I made this little study yesterday in pencil and watercolour of the pile of needle-wallets i have previously made for workshops for vulnerable adults. I am hoping the facility in Lancashire that offers counselling for individuals needing it, is able to keep going despite funding issues. So this is a hopeful post, hoping that becoming and healing through creativity can be offered once again.

I made these drawings last week in the studio on some heavy handmade paper that was gifted me by my son. It is such a joy to work on. I also used pencils that were also a present from my friend Mo. The cactus I drew is a replacement for one that died from me overwatering it! This happens a lot to me, but am glad to say the new one seems to be thriving and has such energy. My nightshirt drawing inspiration came from a dream answering the question ‘What can I draw now?’ dreams help us so often if we choose to listen.

Have completed this embroidery over the winter months on Lithuanian linen. I made it into a cushion cover again because that’s what it wanted to be. I used bits and pieces of linen and ticking from around the studio. I always like to have something that is time consuming to work at over Christmas and beyond. I am high up in my studio and see the birds flying from above quite often so that spoke to me as a motif. I also used the little fabric collage I made from old clothes of an imaginary landscape as a reference for colour. It’s sad that I now have a bit of arthritis in my right hand ( I am right handed) so hand sewing may have to be limited, we’ll see. It breaks my heart. I can draw and paint still as that doesn’t have quite the close finger action that hand sewing has.