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.”

Blackmore's Night is the magical combination of the gorgeous Candice Night, whose voice is wonderful and is as lovely as she looks! and Ritchie Blackmoor who is one of our treasured music heroes whose breathtakingly talented guitar playing leaves one speechless. Together with their fantastic band, they are Blackmore's Night and make the most enchanting music you could wish to hear. If ever you have the opportunity, please go and treat yourself to an evening like no other. These two special folk have devoted fans all over the world, including our family, and are welcomed with open arms wherever they travel. Their beautiful, evocative and inspirational music is a joy to listen to, from haunting, dreamlike, melodic ballads to upbeat, infectious, thrilling rhythms that bring you to your feet and all this with a great sense of humour and warmth. Their web site is www.blackmoresnight.com - make your ears happy! (Candice is also Faerie Magazine's Faerie Queen and I shall write more on that special subject another day.)

 

Magical Blessings, Be

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” - David Vissott 

 

One of my dearest friends in the faerie world, is the talented Paulina Stuckey-Cassidy. She is one of the sweetest, most thoughtful, dream filled people I have had the privilege to know and work with and is extremely modest about her astonishing abilities. This lovely lady thinks on a very deep level which is why I’ve been an ardent fan of her gentle art for many years and adore all her imaginative, quirky, humorous and wonderful drawings. Paulina’s enchanting style is so refreshingly different and reminds me of the illustrated fairy tale books that were so dear to me as a child and are priceless to me now… There is a fun side to her beautiful original art, a whimsical side, a darker side and a side that’s just fantastically odd! Canadian born Paulina is also an amazing storyteller and has put together a series of gorgeous chapbooks, written and illustrated especially by her for self-publication, just like folk used to do before everything became more commercial. (Look out for a feature on Paulina in Faerie Magazine International next year.) Her charming web site is www.paulina.ws - enjoy the treasures within!

As I’m not very good at dealing with the winter months, this time of year I tend to wish I was able to find a nice cozy place to hibernate as soon as it begins to get colder. Somewhere warm and safe where I can be woken up in time for our birthdays in the spring… So one of the blessings I give thanks for this season, is to be able to light a log fire in our old living room wood burner. Not only do I love the crackling sounds and smells of the wood smoke – especially as it lingers in the cottage the following morning – but I could spend hours just gazing into the dancing flames as they curl up over the logs and create colours that only seem possible in that kind of heat. It is a comforting natural phenomena which sheds a magical light all its own and I’m sure that my mind on some primeval level remembers this, can you tell I’m a fire sign?!

Magical Blessings, Be

“ ‘There is no use trying,’ said Alice, ‘one can’t believe impossible things.’ ‘I dare say you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen. ‘When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’ ” – Lewis Carroll