Little Pieces of Sunshine!

Me and the larks are like 🤞🏻 these days!

I had a very broken sleep, and did not feel like I would manage today. Yet, manage I did. Feeling all the better for it thereafter.

My path was filled with snails going about their business, low morning sun glinting through shells, and making their snail trails glint as if bejewelled.

On my final walking section, the birds were riotous in cacophony of morning hellos. Rich songs, playing out across blue skies from tree tops.

A greenfinch flew to ground before me, flying in front and landing in staccato, as if to ensure I was to follow. Rising at last and landing in section of hedge to my right. We stopped, and looked each other face to face. ‘Hiya pal!’ I said. A blink of his eye, and he flew on. 💚

And so, another 5k completed and home before 6.30am. Day 10/30 a third of the month through already.

Then up to work, a day of busy as an RVN, and of Mumming, and of life full.

To bed soon. Hoping for a better sleep, as rest is so required.

Onwards.

Jen x

#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#getoutside ...

Same telegraph pole, a lovely pigeon atop this time, with another delicious cuppa, at the end of another glorious 5k walk through Balbirnie woods today.

Rain, storm clouds, warmest sun. It was a jam packed weather while, and I delighted in it.

A daily 5k routine seems to suit my soul. The fact I am doing it for a cause, for @younglivesvscancer makes it feel even more soul filling.

I began the day bleary and early today, but was so glad to tick off one Strength & Conditioning workout for the week before the day truly began.

Made small progress steps forward at my Dads house. Which in itself feels big, however small. So much tied up in the packing up of boxes.

The help of a friend, making the process by nature, more, not so much ‘enjoyable’, but something akin to that, in terms of company and conversation THROUGH the process.

Tiny steps anyway. Each one forward.

Home to sort house and home, see my cats, my children arrive home from school. Menial tasks completed, clothes washed and hung on the sunshine line.

This last while, so much has felt more than it actually is, small things smaller, as well as big things way bigger. Still I am glad they are done.

Progress is progress.

Jen x

#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#getoutside
#thetinydetailsandthefaraways
#progressisprogress ...

I am a (House) Martin. 💙

A Martin by name, this version of my illustrated wooden brooches, is very close to my heart.

A ‘top fave’ I would call it. Praise indeed from my very own favourite day to day vocabulary of choice.

Perfect for a denim jacket, a cardigan, a hat, or a scarf, or indeed any piece of clothing you so choose.

I’m planning a flurry of migratory birds over the coming months. Travelers, and joybringers, flying from far off climes, their arrival speaking of hope and endurance, and of belief in a journey, that feels unimaginable.

And yet, is flown. Survived. Completed. Year after year, after year.

#housemartin
#icantkeepthismoment
#artistdesignedaccessories
#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist ...

Today’s 5k in June for @younglivesvscancer was filled with the loveliest wee noticings.

I asked my friend Audrey if she would like to join me today, with her beautiful retriever Ruby, and off we went, a glorious nature filled route along the old rail path in Markinch and around Balbirnie Woods.

There are so many flowers in bloom just now. Meadow flower varieties and the edges of our paths walked were just so bountiful.

The sky was brightest blue, and we talked the whole way round.

Both with sporting families, it was lovely to talk of their endeavours, and our own also, on a personal basis.

We spoke of our parents too, and our plans for the future, both near into the Summer, and onwards, in terms of hopes and ideas of ways we can grow.

Audrey is one of the few who actually came and chapped my door after both my Mum, and then my Dad passed away. She knows of grief, but, like me, she is so open to finding ways to find happiness in our days moving onwards.

I love that in a friend. A mutual appreciated of how precious life is.

Home then, after a proper good cup of tea, to sort my studio, finally, and also plant some flowers in our own garden.

Meadow blooms, poppy seeds and sunflowers, in the hope that somehow, they too will grow in the months to come.

We continue.

💚

#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#JennaMartinLeitchWriter
#getoutside
#5kEveryDayInJune ...

As a Nature Girl, THIS girl loves to spend time outside every day.

It helps me to reconnect to my thoughts. Ponder my ideas. Both artistically, and with words, and also, to think about my life as a whole.

We create space, so we can find our path. Carving it out, to be the happiest route we can muster.

Today I walked my 5k a day in June for @younglivesvscancer , day 6/30, and during those moments outside I loved seeing all the plants in bloom.

Leaves rich green, and blooms wide awake and beckoning. They pull us in to look close, with their own particular kind of magic.

My newest ‘Little Me’ drawing, is titled “Rain Resting”. A tiny version of me, stood balanced upon a leaf on stem of aquilegia. Flowers above as umbrella. I’ve been enjoying new imaginings of my tiny adventures.

That precious time outside is LIKE a rest. Even with movement, walk, runs, I feel rested just by process of stepping out our front door.

“We Dig, We Sow, We Plant, We Grow” pays adage to this also. The process of choosing to invest in a garden, an external world we create, and spend time within, is hope. Isn’t it?

I choose hope every day. I choose to think of ways to bring simple joys. Noticings. Nature. Steps forward. Ideas to grow in myself.

We continue. As do I.

Jen x

#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist ...

Another 5k a day completed in June for @younglivesvscancer

Today with my good friend @katiebirdiedoes and her gorgeous toot of a border terrier Mabel, whom I love very much!

4 and a bit beautiful miles. Some in sunshine, some in torrential rain, some in dappled shade. All, with one foot in front of the other.

I had another kind and wonderful donation last night to the charity, from a beautiful person. Thank you June.

The walks/run/miles are helping me. It’s lovely to see friends, and also just to move, and be in nature. All the things I love really.

Inspiration tied in.

Jen x

#JOYimprinted
#BraesLoan
#5kadayinJune
#getoutside ...

💛 A lot of lovely people over the weekend, chose a Birdie in Flight, or a wooden illustrated brooch, and a card to match! The perfect wee something, with a place to write a lovely, heart felt, personal message in one of my blank artist cards.

You can see here some of my selection here.

I am so proud of this years range. I kept creating what I feel are beautiful things, and kept running, kept moving, through one of the hardest times of my life.

Beauty can be found in even the places we would least expect.

These have been my remedy in many ways.

Send me a message if you’d like any for end of term gifts. I will be adding them all onto my site over the next few days, but feel free to DM me in the meantime should anything take your eye.

Jen x

#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#birdiesinflight
#moth ...

I heard a yellowhammer on my run this morning… “a little bit of bread and no cheeeese!” 💛

Bright and early and up with the larks, another 5k in the bag for @younglivesvscancer

I have a whole flock of these little birdies.

If you are looking for a small, but beautifully crafted something, that is a little bit different for your teacher gift at the end of this term, get in touch.

This little sunshine soul, like the others, is lasercut in high grade birch ply, before being printed with my own illustration of a yellowhammer.

They make the perfect gift!

☀️

#yellowhammer
#birdieinflight
#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist ...

🐞

A n t - Ò g h m i o s

J U N E

June is here.

It has arrived, a new month.

I feel it as a chance to begin again.

Journeys always continue, they’re always a forward motion. Also, though, they can be seen as a shift in the air, possibilities… or moving further away, from a something, a some place, a someone…

Since my father died, in January of this year, each month he does seem further away. Somehow though, I become closer to finding a way to express my love for him. For my Mum. For those I miss.

I have been writing a lot. Words of “Sending love”. This poem, on my carousel, about receiving or sending letters. How these messages wing their way to us, from us, and let us know we are thought of.

Snail Mail, post with insect inspired slowness. Winding trails through air or on land.

My new “Emperor Moth” card, proved popular this weekend at Scone. People will always love a card to send.

Two ladybirds landed upon my littlest and myself whilst at the beach last weekend. “Daolag-Bhreac” in Scottish Gaelic, a spotty beetle.

Lady landers, they have folkloric significance. Their arrival a blessing, the flight path they leave on signaling where love will be found. The number of spots upon their shells, the blessings granted.

Blessings I have in too many numbers to count when it comes to my parents. Blessings also, in having beautiful, kind people within my life who care deeply for me. For us.

We pass that love on. In letter form or words. In art upon page, I endeavour to continue that love.

Also, in steps taken.

This month, I aim to complete a 5k every day for each day in June. For @younglivesvscancer in memory of a beautiful little boy who passed in recent days. Archie was a wonder. The brightest soul. A ladybird, with ALL the blessings implied, will always make me think of him from now on. He loved creepy crawlies, and having seen so many in my life over the years, I know the joy they bring. He brought the sum of all of those joys, to so many.

I will put the link to my donation page in my stories. If you wish to donate, that would be wonderful. If you wish to walk or run some of those miles with me across the month. Let me know. ...