Bluebell Woods and a Little Bird Magic

Forgetmenots, Bees and a Healthy Kind of Sugar

An English Garden Visit and Mr Blackbird Becomes the Star in a Painting.

The Big Garden Birdwatch and a Tiny Painting Exercise

Wintering. Appreciating the Simple Things in January.

A Family of Creatures and a Fairytale Castle

A Spooky Walk and The Bryony and Toadstool Owl

Two Seashores Inspired a Hare

Days Fly By. A Painting, Card and Calendar

 

Sea Treasure. A Gift for a Friend

 

The Bee's Spell. A Painting Inspired by a Fragment of the Past

Hello dear blog readers, 

Here is my latest video. Do come and join me on Youtube if you haven't already. It's completely free to subscribe.  :) x

Behind The Scenes And A Painting That Didn't Go Quite As Planned

 

Unboxing Some New Art Materials and a Little Sketchbook Play

 

Goodbye Winter. Hello Spring

 

Winter Days and Painting Mr Tumnus

 

Finding Peace in Land and Sky

My latest video. Don't forget to come and join me over on YouTube! x

 

Merry Christmas

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

This year I'm not sure I will be hearing the bells on Christmas day as we traditionally always do?  Living in a small village, our traditions in these uncertain times will probably not happen this year.  The Mummers play in the pub on Christmas eve will not take place, the church will be dark and silent for midnight mass. This time last year, who knew we would be where we are now and that the year would be so different to other years... No one ever knows the future and time carries on with its ups and downs, happiness and tragedies, laughter and tears.  For me there have been beautiful, scary and sad times but I am grateful that my family and I are here as we move into 2021.

Creatively, (like many) I have struggled to produce a lot. In situations like these you stop, take stock and assess what is most important in life. New things have been born. Digital downloads (which seem quite popular) and a Youtube channel. Nothing stays the same and everything changes and evolves. 

As I mentioned in a previous post. I will be wrapping this blog up at the end of this year.  I do plan another but I may take a break? It's been 12 years since I began here and there have been various glitches on the site for a while now. I changed the html a long time ago and have forgotten what I changed? Now sites need to be able to cope with phones and tablets adapting to certain sizes, so a new one makes sense. But as soon as I have another one up and running, I will let you know here and share the link. 

In the mean time, I send out a big thank you to all that have stopped by here over the years. For your comments, likes, love, encouragement, shares and constant support of my shop and work. 

I wish you the happiest festive time, filled with love, hope and optimism   

and a peaceful, healthy Christmas and new year.

 I will leave with you my latest video...  Please come and join me on You tube and subscribe if you haven't already! 

Merry Christmas dear folks!

See you in 2021! 

Karen x

 

Stars for an Old Friend

The eve of December and these beautiful berries on the old tree have pretty much disappeared now. 

All of a sudden when the North wind sends whispers of a frost the birds descend. Blackbird, thrush, pigeon and this year redwing. Maybe that's a sign of a colder winter ahead? I tried to capture them on camera but each time I got near they flew away. They are not as tame as the birds in the garden.  

As usual, we picked our bunch before they all disappeared. The sprigs wait patiently in a bucket of water ready for festive decorating. Unless of course Mr Blackbird discovers where the secret stash is. Having a pane of glass missing in the green house, this could be a real possibility and in fact has happened before. ;-) 

It's been a strange year indeed. I still can't believe that we are heading into December already. I don't have any inspiring pictures to share with you as I haven't been anywhere and have been so busy keeping up with orders.  I don't think a studio mess, piles of boxes, receipts and overflowing waste paper bins would have quite the same kind of vibe, so instead will show you the latest painting. 

It's called 'Stars for an Old Friend' and is painted in acrylics on paper.  I filmed the creation of it in time-lapse and made another film. So if you are interested in watching, click here or see below. It's available in both shops as a print. 

'Stars for an Old Friend'

Don't forget to get your advent calendars out and up ready for tomorrow.

See you in December! 

X  

The Mudlarkers Moon and a Good Pumpkin Harvest

With Winter not far off now I thought I'd share two new pieces created.

 The first one is the image below 'The Mudlarkers Moon' 

Some nights when the moon is bright and full and I lay awake unable to sleep, I wish that I was out wandering the land, rivers and streams with the fox. Listening and searching for all the lost treasures of long ago. For their voices are much louder in the quiet of the night.  

 

The second piece is named "Called by Song'  This image has been in my head for quite a while and after a moment encounter a few weeks back, when I spotted a deer casually walking across the garden I felt the universe was telling me it was probably time to paint it. I like to think that my deer was called by the song of the friendly robins and blackbirds in the garden, but in reality I think it was more after an apple feast with the amount of fallen apples that we have left for the wildlife. 

Both new designs are available as cards and prints in the web shop  and Etsy. This year I have gone with more single cards again. Packs weren't that popular last year and I thought especially in the current climate that many folk prefer to buy just a single card? You can watch a little of this painting being created in a film, if you pop across to my Youtube channel. There is also a bit of cider making in it too. 

I'm enjoying doing the videos, although I do find it quite time consuming. Hopefully I can only improve and get faster.  It's good to try something new though isn't it? 

Our pumpkins grew really well this year and we were very lucky to harvest a good crop.  

Lots of pumpkin soup has already been eaten.  And yesterday it was time to choose a victim to be carved. The chosen one!

I felt like doing something more elaborate, so chose a forest scene. Then quickly kind of regretted it once I began cutting it out, (hehe) but it ended up being quite relaxing. And relaxing is good of course and necessary! so all was fine. ;) 

Ta da!

Wishing you all a cosy Halloween! 

Don't forget to come and join me on Youtube! Here is the latest video! :) x

Changes and New Things

 September has arrived and with it some new downloads in the shop. Gentle Journal sheet and a couple of writing paper pages too. S

The new calendar has also arrived. I'm not sure how time went so fast, but here we are already thinking about another year. Well we certainly won't be forgetting 2020 that's for sure. So if you are in a hurry to say goodbye to it, then maybe you may be interested in the calendar to plan for the new one? Both the web shop and Etsy are now open again for international orders. There are still delays and I can't say for sure how long items will take as it's still a changing situation of course worldwide. But I have offered a shipping upgrade at checkout if people want a faster service. 

I was quiet in August and didn't manage a blog post. We escaped to Cornwall for a week which was lovely to get away for a break. I'm not sure I will blog about that, but there may be a little video of some clips in the making which I will share when it's made.  This year has brought about some mixed feelings about what I'm doing and how I'm spending my time which I'm sure it has for many folk. I have loved doing this blog and enjoyed it, but the time is nearing I feel to bring this one to a close at the end of the year. It's been over 10 years and a change is needed. This one is not working properly as the template was edited 9 years ago and it won't let me update to the new add ons that are available and the preview feature is now not working since Blogger updated.  So it definitely needs to update anyway. I may get another blog, but will probably have a bit of a break and maybe concentrate on my little youtube channel, filming snippets of nature and art? A different format brings new challenges, possibilities and excitement.

We shall see... 

Take care

Karen x