of string and elastic bands, and added more water

I'll leave this murky looking bowl somewhere out of the way, and resist the temptation to unwrap it for at least two or three weeks. Fingers crossed it turns out to have taken the colours of the skins and leaves.

Finally, I spent a few minutes on another page of the book '365 Days of Creativity'. I had to make swatches of my chosen colour palette, as well as turn three circles of orange/brown into something or other. I simply added what look like tiny petals to each of the circles, was debating how to tart them up even further, then decided that actually I liked the simplicity of these minimal marks. As to my colour palette, I think my tastes incline to the red/purple/pink side of the colour wheel, and I love jewel-like colours. Ruby, cranberry, amethyst, blackberry, raspberry, plus the metallics like gold, as well as amber and citrine. I used to be unsure about what colours I really liked, then I took a look at my wardrobe. Specifically the pashmina style scarves I've amassed. All the jewel-like colours are there. Minimalist greige, taupe and bland are not for me!

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