Signs of Spring Friday links
A springy display outside an antique shop in the Backfold.
A couple of quite full weeks behind me and so many events and planning and all kinds of busyness still looming ahead. Spring is certainly arriving in full force. The daffodils are everywhere in Wales, holding tight to their national flower status. And signs of flowers and new growth and buds are cropping up here and there. I’ve been slow to post lately, as practices for a dance showcase and a theatre spring show have been ramping up. For now, let’s share some links!
THINGS I BOOKMARKED
Writing in Pictures: Richard Scarry and the Art of Children’s Literature – I’ve been a bit obsessively researching Richard Scarry lately as I frequently turn to his early work for encouragement and inspiration in my own illustration. I much prefer his early work to the more streamlined Busytown illustrations, but I enjoy studying both. I read many articles about him last week and have a biography due to arrive for my reading pleasure too. I delight in learning about his process and thinking about how he created.
How Barack Obama’s Love of Jazz Changed my Life – Some may not know how much I deeply love jazz. This article by one of Obama’s speech writers was lovely to read and reminded me of my favorite jazz albums at different stages in my own creative process.
Why the British Tell Better Children’s Stories – I really loved this article actually. It’s from 2016, but I recently came across it and found it such an interesting read. I don’t think I could have vocalized this argument about the difference between British children’s stories and American ones, but it certainly rings true to me. A few quotes I am still pondering: “In Scotland, Bateman in turn suggests the difference between the countries may be that Americans ‘lack the kind of ironic humor needed for questioning the reliability of reality’—very different from the wry, self-deprecating humor of the British.” and also “It turns out that fantasy—the established domain of British children’s literature—is critical to childhood development.”
THINGS I LISTENED TO
Cicadas by Drakeford – Just heard about this husband and wife duo and really loved this new song they have yet to release but recorded in a church.
Wayward & Home album by Drakeford – Thanks to the discovery in the above video, I tuned into Drakeford’s albums and keep coming back to Part 1 and 2 of this one.
The Wind in the Willows – I’ve been painting an autumn feast scene with many, many stylish, anthropomorphized animals and I decided to listen to the audiobook of The Wind in the Willows while I paint them all. Delightful and appropriate. We have this Yoto card of it read by Martin Jarvis who really does quite excellent voices.
THINGS I FOUND
Sunlight making perfect shades of green on the hills.
A bit of NYC in one of our charity shops.
A darling green book that I simply had to purchase at the charity shop. It looks charming and includes pictures of Christopher as a boy and with his Pooh bear and even with his father A. A. Milne. I’m looking forward to reading this. I’ve heard rumors of Christopher’s dislike of the fame he earned being the star of his father’s nursery stories. I’m curious to actually read his musings and where he landed with the thoughts as he aged.
THINGS I MADE
I successfully finished and printed another lino, but have not snapped a picture of it yet as it dries. Soon.
A St. Patrick’s Day paper bunting. This week’s making was mainly for St. Patrick’s Day in our home. I’m ridiculously happy with the green patterns I made for this bunting. I will likely use them all in various ways in the future.
Shamrock Smoothies. These were not quite as popular with the girls or Mark as they were with me. But they were pretty and fun.
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies. These are quite possibly the best chocolate chip cookies I have made in a while. Really delicious in flavor and texture. And just enough peppermint to not be overpowering. The green food coloring was a treat too. I used this recipe and converted it to gluten free with plain white GF flour and xanthan gum. Worked perfectly.
Spotted this tree growing some color on one of the dance Saturdays in Weobley.
It’s so nice and exciting to see signs of spring everywhere. Looking forward to decorating for spring this weekend! Hope to be back Monday with some photos from a recent wander we took. 💚