Hello friends. How are you doing, how was your week? Just thinking back as I write this, I managed to squeeze a lot in. I spent hours getting experimental making Jack-by-the-Hedge, a whole day at Makefest 2026 getting small children excited about turmeric, and managed to get several walks in. Like my dye experiments, the colours have been quite incredible - on the Roman Sandhills in Meols, oilseed rape blazing yellow against a background of white blossom and sweet lilac - just stunning. For the curious among you, here are the colours from my turmeric and berry experiment. These are all my results from Saturday at make fest: dye in the simple tea solution; with an acid modifier (vinegar) and an alkali modifier (bicarbonate of soda) and - the most interesting of all to me - the results of cross dyeing. Tumeric, dipped in berry, gave an expected deep orange colour. But....berry, dipped in turmeric, gave an acid green? If anyone reading can explain the chemistry, please share!
This is a simple dye experiment you can do in your kitchen. Its fund to do, but please be aware, the results are not colourfast. Some will fade quickly and all will fade in direct sunlight.
πΏ Nature Notes
Is it me, or are there more bluebells than usual this year? They seem to be everywhere, in all the usual places, but also popping up on verges and hedgerows, even central reservations where Iβve not spotted them before. And itβs true β this is a year of abundance for bluebells. The weather has been particularly wet, with little frost, allowing the bluebells to emerge a little earlier than usual and flower before the overhead canopy has fully developed, thus allowing more sunshine through to encourage the flowers. But have you also noticed the colour is different? The invasive Spanish bluebell is now estimated to have emerged as a dominant variety in around 16% of British woodland. As well as being a paler blue, Spanish bluebell flowers are more erect, with flowers protruding around the wholwhole stem, rather than the characteristic droop of native bluebells. Still beautiful but different.
βοΈ From the Studio
I've been busy preparing for our Paper Blossom Masterclass retreat weekend at Ruthin Craft Centre. So many boxes of coloured papers, pressed petals and paper blossom stems! Meg has been baking like a fiend and we're ready! Can't wait to get there and get into it! I've also found some time to experiment - making poppies (and garlic mustard!) using different papers, which has sharpened my thinking about what Form & Freedom (May 20th) is really about: sharing my methods with people who genuinely want to get into making paper botanicals, moving beyond crepe and opening up all the possibilities of paper. There are still spaces, and given that the Ruthin retreat sold out entirely, if Form & Freedom is calling to you, now is a good time to book!
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π Come Find Me
Here's where you'll find me over the next few weeks:
Paper Blossom Masterclass β Ruthin Craft Centre Friday 2nd May Β· Ruthin Craft Centre, North Wales Β· Sold out The Welsh countryside in May is spectacular, the space is inspiring, and the list is full. I'll tell you all about it next week!
Evening Classes β English Garden Roses (and a surprise) Starting Wednesday 14th May Β· Hoylake Β· Β£120. My evening classes return with a four-week block focussing on English garden roses - and just to keep things interesting, I'm throwing in a hibiscus. Block two is all about peonies. Book both blocks and you save Β£35 - there are just four spaces left. Book here or email ling@paperbydragonfly.comβ
The shop is always open for wildflower craftkits, plant dyed paper and boxed sets with everything you need to start slow-making at home:
The countdown is on - the Paper Blossom Masterclass at Ruthin Craft Centre is happening this weekend, and I'm very excited! Your next chance to join a Masterclass will be 'Exploring Autumn', taking place in Keswick, Norfolk (just outside Norwich). Go here for more details.β
"You'll never look at a flower the same way again."
I'm Ling Warlow β artist, educator, and wildflower obsessive based on the Wirral. I teach paper flower making in my studio and at workshops across the UK, and I write about creativity, nature, and the making life over on Substack. If you've ever looked at a poppy and wanted to understand it from the inside out, you're in the right place.
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