The First Signs of Spring with Pippin Prints
Happy Tuesday and welcome to this month’s catch up blog post. A moment for me to reflect on the most recent chapter in our year, the art I’ve been creating in my studio and the progress I’ve made on current projects. I’ll also likely share some of the little joys of life from nature, home and the comforts of the current season. In February I have been enjoying the first signs of Spring with Pippin Prints.
You might notice that this month’s post is a little late, almost two weeks late in fact. I’m so glad to say that it’s for good reason. Last week we got the house in Liverpool packed and locked up for the final time. A rollercoaster of emotions for all, but I’m so excited to be starting the next chapter in Scotland.
The First Signs of Spring with Pippin Prints
Following the calm, slow pace of January, February was a month of brighter days and lots of plans. I had my birthday, we celebrated pancake day (far more important than Valentines in our house), we did a short family holiday to Dunoon and I even went outside in just a jumper. Can you believe, it was warm enough to leave the big coat indoors!
As the days have started to stretch and the sun has been showing it’s face more often new blooms are appearing too. Following the snowdrops of January, the classic and brightly coloured spring flowers are on their way bringing me so much inspiration for paintings this season.
With our house move around the corner now I’ve also been looking at the trees and plants we could add to our new garden. It’s the season for fruit trees and sweet peas and starting on veggies and sewing wildflower seed and I’m so excited to dig in…sorry.
In the Studio
The yellows, purples, pinks and blues of Spring have started to make their way into my studio. I created my first set of miniature paintings in February, full of tiny blooms. I loved working at this size and definitely want to try more of them, perhaps using the new sketch pencils I picked up this week to give some more definition to the florals too.
These miniature originals are still available as a set in my shop currently, here.
I’ve also added two new greeting cards to my collection, including this one. A spring card of bright daffodils, left blank inside. I thought it might be best to make it suitable for all occasions in the season of Spring, from Easter and Mother’s Day to birthdays and so on as we all have our own ways of celebrating at this time of year.
Little Joys of Every Day Life
Whilst painting is always a wonderful escape for me, there has been so much going on lately and it has been exhausting.
With the chaos of our house move and the busy brain that comes with trying to juggle so much at once, I’ve been trying my best to focus on gratitude this month. It helps me turn from overwhelm to calm surprisingly quickly.
Top of my list has been the longer days. The earlier sunrise makes it so much easier to get out of bed in the morning, opposed to wanting to hide in a cosy winter cocoon. Then there are the later evenings, when you no longer feel like you are living in a fishbowl come 4:30 because it’s suddenly dark outside. Wonderful!
Of course long walks outside appreciating the first signs of Spring comes a close second and remind me that those warm days spent in our new garden are not far away at all.
Looking forward to speaking to you again at the end of March when the sunshine should be gracing us far more often and Spring will well and truly be here.
Emma x
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