Face Plant Challenge

Joining in the fun with the Face Plant Challenge over at Artspark Theatre.

Practicing Contentment

Yesterday I travelled to the Lakes District to see my mam at Manjushri after a ceremony in which she was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist Nun. She has now been given the new name 'Kelsang Minche' which means 'Fortunate one who ripens Buddha Nature'.

I travelled to Manjushri with my daughter, meeting my sister on route and finally meeting with two uncles and two aunts that I have not seen for a very long time. It was a beautiful and happy family reunion. We all wish my mam much happiness and contentment on her new journey as a nun.

To honour the occasion we have bought some Bodhi seeds for my mam and the Buddhist centre in which she lives. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha is said to have sat under the Bodhi Tree the night he attained enlightenment.

I now leave you with the beautiful 'Tara' prayer that I am used to hearing my little girl singing to my mam.

Canolfan Ucheldre Centre

My grandparents have encouraged me to enter an art competition and exhibition.

Three of my needle felt paintings will be on display from Friday 23rd of July to 30th August at the Canolfan Ucheldre Centre in Holyhead. Its my first exhibition so its pretty nerve racking.

I won't be able to attend the opening night where the winners of the competition are announced as I have a pretty exciting engagement to attend in the Lakes District next week.

I will be back with more to show next week end. Until then, may the sun shine brightly through the days and the rain kiss your gardens at night.

xOx

Y Tylwyth Teg (The Fair Family)

Anglesey is steeped in history, myth and magic. Keen to find out more, I have been reading 'Rumours and Oddities from North Wales' a selection of folklore, myths and ghost stories by Meirion and Wayne Evans.

In Wales, the Fae Folk are known as Y Tylwyth Teg (The Fair Family) and can appear as small as a rose petal, large as an adult or anywhere in between. According to Anglesey legend, a woman living in the Holy Land (Holyhead) during the time of Jesus Christ was ashamed that she had twenty children. One day, when Christ approached her house she decided to pretend she only had ten children and hid half of her children away. The hidden children disappeared and are said to have become the ancestors of the Tylwyth Teg.

Reading this folklore, you can imagine how happy I was to find the above picture sitting on my door step this morning. A house warming gift from the lovely Ruthie.

Thank you Ruthie xx

Saving the Spinach

We have many beautiful feathered garden friends.
They love my vegetable patch!

Going for Green

With this piece, I was aiming for texture. I am happy with the Nowegian curls and how they have bonded with the silk. I tried to dye this felt green using red onion skins and alum. I'm not sure about the shade. Maybe a little too mustardy? I am finding green a tricky shade to achieve, it seems that there is a need to over dye blue with yellow, or yellow with blue. I have some indigo seedlings on my window sill. We shall see what the summer has in store.

I hope that your summer is bringing you joy xJ

A Gentle Stroll

We have been blessed with glorious weather and lots of house guests since moving to Anglesey. Today, we decided to explore the foot paths close to my home.

Here is a picture looking down onto Dulus Estuary and one of its ship wrecks.

When I first moved to Anglesey I was excited to hear that William Morris and his brothers were born and raised in Dulus which is only two miles down the road from me. After a little research, i find that it is true that William Morris lived here, but not the same one that is famed for his tiles and textile designs. The Morris brothers of Dulus were cartographers, translated a bible into Welsh and have written books about the Celts. They lived in the 18th Century. I will have to research them some more.

The point where our footpath met the sea.

Revealing this secret bay,

which could only be accessed by climbing down these steps.

Which led to a beautiful private beach with views over to the Snowdonia Mountains and a little lighthouse on an island.

We really are having such a wonderful summer.