Beautiful Birds

Grey Heron, RSPB Saltholme

Moorhen, RSPB Saltholme

Mr. Stitches and I have just got back from our annual trip to Stanhope, a small town in the beautiful Weardale Valley. We are lucky enough to be able to go and stay in a static caravan there kindly lent to us for a few days each year. Stanhope is a great base as there are so many lovely places to go nearby and each year we've been we've done different things.

Tunstall Reservoir, Weardale

Tunstall Reservoir, Weardale

Tunstall Reservoir, Weardale

Feathers collected from around Tunstall Reservoir, Weardale

This year we've mostly been out and about walking and bird-watching (as well as drinking lots of coffee and eating lots of cake.) Over the past few years the natural world and getting out and about in it has become increasingly important in both my personal life and my art practice. Although I've always loved birds and wildlife it's only relatively recently that I've realised how important they are to me and how important it is to be connected to the natural world, or as I like to call it the actual real world.

Summerhill Waterfalls, Bowlees

Summerhill Waterfalls, Bowlees

Holwick Scar

Over the past year or so I've written a few times about this connection and as my work grows and develops the connections become clearer and stronger. I've started using a lot more natural materials and this year I've been experimenting a lot with different forms of natural dyeing. Birds have also become the central focus of my work, representing not just themselves but us too. By exploring them and their 'otherness' I hope to reveal something (I'm not quite sure what as yet) about ourselves.

Wild and Industrial, RSPB Saltholme

Wild and Industrial, RSPB Saltholme

Wild and Industrial, RSPB Saltholme

As usual I am digressing, the point of this post was to share with you some of the birds we saw whilst out and about. We ventured over to RSPB Saltholme and had a great day exploring. The reserve itself is set right in the heart of industrial Teeside and it's quite odd being out in the reserve surrounded by wildlife but also all sorts of industrial structures and busy roads around the edges. We saw some great birds; including Mr. Stitches first avocets, the elusive water rail, little egrets and the graceful (if a little squabblesome) common terms.

Common Terns

Avocets

Black Tailed Godwits

We also went for several other walks around Weardale, exploring reservoirs, woods and waterfalls. It was good to be out and about in the countryside, enjoying the variety and beauty of our wildlife and landscapes. We've come back feeling refreshed and inspired and I'm ready to get back in the studio and back to work.

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Crochet Pots and Baskets

Small sari silk and wool pot

I have mentioned (okay, gone on and on) about the health benefits of craft here many times. There have been several articles circulating recently on this topic and there is now an impressive body of research to support the proposition that craft can improve your health, in particular your mental health.

Sari silk and wool pot

The act of creating something with your hands from basic materials is inherently satisfying and the sense of achievement when a piece is finished can be a real boost. Crafting also often involves quiet, repetitive processes which can be very therapeutic and can help to calm and relax. Often, your chosen craft will require just enough brain power to keep other thoughts at bay whilst at the same time allowing you to relax and let your mind wander in a more positive, creative way. It can also provide social opportunities; craft groups offer a chance to meet people who you know you've got at least one thing in common with and as you have something to do it can be a much less intimidating way of meeting people.

Making the pot

Making the pot

In my own pursuit of creative well-being I have been crocheting a great deal recently and have been experimenting with making some baskets. I had some beautiful yarn made from strips of recycled saris and I have been playing around with this. I tried it on its own but it was a bit too floppy so for my next experiment I added a wool yarn and used a smaller hook which has given a much denser fabric and a much stronger pot.

Large sari silk basket

Detail

In progress

The little blue basket started out as a hat but I decided it was too basket like! Like the large sari silk basket it is not as structurally strong as I would like but once it has things in it it stands up pretty well.

Small blue basket

Blue basket

Detail

Detail