The delight of yesterday was getting out with the sketchbook and feeling the warmth of the sun.

My eye was drawn to these dried teasels with their large brown oval heads and the little curved ‘flicks’ of dried leaves at the base of each, reminding me of the ends of a waxed moustache. I read that the Romans referred to these curved leaves rather more poetically as ‘the lip of Venus’.

Apparently the wild teasel is not the one used to raise the nap on cloth, although related. 

There is a fascinating history to the woollen industry, including the use of teasels (and the alternative hedgehog skin! – those Romans again…)

If you are interested  in learning more, I recommend this website.  https://www.exploringbuildinghistory.co.uk/the-teasel-in-the-english-woollen-cloth-industry/