December already.

A sky with a glimpse of winter the other morning, the last few days of November. Hedge, grass and fading summer stems sparkled in a crisp icy air. It was a sharp frost. While the kettle boiled and before my breakfast, I was outside capturing a little before the sun became warm enough to make it dissolve.

My little friend was about, as he has been each day and was glad of a top up to the bird table and a few treats.

This last picture is quite amusing as he looks as if he is leaping off my hand.

Some leaves are still holding on, but a temperature drop always brings the last few to the ground.

After all the wooden bits and pieces (see last blog post) were all listed in my shop I went back to a painting that I'd been working on alongside the hangers. It's basically like a hanger but a painting instead. Just something I thought would be nice to do. There are plans to do a few more, a white one and a starlight one I think? And maybe one with a moon? This one I have named 'Spirit within'
                                                                                        

This is available in my shop here as a print. I thought it may interest anyone that were disappointed that they didn't grab a hare in time when I put them for sale. I know it isn't a three dimensional hanger, but is quite similar?
I've also been painting some smaller pieces.  They are ACEO sized  (3.5 inches x 2.5 inches) and I have some lovely cream mounts/matts to pop them into before they also head over to the shop.

     'He gave sparkle to the stars'

'Dream'

'The path ahead'

'What they found'

And lastly 'The stars watched over him'

I can't believe it's already December!  For those of you that have been following here for the past few years, you must know what that means... the falling snow widget!
Off to look for it now. :) x  

A Touch Of Golden Light And What Happened Before Concerning A Hare Fox And Owl

The sun rises on a new day. The golden light we haven't seen so much of this summer, glittered through the dew drop dappled windows at dawn, gilding them in July's apricot hue.

Early morning light, the light of magic. Indoors is quiet, folk are still lost in the world of dreams but outside the song of a new day is being composed....
Today the sun shone and the ground felt warm. Bees, butterflies crickets, grasshoppers and all manner of other insects ventured out to enjoy the golden rays that have been so rare this summer.
I picked some flowers to brighten our shady north facing kitchen.

I love the twirly stamens of Nigella ( Love in a mist) It self seeds everywhere here and is so pretty.

 Everything in the garden is lush and green from excess growth and water. Below a patch on the lawn that had to be left because it was much too pretty to cut. Another area that has sprouted yellow and orange hawkweed. The brown butterflies like it too.

I've been busy with the illustrations for the book that I'm working on and in between time have been painting some ACEO's. These are tiny paintings measuring 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches, the size of a collectable trading card. They are based around my painting 'Moonrakers' I started to think about what maybe happened before that moment that was captured in paint. What was the story of the white hare, the fox and the owl? So, I had the idea to do a series of tiny pictures for continuing the characters story. Or I suppose they could be called 'prequels'?

Note the Wiltshire corn circle! You see there were strange goings on that night of cheese raking. ;- ) Maybe I'll do another batch and call them 'sequels'. I suppose it is the Illustrator part of me that wants to continue the story?

Then I did some more..

These were playing with paint really and the wash formed mountains. Mountains that needed to escape on to paper after my visit to Wales and ascent of Snowdon? I really had no part in it, except maybe adding the hares? ;-)

These paintings will all be for sale shortly in my Etsy shop, so if you are interested keep an eye open here.