Midsummer

Well, the heat was certainly on with the next sketchbook. There were some truly gorgeous pages and I had a theme running around in my head that wouldn't go away. After Summertime there came A Midsummer Night's Dream, and I was quite literally, away with the fairies. Shakespeare's play gave me plenty of inspiration, and along with a quote and some honeysuckle sprigs, the pages started to come together. 

Fresh greens, summery pink and sunshine yellow

After the quotation, title and other calligraphy was in place and the sketches of the flower, buds and berries, it was time to decide on presentation. I love to use a mix of elements in sketchbooks, with bits stuck in, pen and pencil here and there, some unfinished bits and of course, painted things.

Purple bud with greens 

Mixing it up a bit 

And keeping it classic

 So how did it go? Well, I was pleased with the result. let's just hope the recipient is.

Nearly there.

  And what's the quote?

I know where the wild thyme blows,

where the oxlip and the nodding violet grows,

quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine

With sweet musk roses and with eglantine.

There sleeps sweet Titania sometime of the night,

lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight.

William Shakespeare 

There is a link here. Eglantine is an old word for honeysuckle, (also used for briar rose which is confusing).