Today I have been painting again. I had been feeling that perhaps I might not ever want to paint again, or at least, might not ever find joy in it again. A daunting prospect, given it’s such a huge part of who I am. I was afraid that it was another lost piece, gone forever.…Read more »
Any Other Sunday – Mother’s Day Blues and Blessings
I am writing this at 2.01am on a foggy, starless Mother’s Day morn. Well, it was 1am precisely one minute ago, but the clocks have jumped forward and an hour of my day is lost already, just like that. I am listening to Alexandre Desplat. I have his haunting “Lily’s Theme” (from Harry Potter, in…Read more »
Wild Food (And Where To Find It.)
I can feel Spring in my bones. Standing at my back door in the sunshine, sheltering from the wind, and peering at the Angel of the North way off in the distance that will soon to be obscured by the leafy green of all the trees in between, I can almost feel the sap rising…Read more »
Butter Me Up (Zero Waste Stylie)
I’m going to admit right now, I’m a bit of a butter snob. Even before the days of feeling at odds with plastic packaging, and trying to limit the things we buy in plastic, I’ve preferred a good, organic, salted butter over a tub of margarine. There really is nothing better than a piece of…Read more »
The Song of The Feminine Eco Warrior, and Why You Are Enough.
I imagine your social media was as full of #internationalwomensday posts on Friday as mine was. Memes and inspirational quotes in great abundance on my Facebook news feed. I spent some of Friday out in nature, with some wonderful women, under flowering Blackthorn trees, their petals beneath our feet as we walked. This tree’s determination…Read more »
A Quiet Revolution Under my Kitchen Sink
If it’s not too personal a question to ask, what’s under your kitchen sink? If it’s anything like mine, probably dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, dishcloths by the dozen, an ancient sink plunger maybe? A bottle of Brasso that, like me, you’ve maybe used twice, a million years ago? (Do I even own anything made…Read more »
Reclaiming my Path. Grief, Hibernation, and Full Moon Release.
It’s been quiet on the blog since Solstice. I’d like to say I’ve been hibernating, and have you imagine a nest of quilts and blankets, a stack of books, a cosy and content me, all wrapped up in stillness with a constant supply of tasty snacks. Ones that are plastic free, and don’t leave crumbs…Read more »
Hello Brave New World, Goodbye Capitalism (and plastic tat).
Some weeks ago now, I sat in a lecture theatre at Newcastle University and listened to George Monbiot talk about economics and politics. 20 years ago, actually, even 2 years ago, I would have laughed my head off at the very idea that one day I might feel engaged, interested, passionate even about economics. I…Read more »
Making Beeswax Wraps (and my tried and tested method)
In May 2017, I wrote a blog post to share my experience of making beeswax wraps. At the time, they were a bit of an unknown, but happily now most people are aware that there is an alternative to cling film out there. And for those of you who are vegan, soy wraps are available…Read more »
The Slower Road
At the beginning of 2018 I realized that my textile skills could be put to good use making reusable cloth alternatives to single use items like cling film, tissues, produce bags and cotton wool, and started moving my business to cover more of this area. Helping people reduce their waste and significantly reduce reliance on…Read more »