Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A Day In The Sea Breeze

It's been a day of April showers here. In between the rainfall the birds have been singing as if they were in a fairy tale forest. I think they are thankful for the water. Thankful that plants will grow and seeds will set. I've been sat at my desk all day close to my heater. (It's always chilly inside when it is damp outside) I've been working away on a new painting which I will tell you about and show you next time...

 A couple of weeks ago I made some more faerie hangers. I didn't get time to write about them before they were put into my Etsy shop and now they have all sold. But... there are some more on the horizon. They are cut out but are waiting patiently to be brought to life with the touch of a paintbrush. So if you are interested, keep an eye on my shop in the merrie month of May.

I love this time of year. Everything is fresh and new and brightest green....
 A couple of weeks ago we decided it was time to  pack up a picnic and travel to the coast. Dorset being our next door county, the beautiful coastline is not very far away, almost 2 hours, as much of the journey is around winding roads. We stopped to look at the view and had a quick cup of tea.  The sun deceived us with her enticing brightness glinting on the sea, but it was cold and windy up on Lulworth hills. So windy the flask cups almost blew away.
We carried on down to Lulworth Cove.
The village of Lulworth is a pretty unspoilt place and is quite dear to me. I've been visiting since I was a child, spent my honeymoon here and have enjoyed bringing  my own children here on several occasions. There are fishing boats, pretty cottages, a duck pond and a man painting magic on oyster shells by the cafe.

 I love this cottage..
And this one...
This one is known as the dolls house. It's much smaller than it seems on this photograph I should have  took it from a different perspective. Take a look here for another picture of it.
The origin is uncertain but, it was believed to have been shipped across the ocean to Lulworth from Canada. This house has always fascinated me whenever I visited, because for years it was empty and looked very unloved and derelict. There was something about it, a feeling? It's quite recent I think, that it has been done up? Sometime in the last 15 years or so? It was at first transformed into a replica fisherman's cottage that you could view, and now it has been turned into an old fashioned sweet shop. This cottage features in one of my paintings. Can you spot it? ;)
Now the children have become teens there is the advantage that they can walk further. (This is not guaranteed at all times. ;) When you visit Lulworth you can't go home without walking the 2 miles up the hill across to Durdle Door.
Again it was windy up here. You wouldn't think so though as the water is so still.
Such a magical beach.
 There were wild cabbages growing on the cliffs which made me daydream and  imagine  a hermits life, a secret cave, boiling up cabbages and other plants and wild swimming for bathing...
 Durdle Door.
The word 'durdle' is derived from an old english word 'thirl' meaning to drill or bore. This is exactly what the sea has done to the rock over the many many years transforming it into the perfect doorway arch that it is today. You can read more here
Or of course it could be gateway to somewhere else.... The land of selkies and mermen? I'll leave that  up to you to imagine..
I must say a big thank you to my daughter for taking the wonderful photo's. I left my camera in the car and only realised after I had walked a mile up the hill, so didn't really fancy walking back to get it. Why not go and visit her tumblr where she shares many a magical thing. :) 

Back home to Wiltshire there was not a trace of a cobweb left in my head. A good spring clean, the brisk sea breeze had swept them away. 

42 comments:

  1. looks like a wonderful sunny day in the midst of all this rain.

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    1. It was indeed. Haven't glimpsed the sun at all this weekend and have even lit the fire.

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  2. What a beautiful posting, Karen. Lifted my spirits with your daughter's wonderful pictures and your words of your day by the sea. It's been too long since I've been to the coast and as you say, it really does blow away the cobwebs - I must go soon. Thank you for sharing :)x

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed. I hope you get a trip soon. x

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  3. I love that first cottage, behind a gate. It would be odd to put a gate here in the middle of the forest, but I've always wanted one! And strange that they would bring a cottage across the sea from Canada. Cool arch, reminds me of some of the beautiful places I used to visit when I lived in Greece. Happy greening!!

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    1. The first cottage is my favorite too Valerianna, isn't it beautiful... I love the windows.
      Ooh yes Greece has beautiful beaches. I did a bit of Greek island hopping in my younger years. How wonderful to live there. :)

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  4. I like the fairies a lot. How lovely that little Cottage is, especially with all it's history - can't imagine why it would ever lie empty. Such a pretty village your post has made me want to visit Lulworth now.

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    1. It's well worth a visit Betty. Maybe add it to you're list. Do you have a list? I know I do, and it gets longer each day. ;)

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  5. That was a nice trip out for me too I did not have to put my coat on either, thankyou for the pics and lovely descriptions.

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    1. You're most welcome! Thanks for visiting, and I do love your name! :)

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  6. Oh Karen, you are speaking to my soul with this post :) Sea magic & wee cottages! *sighs*
    What a perfect place for a honeymoon, it's so nice to see the places that have touched peoples hearts & drawn them back time & again. It's what blogs are for I think...to share our own special loves!

    And the wooden fairies are fab!! Not surprised they all sold so quickly :) xx

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it Julia. It was a wild & windy place when we were there on honeymoon. I remember the waves were throwing up pebbles so high that they were hitting the cafe windows. I love wild and stormy seas as much as seasides on sunny days though, as I'm sure you do too? :)x

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  7. It looks like you had a wonderful time. I love Lulworth Cove, Dorset is so beautiful.

    Those fairies are gorgeous, can't wait to see the next ones.

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  8. Your daughter's photographs are really good and make me want to visit Dorset again. On my only visit so far I stayed inland all the time, nect time I shall explore the coast, it looks really beautiful.

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  9. Lovely pictures and lovely fairies too! I must get round to taking my children to Durdledoor, we're about the same distance away as you are it seems and I haven't been since I was a child myself! Glad you had a nice day out!

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    1. I think a visit is long overdue then Carrie. I'm sure you're girls would love it! :)

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  10. What a beautiful post. Yes, I do have my eyes on those fairies. Will you be posting about their much hoped for arrival? I shall be stalking your blog over the next few weeks looking out for blissful winged creatures.

    Stephanie

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    1. Thank you! and yes, I will post about the next batch. :) x

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  11. I haven't been to Lulworth for years but your daughters lovely photos capture it so well. What a romantic place for a honeymoon. The sea breezes here in Sussex have been gales this past week. Love your fairies. Karen X

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  12. What beautiful places.....I love these hanging fairies in the garden, they look great......

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  13. Lovely photos of a beautiful walk - its always been windy when we have visited too :)
    Your faeries are beautiful!
    Deborah x

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  14. A beautiful post Karen...love the Fairies!! So magical...just wanted to say also I play your music from your blog..Which I love all day long....xxxx Happy friday!

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    1. I'm so glad that you enjoy the music. :)x

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  15. Thank you for sharing. The photos were wonderful :)

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  16. A trip to the shore always blows the cobwebs away doesn't it. Lulwoth looks a lovely place to visit and i do adore your wee faeries, so sweet, im sure they will all vanish in the shake of a wand x

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  17. Beautiful post. Love all your magical fairies! New Follower.

    Jody

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  18. hello karen,
    i found you via amelia's blog.
    i am melted + sweetly marveled by your dear art.
    i kiss the forehead of it all + now follow.
    xox rachel

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    1. Hello Rachel and thanks for following! :)

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  20. Dear Karen,
    Thank you for taking us on your jorney to places unknown and unseen! I felt the atmosphere (thanks to the young photographer!) and liked everything. Your last words contain the essence of the post (for me) and I think you are right - Nature is the best medicine for everything!!...
    Durdle Door looks so imposing and magical, as if a huge bird has sunk its head to drink water!
    I like green, so the acorn fairy is my favourite!:)
    I hope the sun will shine these days over your place!

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    1. You're welcome Rossichka, I'm so glad you enjoyed the outing. :) A big bird...I like that.

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  21. Thank you for sharing your lovely visit to this beach. Love the Doll cottage, this is intriguing to me, as I am in Canada, where you think the house may have come from.
    Rain and spring, and greenery - so refreshing!
    Once again, I have found a lovely small, get aaway, and refreshement, by visiting here.
    Cheers!
    Brenda

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    1. Hi Brenda.. The cottage is enchanting isn't it. Glad you enjoyed. :)

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  22. Oh my goodness! What stunning beauty! How I would love to visit there. I have long entertained the idea of cottage living...especially in the woods or near the sea. Your fairy hangars are amazing - congrats on selling them so quickly. They are truly magical. :)

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    1. A cottage on the edge of woods, looking down on the sea or the sea just over the hill. Theresa, now that would be perfect. ;)x

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  23. I do so love your blog, I've been following for some time now and don't always comment but I look forward to your posts, don't stop blogging ever! I adore your work and the images on todays post were beautiful too, well done to your daughter!

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    1. Thanks so much Moira, such sweet words! I am very happy that you enjoy my blog and really appreciate you coming here. The same goes for all my readers. :) x

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  24. Such enchanting photos. Truly magical.

    As always, I love your work. The faeries are a delight.

    (How funny, one of the WV "words" was EYEART)

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  25. Oh I love those faeries! Beautiful. I can't wait to move into my new home so I can create a faerie garden. You are inspiring me!
    Fantastic photos! No wonder you create such beautiful artwork: you are surrounded by beauty.
    Luna

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  26. The little cottage used to belong to my Great Grandmother o'Hare - my Father lived there for a time during the Second World War. I have wonderful memories of visiting her during the late 70's when it was heated by a coal fire and we took a bath in a tin tub in the outhouse. A small bathroom annex was later added when she became more frail. My Father was very upset at the state the little house had fallen into - I was very pleased to see on Google Street View quite recently that its has become a Sweetie House, selling Fudge. I'm SO happy ! We're all in Australia now, so can't visit; but its such a pleasure to see the little house giving joy to other people. I found your Blog while looking for pictures of it, so thought I'd pass on a fragment of its history.

    Cheers !
    Molly Tinsley

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It's great to hear from you! :-)