Celtic connections, an album & a logo

I am so excited to be able to share with you at long last
a project I was working on back in Summer 2011.

About that time, Mr O (my musician) was recording a 2nd album
of traditional Celtic music at Unit7 studios, Bladnoch,
with his sister, renowned composer & fiddle player, Marie Fielding
and their long time friend, accordionist Duncan Black.

 I was asked to design the logo for the label Rumford Records.

Marie wanted a celtic feel for her newly set up record label,

from the many designs I produced, and I did get a little carried away,

the design below was the final one chosen and used.

I also had the fun task of taking cover shots for the album.
At the end of a long & tiring session in the studio,
these 3 inspiring musicians caused endless laughter
as we tried out different poses outside the cottage.

 and finally after all their hard work, the headaches & the smiles
I am pleased to present the end product
Tribute's 2nd album.

For more information Rumford Records has a facebook page here
the album itself is for sale over on Maries own website here.

Owen also has his own reverbnation page  here 

 & facebook musicians page here.

All in all a fun project to be involved in

& fascinating to see the creative process of an idea coming to fruition.

waiting & watching in the bluebell woods

 Step by step through the bluebell woods,

from the beginning of March we trod the same path

watching & waiting for Mother Nature to do her magic,

little by little, step by step, so that an eye could hardly tell

 untill this last week, week 8 . . . here they are,  the bluebells! 

I wish you could walk with us, the air is sweet with their scent

and the colours & hues are just beautiful.

Others over the years must have waited to for this wonderful display

but maybe for very different reasons.

* During the bronze age bluebell sap was used to glue feathers to arrows for hunting.

* The sap of the bluebell was used, in days gone by, to bind the pages of books.

* The bulbs were crushed in the  Elizabethan age to make starch for cuffs & collars.

* It is thought that the ring of the bluebell is a call to the faeries, 

so do keep to the path through them unless you want to make the fae cross ;-).

Have a wonderful weekend one and all x

Merlin's owl, a midnight walk & a book or two . . .

My boy took me on an adventure a wee while ago,
we donned woolly gloves & hats  & set off into the night. . . .
on a mysterious midnight exploring of the deep dark woods

(My boy loves his photography & most of these above are his)

We lay on a tiny bridge watching trees sway & shooting stars.
and heard the deer moving through crunchy dried autumn leaves.
The little stream below us burbled its song into the cold night air.
and the soft call of the owls told tales we could only guess at.

As we wandered there out of time and out of place
my imaginings conjured knights of old & wise wizards.
Camp fires with their curling smoke hidden amongst the trees
& storytellers of old sharing their words around the warming flames..

I thought of the all the stories i have dipped into over the years
of Merlin, King Arthur & tales of the round table & its Knights.
As I listening to the owl & watched the moon shine through the trees
a misty picture began to take shape before my eyes . . . .
I knew it was the makings of a new painting my brushes just had to make
 and at last tis ready to share, my

"Merlin's Owl and the moon"

Prints of this painting can now be bought in my "Mythweaver" store  here.
or the original here.
*    *    *
I do so love to dip into other places & times, I always have  2-3 books on the go at a time, I shall share some of my most favourite very soon.
Have you any favourite books to share here that pull you back in time?
*   *   *

 (Oh and guess what else I heard this last week, my first cuckoo of the year)

wildlife visitors to the garden . . .

I do so love my early morning walks with Poppy.

Up with the birds we are out climbing through the garden,

heading for the hills behind the cottage.

I set out with my trusty camera and my heart filled with excitement, 

for i never know what or even who we may come across!

Visitors this week

*

* Even before we set out, I saw Mr Hare from the studio window as he loped by, he's becoming a regular, maybe he's asking to be painted!

* I heard Mr woodpecker loudly knocking, and later came across him & his new lady doing a spectacular mating dance, calling & fluttering about up in the trees.

* Poppy followed mysterious hoof prints in the mud from the garden, across the bridge over the stream, and up the path into the woods and there, a tiny Roe deer snapping off grassy stems.

* and we were serenaded by this sweet little chaffinch who followed us a wee while. You can hear their call on this you-tube clip here .

These visitors to my garden remind me of how very lucky I am to live where I do surrounded by all this beauty. Do you see or hear visitors  near by?  Have a beautiful weekend all x

Lantern making workshops . . .

When word came that a lantern making workshop was being held in the local town hall, I couldn’t resist! I love nothing more than creating & making things and I had never tried lanterns before.

The workshop was open to anyone interested in making simple paper lanterns,

using cane, masking tape, tissue paper & plenty of glue. No experience necessary.

The day was organised by Colin & Pauline Saul & guided along by others

We willing volunteers soon became engrossed in our creations.

 So much fun & enthusiasm and so many wonderful ideas.

By the end of the day we were surrounded by crowns, fish. birds!

I think I can safely say a wonderful creative day was had by all.

All this lantern making experience is now being put to good use

as we all head out into the community to share our learnings with others.

The aim of this venture is to create over 500 paper lanterns

for the evening of 4^th June, when Kirkcudbright is holding, what will surely be,

a spectacular  fireworks display & lantern parade to celebrate the Queens Jubilee.

If you are anywhere near Kirkcudbright on that date do come by to take part,

there will be lanterns for sale on the evening, or perhaps you like the idea of

trying your hand . . . .well, it just so happens that on

 Saturday 5th May ~ 10 - 5 ~ in Kirkcudbright upper town hall

there is going to be another open to all "lantern making workshop" event !

I can't wait, I have a swan to finish, can u spot him above? Will we see you there? 

 I do hope so, it is such fun & turned out to be extremely theraputic too!

 If you cant' possibly make it, but love the look of lantern making,

you can find some excellent instructions on how to make the lanters here.