Is it really September?
Time moves so quickly and the seasons come and go with such haste that they seem like a blink. I hope I remember that in the bleakness and cold of winter! In late August, Chris and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary.
That seemed like such a distant number back in 1986. But now it all seems so fast. Over that 40 years, I have worn many hats and worked many jobs. There was always a little space for me to work on creative pursuits in my tiny "cupboard under the stairs." That little space saw many evolutions from floral cutting room where the floor was strewn with thorns, stems and leaf cuttings to sewing space where needles and tangles of ribbons and threads would leave their traces on the floor. Eventually, those things were cleared out and the little space became a tiny desk for me to write on, with my books, inks and nibs keeping me company at any hour of the day or night. It was a tiny and cramped, space but it was my little private castle to work and dream, and discover the path that would take over my creative life. In the summers, I moved my Little Castle outdoors. I would take my books, pens and inks and work under a gazebo in solitude and bliss, surrounded by the garden and the sounds of the birds. That outdoor space saw so many projects come to completion but it was impractical in the rain and humidity. I had a dream of a little "she-shed" space in the garden and in 2017, Chris built my little studio space, my Little Calligraphy Castle as one Facebook friend has called it.
As I type this blog post, I can see the garden swing through my windows, hear the September crickets and cicadas singing loudly and I am sharing my desk with Jack who accompanies me every morning to the Little Castle and stays actively involved in my tasks.
I appreciate this space so much and the tranquil moments it brings in my creative pursuits. This space is a place to work, study, grow, dream, retreat to and to appreciate.
No matter how stressful or uncertain things become around us, there is a strength to be found as you dive into the work of your hands. I never take this space or the time to work for granted. I recognize both as a gift and will continue to appreciate the privilege of being able to find joy in the work that I am doing. Although there are hours of the day that drift by without seeming to accomplish my expectations, I keep showing up at my desk. There is nothing remarkable about that. It is not from a sense of duty or obligation to the work I am doing but more about a sense of promise or expectation. I hit creative walls just like everyone else. I cave under pressure and deadlines and feel that frustration. But I know that there is also a light of understanding that comes drifting across my desk as I continue to show up. Little light bulbs of ideas turn on in my mind and I see increased skills coming to the pages I work on. Creative practice is difficult. Leading others into that creative practice is also tricky but seeing others bring their skills to life is enough reward for me. I am seeing students far exceed my expectations as I look at their work with a sense of awe and wonder. Other students are seeing their own light bulbs of ideas turn on in their minds as years of study and perseverance is paying off for them. We all have our own hurdles, physical limitations and difficulties to overcome. The key is to keep showing up. Never lose track of that.
September means Fall classes are i0.n full swing. There is a lot on offer as we bring 2026 to a close. For the Love of Birds will be offered through The Pointed Pen Collective. This will be a special Autumnal presentation of this class combining orange and blue tones. You will be able to create a printed card from the design we work on. Birds are frequent guests in my work and I look forward to spending the weekend with you as we take a deep dive into these designs.
Several of the Ardington classes are sold out but there are two spaces left in the Fanciful Rinceau Class and the Peacock Intial class. Both of these classes have intricate designs to discover and will enhance your painting skills.
The Peacock Intial is an advanced version of The Alphabet Garden and is being offered at Ardington as an encore presentation by special request. Every time I do one of these intricate letter designs, I learn something new. I love the blue green colour combinations that we can explore. There is a distinct Art Nouveau Influence in these designs.
Ardington classes are kept small and over the past six years, we have worked hard to build a wonderfully close community of students. I am always delighted to teach these creative classes. The Gentle Penman class for October is Flourish Like Lace. This is a flourishing experience that is different from my past Festive classes. I am drawing from historic tatted lace motifs and seeing what flourishes will emerge from this connection. This is an advanced Flourishing class and I hope it will be a joyful and enlightening experience.
Several of you have already signed up for my November Study Day. We will be Gleaning from Marguerite's Garden. I am extracting designs and techniques from a beautiful illuminated manuscript and I know this will be a wonderful shared experience. We will discuss and experiment with some different surfaces as we draw inspiration from this manuscript. Details are on my website.
