Patrice’s drawing challenge: cocoon

Our dear Patrice called this week’s perfect drawing challenge: cocoon. That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling; all wrapped up in my home cocoon.

Wanting to cocoon and actually being able to are two separate things. I’ve had a lot of running all over town this week that is, so cocooning has only happened in little precious bits.

One way I’ve been cocooning is painting in my Opus Art daily challenge sketchbook for an hour sometime between 6 and 8am, in bed, with copious cups of tea. (Evidence of creativity on my Instagram. Follow me, I’ll follow you back 😀 ) It’s so wonderful, and I’m so going to miss this challenge when it comes to a close at the end of February.

That’s why I love drawing challenges so much. I love when someone instigates an idea and then everyone takes it on board and runs with it. Also, I think my craftsmanship has improved in just these last 19 days of daily painting.

Another way I’ve been cocooning is making home a bit better, fresher, spring-like. Yesterday I took some of my beautiful ironstone and depression glass down from where I have it displayed on the open kitchen shelves and washed all the greasy feeling off. I love seeing my collections out in the open, but boy do the pieces ever collect the grime…especially in the shelves above the stove.

But wait, this is a drawing challenge, so on with the actually realisation of cocoon.

I have a lot of nature books, field guides, beautiful vintage books, and a packed library…which needs spring cleaning.

In my library, somewhere behind the old Beverly Nichols and Evelyn Waughs, I’m sure there was an ancient book on cocoons. So this morning, I had it in mind to dig that book out and have a good read for some inspiration.

But when I moved the books aside, I discovered something peculiar. The cocoon has hatched into a moth!!!

Oh my goodness! Let’s put it under the magnifying glass.

I do believe it’s a Vade Macum Vivia Fictionaria! Very rare indeed.

How lucky are we to see this version of the very rare species of fiction moth? Very lucky indeed.

Pop by Patrice’s this weekend to see more wonderful and rare examples of cocoons.

Art: A very broken cover from a 1857 novel by E. D. E. N. Southworth named Vivia, or the Secret of Power, a little bit of vintage silk sari, some silver thread.