Goodbye 2011 and thank you for all that you have given and shown me. For helping me on my journey. I don't know my destination but I know that each day, I have taken just one small thing with me in my luggage. One small thing that's bright. One small thing that shines as glittering light on silver sea does.One small thing that at times it may seem is just barely visible as a spark in a dark cloudy sky.
There has been a lot of talk about this new year. Lets hope if change comes it will be only good. The shift will be a realisation and opening of eyes. Lets hope we realise that we are not the only species of life on this planet and that the only way forward is harmony and interconnectedness with the earth.
I wish you all a happy, healthy and most magical 2012.
And to anyone that hasn't had a go in the giveaway. There is still time. :) x
I finished the painting so here I am, back again to show you.
'Winter Guardians'
As soon as I take it to town and get it professionally scanned it will be available to buy as a print in my Etsy shop. But that will be the in new year now.
Today is Winter Solstice. I'm sure the birds outside know this or is it just me that is imagining the rooks and pigeons are moving quicker with a sense of spring on their wing?
Magical Solstice wishes to one and all.... and in case I don't get to pop in again?
Thank you all for taking the time to stop by here this year and for all the supportive wonderful comments.
I wish everyone a peaceful Very Merry Christmas filled with love, light and good will. xx
Only a few days away from Christmas and it's pine scented and cosy here. We put our decorations up the other day. Here's a glimpse.
The lovely old mirror was a car boot sale buy for £5. And below, the newest addition to the room, little hare, a birthday gift. I think he looks just right sat here for Christmas.
I'm painting something wintry at the moment. Here it is in progress, probably about half way done?
I've really felt the cold all day today. Although it's not that cold outside, just very wet. Whenever the weather is like this though, this house always feels cold. A bit like a cave really.
I have presents to wrap and tomorrow holly and ivy to bring indoors but before I do that, I have a little something to give away!
Here it is....
It's a blank lined book and features my painting Autumn Hare on the cover. Just perfect for writing your dreams, musings and magic in.
If you would like a chance of winning it, all you have to do is be a follower of my blog and leave me a comment and I'll pop your name into the lucky draw. If you are on Facebook or Twitter and you share, I'll put you in the draw again! :) I will draw the winner between Christmas and New year, so there is plenty of time to have a go.
December. A month that is so important to many, yet passes so quickly without hardly noticing because people seem so busy. Busy preparing for Christmas and planning the next fresh new year. December always seems to be wished away. I arrived into the world in December. Winter born, on an icy morning. I feel I have a bond with December. I'm going to savour the month.
Snowflakes have joined the crystals in the window. Today the light was so pretty.
During my lunch break I decided to go for a short walk to the Abbey, as I'd heard there would be Christmas trees....
Not a trace of Harry Potter in the cloisters... ;-) just a faint delicious forest scent of pine.
(For those of you that might not understand why I mentioned Harry Potter, it was because the first two films had scenes shot here. I feel very lucky to have been able to visit the set here during that time and enter the defence against the dark arts room and the potions room. Unfortunately cameras were not allowed. Anyway that is a story for another day maybe?)
The trees are each decorated by an organisation in the village. They will be there until the 18th December if you are nearby, feeling festive and fancy a visit.
It was cold, still and quiet inside, the only sound were my boots on old stone and the birds on the roof. It was so very peaceful.
My shadow in the doorway. A scarecrow with a wooden post as a leg..? ;-)
Of course I couldn't leave for home without a browse in the second hand bookshop. I wish all shops were like this, don't you?
The owls on my desk in the previous post were all finished and flew across to the Etsy shop. There are still some left.
I found this enchanting wintery video on youtube. The song is Kate Bush's beautiful new track Snowflake which I have fallen in love with and can be found on her latest album 50 Words For Snow. I wonder if you will fall in love too? x
As I sit writing this I can see through my window the wind has got up. The last week has been so still and grey, but today the light has changed. The first glimpse of winter in the pale pink tinged afternoon.
Light and shadows on the wall look like other worlds and landscapes. Maybe I will paint pictures inspired by these. More to add to my long list. ;)
I've been busy with wooden hangers. I have 16 more to paint and then I am having a break from them. There is always a balance that needs to be met with me in regards to painting and crafts. If I sway to one too much, then I have a desperate urge to do the other. Recently It's been mostly craft, so it's time to get the balance back.
Above, owls waiting their turn. There are 11 to paint, barn, snowy and tawny. Below some woodland fairies which have just been listed in my Etsy shop.
This time last year there was snow on the ground. This year I have two pink roses in bloom.
The furry two know winter is on it's way though I'm sure....
Hmm...sister hasn't quite mastered the art of cosiness though...
Misted, smoky, damp days of November are here. I love their scent. Sweet browning fallen apples, tangled with leaves fermenting on mossy damp lawns. The sharp temperature drop at night mixed with wood smoke that spirals out of cottage chimneys. Warmth beckons from cosy windows looking so much more inviting at this time of year. It's that time to dig out hats, scarves, gloves and big socks that come up to the knees again.
Skies have been illuminated with flame and cracklings.
While outside is Autumn, inside has been one step ahead.
Winter and Christmas has stopped by at my desk.
Holly and Mistletoe hares to be added to my Etsy shop.
And some more pendants.
I've just finished reading a story with a unicorn. It also had wonderful dragons, magic and Glastonbury woven into it's pages too and the theme of the story is so current and relevant to today. I won't give too much away but suggest you go and read more! The book is called 'Tilly Greenway And The Secrets Of The Ancient Keys' By Essi Tolling. 'Watchers' is book one of a trilogy. There is an Amazon link on the right side bar. I think it would make a wonderful Christmas gift for an older child or teen? Or if you are like I am... then of course also yourself. ;)
I love the way that books now have trailers, what a great idea. I found this one on you tube.
A sparkling morning.
Little spiders, artists of the garden, their diamond rain dropped filligre webs enchanted my day? If the sun had not come out and revealed the woven masterpieces would a different day have emerged?
It was one of those uplifting moments that makes your heart sing and feel a surge of gratefulness for glimpsing a fragment of nature's overpowering beauty.
Our days are shaped by moments, good and bad, they influence our day. If we look for the beautiful moments we weave and embroider that day to wear.
I'm loving the autumn light, thin through the fading turning leaves. A wonderful time to be out catching magic on camera. The seed pod below, I see a crown? And below the glistening water drops on fennel, a chandelier fit for a fairies house?
Later in the day when the light began to fade I walked. Into the quiet mist, and greeted the gentle folk with a warm 'hello'.
And then into a veil.
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The other day a good hour was spent replying to comments on this blog, only for them to disappear before being posted. I apologise for not re- doing them but it just took so long and it was very late at night and... well, there are no other excuses. Sigh... Blogger gremlins do seem to be around a lot lately? I really appreciate all of your comments! And I hope that those of you who ordered the Witch light book are enjoying it! x
I've been busy making more pendants for my shop (among other things) and here are some of the first batch. More sleepy little creatures in nests.
October is apple scented. We have three trees in the garden. Two sweet eating varieties and an old yellow sour crab apple.
These apples are not off our trees, but instead at our local apple day. So many wonderful kinds and the smell, so sweet and delicious.We arrived there a little late so all the toffee apples had sold out, but there was a little bit of cider left. It's school holidays next week so I think toffee apples could be on the to do list? Nights are drawing in now and I've been lost in the beautiful words of Susan Fletcher's 'Witch Light'.
I enjoyed it so much first time round in September that I have to admit I've been reading it again. (click on the amazon link on the right hand side of my blog for more info) I couldn't put this book down.Wait a bit until it's cold enough to light a fire, then sit by candlelight and crackling log and I'm sure you will enjoy.
Days are quiet and warm inside my wooden studio.
A new 'Autumn Hare' has appeared....
And will be available as a print in my Etsy shop soon.
When I was out walking a few weeks ago, I came across this piece of wood. Some
trees had been felled and sawn up and this one single slice had been left
behind. Of course when I saw it, I saw treasure, or a creation. So it came
home with me and sat patiently on my desk until the other day when I turned it into this.
'Wood Fairy'
I went back again to the figure in the nest sketch in this post as I felt it would be the perfect shape to fit and suited it perfectly. I'll also be listing Wood Fairy in my Etsy shop shortly.
On the subject of nests, we've been cutting a large area of brambles down and my daughter came across these old ones.
Aren't they the most adorable clever creations.
xx
From January 2021 I decided to give blogging a break. and since then have only been posting videos. I may come back to it at some point, (a new one though, as this site has too many glitches) but in the meantime do come and follow me on Youtube. x
I paint pictures and make creatures with wood.
Earth and animal lover, magic seeker.
Welcome to my place where I share things I am working on, things that inspire and other odds and ends.
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