Kath Haddrell

Wintery walks last week and a rather delicious trifle.

Stunning walk in the sunshine yesterday. It was, as my friend Peter’s mum would say, a good day to be alive!

Beautiful evening walk at Folly Farm. 💚

A walk to find bluebells yesterday with a distant view towards the Tor.

My illustration of a coal tit

Small collection of blue & purple summer flowers on a sketch book - cornflowers, Nigella & sweet peas laid out with my illustrations of them on the opposite page & a small pale blue fountain pen I used to make the drawings nearby

A collection of spring nature finds such as forget me nots, wood avens, borage etc. with my illustrations of some of them nearby, along with a watercolour palette, paintbrush

Five of my pen and ink illustrations of British birds: blackcap, redwing, coal tit, long tailed tit & wren, some with scientific names & the dates I made the drawings

I'm recovering from a breakdown atm-finances bit worrying atm.
I teach illustration & how creative activity improves mental health-I've taught on BBC Countryfile & the V & A.
I've 3 w'shops atm-learn sth new & support me at same time-enter THANKYOU15 for 15%off. Pls RT,ty:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk

Springing into life. The oak tree we planted for David is in bud again. The bud of the bud of the tree called life. 💚

I’d add pastiche with no sense of place. Same true of the Cornish version. But then again, the Barbican is my ideal new settlement.

Can’t recommend the architectural tour of the Barbican Estate enough. Educational and entertaining, it was a brilliant morning and I’d move in in a heartbeat!

Silver pieces made by beginners in my workshops-casts of various nature finds including acorns and shells

Cornflowers, Nigella, Russian sage and sweet peas on a sketch book with my illustrations of them alongside with the fountain pen I used to draw them

One of my nature diaries with various named botanical specimens and my drawings of them alongside on a sketchbook, with my fountain pen and other drawing materials alongside

Silver pieces made by beginners in my workshops-casts of various nature finds including shepherd's purse, fresh leylandii, acorns and shells

2 new creative online classes are now live on my site-

🌿my sell-out botanical illustration & mental health w'shop (15 Mar);you'll learn to draw plants in detail & how creative activity improves mental health

🌸my full-length course on casting flowers,shells etc in silver:

workshops.emmamitchell.uk

I have, 30 yrs ago, I stood alone in a provincial Dutch museum for a good half hour in front of some of his work. Not expecting that, but very excited, especially having read Lust for Life recently which I loved.

Going on Saturday, can’t wait!

I feel very small, that I am a tiny part of this magical universe, and I feel hopeful, hope that there is something humanity hasn’t yet destroyed.

I hope that my brothers,or their energy, are out there in infinity.

And I enjoy the beauty of the night skies.

For @redsquirrelsinw.bsky.social the red squirrel footprints and my epically poor photo from Cumbria which absolutely made my day.

Happy New Year

Unseasonal blooms in the garden.

Nigella, cornflower, Russian sage & sweet pea & my illustrations of them on the opposite page of a sketchbook

One of my nature diaries with various late summer finds including feverfew, lavender, fleabane and pignut leaf and my illustration of each next to it on a double page of sketchbook

Four winter-flowering species and a sprig of pink snowberry with my illustration of each alongside on some sketchbook paper

Summer botanical and other finds from the garden and my walks with my illustrations of them alongside on a double page spread of sketchbook paper

Just 5 spots left on my Feb botanical illustration & mental health w'shop

I'll teach you:
🌿how to break plants down into simple shapes & add shading
🧠how creative activity shifts brain biochemistry to improve mental health

Earlybird price expires 1 Jan
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...

Woke up to a picture perfect Christmassy scene this morning. Then made more perfect by a red squirrel who left footprints in the snow and a fab walk to Cautley Spout.

True. Also Vito in that outfit 🖤

So beautiful.

Made a Christmassy thing 🎄❤️

Gisèle Pelicot, person of the year 2024 Our 2024 Person of the Year has changed the rules, reversed the language and given women permission to reject shame

Here’s my piece on her being Person of the Year for The New European

app.theneweuropean.co.uk/2024/10/26/v...

Also, realised yesterday that for the first time ever, I didn’t have an advent calendar. Got a half price one last night. Result!

Perhaps my favourite Runrig song. “Not to love is not to live. Not to live is to feel no pain.”

More of an aesthetic reason for re-closing the window, it just looks better. That it adds to the anticipation…bonus!

Wells was looking mighty fine last night.

This blew me away at Hammersmith Apollo in 1991.

Dance of the night? So beautiful

That was incredible!

I’m usually pretty rubbish at looking after myself, but today I’ve had the most amazing full body massage and cooked a wonderful roast chicken dinner AND a soy, date and beef stew from #waitrose that will serve us well next weekend. Bliss.

If there’s a place to be your authentic self, this is it x