Life is such a joy when you find that your path once again crosses with special folk but for quite another reason. Neil Geddes-Ward and his wonderful wife Alicen (I’ll do a separate blog on this lovely lady) came into our lives many years ago when they visited our sons Steiner school in Somerset where I was helping teaching and showing new parents round. (We also met again in the Blue Note cafe in our beloved Glastonbury where I often took our boys for a baked potato treat!) Then, when Drew and I became more involved with the Faerie world, we of course all found each other again and I was so excited to meet up with these like-minded souls. Neil is a fantastic guy who makes me laugh till my sides ache. He gets on with everyone, with a knack for putting all folk at their ease. The only sad thing for us, is that their home is so far, far away up in Orkney but what a fantastic place to live, paint, write (as Alicen does so beautifully) and bring up their children – we can’t begrudge them that at all! Especially as they began a Faerie Museum and Gallery up there which is truly enchanting - www.orkneyfaeriemuseum.com Neil’s awesome and evocative pagan and visionary art can be seen at www.neilgeddesward.com and I urge you to visit… Just don’t encourage him to wear his sporran!

Spiders are most welcome here in our home as, living opposite a dairy farm, we get lots of flies – so we see these eight-legged arachnids as our friends! Therefore, how could I be so cruel as to sweep away their homes, wherever they may be… well, that’s my excuse anyway. Watching a spider spin its web is the most fascinating thing to witness and so clever! It makes you stop and breathe slower just by the wonder of it. I’m in awe at observing a fly get caught in a web, the reaction of the spider as it senses the vibration and then the gross part where it wraps its prey in silk, yuk. (Apologies if this has creeped anyone out.) In the mornings, Drew normally draws the short straw to walk down the garden path as the webs will be spun across our way and the first one through gets caught in them all! I love seeing the strings of silk in the grass get caught in the breeze and shimmer. (In the springtime, when all the tiny, perfect babies emerge from a nest it is a delight as they're so fast.) But my favourite of all are the webs that are covered in sparkling dew, especially when the sunlight catches them or when there’s a hoarfrost - that is pure magic to behold.

Magical Blessings, Be

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Walso Emerson

The elegant, romantic art of Nene Thomas is a feast for the eyes. She paints figures that take your breath away, dressed in luxurious fabrics you want to reach out and touch, in fairy tale settings with an atmosphere that’s evocative and inspirational. Nene’s abilities with her digital paintbrush are truly awesome and she encourages everyone so inclined, to have a go, with tutorials that are fantastic and clear. Nene is a really lovely lady with a great, dry sense of humour and a talent that is beloved all over the world as her gorgeous art is highly collected and respected by folk of all ages. Nene’s web site is www.nenethomas.com We are honoured to have been with her at the launch of her book two years ago and greatly look forward to meeting up again soon… Thank you Nene for your wonderful art and style, we’re still eagerly waiting to take you round the Stately Homes here in the UK!

Magical Blessings, Be

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."- Confucious

Creating light so magically within a digital medium is an art in itself and something that Renee Biertempfel does absolutely beautifully. Her artwork is gorgeous, and I love the fact that she sometimes talks us through the process of her painting techniques and we get to see the original drawings too! Renee’s worlds are wonderful and totally unique with a distinctive style that her fans really appreciate. Her love of the Art Nouveau period perfectly compliments the grace and flow of her own delightful work and then some of her paintings have sweet humour too and that brings a joyful balance. That about sums up my dear friend herself, gentle and charming with a good sprinkling of fun! It was such a treat to finally meet Renee face to face in the spring, having been speaking on the ‘phone for the last few years, and I’m greatly looking forward to more happy times when we get together next month… I am thrilled that her updated web site www.artbyrenee.com is now ready for us to see with some brand new treasures that Drew and I can’t wait to bring over – yay! If you do visit, and know how (!) you could also check out Renee and Brigid Ashwood’s Second Life gallery and store - I’m really hoping that when we’re actually together in the same room with these extremely clever artists, that they’ll hold my hand and show me how to get in there as I would like to try to play too!! (If I ever get to understand this ‘Tomorrow’s World’ concept, I’ll keep you posted – eek…)_

We have some very special visitors here at night, and although I’ve got video footage, sadly I haven’t yet got a good enough photo to post, as they are badgers and it’s always dark! These amazing creatures with such handsome features come right up to our back door as that is where the bird feeders are and there is always something on the floor for them to snuffle up. Plus I often put out extra for all our nocturnal friends. They also know that I have a birdbath dish on the ground that is perfect for them to drink from in a dry spell like we have now. We feel so deeply privileged to be able to sit inside with the outside light on and just observe these gentle creatures – badger watching, though late at night, puts everything into perspective as you just have to stay still and enjoy!

Magical Blessings, Be

“You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world.” – Woodrow Wilson

One of the youngest talents in the Fantasy Art world is the very popular Jasmine Becket-Griffith. Her contemporary style is avidly collected by her huge fan base who also love the fact that she communicates with them directly, attends lots of Shows to meet them and that they can even see her painting at home, via her web cam. Lovely Jasmine has a distinctive style with beautiful colours that bring to life her vibrant art, with an original flair and often humorous feel – she is a delightful spark of enthusiasm, very smart and extremely hard working, more paintings pour out of Jasmine’s brush than I thought was humanly possible… Her web site is www.strangeling.com -  and I know she’d want you to have some fun. I’m sure you either know of her already, or will now be able to put a name to her fantastic artwork!  
          

Chasing rainbows is a passion of mine and has been all my life. It’s not that I’m searching for the pot of gold, I would just love to bask in the rays – I have to believe that one day I will! Once again I am so grateful to my indulgent family, who patiently wait while I stop the car if necessary to absorb the moment. These astonishing natural phenomena never cease to fascinate me and as soon as I sense that the weather conditions are right I’m straight to the window or, preferably, outside. When a storm is brewing, the usual place to see them here is in the dark skies to the east. I often take photographs, but like so many things, when you try to capture the image it is never as vibrant as in nature itself. My favourite rainbows are the double ones, when the original one’s so clear and then you get another one above it and, very rarely, even three! The purity of the colours on the darkened sky is so breathtaking, it’s like you’ve been given a gift, but as you know it can’t last, you consciously drink it in until it fades… (sigh)
Remember to make a wish next time one appears!  

Magical Blessings, Be

“ ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers – that perches in the soul.” – Emily Dickinson

It is such a delight when you are really able to learn more about a specialised subject from someone who is so accomplished at their trade, and be inspired to ‘have a go’ yourself! Charlotte Bird is an amazing photographer who captures the beautiful vintage feel in her pictures by using modern equipment but with skills learnt through the years, beginning with the use of a dark room at the age of seven! Therefore, her gorgeous work encompasses all the light techniques needed in natural photography, with the latest desktop technology! You can read her full story, which is a fascinating one and I won’t spoil it here, in my article in the Autumn 2007 issue of Faerie Magazine International. (We have also recorded the interview, of course, to podcast later.) I am honoured to say that the photo of me here on EF was taken by the lovely Charlotte, whose web site is www.fairyphotographs.co.uk - She is a dear friend who has kept the enthusiasm and clarity so often left behind in childhood, making her passionate about her photography with a strong, practical desire to teach others so that they can also share the magic…


One of the first signs here of the season turning to autumn, is the spectacular changes in the Virginia Creeper on the Barn opposite our cottage. Every time I pass our landing window (which is sadly the only original 300 year old one left in the house) I get a swoosh of colour erupting in front of me and it is wonderful – all different shades of reds, greens and yellows. The birds have, once again, successfully raised their broods this year within its amazing foliage (I know, because they fly over the hedge to my feeding station for breakfast!) like a protective, colourful nursery. I guess it is one of the ways that I subconsciously mark the months and I am always sad to see the first leaves begin to drop. The happy miracle is, that next year its buds will burst into leaf once again covering even more of the roof, and that all happens from one magic stem, awesome!

Magical Blessings, Be

“When you believe in your dreams and listen to your heart, there is nothing you cannot achieve.”