Flower friends - what a week I’ve had. I made my pilgrimage to Hebden Bridge to be Hannah Nunn’s guest at her Open Studio – and made a little weekend trip of it and stayed over, which was just what I needed. I came home full of ideas, fresh air, and a fizz of excitement. There is nothing quite like time spent with someone whose values feel genuinely aligned with your own. Hannah and I are very different makers, but we are inspired by the same muse, enjoy working in the same medium (paper) and our worlds fit together so well it almost became quite ridiculous. See above.
🌿 Nature Notes
Yorkshire in May is just heavenly. We got up really early and went for a long walk up the hill and down the dale, through woodland carpeted with bluebells, that misty blue haze that seems to hover just above the forest floor, like magical springtime smoke. We walked up monk trods worn down by centuries of feet. We literally hugged trees marvelling at the height of the canopy and the gush of the stream far below. Everything is so steep! I grew up in an area which boasted the highest concentration of 1:3 hills in the country, but the Calder Valley can’t be far behind. We heard deer bark on the other side of the valley, and watched them dashing through the meadows, disturbing the buttercups. Oh, to be back in Yorkshire – I breathed it in, hard, and hoped the air would give me strength. As I drove out of town, I had one final flash of exuberant nature as a deer ran down the road ahead of me, flashing its white rump in the dusk.
✂️ From the Studio
In preparation for my trip to visit Hannah, I dyed a serious quantity of paper, using madder, onion skin, tannin and iron. The results were so good I used them to put together three limited edition Plant Dyed Paper Flower Kits, and they're in the shop now:
🌸 Corn Poppy My best selling Paper Wildflower, now in a special edition with plant dyed paper. If you love the soft, painterly tones of my bookcase botanical poppies, this kit is for you.
🌼 Gerbera the dense layered flowerhead lets the madder tones build from pale blush to deep rust
🌿 Ferns & Grasses — a beautiful set of natural greens, blues and sands perfect for grasses with blue pollen laden anthers and a handful of bright green ferns.
These are limited edition — when the paper's gone, they're gone. Shop the Plant Dyed Kits here
📅 Come Find Me
Form and Freedom is on Wednesday! I’m so excited for this class, and I’ve been out combing the hedgerows looking for my inspo flowers. I found them all, and more, and I can’t wait to see what my students make. There are still a couple of spaces if you’d like a last minute treat! Wednesday 20th May 10 – 4 | £95 | Lunch, Cake and all materials provided. Book here
Wirral Open Studio Tour 13th – 14th June 10 – 5 – venues across the Wirral. Free event! Visit Wirralarts.com to plan your trip of pick up a booklet from your local café or library. I will also be open on the evening of Friday 12th June 6-9pm
Hibiscus Evening Class Fancy making a fancy flower? There are three spaces available on my Hibiscus class on 28th May, 7-9pm at my Hoylake Studio. Please message me at ling@paperbydragonfly.com (or reply to this newsletter) to save a space. £25
The shop is always open for wildflower craftkits, plant dyed paper and boxed sets with everything you need to start slow-making at home:
Until next time,
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.
