Monday, April 15, 2013

I'm not going to talk about the weather, but...

Everyone seems to be talking about the weather have you noticed? I know us British folk are supposedly renowned for it, but lately it's more than normal and even people on Twitter are tweeting about weather and they are from other countries. Maybe it's always been this way and I'm just noticing it more?  Anyway all I have to say on weather is that many years ago it snowed on April 22nd. I know this as I remember it clearly as I woke up and rushed outside to see if my guinea pig had given birth. She had produced a little miracle in the night whilst the snow fell in Spring all those years ago.... and yes it was April!  Everything does seem a month behind though. In the garden daffodils are in bloom alongside the primroses and none of the trees are in leaf yet.  Like the Spring, I have been slow too. Slow writing here and slow producing my work. Maybe others are feeling this too.?I like to think it's because my body is in tune with nature's pace outside rather than the busy rush of news, tv, social media and fast paced gossip way of life. ;)
So I have some things to share. Firstly some snaps of Easter. ( I hope you had an enjoyable one, whatever you got up to)

A couple of weeks ago I went for another walk on my lunch break. I thought I'd share some of the inside shots of the Abbey that I took. They are giving me the urge to paint an interior picture which I haven't done in quite a long while...
I wouldn't mind being accidently shut in here one night, then I could get to browse the dusty pages of  these books. Think of all the words hidden. All the worlds captured inside those old bindings....
 And  of course I would look in here to see if another world existed behind it's old doors. 


My desk has been a hive of activity this last week finishing off a drove of wooden hares, threading beads and  ribbon.
They are finished now and  here they are all hung up.




Several have moths painted on them as waiting for the butterfly chrysalis to hatch on my windowsill  I have been thinking a lot about the past moths that hatched the year before last  and that very special  first one.
I even fitted in some pendants using up the odd scraps of spare wood
The hares and pendants will be listed in my Etsy shop  at 7pm ( BST) tomorrow evening  (16th April)

I will leave you now with some music by Ludovico Einaudi  from his latest album  'In a time lapse'  Saturday night I was lucky to get to see him at the Colston Hall in Bristol. What a great evening. We weren't supposed to take pictures really, but me being a bit naughty (ssh) sneaked one in at the end. Here he is before his encore.


36 comments:

  1. The hares came out beautifully, they look so magical hanging together from the ceiling like that. My favorite is the one painted with the night sky and moths. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That one was one of my favourites too. I was very tempted to keep him. :)

      Delete
  2. The hares are absolutely beautiful and look wonderful all hanging together. Lovely to see the lady with unicorn and St Eustace in the background too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I've been meaning to take a picture of them all hanging up together for ages and this time I finally got around to doing it. The St Eustace picture I've always liked I've had the postcard for many years. :)

      Delete
  3. Your studio space is just magical! I love all the little hares suspended overhead. Each one is so lovely and unique. Wonderful work!~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Heather, I'm glad you like. The hares were lovely while they were there. Have all gone now though, so it's all bare. I will have to make more soon to keep me company!.

      Delete
  4. Thank you for the pictures inside the abbey, I've never seen such beautiful wallpaper. How peaceful it must be.
    funny old spring! I hope the trees leaf out soon
    xx
    julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes,isn't the wallpaper beautiful. I thought so too. It is a wonderful place to walk around. Not always peaceful though, depending on which days you visit as it can get rather busy being a National Trust property. x

      Delete
  5. Yes, the weather.... love the hares, they make a beautiful installation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Valerianna. Spring finally seems as though it's here now and my hawthorn tree is just about to burst into leaf. :)

      Delete
  6. Those hares....I love the way the are all leaping for spring. Lovely post Karen.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ~ An enchanting post as always, Karen....Many, many years ago it snowed on my sisters wedding day on April 20th...We saw this as a sign, a very special sign that some one who should have been there to give her away...Was indeed watching from above! The snow is our secret ~ sign! LOVE, LOVE and LOVE some more all the magic you have created in your very special place for creating...Like you I watched and waited for the chrysalis to turn into the beautiful butterfly, when I was a child.. Isn't life magical, when you notice all the beauty around you...~ thank you for this beautiful post and WOW I can see why you take your lunch time in the wonderful abbey...With 'Twinkles' *** Maria x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How wonderful having the snow as your secret sign. I think it would be a lovely thing having it snow on a wedding day, very magical and yes, unexpected. Reminds me of the film Nanny Macphee. and the music from it which is titled 'Snow in August' :)x

      Delete
  8. The hares look gorgeous all handing together. How I would love to sit under them with you and have a cup of tea! X

    ReplyDelete
  9. Richard Mabey has just published a book about British weather and the reasons behind our obsession with it. Worth reading: he's one of the best nature writers I've come across.
    http://richardmabey.co.uk/the-books/turned-out-nice-again/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I'll look into that Tonia. I have his book about wild food foraging.

      Delete
  10. I feel as if I've just visited "Fairyland"
    Lovely as always Karen, and I can't beleive I've misssed Ludovico Einaudi - I live in Bristol!!!!
    luv
    Maura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no Maura, I'm sorry you missed Einaudi. I think he will be coming back soon though as I heard people talking as we left, so keep an eye out. :)

      Delete
  11. Those hares are stunning. They look gorgeous all hanging together like that. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your hares are lovely - the pendants too. Ludovico Einaudi is a favourite of my DIL too. This piece is very relaxing to listen - if it's all like this I might have to treat myself!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rowan. :) Yes, most of it is very relaxing and all of it is easy listening. I'm sure you would enjoy. x

      Delete
  13. Your studio looks amazing with all those gorgeous hares hung up! It would almost be a shame to sell them. ;) I go to the Colston Hall a lot but seemed to have overlooked this concert. Thanks for sharing a clip of the music :)xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jess. :) I would have loved to have kept them all there believe me. ;) I definitely was very tempted and in two minds to keep a couple of my favourites. But I was strong and didn't, and now they have all gone off to their new homes... The studio looks quite bare now. Hmmm...I will have to fill it up again super fast.
      It was the first time I'd been to the Colston Hall since 1984! Love the Cafe. Nice to relax before a show. x

      Delete
  14. Hello Karen
    Such a magical post..First the photos of the Abbey so intriguing and so beautiful...and then your stunning work ,the hares floating high in a cacophony of magical splendor, so very talented, and then Ludovico Einaudi I love all his work
    Wishing you a twinkly week
    Thea x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad that you enjoyed reading Thea. I wish you a sparkly, magic fillid week back. :) xx

      Delete
  15. I was glad to read about time and weather thoughts...same here in New York where it is colder than usual, where the stress of the recent events in our neighboring Boston makes everything seem off kilter and broken. Glad to check in on you and see calm and magical bunnies and a lovely visited place and musings on weather and time and then a cosmically compelling posted song. Gratis.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow just discovered your amazing site you are so talented I will have to check out your Etsy shop. Love the wooden hares they are gorgeous. Laughed at your comments on the weather, sunny day here yay! If you would like to visit me back I'm at http://www.astartemoonblog.com/, many blessings to you, Alison xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. How happy your studio looks with all the pretty rabbits! I love looking at them.

    ReplyDelete
  18. ...greetings and cheery merry meet! ~ way gentle awesomeness! ~ blessed be!...(0:

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your hares and your moths are just stunning, a constant inspiration. Many blessings Emma x

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much you for leaving me a comment.
It's great to hear from you! :-)