Thistledownseed

05/06/2021

I'm loving being able to help families explore and play in their local environment 💚

It’s and you can help us build a better and greener future! “We need to restore and regenerate our relationship with nature and life by creating new ethical behaviour of care, responsibility, and solidarity” UNESCO. Here's some of the ways we show the world we care:
We tell it's stories: through the science we uncover and the imagination we help foster, our story-led packs help inspire the next generation.
We ensure that play doesn't stop: The high quality of our product means our play packs can be played again and again and again.
We tread upon it carefully: every purchasing and printing decision we make has been assessed for its impact upon the environment and society.
We give it space to grow: With nature as their partner in play, children develop key skills in creativity, imagination, problem solving and resilience. Plus there's some useful ideas in our Newsletters too.

For more info check out our new Blog: https://www.undersky.co.uk/blogs-from-undersky/helpusbuildabettergreenerfuture

22/04/2021

I've been fairly quiet on facebook lately and here's why! Welcome to Under Sky! I've teamed up with a graphic designer and started a new business creating outdoor play packs all based on our wonderful native wildlife. Each pack is story-led and contains 6-8 different activities along with all the props required. Perfect for parties, great for get-togethers, fab for fun days or simply enjoy every day with nature as your partner in play. I'll still be here as Thistledown Seed, helping school groups take their learning outside and producing my nature inspired prints. So keep an eye out for my next print from my bird series.
If you know anyone who might be interested please share and check out our new website: www.undersky.co.uk for more info.

08/03/2021

Here's some weavings created by the inspiring people on my Natural Weaving workshops this weekend. Every weaving tells a story about the journey that was taken collecting the items. These are unique reminders of what makes every place important and special in our lives. Outdoor and Woodland Learning Scotland
Outdoor Learning

08/03/2021

I've spent the weekend leading workshops on Natural Weaving with some wonderfully inspiring teachers, forest school leaders and outdoor practitioners as part of the virtual Outdoor and Woodland Learning Scotland Networking event. It was great to be part of a team of people passionately focused on sharing nature with children and families. Here's some photos illustrating some of the natural weaving techniques I discussed during the workshops.

31/01/2021

Song Thrush wakes me at 2:30am 1st January 2021. I have finally finished this print, between additional work commitments and home schooling. 5 different layers of paint, screen print x2, lino print x2 and final gold stencil. A month in the making!

01/01/2021

Happier New Year!

13/12/2020

Sandwiches for two. Is this a picnic?
Four slices of bread from 'Loaf: slicedx12' about to head for display on a kitchen wall.
If you were interested in your own slice, or few, then please get in touch as they are selling fast!

09/12/2020

Looking for something colourful to brighten up Christmas 2020? Here's a selection of large clothboxes bursting with happiness! The largest in the pic is 33cm high (when folded over at the top), 37cm wide and 12cm deep and cost £14 each. The images show the two different sides - some with different fabrics each side. Perfect for storing a range of bits and bobs from toys to hats and gloves, craft materials to Ordinance Survey maps. Or use as a fabric hamper to present a range of gifts!

05/12/2020

Hot out the oven! Here's some new prints perfect for Christmas present posting! Do you remember my large print depicting the quantities of ingredients that make a loaf of bread (Loaf1: Water Salt Grain)? Now its also available sliced into 12 prints on plywood (Loaf: sliced x12), representing the area of growing wheat required to bake one slice of bread. Each print is unique, approximately A4 sized and cost £30. They are currently displayed in a toast rack in the window of narture cic gallery DOUGH. Please get in touch if you would like a slice or the whole loaf.

19/11/2020

A happy boy! 6 months after he requested it, he finally holds his wren.

02/11/2020

I've been busy stabbing* a bird recently (photo secretly taken by my son). Here is it's skeleton - any ideas which species?
*For those new to this, I am needlefelting and no animal was harmed in the making of this post.

23/10/2020

My lino print, Loaf:1, is now proudly displayed in the window of the narture cic Studio/Gallery space at 22 Sandgate, Ayr (Old Tourist Information Centre). I hope you can pop past and see it! And this is just the beginning of an exciting art-food exploration project as artists collaborate to create something new.