All my life I have been lucky enough to have access to the newspapers and their magazines. I am sure it is partly from these magazines that I discovered a world of fashion, music, art, beauty, photography, nature and culture really, that has fascinated and informed me over the years.

One person from those magazines I often read about, was Zandra Rhodes. Of course it was her pink hair that caught my attention at first and I admit, I didn’t know much about her designs, but in 2022 an exhibition came to Aberdeen Art Gallery. It was a fabulously bright and colourful celebration of her fifty year career.

To then discover the (always a wonderful source of inspiration) Aberdeen Art Gallery, has an exhibition on at the moment, until the 13th of April on Textiles: Picasso to Warhol, well. I had to go. I was interested to learn that so many of the artists we still admire today, Matisse, Henry Moore, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall. Picasso and Warhol, designed textiles for the fashion industry.

Needless to say, I have been once, or twice, or so (!) to the exhibition. What a super piece of social history, and what’s more, the work of Zandra Rhodes was also featured.

This time, I was on the ball and managed to get tickets for my sister and I to go to the talk with curator Dennis Nothdruft and Zandra Rhodes. So, many, many years after sitting at home in a village on the West Coast of Scotland, reading about this innovative and inspiring woman, I finally got to meet her. What a powerhouse. It was an absolute treat.

Of course, it was World Book Day so I felt I had to buy her book, ‘Iconic’! Interestingly enough, to me, her dedication included her mum and her sister. My mum was a true inspiration to me, particularly when it came to creativity. She sewed, knitted and crocheted constantly, even making her own gorgeous wedding dress. Skills she handed on to all my siblings.

How blown away was I to then read the first chapter of ‘Iconic’. I’ll leave it to you to discover why.

I think it was a lucky combination for me; a dad who loved newspapers and a mum who loved textiles. Writing this I begin to see where I started on this path of loving so many differing types of creativity.

The textiles were so interesting partly because, pattern has always fascinated me. Ever since handwriting practice at school I think, and when I doodle, I return to these two. The first is like a relaxing, calming movement, the second I then fill in with a variety of dots and lines. Life has patterns too and I am always on the lookout for them.

So as the weather has warmed up this week and it is time to choose lighter, and perhaps brighter, clothes, I will be thinking about not only the dress designers but also those who have designed the textiles that will be chosen.

Nature of course has so many patterns and they have been proven to have a therapeutic effect, like gardening can!

I have been out in the garden doing a bit of tidying. Sowing teasel seeds although I am always a bit early and optimistic with seed sowing! Fingers crossed.

It has been a great time to watch wildlife and I have spotted huge bumblebees including a Tree bumblebee and a Garden bumblebee. Also, to my total excitement, goldfinches have arrived! Yay! After years of putting out niger seed with no luck, it is the sunflower hearts that has brought them in.

Wishing you all a happy, peaceful and creative time.

Is there a doodle you always do?

I am watching

Icons of Style on BBC Scotland with Kirsty Wark.

I am reading

Iconic: My Life in Fashion in 50 Objects by Zandra Rhodes

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

The Lost Spells by Robert MacFarlane, illustrated by Jackie Morris

It would be lovely if you would like to pop over to www.mybookcorner.co.uk where you can read my reviews of books for children. There is the opportunity to sign up for the newsletter there as well, providing you with great recommendations sent straight to your inbox.