Reading in a very special place, with birdsong.

Cover image for The Panda's Child.

My hands smell of the summer scent of tomato plants, from picking out the side shoots. They are green bushes, some with small flowers.
I am excited after talking with Catherine Hyde. We are working on a book, together, hoping to find a publisher soon. Little Evie in the Darkwoods.
The washing is hanging on the line in sunshine and breeze.
Time to paint.

A list on a sunny day.

1. Finish horse.
2. Draw out Pand'a Child cover
3. Work on 2 mug designs for MBF.
4. Roughs for East of the Sun.
5. Change front page of website (long long overdue)
6. Play with Procreate on the iPad.
7. Work on I am Cat.
8. Start big painting for Art in Action.
9. Write list for Art in Action.
10. Take in washing.
11. Write a book.

Walking to work: or beautiful distractions.

Imagine.
Here, where the meadowsweet slopes down to the sea. Almost in the shadow of the wind, warm air heavy with the honey-mead heady scent. The sea, wind wrinkled, calm, breathing to the shore.
A raven call.
In the bluest water an silver seal dreams.
Wren song echoes loud from the dark cliff walls, tangled with the sea's song. A soft base note beneath it all the churring call of grasshopper warblers.

 

Further on Shakespearean pillow banks of wild thyme.
And in The Gessail  the family of kestrels has fledged, at least 3 chicks. They fly just above the beach, wings not yet strong enough to lift them to dance on the wind. Hesitant flight. All they lack is confidence.
When a parent returns with food the air fills with the wings and calling clamour. Four chicks. Then silence, until a grasshopper begins to tick away at time.

 

On the way home a peregrine, small in the sky, a dark death dart, until a kestrel begins to hang behind him, waiting, watching. Then a family of vagabond ravens crashes black against the blue. I thank them once again for the story of the Ice Bear they gave me some years ago, and make my way home.

 

Doodling on my iPad gives a sense of freedom and freshness.

Playing shop.

Afternoon tea?

Bags and iPhone cover and mousemat from cafepress. So far, so good. Just ordered samples to show at Art in Action.

List for the day

 Mary's bagfrom cafepress, posing beautifully.

1. Blog.

2. Link.

3. Bank.

4. Paint.

5. Walk.( Take big bowl)

6. Read.(Bloodstone, Gillian Philip, dangerous)

7. Think.

Artist and Illustrator Magazine have a facebook page. Interesting for people who love art. Please pop over for a look and if you could just click the 'like' button on my card that would be lovely. Upload your own images. The more, the merrier. Beautiful work there from Catherine Hyde and Hannah Willow too.

 My desk today, troubled and messy. Time to tidy.

 Slow worm, beautiful, yesterday.

Cliffs in sunshine, with fulmars nesting, yesterday.

Boxes of Delight

Hannah Willow's boxes sparkled, each a small jewel. And inside each box something more precious, made with heart and soul, a wild charm, magical.

 

 

 

But one in particular was wrapped in tissue of silver and ribbon. Inside the bear slept, waiting to enter the world. To enter and then to search for his love. East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

 

St Anthony and an overdue confession.

Last year I went to Norfolk and as part of my visit I was miked up to record talks etc. As the mike went on the necklace came off. The necklace that Hannah Willow made for me to wear when I performed at events to publicize the Ice Bear. The totemic beauty of a necklace that combines the bear, fox, owl, stars, moon and raven, the shamanic spirits of the book. The one off, beautiful handcrafted silver necklace that I love.

I put it in a safe place.

That was the last I saw of it.

 

I searched my bag, my wallet, the car, I emailed Marilyn form the bookshop, but I knew that if she had found it she would have let me know. I asked the hotel, and then I just hoped that it would give joy to whoever had been lucky enough to find it. For months after it made me sad when I thought of it.

Today Robin drove back to Milton Keynes. I reached into the car to say goodbye to Larry, Robin's dog. Something glinted at me from the dark, something silver, chain, amber. And there it was. And I remembered the 'safe place' I had put it, and the sound of the metal against the small pocket in the car came back. My necklace, back again.

 

Tomorrow Hannah is coming to visit for the first time ( bringing jewels and things that shine). And she has something for me. 

I do love a happy ending and cannot say how glad I am to have my beautiful necklace back, how glad I am hat it was me that found it.

 

Surprised

I have worked with Resurgence as an illustrator all of my working life, met Satish Kumar a few times and feel very privileged to know him. Today I was just sitting down to work when the dogs barked and the post arrived. When I opened one envelope I found this....

A beautiful edition and I feel so proud to be included. Thank you Resurgence, and bless you.

Calendar dates

The new moon,

Chinese New Year, The Year of the .........dragon!

 

 

International Peace Day

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

 

The full moon.

And to go with the signed copy of the Cat and the Fiddle as the prize for guessing what is in the bottle there will now also be a signed copy of the calendar.