A Little Shop,Fossils And Sir David

Not so long ago, I think I mentioned in a tale, a special shop. Quite secret, treasure filled, the kind of shop you read about in story books or sometimes if you are lucky, see in films. This shop lives in a quiet little town where the seaweed trails across ancient fossils trapped in time...
I would like to share with you 'The Mermaid shop'....

The Mermaid shop lives in The pretty town of Lyme Regis in Dorset. Last weekend when the sun scorced the dry earth and my fairy roses burst into bloom, this is where I was.The Mermaid shop is home to artist LinzieWest. This time I went, I asked if I could take some photo's.

How lucky she is to have such an inspiring work space and magical surrounding to show off her work.

The shop is attached to her studio.

If you are in Lyme Regis or nearby, it's a  must to visit!
                                                                
Of course I didn't just gaze at the Mermaid shop all weekend... I soaked in and absorbed other things that inspired me, as well as sand and sun cream. Fairytale cottages that could live in magic forests in one of my paintings...

I can imagine standing here of a morning and looking out to sea....

The evenings were still and so peaceful.
 And we lost ourselves again in the fossil shelf, which is amazing....

 A lovely weekend, with perfect seaside weather and we even got to see Sir David Attenborough   who  was

filming on the beach whilst we fossil foraged.

This weekend will be quiet and spent at home in the garden.
xx

A Time To Nourish My Spirit

                                        

 The talking oak
To the ancient spoke.
But any tree
Will talk to me.
                                                -  Mary Carolyn Davies                                           

                                                                                

 I was surrounded by trees most of last weekend. Cycling through forest tracks strewn with pine cones. The scent of needles perfumed the spring air.  Like a magpie and the many forest wood ants I was attracted to the glittering sap resembling summer rain drops or icicles.

Stand Tall and Proud

Sink your roots deeply into the earth

Reflect the light of a greater source

Think long term

Go out on a limb

Remember your place among all living beings

Embrace with joy the changing seasons

For each yields it's own abundance

The energy and birth of spring

The growth and contentment of summer

The wisdom to let go of leaves in the fall

The rest and quiet renewal of winter

-Ilan Shamir, Advice from a tree

A place to collect thoughts and re-charge...

Some nourishment for my spirit.

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit -   Robert Louis Stevenson

Here is the most  beautiful song to share with you, which I think almost has the same effect as the forest does...

 

Still Thinking About Foxes

All is quiet, just me and the garden and the birdsong.

Oh and the hum of the odd bee or 'Dumbledore' (as my very good  friend recently reminded me their proper name was )

 A mossy bed amid these bells would be a good idea, in the warm sun, just to sleep for a little while.....

 My mind is still filled with foxes, and foxes and  more foxes so what else could I do but paint one?..

                                                             'Rest Your Weary Head'

Is a very special original painting on wood edged with real silver leaf. It will shortly be listed for sale here.

Before I disappear again for a few days, let me introduce you to my lodger that has taken up residence in the greenhouse. Beneath the salad box he hides and  pays his way by keeping the slugs down.

 Of course it could be a she?...

A Day Out And A week Filled Of Nail Biting.

It's cold here today. Grey skies and a chilly breeze. A gentle blizzard of apple blossom petals  every now and then gust pass the window. We have lit the woodburner. How different to the other day when we visited  beautiful Exmoor.

A wonderful national park, where the fluffy wild ponies graze and sunshine yellow gorse perfumes the air.

And beneath the flowered bushes minature forests exist...

The sun shone and it was warm.
Warm enough to sit by the stream just along the road at nearby Lynmouth.

And eat fish and chips (the best I've tasted in years!) on the sea front wall. This very handsome seagull waited ever so patiently and was very polite about wanting one of my chips.

I have visited here on several occassions but this trip was to show my daughter as she had recently been learning about 'The Lynmouth disaster' at school. She instantly fell in love with the little town.

We sat on rocks, skimmed stones and breathed in the sea air and generally had a quiet relaxing bank holiday Monday.

                                   *****
I've been easily distracted for the rest of the week by various things. My nails have been bitten down and I've have found it hard to concentrate. I keep wandering to this page and it's facebook page and it makes me so worried and sad to think things could change.If you feel the same please please join.

I've  also been painting ...

                                                                     Beneath blackthorn 

                                                                   And Moongazer.

Both of these I'm afraid have been listed and sold already but I thought I would still share them with you.
I have a new painting on canvas which I have just begun and hope to share that soon. In the mean time I think I will go and  warm myself by the fire. ......

See you all soon xx

The Moonlit Gathering

Just thought I'd drop in quickly to wish everyone a Happy May Day!

Also to show you my new painting that wasn't ready to show on Wednesday.

                                                              'The Moonlit Gathering'

Acrylic on a 38 x 29 cm canvas. It's inspired by the story The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge.
 It is also slightly symbolic of my own house, the animals being characters in previous paintings, waiting for me outside...
Today I have been to town , had the painting scanned  and it is now available in my Etsy shop as a print to buy.
I hope you all have a wonderful bank holiday weekend, whatever you are up to?  :) x