A new studio, a fresh start

Sometimes all we need is time to stand still and listen to our heart. I found myself doing this, at long last, while all the world has been upside down and back-to-front these past months and days.

You might remember way back in 2016 I took on a bigger studio space a few miles away in our local town. Well, for a good while it served me very well and helped me move forward as an artist. But gradually over time I began to feel something wasn't right, yet I couldn't put my finger on it. I was struggling to produce new art work, got lots of headaches, just felt very detached somehow and would arrive back home at the end of my day feeling exhausted.

Whilst we were all in Lock Down I couldn't get to the town studio so I spent more and more time in the little studio in the garden and it began to dawn on me what had been missing all the while. It was my connection to my inspiration, my need to be surrounded by nature, space, peace and quiet. So, I have returned to my roots as it were, given up the town studio and moved lock, stock and barrel into this tiny garden space.

It's had a bit of a re-vamp inside to fit everything in and now every corner is filled with arty things and crafty projects and all of my treasures. But I love it. Now I can pop in and out whenever the mood takes me, I can open the door to let the fresh air in, I can sit snug inside and listen to the rain drumming on the roof or feel the sun warm my toes as it creeps through the open door and I'm there to welcome all the wee visitors to the garden too!

I'm starting to feel the stirrings of inspiration again and there will soon be new art work on my table. The headaches ( a result of my being hyper sensitive to the strip fluorescent lights in the old studio) have completely vanished, and I feel my energies gradually returning.

At the end of the day, it feels like coming home to myself at last

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 Summer Studio Shed & my new Open Days . . .

There have been busy goings on around here for the last few weeks

and now at last a long held dream of mine has come true. After weeks of hard work by Mr O, middle daughter & her partner & me, cleaning, mending leaky roof and windows, sanding & painting woodwork, mending & making bunting & covers etc we have created a wee magical hideaway place for me to work in. 

I am so excited, so with no further ado I now reveal, my Summer studio shed!

Ta da . . .  Isn't it lovely.  I think I can safely say it was worth every bit of effort

I love that I can have the doors and window wide open to the world.

I can hear the wee stream that runs through the garden and the call of the birds.

 I wanted no distractions, no phone, no computers, now I can work in peace & quiet surrounded by nature.

Just in time too as recently I was rather pleased to be asked to join a lovely collection of  artistic ladies to make up the group "Stewartry Open Studios".  We are opening our studios during the summer months, welcoming the public in to view our work and our workplaces. 

Above are some of the works by the other 5 artists in the group: clockwise from bottom left ~ Pauline Saul, Susan Metcalfe, Jane B Gibson, Sheena McCurrach and Margaret S Milligan.
You can find out more about us as a group here on Facebook  here .

Here is a taster of what greets me every morning as I step over the bridge by the Summer Studio shed, the beautiful bluebell wood with the birds a-singing, and the stream a-babbling. Can you hear the thunder storm gathering at the start!

My own studio will be open the 3rd & 4th Thursday of the month from May to Sept 10am– 4pm.

May 22nd,  June19th & 26th,  July 17th & 24th , 

August 21st & 28th,  September 18th & 25th.

 If you can't make those days you can give me a call on 07841049023

and I will open specially for you if I can.

If you need directions e~mail me on ruthieredden@hotmail.co.uk

So if you are out and about do pop by if you can, you may yet get a glimpse of the bluebells in the wood as well as see my prints, originals & cards, my sculptures & faeries, works in progress, sketchbooks and doodles & my inspiration board & bits & pieces. The kettle is always on and it would be lovely to see you.

You can see more of my "Summer Studio" images here.

Easing into the day, gently . . .

Do you rush into your day headlong?

Setting a Morning routine to ease gently into the day

Oh my, I used to do just that, my mornings would be such a jumble & a rush

 1. Diving straight into the studio deal with my e-mails  

2. Going off on tangents, being distracted by a piece of work or research

3. Forgetting to drink my morning coffee

4.  Rushing about feeling stressed and out of sorts

5. Surfacing several hours later having not done half of the things I had meant to!

 So I decided no more, "what would I really like my morning to feel like?"

Relaxed, waking up to the day slowly,  taking time to ease into my day.

 So I set about making it happen, and now I start my day with a lovely studio morning routine

I make sure I take an hour out of my morning to

1. Put on some calming, music from my You-Tube channel

2. Light one of my homemade candles

3. Drink my coffee from one of my fave little mugs I have collected

4. Light one of my favourite incense sticks a "Nag Champa"

5. Spend just half an hour with my sketchbook doodling or writing in my journal.

What a difference! By making just a little gentle "me" time in the morning,

it allows me to settle into the day, find my feet and  relax.

My whole day takes on a different feel and I'm ready to go.

Do you have a morning routine that eases you into your day, I'd love to know what others do!

my wee studio & an art trail . . .

There has been a hustle and a bustling in my studio lately.

My muse has returned, oh joy! 

 I'm spending happy hours nestled in my creating space.

I  love my studio,  it was a dream I held for many years

to have such a place and now at last i do  . . .

folk who visit say it fascinates them with so much to look at!

 That makes me smile,   I'm usually such a tidy soul, 

yet this space of mine is overflowing and i love it!

It isn't a space i " put" together, rather it has grown about me

like a comfortable blanket, familiar & cosy & comforting.

When i step through the door I enter into another world.

A world where  i dream & plot & paint & sketch,

listen to  endless stories & magical music.

This wee haven fills me with peace & inspiration.

It's almost time for the next Kirkcudbright Art Trail 

A whole year has passes since the last one see here

  A wonderful event held from Friday 3rd to Mon 6th August.

The wee town of Kirkcudbright will be filled with a hum of activity

as local artists & crafts folk show their wares.

You can find lots more info, a brochure & map here on the website.

My dear Mom Jean Redden & I will be there again this year

We will be downstairs in Rhubarb, Castle Street  again 

if you are about do pop in, its always lovely to meet folk.

Above is my piece donated for the a canvas wall, 

a fab idea that allows folk to pick up a piece of art for £10!!

I do hope to see some of you there x x

red & gold & white . . .

in amongst all the sparkling loveliness of the snow & ice

i have been snuggled in my studio

i have been mixing deep & glowing colours

to keep me warmer still,

christmas stars in velvety skies

christmassy trees, full of heartfelt messages

and christmas dancing angels, to bring smiles of joy

i have also been amending disasters, this last month

my red & unruly hair seems to be a thing

hairdressers have never been able to tame,

by cut or colour, as you see below, sighs

at last i am relenting & returning to my natural untamed state

(top right & bottom left, is where i'm at just now)

do other redheads have the same problem i wonder?

At the end of each beautiful day

wonderful frosty sunsets send me indoors with

a smile on my face

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

found again . . .

today is a celebration, one whole year!

of this my blogging life.

i set out to find lost keys, to unlock parts of me

to find again my creative self

such twisting & turning steps i have climbed

yet at every turn found new treasures waiting

i have enjoyed my journey & learnt so much

found again the me i thought lost

and im standing here, one year on

feeling on top of this beautiful world

so i raise my glass and say thank you
for stepping with me along the way
for giving me courage & strength
& friendship
* * *
so looking forward to sharing the next chapter!
x x x
ruthie

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?????

thank you. . .

a wonderful easter weekend inspired by natures colours
her shapes

her details her magnificent sunsets

i have been happily painting butterflies

i had such wonderful comments left on my angel blogpost & some very precious things shared, thank you all from the bottom of my heart. i was so very unsure about blogging when i started, yet through the process, i have learnt so much & met so very many wonderful folk. for me personally it has been quite a journey of self discovery, something i really never expected when i set out. i so wish you could all be winners of my angel, but there is only one. . .

* * *

a very lovely lady i met not so very long ago called Julie,

she has a fascinating blog the celtic lady full of so much interesting information.