A Magic notebook which could be yours..

Looking around it seems that Spring has arrived. The snowdrops are going over and the primroses are appearing.

Up in the top fields the lambs have arrived too.

Yesterday I went to photograph them but it was so so cold, much colder even than Iceland. I felt sorry for the lambs as they were laid down sheltering from the cold winds. The Spring sun should have been shining warm down on their new limbs so that they can dance in the sunlight. I do hope it warms up soon. The March breezes are indeed loud and shrill, it's so windy out  that it sounds as if the Atlantic ocean  is just outside the back door.
I've been busy here finishing the last of the wintry paintings and other bits that needed completing, I've been planning and thinking quietly, hmm probably too much thinking.......

                                                  Last wintry painting before it's finishing touches..

                                                                Five Foxes ( Acrylic on wood)

Sometimes I have been graced with the feathered company here.

The other afternoon I played around customising some small moleskine notebooks.

I love these small moleskines they are just right for keeping in your bag or even your pocket when you go for a walk to the woods. They are perfect for writing or sketching thoughts down whenever you feel like it or kept for recording dreams and magical moments.  Two have gone into my Etsy shop but this third one below is up for grabs as a giveaway prize. Yes! for you my lovely bloggy friends! ;)

At the end of last month this blog had an anniversary. It was 5!  It's hard to believe how quickly the years have passed.  Anyway, I've  been meaning to do a little giveaway as it's been sometime since I last did one. So, if you would like a chance of winning this little notebook above, all you have to do is be a follower of this blog and leave me a comment below. This is specifically a 'blog' giveaway so only comments posted here will be entered into the draw.
Good luck and a happy Mad March to you! :)x

P.S ~ Draw will take place in about a week. x

Snow And Celebration

Just as the day was ending the snow began to fall bringing with it the accompanying stillness and peaceful silence. The muffled buzz type of quiet when you can hear the tiny flakes falling. Quickly I took my camera out as the darkness was descending fast.

I walked down the path and into the little wood. Sounds of rook settling for the night and the gentle trickle of water from the stream seemed even more enchanting with snow falling. Not thinking I turned my camera up towards the sky and of course got a wet camera lens. Very silly of me, I know. So some of the following pictures have a misted look and patch to them. I think it just adds to the atmosphere. ;)  Luckily the camera has dried out now and is no worse for wear. 

I walked slowly, conscious of each footstep, enjoying the moment, feeling a powerful connection to the Earth's magic. Across the hill in the fading light I imagined the millions of snowflakes falling, swarming in the blue light, each a beautiful work of art and each unique. And I thought of water and all that we don't understand and I thought of  this.

 Then back  home again I headed, returning with coat and scarf frosted.

The snow carried on until later and it really did look like Narnia had arrived. Sadly as it was dark I didn't capture anymore photographs. My two teens took their sledges and disappeared into the dark to the big hill.

Just a fleeting visit from the Snow Queen this time.  I hope she returns!

Now for a little celebration....

Recently my Etsy shopped passed a 1,000 sales. I'm so happy, grateful and amazed by this I thought I must do another giveaway to say thank you. :) 

So I had a little rummage  and came up with these bits and pieces. Two small prints, a postcard and a greeting card.

If you would like a chance to win them, just leave me a comment telling me what you would like to see for sale in my Etsy shop? I'll draw a name out and announce it on my next post.

In the meantime I have a new painting to draw out, an older one to finish, hangers to cut and hangers to paint, and a suitcase to help pack. Smallest is off to Italy on a school trip skiing. I  hope the snow follows her back. 

   

The Sun Has Returned

What a change this morning. A return of sparkling sunshine. Pure delight after the past few wild and stormy grey days. Much too nice to stay inside so I decided to tidy my out door work space. I brushed up, moved things around and re-blutacked pictures/postcards that had fallen down. I shook out the rug, cleaned the windows so now it's ready to use again. In fact it was warm inside. Warm enough to work in while the sun is out.   

These two, of course followed me.  Here they were having a little tiff. Willow was adamant she wasn't moving from 'her' space in the corner where the sun was, even though Jasper was originally there first. Do you see the look on her face. There were several hisses in between shots. ;)

 It seems almost half the lawn has turned to moss. How did that happen? I don't mind at all as I love moss and find lawns rather boring, unless of course they have lots of daisies. 

Maybe I'll make a coat out of the moss. I never did find my green mossy velvet coat that I planned to buy?

I could add these delicate ferns as lace around the collar?

Spring is in the air. I peeped my lens through the hedge and zoomed in the best I can with my little camera. I felt a teeny bit like paparazzi...

On better terms ten minutes later...

                                                                                    ***

So, the children are back at school and the new year has well and truly started. I'm not making any written down resolutions as I'm totally rubbish at keeping them. 

I've been drawing out a new painting this week and finishing off a bath panel. We've been without one for 2 years. Two years of looking at a horrible nothingness beneath the bath where dust collects. The last one cracked and it was so nasty we decided to bin it. Our landlords choice, the cheapest of cheap white plastic. So here is the new one....

And some close up shots...

Now to the giveaway!

  

Thank you all for entering. I used the random generator thingybob again this time as there were quite a few comments to cut out beautifully in the shape of leaves as I had originally planned.  Extra numbers were added for people that had shared via Twitter and Facebook too.  So the winner is .........

                                                                    Celtic Heart

Congratulations! the book will be on it's way to you as soon as you message me details of where to send. :)

                                                                                   ***

Have a great weekend everyone! lets hope this sun stays, as we have a chicken house to move. 

xx

Dreamings, Musings And Magic. A Christmas Giveaway

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.

Good luck!  
x 

Prettiest Of Weeds And A Sprinkle Of Harry Potter Magic

This week the sun and rain seem to be playing games with each other. Neither one can make their mind up to stay. The Sun has been fickle with her golden rays, likewise has the rain, showering short bursts here and there with her diamond droplets of precious water.I suppose the rhyme does say...

"Hot July brings cooling showers, apricots and gilly flowers" 

Well I don't have apricots growing here, but I do have flowers.

Talking of flowers I want to share with you this pretty one that has popped up in the garden and down near our vegetable patch. Most people would consider it a weed but seeing as there is no such thing as a weed really, it's all personal choice, we decided to let it thrive. After all who are we to judge that this  plant with it's delicate sweet scent has no place in a garden? It's called Hawkweed, but is also known as other names my favourite being 'Fox And Cubs'. :-)

 In between watching the showers and looking for rainbows I've been gradually making way through my pile of work.

Various birds, hares and pendants. There is also another whale, a couple more toadstools and another Narwhal that are still on the desk not quite ready yet.

These will all be listed over the course of today in my Etsy shop if you are interested in any of them.
I also just had to create this snowy owl. What with the last film being released, Harry Potter magic is in the air again!
(He'll also be listed in the shop)

I haven't seen the film yet, but will be this weekend. I must remember to take plenty of tissues as I know there will be tears. It's an end of an era and I'd like to thank JK Rowling for the Magic and all those clever film people for bringing it to life on screen. I loved each and every book and every film too. If like me you are yet to see it here's a taster. ;-)

                                                  
                             Giveaway Time!


Last time I was here I said I'd be be back with a summer giveaway.  A little celebration as this is my 200th post! When I began this blog I'm not sure I thought I'd get to 100 posts let alone 200!  So, because I have Harry Potter on the brain at the moment, I thought it would be fun to include a little HP in the giveaway.
Below I've collected together a few items that have a 'magical' feel to them. There are some HP postcards, a candle, a couple of moon scented incense sticks, some sparkly stones that you could use for craft or jewellery making and a couple of other stones, one which looks a little like the philosophers stone I thought? I will also throw in a couple of my postcards too! ;-)

Just leave me a comment if you'd like to be included. If you can't comment due to blogger access etc, as I know it plays up sometimes. You can also comment on my facebook page or if you are on Twitter, Tweet this post on and then let me know and I'll enter you in the draw too.  I will choose a winner in a couple of weeks time.
Happy Harry Potter watching! x

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/

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