Autumn loveliness & an artists palette

I do love Autumn, the colours most of all & it is a stirring

It was this delicious season i was born into many moons ago

and maybe why it is always my most favourite time of the year.

The time i feel most at home, the season that sings to my soul.

Nestling into the days, i reminisce over summers cherished moments

and look forward to the richness of treasures in this new fall.

I have been working on this Autumn painting for ever and a day

trying to capture on paper the very essence of the emotions it stirs.

I wanted to share the feeling of the peace I find on quiet forest paths,

the pleasure of foraging for the ripest fruits amongst the brambles.

The joy of seeing mother natures rich palette tinting every leaf,
as the forest begins to take on fall hues of ochre, russett red and orange.
Colours to which I am called again & again when i dip my brushes

Now at last it is finished my "Autum's Bounty" painting

my  "Am Foghar" ~ Autumn in gaelic.

It is available as prints in my etsy & folksy shops

(Such a pet hate i have ~ trying to photograph my paintings, 

as i use gold ink & paint, they reflect, not easy to capture.)

Hidden in amongst this painting are 10 wee faerie folk to discover.
When we were small & out walking in the woods my Grandad always told us
to  " keep an eye out for wee folk", my hidden faeries are for Grandad x
The original is also for sale, though I might find it hard to part with this piece

for  it is filled with the very essence of so many things that I love.

 Autumn always brings back golden happy memories

of my childhood & that of my own children.

The shine on a brand new conker newly strung onto twine,
the smoky smell of dear Grandads garden bonfires,

the feel of crunchy leaves kicked up by tiny booted feet,

 the sound of wise old owls hooting in the darkening evenings.

Do you love Autumn to? What does it bring back for you?

More info on how to spot the early signs of Autumn from the BBC  here 

*        *        *

Autumn bowed to place a beautiful crown on the Queen of Morning,
and her velvet robes sway merrily in the chilly breeze.
~Terri Guillemets

Beach combing & creating sea treasures

We are so blessed living in beautiful South West Scotland
only a stones throw from many beautiful beaches & coves
Every once in a while we hear the call of the sea and head off
 for a sniff of the salty air & a listen to the songs of the sea.
Perhaps catch a glimpse of a mermaid or two.

We have so many favourite beachy memories
* cooking marshmallows over a driftwood fire at Carrick shore

* dipping nets to catch flitting shrimps at Mossyard
* stargazing into velvet midnight skies at the Dhoon.
 * * *
Did you know here in Dumfries & Galloway we have
one of only 4  dark sky parks in the Western world!

 The sea holds such magic & the words of this old song conjures all!

"Sea Fever"
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way,
where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
 by John  Masefiled
*

As we walk the shorelines along balmy seas or stormy waves
 we keep a wary eye open for treasures thrown up from the deep.
Delicate crabs shells long empty, worn seashells just ready to string
mermaids purses, elusive pelican foot shells & barnacles long abandoned
And once even a seaweed strewn child's tiny bicycle!

I collect these offerings from the sea & take them home to my studio
 "Shades of the sea " are the creations I make from my findings.
Driftwood & shell chimes with delicate coloured ribbons

As the breeze catches a chime you can hear a delicate noise
the song of the shells, bringing thoughts of the wonderful ocean to mind
and as the mobile moves, its individual pieces shift & change about,
forming mesmerising sculptural shapes.

You can find my driftwood chimes for sale here & here

Talking of magical things if you love mermaids & magic as I do
you may love this series of books a dear friend recently introduced me.
 Set in Cornwall they are called "Ingo" written by Helen Dunmore.
Do go & take a peep, they will keep you mesmerised.

So i shall leave you with the sound of the sea in your ears
& the tang of salt on your tongue.
I wonder do you dream of sea shore wanderings,
and what would enchant you there?
Do you have a favorite sea poem or story to share here?

If you love magical seashore happenings,
click here to be whisked away to a true tale of my wee lass,
her message written in the sand and a dream that came true.
* * *
next week a tale or two of Autumn x

Celtic blessings & a vist to Cumbria . . .

I chose another of my favourite Celtic blessings for my latest piece

"May you have. . . "

 May you have walls for the wind and a roof for the rain

and drinks beside the fire,  laughter to cheer you

& those you love near you and all that you heart may desire.

As i worked on this piece I got to thinking about my own blessings

how lucky I am to have walls & a roof, drink & food & warmth.

  What more could a person ask for.
*

Another blessing I am oh so thankful for is being Mom to my 3.

Only now times they are a changing, i suddenly have an empty nest!

My number 3 is setting off with a happy wave for college life

 and as i I sit here at home I can feel the air quietly shift & re-settle

as it fills the spaces, as our lives take on new patterns & ways.
*

So whilst the pattern of our days settles itself

and I grow accustomed to this quieter wee cottage

i am smiling at the memories, keeping busy,  painting & making

and so looking forward to future times & family visits.
*

I have so many other things to share, where do i start . . .

Perhaps with our days in Cumbria finding Celtic inspirations and

the "The Giants Grave", a collection of 4 separate monuments, 

2 crosses & 4 hogback tombstones at St Andrews church said to mark

the burial place of Owen Caesarius, King of Cumbria 920 to 937 AD.
*

Or the stone circle "Long Meg & her daughters" with its 69 stones,

dated about 1500bc, I felt such connections here in this ancient place.

 We also hunted down the Loki stone in Kirby Stephen, depicting the

Norse god.  A reminder of invading Vikings here once upon a time.
*

Back home a last minute decision found us camping out

at our local,  friendly music festival the "Wickerman".

Lots of excellent music, catching up with friends old & new

& rounded off with the spectacular burning of the giant wickerman.
*

The Kirkcudbright art trail at which Mom & I had our work

was a wonderful event, its always good to actually meet customers

I'd like to say a huge thank you to all who called in.
*

So as the sun sets on these last days of August

I hope you too have many blessings to count.

 

My newest Celtic Blessing painting is available as prints

in my etsy shop here,  I now offer up to A3+ size prints.

I also have a new folksy store here which i am in the process of stocking.

do remember to keep an eye open for the magical
"once in a blue moon" on 31st!

x x x

The sunset above is the view over the Cairnsmore of Fleet,
Dumfries & Galloway.

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

An allergy & a magical cure . . .

Hello treasures ~ I am back at last, with such a happy sigh.

for this last long while I have felt just like rip van winkle!

or frodo baggins in the sleeping grove!

Now i'm back with a tale . . .

Silently & slowly over many moons a great weariness, heaviness, 

a bone deep tiredness had crept up and settled upon me,
I had other odd & annoying symptoms too.

I thought, for a long while,  it was just me ~ getting older ;-)

 Then by chance my  knight in shining armour (my Mr O)

 consulted with a wise man who pronounced a magical cure.

My ailment ~ foods that really shouldn't be passing my lips

things that did daily ~ wheat & dairy, sugar & caffeine!

 So i set too and (though often tempted) I have banished those baddies

and at last miracle of miracles ~ after months and months

I feel I have woken up from the longest  hibernation, 

I have energy again, which in turn means I can do things again, yay!

A huge change from a just a few short weeks ago.

I was exhausted by the slightest of things, all i felt i could manage was

to read, pottet in the quiet garden, look at loveliness on Pinterest

and sleep on and on and on lol

Who would have thought it had so much to do with diet!