About Me:For as long as I can remember I have been working as a freelance theatre costume designer/maker and for a long time too I ran a childrens theatre workshop, but now I seek a quieter existence. I am currently working on a series of childrens faerie tales which i am also illustrating!
I was once told by a mystic that I shouldn't be here. I am not sure if that was such a good thing to tell someone as sensetive as me, but it sure made alot of sense. I have always felt detached and have found my solace in the Lore of Nature. I consider myself to be a true believer of the little people and I like nothing more than smelling violets and absorbing the beauty of the seasons.
Music:The late great Nancy Lamott! Birdsong and the sound of the Ocean.
Movies:Photographing Fairies, Pan's Labryinth, Brigadoon, Moulon Rouge, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, The Railway Children (written by Edith Nesbitt who lived just down the road from me!), Legend, Oliver!, The Dark Crystal, The Hours, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Green Mile, The Secret Garden, The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao, Splash, Let Him Have It, Mame, Mary Poppins, Rocky, Monster House, The Polar Express, The Song of Bernadette, The Wild Heart, Lost Horizon, The Student Prince, Robots, The Elephant Man, Midnight Express, Meet Me In St Louis, The Kentuckian, Random Harvest, Its a Wonderful Life, Mulan, This Happy Breed, Whistle Down The Wind, Breif Encounter, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Joan of Arc, Great Expectations, Cinderella, Stage Door, etc also anything with Fred and Ginger!
Books:Anything by Charles Dickens!
Likes:Working on my childrens books and illustrating them, Sculpturing, Creating things, listening to music, walking my two dogs in the local woods, Meals out with friends, escaping, visiting the cemetery, old book shops, looking at stars, chocolates, The Grotto at Lourdes, roast dinner without the meat, violets, etc.
Dislikes:Meat!(Im a vegetarian) Large crowds, rudeness, Sherri, pomp, door to door salesmen and canvassers, etc.
Hobbies:Writing, Painting, Reading, Chasing Rainbows, Walking in the Snow, etc.
Vices:Chocolate!!!!
Virtues:Treat others as you want to be treated yourself - with respect and kindness. Never judge a book by its cover!
Heroes:My departed Family! Charles Dickens, Edith Holden, Beatrix Potter, Derek William Bentley, Iris Bentley, Edith Nesbit, Margaret Tarrant, Nancy Lamott, Be and Drew Montague. . . .
Thursday, February 14, 2008, 04:17 PM GMT [General]
Isn't it just amazing how a simple ripple, be it a voice, a movement or a thought can touch so many others and help restore and enrich our lives.
I know for sure that this wonderful site and the wonderful Be Montague who has enriched my world and given me strength when I have felt quite weak and put light into my darkest corner.
I hope that your trek through this Enchanted World has given you as much faith and hope as it has me!
I was so sad to hear the news that US Singer Dan Fogelberg died today. His music was an inspiration and particuarly the song 'Longer' simply takes me to some far of place.
Longer by Dan Fogelberg
Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean Higher than any bird ever flew Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens I've been in love with you
Stronger than any mountain cathedral Truer than any tree ever grew Deeper than any forest primeval I am in love with you
I'll bring fire in the winters You'll send showers in the springs We'll fly through the falls and summers With love on our wings
Through the years as the fire starts to mellow Burning lines in the book of our lives Though the binding cracks and the pages start to yellow I'll be in love with you I'll be in love with you
I pray that his spirit has soared to a beautiful place, a place he can call home.
If you love Childrens book Illustrations like I do, then trot along to Chris Beetles Gallery before 5th January 2008 to see the biggest event worldwide for Cartoon and Illustration collectors.
Here you will have the chance to feast your eyes on the works of Edmund Dulac, Kate Greenaway, John Tenniel, Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter, Quentin Blake, Peter Cross, Giles, Kathleen Hale, Al Hirschfeld, David Low, Kay Neilsen, Mervyn Peake,Phil May, W Heath Robinson, Thomas Rowlandson, E. H. Shepard, Edward Ardizzone and H. M Bateman.
Here are the details which I hope leads you there or where you can find out more.
Chris Beetles Gallery 8 & 10 Ryder Street, St Jame's, London SW1Y 6QB.
A friend and I fought the rain yesterday and searched for a parking space in London for over three hours (yes Im not joking!) so I could get to the Gallery in Mayfair to see Brian and Wendy Froud's latest exhibition. I made it! Here was I, salivating and dripping like a leaky roof at all these wonderful paintings and creeping up so close to Wendy's marvellous doll creations (Im sure one of them blinked at me!) and then in the next breath,, there was I shaking their hands and talking to them (it was that easy!) and like everyone has said so far, I actually felt their artistic energy rush through my system. Amazing! They are such lovely people. Their work is a great source of inspiration to many and I didnt realise just how big Brians paintings were. I seemed to imagine that he worked on smaller scales. His Alice painting looked so much like the actress Kate Beckinsale who played the lead role in one of the Wonderland movies. It truly was worth battling against the elements and the system to come close to these talented artists. All I got to do now is keep warm and not catch cold!
Dear Mr. Tumnus,
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! Fred is even more mesmerizing in real life. Well, not so much, mesmerizing, really, as "look out! Here he comes!"-erizing.
Michele
Thank your for you very kind note and for adding me as a friend. It's wonderful to meet another kindred soul who also loves the fantasy world of children's literature. See you in Neverland! Sending lots of Hugs to warm up your winter in Narnia! Looking forward to Spring and the coming of Aslan.
Aw, Dear Mr. Tumnus, you will inflate my head with your kind compliments! The German Romantic poet, Novalis, wrote that understanding is the epitome of the talents. If that be so, then you, Sir, are an angelic prodigy!
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Beautifully put Mr Tumnus, I second your wonderful sentiment to 'Be Enchanted'
Root Deity Poems12:09 PM GMT