Seasonal Musings from the Studio - August
Seasonal Musings from the Studio - August
This month seems to be passing by so quickly, I’m not sure if it is the heatwave and the days have just merged into one very hot blur or because I’ve been out of the studio on Holiday with friends. At the beginning of the month we went down to Brixham in Devon for a few days, exploring the town, finding secret coves, wild swimming, walking and of course lots of eating and drinking. It was the perfect 4 days of friends & fun and I’d thoroughly recommend Brixham to anyone wanting to explore Devon, we didn’t want to come home!
Creative ways to celebrate the month of August…
I’ve already started thinking about Autumn, mainly because my work means I’m always thinking ahead for projects but also because so many summer flowers and grasses can be saved and dried out for Autumn, giving them a second life and once dried will last forever. Hydrangeas are a great flower to start with, Once they begin to dry in the vase I’ll hang them upside down in the studio to fully dry out in time for Autumn. This technique also works well for Achillea, Verbena, Alliums and Strawflowers.
Outdoor swimming! I’ve been really enjoying starting the day at beach for swim, made even more magical if you can get there early enough for sunrise or if you’re more of a night owl, sunset. Starting my day outside whether it’s swimming, walking Reggie or running is really important to me, being in nature has such a positive impact on my mental health and really sets me up for the day. If you don’t have a beach nearby, you could have a look at some local wild swimming spots.
I shared in my seasonal Facebook group about timed journalling, for when you are struggling to get started, or overthinking your drawing/painting/collaging. Set a time limit of 20 minutes, whatever you make in that time is good enough, it might also help to use minimal materials to not overwhelm yourself, it doesn’t matter if it’s a few marks on the page or a continuous line drawing, just embrace what you create.
If you’re looking for a simple, fun craft to try over the summer and you need an excuse for a glass of fizz… Pop the bottle and enjoy printing with corks to create this sweet cherry print table cloth & matching napkins.
Have a go at making faux flower crowns. I recently ran a workshop for kids at Babington House and highly recommend using faux flowers with children, that way they can pull and twist the stems without breaking the florals and also means the crowns will last longer.
My August Journal so far…
