Dreams, Owls And A Sleeping Heart

I had the most amazing dream the other night. I was flying.
I've often dreamed I was flying, but in past dreams it has felt a bit of a struggle, as though I am swimming in the sky doing breaststroke and if I don't keep moving my arms, then I tend to gradually fall to the ground. But this latest dream was different. I was soaring and speeding with ease like a bird. Darting low through forests then high up to the clouds. Everything was so clear and felt so real that when I woke up I was smiling, I'm sure, as I felt so happy. I hope I get this dream again soon :)
The week so far has been filled with both dry and drizzly days

And an apple day.....

Thank you to everyone that left comments on the last post. Its the first time I have taken part in anything like that and it was such fun to do! And Thank you to Vanessa for organising it!

Still on the seasonal 'Magical' theme I have been busy with these two....

Two large barn owl hangers. I have named them Magic and Merlin.
Merlin is pale with blue eyes...


You probably know already from previous posts that I love owls.
A little while back in the summer time I had the chance to get up close to some....

One flew so near, its wing brushed my hair. Amazing!

Both owl hangers will be listed in Etsy later, along side this 'Sleeping' painted heart.

A Rather Strange Gathering.....

Let me take you with me,
On a little journey,
Forward in time,
To the very last day of October,

Several spins of little Hobbits Time Turner should do the trick.... *
* * *

October 31st, Samhain, All Hallows Eve otherwise known as Halloween, when strange happenings can take place.
Sometimes right under your own nose.

In the half light, a buttery milk moon glowed above the trees.

Moon shadows and the gentle rustlings of leaves on the path hid whisperings in the stillness.
Was that hushed talk near by.

I Peeped through the shed keyhole, but saw nothing.

Did the key hole remarkably resemble an owls eye? Or was this strange night playing tricks?
I walked around the back of the shed and look what I saw!....

I crept closer keeping in the shadows, so as not to be seen.

There were creatures, a meeting, a party? Some kind of gathering.

An owl...

Fairy folk of of old...

Tree spirits...
And a hare that was reading a book....

On the table there were bottles with what looked like potions or lotions.
Leaves and seeds and berries that were as red as cherries.


As I watched the hare began to read from the book....
A charm, an incantation, enchantment or spell....

It seemed to be directed at the horse chestnut!?

Just at the moment when things began to take on a strange illuminating glow...


I stepped back onto a twig that snapped!
I was heard and the spell was broken.
I'm sure they didn't see me as I ran away quickly, but they looked.

I know they did, as I felt them watching.
Alchemists?... but what were they up to?

As I walked back up the garden path in the moonlight. I spun the time turner once more, forward one hour.

And look what was waiting on my doorstep when I got there...


Hmmm... Could this have once been a horse chestnut do you suppose? ;)


(Why not go and have some fun reading more Halloween posts. A full list of everyone taking part in this event is.......... here)

Illustration Friday Flying

Today I had another go at some tiny work.
Here is another ACEO this time painted on watercolour paper, for Illustration Friday's theme Flying.

Magic And A Strange Spider

At twilight now, I can smell the scent of woodsmoke in the air and when darkness falls, the sky is indigo and the moon so bright I have felt that I wanted to go outside and capture extra hours in the day.Everywhere you look there seems to be hints of magic....

Mother nature weaves her spells with a wave of her wand.

I stole some of this magic, and brewed it....

into a little book that I decorated and will now fill with all things that are magic to me...

There has been more wood cutting and having a go at some very small aceo sized October'y' pictures.....

Conkers.....

And the strangest of spiders discovered......

Misty Mornings And Mr and Mrs

Mornings have been misty, days quiet.
Things are winding down in preparation for colder days.


There has been fruit collecting and conker stringing. The cupboard is now home to sloe gin. There are blackberries in the freezer, plum wine fermenting in the kitchen, apples, still to be dealt with. :)

The ladybirds are back again. Even if we don't think its cold yet. Nature knows when its time to come in and hibernate.

Hmmmm....I'm sure others would hibernate if they could!....


I've been busy cutting wood and creating creatures. More bears, toadstools,magpie,whale and hearts you might have seen, have all been recently added to my Etsy shop. And there are more to come!

But for now... I would like to introduce you to Mr and Mrs.....

I don't know what there surname is, so I just thought I'd stick with Mr & Mrs?


They will be sold together. I mean, how could I tear them apart!? She is offering her heart....
Or has she stolen his?....

See you soon! x

The Secret -- Planet Earth

Three minutes of something beautiful and uplifting, just the thing for a Monday.

Old And New Brown

I love the colour brown.
Brown polished leather shoes, horses saddles, beeswaxed wood, tree bark, chestnuts, speckled bird feathers, seed pods and of course Autumns leaves as they age on the earths carpet.


Times past, I used to paint much darker. I used a lot of brown in my paintings and the paintings themselves had a much darker feel to them.
This picture below was painted by me many many moons ago. I have a soft spot for it as it gained me an award of 'Best Student Illustrator' at the Benson and Hedges Gold Awards. It also won me £1000 for myself and £1000 for my college at the time.

It was based on the theme of 'Magic' for Angela Carters book The Magic Toyshop.
I have decided to make this available as a print in my Etsy shop for anyone that likes slightly darker things.

So, was it because I'd been looking at this old painting or that Autumn has arrived here, that my palette took a turn to brown once again this week?.....

Autumn inspired scene painted on a wooden heart...

Soon to be for sale in my Etsy shop!

Sorry I'm a little late this week posting this.
I blame it on blackberrying!