Family traditions, bonfire night

I do so love family traditions.

Like our Redden family bonfire night get together.

Every year we all gather together at one or another of our houses

 (as many as of us that can make it, for we are spread far & wide)

 Sharing the warmth of the crackling bonfire & sparkling fireworks

Eating the homemade goodies that everyone brings to munch.

Catching up chatter and laughter and swapping the stories of our days.

There is something very special about the coming together

at this end of the darkening year, sharing warmth & food.

This year we even had an extra visitor,

Amy noticed the fire monster, see top left!

A magical silver hare . . .

If you have been readers of my blog for a wee while

you may recall how much of a fan I am of the book "Masquerade"

and the sumptuous golden hare created by artist Kit William

(you can read all about the book & artist on the original post here) 

 Well, can you possibly imagine my delight & amazement

when I discovered this birthday present (below) awaiting me

from my lovely eldest lass Hannah and her partner Daniel.

My very own stunning silver version of that magical hare,

so beautiful, such attention to detail, even the tiny bells ring!

 Oh, they know me so well, my precious family!

 Dear Dan had spent many long hours here & there

secretly hand crafting every piece of this treasure.

I really am quite simply lost for words!

Dan is hoping to do more silver smithing Im glad to say!

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.

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