Westonbirt Aboretum Feb 12th

 Not much progress stitching this week because I have not been well. Instead the blue skies on Weds over the Aboretum and a rhododendron in flower. Everything is early this year despite the gales. In between two at the moment. So this the calm between storms. Two more birds for the journal - sparrow and bullfinch.

Westonbirt Enchanted Christmas.

 Last night we saw the trees all lit up at Westonbirt Aboretum for their 'Enchanted Christmas' walk. My pictures did not come out very well but it was wonderful to see the tree shapes in a different way.

Slow stitch - circles and Autumn colour.

 I have been pondering over the borders on my large meditation circle- the cycle of the seasons.I began some small cicles and really enjoyed them. So this side is the autumn border, from the colours outside the window and autumn leaves. I have used either a variegated thread or 2 strands of different colour silk or cotton so that the colour isn't too flat but contrasts with the large middle circle. These are spirals for the unwinding effect.

 Autumn leaves gathered and pressed flat. Below at Westonbirt Aboretum - Lime Avenue.The leaves shone on a rather damp misty morning.

Cards and berries.

 Finished cards - Merlin, landscape, swan, pebbles, dahlia monoprint and squiggle monoprint.

And those blue berries with pink petals are Harlequin Glorybower. What a name! Clerodendrum trichotomum. E and S Asis. Westonbirt Aboretum. There are other varieties . See yesterdays photo.

Card making and autumn colour at Westonbirt Aboretum.

I have finished all the recipe book illustrations so I am card making. That means I get out the box where I put all the unfinished bits of embroidery and samples and make them into cards. I sell them in the Guild at fiftyone for £10 each. Steep for a card but if someone framed them, excellent value for a little picture. They also fill that gap between sending someone a present or a card. A bit more special and you can put them in the post. They need a bit of finishing off and presenting nicely so I find something good on the radio to listen to and buckle down.

 We have had our first frost but yesterday was spectacular at Westonbirt Aboretum. We went early - the hour change helped. By the time we left there were queques to get in - everyone else had the same idea. The car tail back on the road went on for a couple of miles. These berries above will feature in the perpetual journal. Liz Brooke-Ward was showing her amazing embroidery in the oak hall. If you don't know her work, look up~ mylittledoglovesme~ on Instagram.

Field map - continued.

 The field map was getting very linear so this chap appeared in the corner. I was going to explain but perhaps best to keep them secret - there has been a massive cull in Gloucestershire -  I hope a few survive. My first title for this piece was Badgers used to walk here.

 Swallows return to the farm barns every year - another couple of weeks and they will be here.

Japanese Cherry- Tai Haku flowering at Westonbirt. I saw a Japanese gentleman bowing to this tree last year so I did the same this year.

Westobirt Aboretum - another day.

 Return visit to the Aboretum. Yesterday was very sunny and the autumn leaves backlit were stunning. This time we went to Silk Wood. The other pictures were taken in the older part of the Aboretum. Plenty of people admiring the sights and doing some forest bathing too!

I couldn't help collecting some of the leaves they are so beautiful.

Westonbirt Aboretum- Autumn Colour.

 This morning we have had quite a severe frost but last Wednesday was beautiful and we made our pilgrimage to Westonbirt to be awed by the Autumn colours. Enjoy, especially if you can't get out much at the moment. Just imagine it. Forest bathing is now the new trendy phrase for absorbing the beauty, smells and relaxing time. Apparently it has been proved to be good for you, but we have always known that haven't we?