3 feathers collected in Avening field.

Three feathers collected in the large field above our house. They are pheasant or partridge I think. Perfect in their pattern and their feathery quality.They speak of presence and loss.

All week I have been working on this piece- still not finished it yet. As much undoing as doing. I went in very strong with the colour at first then had to take it out, then put it back in again. I will reveal it all when I have got there. A real lesson in problem solving and determination. I want the strong colour but it has to flow. I may leave it to settle for a day. I will pin up the piece on my wall and consider it. I often think of a piece settling into itself. Or into me.

Duck curled tail feather.

This is a Mallard duck tail feather, an exquisite thing and wondrous to examine close up.

mallard duck colours and feathers.

Yesterday I spent some time thinking about the beauty of the common Mallard duck. The colours that change and glow in different light. I took some photos at Newark Park of some on the lake on Sunday. The plumage does vary in individuals. The females are quite as beautiful in their speckles and with their purple flash.

Newark park reopens.

 Yesterday we went to Newark park as it has reopened for the snowdrops. I took my hanging to see what it will look like outside in the peacock house. We hung it up quickly and I took some quick photos. We were there early before the house opened but people had already started arriving. A beautiful day, cold but sunny and lots and lots of visitors.

 A peacock feather in the house.

 The green bedroom where I hope to show some of my work. It was used for filming for Tess of the D'Urbervilles- BBC series.

 The summerhouse and lake.

Cobwebs inside the summerhouse, shame my fingers are in the reflection but the trees are a lovely pattern.

Peacock -long, tail feather

This is the second hanging. It is about two and a half ft long. It is the dull feather to contrast with the bright blue eye feathers. I was very lucky to find it on our last visit.

More cards

Stitched Cards

 I make stitched cards to sell at The Guild at 51 in Cheltenham. It is my Bread-and -Butter- Money. As it was terrible weather at the weekend I made cards. Now I have to cut the card. It is a lot of work for very little money but it helps pay the Guild subs and petrol money to get to the shop. I doubt it pays for much bread and butter but I enjoy doing it. We saw the water rail at Slimbridge a few Sundays ago and pheasants come into the garden regularly.

Feather book constructed.

Not finished because there are blank pages inside but constructed at least which shows progress. Very dark this morning, storm raging outside. Had to climb onto windowsill for best light!

Book tie

This is the book tie for the feather book. I haven't made anything this decorative for years and I enjoyed going for the bright scraps of colour. It is a natural way of working for me to stitch something quiet and monochromatic and then go madly into colour. A balance perhaps...........yin and yang.  Something I am working on.

Tiny pheasant feathers.

 I am becoming a little bit obsessed with these tiny pheasant feathers. About the size of a fingernail- so small and perfect and all slightly different. This is for the other end of the book cover.