Autumn Days

This is my favourite time of the year. Autumn days are just perfect for the walk through the nettles...

Amongst the wild mushrooms and hedgerows

Finding, foraging and collecting natures free gifts to us ,

I sometimes feel like a squirrel collecting and gathering during these warm and sunny autumn days.

Five minutes walk from our house, crossing the narrow wooden bridge

We are in such a tranquil and peaceful place, where you see lots of wild flowers, squirrels and hear the chirping birds.

Vintage lace are beautiful, but do stop and take a look at the beautiful natural lace by your feet when you walk through the woods on a autumn day.

This is the bench I often sit on to have a picnic during the summer days

But today was a different day, a perfect autumn day for foraging and sitting down with my little journal recording the beautiful nature.

Days like this is what I like to do. What about you? do you like walking, foraging like me or rather sit down with cup of tea and a nice book.

So this is what I recorded today my readers, while I was away for a walk on a autumn day.

Also, this is the time of the year when I pull out of my cupboard my yarns and knitting needles. I just casted a new jumper for me other day. Yes, you heard me right, its for me this one but do have plans to knit other members in the family something in future.

Solar Dyeing

Nature is so beautiful and my garden is giving me plenty for making offerings everyday.

I am collecting every single day when the sun is out...

... Filling jars with scent and goodness.

And on those rainy day, I sit in my potting shed with a nice cup of coffee and some work. I am currently working on quite a few things. Need to get a lot done as I am preparing for three upcoming exhibitions this year. For larger paintings I have to go in my studio though.

As I sipped my coffee, which I drink black, my eyes went on this feather stuck on the branch and the rain drops looked like little gems.

Nature is so beautiful and inspiring. I am always inspired by it.

Even on a grey day. And the wait is then, for the sun.

The gentle kiss of the sun on my jars is hopefully doing its magic.

Yes, I am solar dying some cotton threads and a bit of lace and felted blanket. The jar on the left was filled with marigold from the garden, Alum and water. As I was collecting these I thought, of trying some solar dyeing. This is a very nice way of eco dyeing without too many equipments. I like playing with colour, be it paint or in this case natural dye. This is a test piece and need to wait couple of weeks before I can peek inside the jar. But I really like this process and going this afternoon for a little walk in the forest. Hopefully I can find some free gifts of nature for trying some more eco dyeing.

As we are so blessed with nature, we might as well make good use of it. Are you like me and like collecting? I know I love it and that's what I have done from my childhood.

In the garden

Today, I have been enjoying the sun and the flowers. I watched the hens and the bees, collected flowers and flower petals, ate pomegranate, read my book and drank some freshly plucked and made mint tea in the garden.