Spring Oak Leaf Wine

Recipe

1 gallon of oak leaves (Spring or Autumn)

4 oranges*

1 lemon*

4lbs sugar

Wine yeast

Wash the leaves in cold water removing all woody stalks, damaged leaves, caterpillars and other hedgerow stow aways (I found several green caterpillars and a black and red caterpillar of the White Ermine Moth). Place the prepared oak leaves into a gallon brewing bucket, cover in boiling water and leave over night.

Strain and separate the leaves from the fluid. The leaves can now be composted.

Add the liquid to a large pan, preferably stainless steel. If like me, you do not have a pan large enough, split the liquid between two pans and ensure that you spread the ingredients equally between the two pots.

Add sugar, juice of lemons and oranges, and thin peel. It is important to make sure that there is no white pith on the peel so I grated the white side of the peel until the pith has been removed and the peel is very thin.

Place some dried wine yeast into a glass with a little water that has been allowed to cool until hand hot from boiling. This activates the yeast.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. When cool pour the liquid through a muslin cloth into a demi John and add the yeast and water. Top up the demi john with cooled boiled water until almost full. Add air lock and bung.

Leave to ferment. When all fermentation has ceased rack off into wine bottles and leave for 6 months. The longer you can leave the wine the better it will taste.

When ready to drink reserve one bottle to enjoy with friends at a solstice celebration. Enjoy!

The same recipe can be found widely over the web and in hedgerow wine books. I used a 1970 copy of the Farmers Weekly Collection.

* When making I did not have any oranges so instead used 3 satsumas and 2 lemons. I'm sure it will still taste great!

Inspirational Forests

Stepping into a forest

Stepping into a dream

Reflecting lakes

Textures of moss, lichen and bark

Enchanting birdsong

A breath of life



This months Festival of the Trees is being hosted by Suzi of Spirit Whispers

To enter a post please email your posts weblink to:

suziscribbles [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk

Dreaming Tree Shapes

Hosting the January edition of Festival of the Trees has been so inspiring for me. Reading through so many blog posts of science, environment, word play and arts has awoken something that has been sleeping inside of me for so long.

One of the submissions to the Festival of the Trees was a collaborative project in which a Willow yurt was constructed and felted with raw fleece during a festival and the summer solstice. The yurt has caught my imagination so vividly. I have been pricing willow for planting in my garden, researching willow structures and daydreaming all kinds of magic for the making. Did you know that willow can be at full height within 4 years and that a 3"x3" area planted with Willow will produce enough fire wood for one household for an entire year? Such a great way to nurture the environment, wildlife, and self sustainability ideologies as well as creating materials for crafting and play. I do however have to remember to stay grounded and centre myself. When I see video clips of elven style structures as the one above my imagination runs wild. The possibilities!

Living, breathing, art! For more tree candy visit the Grand Master Tree Shapers of Pooktre. You won't be disappointed.

Trees refresh the soul, clean the air we breath, inspire, calm, nurture. They shelter, feed, warm, heal, give colour, and provide hours, days, lifetimes of pleasure.

What would we do without them?

Wrapt Trees

Continuing with the Theme of United Nations International Year of the Forests and feeling very inspired by the posts contributed to the January edition of Festival of the Trees, I have decided to wrap some of the trees in my back garden and let nature and time work their magic. This type of eco art is a game of patience. I have been very inspired by Martine's collaborative project and just had to give it a try.

Above, you can see a Sycamore wrapped in an old cotton sheet. I mordanted the sheet and wrapped the tree in it while it was still wet.

This Sycamore seemed a natural choice of tree to wrap. When I met this tree was tightly bound with ivy. I cut the ivy down, revealing deep grooves and notches where the ivy had constricted around the trunk. This species grows so quickly you can see the mischief that a simple washing line had caused this tree. I have hopes of interesting patterns and eco prints emerging from this wrap. Under some of the layers I placed leaves from what I think may be a Rhododendron at the bottom of the garden.

I also wrapped two Holly trees that are growing out of the dry stone wall at the edge of my veg patch. When I first moved here we also removed ivy that had wound like rope as thick as your arm all the way up the tree and the crown was being suffocated. Despite our efforts there is evidence that the ivy is taking a hold once more. I have wrapped some of the Holly and the Ivy between the layers of the cotton on these trees. Holly is very sappy and I expect that the wrappers will be explored by many insects. Who knows what patterns or colouration will be born from these trees.

Lastly, I wrapped an Elder covered in moss and Lichens.

It will be interesting to see how the passing seasons will decorate these cottons. Will they weave as much intrigue and character into my cotton as she did to the bark of the trees? I wonder what the different species will offer?

Patience!

Festival of the Trees 55 - 2011 UN International Year of Forests

Yule, the Oak King gives way to the young Holly King
Used with the kind permission of artist Cherrie Button

Welcome to Festival of the Trees 55 and to 2011, The United Nations International Year of Forests. It is exciting to know that all over the world increased energies will be channelled into creating, maintaining and celebrating forests. Awareness will be raised on behalf of our forests and young and old alike will have love kindled and warm memories forged.

The forests need our help every bit as much as the earth needs our forests. With global economic collapse, recession and changes in political power, charities, humanitarian projects, wildlife and forests are under threat. In the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party plan on selling ALL of our ancient forests. Once they are gone, they cannot be redeemed. In order to carry out these environmentally unpopular sales, the government is rewriting laws written in The Magna Carta that have protected woodlands and ancient forests since 1215.

The forests, beauty spots and wildlife of this shared earth belong to us all and we have the shared right to take an interest in the environmental impact such atrocious action will have on our trees, wildlife and planet whether you live in the UK or not. I ask you all to show support by signing an online petition opposing the sale of Britain's ancient forests for once they have been sold they cannot be restored. I ask you all to raise awareness on your blogs websites, facebook and twitter pages of the threat to Britain's ancient woodlands and/or other woodlands across the globe that are in need of immediate help. Hands off our Forests!

Snow beautiful (part one) by Ash of Treeblog

But this is not the first political, or natural threat to our forests. Stella reminds us of the fires of Athens of 2009 bringing back clear memories of the national outrage of the destruction of Greek heritage in the name of development. The fires of Athens brought about such high feeling both within and outside of Greece that new legislation was proposed to on 27 October 2009. This legislation would suspend all construction activity on burned forestland in Attica and other parts of Greece until authorities draw up comprehensive forest maps.

Nature has always had setbacks and hurdles to tackle yet we need only to look to the desert to see the remarkable resilience and ability to cope in even the most water starved of locations. Deserts and Beyond show the aftermath of the recent Desert Palm Oasis fire. Desert South West shows us the beauty of desert trees and Barb teaches us about the art of Xeriscaping and the wonder of the Smoke Tree.

Via Negativa reminds us that 'It’s easy to get depressed and forget that whatever happens, however stark a desert we make, it will still be beautiful.'

Glenveagh National Park in Donegal by Silverlodg Gems

Growing with Science tells how some losses wound us more deeply than others whilst remaining optimistic and sharing her knowledge of how to plant a Pecan from seed. Vicky shares Lessons from Nature, the deep involvement and persistence needed to save a species of tree and exactly why love of nature takes its honoured place in her wedding celebrations. Long may your American Chestnut thrive!

Anybody Seen My Focus shows us beautiful images of snow in the field. Oxygen Grows on Trees invites us to monitor the progress of the 11 year old Forest that he planted back in 1999. Robert Barnes shows us his contribution to the National Register of Big Trees. Notes from Sun Rising share experiences of Tree Planting in the Snow and reminds us of the wildlife that lives around trees in Trees and Tracks. Valerianna enchants us with the magical tracks she encounters on a Winter Walk, and Stories in the Snow.

A DC Birding Blog considers the debate of a real Christmas tree and the benefits to the environment. Jules shares pictures of her favourite trees.

For the children and young at heart we have Oak Leaf Ice Flags from Inanna Shamaya and Oak Leaf Mobile's by Marghanita. Raph enthralls with the adventures of Giraffes in Trees and Gaiamoon teaches how to draw power from Trees. Lucky Dip Lisa delights us by making gifts of nature from natures gifts and generously shares her New Years Treesolutions.

Trees, textiles and art feature strongly in my New Years Resolutions. I draw so much inspiration from Mother Nature and the mediums she offers. In 2011 I intend plant and tend trees, explore natural dyes from bark, bloom, fruit, leaf, root and twig of tree. I would like to spend more time Wild Food Foraging. Making, jams, chutney's, wine s and cordials from the fruits and berries of trees. In doing so I wish to observe, to learn from the hedgerows and wildlife across the seasons learning how best to honour the birds, trees and natural wonders that I see. I would like to teach my little girl the names of as many trees and techniques of natural crafts as she has the patience for. I endeavour to know the magnificent trees of my new home, partake in the Ancient Tree Hunt, learn the identifying hallmarks of ancient trees and register as many trees for protection as possible.

Tree Spirit by Sara Lechner

With this in mind you can see how enthralled I have been with the inspiring posts presented in this edition of the Festival of The Trees. We are blessed with more offerings of beautiful textile collages from La Dolce Vita, perfection from Kayla Koo, Knowledge from Growing Colour Tyfu Lliw, we learn the art of patience from Wrapt Trees, Dorie says Thanks to her Whispering Willow and we are offered a delightful Peace Angel Cloth by Art4Moi.

Below you can see a yurt felted over a frame of willow shoots. during the Salixslinger festival. There was a wood fire stove inside, you can see the chimney sticking through the roof. The yurt holds enough room to sit about 20 people. Ludy Feyen, Petra v/d Bergi and friends made the yurt during a three day show which was performed during the midsummer solstice.

Greenwhisper gives Trees and words of inspiration. The talented Indigenous Dialogues writes of Freezing Nights and and Indifference. Moving Poems shares An Elm we Lost by Marvin Bell. Irish Gumbo shares haiku and thoughts of yuletide love.

Finally I leave you with a magical felted bird box crafted by CorNit. I love this bird box because it is felted, because it is beautiful, because it is functional and designed with nature in mind and because it reminds me of the playful innocence of Edward Lear's 'The Quangle Wangle's Hat' and the parallels to a tree canopy and the life it emanates. Thank you all for your wonderful submissions, for sharing your love, knowledge and talent with us. May 2011 be good to you all and kind to our forests!

On the top of the Crumpetty Tree
The Quangle Wangle sat,
But his face you could not see,
On account of his Beaver Hat.
For his hat was a hundred and two feet wide,
With ribbons and bibbons on every side
And bells, and buttons, and loops, and lace,
So that nobody ever could see the face
Of the Quangle Wangle Quee.

The Quangle Wangle said
To himself on the Crumpetty Tree,--
'Jam; and jelly; and bread;
'Are the best food for me!
'But the longer I live on this Crumpetty Tree
'The plainer that ever it seems to me
'That very few people come this way
'And that life on the whole is far from gay!'
Said the Quangle Wangle Quee.

But there came to the Crumpetty Tree,
Mr. and Mrs. Canary;
And they said, -- 'Did you ever see
'Any spot so charmingly airy?
'May we build a nest on your lovely Hat?
Mr. Quangle Wangle, grant us that!
'O please let us come and build a nest
'Of whatever material suits you best,
'Mr. Quangle Wangle Quee!'

And besides, to the Crumetty Tree
Came the Stork, the Duck, and the Owl;
The Snail, and the Bumble-Bee,
The Frog, and theFimble Fowl;
(The Fimble Fowl, with a Corkscrew leg;)
And all of them said, -- We humblyy beg,
'We may build our homes on your lovely Hat,--
'Mr. Quangle Wangle, grant us that!
'Mr. Quangle Wangle Quee!'

And the Golden Grouse came there,
And the Pobble who has no toes,--
And the small Olympian bear,--
And the Dong with a luminous nose.
And the Blue Babboon, who played the flute,--
And the Orient Calf from the Land of Tute,--
And the Attery Squash, and the Bisky Bat,--
All came and built on the lovely Hat
Of the Quangle Wangle Quee.

And the Quangle Wangle said
To himself on the Crumpetty Tree,--
'When all these creatures move
'What a wonderful noise there'll be!'
And at night by the light of the Mulberry moon
They danced to the flute of the Blue Babboon,
On the broad green leaves of the Crumpetty Tree,
And all were as happy as happy could be,
With the Quangle Wangle Quee.

HANDS OFF OUR FOREST OF DEAN: Public Bodies Bill, a guide

Yuletide Blessings

Happy Yuletide and post Solstice Blessings.

I have been snowed in on my tiny coastal Island that has not seen snow like this in more than 30 years.

The birds have been desperate and I have found many new visitors to my garden including Willow Tit, Pied Wagtail, and Long Tail Tit. So beautiful. I have found myself raiding the baking supplies and making fatballs out of marzipan, cherries, cranberries and so many other ingredients.

As my cupboards empty with no chance of shopping I worry more about the birds. Every night of this extreme weather they lose 10% of their body weight and need to eat 40% of their body weight each day to survive the evening.

Luckily for the birds, my freezer broke and I have been giving them all they care to eat from potato waffles to boil in the bag fish. It is all thankfully welcomed. Yet still, they grow thin.

Spare a thought for the wild birds of your gardens this Yule and reward their presence with food. But please be aware, that turkey fat can kill many garden birds (don't ask me how i read this on the RSPB website) so refrain from giving them the Christmas dinner scraps.

I will be hosting the January 2011 Festival of the Trees. The Theme will be the UN 2011 International Year of the Forest. Do you have any tree related New Years Resolutions? Do you have plans to plant trees in 2011. Do trees dominate your art and writing? If so email me a weblink or leave it in the comments box below.

I will be delighted to receive all offerings. Maybe you have some tree centred art, poetry, textile or writing that was created in 2010? If so share the link. This is the season to reflect.

Until then, Stay warm and safe and may your days be filled with love and inspiration xJ

A Crown of Autumn Leaves

When autumn gathers, the tree

That the leaves sang

Reddens dark slowly, then, suddenly free,

Turns like a key,

Opening air where they hang

Felt by Yvette Cals
Poetry by Annie Finch

Celebrating 10 years of Woods on your Doorstep across the UK

This morning has been busy and exciting for me. One of my favourite charities, 'The Woodland Trust' is celebrating the tenth birthday of their 'Woods on your Doorstep' Campaign. The campaign is actually 15 years old but it is 10 years since the campaigns first woods were planted.

To celebrate the 10th birthday of the campaigns community woods, the Woodland Trust are giving away 250 packs of trees to schools and community groups across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Sounds fantastic doesn't it? An opportunity too good to let slip by. So after first running the idea past some friends and family in the area I wrote to Anglesey Council and North Wales Wildlife Trust to ask if they could spare some land in which a community can plant a woodland and Sacred Grove on.

The North Wales Wildlife Trust were the first to get back to me offering contact names within the council and suggesting other organisations that may be interested in helping out. Aren't they wonderful! So after resending my original email to the named contact within the council , I called a lady at Mentor Mon who was very helpful and has offered to discuss the proposal with Anglesey Council to see if a suitable piece of land can be found. If land can be found, Mentor Mon will see if they can assist the project too.

Feeling very optimistic about the matter, I then decided to call the local school to see if they would be interested in helping plant a community woodland if 1) an appropriate piece of land can be secured for planting the trees on, and 2) we are successful in an application to the Woodland Trust. The school are very interested in getting involved.

So, now that the first tentative steps have been made into securing land for the creation of a community woodland and securing support from vital members of the community I am waiting with baited breath to see if we will be able to make an application to The Woodland Trust for one of their free packs of trees. Here is a list of the information required by the Woodland Trust which should be included on all applications:

* Where you are planting your trees - public / private land?
* What arrangement you have with the landowner - short-term / long-term lease? Please do not apply unless you have the landowner's permission.
* How many people will you involve in your project?
* How will you care for your trees in the long-term?
* A FULL grid reference (or full postcode) showing where the trees will be planted. Identifying your planting location is critical for us to process your application.

Right now, I don't know if this project will be given the green light or not, but it is exciting that it is being considered and we have community interest in the idea. Wish us luck!

If you are interested in creating a community woodland why not make an application to The Woodland Trust yourself? All applications must reach The Woodland Trust by the 30th September 2010. Good luck!

Apples

Green apples, poured full

of density, of crispness, float unmoved

under leaves on the slope. Brown

fallen apples nest

in secret whorls of grass. The apple tree:

alone in so much space. And below

in the woods by the water

a sweet dead branch

cracks lightly

in the shadow in the wind.

Taken from 'One With The Sun' by 'A. F. Moritz'

I have this marvelous apple tree. It may even be an Anglesey Apple Tree, which according to Gardeners Question Time is one of the four original apples and has a strong gene pool making it hardy and high yielding. This apple tree is full of fruit. I'm not sure how to tell when they are ready to pick.

The apple tree is weather damaged and has been neglected. It is suffering from storm damage where a limb was cruelly ripped from the trunk leaving the tree rotten and spongy in parts. I don't think there is anything that I can do to prevent the rot from spreading, but would very much like to assist this tree in which ever way I can.

Can anyone advise the best way to prune this beautiful tree or provide other tips to help this tree on the way to recovery? Can I take cuttings?

All advice is greatly appreciated x0x

*fairy/red star angel tag by Lynne Hoppe*

The Festival of The Trees 47

May Day, Beltane & The Tree of Life

The Festival of the Trees n0.47 is upon us leaping joyously into the month of May and Beltane. As Samhain marked the beginning of the Celtic year and the death of summer, Beltane is the celebration of renewed life after the long winter. Everywhere there are signs of life, renewal in energy and inspiration. Lambs, calves and foals can be seen in the fields. The earth is waking and sending up shoots and sprouts. Our gardens and embankments are awash with blooms. Nesting birds enchant us with their song and the trees tenderly uncurl their leaves showing us reassurance and promises of splendour to come. Spring is here!

It is no wonder that the magical changes of season, the stepping out from the dark into the light inspire us so. Robert Frost describes the early leaf as 'a flower', Shakespeare writes 'When proud-pied April, dressed in all his trim, Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing'. Robert Louis Stevenson speaks happily about 'The fallows and the leafless trees, And all my spirit tingled', and Phillip Larkin captures the essence of the fertility of this time exuberantly in his poem 'The Trees'.

The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said;
The recent buds relax and spread,
Their greenness is a kind of grief.

Is it that they are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too,
Their yearly trick of looking new
Is written down in rings of grain.

Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May.
Last year is dead, they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.

This month we have some wonderful participants generously sharing their love of nature and trees. Spirthelpers offers inspirational poetry and pictures of breathtaking beauty in posts celebrating Earth Day, and the Festival of the Trees. Seabrooke Leckie enthralls us with the remarkable tree climbing porcupine. Leaves and Bloom gives us the 'scentsational' Mimosa Tree. The Honest Hypocrite shares with us an explosion of colour wit his pictures of Cherry Trees and Magnolia's. Mille Fiori Favoriti explores the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prairie Walker also shows us the beauty of the Magnolia tree and that:

'Trees remind us that there is always hope for a rebirth,
a refreshed spirit, and a renewal of life'.

Above you can see Lynne Hoppe's own special way of honoring the trees. Stay a while and watch Lynne's enchanting film about her 'Green Shrine Tree'. T takes us walking through the bush to visit the Fungi Tree. Cheryl Dolby shares her magical tree inspired paper dolls in her collection of 'Grandmother Trees'. Below you can see a draft of 'The Tree of Life' by the esteemed artist Patricia Ariel. Ariel has worked on this piece for many months and it has evolved in many ways since this picture was taken. The work is rich in symbolism and a delight to behold if yet still incomplete. You can follow the progress of this painting at 'Mesmerised by the Sirens'.


Tales from the land of Oz share the experiences of 'Autumn in Oz'. 'Saving our Trees' are 'Mad about Fig Trees'. Faerie Moon Creations post twinkles with magic as the blue jay moves into her Lilac Tree. Lois Wakeman sows us her springtime blossoms. Ash Krafton tells of the distracting nature of trees in her humorous post 'grabbing gold'. Autumn Belle writes:

"We can learn a lot from the trees - they are always grounded, but never stop reaching heaven wards.... ~ Everett Manor "

Garden writer Carol shares offerings for Bloom Day and her adventures in Lob's Wood. Joan shares her poem 'Dulwich Woods' while poet Elizabeth Rimmer presents her poem, 'Birch Tree Englyn' below.

Seed tree, weed tree, the shining silver birch
grows in the waste places.
Pioneer on the peat hags –
forest trees root in its wake.

Aleph so carefully catches the elemental beauty of nature mingled with art and dressed with the words of Conrad Aitkin in her post 'Tree'. Suzi of Spirit Whispers generously shares her gentle observations of the unfurling trees, the ladybirds that live on the trees, the buds of the Ash and the Elm, feathers in the breeze and in 'Wise Woman Elder' Suzi echo's our thoughts.

'Trees talk... if you're prepared to listen.... to sit in silence.... and hear. Not just the sound of of leaves or branches in the breeze... but a voice from deep within...'

A thought that evokes the poem 'A Murmur in the Trees' by Emily Dickinson:

A Murmur in the Trees -- to note --
Not loud enough -- for Wind --
A Star -- not far enough to seek --
Nor near enough --

A Hazy Moon flows with beauty in posts 'Wet Woods', 'Sun on the Gums' and 'Koala Update'. Shine the Divine and 'Woodland Things' show us the graceful art of Haiku. Below, Indiaphagme shows us different kind of 'Arbre De Vie - Tree of Life'.

Nature Blogger Matthew Wills educates us with his beautiful insights of Apple Cedar Rust and encounters of the destructive nature of the the earth worm on the Northern Hardwood Forests. Noelle explains how 'large trees with little leaves' survive hot dry conditions. Roberta shares with us her 'mystery seed' and the delights of the Redwood Forests. Robin spends her Independence Day with friends and trees. Joan shows us the beauty of the Serviceberry. Ash of Treeblog shares magical visions in the post Loch Tay and the Falls of Acharn. and Arati offers us 'Images from the Tree Park', 'Pink' trees, and Lavender trees reminding me of the poem 'City Lilacs' by Helen Dunmore.

Lilac, like love, makes no distinction.
It will open for anyone.
Even before love knows that it is love
Lilac knows that it must blossom.

Above, Susan Sanford share her Grandfather Tree. Lisa Atchison works trees and leaves into her glass beads. Jim Moffat shows us just how much trees influence each of his paintings in his 'WaterColor Digest'. Ester Wilson shares her organic tree and plant sketches in her Daily Drawings and Nick Gulley teaches the delights of looking up. The Silver Lodge treats us with creative displays of nature and tree inspired Jewelry. 'Recovery in Art' highlights the magical healing qualities of nature and trees in her post about the Celtic Tree of life.

'The Celtic Tree of Life. One of the most spiritual symbol of the Celts, intertwining begin and end, each drawing experience and strength from each other'.

Lastly, the very talented Debrina made the film clip above as part of her contribution to the Pulp Redux collaboration . You can read more about the making of this tree inspired altered book HERE.

So now, this May Festival draws to a close and I thank each and every participant for all of the enjoyable posts I have read these past days. I offer thanks to all that take the time to read this post and visit the links.The June edition of The Festival of the Trees will be hosted by Wandering Owl Outside, http://wanderingowloutside.wordpress.com/. The deadline is May 30th. The Theme for the June festival is: The relationship betwen trees and game animals/birds, or any environmental benefits of trees. Please email all submissions to: cjharn [at] gmail [dot] com.

It is now time to go and celebrate Beltane festivities. I leave you all with a Maypole Dance of Glastonbury.

Happy Beltane!

When in the springtime of the year
When the trees are crowned with leaves
When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew
Are dressed in ribbons fair...

-- Loreena McKennitt

Last chance to enter submissions for the 'Festival of The Trees' May edition

Image borrowed from Flickr.

Please click on the image to visit the photographer.

Submissions for the May edition of 'Festival of The Trees' were due today but I am happy to accept any submissions before 1st May. The theme is Maypole and Beltane but any tree inspired post will be considered.

All are welcome xJ

Spring Projects

Thank you for all of your well wishes for my Nan. My Nan was discharged from hospital last Friday and seems to be doing very well at home now.

I returned from Wales to find a thank you present from Lisa Atchison of a Touch of Glass Designs. If you are not familiar with Lisa's work, please pay her a visit. Lisa has this magical ability to fashion leaves into the glass or to create a moonlit tree scape into her beads. Lisa's work is really enchanting.

I also found my copy of Susan Sanford's new book waiting for me when I returned. I love Susan's work and am looking forward to sitting down and reading through this book properly. You can preview Dreaming Alice by Susan Sanford by clicking HERE.

I didn't manage to create anything at all in March but have had a lot of fun making Easter cards and baskets, sleepy bunny's etc with my little girl. I have a lot of plans and projects planned for April and look forward to sharing a lot of new creations with you.

I have written an article for Elizabeth M Rimmer, a poet who kindly asked me to be a guest blogger for her Luchair project. You should be ale to read the article in the next few days. Elizabeth is a published poet who is deeply concerned about environmental issues. I feel honoured to have been invited to be part of this project which has a wealth of guests lined up including wildlife photographers and poet Juliet Wilson (Crafty Green Poet). Juliet is a published poet who was published in an anthology of poetry which included poetry from Carol Anne Duffy, the first female poet laureate. You can visit the Luchair website by clicking on the Luchair button on my sidebar or by visiting the Luchair Blog.


I will also be hosting the May edition of 'Festival of The Trees' which will be published on May the 1st. The May theme will be May Day. The Festival of the Trees is a nature blog which has a wealth of contributions from scientists but welcomes submissions from artists, poets, creative writers, jewelry makers textile and fibre artists. If you have anything tree themed i would be interested in receiving your contributions on or before 27th April 2010. Any questions please do not hesitate to drop me an email or leave a comment.

I would also like to thank Juliet of Crafty Green Poet and Fairwillow of Serendipity for my blog awards. Please accept my apologies on having had time to pass them on yet.

For those of you looking for fun Easter projects, Fairwillow has written a wonderful Blown Ostara Egg tutorial.

I look forward to visiting you all again over the next few days.