Butterflies

 Now is the time to do the big butterfly count for the Butterfly Conservation. I managed to snap this beauty on the Common- its a common blue.

 I get out the butterfly notebook I made years back and try to remember all the names and food plants.

 It is a very good year and we had a bumper count in the garden yesterday. ( trying not to stand too long in the sun because it was a scorcher!)

Some of my previous work on butterflies on vintage napkins.

The Guild at 51 - summer delivery.

 It is beetle mania time at the Guild at 51, the gallery in Cheltenham where I sell my work. The exhibition is a collaboration between a jeweler, Elaine Day and a glass worker, Amanda Lawrence It is wonderful and in the window the colours glow and shine just like beetle wing phosphorescence. I took my little beetle in a box in to add to the insect theme.

Also this large framed piece that was inspired by the formal gardens at Hidcote. Just right for this time of year - we are having a heat wave.

Glos Guild at 51

 Taking over 4 pictures to the Guild at 51, Cheltenham today. Having a bit of a swap around, taking home some that have been there a while to keep it interesting for visitors.

 This beetle is unframed but all the others are framed and glazed with museum quality glass.

Beetles - sketches and stitched.

These are from 2010 but a friend asked for some pictures to show to a budding entomologist who is nearly 3. We were remembering AA. Milnes poem Alexander Beetle.I made lots of boxes some paper some stitched with wee beasties inside.

The real thing! A bloody nosed beetle.

garden chafer

One of the pictures at the exhibition ( going up tomorrow)  is of the garden chafer beetle. I found my old insect sketchbook from 2010 above. The garden was full of them a few days ago.

A bee that did manage to bumble inside.