A new studio and a faerie Queen in the making . . .

Hello my lovelies, it's been a while! In fact it's been almost a year since I last blogged!

How did that happen, and where did the days disappear to? Being a creature of habit, it has taken me a good while to settle after our move last April. A new wee house to grow accustomed to, new lanes, fields and shore to discover, a new place to create in. Lots of busy days have passed and it has taken all my energy to settle into the new pattern of our life. Now at last I feel like I'm waking after a very long Winters nap, waking into the warm  May sunshine full of stories, happenings and creations to share!

I have so much to share, so where do I  begin?  Slowly I think, as it feels strange to be writing here again, like meeting with a long lost friend and not knowing where to begin in the catching up!  I have missed this blogging, and the connections with all you precious readers,  it feels so good to be back!

One of my most exciting happenings this year began with  a chance discussion with a fellow artist, that revealed the possibility of some local studio space becoming available. Having recently discussed the need for such a space with the very patient  Mr O (who never grumbled as he shared our home with an ever increasing array of paint, paper, brushes, pens etc) it was decided  I should go ahead and apply for a space. The WASPS Artists Studios is 'a charity that provided affordable studio space to artists and arts organisations across Scotland'. They are currently helping 800 artists, 12 art organisations and have 17 buildings. What a wonderful idea!   

Well I am very excited to say I am now the proud owner of a space at the WASPS studios in Kirkcudbright, a lovely light and bright space where I can have all my arty paraphernalia to hand. It has made a huge difference and feels lovely to go 'out' to work each day. It has made a much clearedr definition between home and work as well and means when I'm at work I am not distracted by weeding or dusting that is calling to be done! And when I'm not distracted I get to finish pieces that have long been in the making! 

Back in 2014 I had the idea that I wanted to do a companion piece for Autumn Bounty, inspired by references to magical things in  Shakespeare's  'A midsummer nights dream'. 

As I started to doodle and sketch, a 'Faerie Queen' began to appear, as did other fae folk, a magical hare, a drowsy bee and Summer time flowers.

She is the Queen of the faeries and leads the merriment on Midsummer's eve. 

If you are awake late on Midsummer's eve, you may happen across the faeries dancing by moonlight in ancient circles of stone, a wondrous sight indeed.

 But remember, do take care, you don't want to be caught or these fae may just cause you mischief. It is said that if you carry a sprig of rue in your pocket it will confuse those wee folk and you can be on your way!

Faerie Queen - Midsummer Magic' is available as limited edition prints in my Mythweaver shop.

I am so pleased to have finished her at long last and can't wait to see what my pencils will sketch for the next painting in the set 'Spring'

It feels so good to be blogging again and I look forward to next time, but for now I shall leave you as the garden is a calling, it's a glorious afternoon and I have seedlings to plant. 

A treasury of winged wonders . . .

A treasury of winged wonders from makers on Etsy

I wish i had wings to fly
such fantastical journeys i would take,
to worlds far away
filled with wonder & magic.

click on each image below to follow the link to the creation

A faerie birthday party . . .

Last week I had an extra special, most magical treat

for not only was it my birthday but unbeknown to me

my amazing family had secretly been planning a surprise.

The most perfect woodland faerie party, oh they know me so well!

 When I arrived home so unsuspecting I found a troop of

fabulous faeries with delicate wings & intricate makeup,

several long eared wizardy folk and a little cheeky elf.
 Marquees had appeared in our garden & garlands of twinkly lights,
  pretty paper butterflies & paper streamers hung with tiny stars
old gnarly logs lit with candles & dotted with sea shells galore, 

 Ivy was twined everywhere even around the throne they made for me

and I was given a faerie crown, a wand & my own butterfly wings!

& 2 cakes! A chocolate one with 50 star & faerie candles and

 a sponge one with fae folk & woodland things painted all around.

As evening fell on this perfect & sunshiny blue sky day,
by lantern, candle & moonlight we had a delicious feast & barbeque
I was surprised and bought to tears again and again
as my dearest friends & family kept arriving to share the evening.
And then finally, as if by magic and specially ordered so my Sister says,
a huge most incredible meteor sparkled right over head.
A magical & perfect day planned to mark my big 50th birthday!
( I number i was so pleased to celebrate as life just keeps getting lovelier )
I just had to share as I'm so amazed at all the hard work and imagination
my precious family put into making my day one I will never forget.

mad hatter madness & an anniversary . . .

my love of quirkiness was instantly attracted

to the mad hatter inspired theme

of this wedding shoot

by

jessica claire

* * *

especially as mr o & i

just celebrated another

precious year together

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

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

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

fairie-ality and more

this book was a present from a very dear friend

she knows me oh so very well

for i loved it at once

with its tiny, delicate costumes

delicious layout & illustrations

sumptuous colours & use of all things faerieish

bringing back memories of a long ago time

designing my own children's fancy dress clothes

take a peep here faerie-ality to gasp again in delight

at the wonderful work of david ellwand,

then look forward in anticipation to the soon to be released

fairieality style book

i cannot wait to see. . .

Bruno Torfs, heartbreak & hope

these are some of the wonderful sculptures by artist bruno torfs

more of his amazing work here

"Hidden amongst the lush rain forests North East of Melbourne, Victoria, is the rare jewel that is Bruno's art and sculpture garden..........

**

........ until that is, the bushfire that swept through the township on 7th Feb 09,

Bruno & his family survived. sadly many of his friends & neighbours were lost.

Bruno's home & his art gallery were completely destroyed by the fires.

**

such a heartbreaking tale, yet with amazing courage & hope

he and his family begin to rebuild what they lost

here you can read & follow their story.

a new tale . . .

i come across so many beautiful creations from artists near & far

whilst spending long moments researching for my work on the web

i have thought & thought & finally i decided - it really seems only fair

to share all that found loveliness, therefore i have created a quiet place

not so very far away where you can linger & gaze on those precious findings

i hope you enjoy them half as much as i. . . .

* * *

the quiet place. . . my other blog a-faerietale-of-inspiration

* * *

please feel free to take a peek & tell me your thoughts - they will be most welcome x

faerie folk & arty self

this has been a mottled piece of scribbled on paper tucked away in a dark corner

for oh so very long (26yrs ouch!), unfinished when my arty self got lost

occasionally when i came across it, i would promise myself that

one day when i found my arty feet again, i would finish it

i didn't always quite believe - but

it seems i kept my promise

me and my three . . .

. . . and, i can hardly believe it

i finally made myself finish this!

" me and my three"

i think i rather like it now

can you tell i have had a wonderfully creative weekend

catching mermaids . . .

mermaids have been swimming through my dreams lately

i have doodled, scribbled & sketched them on & off

but nothing clicked, then all of a sudden

last night for the first time in oh so long

i had such an urge to just paint

and im so very glad i did