The gypsy in me

Perhaps it was the books I have been dipping into lately

tales told of the old ways of the Scottish Gypsies/ Travellers Perhaps it was remembering a dear friend who is soon off on a

delicious, horse drawn, gypsy caravan holiday around Ireland

Perhaps it was coming across the work of Helen Musselwhite 

and her delicate piece entitled "gypsy caravan".Perhaps it was "gypsea tea" a delicious blog by a like minded lass
that led me to les-verdines , gypsy inspired lovelies to sigh over. Perhaps it was the oh so sweet, long ago murmur of a memory

grandma singing the "wraggle taggle gypsies" song to me

(the song that led me to fall in love with the gypsies

gypsy clothes , gypsy songs, gypsy travels).

Perhaps all these things and more inspired my gypsy within

who loves to dance bare foot under the moon

to walk in the wild open places,

to wander under the cool green trees

the loveliest girl in the world . . .

. . for almost a decade Miina Savolainen,finnish photographer, art and social educator photographed 10 girls from Hyvönen Children's Home.

the outcome was this photo book/project

"The Loveliest Girl In The World" The basis of the project was “empowerment”

"to give girls a different perspective of themselves,

to bring to the surface their true persona,

or perhaps a persona they wished they could be"

it is a touching story about becoming visible & accepting yourself

"everyone of us is entitled to feel precious and loved"

"The fairytale quality of the photographs reveals

a truth often obscured by the rough and tumble of daily life

the person each young girl feels she really is inside.

It allows the girls to regard themselves as strong and undamaged people.

These photographs are deeply authentic,

revealing the universal desire to be seen as good and valuable."

* * *

"Accepting one's own portrait

is a metaphor for accepting

one’s own personality"

quiet time . . .

quietness has crept into every corner of this wee house

just old bear & me. . . . a little too quiet . . for my two have been far away avisiting
perhaps that is why i was inspired to do "the hug"below! i have moved my own studio about (again)

but oops i didnt do my back much good . . . leaving my lovely mom to paint the "red-den" studio
& put up the hanging rails & dad to lay the new floor!
(photos to follow very soon)

at last i began working on some of my "family tree" ideas

so fascinated by geneology & tracing lines far back into history
names of folks long forgotten patiently waiting to be found but, oh i could do with a little help, please if you could...

can you follow the family links on my tree
or are they a bit confusing?????

masquerade . . . by kit williams

a programme on the radio today

about the book "masquerade" (do you remember it?)

bought back happy memories

the beautifully illustrated "masquerade"

by kit williams was published in 1979

it was a tale of the moon & her love for the sun

hidden amongst the wonderful paintings were

clues to a real treasure hunt to find a golden hare

i was 17 back then & enthralled by this unique book

mom & i spent hours trying to solve those riddles.

you can read this amazing books tale here

and see the puzzles solved

in '82 a second book "untitled"was published

this riddle being to find the books name

i treasure my precious copies of both books

for their exquisite paintings,

the incredible details & hidden clues

& because it was these very books that

began my fascination with allegory & symbolism

***

(though now both out of print, it is possible to find copies still)

paths, painting & presents

oh my its july already

i meant to tell of last weeks happenings!

struggling with my painting in progress

"queen of the night"

a garden path at last ready

for visitors to the "red-den" (nearly there!)
a laughter filled 25th birthday
for my red haired lassie
travels to glasgow delivering a poorly applemac
& my wee bit o' self indulgence (above)

summery wanderings along the sunbleached sands

with a little dog called coco

then another new week . .

all creatures great & small

at first i think i am quite alone

yet as i work away in the garden,

these tiny creatures i find

delicately cloaked ermine moths

armour clad dor beetles
spikey caterpillars munching leaves

"may bugs" or cockchafer beetles
distant relative of the regal scarab

and more than plenty of . . . snails....