I have now moved my blog over to Typepad.. I was cheesed off with the issues with uploading photographs and having cramped up posts! You can now find me at: http://littlewren.typepad.com

Tagged!

Apologies for my absence in blog world of late.. life has begun to get very very busy and I've been up to a few things whilst I've been away, which I shall update you with very soon. In the meantime, the lovely Jo from Hesta and The Pugs has tagged me and now I have some questions to answer! So.. here goes! 1) What did you want to be when you were growing up? Well, as a child I spent an awful lot of time in hospital. It was, at certain points, like my second home and I grew to love the familiar nursing staff and their crisp uniforms and frilly hats. I'm giving away my age now as no frilly hats are found these days except in some private hospitals) poor old crock that I am!!!! Anyway, I digress... by the time I'd hit my teens and left school.. I also wanted to be a 'maker and artist'... and had great ideas about working selling my art.. and living like a hermit in a cottage near the sea. When I've told you this, it will make perfect sense then, that I got my first job in a bank. And nearly killed myself with boredom :) 2) What do you like most about where you live? I like the fact that as we live on the border of Kent and South London, so if you go half an hour either way, you're either surrounded by farmland and quaintness.. or in the thick of London life and all its glitter. I will add though, that I am ALWAYS very relieved to leave London once I've done what I have to do. Small doses of London work best for me. 3) If you could only rescue three things from your house, what would they be? Well.. the first lot, would be my husband, my girls and my daughter's boyfriend who lives with us too. Secondly, it would be our three rescue mutts and thirdly.. it would be my engagement ring if I weren't wearing it at the time. My heart sometimes misses a beat if I even think about losing that ring. If I were wearing my ring at the time of the 'rescue' mission.. then it would probably be... my photograph of my Dad which currently sits in my lounge. 4) What's your favourite book? I'm a funny one with books. I read them once usually, it's rare I'll read a book more than once. I also hardly ever read 'stories' and mainly read books for information on sewing/craft or spirituality. However.. one favourite book of mine is 'Eat, Pray, Love'.. I just adore that book. The other, would be 'The Undertaker's Gone Bananas' which I read at school when I was 13. I got so 'into' that book, I could actually imagine myself climbing in through the Undertaker's window of his apartment.. to check if he really had killed his wife and chopped her up. This must have been the start of my funeral curiousity... I blame the school library for this warped interest!!!! 5) What's your favourite room in your house? My favourite room has to be our bedroom. It's duck egg blue, with cream carpets.. and the view from the window is just trees, trees and more trees. We have a huge silver antique bed, which is always dressed in soft white cotten bedlinen and then topped with my favourite baby blue scatter cushions with the little hand sewn crystals on them. My other favourite room is the kitchen.. mainly because of my Aga.. who is called Aggie. Aggie is dark blue, the heart of our house.. and a very convenient bottom warmer for me.. and a place where the dogs lurk when they're chilly. 6) What is your favourite joke? There is nothing to answer for this question.. because without doubt, I am THE lousiest joke teller. I fail again and again to remember a joke, even an hour after I'm told one. If I worked in The Joke Department of Funny Words Ltd, I would surely have been demoted to tea lady by now. That's all I can say on this one... 7) What would you most like to change about your house? Mmmmm tricky. Because mainly, I'd like to change house entirely. But THAT'S another story which involves words like 'relocate, sea, countryside, cottage, beams, exposed bricks, wooden floors and inglenook fireplaces'. So.. I shall just say that I'd LOVE our present cottage to have a new bathroom.. and I'd love an en suite bathroom too as right now, six people juggling their time spent in our tiny bathroom is very tricky.. and oh, the thought of soaking in a bathroom with just me and Mr M's things in it.. would be heaven. 8) Do you believe in love at first sight? No. I don't think so. Not true, deep and unwavering love. When I first met Mr M, I 'knew' something big was about to happen.. I could feel it in my water. I also fancied the pants off of him and spent much time looking at the way he smiled, the way his eyes moved when he laughed.. and how his bum looked in his jeans. However, it wasn't until a few weeks later that I realised I just LOVED this man. And that was just the start of it. Thank you Jo for tagging me.. I hope that's ok.. as I have NEVER been tagged before.. and I'm honoured! Michelle xxx PS: Any bloggers out there having trouble getting ANY spaces or gaps between paragraphs.. this is driving me crazy! Will leave blogger if this goes on!

Wits End..

Taken by me, on holiday in the Isle of Wight 2008

This weekend has been a strange one. To start with - I am very unhappy at work right now and have been, since returning from the summer holidays. I'm not unhappy with my job itself - in fact, I really enjoy working with the students and seeing their progress. But I am seriously struggling with someone I work with who has (using her natural ability to be horrible) succeeded soaking my working day in an energy that is full of negativity, misery and nastiness. This woman drains me.

In an attempt to shake off the 'work' feeling - we went to London yesterday as I'd seen a Vintage Fair advertised at The Bloomsbury Lanes. As I got ready, I had imagined how wonderful it would be, full of vintage antiques, jewellery, household items and baskets of fabric remnants. We scurried off to catch our train and eventually got there, full of anticipation. Well.. It was a wonderful fair, if you want to buy beautiful vintage clothes and shoes - alas, it was nothing like the loveliness of fairs like these here .

We came home empty handed, on possibly the busiest tube journey I have ever experienced and I reflected later that if ever there were messages from the Universe to hint to me that I am growing less fond of London, then this message was one of them.

I'll leave it there I think. And promise to be positive in my next post. But for now.. I'm residing at Wits End.

Love from Grumpy Miserable Vintage Loving Me xxx

PS: Blogger is having one of its annoying moments and not letting me put in proper paragraphs.. so apologies for the scrunched up writing!

Dear Weekend....

Dear Weekend,

You and me must have words. You treat me awfully. One minute you're here... the next you're gone. You just flit in and out and then leave for another five days, without so much as a goodbye.

I'm tired of this. Tired of waiting around for you. But wait around for you, I will. Because without you, I'd be nothing.

Yours Truly...

Hater of Weekdays.

xxx

Boot Sale Goodies!

Mr M and myself both woke later than usual this morning, knowing full well that the local boot sale was on but aware we may have missed the best bargains. But.. the sun was out.. there were no clouds in the sky.. and after a quick discussion we decided to go, despite the fact that last night, I'd begun to feel like the 'lurgy' was upon me.

We wrapped up warm and drove to the local farm - in great anticipation of what might await us. It soon became apparent though, that we'd left it too late.. many people were packing up and it had started to splatter with rain. We decided to walk back the opposite way and see if we'd missed anything. THANK HEAVENS WE DID!!!!

I saw a stall that I'd noticed on the way in, selling bits of china but when we first came in, I hadn't seen anything that caught my eye. Amazingly, these two darling little saucers were on the table at the back.. as well as some 'Old Bear' books which I'd wanted for ages! How had I not seen these????

And then.. I saw a box on another stall.. full up with fake fur off-cuts. I got chatting to the lady and she told me how she was about to move to Australia and was selling her stuff off. A few years ago, she'd been an avid bear maker. We nattered about bears.. (and I told her how I hadn't got round to making one single bear yet.. but had lots of equipment in readiness!) and she immediately scurried off and began rummaging in a bag. When she stood up, she said "I'm sure you'd like this.. it's real mohair.. and you'll appreciate it properly"... Well! I was beside myself with joy at this point and nearly squeaked out loud.. so we came away with some fake fur, some real mohair.. about 3 metres of brand new black felt, some vintage material offcuts and a sewing book too.

Last but by no means least... I rummaged around and found these lovely doilies. They will get a good wash and end up sewn onto something in the future, I've no doubt!

I'm really pleased we made the effort.. and very pleased with Mr M. It was he who spotted the reams of black felt and looked at me like I was a mad woman when I said "What do I want that for?" Did I say that.. really say that????!!!!!

It must've been the lurgy which addled my brain! Thank heavens he's there to keep me on task!

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday.

Mxxxx

Happy Days!

After a week which has, (shall we say).. become steadily more fraught.. I woke on Saturday morning, feeling like a little treat was in order. First myself and Mr M went into town to pick up something I have been covetting for some time now. A 1950's retro phone.

Joan - The Vintage Phone....

There was a sale on in the shop - if you bought one item, you got your second one half price. So, we had to pick this up.. it would have been criminal to leave it behind.

Then.. a short drive later.. we found our way to the Last Chance Charity Shop which raises money to support the Last Chance rescue centre for dogs and cats. (A subject very dear to our hearts). I was on the look out for some vintage fabric.. maybe some lace.. and other goodies. Here is Billy - who I just found on the Last Chance site - isn't he just adorable? Look at that wet nose!

Billy

No sooner had I walked in.. when I saw the lady unwrap this from a black bag. So I pounced on it! Perfect for patchworking, a vintage duvet cover with lace edging. I'll trim the lace off for future creations of things as yet undecided!

A bit of rummaging unearthed a selection of gorgeous doilies...I was a happy woman indeed!

We got home.. and plugged in the phone. And within ten minutes it rang. I was so unused to hearing a mechanical bell, it didn't sink in at first. Then, I ran like a crazy woman to pick it up. I love it!

I keep expecting a stong clipped British accent to speak when I pick it up now... he'd possibly be called Harry - asking me what I'm doing for the 'war effort'. Or perhaps a woman named Daphne, wearing a 1950's pinny, enquiring as to whether I still have my ration book.

Seriously, every time the phone rings.. it gives me the giggles (easily pleased aren't I?)!!!

Hope you're having a cheery weekend. We're at a boot sale tomorrow.. I'll let you know how we get on!

Mxxxxx

Times flies...

Twenty years ago yesterday - I gave birth to my first baby. A little girl.. who had thick black silky hair and navy blue eyes. She was a contented baby - hardly cried. I was so in tune with my new offspring, that I got up often just before she started mewing at night, when she wanted feeding or looking around for a feed or a cuddle.

As a young lady, she liked using a duster and polish (whilst helping her Great Nan). These days.. dusters and polish and housework are far from her mind...

She has always had a quirky individual fashion sense. I like that. Although these days she isn't often seen wandering around wearing a straw boater...or her Nan's slips!

But that's ok. At twenty, she has blossomed into the most amazing, creative and loving human being. And I love that about her. I'm proud to call her mine.

Photo curtesy of G Hartley Photography

This photograph was taken yesterday - after her 'birthday haircut'.

Happy Birthday #1...... We love you very very much.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Disturbing...

Tonight, we decided to watch War of the Worlds. We've watched it before.. but hadn't seen it in a long time, so popped it in the DVD player and sat back to soak up the anxiety.

Photo from here

It appears that we weren't the only ones who were disturbed. Amber was rather put out.

Apparently, the loud noises.. people screaming... and machines wreaking havoc, caused major disruption to her beauty sleep.

She has submitted a complaint. No more surround sound for epic films on a Friday night. It's a small thing. Not much to ask - in her opinion anyway.

Hope you're all having a peaceful Friday evening.

Michelle xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Maybe it's because I feel so washed out and tired that these pictures of singer Alison Sudol are so wonderfully appealing. I want her hair! I spent the first 24 hours of this weekend in hospital - after a horrible episode of 'not-sure-what' on Friday afternoon on my way home from work.

12 hours on a heart monitor and still I'm none the wiser as to what is or is not, going on with me untill I speak to my Cardiologist this week.

Until then.. red hair seems like a wonderful tonic to a week that has felt washed out, lethargic and lacking in life-force.

I hope you are well and fighting fit right now!

Mxxx

A warm interlude..

I went back to work this morning and even though I had my beloved Fitflops on and not having to wear a coat.. there was a distinct nip in the air! It made me think of warmer days (not that we have seen many during the school holidays) and I remembered a yoga break I went on a few years back, leaving my family for the first time and going with my sister.

These straps look like implements of torture (and at times felt like them!) but they helped you stretch when you thought you just couldn't go any further.

Yoga in practice.. and this is not me. I'm behind the camera!

It was so warm, we ate outside every evening - ten women in the Finca kitchen.. can you imagine?!

This lovely statue sat in the garden.

This is Dalmer. We had a massage mid week and his mummy was our masseuse. He was happy to snore whilst our tight aching limbs were soothed with the amazing oils. I loved him to bits.. and he soothed the angst I felt, missing my own three dogs.

The view was to die for..

The lady who owned the beautiful Finca (with a yoga shala in the grounds) had a lovely eclectic eye for pots and positioning flowers... I can't remember her name.. but she made us very welcome.

This was taken on the roof terrace where we s I spent a lot of time up here in the afternoons, as I couldn't face the heat some days.

It was a great time.. even though I missed home very much. A time to reflect and think - to nurture ideas.. and.. to be warm!

Hope your Wednesday is a warm one, wherever you are.

Michelle xxx

What cheers you?

Isn't it amazing that life goes on, inspite of what happens to us on a daily basis? If we get ill, or go away on holiday, get consumed with the nitty gritty of life.. no matter what, the world just keeps turning?

Take my little Black-eyed Susan plant - she just keeps right on climbing - it's as if she has somewhere she needs to be.. Some seedlings I sowed in the Spring have grown into these.. yellows ....

and pinks.. everywhere.. Maybe they are asters? I'm not really sure.. but they seem to love it out in our garden.. you can't feel blue when you see girls like these, bobbing about in the breeze!

Look what happened to the greenhouse! The tomatoes, the chillis and the pepper plants have had some kind of crazy growing party!

Walking about in our garden this morning and looking at these, has been music to my ears really. I've been very neglectful of our plants recently, due to feeling a bit low and struggling to find the energy needed to work in it. I haven't pruned anything and just let them romp away...

At the weekend, my lovely mum came round with a bunch of these beautiful roses.. after listening to me grumbling on the phone earlier. Aren't they beautiful? They certainly lifted my mood!

And - whilst I've had no energy for heavy garden work - I've had some energy for drawing.. so have begun to draw out my next tree.. which will soon be a painting. So I am cheered.

The primary drawing will soon be done and I can begin the washes.. I'm looking forward to working on this.

What cheers you when you feel a bit flat or in need of upliftment? What do you look forward to?

Michelle x

A visitor..

I am a great believer in messages from the Universe. I like to see the magical in our every day life.. even when it's very difficult. For a long time, I've wanted to produce and sell my work but have not had the time to even consider this undertaking seriously. But.. that time presented itself at the beginning of the summer and I began to think about what on earth I could call my blog and shop.

Doorway to the Stars by Josephine Wall

I mulled stuff over in my head.. wrote lists.. did a vote amongst the kids.. to no avail. I know I love animals/nature/magical things etc.. but still.. the name didn't come to me.

And then, in desperation.. I asked the Universe to let me know in some way. Quickly... if possible. That night.. as I went to bed.. I decided not to think about it anymore. And, I got into bed, got a kiss from J.. and then opened my book to read for a while. Then.. at around the same time.. my daughter opened the front door to partake in her horrible smoking habit.. and no sooner than she did.. a small black thing flew straight in.. and sat on the staircase, looking at her. The small black thing was very small.. very fast.. and no sooner than she leaned towards it.. it flew up our curved staircase.. along the long landing.. and straight into our bedroom.

As it did so.. it let out the most piercing noise.. a high pitched whistle (follow the link and click on the musical note!). It was so loud.. I immediately thought.. "A bat has come in our room" and flew under the covers.. giggling and shrieking with panic (why I was laughing I don't know.. I think it was the sound of my poor J.. who had by now, fallen out of bed in fright). Picture the scene.. big hairy guy.. looking around the room for the intruder.. but not really even knowing what he was looking for.. as he'd been drifting off to sleep).

Suddenly.. he said (once he'd gathered his wits and pushed the bedroom door shut) "It's NOT a bat". My heart sank.. what was it.. some kind of large whistling moth buzzing around our room?

"It's a wren" he said.. with a knowledgeable tone of voice.. and he'd be right to be knowledgeable, since we'd only rescued one a few months earlier.. That one flew into our conservatory and sat on the skirting board beadily staring at our dogs. Till middle daughter picked it up in her hands and we took it to the Wild Life Sanctuary.

The wren (which was probably about the size of a walnut) flew from one side of the bedroom to another... clinging onto a tapestry on our wall.. and then the huge mirror on the other side. Every now and again.. J would make a comment.. "his little heart is beating so fast, bless him".. whilst I (bravely) lay under the duvet.. giggling.. whilst the oldest daughter kept enquiring through the bedroom door "Have you got it yet?"

Eventually.. my gallant J threw a T-shirt over the little thing.. and then picked him up in gentle cupped hands and took him to the window.. where he let him out and the little wren flew out into the darkness.

I took that as a sign from the Universe. I mean.. come on.. who exactly has wrens flying into their bedroom at 1am in the morning.. announcing their arrival with an amazing song?

The next day, I googled the Wren.. and found some lovely things written about this tiny songbird. Here's an little piece from a celtic website about the meaning of the Wren.. I like this. It pretty much sums things up for me. So that's how I chose the name for my blog. I think it works.

Have a wonderful week.

Mx

Back with a new wave of creativity...

Holidays have a wonderful effect on me... even though to be fair, I can hardly be accused of having 'me' time or a rest whilst I was away... With seven of us camping together, just that in itself, makes for a busy time. There was no silence (even when people were sleeping - think "snoring, rustling and other noises amplified in a tent :P).. and no real resting during waking hours either.. but all this aside, it was fun and I love being away with my husband and my children who I can't really call kids anymore plus, their two boyfriends who came along to muck in with the whole camping experience. Amazingly, there were a few moments of 'nothing' (when I wasn't cooking, talking, thinking about where we should be etc). Moments like when I was lying under our beach tent, watching my family have a surfing lesson and they'd gone off into the waves and were too far away to distinguish who was who. Unexpectedly, I found little ideas popping in. Ideas that were like old friends, some that I'd known from a while back, forgotten about and were now knocking on the door of my conscious mind and saying "Remember me? Well I thought I'd show up now, as you're not sooo busy and all that..." I began thinking about the eventual creation of the banner for my blog and etsy shop. As a result of my thoughts..I began putting the ink on the paper last night. There's something so mindnumbingly freeing about drawing which absorbs time really fast and yet stops you thinking about all the mundane stuff of life. Last night was my first proper evening since coming home where I had some free time to work. And it felt good to be creative and I'll post my pics of it developing soon. I remembered also how I had wanted to organise a collection of unusual black and white photos on our hall wall, as our hall upstairs doesn't really have much 'going on'.. Having been inspired during the final year of my degree, by an amazing mourning photograph of a group of women from the 19th century - I fancied a selection of random images, some odd, some nostalgic..possibly a little like this. I want them all to have a slightly old and definitely quirky edge, with the hint of a story behind them.

Taken from the Book - Sleeping Beauty 2 We went for a day trip to Clovelly and ended up buying some prints of vintage photos from their little museum. Clovelly is a little town built into the side of a sloping cliff in Devon, where there are no cars. In the old days, donkeys ferried supplies and deliveries around pulling little wooden sleds. Me and my hubby's conversation in the museum shop went like this: Me: So.. which one takes your fancy then? I like this one here..." He: Mmm yes.. that's a nice one.. I like that too" Me: Mmmm but what about this one..? It's so 'old'... and I know it's more expensive but it's gorgeous" He: Yes.. I like that too.. mmm yes.... (scratching goatee beard and considering merits of photo) Me: Oh. And there's this one.. with two little donkey's on it. (Never could resist a donkey me.. but that's another story).. He: So.. which one is it to be? Me: All of them then. He: What? All of them? Me: Well.. yes... it'd be wrong to just have one.. when they're this lovely. He: Ok. That's cool. Let's get them. That's what I love about my husband. He gets my ideas. Even if the penny doesn't drop straight away and he doesn't see the 'big picture' till the end.. he trusts me. Here's one of the photograph prints we bought. Isn't it so so lovely? Street scene of Clovelly circa 1900s As the week went on, new, unconsidered ideas also sprang up in my mind over time. I have long wanted to begin to learn to sew. But sewing in my school days was a miserable affair and I only ever got to attempt a gingham washbag.. and it scared me somewhat, the prospect of using a SEWING MACHINE.. I was also unsure of exactly WHAT I'd sew. I have never really sewn anything, except name tags onto my children's school clothes and buttons onto shirts. My dream right now would be to make an artsy patchwork creation. So. Today I'm shopping for materials. A bonus was stumbling across an article about Tracy Emin and her 'blankets'.. which also felt like a cosmic shove in the right direction. AND. (wait for it). A bear. I have a huge soft spot for bears.. but don't really have any at home. Apart from my 60 year old Much-Travelled-Ted who belonged to my mum and then was given to me when I was tiny. So. A bear it is. I shall keep you posted on that one... And finally (for now) I also wanted to find an old chair for an upholstering project. I plan to put said chair in the corner in the hall upstairs.. and place my photo collection on the wall behind it. I haven't done this reupholstering thing before.. but hellfire.. it's only a chair. It's not going to die if I do it wrong (I tell myself sensibly) so on the morning after our return from holiday, I bid and won this little darling on ebay. I love it!!! So comfy.. so.. so.. exactly what I was after but didn't know it till I saw it! My list therefore of creative jobs is: Finish the banner for my blog/etsy shop Upholster Chair Begin researching patchwork making Scouting for photo frames for our hall wall (for black and white photographs) Make a bear Oh. And spoons. But I'll get to that on another post.

None of those things will happen in that order.. and some of them may go on at the same time as others.. but that's how I do things. To summarise then.. on the subject of holidays.. I'm not sure I had one (in the truest sense of the word there was no sipping a cocktail by the pool and contemplating my pedicure in a spa) but I'm happiest when I have a project and the opportunity to think creatively. And it seems being out in the Devonshire air and sleeping warmly at night tucked up under canvas has unleashed some fresh inspiration.

Have a great day Michelle xxx

Walking a path of creativity..

I recently bought 'Walking in this World' by Julia Cameron.. and started it at the weekend. I've not got very far mind you, as I never get heaps of time to read but have managed a few pages so far. Basically, it's a course to set you thinking about your own creative trail... the path you walk and how you experiment with your own art and craft. I like this idea.. the author has just got to the bit about procrastination and resistance and these are something that I am quite good at doing when it comes to being creative. She writes about a friend who always talked of having his own studio and this friend had decided that 'he couldn't make art until he had a proper studio, because of space issues and finding somewhere to do his large pieces of work etc'. However, once her friend actually got his studio, although he created one large piece of art, he then went on to work on small paintings, all of which he could have done on a kitchen table or even on his lap in front of the telly! I'm a bit like that... putting art stuff off in case 'I go wrong/ruin it/get the undesired effect' etc and often come up with whinges that go like "ohhh I can't start.. there's nowhere to put my stuff.. can't be bothered to keep putting it all away again because dinner needs dishing up" .. but to be honest.. it really is just about 'starting and actually stopping the resistance. And starting I think is probably one of the hardest parts. Although.. she also speaks of having discipline and one of her requests is that the artist begins writing in a journal each morning - just allowing all the inner drivel to come up and out, and then closing that book (therefore freeing up space in your mind for creativity). Now.. this sounds hard for me.. getting up early to write??? And then not reading it back??? I don't think I can get up any earlier.. I love my bed..I don't like using a pen. I prefer to type... oh dear. Am I resisting? It sounds like it! Watch this space....

Thoughts of the sea..

Tonight, my mind wandered to the sea. I just love the sea. There are a few places I go to when I need to think, reflect or just be. One of them is woodlands.. and the other is near the sea. Sometimes when I'm lying in bed or in the bath, I pretend that the sound of the wind which often rustles the trees around our cottage is not air flowing over leaves.. but is the sound of the waves washing over pebbles on a stony beach. I will lie there and visualise our cottage being near the beach... the water a little choppy and sea birds flying around outside the windows. A couple of years ago, (on our honeymoon) we went to Mudeford armed with our cameras and spent 5 intensive days shooting at different locations. It was heaven.. no matter which way we turned, the ocean surrounded us. Here are a few pictures I took of that special week in September 2008. Durdle Dor Durdle Dor Pulpit Rock at Portland Bill, Dorset. We plan to live by the sea one day... and I just can't wait. I am determined to find a place where I can see the sea from our windows, can walk my dogs on the beach and won't ever moan about cleaning salt from the windows. Till then, frequent sea-breaks are on the agenda. Unless I win the lottery - and I'll be off!

Creativity and Infection..

I've often thought of creativity as being a little bit like a virus. If you're susceptible to it, then you just can't help but get the bug. I know for a fact that one of the most positive things I can do if I'm feeling stumped for inspiration, is to go out and immerse myself in the creativity of others. It's not stealing (unless you're really stealing ideas or images) it's opening your mind and heart to the inner spark of people like yourself, who express themselves in a creative way. That said, this week I have been very inspired by the colours in the work by Twitch Photos. Twitch (who I understand is a student of photography and wastes no time in going out there to expand her own learning and pathway) seems to have an eye for colour, composition and a general otherworldliness that pleases my creative-searching eye. I love the colours, the lighting is amazing... and on some level, I'm sure they'll end up somewhere in one of my pieces of art.. even if it's just imitating the colours or the way the light falls. Get out there. Look around. There's always something to see that you haven't seen before.

Doorways to Magical Places

I have always loved trees - right from being a little girl and hugging the old silver birch that stood in our back garden with its smooth white bark and peeling layers. When I doodle, I often draw trees. They fascinate me with their individuality and shapes. I also love the idea that there might be little wooden doorways embedded in trees, that are invisible to the eyes of humans, waiting to invite the dweller into a home which is lit with candles and has a carpet of soft velvet leaves. Wouldn't it be amazing if one day, whilst dozing lazily on the grass, you could look at a tree and suddenly 'see' a doorway? I am sure the doorways are there. We're just conditioned not to notice them.

The Beginning of The Little Wren Blog...

So this is the beginning. My blog, where I shall show you my art (in stages sometimes and at others, when it's all done), as well as bits and pieces about my life and my creative journey. I'm looking forward to you accompanying me on my way....