Red-necked Phalarope: Fetlar

Following our visit to Shetland and particularly Fetlar, I decided to attempt a Red-necked Phalarope glass wave... Click here for the blog on the day. Now the Phalarope was a long way off and obscured by lovely lochan vegetation, so  the piece had to feature Bog Bean, Horse Tails and Marsh Marigold. When I found myself cutting glass rods up to form the lines in the Horse Tails I wondered why I do this to myself! Anyway here is the piece - over all I was happy with it - slightly disappointed in the fact that during the firing process the beak of the bird had drooped a little but hey ho! I'm certainly not making another one and from a distance it looks great! I also liked the slightly geometric grid effect of the verticals for the Horse Tails and the horizontal lines for the receeding layers of Bog Bean. Somehow this reminded me of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's designs. The Bog Bean was challenging - fiddly to do, but may evolve into a larger piece at sometime, as it is up there in my favourite plants ...

Dark Red Helleborine Book

I'm struggling to decide what to do next artwork wise. Recently someone asked me what my process is for making a large textile piece and I replied that I often start by making a little book. Once I have decided on a theme I tend to make gelli prints - which helps me focus on shapes, textures and colours and to find out what does or doesn't work. Together with photographs and paper collage these make up my book. So I have taken my own advice and here is a little Dark Red Helleborine book. These orchids grow on limestone pavements ...

Wood Sandpipers

There have been three Wood Sandpipers down on Wedholme Flow for a couple of days, so that was our excuse, not that we need one, for another visit to the reserve. We saw them at a distance, but had a great view of a Marsh Harrier and it was good to see the Large Heath Butterfly too. 

Criffel.

Wood Sandpiper (top left) .

..and two Wood Sandpipers ...left. 

Skiddaw in the distance ....

Small Copper.

Large Heath.

..and closer! 

Small Skipper - we also saw Large Skippers.

Large White.

Black Darter.

Nasturtiums

 Just a wonderful display! 

Bilberry time

It's  that time of year again! Where there aren't sheep, the Bilberries are in fruit ....so it's time for Bilberry sorbet, frangipans and pies. Bilberries on muesli and with meringues and icecream....

Bilberries....and below.

A berry comb really helps! 

Carrock Fell.

Heath Spotted-orchids.

Despite the 'dry' weather there's still plenty coming off the fells! 

Juniper and Bog Asphodel.

Cranberries - a long way off being ripe.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

The different heathers: Ling, Bell Heather and Cross-leaved Heath. 

Bog Asphodel.

Mothing at last!

Finally, a quaranteed dry, warm night when we were at home and able to moth trap. It was wonderful to see so many moths: 48 species including: Buff Arches, Elephant Hawk, True Lover's Knot, Buff Tip, Poplar Hawk, Pebble Prominent, Large Emerald and Garden Tiger. Oh and 161 Large Yellow Underwings.  (12/13th July.)

Elephant Hawk Moth.

Plain Golden Y.

Poplar Hawk Moth.

Large Emerald and Swallowtail Moths.

Scalloped Oak and Buff Arches.

Gold Spangle and Coxcomb Prominent.

Peppered Moth, Buff-tip, True Lover's Knot and Phoenix. 

Garden Tiger.