Bettina Holland

2023 – My Weekly Project

Week 10 – Walk, Collect and Paint

I try and take a minimum 15 minute walk every day. When I have time it is longer. I have always walked and find it is just a great way to relax, refresh and connect with nature. The first stage of this week’s creativity was the walk. But what to collect? The time of year and the environment will dictate what is available. There was plenty of dead leaves and winter debris laying around. Then I spotted the new growth. Beautiful new leaves. The promise of spring.

Appreciating the Form

I see leaves every day. But rarely collect them. Or display them like this. All the forms are so different. The texture, colour and size of each one made me appreciate the wealth of inspiration which is available.

Draw and Paint

I drew around the leaves using a soft pencil onto watercolour paper. I used watercolour postcards that I found in the cupboard. This gave me smaller spaces to work on but still provided an opportunity to repeat the form. Not having used watercolours for a while I settled on a limited palette and decided to just have some fun.

Play with Paint

My intention was to use the form and “play” with the paint. We don’t often give ourselves permission to play. These forms can be developed further working with alternative colours and composition.

Small Leaves of Great Importance

All leaves are of enormous importance in providing us with the oxygen we need to breathe. They soak up the carbon dioxide we emit and in return give us back oxygen. I often walk through the woods as I feel very peaceful in the company of trees. They are ever changing and I often wonder what they would be able to tell us if they could talk.

We all need to be planting more trees now wherever and whenever we can. They mean the world to us.

The Woodland Trust has a wonderful website with lots of information and guidance for the planting of native species.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/why-plant-trees/

Start Walking

The days are drawing out. There are so many lovely places to walk. Even a short stroll can provide a rich source of material. Be mindful of what you collect though. Take a small bag and limit yourself to between 6 and 10 pieces. Don’t overload. And you don’t have to use paint. You can draw, print, collage or photograph. The choice is yours. Have some fun.

2023 – My Weekly Project

Week 9 – Slow Stitch for 30 Minutes a Day

How often do you hear the phrase “I don’t know where the time goes!”. How fast the week goes by. Our attention span is only seconds now. This week’s project has been a sheer delight. Just a piece of white cotton fabric. An embroidery hoop. A needle and a length of embroidery thread. Just a single strand.

No television, no radio, no podcasts. Just a quiet uninterrupted 30 minutes set on the timer on my phone. Just to see where it takes me.

Trust Your Instinct

I had no plan. No prior drawing in mind. No subject matter. I just started with a simple running stitch. But just one stitch at a time. Initially I felt like I was taking a walk into a space I had not visited before. After the first 30 minutes I realised I had not made any straight lines. I felt like I was taking a walk around the garden. Following a footpath. Coming across borders and flower beds.

Listening to the Stitch

With each session I turned the work around so that I was not drawn to a particular image. It continued to evolve. Each stitch quietly made. I became aware of the sound of the needle piercing the fabric. And the thread drawn between the woven fibres of the cotton fabric. I didn’t care about the time it took. The timer sounded at the end of the 30 minutes. It seemed longer than 30 minutes. 30 precious minutes. 30 minutes where I became fully absorbed in the simple act of making a running stitch count.

The Slow Movement

.. is all about making a connection. It attempts to address the very serious issue of “time poverty”. For myself it was a conscious act to slow down for these 30 minutes each day. By day 4 of this week’s project I was looking forward to the moment I would pick up the needle and thread again.

https://www.slowmovement.com

There is plenty of unused space on my length of cotton fabric and I will continue to find those 30 minutes each day to make this process part of my on-going practice. I can see further potential for the image I have created this week.

2023 – My Weekly Project

Week 8 – Make an Item of Clothing

It has been a long time since I have made an item of clothing. A chance to revisit those skills and see what I can remember. Making clothes runs in the family. My grandmother made most of her clothes. My mother made my primary school dresses and other items when she had time. There has always been a sewing machine in my life. Arriving at grammar school in the 1970’s I had “needlework” classes. The first thing I ever made was the apron I needed for my “cookery” classes. I enjoyed these lessons and went on to successfully make my own clothes for several years.

Whilst sorting out recently I came across a dress pattern I have never used. The design was suited to linen. I also had some paisley fabric which provided a good contrast and considered ways to incorporate this into the garment.

Follow the Instructions

After reading through the instructions I carefully cut the pieces. The bodice was cut straight to the grain and the skirt across the grain. Memories of my early school lessons returned to enable me to mark the darts and notches. So far so good.

The darts were tacked, the bodice pieces joined together and attached to the skirt. It was time well spent and gave me an opportunity to try it on and make any adjustments before using the sewing machine.

The Sewing Machine and the Zip

Once the machine was up and running the darts and seams were quickly sewn up. The seams were neatened as I went along. The fabric was lovely to work with. It all went together so well.

The zip is a concealed zip. I carefully followed the instructions. Once tacked into place I tried the dress on again. With the zipper foot fitted to the sewing machine the job was quickly completed. I am so pleased with the way the concealed zip fitted so well into the garment. And somewhat relieved too.

Balancing Skills and Time

My skills and knowledge for this week’s project came back to me as I worked through the process. I have the hem, the facings and the sleeves left to do. I am considering using some of the paisley fabric to add an applique design and I intend to finish it this week. Despite initial reservations I have taken my time, worked things out and have nearly made a wearable item of clothing. Most importantly I remembered how much I used to enjoy the process of making my own clothes.

2023 – My Weekly Project

Week 7 – Take a Series of Photographs on a Single Subject or Theme

This is my only four legged friend now – a delightful, funny, inquisitive and, at times, bossy Shetland pony. She has been a part of my life for nearly 20 years and daily routines often get overlooked as a photo opportunity.

Morning and Afternoon

These are just a few of the 60+ photos I took with my mobile phone camera during a morning and late afternoon visit. During these visits I carry out the usual checks around health and wellbeing initially. Then the environment, stable, fences, looking for anything out of place or in need of repair. There is the mucking out or pooh picking in the field to be done. Closely followed by replenishment of water buckets, hay nets and preparing the feed.

Capturing Moments

In a situation like this, the images I took were momentary. A greeting, a tilt of the head, a visit to the tack room to see if breakfast is on its way. The winter is always a tough time for both our equine friends and those who look after them. I was wearing gloves. Not the best choice when working with animals and trying to take photos. I selected 30 photos to work with for this blog.

Turn Out

Time out in the field is limited. Tiger is prone to laminitis. But there is no stopping her once she gets the other side of the stable door. She has a small paddock area for day time and always has access to her stable. She has rubber mats to cushion her feet.

Time Together

I enjoy grooming her. This time of year she needs the oils in her coat to keep her warm and protected from the elements. Her winter coat is thick and the occasional brush to remove any heavy mud and dirt keeps her in good condition. Her feet are picked out daily. I love to brush her tail which I know she enjoys. She is not so keen on having her mane and forelock combed. She does look lovely when it is all done though.

Her winter coat will start to come out soon. It provides great material for nesting birds. She will also change colour with her summer coat. I could take photos of her every day of the year and probably see enormous changes that I don’t really notice on a daily basis.

The Last Photograph in this Series

If nothing else, I hope she has made you smile.