Our bags are packed for the Pacific Northwest

The summer seems to be rushing by. I think it feels like that because we haven’t really had any summer yet. I know, I know, some of you have been having REALLY hot weather, but we’re pretty cold here on Dartmoor. I think the faeries are still wearing their winter cloths (I know I am!).

Brian and I have been busy working on the newest book we’re doing – I’ll tell you more about that later in the Autumn, and getting ready for our trip to Portland.  We’re doing SO much this time  - all of it exciting and fun!

We’re flying in to Portland next week through the 7^th of September.  We'll be attending the grand opening of The Fernie Brae Gallery on Friday the 28^th from 6-9pm. We’re SO excited about seeing this beautiful, new gallery, devoted to Faeries and magic come to life! It’s going to be an extremely special beginning for a most magical and special gallery! We can’t imagine a more perfect venue for our art and that of all of the faery and magical artists who will be participating in the exhibition. We’ll be holding a book signing there as well on that Saturday the 29th from 2-4pm. 

We’ll also be signing books at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside on Wednesday the 26^th at 7:30pm.

As part of the Portland Film Festival, I'll be attending and speaking at a screening of Dark Crystal on Wednesday, September 2nd at 5:30pm at the Mission Theater.  

The weekend after that (we DO get some time off to enjoy being with the family!) we’re all off to the new venue of FaerieWorlds for Friday the 4^th, where we’ll be around to see everyone and sign books (we will not be selling books). We can’t wait to be back at the festival again. It’s been far too long since we’ve had the chance to visit!

On Saturday the 5^th through Monday, Brian, Toby and I will be teaching a workshop at The Fernie Brae, combining all of our various skills and work methods. We’re really looking forward to it. It’s sold out but I’m sure we’ll be doing it again sometime during the coming year so if you’re interested, keep an eye out for announcements.

So – it’s once again a busy summer for us. We hope to see lots of you at some or all of the events!

Bluebells to Roses, Books to Toys, Festivals to Openings! Summer is here!

Summer has finally come to Dartmoor! It’s been a very cold spring and I think even the faeries have taken their time coming out of hibernation! But-  it’s beautiful now and getting warmer every day. We did have the most stunning bluebells out this spring. The last remaining few are holding on but the lanes, fields and woods have given over to roses, honeysuckle and elderflowers.

Brian and I will be appearing at the 3 Wishes Faery Fest at Mount Edgecumbe Country Park in Cornwall with our friend and fellow faery artist Renae Taylor this coming Saturday. It’s on for the whole weekend but unfortunately we’ll only be able to be there on Saturday  - so if you want to see all three of us, buy books and prints, have them signed or just come and say hi  - come on Saturday! And – let’s all ask the faeries to help with beautiful weather for the whole event!

It’s been a month of getting together with friends visiting Chagford. We spent a lovely afternoon with our friend Virginie Ropars – the most amazing polymer clay sculptor!!! and her lovely mother Michelle. We’ve known each other for years and it’s always great to meet up and find out what we’ve both been up to since we last saw each other. If you don’t know Virginie’s work, DO go to her website and check it out – it’s the best.

We’ve been busy working on a new “Cottington” pressed faery book that will be coming out next year. It’s a bit of a departure for me but I’m enjoying writing for the rather mad Cottingtons! We’re bringing it up to date and it should be fun.

We’re (Toby and I) also going to be teaching a workshop in Portland at the Fernie Brae Gallery at the end of August. It’s slightly different because Brian will be teaching as well, but it will be a great chance for people to not only create a sculpt but also learn some of Brian’s techniques and apply those as well to creating a character from conception to finish. We’re all looking forward to it. It will be the first time all three of us have taught together. We aren’t often all in the same place at once so it’s going to be quite special. This is part of the Fernie Brae opening exhibition and sale so come and see us there.

I’m also going to be sharing a workshop space in Chagford with three other artists beginning in July. Virginia Lee, Danielle Earp, Angharad Barlow and I will be sharing a space (above Spar) making strange and interesting things that we don’t always give ourselves the chance to make in our studios at home. Toys, automata, marionettes, and what ever else takes our fancy. It will be open to the public sometimes so if you would like to come in and say hello, you just might catch us on a day when we’re working there! And faeries  -there WILL be faeries! We haven’t thought of a name yet so it’s just ‘the studio’ for now.

Just reading this back makes me tired! We’re busy  - but happy. It’s always exciting to begin work on new projects and see others come to fruition.

I’m still making small trolls for my etsy site and I’ll be putting a few more up for sale around the 21^st (that’s Sunday) so check and see what’s available.

That’s it for now I think. No profound thoughts for summer yet  - just enjoying the sunshine and new beginnings.

Here are a few photos of some of the things I’ve just mentioned.

Have a wonderful solstice and hopefully we’ll be seeing some of you this coming Saturday at 3 Wishes Faery Fest!

Second Month Brings Creativity and Hope

What a strange January it’s been. We always hope that the New Year will bring new beginnings, hope, creative energy and a renewed sense of purpose. Well  - this hasn't been the case for us and from what I've learned from friends and

people I've been having conversations with, it hasn't been the case for many of them either. Strange full moon? Weird planet alignments? Hibernating faeries? I don’t know. But I’m hoping that now we have moved in to February, things will begin to improve a bit.

There are so many exciting things on the horizon this year, I hardly know where to begin. There are lots of projects in the pipeline (or standing in front of the pipeline, waiting to go in) and wonderful opportunities for creative collaborations. As I write this, I realize that there aren't many things solid enough to talk about yet – so you’ll just have to wait (as we are doing). But  - if you have any spare fingers you could keep them crossed for us!

I CAN tell you that we will be guests again at the AvalonFaery Fayre and Ball in Glastonbury on March 14^th (and part of the 15^th). And we will also be guests at ELFIA – the fantastic fantasy event in the Netherlands on April 25/26. I’ll give you more details as we get closer to the date.

I’m also hoping to co-teach a workshop with Toby, in Portland at a fantastic new gallery space, over the Easter weekend – that’s April 3-5. But  - we’re only now working out the details. I'll post on our Realm of Froud Facebook page when we have all the details worked out. 

As I promised in December, I’ve made a few more small faery companions for Etsy. We’ll put them up on the site tomorrow but I wanted to tell everyone first and give you a chance to see them here.

Well  - back to work  - and here’s hoping that the second month of the New Year and Imbolc bring us all bright, new beginnings and a creative spark!