Inspirations at Lewtrenchard Manor

I just returned from two nights spent at Lewtrenchard Manor at Lewdown. I decided to treat myself to a couple of days away from Brian, who has been struggling away in his studio, coming out occasionally with a small, black cloud over his head. I just wanted to have a place to write and gather inspiration for a book I’m working on, without Brian’s cloud hovering in the corner like an unwanted guest. Lewtrenchard is only about forty minutes away from our house and has been a favorite retreat of Brian’s and mine for the past twenty-five years or so. I may have written about it before (sorry - I can’t remember) but it is always such an interesting place to spend some time. It was originally built in (approx) 1600 and heavily restored by Sabine Baring Gould (best known for writing the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers”) in 1872. Baring Gould knew Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who may have based Baskerville Hall in The Hound of The Baskervilles, on Lewtrenchard Manor (although there are other candidates for this as well). True or not - it is a wonderfully atmospheric country house hotel! 

I decided to bring a little faery creature with me, reasoning that there is a real connection to Faery at Lewtrenchard because not only did Baring Gould write many books about the myths and legends of Dartmoor but Conan Doyle was also a believer in faeries. So - Brian dropped me off and I spent the next two days and nights soaking up the atmosphere and eating fabulous food! Mid week, the house was practically empty so I had it mostly to myself, which was great fun. Very easy to pretend that one is Lady of The Manor when you’re the only one sitting for dinner! I looked out for the ghosts that are supposed to haunt (benignly) the house and grounds but failed to see any. When I downloaded the photos I had taken, I did however see one that looks suspiciously like the ghost of “Old Madame” beginning to materialize by the piano just across the hall from my room! 

Anyway - I came back refreshed and ready to ignore Brian’s little, black cloud (which had also benefitted from my absence and gotten much smaller!). 

I recommend an overnight stay here to anyone who wants wonderful atmosphere, fantastic food and beautiful surroundings and perhaps a touch of magic. Check their website - they have great deals on this winter! 

Here are a few photos of the little faery’s adventure as I followed it (I’m not sure if it is a “her’ or a “him”) around the house and grounds. 

1. Lewtrenchard Manor. 

2. at the window 

3. Old Madame materializing? 

4. the curio cabinet - full of butterflies. The little faery wouldn’t go near it! 

5. in the moss 

6. under the goddess 

7. the source of the spring.

Resting in the Fruit Bowl

We’ve had so much rain that today was the first day I was able to take Elfie out for a walk along the lane without the fear of disappearing into a bottomless puddle.   As I walked along I spotted this little fellow standing on a gatepost, looking at the sheep in the neighboring field.  

He seemed to be enjoying the view but a few minutes later I found that he was following us along the lane, exploring the hedgerow as he rushed to keep up with us.  

The leaves are off of the trees and bushes now except for moss and ivy.   He looked like he was having a wonderful time climbing among the bare twigs and moss-covered rocks.   

He’s a house faery really and I was surprised to see him outside.   He was obviously content with a short adventure because he came home with us but insisted on sitting on the bird table for a few minutes, communing with the bluetits.

I think they must be very gossipy birds -but I may be doing them an injustice.   Anyway, the little fellow is back indoors, resting in the fruit bowl with the plums before he joins his companions again.   At least he’ll have something to tell them.

A Month Long Adventure in the States

Well we are finally home from our month in the states - and what an adventure it turned out to be. 

I expect that most of you have seen the photos of our time in New York over the past month – a wonderful opening of the “Trolls” exhibition and other events around the city. What you may not have seen or known about are the two tiny trolls who came with us and shared some of our adventures. They usually spend their time in the garden, taking care of the flowers that need tending in the Spring and Autumn. I’ve caught them at their work before and you may remember them uncovering (and then quickly covering again) the primroses this past Spring. 

They decided that they wanted to see more of the world and knew that the best way would be to accompany us on our trip to New York. I had my doubts about the wisdom of this adventure - after all, they are very small and not as worldly as some of the other trolls, but they persuaded me to let them come along and as it turned out, they had a very exciting time. 

We took them to a restaurant where they were intrigued by the packets of sugar. They ate far too much of it and had to rest for a day before they were ready to come out again. (I DID warn them). 

We (Brian, Toby and I) were invited to join a reunion of students from our Belcastel workshop weeks, along with Heidi and her daughter Cat, at a great Chinese restaurant, just before the opening of the exhibition. The tiny trolls definitely wanted to come along, since they had enjoyed their previous restaurant experience so much. They felt quite at home using chopsticks (I think they were comfortable with them because they were wood) and we had to stop them from spending the whole meal riding on the turntable. 

They joined us for the gallery opening and luckily stayed away from the wine. 

The next weekend they joined us again at the Abrams Books booth at Comic Con. They were very proud to be representing the Trolls book and had their photos taken with a great many fans and book buyers as well as the lovely people working at the Abrams booth. I’m not sure that any of us were expecting quite so many people crowded into one space. Comic Con was quite overwhelming - but we did enjoy our panel discussion, hosted by the wonderful Ellen Kushner, who guided us through it with ease and wit and grace! 

The tiny trolls were quite exhausted by this time and decided to hibernate in our friend Guy’s apartment until it was time to return home. 

Returning home proved to be far more exciting than anticipated because we were on one of the last planes out of JFK on Sunday night before the storm hit. 

We were SO lucky and we are SO grateful to be home safely again. We truly feel that the faeries were with us. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the monster storm. Please know that we are thinking of you all and will continue to send healing energy to everyone over there. 

Yesterday the tiny trolls hopped downstairs and on to the table for a last photo before they headed back out into the garden to resume their duties as keepers of the flowers. I expect I’ll see them out there some time soon, covering up the tender plants and bedding them down for the Winter. They are very excited because of course - now they too have tales to tell.

Forgot to Mention

I forgot to mention in my last blog about a wonderful app that was recently produced by a group of artists in Chagford– well -an artist, a writer and a fabulous technician -Steve Dooley, Sam North and Bobby Gilbert. It is a retelling of The Wind In The Willows, especially for the brave new world of electronic devices. The website is: www.thewindinthewillowsapp.com  It is just enchanting! Please take a look at it if you get the chance.

Here’s a photo I just took of Elfie having a little nap with a troll who is coming to New York with us. I think the troll is trying to reserve his strength for the journey. I haven’t told him that he’ll be able to sleep on the plane (or that he’ll be in this position for the next week or so). He looks a bit like “Lindow Man” the preserved bog person when he’s all curled up like that. I always feel a bit guilty curling them up so tightly for travel but it really is the safest way. He’ll have a good stretch when we get there. Elfie just seems to like the company. Buster isn’t always so accommodating!

Celebrations of Trolls

It’s been a fantastic week here! Brian and I are SO excited about the Trolls book and all of the events that are happening around it. 

We just returned on Friday from a great book signing at Forbidden Planet in London and then an amazing launch party and signing for Trolls that was organized by the wonderful James Elphick at the Islington Ironworks. Everyone came in costume (and there were a few hundred people there) and we talked and signed books for hours while bands played and much was eaten and imbibed. Mother Leap attended as well (in her own basket) and enjoyed the attention very much indeed. I don’t know how I’m going to break the news to her that she’s just too big to come to New York with us. I’d have to buy her her own seat on the plane and that’s just not going to happen. She IS coming to Plymouth University book festival with us next Friday the 21st when we’re signing again and speaking after a screening of Dark Crystal. I’m also bringing her to the sculpting and fabricating demonstration I’ll be giving in Chagford at the Globe as part of their Chagford Film Festival on Wednesday the 26th. It’s a busy time here! 

We are also very excited about the meditation app -Pathways to Faery, which will be coming out in October as well. That, combined with the Animazing Gallery exhibition AND New York Comic Con means an even busier October for us. But it’s all fun and wonderful. We are getting such a great response to Trolls (thank you for good reviews on Amazon - it means a lot to us!). 

Brian and I are already beginning to develop some new projects. We haven’t shared our thoughts with anyone yet but hopefully will be able to soon. 

I have a few photos to share with you - nothing magical at the moment. The last time I was out on the moor, my camera battery ran out just as I was about to shoot a fantastic image of a unicorn in conversation with a troll. Perhaps it was just not meant to be recorded. I WILL try again this week. We’re having (I’m almost afraid to mention) an Indian summer here right now. It’s sunny most days and very pleasant. Perfect weather for hunting the hedgerows and grassy pathways for signs of the otherworld. 

Anyway - back to the photos. 

This is one from the Trolls launch party. It’s Toby if he had never left the Labyrinth. I was NOT temped to rescue THIS child! 

Brian and I signing at the launch (with Mother Leap in her basket). We were on a sort of raised platform holding court at one end of a room (one of many - the food and bands were in other rooms and we missed them all!). 

We also went to a fantastic (as only Chagford can do) circus party for our dear friend Elizabeth Jane’s birthday. It was held in her magical woods with everyone flitting amongst the trees dressed in what can only be described as “circus/bordello” costumes -apart from the rather scary clowns. An Absinth tent and a wonderful contact juggler and slack- rope walker (I believe that’s the term) added even more magic to the evening. The Green Fairy was much in evidence as people this morning will certainly be able to attest to, I’m sure. 

Lastly, here is a photo of a troll witch that I’m just finishing up for the Animazing Gallery show. She is in the Trolls book but I’ve restored her to her troll world persona – she appears in the urban section of the book.

Back Home

We’re back on Dartmoor now. Beloved grey skies, familiar energies - home. 

Belcastel was an amazing experience. Heidi and Nick, our fantastic hosts, and their daughter Cat, helpers, interns and associates alike were all so kind and fun and helpful. Brian came into his own as a teacher and now knows that he has the ability to pass on his knowledge, his unique “take” on creativity and his endless store of funny and wise stories. I also enjoyed so very much, teaching in this loveliest of settings and although gifted with fewer stories, I did share my one-eyed hamster story with my classes. The castle itself became such a part of our lives and I find that now that I’m home, I dream about it almost every night. And - an added benefit is the fact that we are much more fit now due to the endless number of stone stairs we climbed every day. For the last week we were joined by our very own faery musician, Maxence Bervoet, who played to us every day on his incredible collection of flutes. To hear music echoing through the castle, some of it very much like the music that would have been heard there hundreds of years ago, was enchanting indeed. And troll music! Maxence played troll music!

The weather was punishingly hot at times, especially during the final week, but Brian’s little beehive hut and my workroom in the castle were quite airy and cool most of the time. We did however truly appreciate the air conditioning in our lovely gite that greeted us every evening. 

The Templars and Mary Magdalene are the all- pervasive energies in the castle and the village of Belcastel and indeed in this whole region of France. Very powerful and not something that we’ve experienced anywhere else. Everyone there has their own unique experiences to remember.

Now that we’re home again, we’re going to be very busy for the month of September. We have book signings in London and Plymouth, a “Trolls” launch party in London and I’m giving a sculpting and model making demonstration in Chagford as well. We’ll pass on more information about all of the upcoming events a little later. 

October sees us in New York again with the opening of the Trolls exhibition at Animazing Fine Art Gallery, where Brian, Toby and I will all have work from the Trolls book or work based on the images in the book. It’s going to be so much fun. http://afanyc.com/frouds/trolls-exhibition-events/

We are also appearing at ComicCon New York with our publisher Abrams Books and will be at their booth as well as on a panel discussion chaired by Ellen Kushner. We are also giving a talk at the Society of Illustrators during our time in New York.  We are also launching a new iPad, iPhone meditation app titled “Froud Meditations - Pathways to Faerie”.  For more details coming soon at Big-Ben-Parliament Creations So - a busy month, with a bit of time in the middle to visit family in Michigan and hopefully catch up on some well needed rest! 

Lots to do - but right now, we’re going to go out on to the moor and just see if it has changed in the past month. I’m truly hoping that is hasn't. 

A few more photos for you.
These are of course roof tiles but I’m sure trolls use them when ever they can find them! 

Some castle scenes

Belcastel village 

An amazing site - millions of just hatched flying insects ( Cadis or Mayflies flies perhaps) 

Here are links to some of the things I mentioned. I’ll have more next time. 

http://www.facebook.com/MaxencedesOiseaux - faery piper and flautist 

mailto:info@oustaloubelcastel.com - this is the site for the gite we stayed in http://www.oustaloubelcastel.com/

WWW.CHATEAUBELCASTEL.COM - this is the castle itself 

info@chateaubelcastel.com Chateau Belcastel, 12390 Belcastel (Aveyron) 

Writing from Belcastel

Here we are, writing from Belcastel. I thought we lived in an ancient place, and of course, we do - but - Becastel, both the village and the chateau Belcastel are even older and stranger and just so beautiful. We hadn’t found out much about it before we arrived so it was quite wonderful to discover that the chateau has an ancient chapel devoted to Mary Magdalene and that the church in the village as well is devoted to her. The chateau is a Templar stronghold and the combination of Magdalene and Templar energy is quite amazing. We need to digest all of this before we write about it. Interesting experiences everywhere here! 

The workshops are wonderful. Brian has been having a fascinating time with his groups and I do hope that mine have enjoyed the experience as well. I think they have although I’m making them work quite hard! Some how, working very hard in a castle is easier than working quite hard in the middle of a city! Well - it’s a different experience certainly! 

There are faeries and spirits here -someone took photos with orbs in almost all of them -all hovering over Brian (and a few over me as well). We can’t remember who took them so if you are reading this please get in touch! There are also tiny lizards and bees and all sorts of wildlife and blue skies and sometimes thunder and lightening. Very dramatic. 

I’m finding it hard to write while I’m experiencing all of this. I’ll catch up when we get home next week and try to sort out something coherent to tell you. 

Until then -We’re living a medieval life and eating and drinking far too much but enjoying it all enormously!