Bring on the weekend...

Flaming June is nearly at an end and July is waiting in the wings hopefully bringing more blue skies and sunshine to enjoy. These Fridays seem to be getting closer together, we really need to invent an extra day in every week!

So once again it's time for...

.. Fabulous Folksy Friday Finds!

It's letter 'G' this week and there's some unusual items on show, do hope you enjoy the mix. Do take a look around all the featured shops, their shop url's are under their photo's.

  'G' is for...

Such a sunny colour!

G is for Glass - in the shape of this 'juicy' orange cupboard door knob. This is a fabulous shop brimming over with clever, witty glass pieces. All available from Matthew and Estelle's Folksy Shop:

https://folksy.com/shops/GlassRelief

Stay, stay...good boy!

G is for Greyhound - this tiny, perfectly formed dog is modelled out of felt. More furry, felty fun back at Lydia's Folksy shop:

https://folksy.com/shops/Blackdogandgingercat

Rustic home for your garlic bulbs

G is for Garlic Holder - woven from willow this holder would be at home in any country kitchen. Available from Judith's Folksy Shop:

https://folksy.com/shops/Wove

Can almost smell this soap from here!

G is for Goats milk, Lavender and Heather soap - can only imagine the heady scent of this pretty blush pink soap. Lots more scented soaps and candles from Debra's Folksy Shop:

https://folksy.com/shops/CandlesByDeb

This week we have had to shout in the Studio as joiners hammered away over our heads mending our sorry looking roof. They have nearly finished now and soon peace will be restored, as will be our roof! Once again the press has been squeaking and groaning as we put it through it's paces. Every time Gary lowers the press the cats scatter, the metallic squeak must hurt their sensitive ears. 

The final colour went on to my latest floral print, a deep, rich purple which works well. The print itself is made using 2 lino plates, the first is the background plate which shows a subtle background of poppy heads and grasses, printed in a soft green. The second lino plate has the poppy image cut into it. This is where the reduction method has been used. The first colour to be printed on top of the background was the grass green. The image was then cut away further and the poppy red printed.

The plate with it's final cut - just the purple left to print.

And finally the print is almost completely cut away leaving just the outline which was printed in a deep purple. 

Close-up showing the delicate backplate

This style of printing holds a great deal of risk as once the plate is cut away then any mistakes can mean the whole piece is ruined. It can get very nail biting especially when there is only one colour left to print. Obviously all this involves many hours of concentrated work!

It's been added to our online shops and is part of a series of floral images.

Field Poppy - Limited Edition Linocut Print

The veg garden is starting to live up to it's name and about time too. Everything is still in miniature but we have high hopes for a bumper harvest later in the year.

Small but perfectly formed baby Courgette

purple beans masquerading as earrings!

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

'Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit'.
Henry David Thoreau