No more whale hunting in the Southern Ocean!

I'm so happy with today's ruling by the International Court of Justice and I know I'm in good company! Japan can no longer continue its annual whale hunt in the Southern Ocean, where they make the majority of their catch, and the argument that it is for scientific purposes has been rejected.

"a more concentrated campaign focused in Japan has begun to see major change in the perception
 of the whaling programme at home, despite it coming at great risk and cost to campaigners"
Source: Greenpeace

Read more about it here, here and a good article about reduced Japanese support of whaling here.

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Update April 2014: "Japan says the whaling is scientific.. Tokyo is making preparations to submit a revised whaling plan for both the Pacific and the Antarctic to the International Whaling Commission by this fall.." despite the fact that, according to a recent survey of Japanese consumers "Only 4% said they consumed whale meat 'occasionally' while 10% said they ate it on 'rare occasions,'" (Source).

If you are one of the growing number of Japanese citizens who are against whaling or dolphin hunting and would like to find out more about how you can help, Japan's first open opposition group, 'Action for Marine Mammals' is an excellent place to start - go for it!

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hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

Sundance

Poppyfield and Sundance

Hi, have you had a good start to your weekend? I've been sorting out these new designs. On the left here is a new version of Poppyfield with updated, brighter colours and a smaller repeat. To the right is a new pattern which I've based on it and I'm so happy with how the colours have printed - they're so fresh and bright. It's called Sundance after the flowers I'd never heard of and only happened to come across after designing this pattern - meant to be?! I hope you like them too; if you do, you can find them in my Spoonflower shop!

Have a good Sunday lovely peeps :)

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hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

El Condor Pasa

Textile paint experiments - first flowering cherry - winter sun and a new blanket - el condor pasa.. a few pictures from over at Instagram. I hope you have a great week!

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hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

♥♥ Pairs ♥♥

Happy Valentine's Day; I hope you can share it with someone you love! Swans pair bond for life so I thought this picture from my Instagram account would be a good one for the blog today. Speaking of pair bonds, the Decorah eagles have reclaimed their nest and are due to start laying any day now.. watch this space:

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Forest & Sea ▪ www.etsy.com/shop/ForestAndSea

hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

Wild Cub

This album has been helping me feel sunnier on these grey and rainy days; especially this song:

And I've been dreaming of being back on this holiday in Portugal:

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hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

Pines & Cranes Night - Large Scale

I've had a request through Spoonflower for this design on a larger scale so if you'd also like to make a throw or a bedspread with this pattern then Pines & Cranes - Night (large scale) is available here!

Update 30th March: This design made the Spoonflower Hot Sellers list this week - many, many thanks to those of you who've ordered some!

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Forest & Sea ▪ www.etsy.com/shop/ForestAndSea

hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

Taiji Cove

I've been horrified by the events in Taiji Cove the last few weeks. The cruelty witnessed by the Cove Guardians is shocking and many zoos and aquariums around the world (and thereby their visitors) are financing the slaughter by buying the best looking dolphins caught by the 'fishermen'. This week around 50 have been captured for sale, many just infants and juveniles taken from their mothers, destined for a boring, shortened life of imprisonment. Many, many others have been killed in a slow and painful way for their meat. If you could spare a couple of minutes to sign a petition for WAZA (World Association for Zoos and Aquariums) to enforce their code of ethics and expel the offending aquariums, it could make a difference!

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE. Their goal is 200,000 signatures and right now they're at 124,610.

Here are some other good links to find out more:

Read here about captive cetaceans

Read the list of aquariums known to buy wild dolphins from these dolphin drives

Debunking the romanticized myth of becoming a dolphin trainer

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If you are one of the growing number of Japanese citizens who are against whaling or dolphin hunting and would like to find out more about how you can help, Japan's first open opposition group, 'Action for Marine Mammals' is an excellent place to start - go for it!

................................................................................

Forest & Sea ▪ www.etsy.com/shop/ForestAndSea

hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

Silver Pool

I had a birthday recently and I was very lucky and got what I asked for: a sterling silver pool necklace by Elizabeth Scott. I really love it! You can find her nature inspired handmade jewelry both on Etsy and on her own website and she also has a blog.

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Forest & Sea ▪ www.etsy.com/shop/ForestAndSea

hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

Insta-pin

Hello, are you all having a good start to 2014? I hope so.

Are any of you on Instagram? I've just started over there and I love it, so come and say hello if you are. You can click on the tab in the margin over there ➵ to see my profile. I've added one for Pinterest too if you're pinterested :D

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Forest & Sea ▪ www.etsy.com/shop/ForestAndSea

hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware

  

Augghh-i-wuaah unh!

I thought that the Piepster's Chewbacca impression would be a good way to end the year on the blog.. uncanny isn't it? Augghh-i-wuaah unh! actually means Happy New Year! in the Wookiee language, so have a great New Year's Eve and a wonderful 2014 from us!

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Forest & Sea ▪ www.etsy.com/shop/ForestAndSea

hand drawn nature on fabric, accessories & homeware