One of the most important things I do every single day, is to top up the birdfeeders and change the water in the birdbaths. Looking after our garden birds is my passion, though sometimes I wonder whether our boys feel that the wildlife gets better fed than they do! As we live on farmland, we seem to get more than our fair share of birds here and I take that responsibility most seriously! Standing at the kitchen sink or sitting at the table for a quick cup of tea and watching them, whatever the weather, season, or time of day, is so delightfully entertaining.

It is fascinating to witness these beautiful feathered beings and I feel very blessed to be able to observe and appreciate their antics so closely. I have many photographs of them, especially the fledglings, but will begin today with the most striking of our visitors, the Great Spotted Woodpecker. When these impressive birds ‘mechanically’ climb up the White Mulberry Tree outside the back door, I’m happily reminded of Professor Yaffle from Bagpuss! Both the male and female are so colourful, they always catch your eye, and this year we were able to watch their young begin to learn how to hang on to the peanut feeder, causing us much merriment!

All my life, I was the only person I had ever known who believed in faerie. This was not a lonely existence, just an isolated one. Once we began I Do Believe, I gradually met others who were as different as me (yay) and then, just as I was researching and preparing to start my own magazine to celebrate this, along came Faerie Magazine International - www.faeriemagazine.com the most awesome periodical on the planet. I immediately recognised it to be the original and the best and knew I had to put all my energy into supporting and championing it – one of the easiest and wisest decisions I’ve ever made.

This highly collectable magazine was launched in Spring 2005 by Kim Cross, encompassing all that is wonderful with an elegance and charm to fulfill anyone interested in faerie – covering news, views, articles, artisans, artists, writers and musicians from all over the globe, with at least a third of the content regularly about what’s happening in the Britain and the rest of the world. I am proud and deeply honoured to write for this regularly as the UK Editor.
Kim, her dear friend Mary, and a very special, international team of equally dedicated enthusiasts, pour their hearts into creating this quarterly publication, which now has a circulation of nearly 30,000 readers worldwide and counting!
Everyone looks forward to receiving their treasured copy of Faerie Magazine International, as it has become a beloved part of our lives, connecting those who love faerie all across the globe.
Thank you Kim and Mary for your Magical Gift, it just gets better and better…

Magical Blessings,
Be

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Hello again enchanted folk, you are most welcome to share this day with me -

Another deliciously warm afternoon here and from our study, we have been admiring the two cute Little owls sitting up on their preferred branches in the Rowan, Maple or Pear trees, also enjoying the September sunshine - what an amazing kind of owl they are. They can get rather argumentative with each other, especially if they don't wish to share their perch, when they squawk and flap their wings to make their feelings known! We adore them and as soon as we hear the commotion, rush to the window to watch their antics, though sometimes they're noisy very early in the morning, and no one rushes then... I guess we must have a lot of beetles and worms in our garden for them to have chosen it as their home. Hooray for my favourite owl!





Here's my idea - dearest Amy Brown and her wonderful art, is the sole reason why Drew and I began, I Do Believe Ltd. After seeing Amy's fun faeries in the States six years ago with their refreshing, contemporary attitude, I just knew we had to bring them to Britain to share, starting with her first book, The Art of Amy Brown which you couldn’t get in the UK. So basically, We Owe All This To Amy – I can hear her laughing at us now, as I was a teacher up until then...

Our whole business began and blossomed from there, unplanned, unpremeditated, just born out of my passion and Belief. (You can hear this story in full on our first podcast - see yesterday's blog. There are also many interviews with other Fantasy and Visionary Artists, already recorded, Drew just needs more mortal hours to broadcast them - I'll let you know when they're complete.)

Amy's awesome artwork, 'met' me as an older Believer, with her dry sense of humour. She also has great wit, superb timing, is extremely modest and shy (and has auburn hair to die for!) Her paintings have brought joy and inspiration to so many fans worldwide and I am thrilled to be able to take this opportunity to pay homage to my friend's fantastic talent and dedication. If there is anyone out there who hasn't yet had the pleasure, her web-sites are www.amybrowncollection.com and www.amybrownart.com - enjoy!
(My review in the Winter 2006 Issue of Faerie Magazine International, covered the launch of Amy's latest collection if you wish to take a peek.)

Amy and her lovely family, are cherished by all our family, and we are very excited about their expected new arrival... We dearly wish them all peace and happiness for the next special stage of their journey. Thank you Amy, for everything you have given to the Fantasy Art world, and the wonder that is you.

Magical Blessings, Be


"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Goethe

Warmest welcomes enchanted folk, thank you kindly for popping by. I'll put the kettle on for a cup of tea for us, which is our staple diet here, in the Land of I Do Believe...

This is a little window on our world, together with magical ideas and enchanted quotes.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. Our family is extremely excited, as we finally realize our dream of a unique place for folk like us to chat, make new friends, exchange thoughts and honour the talents that inspire us and reflect our belief. We hope Enchanted Folk brings you joy, happiness and... courage - this is my first ever blog and if I can do it, anyone can!

And now for the magical idea - we wish to Thank dear Linda Ravenscroft for her beautiful Small Miracles painting as our Enchanted Folk logo. She is my favourite and was chosen especially, as there is something so special and elemental about her and those precious drops of water...
This elfin being's earthy elegance is reminiscent of all Linda's wonderful work and I heartily recommend that you have a look at her web-site www.lindaravenscroft.com Linda is a truly lovely lady and I feel very privileged to be her friend. We got up to all sorts of mischief in May this year at the delightful Spoutwood Farm Fairie Festival, in Pennsylvania, US with Kim and the crew from Faerie Magazine - I'll write more another day and post some pictures. These adventures are also the subject of my IDB Column in the Summer 2007 Issue (www.faeriemagazine.com) You can see my interview with Linda, which was a real pleasure to do - over yet more cups of tea - in the Spring 2007 Issue of Faerie Magazine International and also hear it as a Podcast (when Drew's loaded it up!) on our web-site www.idobelieve.co.uk or on www.fairypodcast.com

What a gorgeous, sunny, autumnal day it's been here, in the English Cotswolds, a real treat after all this summer's rain. I managed to get photographs of the female roe deer and a young roebuck, who's sporting new antlers, that come into our orchard to eat the apples right off the trees! He is more handsome, with a darker nose, and she is so graceful, with the biggest fairy-like ears ever. We feel very lucky that they visit our wild, cottage garden and don't seem to mind us at all.

Magical Blessings, Be

"One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star." - Nietzsche