There’s always a crack

- that’s where the light comes in.

Dear reader and flower friend, hello and happy Sunday! If you are here for news from the studio and my wonderful world of paper flowers, please scroll down a little, there are some goodies down there for you. If you’re here for my rambling musings on nature, get yourself a nice hot drink and settle in, I’m going to tell you all about my walks this week. But first - how has your week panned out? I’ve had fits and starts (and I started writing this on Wednesday) but overall I achieved what I set out to. Miraculously, I walked twice this week, on consecutive days and so enjoyed setting out in the same place, at the same time, seeing the day in such different lights. Tuesday was overcast but surprisingly bright, Wednesday was misty. Tuesday, the air was full of birdsong, Wednesday it felt muffled, blanketed with the vapour of early fog. In places there was ice. I was noticing bisecting lines : the suns rays poking through the trees, the orange traces of rust in the water crossing the Tip Path. A vibrant shoot cutting across a glorious mess of bramble, lichen and hawthorn. A root cutting across the trail.

Tuesday images: morning light and angled shaft illuminating the dark path; a bisecting twig and root

And in the sky, a tear in the clouds, which said to me: here is the crack where the light comes in. In a week where America has sworn in another president, after the last eight tumultuous years it seems we are in for another avalanche of change, and it helps to set my feet on solid ground and just focus on walking.

Morning mist, illuminated through a tear in the clouds

I have a very active mind, from the moment I wake in the morning the thoughts rush in, sometimes threatening to overwhelm me. I have various coping methods, one of which is writing, but the one thing that always takes me away from all that internal noise is going for a walk, especially my beloved, familiar Tip Path walks. Starting in the same place, following the same path, just noticing the little developments but also witnessing the daily differences - the light, the weather, the temperature, the way the light changes everything. On a sunny day this week as I walked one way I paid no attention at all to the grasses - phragmites lining the ditch along one field. On the way back, I was drawn to the curled tips of the dead blades of grass, bright in the sunlight as it hit the widest part of the leaf, the flat blade curled forward. On the way out, all had been dark and dull, the the shadow in the crook of the curl. These little differences can make my day. And quiet my mind, and in the peace, ideas come.

Bramble, Gorse and Common Heather

As I write, I have finally completed my three key pieces for the Floribunda exhibition, pieces which I didn’t understand, until after I started, were conceived as a celebration of the plants of marginal land, fragments of thorny scrub, impenetrable areas that humans no longer have a need for but essential as protective environments for all manner of small creatures and a traditional, natural nursery for young saplings. Read more about this in my earlier post here. There is more of my work in the exhibition, which I will share with you next time, as well as the work of another nine incredibly talented artists from the Wirral, all women, all inspire by nature, and all committed to creating in as sustainable a way as possible. Come see the exhibition if you can.

And now, I’m off to rest. Enjoy your Sunday, and until next time, with love, Ling

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NEWS FROM THE STUDIO

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT #1 I have big news! In partnership with Meg Lowder of @florigami.paperflower I am delighted to announce we are hosting an exclusive luxury paper flower retreat. From September 25th - 28th we’ll be welcoming you to the stunning Little Massingham Manor in Norfolk for an unforgettable 3 day, 3 night experience. Spaces are limited so register your interest today: flowers@paperbydragonfly.com or send me a direct message.

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT #2 My network is growing! The Paper Wildflower Craftkits are now available in even more outlets: Aunty Social, Blackpool, Polestar Gallery, Keswick, and - from next week - The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool and Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight. A lovely treat for yourself, a fabulous gift for the crafter in your life - or a day well spent having fun and making flowers: a quality time gift for Mothers Day 💚

CLASSES : Blossom and Create, a new series of paper flower classes, starts on 4th February and will run every Tuesday with the choice of a morning or an evening session. let’s build a paper flower community! During February we will be making a lot of daffodils, tulips and other spring flowers. Classes are £25 ( everything is included) and for every four you attend you get one free - bonus! BOOK HERE

FLORIBUNDA the exhibition launches on Saturday 1st February and runs until 15th March. There will be various artists days which I will share with you, do come along to The Atkinson Southport to see.

Images throughout taken by and artwork throughout created by Ling Warlow