Lockdown Landscapes
Lockdown No. 1. Palette of Place. Llangranog, Wales
Lockdown Landscapes
Sent as November Newsletter.
Hello to you,
It has been quite some time since I last sent a newsletter. The longer time went on, the more life gasped for attention in other ways, the harder it became to return and write!
England stepped into its second period of lockdown within hours of me making the very recent move from West Wales to South Gloucestershire. Below I share some of the landscape colour I have been noticing, gathering and making within these bouts of sheltering in place.
No time more so than now has walking, collecting and making work been a lifeline and medicine.
A practice that brings me back to the pathways, hedge lines and coastal edges walked when restrictions allowed. I am particularly pleased to have found the moment to explore using Yarrow for dyeing. This plant I have gathered for medicinal herbal tea use for a number of years. To invite its properties to teach and guide in a different process brings new insights and possibilities.
Now, more landlubber than sea dipper, the collection of ground pigments I bring with me from the coast of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are traces of landscape honoured and known.
Stones in the bones.
Sea salt in marrow.
With the last twelve months highlighting the deep importance of people, connection and community as an essential rather than part-time fixture, I decided to follow a call back to the Bristol area, where old friends and family reside. The more remote wildness of the west coast a sirens beacon to return home to for full immersion when movements are possible.
I am curious how others navigate their own inclinations and need to move between people and the wild. Family, friends, work obligations and the wide expanse of sky, forest and sea.
Is this a dance you also find in your world?
New Roots. Plants gathered at the beginning of Lockdown 2 and used to dye embroidery thread, pre-mordanted with oak gall solution.
Bottom (L) Dead dock seeds (M) Plus strong alkaline (sodium carbonate + homemade lye water) (R) Plus homemade iron rust water.
Top (L) Yarrow flower, stem + leaf. (M) Plus strong alkaline (sodium carbonate + homemade lye water) (R) Added homemade iron rust water.
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Arriving near Nailsworth at the end of October, I soon began the ritual of walking out from my new base to get my bearings. Greeting old plant friends in their period of retiring to the soil for winter rest. The crispy seeds of Red Dock and a little Yarrow on the cusp of returning to ground.
On reflecting upon the shifting of the season to winter nesting, I felt drawn to experiment with dyeing embroidery thread, along with making small samples of botanical ink. Something about domestic slowness in the darker months speaks busy hands sewing by lamplight.
A romantic vision on one hand. Also a strong intention to create gentler activities than screen heavy news reading and Netflix watching for the longer nights. Anxiety held in the chest and fizzing to mind has been a fixture throughout my life, and heightened this last twelve months.
Creating ways to support slowing down when not out walking the path as an act of care.
In these changing times and seasonal shifts, I wish you well.
May the path be kind to you,
Kathryn
