Hurricane Lantern

I'm adding a few new items to my little 'made in stone' range  for Autumn - Winter.  This stone Hurricane Lantern candle holder is something I've wanted to make for ages - I've loved the look of some lanterns I've seen but just thought they should be made in stone.  So here we are, made in my favourite Yorkstone and I think looking rather elegant.  Candles are lovely anytime, but as the nights draw in they create a special glow for early evening - either sitting in the garden, or brought indoors.

Stone Hurricane Lantern by Jennifer Tetlow

I've used my Hurricane Lantern this week, sitting out in the garden until late after the so hot days, enjoying watching the sun go down and the cooling darkness descend - candle flickering and moths fluttering.

Britain's Marble Quarries

I've had such an exciting morning - discovering the wonderful Britannicus Stone.  This company has gained exclusive rights to a number of small scale quarries, extracting what they describe as 'Shining Stones' - these are the 'lost' British Marbles. 

When Orlando Boyne (the Production Manager at Britannicus Stone) started to investigate the history of Britain’s Limestone quarries he uncovered a fascinating and forgotten architectural heritage dating back to Roman times, and unearthed a precious crop of native ‘Marble’.  To my delight, a number of these quarries are in North Yorkshire and I have arranged for some samples to chisel at.  Some of the stones are very rare - only small seams remain, or even ever existed

Eskett Red - image courtesy Britannicus Stone

Available will be Hopton Old White, a stone used by Eric Gill for many of his carvings; Swaledale Fossil used in Durham Cathedral and York Minster, and another I am very keen to try is Eskett Red, a stone never seen before polished and rare.  How exciting - and thrilling to find others as emotional about stone as I am - listen -

“Standing on the high fell in the clouds and driving rain,
we realised just how passionate we are about the Stones
and the incredible lengths to which we will go to find them”
Orlando Boyne

Wuthering Heights Re-make

A little while ago I mentioned about some lettering in stone I was working on - this was for a film company doing a re-make of Wuthering Heights, directed by Andrea Arnold, based on the book by Emily Bronte.

Last week I had the Yorkshire Post photographer Gerard Binks in my workshop taking pictures for an article and feature they are running about the launch of the film on 30th September.

I can't wait for the film to come out so I can look out for my contribution - and perhaps I'll be listed on the credits!

Tawny Owl

On the lane out of the village I rescued a Tawny Owl - it was wet with ruffled and damaged feathers, one wing twisted and drooped, eye-lids shut.  It allowed me to pick it up without a flinch and I popped it in a basket.  It was a young bird, possibly hit by a car.  I knew the best thing was to take it to Jean Thorpe, a local lady who is the Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation expert.  I left the owl with her.

When I 'phoned the next day to see how things were, she told me that the injuries were so bad that she felt the best thing was to put the owl to sleep.

Oh.  I have felt very sad about it.

Jean's work is amazing, she told me about the newest bird to be brought to her, a Nightjar, which had begun its migration and obviously become ill, injured or weak and had landed on a fishing boat, which when arriving at shore, still had the bird on board.  The crew then contacted Jean who took the bird in.

Hopefully this will be a successful release story.

Swallows Swirling

What beautiful displays above - the sky is full of swooping and chirping, circling and diving.  My young ones are on the wing much longer and are absent from the shed all day, and some evenings too.

This year I bought and put up one of the man-made swallow nest boxes, in the hope of attracting more swallow 'couples'.  Although they were not used as the main nest, adult birds did perch on the edges and when the latest brood's nest collapsed (a side edge broke away), all the young found their way to the new nest and adopted it.

I love this peom from the short story What the Swallows Did, by Louisa May Alcott - and have myself called my goodbyes, and wishes for safe journeys.

Swallow, swallow, neighbour swallow,
Starting on your autumn flight,
Pause a moment at my window,

Twitter softly your good-night;
For the summer days are over,
All your duties are well done,
And the happy homes you builded
Have grown empty, one by one. 
 
Swallow, swallow, neighbour swallow,
Are you ready for your flight?
Are all the feather cloaks completed?
Are the little caps all right?
Are the young wings strong and steady
For the journey through the sky?
Come again in early spring-time;
And till then, good-by, good-by!
 

Autumn Planter

Such winds and rain - seasonal changes - signs of Autumn.  I'm collecting them up, conkers, beech nuts, rose-hips, curling leaves - for window ledges and bowls of beautiful colour.

Classic Urn in Sandstone