Harnessing Autumnal Hues: Creating Vision Boards

 

Creating Vision Boards

February 2024, I took part in Immersion, a 12 week dive into surface pattern design given by Bonnie Christine. An eye opening course, that taught me the basics of designing patterns, added to my knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and provided inspiration for making new colour palettes and vision boards. 

My intention was to create a spring-themed vision board, but the result had an autumnal vibe. Featuring citrus slices from potpourri, dried Cosmos and Lisianthus blooms, Red Baron leaves and honesty seeds. The papery moult from the silver birch tree, at the end of the garden and a mini mosaic of a Blue Tit, my homage to these tiny birds, who appear all year round in the garden.

I also love the sea and am interested in marine life, shown by the addition of shells and fish. 🐚

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The Next Stop Is . . .

Waking up in the dark to go to work isn't my, or I should imagine anyone else's, preferred start to the day. But, once on a bus, I'm resigned to the current 9-5 work segment of my day.

Chauffeur driven, I'm left with my thoughts, the Internet and podcasts. It's December and I'm bundled up in a duvet coat. I share the commute with a variety of travellers at close quarters. Unavoidably, it’s the season of coughs and sniffles, which I hope will serve to strengthen my immune system, rather than make me ill.

 

As the blue-black of night relents, revealing a damp, pale, blue-grey dawn, filled with seemingly motionless trees and shrubbery, another day begins.

Arriving in the city, shop doorways bear the evidence of late night feasts. The revellers have long since gone, leaving behind makeshift cardboard carpets, takeaway packaging and lone bottles.

The Christmas Market stalls connected by twinkly string lights and conical Christmas  trees promise a variety of delights come opening time: cheeses from home and abroad; wooden animals and figures made from teak roots; cashmere and woolly hats alongside original handmade silver jewellery; mulled wine and churros to nibble while pondering pottery plates.

Fry’s Teak Gardem Furniture

Not wanting to be late, I stride by. Later, on my return journey, I'll pass by the stalls in the dark once more, but this time they’ll be busy and the street will be filled with people, the air with music and the Christmas lights will be twinkling.

Homeward bound, rain puddles have become lakes and I queue for the bus.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

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Prickly briar gallop

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. 

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 15/30 - Prompt: Falter

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Nature’s Empire Falls

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 14/30 - Prompt: Late

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Formless and Fuzzy

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 13/30 - Prompt: Blur

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Realm of Hope

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 12/30 - Prompt: Hope

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Origins unknown

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 11/30 - Prompt: Found

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How to lighten seasonal blues

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 10/30 - Prompt: Chocolate

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Double trouble

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Tiny daily poem - Day 9/30 - Prompt: Trouble

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Do we really listen?

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 8/30 - Prompt: Listening

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Familiar like a maternal embrace

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 7/30 - Prompt: Home

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A place to doodle

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Tiny daily poem for November - Day 6/30 - Prompt: Margin

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Tell me the truth

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Daily tiny poem, day 5/30 - Prompt: Truth 

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Pucker up and introduce yourself

This tiny autumnal November poem highlights the art of kissing and the types of kisses we share, as part of our communication and interactions with each other.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. 

And do let me know what you think in the comments.

Day 4/30 - Prompt: KISS 💋

Light as a feather introductory greeting 

Fleshy facial parts briefly touching 

A kiss and a hug setting the world to rights

Superficial air kisses missing their mark

Passionate lips, hot and heavy entwine

A blushing memory

Of what was

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Returning to the familiar a stranger

This tiny autumnal November poem highlights repatriation after a long residency abroad. U ensuing culture shock, emptiness and feeling lost is very real. You may speak the same language, but something essential has changed.

One can never fully return to what was and should never want to, but it’s possible to start a new chapter in a familiar place. This poem emphasises the benefits of how lost I felt and often still feel.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. 

And do let me know what you think in the comments.

Day 3/30 - Prompt: LOST 💫

Surrounded by my life in boxes and cases

Feeling empty like the house

Take a moment to reflect

Nearly three score years and 10

A full circle

Older, certainly

Wiser, maybe

Experience richer, definitely

Was this move necessary?

Yes

Is it the final one?

Depends...

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Weather that makes you feel like hibernating

If you’ve just discovered my blog, for the month of November, I’ve been writing a daily, tiny autumnal poem, inspired by prompts, set by Beth Kempton. 

To add to the fun, for each poem I’ve created a photographic visual to accompany it.

For day 2/30 the prompt is: RAIN ☔️

Morning warm duvet

Deep breath and wriggle toes

Listen

1000 hooves pound the street

Rhythmic gallop

Beat never ending

Autumn is arriving

Photo: #Rain by @alisondaydesigns

I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading. 

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Time to pause and reflect

For the month of November, I’ve been writing a daily, tiny autumnal poem , inspired by prompts, set by Beth Kempton. To add to the fun, for each poem I’ve created a photographic visual to accompany it.


This poem emphasises the benefits of pausing and reflecting in our daily learning lives.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. 

And do let me know what you think in the comments.

Day 1/30 - Prompt: PAUSE 💫

Finish the sentence

Rinse the brush

Close the window

Away with the rush

Pop on the kettle

Mint from the garden

Clock ticking

Photo & words: #MoroccanMint by @alisondaydesigns

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Round River

River by © Alison Day Designs

Prompt 5: #River - #spoonchallenge - via @spoonflower #illustration #alisondaydesign

© Alison Day Designs

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