Some Thoughts About Earth Our home

With the miracle of Spring happening all around us at the moment, who can not notice the beauty of the Earth.

Trees are bursting into their blossomy leafy cloaks once again and primroses decorate grassy banks  The days are filled with sweet song of robin, blackbird, thrush and the tap tapping of the woodpecker down in the little wood has returned. It's a beautiful sound to hear, calming and comforting as bees humming from flower to flower. I've seen brimstone butterflies, bumble bees/dumbledores and many native species ladybirds. The moths have returned at night fluttering against my window. Their eyes reflect my desk lamp and glow like tiny fairy fire embers. New life is everywhere and of course soon the glorious hawthorn will grace us with her white magic. One of my favourite sights and the smell...heaven.

The other day I imagined if the leaves on the trees didn't arrive... What if no flowers came into bloom, no birdsong, no bees. What if we waited and waited but Spring just didn't happen?  A horrible scary thought indeed.  But we do take everything so for granted. We put such importance on things that really aren't. How can so much value be put on a diamond when water is worth so much more?

 It made me think of these words...

Only after the last tree has been cut down

Only after the last river has been poisoned

Only after the last fish has been caught

Only then will you find money cannot be eaten

~Cree Prophecy~

Saturday like many people we lit candles and marked Earth Hour. A small statement for change some would say, but change is what is needed. I believe we should all strive to live by the Earth Commandments.

Thou shalt love and honor the Earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.
Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons.
Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.
Thou shalt give thanks for thy food to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.
Thou shalt limit thy offspring for multitudes of people are a burden unto the Earth.
Thou shalt not kill nor waste Earth's riches upon weapons of war.
Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth's expense but strive to restore its damaged majesty.
Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth.
Thou shalt not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.
Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share Earth's bounty.

 Ernest Callenbach

'The Song Of The Earth Is Love'  is the title of my Aceo for Japan.   It will be for sale in my Etsy shop shortly and all money will go to the Red Cross appeal. Again like all Aceo's it measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches. It is a pencil drawing on moleskine paper with some acrylic paint added.
A tiny gesture that I can offer as I can't begin to imagine how those people affected by the earthquake and tsunami are feeling. Small things do make a difference. From where we buy our vegetables, eggs, tea, coffee, are they free range? is it fairtrade? What about our shampoo and toiletries? (I always prefer natural things and products not tested on animals) Even just our small choices which we might think insignificant affect the bigger picture so we must remember to be mindful when we choose. I was contacted a while a go to do a review on here. Now I wouldn't normally agree,  But this company Novica I did find inspiring so I thought yes, why not and the fact that they have offered a gift voucher which I can give as a blog giveaway prize was enticing. :-) So why did I find them inspiring and who are they? Novica are an online company in association with National Geographic who promote Fair Trade by Artists and Artisans from around the world enabling them to make a living by sharing and selling their products. There are some beautiful things to buy there. Wood sculptures masks, rugs, jewellery, stationary, bags. ceramics, paintings, weavings, drums, musical instrments... take a look at the coporate gifts section. I particularly fell in love with these by Mexican artist Marco Polo.  And I love this solar wind one.                here.
More favourites of mine are the eco friendly products If you would like a chance of winning a gift voucher for $75 to use on the Novica site, then just leave me a comment and I'll pick a winner in a couple of weeks time. Until next time tread lightly and good luck x  If you would like to find out more about Novica and their fair trade products have a look here: http://corporate-gifts.novica.com http://microfinance.novica.com/ http://eco-friendly.novica.com/ http://www.novicalive.com/

Painting The Moon

Saturday evening I watched in awe as a magical orange moon rose up behind the branches of trees into the clear March night sky. A super perigree moon I believe. The closest it has been to earth for 18 years.
I've been painting the moon, as you can see above. My latest painting on canvas, aptly named 'March Moon'. I know that hares in March in folklore are supposed to act a little mad and of course gaze at the moon but this one is far too sleepy for that after having a busy day filled with the joys of spring.

The sun has been warm  and I've enjoying my little outdoor work space. You may remember I got it at the end of last summer. I'm still settling in and arranging it to feel just right. These things take time don't they...? I've been burning incense and the only music I've wanted to listen to out there while I paint is birdsong. It's quiet and my mind has space to find the right roads. I have no computer connection  there so I have nothing to lead me down the glorious paths of distraction. ;) So now I'm on the look out for a rug, to make it just that bit cosier. Many pretties are appearing outside it's doors while I work away inside.

 Here is my little friend that serenades me ..... One of my neighbours I believe feeds a robin sultanas from her hand. I wonder if this one is the one. I could try but don't want to tempt him or make him too tame as I have cats.

 

I also painted some Aceo's last week. Aceo's in case you don't know are small sized art work that always measure 2.5x 3.5 inches in size. The size of a trading card. They are quite collectable I believe.

These went into my Etsy shop and have sold already. The one on the left was sold for Comic Relief. I really enjoyed doing them and must make a point of doing more regularly. I'm going to try and fit in doing another this week and the money will go to Red cross to help with the terrible tragedy in Japan.

Talking of my Etsy shop, there are some new  postcards now available of my paintings 'The Moonlit Gathering' and 'One Moonlit Night'

I hope to do a mixed pack of different cards in a bundle soon too.

Several days ago we celebrated a birthday. My boy was sixteen.

Where does time fly?  It only seems a moment ago that he was just a baby fascinated with the music from wind up music boxes and nursery rhymes. He has always had a fascination and strong love of music and now  is playing and composing his own, which is wonderful to hear. The other day he recorded some of his pieces at school on the digital piano and has uploaded them to youtube, so being a proud Mummy I thought I'd share a piece with you...



I hope your week is beautiful  and filled with the wonders of spring.
x

Down To The Little Wood And Some Tree Spirits

Down to the little wood I pass the sunny faces of celandine and primrose. The snow drops have almost said their goodbyes and young silky leaves of Cuckoo Pint or Lords and ladies (arum maculatum) are appearing between the kindling.

There are discarded walnut shells. A squirrels feast?
I  hear the alarm bell call of a blackbird, the flutter of wood pigeon wing against ivy  and the sweet trill of a robin.
It's bright. Squinting my eyes up through the branches at the March sky I count twenty one rooks nests. They are busy, very loud going about their business. I love watching them.  

I'm listening, really listening, absorbing a spring morning. The snap of twig, scuff of shoe on branch and soft moss.
The gentle sound of water. The stream  ripples and the sunlight sparkles dancing in the chilled morning light.

Magic....

I can almost hear the sap rising in the trees. If I was an animal with a powerful sense of hearing maybe I could?.... But I don't need to hear it, as standing quiet I'm sure I can feel it...

My latest hearts are tree themed. Forest spirits.

And I've also been busy attending to a starlight wizard.

Each of these items will be listed in my Etsy shop tommorow if you are interested in buying them.

Now to the giveaway results! No I hadn't forgotten ;-)
Thank you lovely folks for commenting and all your kind words. I asked my son to pick a number from 1 to 75 and he said 8.

So congratulations comment number 8 you are the winner!   Simply Vintage 

(Email me your details and I'll send the pendant and postcard off to you.)

xx