I went to Unravel at the Barbican this week and started writing a newsletter about the exhibition and the thoughts it provoked. I didn’t enjoy it (understatement) and it didn’t engender the lightest of thoughts, so I’ve decided to park it for a week and fall back on something lovely, beautiful, uplifting, reliably colourful, and springlike. What with it being a four-day weekend, and us having a house full of Brockets, and chocolate, baking, buns, and all, as Holden Caulfield might say.
Tulips not blooming yet in Edinburgh. I’m no ornithologist either but can I recommend the free app Merlin which helps identify birdsong. My husband used it for the morning chorus the other day for an hour and it identified 27 different species. Yes, 27 near the centre of Edinburgh (beside the rugby stadium)!
Unravel - thank you! I went too and apart from Cecilia Vicuna's lovely forest - I didn't enjoy it but then at least 6 exhibits have been withdrawn and I suspect they would have been the ones I wanted to see. Also maybe its just me, but I like my textiles to have a function.
THe tulips are glorious. Our spring pots on the pergola are putting on a show with the tulips just making their appearance. Tim Birkhead write some marvellous books about birds if your interests go further in that area. Have a lovely Easter.
Thank you for a beautiful Easter post. Your tulips—my favorite flower—are a special treat! I’ll be interested to read your thoughts on the Unravel show, since textile techniques are being used more frequently by artists nowadays, or at least acknowledged outside the crafts milieu (especially when used by male artists—-grrr).
Wished we had Spring like you have in England: our tulips are still coming from nurseries at this time of year. Way too cold. I promise myself to visit England in the springtime one day. We go from 6C to 20C in one week. And for us, 20C is Summer !!
Lovely article, Jane. I'm inspired to make a nest too.
As children we were very aware of beautiful birds' nests, as we independently explored our home territory of the Brentham Garden Estate. Was it because they were at our eye level in the privet hedges which formed every boundary?
But I DO want to ask about the disappointingness of the Blake, please, because my mum may make a special trip down from Sheffield to see it with me and I so wanted it to be worth her while... if it's not then we'll do something else!!
I really enjoyed looking at your cookbook shelf. Although I live in the US, I have a lot of the same books—I’d definitely grab Hartley’s Food in England if my house were on fire!
Tulips not blooming yet in Edinburgh. I’m no ornithologist either but can I recommend the free app Merlin which helps identify birdsong. My husband used it for the morning chorus the other day for an hour and it identified 27 different species. Yes, 27 near the centre of Edinburgh (beside the rugby stadium)!
Unravel - thank you! I went too and apart from Cecilia Vicuna's lovely forest - I didn't enjoy it but then at least 6 exhibits have been withdrawn and I suspect they would have been the ones I wanted to see. Also maybe its just me, but I like my textiles to have a function.
Just about to mention Susan Ogilvy, but I see if is up there ☝️ already thanks Eleanor O. Nice buns. Happy Easter to you nesting with your chicks
Gorgeous, bright tulips. Such a joy. I have just three rather dull specimens, struggling in the wind on my balcony! Your nests look wonderful too.
Thank you, Jane. Have just spent an enriching and inspiring hour following the links; as so often thanks to you. Happy Easter!
THe tulips are glorious. Our spring pots on the pergola are putting on a show with the tulips just making their appearance. Tim Birkhead write some marvellous books about birds if your interests go further in that area. Have a lovely Easter.
A joyous table scene, Jane! Happy Easter.
Thank you for a beautiful Easter post. Your tulips—my favorite flower—are a special treat! I’ll be interested to read your thoughts on the Unravel show, since textile techniques are being used more frequently by artists nowadays, or at least acknowledged outside the crafts milieu (especially when used by male artists—-grrr).
For anyone who hasn’t come across it, Nests by Susan Ogilvy is a beautiful book.
Wished we had Spring like you have in England: our tulips are still coming from nurseries at this time of year. Way too cold. I promise myself to visit England in the springtime one day. We go from 6C to 20C in one week. And for us, 20C is Summer !!
Lovely article, Jane. I'm inspired to make a nest too.
As children we were very aware of beautiful birds' nests, as we independently explored our home territory of the Brentham Garden Estate. Was it because they were at our eye level in the privet hedges which formed every boundary?
Love your vibrant tulips and the birds nest. Where did you learn how to make it? The link doesn’t seem to work.
But I DO want to ask about the disappointingness of the Blake, please, because my mum may make a special trip down from Sheffield to see it with me and I so wanted it to be worth her while... if it's not then we'll do something else!!
Tulips just poking out of the ground here in northern Scotland. I've seen Lizzie Farey's nests at the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh and was enchanted.
The tulips are glorious! I'm green with envy for those bouquets!
Your nests are beautiful - so natural. Happy Easter!
I really enjoyed looking at your cookbook shelf. Although I live in the US, I have a lot of the same books—I’d definitely grab Hartley’s Food in England if my house were on fire!