Family Tree Workshops at the Wickerman . . .

I am back from a wonderful Wickerman Festival experience!

Such a fantastic weekend filled with scorching sunshine, beautiful sunsets, much music & singing & dancing,  and my workshops going down a storm!   I arrived in the Lowland Links tent on Friday morn to set up amidst roaring Vikings in full chain mail & helmet getup, a storyteller clad in medieval gown and so many other entertaining happenings. 

I hung bright coloured bunting in a huge blue tent

unpacked oodles of paint & pens & arty things.

Propped up my family tree samples & inspirations. 

Laid out sketchbooks stuffed with ideas & info.

Spread out a feast of templates & worksheets, 

then sat back & waited with baited breath!

 and very soon they began to arrive, lots of smiling & inquisitive wee ones

filled with enthusiasm & ideas of their own they began to create their very own family trees.

Masterpieces a-plenty, flowery trees, branchy trees, trees with lots of family names, trees filled with family fingerprints, some with birds & butterflies, others with beasties, each one quite unique.

There are far too photo's of the creations to share here, so if you want a peep at more

of the lovely works of art  & folks who made them take a look over here.

Thank you to each and every one of you who came along to say hi, lend a hand, or have a go. To Susi sweetpea provider of provisions & mansion sized tent & Mr O for an endless supply of tea, delicious food & an extra pair of hands and the biggest thank you to all you wonderful youngsters for sharing your creativity and laughter.  Can you tell I had a wonderful weekend  folksies.

My family tree workshops are great fun as you can see,

if anybody fancies having this activity at their event do get in touch.

A wickerman workshop . . .

Some of my best inspiration comes whilst I walk in my favourite places

down deep in the ancient forest, listening to the trees whispering their stories.

On early morning walks up past dew kissed fields,

I  watch crows rise amongst branches scribbled across pink tinged skies, 

their calls breaking the still air of a brand new day.

Of course it is no wonder trees so oft find their way into my paintings.

and lately I have been working on designs for family trees

tying together three things I love ~ trees, stories, genealogy. 

I am endlessly fascinated by all that history, all those happenings and connections.

As I add twining branches, names and dates running back into the past

 I ponder the stories, the connections, the history there.

For stories are what we are made of and my family trees a way of keeping those stories alive

I am thrilled this year to have been invited to demonstrate my family trees and lead "family tree workshops" for children in the Lowland Links Tent" at the Wickerman Festival. It is part of this years Homecoming Scotland celebrations, which is all about encouraging folk to explore their Scottish roots, and discover more about their heritage.

It should be altogether much fun and I cannot wait to see what magical creation willow sculptor Trevor Leat has conjured up for this years festival. As you can see last year we had a magnificent horned beltie.

It is almost a shame to see the sculpture go up in flames as part of each years spectacular festival finale. Do come and find me and say hello if you are at the Wickerman Festival this year!

Birthday's & Birth Trees.

 I been "un-plugged" for a while to re~charge and rest and to refresh my muse, and have been finding inspiration in Mother Nature during a run of glorious summery days here in South West Scotland.

The flowers are blooming all about, in the garden, in the hedgerows and even down amongst the pebbles on the beach. Tiny rays of sunshine, such rich, glowing colour.  They tempt me outside when I ought to be working in the studio!

 We have traveled into the hills to find the wild places, and sat drinking tea by the bubbling steam whilst bees hummed past and golden beetles clambered onto our knees.  I found a tiny set of wings left beside the path, like minature pieces of stained glass reflecting the blue of skies above. I think I might just have to work them into a faerie design!

We have had precious family time; grandaughter cuddling, trips to the beach, the farm, museums, picnics, crazy go cart riding, sunny day walks, lots of laughter & catching up.  We celebrated my lasses 30th Birthday too, it seems only a wee while ago I held her in my arms for the very first time! 

This lass of mine just happens to be a wood turner and as you can see my eldest lass & I took on a challenge. We decided to tackle a feat of engineering & create a completely edible cake for our birthday girl. It took us a whole week to work out and make, we were rather proud of our efforts but it may be some time before we feel up to making another cake!I 'm so lucky to have such a lovely family & spending time with them makes my heart sing.

Thinking of Birthdays ~ I am fascinated by family trees and our personal stories and with this in mind I have designed the first of my new blessing trees range

"The Birth Announcement tree".

 The design can be personalised and makes a perfect gift for birth, christening or naming ceremonies. I also do cards and postcards of the design.

The design was inspired by the Apple tree which signifies health, happiness, youth & good fortune.

The Birth Trees are now available to order here my Etsy shop.

I have lots of exciting new happenings coming up, workshops and exhibitions, and will be back very soon to tell you all about them.