Cash - Turkmenian Owl

I have previously blogged about the Hagley Falconry Centre some time back in May. It can be found here if you didn't see it at the time. I really did love Cash, the owl and I decided to use one of the images of him for a piece of art.
I haven't used Murano paper for ages and it was like going back to an old friend. However, this was the first time that I have used Derwent Coloursoft pencils on it.

Sometimes, I can fel a little half soaked about my art and other times, I really enjoy a piece. I enjoyed this one :D

More Butterflies in Shropshire

I have been on various walks and treks in recent weeks, so thought on a somewhat dreary Sunday, I would post up some photos' of some butterflies and moths seen around Shropshire in the last few weeks.



Male Common Blue side view



Male Common Blue.

The above were all taken at a site near Shrewsbury which is not public ground and very rich in different grasses and wild flowers



Red Admiral

Many of these have been taken walking around country lanes and just taking time although we are also blessed with an area by the house that is left to grow in piece and simply mowed once or twice a year. On sunny days, the blackberry bushes are covered in different butterflies and many different species can be seen.



Small Skipper



Gatekeeper





Painted Lady side view and open wings



Meadow Brown

I came across this lovely dragonfly and moth whilst walking Wenlock Edge.



Southern Hawker Dragonfly



Magpie moth

Finally, I planted some plant to encourage moths and butterflies in the garden and was delighted to see quite a few this past week.



Large white



Comma



And although not taken in the garden, the underside of a comma which is in stark contrast to the top. Finalised with an unknown but very pretty moth that was really tiny, about the same size as my small fingernail.



Hopefully, I have identified them all correctly! Whatever, I hope the bright colours brighten up your day :D

Footnote: As this week is save our british butterflies week, I think this post is timely. More information can be found on the Butterfly Conservation Site. Oh and watch out for those painted ladies!

Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

One of our local attractions is Blists hill Museum at Ironbridge. I was reading in the Shropshire Star yesterday that the new visitor centre is now open so I am looking forward to going along and seeing what they have done. This is part of a £12m development plan that has been ongoing for a while now.
At the beginning of the year, we went along in off peak season and had a really good day. The scene is set at 1900 and a number of businesses and shops have been recreated. These are based on actual buildings from around Shropshire in keeping with the era. To add to the general atmosphere, the staff and vendors dress in clothes from the period. It really does make for a fascinating day and informative day.



When you visit, you can exchange modern day money for some halfpennies and pennies so you can make purchases to experience the feel of going back in time. Although, they are not actual coins, they are excellent replicas of the old coins and you can use them to purchase such things as sweets, ginger beer or even lavender cream from the chemist!



There are a number of shops and businesses which have been wonderfully researched and everything is in keeping with the period. Further reading on the research and development work can be found at Blists Hill Org.

It is difficult to choose favourite experiences because there is a lot to see but Andy really enjoyed watching the casting procedures whilst I just love taking a look at the wood turners. This image is of Simon Crutchley turning wood. We have bumped into Simon previously at other local attractions. He is a very enthusiastic craftsman and it is always good to hear of his latest projects. He tells me that recently he has been a turning a teddy bears bunk bed which sounds fascinating, I hope he forwards some photographs :D



We took a second visit when they opened another street, Canal Street at Easter time. This has seen a new draper's store, a post office, an artisan quarter and a traditional fish and chip shop!





They plan various themed weekends over the summer, taking a look at their site it looks as though there will be a Detective weekend this forthcoming week. Plans for events can be found on the Ironbridge Gorge museums site. . I know that on a future visit, I would like to go and see the Victorian funfair, I would be intrigued by that.

One of the things I enjoy most is seeing people walking around in their fabulous clothes and the traditional horse and carts.



Those of you that have followed my blog in the past will know that the cart horse inspired me into a piece of art. As I have not as yet posted up the completed piece, it seems like a good time to show the end result. This is Casey, the beautiful cart horse from Blists Hill in his fly bonnet.

Some fruity updates

I have lots of things to post........and so little time to do any posting ;)
There are flutterbyes and nature type things. Lots of art updates and some interesting news of our local museums and events.
But, for now I will simply add another art update. I have spent some time experimenting with paper and coloured pencils. Derwent coloursoft are a clear hands down in the coloured pencil evaluation. Supports have surprised me. I didn't like Stonehenge paper too much initially.....But, after a little practice, I do really like it for subjects that require a few layers.
This pear study just lends itself to this sort of paper...

The Cherry Tree

Earlier this year, I decided that I wanted to encourage more birds to the garden. Unfortunately, we do have a very large cat population so I did have to address this a little. I bought a sonic sound thing off ebay which together with some anti cat smelly stuff reduced the number of visitors. Don't get me wrong, I love all animals but we had so many, I couldn't attract any birds at all.
Afterwards we put up several feeding stations and bit by bit we are attracting some feathered visitors.
To make life easier for them, I wanted to add some larger bushes and a tree to provide a little added safety for when the cats do come stalking. I decided to plant a fruit tree. Twofold, it is nice to plant a tree and it gives some perch areas. I didn't want to get an apple tree becuase I always have planted apple trees in the past ...and every time I do, I seem to end up moving. So, I have a small paranoia about planting apples. We took a trip to the garden centre and I said I would simply choose the nicest, sturdiest looking fruit tree whatever the fruit.
And so we ended up with a Cherry tree :D
It was lovely to see the blossom just a few weeks after planting it. I didn't expect it to bear any fruit in the first year, it is still getting established. However, just over a week ago, I did manage to pick a handful of cherries.




I used my new Derwent Coloursofts on Stonehenge paper and really liked the combination. Have a good weekend.

Butterflies in Shropshire 2009

I think because we have had two very wet summers, I am really noticing the butterflies this year. It may also be down to my new camera purchase which has offered endless opportunities for discovery ;)
Quite early on in the year, I spotted a Peacock as the blossom emerged.
This was followed by the Speckled Wood and Tortoishell in May time. As the meadow nearby started to grow, this Small Copper was the next on my list.



Small Copper butterfly

My next delight was seeing all the Painted ladies down in Cornwall where the cliffs were literally covered with them in June. It was a week last Sunday before I actually saw the first one up here in Shropshire. However, I am noticing a few of them now together with many others.

Firstly, a Ringlet which was initially alone but there are a number of them now in the same location.



Ringlet

The Meadow brown pictured in my previous blog post can be seen in the hundreds across meadowland at present. Last weekend, I also saw the first Comma's of the year.



Comma

All of this was followed by a Common blue. Well apparently it is common! :




Common Blue

Of course, there are also those that I didn't manage to take a photograph of. In a country lane last week, I saw a very fast flying large yellow butterfly that was a little like a cabbage white but larger and yellower. I wished I could have captured the moment but sadly, sometimes you have to feel priviledged to have seen them, to capture an image is icing on the cake!

All things bright and beautiful

Ingrid thanked me in my last post for sharing my thoughts at a sad time. I had to smile, I find it easier to share my thoughts nowadays!
There was a time when I thought people who are grieving must wail and cry for every waking moment. The reality is that it is often very different to that.
I very much enjoyed a blog post recently from Soul Merlin aka Henry regarding his Mother. The post can be found here and is called remembering Christina. The tune he has uploaded, Morning has broken sung by Cat Stephens made me cry buckets but it is very lovely...I also really enjoyed reading his thoughts and feelings.
At my brother's funeral we had "All things Bright and Beautiful". He loved the outdoors and it has always been where I talk to him....and as time goes on, I talk to him easier. It doesn't hold the same pain.



Male Beautiful Demoiselle

Sometimes in the beginning, if I felt happy, when I remembered I also felt guilty. It is nice to reach an inner peace and increasingly, I feel able to share the moments and actually relate on a very special level.



Meadow brown butterfly

I do wish that inner peace could be handed out to all people that lose someone special.

This year has been the most incredible year for butterflies. Or perhaps that has been the way it seemed for me. Is it just that for the first time in a while I have noticed them?
Shame on me! ;)
Meanwhile I have been working on some art....I will update on some of my many works in progress shortly *she rolls eyes*! Some of them have worked well, some of them not so well. This evening for the first time in ages, I decided to start on an animal again, I felt the need to render fur, which is almost theraputic. I would show you .......but I have to say, it looks a little freaky right now!
Meanwhile I never did get around to showing you all my lily completed, I will give a description of all of my forages into different paper and coloured pencils at some point:


Take care.

Skywatch Friday - Shropshire Valley

Hiya everybody, well in my first blog post in a couple of weeks, I thought I would put up a Friday skywatch image that has some meaning. Andy and myself both went out for day recently and spent some time in the Shropshire Hills. So for this week, I have chosen this one, just check out the view.



I know when, I moved away from Shropshire, these hills were the place I missed the most. Furthermore, all the flying crew will recognise this place for sure, so I also thought that young Andy Clowes would like this one too. For his friends who are checking in, I understand the funeral will be next Friday. Update at St. Michael and all Angels Church, Tettenhall on Friday, July 10 at 1.30pm
Thank you to everybody who have paid tribute and left your thoughts and feelings. I know the family have gained a small amount of comfort from knowing that Andy was so well thought of.
Hugs to you and them!