I am delighted to release this new omnibus of my lyric poems, pulled from fifty years of poetry writing, on subjects ranging from dreams and mediations to walks through local landscapes, art and nature. 'Instead, I am reflected as I am in the silver puddlesImperfectly reduced to wiggly lines and shifting shapesDrenched full of light and singing with wild birdsong' (poem excerpt from Freedom 2017) Now available as a Kindle Edition eBook on Amazon here.

New Year picks from my Etsy shop this month: Hand Stitched Paper Bookmark Cards: Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a good book and my hand-stitched paper bookmarks, sent with a blank card are perfect for booklovers. Pair it with a good book for a great gift idea. Cotton Kitchen Set: Need a bit of post-Christmas kitchen clean up? Spring clean with this crochet cotton cloth, eco sponge and organise your bread bin with this cotton bread bag. Green and clean! Silver Birch Abstract Collage…

This morning the starling flock flew out at dawn in minus six degrees centigrade, as they flew overhead, due to the thousands of birds passing, I was able to notice a pattern within the larger grid of the flock. Starling DRS haiku: (You can find more of my birdwatching haiku in print and as a eBook on Amazon here.)

Patricia Herlihy has created an advent calendar for you! Happy holidays! :)

A look back at some of the art I've seen while out and about this year. (Stripes, lines, red, threads, waves, shadows, surface, time, stance.) From top to bottom: Myths & Machines exhibition, Niki de Saint Phalle Myths & Machines exhibition, Jean TinguelyThe Madonna and Child with St John the Baptist, Giovanni BelliniAn Uncommon Thread exhibition, Max BoylaBronze Age Beaker, BroadmayneShip of Fools, Kehinde WileyGromit Unleashed 3 Art TrailTon of Tea, Ai WeiweiStreet art, Mau Mau

Handmade Christmas gifts in my Etsy shop now.

October sees the return of the huge flocks of starlings to Somerset and I am very lucky to be able to watch these extraordinary little birds locally. They are an endless source of entertainment and inspiration and they definitely brighten up those grey winter days with their rowdy antics. I've posted before about my bird haiku book, available here, and during the year I keep writing about the birds I spot, an ongoing project for me. For the last few weeks the starlings have been gathering on the lines in our road, reminding me of that Hitchcock movie classic 'The Birds', very appropriate for this week!

This weekend we had stormy weather which left some late blooming gladioli blown over in the garden and so I decided to pick a few for the house and use them for drawing practice this week. These late bloomers have all been this lovely white and red bicolour, making beautiful structural shapes and welcome flowers after a dry summer and early autumn. I started with a quick pencil sketch to loosen up and then a couple of studies in chalk pastels. I will probably use the pastel sketches as a base or inspiration for either cards or artwork.

Looking for small, unique and individual gifts in the run up to the festive season? For the first two weeks of this October I’m running a sale with 30% off selected items in my Etsy shop so hurry now and find a range of handmade gifts like these bobble hat egg cosies for the foodies in your life: or this handmade soap (sourced in UK) and 100% organic cotton soap-saver I’ve crocheted for your eco-friendly friends: and this pretty hand-beaded flower mandala room decoration for a moment of calm in the busy life of someone special:

This month, as Summer turns to Autumn, these are my four picks highlighted in my Etsy shop this month (click on the titles to go direct to shop): Top of the Tor: The Portal, a set of three blank greetings cards. Perfect for the card drawer, you can frame them as a mini gift as well! Linocut Pumpkin Garland Decoration. I've drawn and hand printed this original linocut pumpkin design which I'm sure will add a festive touch to your Autumn décor and festivities. Two Wool and Cotton crochet storage bowls.

This gorgeous staircase, found in the Queen's House, Greenwich in London reminded me of an eye on a visit earlier in the year.

I’m happy to announce that an updated version of ‘A Bright Balance of Feathers’ is now available as either an eBook or paperback on Amazon here; or as a personalised paperback in my Etsy shop here. Featuring over 250 of my birdwatching haiku I’ve added in some more illustrations as well as new haiku. This is one of my favourite ongoing creative projects and perfect for birdwatchers and poetry readers. Robin: Long ago; I heldA trembling crumb out for youYou kindly ate it Jackdaws and Grebe line illustrations and cover photograph of Robin by P L Herlihy. All Rights Reserved