My Past Life as a Painter...

When I lived abroad for 5 years I use to paint in a very different way than I do today.

I was really inspired by my new life and surroundings living in New Zealand and later Australia. I loved being near the sea and the warmer weather created the most amazing light and sunsets in Wellington, Auckland and Brisbane. I thought the New Zealand Maori and the Australian Aboriginal traditions were beautiful, with their myth's and legend's about their ancestors.

'Red Hibiscus'-2000 (30"x24")

So here are a few paintings from my past life, which seems such a long time ago now. All of these images are painted with acrylic and oil on canvas. I think they are quite dark and moody works, considering I lived in such a light environment. In fact my artwork is a lot lighter these days. If you like, click on the photos to see a larger view. I created the picture above in Auckland in 2000 and the pictures below in Brisbane in 2001. All of the works shown here, now decorate the walls of my home, although I did exhibit and sell paintings in galleries when I lived abroad.I miss working on a larger scale but I do not have the space at the moment to paint on big canvases. 'Rock pools and a Mosquito'-2001, shown here in detail and in full, is not such a big piece, it measures at 16"x16". The colours are rich because it's heavily varnished to protect the crackle effect.
I used to love to create abstract sky and sea pictures, using my hands to paint instead of brushes. I put my thumbprint on the corner of this picture.











The images above are detailed views of the painting below which is one of the largest paintings I have ever created. It is called 'Storm Over Sea'- 2001 (71"x30"). It nearly fits the full length of the living room wall!These paintings have never been exhibited before. I decided to keep them as part of a private collection and a reminder of my life of living in New Zealand and Australia.

Etsy Shop Update...
I am so pleased to announce at last my shop is now up and running. It took me a while to sort things out but I got there in the end and my Dragon necklace was the first item to sell through Etsy. It's going all the way to New York. I hope the new owner will enjoy wearing the Celtic dragon with green eggs!
I received some black velvet gift bags the other day, to send with all my jewellery and some new business cards too. All of the items will be gift wrapped when purchased and sent first class delivery.
I'm also now on facebook, so you can visit me there if you like. I'll be keeping friends updated on new jewellery stock on facebook. I'm planning to get some nice limited prints and cards very soon and in the next few days there will be two Hare necklaces listed in the shop.

A Wells and Glastonbury experience, with Green Men and Dragons!

I thought I would share with you my visit to Wells and Glastonbury, which I mentioned in my Halloween post. I took plenty of photos of my adventure and I'm now thinking I will need to set up a Flickr site to contain all the images!
My mystical journey really began in Avebury but the real magic I experienced was in Wells and Glastonbury. First of all, a friend recommended that I should take a look at the Wells Reclamation center... Wow, what a place to visit...It was very inspiring. There were so many strange and wonderful things to look at. The center was full of unusual curiosities. I really liked the Green Man wall sculpture (the first image), also the red dragon and the large metal Stags. They are made of cast iron. I thought they looked very noble standing amongst the garden ornaments. I can imagine these statues coming to life at the stroke of midnight, when the center is closed and all is quiet. Roaming around the forest of twisted metal and ceramic pots.
















The images above show a collection of old pub signs, crates, part of a Victorian fire place with beautiful red tiles and some metal bird cages, (click on the images to see a close up view). Dragons and Green Men seemed to be everywhere... I saw this magnificent Oriental dragon in Glastonbury next to the Library of Avalon and the crystal shop...














Many moons ago I used to work in a New Age shop in Bath, as a part time job while I was student in art college. I enjoyed working there because it sold magical books and crystals.Maybe that is why I love making jewellery out of semi precious stones and reading books about the Celtic myths and legends of King Arthur and Camelot.
Courtyard books is a great shop to visit in Glastonbury and also Gothic Image. The day I visited there was a Psychic Fair being held near by (perhaps they knew I was coming). I did not have a psychic reading and I did not have the chance to see the Glastonbury Tor but I have visited the Tor many times in the past...
















Recently I've been really inspired by dragons. I have been sketching them and created this Celtic Dragon necklace with green eggs. It is really made with olive jade stones that look like eggs!
The necklace is a real statement piece of jewellery. It is fairly long and certainly stands out as the Jade stones are quite large and a luminous green. I think it looks quite striking. This necklace, (one of a kind) will be for sale in my Etsy shop, which will be ready by next week. I hope you will enjoy having a look around.;)

Magical Music - by Loreena Mckennitt...

I forgot to add some Halloween music to my party post, so here is one of my favourite singers, the beautiful Loreena Mckennitt in concert... I recommend you turn the sound up on full to hear her wonderful voice. I hope you will enjoy this Celtic song, The Mummer's Dance!

Halloween Party. Witches, Ghosts and Bats in the Belfry!

I'm a bit late for the Halloween party because I have been away on an adventure for a few days. I visited Avebury, Wells and Glastonbury. I really did see some magic on my travels...
















Welcome to Avebury Manor. Please leave your broomsticks at the door... This is the creepy side door of the house. I saw these broomsticks for sale in a little shop in Glastonbury. They are waiting to be collected for Halloween!
Here are a few bats in the belfry. They were just hanging around near our local churchyard.
In fact they were in the Rectory shed, where we keep the recycling bins!
The weeping lady, is a ghostly figure. She has been seen haunting around Wells...I actually saw her at the Wells Reclamation center. She was standing quite still like a statue... I found these wonderful images of cats, witches and a spooky fairy book. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. He has really captured the Halloween spirit in this picture. Click on the photos to see a close up view.

Halloween seems to be a time for all sorts of strange creatures. Ghosts, ghouls, imps and fairies. They all come out to play at dusk and dance til dawn. Sculptures at Wells Reclamation center.


Crowfoot Witch is preparing a witches brew for the gathering and Thistle the cat, helps to make the magic potion of worms and spiders...I have created a pair of spider earrings to wear at the party. They are made with silver beads and Spider Web, Agate stones. Please contact me through my website if you have any enquiries about these earrings. Sorry for the delay of the Etsy shop. It will be arriving soon!




Finally I have prepared a Halloween Hamper.
The basket contains a pumpkin, red apples, creepy chocolates and Elderflower wine...


HAPPY HALLOWEEN
EVERYONE!!!

The Autumn Fox and The Winter Hare.

Sometimes it can take me a while to create a new post, especially if I have a lot of photos to sort through and writing to think about. These past few weeks have been really busy finishing off illustrations, creating jewellery and making gift bags. I'm preparing to have an Etsy shop very soon. The fox necklace and sari fabric bags (shown below) will be for sale in my new shop. Click the photos to see a close up view. This fox necklace is made of a mixture of semi precious stones and small glass beads. My two favourite gem's (which I have used for this piece) have to be Carnelian and Sparkly Sun Stone. I really love the warm Autumnal colours. Also for sale will be some Winter white jewellery, including hare and moon necklaces, fairy bracelets, owl earrings and bracelets. The white/grey stones are called Howlite and they are mixed in with some Moonstones and also glass beads. I have completed each piece with a snowflake charm. Apart from the earrings, I will be selling the necklaces and bracelets with silk lined bags, so they will be individually made and unique. In my next post I'll be showing some more jewellery for Halloween.

Winter and a New Illustration.
Recently I have been very inspired by the four seasons, especially all things wintery and white. A lovely site to visit, that I feel captures some white magic, is Owl in the Dark.
I have just completed "The White Fairy and Hare" illustration. The images below shows Winter melting away into Spring. The lady hare is wearing a wild flower necklace, which is actually called a Harebell flower. She has a knowing look, as if she senses the changing of time. To see this illustration in more detail, Click on the photos below. In the Celtic tradition the hare is a creature of the Goddess, the moon and the night. She is also seen as representing the brightness of the dawn. The hare is a mysterious animal, a shape shifter, leaping in and out of magical worlds, she also represents female intuition, rebirth and new beginnings.
This illustration is similar to some of my other paintings, for example "Fairy Fashions". I like to recreate characters and adapt my images whenever possible.The fairy in the picture is wearing another butterfly hat design. This time I was inspired by the Large white butterfly. The moth flying away, out of the painting, is called a White plume. I have shown the fairy wearing a knitted waistcoat and leggings, trimmed with fur...She is also carrying a magic wand with an owl/cats head, design. I feel owls and cats are very similar looking creatures. The original illustration is a lot lighter and brighter than my photos. I'm hoping to have some limited addition prints and cards of my work printed soon, to also sell in the shop. I recommend a visit to Welcome to my world! Faerie Moon Creations. Theresa creates beautiful faerie and butterfly design necklaces. I have bought a couple of her special pendants for myself from her Etsy Shop. She has recently created some new designs, with flower and dragonfly charms.

Leaves are falling all around...

Autumn is my favourite time of year. When the sun is low and the leaves change in colour to rustic reds and gold. I take Zigsa for his walk twice a day and on Sunday we found a perfect fire coloured Maple leaf, glowing in the sun... The song "Ramble On" by Led Zepplin has poetic lyrics, that always reminds me of Autumn and moving home. Especially the first verse of the song...

Leaves are fallin' all around, time I was on my way

Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay
but now it's time for me to go, the autumn moon lights my way

for now I smell the rain and with it, pain and it's headed my way.
Aw, sometimes I grow so tired but I know I've got one thing I got to do.

A-ramble on and now's the time, the time is now.
Sing my song, I'm goin around the world...

In the Rectory garden there are some very old apple trees growing. Zigsa loves to climb the small trees. The fruit are a light yellow in colour. We gathered a few apples to eat, they taste very sweet!
I used to climb trees when I was younger and was a bit of a tomboy, I enjoyed climbing the apple trees in our neighbour's garden.
My friends and I would try to pick the fruit without them seeing us. It was a great game, even though we nearly always got caught out.
Luckily our neighbour's did not really mind and never told us off!
Recently I asked my good friend Silke at Metamorphosis to paint a portrait of Zigsa and me. I was so pleased when she agreed. Silke said she enjoyed creating the picture and I think it really shows, as the image looks very playful. Just like her other paintings she has used some lovely bright colours. I really love this picture. It makes me smile and the expression on Zigsa's face is wonderful.
What do you think?

The Winner of the Giveaway Draw!

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has taken part in this give away. I wish you could all win a Fairy Bracelet!
I could not find a pixie hat to put all the names in for the draw, so I used a flower velvet bag instead. Because this give away has been quite successful I think I will be having another one closer to Christmas, so if you want, you can enter the next draw and have a second chance to win a Jo May necklace design...The winner of this giveaway draw is Pamela, From the House of Edward. I will be sending the Spring Fairy Bracelet all the way to America. Congratulations Pamela!Thanks again to you all for taking part and for your kind words of encouragement. I think I will be opening a Etsy shop very soon!:)