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!