A Glimpse of my November

November here seems to have been filled with a continuous stream of parcel packing and constant trips to the post office. I could really do with some elf helpers! The only down side to being a one man show, is of course if you are doing one thing ,then there is not much time to do another. So at the moment there is no new art work finished to share. But it's been a fantastic month for my little shop and I'm extremely grateful to anyone that has supported it. You are awesome ! ;-)

Since I last posted here I have some new notebooks in the shop. The same Autumn designs that I had made into cards. Red Squirrel and the sleepy Hedgehog. They are A6 size  and sold individually.

Both notebooks are available to buy here. I've also added some more originals after having a bit of a sort out, so if anyone is after a special present for someone, then you can find them here
It's been quite cold so far this month, colder than this time last year and we've had more frosts.
The mornings have been beautiful.

The skies liquid gold.

And then in the evenings they transform into glorious dark and strange masterpieces which make me want to paint them (something to add to the long list) They remind me of the sky in Stranger Things that Will Byers sees in the upside down. Has anyone else enjoyed this Netflix series?

The 5th came and went in a whizz of pops and bangs and that firework, woodsmoke scent on a cold foggy evening. My children are grown up and both away at University now, but I had my own pack of sparklers and lit them beneath the moon. As I stood watching the dazzling sparkles It brought back memories of my own childhood bonfire nights... 

'Duffle coats buttoned up with toggles, gloves to hold safely sparklers at arms length. A huge bonfire on the Green, and the feeling that Christmas was not too far away. The magical packaging of fireworks, a cylindrical dark blue with white stars and snowflakes, a twist of paper at the top~Snow Storm . Pyramid shaped cone~ inside a silver fountain waiting to erupt, a strange twirly one with a nail to attach it to the washing line post~the Catherine wheel. And the rocket with its stick attached all set for its journey... That bonfire night smell, cold night, first frosts, November fog, woodsmoke and that wonderful firework smell. The next day finding the charred remains of them and their beautiful labels and where a rocket had landed, was almost as magical ' 

"November comes
And November goes,

With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."-  Elizabeth Coatsworth

I shall leave you with a little light to brighten up your dark nights. Some magic from a lantern parade that I came across last week in the nearby town of Devizes...

 

Enjoy the last moments of November. 

X

November bits and pieces.

The silver mists of November weave their soft spider web grey. Drawn to the river and the hills after three o clock until the sun chases them away the next morning.

Coming out of Avebury, the sky went dark. The mist disguising the sun as the moon.

Until it was obscured almost completely.

 Quiet and still, stood the old hill, it's secrets kept hidden.

I love the mists and fog of November. You have probably heard me say that before if you have been visiting this blog over the years. But I need to say it each year, because each year I am reminded of just how much I love and appreciate all of this beautiful Island's seasons.  November has almost gone now and soon we will be into the frosty days of Winter...

 

I've been busy here with making and painting, and have a few things to share.

First up, some small Aceo sized paintings. Simple designs, hares. Often after I've been painting more detailed work on the hangers, I do I find it refreshing to go back to simple paintings with less detail. This first one is called 'Song to the Moon'  

The 'Sacred Pool'

Then lastly 'Midnight in the Meadow'

Then another simpler painting but bigger and back to my old 'up right' friend. We have had many adventures over the years together and I think he will always be with me.  

This time the title is inspired by Mr Tolkien...'Not all those who wander are Lost' 

Now to the detailed work that I've been busy with...

A friend of mine gave me a very small vintage frame a couple of years back and it has been sat on the desk waiting to have something painted inside it. During painting blackberries on a hare hanger, I suddenly realised what it wanted. Blackberries!  So that's what I've done, along with a hare and a wren. So this one I have titled 'Conversation with a Wren' 

 

I won't share each hare hanger that I've done as there are 10 of them, but will tell you that I shall be adding them to my shop tomorrow 27th November at 7pm (UK time ) along with the Aceo paintings and the above vintage framed one. And if you would like to see the hares you can see them on my Instagram.

In the meantime here is one of them...

In between working I have been taking time out to enjoy the simple things. A book by the fire and a glass of mulled wine.

 Chatting with my bestie. ;)

And again appreciating all the beauty that these months reveal. 

I will finish with something else that I worked on a few months back which is now available to buy and might make a lovely Christmas gift idea for someone that is interested in dance? You may remember earlier in the year I was painting this below, which was the cover for the dvd by irish dancer Edwina Guckian.  

It's a tutorial and performance dvd and is hypnotic to watch. There is magic in her feet I'm sure. 

You can buy the dvd on Edwina's website here.

And to finish, here's the trailer to the dvd.

Forgive me for cramming my work into this one post, but November has been busy and this is my only post that I've done I've  just realised. ..

Enjoy the last remaining few days and that gorgeous full moon this evening! 

X

New Cards

This photograph taken the other day, is to me, just what I always imagine a typical November day to look like. I love days like this.

Misty, quiet, sheep peaceful, rook chatter, the smell of bonfire. So different to last week when we had our first hard frost. I love days like this too.

It was wonderful again to see the frosted branches. I've missed them.

Later the sky was clear and the remaining hazel leaves shone in the lowering Autumn sun.

So pretty.
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I've been having a digital play about with some of my small Aceo paintings. Adding some words and making them into cards.

I've already added some to my Etsy shop, but they sold out pretty quickly, so will be making more.
I also made these too, which haven't been digitally played with.

Now I'm working on more hares (soon to be revealed) and here are what I like to call my helpers or watchers because they overlook my desk. 

The egg is the dragon egg made of moonlight that I mentioned in my last post. 

Here's a closer look...

I think I might leave it on the windowsill in the moonlight one night, it may need recharging of magic? ;)

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Oh before I go...one more thing!  Remember back, not so long ago. When the roses scented the path and the corn flowers danced in the breeze I was working on some illustrations for a book. Well that book, Madeline, Maddy And Midge, Positive Thinking For Children, is now available to buy here and also here 

  :-) 

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