Etsy shop update

Hello... I'm back again and  just a day since my previous post. Why so soon I hear you say?Well, last night I realised that not everyone who follow on here has Facebook. Yes, there are still some lucky folks that haven't been caught up in the facebook net and taken across to the dark side.I consider them the lucky ones. ;) Anyway I  wouldn't want them to  miss out on a preview of  the new hares that I will be adding to my shop this Thursday (May 22nd at 8pm UK time)  So, I'm back again to share all 22. If you've already seen them on Facebook, then I promise to forgive you, if you don't hang around. 

                                                                      'Wiltshire hills'

                                                                          'Fox hare'

'Green'

'Dandelion'

'Dandelion and moon'

'By the hawthorn'

Moth and heather

Hare,moon and snowdrop

Hedgerow

Moth and bramble

'Primrose'

'Woodland creatures'

'Dog rose'

 Moth and bramble (small)

'Bee'

'Speedwell and bee'

Speedwell and bee (white)

'Wild strawberry and bee'

'Vetch and forgetmenot'

'Forgetmenot and bee'

'Clover and bee'

'Butterfly'

That's it, all done!  

I shall be back soon. x

A visit to Northern parts then back home again.

A couple of weeks ago I travelled up north, to visit a friend of mine in Lancashire. Her art studio looks out onto the impressive Pendle hill.  Pendle being of course, home to the famous Lancashire witch trials back in 1612.

I won't go into detail about the witch trials, as that would need a blog post of it's own. It's incredibly fascinating and tragic reading about these people, so please do take some time to Google them or get a book from the library, or click on my link above.
We visited the tiny village of Newchurch where the Demdike's, one of the witch families, originated.

There is a small shop here selling very touristy witch souvenirs. The church  has a mysterious eye set into the tower, which some say is to ward off evil.

We then went a few miles just across the border into Yorkshire, to Haworth, home of the Bronte's.The Bronte sisters grew up and lived here at the Parsonage.
Right in front of the house stands an impressive gothic looking graveyard. (If you can call a graveyard impressive, maybe it's not really appropriate to?)  So many lives cut short too early, so many child deaths. It was tragic and sad to see. The Bronte's must have been reminded of death constantly living here.  An atmosphere hung about the place. I got the feeling I was in a novel while walking among the stones, as the rooks called and watched from high above in the trees. It must be even more moody in November when the mist from the moors sweep in. I would imagine the ghosts of the past are even stronger then.

We followed the path to the pretty stream and the Bronte bridge.

Past this rather lovely weather vane.

I bid a "good afternoon" to a fair Yorkshire lass and her bairns.

And then we reached the bridge.

Here, along with the waterfall nearby, it is said, that Charlotte, Emily and Anne used to visit and sit. Maybe Mr Rochester or Heathcliff  was first thought of here?... The original bridge was sadly damaged by floods in 1989, so the slabs on top are new additions.

I paddled in the stream, letting the swirling water tell it's own tales around my ankles.

Back in Howarth, we browsed in 'The Rose & Co Apothecary'. I think all shops should look like this, don't you?

Across the border to Lancashire again, we visited Wycoller. A very small and very pretty village. Here the ruin of a hall stands which is believed to be the inspiration for 'Ferndean Manor' in Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre. 

I wonder what Christmas was like in this hall. On a snowy moonlit night, I wonder if you might catch the echoes of a tune?

This area reminded me of Dartmoor in many ways. The streams, well trod ancient bridges, moss covering stone, the marshy landscape and moorland.

It was lovely to get away, meet up with friends and see a different landscape.

                                                                          ~ *~

Back home the bluebells and ramsoms (wild garlic) carpeted the dappled sunlit woodlands of Wiltshire. We followed a deer track through the quiet woods and entered the realm of Faerie. Or so it felt like. Nothing can beat the magic of a bluebell wood.

Since I last wrote here the garden and hedgerows have bloomed. The apple blossom has been and gone, along with the cowslips. We've had the most gorgeous full moon, sunny weather, my daughter has had her prom and I've been serenaded by a song thrush most evenings. 

I captured some of it's song here for you to hear too.

Now in the garden, the hawthorn is in blossom. I found these two May bugs (cockchafer) in love. :-) 

I've been busy quietly working on my hangers, and I'm now pleased to say that the hares are now finished. Yay! They seem to have taken me forever this time. For anyone interested in buying one, I will be adding them to my Etsy shop this Thursday 22nd May at 8pm (UK time) 

There are 22 of them, but I won't show them all here as this post is probably already long enough? I will add more pictures on my Facebook page though in between now and Thursday. 

 Some details, beads bells and moons.  

See you soon! x

A shop in the village

It's the end of a week again already, the sunshine has left us today and soft gentle rain falls on the new born green leaves. Here the ash is still tightly in bud, therefore 'The oak is out before the ash'  so hopefully this year, it will only be a splash?  What about where you are, have you noticed which was first?
I'm still steadily, quietly working away on the hangers, so today I will take you out of my work space and down the road, a quick visit to somewhere quite beautiful, that looks as if it would easily fit into Hogsmeade.

When I was small  there was a shop in the village with a stable door. I have always loved doors like this. This shop sold groceries and I remember going in there to buy sweets sometimes, but mostly sweet supply was bought at the old post office. The shop is still here and so is the gorgeous door. It doesn't sell groceries now, but other wonderful things. I thought I'd share it with you.

'Quintessentially English' is my favourite shop in Lacock  It creates and sells, here in this old shop the most beautiful handmade natural beauty products, luxurious toiletries and organic soap that looks good enough to eat and almost too pretty to use.

Inside it's centuries old walls, blue bottles line up like an apothecary and the air is perfumed with scent of Goddess, Lavender fields, Sunshine, Moonbeam, Buttercup Meadow, Breeze, Enchanted wood and  Angels rest. 

The handmade products have an ancient philosophy behind them, which I also love...

                        ~*~ When you touch a flower you disturb a star ~*~
I'll let you read in their own words below...                                              

                                                                    ~*~    

 "Behind our products is an age-old philosophy: When you touch a flower you disturb a star. It’s an idea that goes right back to medieval times when herbalists combined the sciences of medicine and astronomy – and flowers, linked to the stars, were used for their healing properties. Like these early sages, we believe there’s a connection, between earth and air, fire and water
 – Quintessentially English

                                                                       ~*~

Just look at this divine soap! When I look at this I can almost imagine myself decadently laying among it, sniffing it, touching it, sort of  as Monsieur le Curé  did among the Chocolate display in Joanne Harris' film Chocolat. ;)

In the back room by the huge old fireplace there is an interesting mix of eclectic gifts for sale, a selection of enticing tea, candles, and bowls of mysterious smelling magical incense that you can buy by the ounce. Upstairs hidden away in the attic there is more treasure, all manner of vintage bits and pieces.  

There is always something different to see whenever you visit here. Sometimes you even get to see  some of my things popping up here from time to time. :) 

If you are in the area, then it really is a must to visit.

 If you aren't, then don't worry, as they have an online shop just here.

Have a great weekend!   

Karen x