May Day May Day

I had tears of laughter rolling down my face this morning. I was running late and frantically trying to make James' hat for his school May Day parade and dancing today. Its an annual occasion.

Forgoing toast I raided the studio for bits of wire and tape and fashioned some verberis and forsythia around his beloved nike cap....

Proudly putting it on his head and turning him so he could see his reflection in the cooker, his look of disdain cut like a knife.

In his words.....'Yet. Again. You. Have. Made. Me. Look. Like. A. Woman.

A studio outside...

I have been busy this afternoon. Not painting. My three-year-old sees to that. But we have been having huge fun sorting out the 'bottom-end-of-the-garden' so I can use it as some studio space, not to mention sit by the chiminea and sip wine space all-in-one so to speak.


Painting outdoors is a lovely experience provided you can keep insects at bay. I recall last summer spending most of my painting evenings picking small insects out of the drying acrylic rather than 'doing' anything productive. So this year I am prepared.

I have bought a 'wasp catcher'. I hate wasps.....little antisocial gits of the insect world.


I also splashed out on this really cute cast iron bird feeder which I just couldn't resist.

And while I was feeling in a frivolous mood in the summer sunshine this afternoon, I just 'had to have' 2 rhododendron plants and a vine - optimistic I know - but I harbour dreams of one day plucking ripe fruit.



This evening I have to make a May Day hat for James...so I am going to use some of this.....I adore the colour and I am sorely tempted to paint this for my next project.