At The Lido

While I have been cataloguing  some of my work I came across a drawing of 

a dress which I had titled At the Lido.  The structure of the garment 

and the folds of it's fabric must have reminded me of those amazing 

Art Deco pools of the 1930s

Here is a photo that I found:

A very posed photo of a Lido Pool

The Lido Pools were build in England in the 1930s, they were

built by local Councils to provide an opportunity for everyone to have access to

swimming facilities.  They would promote good health and become a place for community

events and gatherings.  During the war the maintenance of them became an impossible

burden and gradually they fell into disrepair.

Saltdean Lido

Some still remain though, restored by public donation and fond memories such as this one

 at Saltdean in Brighton.  It now even houses a public library, a gym and a cafe,

you can get married there too if you wish or have a party, lets just hope that the

weather holds.

Here is my drawing, it is actually not a suitable garment for a swim at the Lido.

 

Perhaps any of these would be more appropriate, I believe that the top

right one is Marilyn Monroe's from the 1950s.

Mid century swimsuits

Drawing images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2026

 

Spring in New Zealand 2026

Signs of Spring are finally arriving in the garden, a few daffodils are
   flowering but I still haven't finished pruning the roses.  This is because of the
cold frosts which we have experienced, but today it has changed.  The sun

is out and it feels warm again.

I am working on my flower wall and this week added some kowhai 

flowers.  I now have koromiko, kakabeak, kowhai and small blue 

hare bells amongst my garden flowers. The hare bell Wahlenbergia violacea

is a delicate plant with little blue bell shaped flowers, difficult to knit so I have

concentrated on the bell shape.

Here is a photo of the native flowers which I have added to my flower wall.

Kowhai, Kakabeak, Hare bell and Koromiko

Some other signs of Spring

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2026

Autumn in New Zealand

 

Autumn in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Today I finished working on a paper cutout of a vase of Autumn Leaves.

Most of our trees are not deciduous so these are a mixture of fallen

leaves and twigs from exotic trees with a few late garden flowers.

Autumn Leaves

Some are from willow trees which grow around the wetland and

the creek and some are from grasses and wild plants.

Last night it began to rain and it has hardly stopped today, the

creek is rising and there are no birds to be seen.  The following

photo was taken at a small park in central North Island, I could hear

a noise like rustling paper as these leaves fell from 

oak and lime trees.

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2026

 Anzac Day in New Zealand

It is almost Anzac Day again,  April 25 when we remember family who we have lost in wars.  I always think of my two great uncles Felix and Archie who both lost their lives in France during the first World War.

Here is a photo of them during happier times before the war when they have been helping on great grandfather's farm in Norfolk England

These two were brothers in law, and met through my grandparents, Felix on the left was the brother of my grandmother and Archie of my grandfather.  Both were greatly loved by them and they talked of them fondly.  There is a story that on the day Felix died in September 1916 in France the family dog went to sit by his motorbike at home in the barn in Norfolk and would not leave it.

Here is a photo of Felix on his motorbike taken in Norfolk in June 1916, he is wearing the uniform of the Royal Norfolks.  Archie died in July at the battle of Gommencourt in July the same year.

 

In memory of those who died to preserve our democracy it is important to remember how precious it is and how it is constantly under threat even today.  

Many of my family fought in both WWI and WWII and in memory of their bravery and suffering I have made a cutout paper work in Autumn colours.  It is called 

Orchids and Chrysanthemums.

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2026

 

A Seed Once Sown

I am posting a new blog, this is something of an achievement for me.  

In 2024 I spent three months in ICU at Wellington hospital and another month in rehab

recovering from surgery for aneurysms.  So here I am, so pleased to

be alive and so grateful to all who cared for me over that time.

While recuperating from  this I have been working on a knitted work about

the importance of the garden in sustaining our ecology, a subject which I have

often talked about before.  My own garden had grown a good crop of grass while

I was away and with the wind and storms we have had this Summer it is not

in the best of shape.  I have however been able to enjoy the blooms which our daughter 

has produced in her garden, she is the dahlia queen!

 Dahlias

'The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies' is a quote from Gertrude

Jekyll (1843 - 1932) the English gardener who first developed the wild garden from her

herbaceous border designs.

This photo is taken from the walled garden at Lindisfarne, Holy Island with the Jekyll

walled garden in the foreground.

A Seed Once Sown

copyright Frances Jill Studd 2026

 

 Anzac Day in New Zealand

As we approach Anzac Day it is important to remember people who have risked their lives so that we can live in a democracy.  It is something which we take for granted but it

is very precious.

Here are some photos taken by my Uncle while serving in the Royal Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II.  Some of his photos shows rescue missions and burnt out ships, everyday as they searched for enemy submarines their lives were in danger.

 

In memory of family who fought and died in WWI and WWII here is a 

papercut which I made of our beautiful Korikori or Mt Cook Buttercup.  

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2024

midnightcollective.blogspot.co.nz

A Spring Garden In New Zealand

  

A Spring Garden in New Zealand

 

For  my Christmas blog I am posting some photos of my Spring garden.

It was colourful and attracted many bees and insects, it contained many

weeds which they like more than my carefully selected flowers.

The foxgloves grow wild in the country side around here but they are an

introduced plant, not a native one.

There are geums, columbines and wild carrots to name a few,

At first I thought that they would smother the roses but lately the rose

bushes have come into their own, even surviving the blustery wind and

heavy rain which we had earlier this month.

At the back is an old fashioned weeping cherry tree which, when it blooms

looks like a handkerchief tree.

This is my lavender garden before it was in full flower.

Wishing you all a Meri Kirihimete.

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2023