Sharing ideas on how the fabric of broken umbrellas (Brollies), can be used. Of course, pass the metal frames on to metal collectors...
Monday, 25 December 2023
Sunday, 24 December 2023
December 2023
Same message, just search for foods with vitamin C, D and Zinc. Choose the fruits and vegetables etc that suit you and incorporate them in your weekly meals.
Check health sites for recommended amounts and increase them if you are being very physical.
Review what nobel prize winner Linus Pauling had to say about Vitamin C and the common cold and flu too.
Sunday, 3 December 2023
Advent Season
Over the centuries, the Advent wreath featuring 5 candles has come to represent variations of similar themes. In some churches, one candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas day.
1. The Patriarchs in faith - Hope
2. The Prophets - Faith
3. John the Baptist / Gaudete - Joy
(also for those who are fasting over the period, refreshment day)
4. Mary and Joseph / Annunciation - Love
5. Christmas Day Candle / White
In the arrangement shown above, the background and outer candles are created from brolly fabric and the central one from a piece of cardboard. As I do not have any holly in the garden, I have used the rosemary herb for the circular effect. Furthermore I find rosemary easier to work with as it:
- has a pleasant scent
- is not prickly like the holly
- can be washed and used in teas / cooking / cosmetics afterwards!
Advent song: Christmas is Coming
Sunday, 26 November 2023
LDV Measuring Cup? sketch
LDV Measuring Cup? Sketch
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Measuring Cup’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection is a sketch of what the author(s) describes as a measuring cup (mina). For me, the sketch looks more like a liquid dispenser with some lettering on it.
A bible verse also comes to mind…
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 NIV
This sketch, is produced on a piece of pink brolly fabric.
Sunday, 29 October 2023
LDV Mana Sketch
LDV Manna Sketch
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Mana’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection is a sketch of what looks like some flora. The text in the book refers to the item as ‘an am’, with a little pictorial fish in the middle. The text under the sketch looks more like:
Some people believe that Leonardo wrote backwards / did mirror writing. I have added what that might look like using the online https://www.dcode.fr/mirror-writing tool.So for me, the text equates to ‘manna’, a form of nourishment sent as a gift from God to feed the people who were lead by Moses.
“And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.” Exodus c16 v15 KJV
“And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Exodus c16 v31 KJV
The fish symbol was used by early Christians after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
‘The fish symbol served as a secret form of communication. Often the persecuted Christians would scratch this symbol on the ground to identify themselves to fellow believers’. Google
This sketch, is produced on a piece of blue brolly fabric.
Saturday, 30 September 2023
LDV Wheat? Sketch
LDV Wheat? Sketch
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Wheat’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection is a sketch of what the author(s) describes as wheat. To me, the sketch looks more like an insect’s face with random lines and a wave!
This sketch, is produced on a piece of green brolly fabric.
Tuesday, 29 August 2023
LDV Anchor Sketch
Anchor Sketch
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Anchor’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection is a sketch of what looks like an anchor. The text in the book refers to the item as ‘ancora’. The writing under the sketch looks more like:
The anchor sketch below is produced on a piece of purple brolly fabric.
Monday, 31 July 2023
LDV Arches Sketch
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Arches’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection is a sketch of what looks like a bridge and in the book’s text is described as "two sections of an arch (dime, in Milanese dialect)".
Although, at first glance it looks like a croissant with a blob of jam in the centre! On reflection it could be the entrance to a tunnel or cave and the ‘dime’ could possibly be code for diamond! Perhaps alluding to a diamond / crystal mine.
This sketch, is produced on a piece of pink brolly fabric.
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Branch?
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Branch’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection is a sketch of what looks like a branch and in the book’s text is described as a branch, ella.
According to google translate the word for branch is ramus (Latin) or roma (Italian) – or anything but ella.
However, to me at first glance it looks like flying creature with long wings in the shape of an olive leaf!
This sketch, is produced on a piece of green brolly fabric.
Wednesday, 31 May 2023
LDV Pine Cone
Pine Cone
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Pine Cone’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection is a sketch of a closed pine cone. Fallen pine cones tend to close up when wet and open up dry. To the left of the sketch are what look the letters
A T.
Ta pigna = Pine cone
Some people believe that Leonardo wrote backwards / did mirror writing. I have added what that might look like using the online
https://www.dcode.fr/mirror-writing tool.
This sketch, (open pine cone) is produced on a piece of yellow brolly fabric.
Sunday, 30 April 2023
Form of specks
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Form’ sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection include some abstract specks / shapes. Beneath the sketch are what look the letters 'm r o f'.
Some people believe that Leonardo wrote backwards / did mirror writing.
I have added what that might look like using the online
https://www.dcode.fr/mirror-writing tool.
This sketch is produced on a piece of blue brolly fabric.
Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Two Jugs
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Two Jugs sketch (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection include jugs. Beneath the sketch are what look the letters p v o.
Some people believe that Leonardo wrote backwards / did mirror writing. I have added what that might look like using the online https://www.dcode.fr/mirror-writing tool.
Some artists back in that era used a form of code to maintain secrecy of their ideas. I think Leonardo had a combination of mirror writing and other code to maintain secrecy. Nowadays there is Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to aid people who create.
The jugs are sketched on a piece of purple brolly fabric.
Monday, 27 February 2023
Musical Notation?
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s notation (c1490)
One of the pictorial puns in the Leonardo Da Vinci’s collection include what resembles musical notation.
This one caught my attention as it seems peculiar to have what reminds me of a handshake amongst the stave. All of the notes looks like breves too.
I have sketched this notation on a piece of pink brolly fabric.
Thursday, 19 January 2023
LDV Bell
Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s bell
I came across some illustrations of Leonardo Da Vinci’s pictographs (c1490). Some people believe that pictorial puns and other playful picture writing was a fun past time of the Renaissance.
The bell amused me as the top looked like a baby with a bonnet. Perhaps the pun was related to a simile of the bell to a baby's sound. It could even represent a ‘baby bell’.
You can search up the original drawing online and decide for yourself what this represents.
This adaptation is drawn on a green umbrella fabric.
Sunday, 25 December 2022
Happy Christmas 2022
Happy Christmas 2022
Sunday, 18 December 2022
December 2022
December 2022
'Your health is your Wealth'
Same message, just search for foods with vitamin C, D and Zinc. Choose the fruits and vegetables etc that suit you and incorporate them in your weekly meals.
Check health sites for recommended amounts and increase them if you are being very physical.
Review what nobel prize winner Linus Pauling had to say about Vitamin C and the common cold and flu too.
Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Adaptation of the Milky way art
Adaptation of the ‘Milky Way’ art
The Milky way is a galaxy which includes our solar system and is estimated by some to have 100 – 400 billion stars. There are more galaxies in the Universe besides ours!
According to the Bible
‘And he brought him forth abroad, and said, look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. KJV Genesis 15:5
A Point for consideration
It is estimated that there are 8 billion people in the earth. We have some way to go before reaching 100 – 400 billion if that is even possible! Therefore, providing everything is done in moderation i.e what is sown and reaped in terms of crops and minerals for a start, there is hope for all.
This adaptation of the ‘milky way’ is drawn on black umbrella fabric.
Saturday, 29 October 2022
Eureka Moments
Eureka Moments!
Now eight years of this blog and the ideas are still flowing!
Having viewed some decommissioned aeroplane sites on line, (and the sites are huge!) perhaps the use of space could be optimised further. Some of these aeroplanes are on the ground for up to 50 years so better use could be made of them whilst they are idle. My initial thoughts include:
- Hydroponic farming in the fuselage
- Solar panels on the wings for providing electricity
- Raised bed planters under the wings / shady area of the aeroplanes
- Store humidity gathered from inside the fuselage to produce water
- Use drip irrigation to water the planters
Simply search the internet for examples of how the above methods are used elsewhere.
PS: The design on the tail of the Aero Tree is taken from a broken umbrella fabric!
Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Autumn Leaves = Gardener’s Gold
Autumn Leaves = Gardener’s Gold
Thinking ahead, it is useful now in autumn to store enough of the fallen tree leaves in order to:
- Add to your compost bin over the year
- Create leaf mulch
Both of the above will be useful, particularly if there are periods of high temperature as happened during July 2022 in the UK. Putting compost / leaf mulch around your plants before the weather heats up will help to retain moisture.
Sunday, 21 August 2022
Brolly Fruit revisited
Brolly Fruit Revisited
To help heal the planet, people can compost, compost and compost some more! People can use their vegetable and fruit peelings along with leaves and grass clippings to improve the soil. Plants 'help to regulate the temperature by using energy, reflecting solar energy and providing shade', (see onlinesoil.co.uk for further information).
I recently used much of the contents from our compost bin to spread around the plant roots before the 40 degree celsius temperature arrived in the UK in July 2022. This has made me increasingly aware that more can be done on a wider level.
In particular all open mining projects across the world must include backfilling areas dug up!
The staff working in these areas eat and drink right? Therefore it would make sense that they compost what they use, (from onsite staff to all areas of office administration, management and even shareholders). They can then be responsible for replanting what they open up. Perhaps even have inter-company competitions to backfill and recreate lovely gardens, orchards, vegetable plots etc for the locals whose land they have disrupted.





















