JOY FILLED JOTTINGS!

I'm writing this at the bedroom window, delaying getting set for the day, because there's a stand-off happening on the car roof again. Two jackdaws, one magpie, and a pigeon who thinks none of this concerns him. The magpie just had a go at a jackdaw's tail feathers, and the pigeon still hasn't moved an inch. It's like this most mornings now.

We've been pet-less since early December — after over 25 years of cat ownership (our last two, Casper and Merlin, lived for 17.5 and 18.5 years respectively) I’ve upped my efforts to feed the birds and any other wildlife that may pass through our little patch. And rather a lot turns up. Pigeons, collared doves, crows, the odd cheeky squirrel causing chaos among the lot of them, and every evening a hedgehog who trundles through looking remarkably healthy. We find her dish pushed around and the nearby watering can pushed to one side as she snaffles the hog food and sultanas. I'm hoping she's got hoglets tucked away somewhere. She reminds me so much of my Harriet:

​https://www.debm-webbart.com/shop/p/harriet-hedgehog-print​

Watching them all — the squabbling, the routines, the sheer nerve of the magpies — has fed straight into the creative space. I've been wanting to move away from just studying these dear little creatures up close and instead paint them properly within their world. Somewhere with roots and hedgerow and weather in it.

Which brings me to this fellow:

He's off at the framers now, not yet on the website, but he's the start of exactly that — British wildlife, in its own patch, doing its own thing.

Only problem is, he doesn't have a name yet. If you've got an idea, hit reply and tell me — if I use yours, there's a free print in it for you.

And when he does go live on the shop, I'll have a discount code ready for you, so keep an eye out.

I'll share the rest of what's been finished on the easel in my next email. Thank you for staying with me this far.

Until next time,
Warmest Regards
Deb