decembers treats . . .

how wonderful, waking to sparkling snow

the perfect start to our christmas week

a peaceful, stillness settled all around

away from the hustle & bustle

this beautiful countryside

unspoilt and wild

and on closer inspection

tiny forests of frost

and tinkling decoration of icicles
dancing over the rushing streams

for the first time ever i am all ready, "early" for christmas!

as the evening falls, and we settle down in our wee house

for days filled with precious family time

i wish you all a very wonderful, smile filled christmas

x x x

velvet evenings & the magic begins . . .

in the countryside, quiet evenings

of the last month of this old year with the velvet of night time tucked around me

like a cosy & familiar blanket

my thoughts ran to the magic of christmas and i pondered times past, present & future

the giving & the sharing & the meaning. . .

those thoughts stirred others in my mind

i set about making (the 1st time since too long ago).

i have unburied my boxes of treasures

& began beading berry red hearts

and wondering what gifts i could make

with my bundles of richly coloured ribbons

i have brushing glittering gold

onto my christmas card designs

* * *

such enjoyment in the stitching & painting

and making things to give, with love.

and for me, its part of the magic of christmas

x x x

robert kirk . . . elves, faeries & fauns

a trailer for the intriguing, award winning, scottish film "kirk"

about a 17th century reverend, robert kirk, who believed in faeries

he wrote a book "the secret commonwealth of elves, fauns & faeries"

the film was produced by 17yr old michael ferns

where the wild things grow . . .

a world of tiny wonders . . .

(a faerie pup, or a giant mushroom? )

* * *
i am loving our wrapped up, breezy strolls

through woody places, over grassy meadows

watching as autum paints the world with burnished hues

* * *

fidelma massey . . . treasures

every once in a wee while my eye catches a glimpse

of treasures that make me catch my breath

and i did gasp when i saw the wonderful sculptures

by irish artist fidelma massey

creatures from her imagination

and yet they have a familiar feel to them

steeped in mythology & otherworldliness

they speak of times long past

or of wonders hidden just beyond our world

her site is so very worth a visit

many more treasure to behold

here

stolen time & the tale of a stolen child . . .

two weeks have disappeared in a blurry eyed haze

whilst i have mostly slept & dreamt the strangest of dreams

for the oddest of bugs knocked me right off my feet,

leaving me feeling as giddy as a . . .goat??

a wonderful excuse (whilst recovering) to catch up on reading

to doze & doodle & drink endless cups of tea

i discovered this hauntingly beautiful book, the stolen child

an ethereal tale of changelings hidden deep in the woods.

i was reminded of the beautiful poem by william yeats

& of course one of my most favourite & wonderful songs

of the same name by loreena mckennitt

a sweet surprise parcel arrived on my doorstep too

from a dear blog friend, jasmine of natures whispers

it brought such a smile to my face for in it were

this delicate felted tree made from natural fibres & dyes

& a bundle of other thoughtful lovelies,

a knot work purse, heather & shells & all sorts

do visit her blog for a peep at some of her beautiful work

* * *

oh my, its so good to be back

x x x

shetland and back . . .

home again from the far off shores of shetland

from days filled with music & wonderful hospitality

Mr O playing with irish fiddler manus mcguire

my oh so talented lovely sister -in -law marie fielding

days filled with wonderful scenery

wide open skies & regal seas

peat filled valleys & ruin strewn hills

with wee sturdy shetland ponies

and curious seals watching from afar

with centuries of history to discover,

from iron age brochs to ancient crofts

pictish carved runes to viking buried treasures

we stayed with the sweetest lady, Harriett

who shared her home & her deep love of the island & made our stay a joy.

* * *

travelling here & there these past few weeks, such things i have seen & heard

but i have missed our wee home & cosying in front of the fire

my fingers are itching to get back to the studio

* * *see more of my shetland photos here
& others shetland photos here

here to visit the shetland museum

a christmas carol . . .

it is a little early to be thinking christmasy thoughts i know

but this is something i am so looking forward to . . .

a favourite tale of old . . . .the new "christmas carol"

animated movie by disney, and i had to tell someone ...

due for release in november

magical faerie wedding

deep in the forest tricia fountaine

weaves her magical spell

with costumes & flowers & love

for a peep at this fantasy faerie wedding

tiptoe over for a visit to

kiss the groom

or see more stunning work

of event organiser tricia at

by tricia fountaine design

costume & medieval magic . . .

we couldn't leave bath without a visit to

the costume museum

to soak up the details of old

and stumbled upon another unplanned treat ...

an exhibition of designs by "bill gibb"

whose work i have long admired, simply stunning

later we found the 13th century st marys church in berkeley

with medieval wall paintings that would once have glowed

and jeweled colours in its stained glass

painted bright by the sun's rays

and there just outside

the resting place of the very last jester in england a trove of treasures we unearthed on our travels

complete with a visit to see my eldestall in all we had a wonderful time away
* * *
now its nose down to finish two commissioned pieces
until next time x x
* * *
more beautiful images of st mary's here

a celebration of creation . . sue symons

we couldn't visit bath & not the abbey

a stunning sight, with ceiling to giddily gaze at

but such an extra treat waited around a cornera mouth watering exhibition of works by sue symons60 glorious illuminated pages, her new book
"a celebration of creation"

hours & hours (7000 in fact) of detailed loveliness

embroidered borders & painting pages

intricate designs & sumptuous colours

beautifully celtic inspirations

depicting plants, animals, insects and
"the beauty and wonder of creation"
each page telling such tales, i could gaze for hours!

to purchase a book of these works

or learn more about sue see here* * *to see many more wonderful images of sue's work

see here on denise's blog and here for
"The Bath Abbey Diptychs"

roman baths & treasure . . .

a wonderful time we had last week

a week that began with my birthday

& ended with adventures in beautiful Bath & beyond

discovering the wonderful roman baths

& roman mosaic with a celtic touch

minute carved stones fallen from the rings of bathers of old

unearthed from ancient drains - the storied they could tella gorgons head, once head aloft on a pediment high

the sun rays perhaps symbolising the heat of the sacred springsthree celtic mother goddesses wearing their pleated skirts
the sun shone & the skies were so blue

as we ended our first day of exploring

tomorrow i shall show you more . . .

(here for more bath pics)

fauns & faerie folks. . .

as i went a wandering back over my posts

i glimpsed a distinct lack of my showing

very much at all of the things i have been doingmy patterned trees

sketched faerie folks

and costumes,

doodled faunsand back to trees again
as i try to find my feet & develop a style i like

so i thought i might leave you these

whilst i am away a wee while

visiting & exploring & re-charging

will be back very soon

x x x