tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78540284371721234942024-03-13T20:09:18.410-07:00Rusty and BootsWall Hangings, Art, Gifts, Poems and Stories, all influenced by nature, animals, mythology and folklore.Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-30018016028626318252022-03-07T07:20:00.000-08:002022-03-07T07:20:55.755-08:00Nature Art and Wellbeing<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nature. What
do you think of when you read that? Boring or magical? Something to be
controlled or something to leave alone to admire her wildness? </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6WyT9ghG2a_t0pCyFJRgEiVYnV2kcJiPcCAJqBDtE5BffQiKL2DFzmI49ujpGEG3A9Jzl-hEJ07YR9EtnOJLNQWmycKdCMEVHwLtUcxuxuYIF8397x8KR4Pe4YohW_5ESyYBPMSvq-lW4kCpxphFIVpSVP2cbYWyYOGFZjez0cjuqSpJlvAj2udlpTQ=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Moon phase watercolour art in blue and purple on a white mountboard," border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6WyT9ghG2a_t0pCyFJRgEiVYnV2kcJiPcCAJqBDtE5BffQiKL2DFzmI49ujpGEG3A9Jzl-hEJ07YR9EtnOJLNQWmycKdCMEVHwLtUcxuxuYIF8397x8KR4Pe4YohW_5ESyYBPMSvq-lW4kCpxphFIVpSVP2cbYWyYOGFZjez0cjuqSpJlvAj2udlpTQ=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">If you’re
anything like me, you’ll love nature and her wild side, letting weeds do their
thing (because they are, after all, just flowers. But flowers that some don’t
want in manicured lawns.) You’ll love hearing rain on leaves or the roof,
you’ll love the sky at dawn or sunset, you grow wildflowers in your garden, you
love the sound of waves on the shore and the signs of the seasons turning… </span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEievyd8OGX30qTUCpWiZM7cPrFYZ17PoVe-ZJVvitTetDwipzxFiWW9xxtCR6BnGM-G9zg8Yw6IsDEgjKyNB2sHRY6A0nLKX3MfutVJ_irzWsWJSgK0cPZvizEoCymNR7ManPCusKtTSwYkaxR65gd3HqPWuGcr-HPVtay9H7fhbuykGXdpD7Zl6fPunQ=s3005" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A stem of green leaves on a purple rectangle watercolour art." border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="3005" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEievyd8OGX30qTUCpWiZM7cPrFYZ17PoVe-ZJVvitTetDwipzxFiWW9xxtCR6BnGM-G9zg8Yw6IsDEgjKyNB2sHRY6A0nLKX3MfutVJ_irzWsWJSgK0cPZvizEoCymNR7ManPCusKtTSwYkaxR65gd3HqPWuGcr-HPVtay9H7fhbuykGXdpD7Zl6fPunQ=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Whatever
you think of nature and all her aspects, she is good for us. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It has been shown
in numerous studies that nature has a beneficial effect on our wellbeing,
soothing our nervous system. Green is a hugely calming colour to humans,
probably because we spent thousands of years living within nature, as part of
her in the forests and plains. As I said in my last post, the human eye can
distinguish more shades of green than any other colour because the rods and
cones in our eyes developed in that environment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Neuroscientists and
psychologists have looked at the effect that nature art has on the human mind.
They found that natural sights induce positive states in people’s psychology
and aid recovery in people who have had operations. It has also been discovered
that nature helps with creativity and problem solving, improves focus, it
decreases anxiety and stress and it’s comforting and relaxing. Simply put,
spending time in nature is good for us. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimnqT3gG15vcT0vxi1qIQz0ghf7W2uxzpYP6GuuasCH9YBIiVhXDeMbjTtD1awxFJ1P4vUB7SGx0BMXYwHIvexelUqMbLJpPG_8Aau8mG3kK-5t3FSVFEYvpkfxEc0JWyJTmV0oItnINXMvL83K048AojbMi2s5pI85GQ80FqWvP4D_KO3nhKQNnjUzQ=s2940" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snowdrop watercolour art with a white background on white mountboard." border="0" data-original-height="2202" data-original-width="2940" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimnqT3gG15vcT0vxi1qIQz0ghf7W2uxzpYP6GuuasCH9YBIiVhXDeMbjTtD1awxFJ1P4vUB7SGx0BMXYwHIvexelUqMbLJpPG_8Aau8mG3kK-5t3FSVFEYvpkfxEc0JWyJTmV0oItnINXMvL83K048AojbMi2s5pI85GQ80FqWvP4D_KO3nhKQNnjUzQ=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>The wonderful thing is, images of the
natural world are just as good. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Artworks showing nature are as beneficial to
our wellbeing as the real thing and spending some time looking at nature art
can have the same creative and relaxing effects. Having nature art on your
walls can help you remember to take some time out of your day to just be, to
stop the constant whirr of your mind. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWODmJ5-NRavXD1isb89ArZqQuSSqwW_arGFYEesH-wxePGANJF_LYVoiBS9YOWRKeN3u6UeUe7xF0v9m7QvqFgOTU12JvQIPgRDihlzU1lMztlxj8MtIVwmpELsb9GG6qHpnXdDAexW687FG5TWjfGCC9UQgS48MZnY5482D0mQqf523N_rmJudxGYA=s3072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A stem of leaves on a silver circle with a white background." border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWODmJ5-NRavXD1isb89ArZqQuSSqwW_arGFYEesH-wxePGANJF_LYVoiBS9YOWRKeN3u6UeUe7xF0v9m7QvqFgOTU12JvQIPgRDihlzU1lMztlxj8MtIVwmpELsb9GG6qHpnXdDAexW687FG5TWjfGCC9UQgS48MZnY5482D0mQqf523N_rmJudxGYA=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>I think it’s a good mindful practice to
use a piece of nature art, whether it be a landscape, a vase of flowers or an
abstract, as a trigger, so that every time you see it, you’re reminded to take
some deep breaths and reconnect with yourself. Do you have nature art that
helps you do this? Let me know in the comments or on social media (links below). </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Shop: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots" target="_blank">Rusty and Boots Art</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots" target="_blank">@rusty_and_boots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">@RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">RustyandBoots</a></span></p>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0Wales, UK52.1306607 -3.783711723.820426863821154 -38.9399617 80.440894536178845 31.3725383tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-8306900704621003382022-02-28T03:04:00.000-08:002022-02-28T03:04:54.529-08:00Nature, Animal and Folklore Art<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Welcome back
to my art blog! It’s been longer than I can remember since I last wrote a post,
but I’m hoping to be back into the swing of things now with more regular posts
about my art inspired by nature, animals and folklore.</span></p><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtsMx9v-89lkBwtEXM7WkfcSBSUmFcGK3cOnGdK-okHeIaDd_xgnGhdtLP1ZNqJDCjyiUGf-9623Y_vd-qvSxLa62xz45Sc4jwImQjOX0kxHsizMl6BvXyi0HMEQJlD4c6PFws9hKahhBWQiRMzknnjbJZQj1-sOXZj95TXt7z9iohL_e16-dbe2MfMQ=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A watercolour illustration of blue clematis flowers in a pin for Pinterest saying nature, animal and folklore art, shop at etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtsMx9v-89lkBwtEXM7WkfcSBSUmFcGK3cOnGdK-okHeIaDd_xgnGhdtLP1ZNqJDCjyiUGf-9623Y_vd-qvSxLa62xz45Sc4jwImQjOX0kxHsizMl6BvXyi0HMEQJlD4c6PFws9hKahhBWQiRMzknnjbJZQj1-sOXZj95TXt7z9iohL_e16-dbe2MfMQ=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">For anyone who doesn’t
know me, I’m Sarah, I live in Wales and I’m an artist with an Etsy shop,
selling watercolour illustrations and acrylic art. I love nature, animals,
particularly cats, foxes, owls and hares and I love mythology, folklore and
fantasy. </span></div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Something that really interests me is the mythology and folklore of
nature and animals and I have a huge interest in Celtic mythology such as The
Mabinogion and the Irish Mythological Cycles.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I feel deeply connected to nature
and believe that we are part of nature, not separated from it. Nature has been
shown to have a beneficial effect on mental health and wellbeing. Being
immersed in the greenery of forests or fields lifts the spirits and lowers
stress levels as it activates the parasympathetic nervous system. The human eye
can distinguish more shades of green than any other colour due to the make-up
of the rods and cones in our eyes. It is thought that this may be an effect of
having lived within nature – in forests for example – thousands of years ago. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSAb1M0osy-tuHoY8dyL4tbM8tiItOXgyBq9oPQ5iil1gqMP4N73Ebqlj4ImDSwE5WJVK78JeqUTFFe05FZusRWmK5QhGDopRqPakYHglfuWwB01mWKLvuTF9M7pU01xDh4eIaSjW9RskDsaITGGfgIdC-VEzfqT5NtVWQIS96RkwCinMdzCXP7qTXxQ=s3974" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A watercolour painting of a spotted wood butterfly on a green and purple patterned background." border="0" data-original-height="3974" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSAb1M0osy-tuHoY8dyL4tbM8tiItOXgyBq9oPQ5iil1gqMP4N73Ebqlj4ImDSwE5WJVK78JeqUTFFe05FZusRWmK5QhGDopRqPakYHglfuWwB01mWKLvuTF9M7pU01xDh4eIaSjW9RskDsaITGGfgIdC-VEzfqT5NtVWQIS96RkwCinMdzCXP7qTXxQ=w251-h320" width="251" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>I
also feel connected to animals, sometimes feeling more at home and at ease with
them than humans. We receive companionship and love from them in an accepting,
non-judgemental way. If you respect and love animals, they respect and love you
whoever you are. Wild animals are such a beautiful part of our landscapes and
to share space with one of them can be a magical moment. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipVERRm02dhi70BcOFcisSy3eZRmk29MglFB0e5v3SdX7n4vWrwsYl9o47F4e7KX4XNk1lY3U9BNTDzZJmndraYHkv4tpe0fd56CzxkFLKpOTi8S7KySj8A60aIkdACcD-Z5TbRFUVhlLmXTiexPfc_PWWEmunAVT0LKhViYkhE2h_atwlDVyDSTWFCA=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A watercolour illustration of an Emporer penguin in the Antarctic." border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipVERRm02dhi70BcOFcisSy3eZRmk29MglFB0e5v3SdX7n4vWrwsYl9o47F4e7KX4XNk1lY3U9BNTDzZJmndraYHkv4tpe0fd56CzxkFLKpOTi8S7KySj8A60aIkdACcD-Z5TbRFUVhlLmXTiexPfc_PWWEmunAVT0LKhViYkhE2h_atwlDVyDSTWFCA=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Folklore connects us
to our ancestors, the old beliefs and wonderful stories of mysterious and
magical happenings. It’s a more enchanted way of looking at the world and
reminds us that there is beauty and wonder out there if we choose to look for
it: the perfection of the petals of a flower, the tides of the oceans, the
communication between trees in a forest through the webs of fungi underground,
the grace of a deer bounding away… </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0EWOC9ZdmYc-YHpd2CoatzvMN31kwaT8PogVLLgr8c-3keoQEFfRTYO4K_v5OJdA_mMN4OQDgPQLUCaX90kXx9Up3sBkL5mZEXpc4rXf1AISahG7RyrVBNv6pW41mTVfFVVTZW_wMnehiNNVSirr5W5uJ8SJiA-tTCxREXPwQq0g33b_0JAe5zbOadQ=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A blue dragon breathing fire on a castle battlement. Acrylic fantasy art." border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0EWOC9ZdmYc-YHpd2CoatzvMN31kwaT8PogVLLgr8c-3keoQEFfRTYO4K_v5OJdA_mMN4OQDgPQLUCaX90kXx9Up3sBkL5mZEXpc4rXf1AISahG7RyrVBNv6pW41mTVfFVVTZW_wMnehiNNVSirr5W5uJ8SJiA-tTCxREXPwQq0g33b_0JAe5zbOadQ=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is my aim with what I do: to create art
that inspires love for these things and represents these themes for those who
already love nature, animals or folklore. Unique artworks that will never be
repeated exactly to provide something pretty to look at that will lift your
mood and reconnect you with magic and enchantment. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Shop: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots" target="_blank">Rusty and Boots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots" target="_blank">@rusty_and_boots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots" target="_blank">@RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots" target="_blank">RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">Rusty and Boots</a></span></p><br />Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0Wales, UK52.1306607 -3.783711723.820426863821154 -38.9399617 80.440894536178845 31.3725383tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-61224567679136302232022-02-24T09:32:00.000-08:002022-03-20T14:39:48.591-07:00Folklore in Art<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mythology
and folklore are subjects that really interest me and influence my art. It’s
sometimes a topic that some people dismiss as being “just” stories for children
but I think those people are missing the point. Mythology connects us with our ancestors
and has themes that still resonate with us today. We may have technology and
science but human life is much the same. We can still identify with the things
that the characters in myth go through, share their experience. We can learn
from stories and they offer a respite from modern life, taking us to another
place. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnnq25pTAAGs7R-FzCBFyDcx03-0Uy13AI9Oh5AKQMI9O8NZlsSOqp8GU0zzKbH4q_Lc2DFRM8L8_c6f9s-A8V402lki3QvYDZW99laWIi1Q0cb0whgwxTlGPQF3-a0X_1bO5ksnQTol7IaeHsLLzzkfcWVcFg1pidzQXaNkrZ81Oi3smf8d6H-xHQ5A=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A fantasy artwork with a brown mushroom in the foreground and trees and mountains in the background." border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnnq25pTAAGs7R-FzCBFyDcx03-0Uy13AI9Oh5AKQMI9O8NZlsSOqp8GU0zzKbH4q_Lc2DFRM8L8_c6f9s-A8V402lki3QvYDZW99laWIi1Q0cb0whgwxTlGPQF3-a0X_1bO5ksnQTol7IaeHsLLzzkfcWVcFg1pidzQXaNkrZ81Oi3smf8d6H-xHQ5A=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Folklore is full of wisdom that has been passed down through the
generations. Stories are peppered with symbols and metaphors that help us
understand life. Images of mythology can remind us of these themes, things that
may be close to our hearts, reminding you about what’s important in life.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <i>“Whether or not they contain the encapsulated wisdom of ages past, what is
certain is that myths, fairy tales and folklore offer us a world imbued with
participation mystique – a world in which humans are fully enmeshed. In this
world, animals always have something to teach us, trees and plants can save or
cure us, wise old men and women are waiting in the dark woods to help us, and a
well may be a doorway to another world. Myths and folklore can put us back in
touch with the seasons and turnings of the year, and they can restore our
acceptance of the necessary cycles of life. They can also remind us that we
have a responsibility to future generations, and to the planet as a whole.”</i> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Enchanted Life by Sharon Blackie.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDoWUAoA_n-vb27_3RVtwoct23QiDI9hVtdhQGb0wK9PJVuGSn2ZKpDUDiWdfkMhzpreSMrmt-iYAd6OiCsq-0U7LeaMdui3MeQCzqneL5wna8kaAK0z8ervH1FxyWPpc2wreU5bDxggVDf0LG-r_j43E6Ps6DI9uokgcI1Awf0mHDG5UNW_IQSQSTBg=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A watercolour artwork of a white unicorn with a silver horn and purple mane on a blue and green background." border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDoWUAoA_n-vb27_3RVtwoct23QiDI9hVtdhQGb0wK9PJVuGSn2ZKpDUDiWdfkMhzpreSMrmt-iYAd6OiCsq-0U7LeaMdui3MeQCzqneL5wna8kaAK0z8ervH1FxyWPpc2wreU5bDxggVDf0LG-r_j43E6Ps6DI9uokgcI1Awf0mHDG5UNW_IQSQSTBg=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">They
can also set our imaginations going, making us wonder what’s happening in the
picture? What land are they in? Where does that path go? Stories are universal,
yet personal too. I’ve heard stories about my grandparents from my mother and
father, information that gets passed down through the family. In that way, we
are all stories.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR5IosjGIEKB2waG82FsH0F5ZC7Yq1gFs70ZaUgJ3MGJ_r8tuMsn2RZeIruZsUmagJgMPRvFXX1tdPEOGyHQipgAiffJBl-QTpAiT-PwKKwv7_USk6jN57gysxFwYC7Jt_1Cqqiuzfp69SjSXsKQAV_lnr53Jaz3-zj8Xj7otlXkSoaTa6ipxjDaJjuA=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A watercolour painting of the Green Man with oak leaves on a white mountboard in a frame surrounded by flowers." border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR5IosjGIEKB2waG82FsH0F5ZC7Yq1gFs70ZaUgJ3MGJ_r8tuMsn2RZeIruZsUmagJgMPRvFXX1tdPEOGyHQipgAiffJBl-QTpAiT-PwKKwv7_USk6jN57gysxFwYC7Jt_1Cqqiuzfp69SjSXsKQAV_lnr53Jaz3-zj8Xj7otlXkSoaTa6ipxjDaJjuA=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Stories and images can also help us remember the enchantment
that can be found in life. In the midst of the difficulties we go through, we
can find moments of magic and wonder. The gleam of sunlight on a raindrop on a
leaf, for example (and if you’ve seen my social media posts, you’ll know I LOVE
those!). A ring of mushrooms growing in the wood - maybe there are faeries
about! A face in the bark of a tree. Holes in the ground – what kind of
creature might live in it? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I love seeing the magical side of life. Whatever
terrible things are going on in the world, created by humans, the natural world
is a beautiful place, full of mystery and marvels. Both stories and nature help
us to maintain curiosity about the world we live in as well. Where did the
inspiration come from? Who originally told the story? Where did it happen? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>“It
is by such statements as, ‘Once upon a time there was a dragon,’ or ‘In a hole
in the ground there lived a hobbit’ – it is by such beautiful non-facts that we
fantastic human beings may arrive, in our peculiar fashion, at the truth.”</i> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Ursula K. Le Guin, </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Why Are Americans Afraid of Dragons? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfjynmQSkapmh-GPfNOwVJUyE068_bkjWDei-Nyhh3zeYlclCEvlKMuSMd2A3bay2_BAffL4zHnsKXrBPVQEWqBPBW0ya-MjSrMeLbzAWf0bHRDllCk72rWzr8qml4t00HpV5IVws792F3WziP4-uJT6CfseKJAXJI7Qobp1Wio5oLrFQbT4W059j5uw=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An acrylic painting of the Mari Lwyd, a horse skull with a white sheet over the top with red and green ribbons on a blue grey background." border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfjynmQSkapmh-GPfNOwVJUyE068_bkjWDei-Nyhh3zeYlclCEvlKMuSMd2A3bay2_BAffL4zHnsKXrBPVQEWqBPBW0ya-MjSrMeLbzAWf0bHRDllCk72rWzr8qml4t00HpV5IVws792F3WziP4-uJT6CfseKJAXJI7Qobp1Wio5oLrFQbT4W059j5uw=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Do you love myth,
folklore or fantasy books? What is your favourite? How do they make you feel?
Let me know in the comments or on social media (links below). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Shop: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots" target="_blank">Rusty & Boots Art</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots" target="_blank">@rusty_and_boots</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">@RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">RustyandBoots</a></span></p>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0Wales, UK52.1306607 -3.783711723.820426863821154 -38.9399617 80.440894536178845 31.3725383tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-27084462843532105632022-02-24T07:59:00.001-08:002022-03-14T05:13:38.380-07:00Animal Art and Wellbeing<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Animals are
one of my favourite things about the world. Whether it’s our furry family
members (our cats and dogs), or birds visiting our gardens, or the wildlife in
the fields, we would be much poorer without them. I hope we’ll be able to save
them before they go extinct. They enrich our lives and calm us, giving as much
love as we give them and sharing a space with a wild animal, however fleeting the
moment, is a wonderful thing to experience. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVYNI5YnpFd_4AMTarRzoaosRwDIH5v4kNz0pqCdrIc3Qf-khq5bC6XVrKyTHfA0i_GP4w-X-qoeGSflVKM8RmrrUkBogx1VhtRCecYSZxGgfcqwJcZpwoHhUb3LVQhwYLX-joCcGIaG4BBOuiVlOqKMHx8ZoG6MJXgrkWhS6XGywtKdoPhv_qTWnRDA=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A watercolour profile of a barn owl with a blue background on white mountboard." border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVYNI5YnpFd_4AMTarRzoaosRwDIH5v4kNz0pqCdrIc3Qf-khq5bC6XVrKyTHfA0i_GP4w-X-qoeGSflVKM8RmrrUkBogx1VhtRCecYSZxGgfcqwJcZpwoHhUb3LVQhwYLX-joCcGIaG4BBOuiVlOqKMHx8ZoG6MJXgrkWhS6XGywtKdoPhv_qTWnRDA=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>I’m lucky enough to have a cat who
is a really gentle soul and I love spending time with her. She does tend to
leap up on my shoulders when I’m least expecting it, something my other cats
never did, but that’s ok because she nudges my head with hers and makes me
happy. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m also lucky to have had several wildlife encounters, the birds that
visit my garden for one. I see them regularly and a robin came within a few
inches of my feet not so long ago. I’ve had two close encounters with a fox
too, one last summer. I was outside as the sun went down and heard something
walking through the dry leaves at the bottom of the garden under the trees. It
was dark down there already and a silvery being emerged from the shadows to sit
down. As he turned his head, I saw the long snout and white chest, but once he
saw me, he ducked back into the darkness. Amazing to see though.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLEZ1fkWlJBJDwYGNr540DTTNAOfLjDll0Aj5LXYIC1Wlq6QwO9-AWMW8aEFxiF_9FOLyDL0aIb89u_uMEttmwOmP7qzfIAhDr9cOJ9jGa8n8K4PJHwRUvV0z4qbOYCEY7jXJX_HqUYbag3jrFSoSPJiRjMxVl4RfPcrKMa8EVZtdpSZhSA1yO4ibsug=s3677" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A fox painted in acrylics on a blue background with stars, 15 cm by 15 cm." border="0" data-original-height="3677" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLEZ1fkWlJBJDwYGNr540DTTNAOfLjDll0Aj5LXYIC1Wlq6QwO9-AWMW8aEFxiF_9FOLyDL0aIb89u_uMEttmwOmP7qzfIAhDr9cOJ9jGa8n8K4PJHwRUvV0z4qbOYCEY7jXJX_HqUYbag3jrFSoSPJiRjMxVl4RfPcrKMa8EVZtdpSZhSA1yO4ibsug=w272-h320" width="272" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Several
squirrels have also crossed my path. I’m always happy to see them and any
meeting with a wild creature like this lifts my spirits. It’s an emotional and
magical thing. Animals have a similar effect on us as nature.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSGqxk_oRxE-t5EWIiFbDdMfHQIQuyofaDawWfg7ANG9PjP9q-liS-1O2LK4kcKzfVTta-CbxwOCFoU4CR9C3OjxzkmYUVXzkSIr3yykx42GWaBoCDmxxqKdH5Tqaicfj5wvga-67A6lViQhNdBIH7DFcoO-kz6-3gCVjWGgehhgyZZF4FB1cSgtCS4w=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A grey squirrel watercolour on a white background." border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSGqxk_oRxE-t5EWIiFbDdMfHQIQuyofaDawWfg7ANG9PjP9q-liS-1O2LK4kcKzfVTta-CbxwOCFoU4CR9C3OjxzkmYUVXzkSIr3yykx42GWaBoCDmxxqKdH5Tqaicfj5wvga-67A6lViQhNdBIH7DFcoO-kz6-3gCVjWGgehhgyZZF4FB1cSgtCS4w=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As I wrote in my
last post, nature is beneficial to our mental health, whether the real thing or
in a picture and animals have the same calming influence. They are used to help
those with mental health difficulties and those recovering from illness. I know
myself that my cats have always been a comfort through life, having experienced
depression myself. They provide a non-judgemental source of peace. Someone to
just be with. Animals improve your mood, reduce stress, help you to feel
relaxed and improve confidence. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkaDlLelWGPy6aRpguuXyWrkSbqGkGXwAQ2Ob_-NjLAAuTBGXTXmdk-Mq_T6f2P9RQXhkrnq6Muk4KXCYKVEEJBL8aLPAoC70Ij7ei9wxA7vlx9BRURhqQxf-RGfkuD6qNl09cYjZHpEEgCjTwlKWRHViObamP6sPwS7IzwiAXFi2a5KmaCkQQeXKgsg=s3072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A raven profile in watercolours with a white background on white mountboard." border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkaDlLelWGPy6aRpguuXyWrkSbqGkGXwAQ2Ob_-NjLAAuTBGXTXmdk-Mq_T6f2P9RQXhkrnq6Muk4KXCYKVEEJBL8aLPAoC70Ij7ei9wxA7vlx9BRURhqQxf-RGfkuD6qNl09cYjZHpEEgCjTwlKWRHViObamP6sPwS7IzwiAXFi2a5KmaCkQQeXKgsg=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Art with animals also helps your mood; it gives
you something to focus your busy mind on for a while, something to pause the
thoughts that constantly race around your head. It’s been said that looking at
cat pictures on the internet helps you to concentrate more on the work you do
afterwards because it makes you happy and relaxed. Pictures on your wall can do
the same thing. In my last post, I wrote about using nature images as reminders
to take a moment and breathe, to just be before carrying on with your day. You
can do the same with animal images. Choose your favourite animals and enjoy
their effect on you. Do you have a favourite animal? How do animals make you
feel? Let me know in the comments or on social media (links below). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Shop: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots" target="_blank">Rusty and Boots Art</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots" target="_blank">@rusty_and_boots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">@RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">RustyandBoots</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/rustyandboots" target="_blank">RustyandBoots</a></span></p>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0Wales, UK52.1306607 -3.783711723.820426863821154 -38.9399617 80.440894536178845 31.3725383tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-39577276818653465532020-04-08T08:42:00.000-07:002020-04-08T08:42:42.519-07:00Mythical Creatures: Each-Uosge
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Each-Uisge (pronounced ech-ooshka) is a Scottish
water horse from the Highlands of Scotland. It is similar to the kelpie, but
much fiercer and lives in the sea, sea lochs or fresh water lochs, whereas
kelpies live in rivers or streams. It can shapeshift to turn into a horse, a
pony, a handsome man or an enormous bird and will drag unsuspecting victims
down into the depths of the sea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The creature will eat sheep and cows but likes
to attack humans on land, or will allow itself to be ridden. Having touched the
horse, the victim will become stuck, unable to free himself and the horse will
dash into the loch, drowning the rider so the horse can eat him. People who
lived in the Highlands were wary of lone animals or people at the side of lochs
and kept away, for fear that they might be the each-uisge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the shape of a
human man, the each-uisge can be recognised by the weeds and mud in his hair.
He will attempt to seduce women, probably to eat them, but there are tales of
women escaping, either through their own efforts or the intervention of their
father and/or brother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFsrJAVqG1Miqhkqj44xhCzVhm-FkJ3xSl8Q3-t-rAF2Q00lcs4MQAdCSNWyJIkHbKd0sQsKodyKNiYyJvZauBJ9sQOXGhBEvfENPPssc_TtYTXfqO3mCxOXxxvmHOPWK-PQWk-M_BOgZ/s1600/photostudio_1584967365797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFsrJAVqG1Miqhkqj44xhCzVhm-FkJ3xSl8Q3-t-rAF2Q00lcs4MQAdCSNWyJIkHbKd0sQsKodyKNiYyJvZauBJ9sQOXGhBEvfENPPssc_TtYTXfqO3mCxOXxxvmHOPWK-PQWk-M_BOgZ/s400/photostudio_1584967365797.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is also a version of the each-uisge in Ireland,
the Isle of Man and Wales. The one on the Isle of Man is like the each-uisge in
that it will eat humans, but the Irish and Welsh versions can be tamed and
ridden like an ordinary horse. In the Isle of Man, it is called the cabyll-ushtey,
in Ireland it is named the each-uisce and in Wales, it is the ceffyl dwr.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">
I know a bit more about this Welsh version, having read more folklore about it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">It is much the same as the others, but will tempt a traveller to ride, then
gallop away, throwing the traveller to his death. The horse can be dappled,
grey or the colour of sand. There is a tale of one particular ceffyl dwr at St
Bride’s Bay in Pembrokeshire. After a storm, a horse appeared in the bay and
was captured by a farmer who used the horse to pull the plough in his fields.
However, one day, the horse, with no warning, whisked the ploughman and the
plough into the waves, dragging them to the deeps. We are not told whether the
man survived. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vSW6F0Go_VW4w-E5oiOvDVyvjxKvkz2KPQhhgm3iNnvswxPUFoPY73oSHF2GG4RZXyTvUAXjJChLfhJeEOMac_kln3C0WF5ay9SaV-t-v2ekCeXC4iqLQqEa_8uTJvsNjVqB7JTEPP7o/s1600/photostudio_1584967492498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vSW6F0Go_VW4w-E5oiOvDVyvjxKvkz2KPQhhgm3iNnvswxPUFoPY73oSHF2GG4RZXyTvUAXjJChLfhJeEOMac_kln3C0WF5ay9SaV-t-v2ekCeXC4iqLQqEa_8uTJvsNjVqB7JTEPP7o/s400/photostudio_1584967492498.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">In my paintings here, I tried to captured the essence of the sea
in the horse and to show that the each-uisce is of the sea, a sea spirit, if
you like. I couldn’t decide which version to do, a close up or a horse in the
seascape, so I did both. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">As always, you can find me here:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
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(art): <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Facebook (writing): <a href="http://facebook.com/talesfromdemetia">@talesfromdemetia</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Research:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><i>Myths and Legends of Wales</i> retold
by Tony Roberts</span><br />
<a href="http://mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/each-uisge/">mysteriousbritain.co.uk</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Wikipedia</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-41873149405060210972020-03-23T11:26:00.000-07:002020-03-23T11:26:20.896-07:00Mythical Creatures: Dryad
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The next mythical creature on the list is the dryad.
They are tree spirits from Greek mythology and are the daughters of Zeus, the
most powerful of the gods. They live in forests or woods and protect it by
frightening humans who wish to do it harm. Usually, though, dryads are peaceful
beings. They are not immortal, but live for many years and usually take the
form of young, beautiful women moving among the trees.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hamadryads, on the other hand, are beings within
individual trees, each spirit having her own tree, unable to move and living as
long as the tree does. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is the sort of spirit that the Celts and many
other cultures around the world believed in. Spirits were everywhere in the
landscape. Each tree, each stone, each river had its own spirit. I love this
idea and so I painted an image of a tree with its spirit inside it, something
you might miss unless you look really closely when you pass by….</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQ_ibVHez7J8fHusgr5b6Fx95bwYQf6RFHWPHz4gfpmSRKg3D_wQnBrCIpa2so4_jR0Xf4hQVqwIDTstSzkdietDiQJ-ETkaiuJZJpRf1BOsRCVvN8L5j6cniRsrhVaHpVWWawd7ZkHCJ/s1600/Dryad+Rusty+and+Boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQ_ibVHez7J8fHusgr5b6Fx95bwYQf6RFHWPHz4gfpmSRKg3D_wQnBrCIpa2so4_jR0Xf4hQVqwIDTstSzkdietDiQJ-ETkaiuJZJpRf1BOsRCVvN8L5j6cniRsrhVaHpVWWawd7ZkHCJ/s400/Dryad+Rusty+and+Boots.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Back in the time of the Celts - the Bronze Age and
Iron Age - and among cultures such as the Native Americans, the landscape was
sacred and commanded respect. If a tree was cut down for its wood to be used,
an offering was given back to make up for what was taken. They only took what
was needed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I wonder if we had kept that belief whether we might
have continued with that respect for the natural world and treated it and its
animals better. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The idea that each tree has a spirit is actually not
that far away from the truth, because its been shown that trees are full of
life; the trunk pulling up the water and food from the ground, the leaves doing
their thing with photosynthesis, lichen and moss on the bark, insects living in
and on the bark and – this is what I really love – trees can actually
communicate with each other. If one is being attacked, it can send out a
chemical to warn the other trees around it. They can’t move to escape,
obviously, but those trees can then produce another chemical to make their
leaves less tasty to whatever is eating them. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As well as that, trees have a symbiotic relationship
with fungus in the ground. They share nutrients and the trees communicate
through the fungus too. How they do it is not really within the scope of this
blog, I’m here for art, myth and stories, but there are plenty of books or
websites that you can find information in. If you’re interested, do go and find
out. Nature is wonderful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can find me here;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shop: Etsy: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shops/rustyandboots">Rusty and Boots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Folksy: <a href="http://folksy.com/shop/rustyandboots">Rusty and Boots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (art): <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (writing): <a href="http://facebook.com/talesfromdemetia">@talesfromdemetia</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/RustyandBoots">RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-68498499496163257672020-03-16T10:15:00.000-07:002020-03-16T10:15:26.552-07:00Mythical Creatures: Cat Sidhe
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The third Mythical Creature in our alphabetical list
from Animal Alphabets is Cat Sidhe. <a href="http://twitter.com/AnimalAlphabets">twitter.com/AnimalAlphabets</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Cat Sidhe is an Irish or Scottish creature which
is all black except for a white spot on its chest. Names for it vary; as well
as Cat Sidhe, there is also Cait Sidhe and Cath Sith. It is a large fairy cat
which will try to steal the souls of the dead before they are buried, but in my
painting, he seems like he’d look really cute while doing it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJOj6vL1H-OtqVsT_uiuWHeNqL3Ot84B1x12gt6SuCk77-bZ3XlerMjh8nyyVh3Oz4h0iq1VGW51azr88ERcapnTeu3MAavm7HajJ0h_sFzvraS_ZoYziysHYNUV_I3N-60ZefMJ9UjY6/s1600/Cat+Sidhe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJOj6vL1H-OtqVsT_uiuWHeNqL3Ot84B1x12gt6SuCk77-bZ3XlerMjh8nyyVh3Oz4h0iq1VGW51azr88ERcapnTeu3MAavm7HajJ0h_sFzvraS_ZoYziysHYNUV_I3N-60ZefMJ9UjY6/s400/Cat+Sidhe.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just as a side note, in case you’re wondering, the
Sidhe are Irish fairies, which are divided into the Seelies and the Unseelies. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The cat is meant to haunt the Scottish Highlands and
there are many legends about it in Scotland and some in Ireland. He will try to
steal the souls of the dead before they are claimed by the gods by walking over
the corpse. To prevent this, people held wakes to keep the cat away and used
games to distract the cat, such as riddles and wrestling. The riddles were
always left unanswered for the cat to ponder, therefore taking his mind off the
dead body. They also spread catnip in other rooms to take the cat’s attention
and played music, as the cat loved to dance. They also never lit fires in the
room where the corpse was as the cat was attracted to the warmth. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The cat may also be a witch who can shape-shift, but
she can only become a cat nine times. If she transformed into a cat for the
ninth time, she would stay a cat permanently. This is thought to be where the
idea of cats having nine lives originated from.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was believed that on Samhain (Halloween) the cat
sidhe would bless the house of those who left a saucer of milk out for him to
drink. Those who didn’t would be cursed, their cows failing to produce milk. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are tales of the cat transforming into human
shape, but retaining his cat legs and his tail and feline features. They are
also told to be able to perform basic magic. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are other cats in mythology which you may find
interesting too: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In France there are fairies called White Ladies. They
wait near bridges after dark and ask a lone man walking past to dance. If he
refuses, the White Lady throws him over the bridge or sets her pet owls and
cats on him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Witches had familiars, of course, which were most
often cats.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Vampires, as well as being able to turn into bats,
dogs and wolves, could also become cats.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Japan, there was a two-tailed vampire cat who
didn’t bite her victims, but strangled them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally, there is a creature called the barguest,
which haunts lanes and churchyards at night. It is usually a huge dog, but can
become a cat or a goblin.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I hope, if you are interested in this, that my brief
summary of mythical beings leads you on to find out more. If you do, beware! It
can lead you down a mythical rabbit hole. I’ve been there! So much to read
about.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As always, you can find me here:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (art): <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (writing): <a href="http://facebook.com/talesfromdemetia">@talesfromdemetia</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/RustyandBoots">RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Information from:</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wikipedia</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fantasy Encyclopedia, A Guide to Fabulous
Beasts and Magical Beings </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Judy Allen</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-34234965595264362442020-03-09T10:55:00.000-07:002020-03-09T10:55:23.496-07:00Mythical Creatures: Brownie
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The next mythical creature set for the Animal
Alphabets challenge was Brownie. I’d heard of these beings, but didn’t know a
lot about them, as they’re Scottish. I’m more familiar with the Welsh bwbach,
so I started with finding out what they look like. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They’re creatures who live in houses but prefer farms
as they like being with the animals. They help with jobs that need to be done,
like tidying, washing, or mending at night when the people are asleep, so
they’re never actually seen. Payment for their work is a bowl of milk or cream
and some bread left out for them, but they are insulted if it is given to them
directly. If you’re critical of them, or annoy them, they’ll play tricks on
you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They are dressed in ragged clothes, which is often a
brown hood and cloak or white robes and if given new clothes, they vanish
forever, either because they see it as the ultimate insult, or because they take
it as a full payment for all their work, (a probable influence for Dobby in
Harry Potter). They are variously brownish, covered in hair or have curly brown
hair and can be either human sized, very big or small. In fact, the original
idea of the brownie was thought to be very big and a spirit of the house,
looking after all inside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An angry brownie can turn into a boggart, a creature
which loves to scare people, causing problems in the house, making noises,
throwing things around (a bit like a poltergeist) or following you in the dark.
They are covered in black hair. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, taking all this into account, I went for the happy
version of the brownie and painted this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AnxZB96ylqrcnygW0Lk0UKcgfVO-hUib5qDza0XJ-zGY2YEwYmiur6kZ115A4I91yp98KKUtVP0n6z2o4cPHoB85ZEcT5v5F-RVuiTVQj2v7qTfXrIGBbqTucuu3ai2O2OQ2uN_qfcI1/s1600/Brownie+Painting+Rusty+and+Boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AnxZB96ylqrcnygW0Lk0UKcgfVO-hUib5qDza0XJ-zGY2YEwYmiur6kZ115A4I91yp98KKUtVP0n6z2o4cPHoB85ZEcT5v5F-RVuiTVQj2v7qTfXrIGBbqTucuu3ai2O2OQ2uN_qfcI1/s400/Brownie+Painting+Rusty+and+Boots.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are versions of the brownie all over the world,
it seems; the gobelin, the bog and the baga are just a few. There’s also the
English hobgoblin and the bwbach in Wales. The bwbach was good-natured and
worked with the maid in the kitchen, where he was thought to live in the
fireplace. The maid would make the fire, sweep up, set the bowl of milk and the
bread ready for the bwbach at the end of the day, then leave the cream filled
churn nearby and go to bed. In the morning, she would wake to find the milk and
bread gone and the churn worked so that the butter was ready. The bwbach was
not fond of people who did not drink and would, if he took against someone,
cause mischief in the house, making dogs howl, or frightening the maid. He
could also carry people off into the air, transporting them somewhere
else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All these versions of the brownie or bwbach are
probably descended from the belief of ancient people that every house had its
own spirit, as I mentioned above, looking after the house and the family,
either a spirit of the home or an ancestral spirit. For example, its possible
that the ancient Celts set some food aside for the spirit in return, or as
recognition, for its protection. If displeased, the spirit would probably have
shown its anger. For the ancient people it was just a fact of life that spirits
were everywhere and although they’ve been very much diminished in modern times,
I’m really glad that we still have these beings in folklore. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can find me here:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (art): <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (writing): <a href="http://facebook.com/talesfromdemetia">@talesfromdemetia</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/RustyandBoots">RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Books referenced:</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">British Goblins:Welsh Folklore, Fairy
Mythology, Legends and Traditions </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Wirt Sikes</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fantasy Encyclopedia A Guide to Fabulous
Beasts and Magical Beings</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Judy Allen</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Exploring the World of the Druids</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
by Miranda J. Green</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-86233520587818184892020-03-02T14:39:00.001-08:002020-03-02T14:39:39.505-08:00Mythical Creatures: Afanc<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You may have seen on Twitter and Instagram that
there’s an art challenge every Monday called Animal Alphabets. It’s a challenge
going through the alphabet with different themes and a creature beginning with
each letter. If you’d like to take a look at the type of thing I mean, you can
find it here: <a href="http://twitter.com/AnimalAlphabets">AnimalAlphabets</a> The last round, which was the first one I joined in, was all on
birds. The current round has the theme of Mythical Creatures and, as I love
mythology, I thought I’d post here about each creature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first one was A for Afanc, which I was really
excited about because the Afanc is a Welsh creature. There is variation in the
name, though. In the tale Peredur, Son of Efrawg, which is one of The Three
Romances usually included with The Mabinogion, it is called an Addanc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I knew what it was as I’ve read a lot of Welsh myth
and folklore, but none of the tales tell you what it looks like. I’d been
wondering about an Afanc’s appearance for a long time, since I first read The
Mabinogion, but never really come up with a solution. The general description
of this creature is that it looks like a beaver, a crocodile or a dwarf and is
very fierce. You wouldn’t want to meet one! But they can be tamed by maidens. The
thought of coming up with a picture of an Afanc put dread into me, but suddenly
I had a vision of what it could look like: a sort of beaver/crocodile cross in
brown and green looking very angry. Here is my painting:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgjf_v3WybWILJamN0UmM-kB1270AeJ19MKTC4SjTMx-fypy_fQUvab4_TpoHE_FrUnM_qUP1EU4Yl-A7Jnxo3W0RA-Lh3Dt34pV63fucEM2vC9pXv4tq3z7CPuulNw3-aHtIaMKGRVvN/s1600/Afanc+Painting+Rusty+and+Boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgjf_v3WybWILJamN0UmM-kB1270AeJ19MKTC4SjTMx-fypy_fQUvab4_TpoHE_FrUnM_qUP1EU4Yl-A7Jnxo3W0RA-Lh3Dt34pV63fucEM2vC9pXv4tq3z7CPuulNw3-aHtIaMKGRVvN/s400/Afanc+Painting+Rusty+and+Boots.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In folklore, there are quite a few stories of the
Afanc. They live in rivers or lakes and cause inundations when angry. All tales
are more or less the same, with some variation. One tells of Hu Gadarn who
pulled an Afanc out of Llyn Llion (a lake) using two oxen to drag the creature
out in order to prevent an inundation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another tells of one in Llyn yr Afanc (Lake of the
Afanc) in the River Conwy. A maiden lured the Afanc out of the water and while
he slept on her lap, men bound him in chains. When he woke, he was furious
(quite understandably I think), threw the men off and headed back into the
lake. They sent for two oxen, attached the chain to them, and dragged the Afanc
out, taking him to Llyn Cwm Ffynnon Las (Lake of the Blue Well Valley) where
they left him. They obviously weren’t too bothered about that lake flooding!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is even a tale of King Arthur pulling an Afanc
out of Llyn Barfog with his warhorse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the tale of Peredur, who was one of King Arthur’s
men, Peredur went on a long journey during which, he came to the court of the
Sons of the King of Suffering. He saw three horses carrying a man each in their
saddles, all dead. A woman took them off the horses and bathed them in turn in
a tub of warm water, applying ointment to their bodies and all three men came
back to life. Peredur asked one of the men why this happened and the man
replied that every day, they were killed by an Addanc in a cave and came back
to be revived to go through the same thing again and again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The following morning, Peredur asked to go with the
men to the cave, but they wouldn’t allow it, saying that if he was killed,
there would be no one to bring him back to life. However, Peredur followed
them. On the way, he came across a woman sitting on a mound.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘I know where you are going,’ she said. ‘You go to the
cave to fight the Addanc and he will kill you, not with his strength, but with
his guile. There is a stone pillar in the entrance of the cave and he hides
behind it so that he can see everyone who enters the cave, but they can’t see
him. He kills everyone with his poisoned spear. If you promise to love me, I
will give you a stone so that you can see him, but he won’t see you.’</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Peredur said he did love the woman, she placed the
stone in his hand and disappeared. Carrying on his way, Peredur came to the
cave, took the stone in his left hand, making him invisible, and his spear in
his right hand. Entering the cave, he saw the Addanc, killed him with his spear
and cut his head off. As he left, he was met by the three men, who told him
that there was a prophecy about him, saying he would kill the monster. They offered
him any of their sisters for a wife and half their kingdom, but Peredur refused
the offer and carried on his journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, there is a brief summary of the tales of Afancs.
I’m hoping to give you a brief overview of other mythical creatures as we go
along. I’m also going to tell you more stories from The Mabinogion and the
characters within it. I hope you’ll join me and enjoy what I have to tell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can find me here:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (art): <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (writing): <a href="http://facebook.com/talesfromdemetia">@talesfromdemetia</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/RustyandBoots">RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Folklore from <i>Myths & Legends of Wales </i>retold
by Tony Roberts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tale from <i>Peredur, Son of Efrawg</i> from <i>The
Mabinogion</i> translated by Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-15763252476603768612020-02-20T13:34:00.000-08:002020-02-20T13:34:26.328-08:00Poems of Myth and Lore
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Something a bit different today. I’ve been writing
poems for a while, but in the last year, I’ve been joining in with #mlprompts
on Instagram. The lovely hosts give out a list of prompts every month, all on a
different theme, but always to do with mythology and folklore. I’m enormously interested
in these subjects, as you may know by now, so I had to join in! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve done several paintings and begun to write poems
which I’m happy to put out there for you to read. I’ve had some good feedback
on my work, so as a writer and artist, that’s lovely to have. I’m including
some of my poems here. They’re all inspired by nature, myth and folklore and
include the subjects of Lughnasa, Samhain, mid-winter and Yule, which are all
festivals of the Celtic people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve had several people suggest that I make them into
a book of poetry, so have a read and tell me what you think!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As always, you can find me here:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook (Writing): <a href="http://facebook.com/talesfromdemetia">@talesfromdemetia</a></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-55820185479168942892020-01-27T10:37:00.000-08:002020-01-27T10:37:57.223-08:00Valentine Gift Ideas
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today I thought I’d tell you a little bit about my
hand-painted hearts, my process and thoughts to give you an insight into things
and let you know what goes into making them. They are all lovingly made with
care and attention to detail, because my aim with everything I make is to
provide something beautiful to brighten up someone’s day. I’m inspired very
much by nature as nature and art have been shown to help with mental wellbeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My hearts are all made from responsibly sourced birch
wood and I hand paint each one individually with acrylics, both sides being
decorated, which obviously means I have to wait for the first side to dry
properly before I can paint the other side. (I once was too impatient and tried
to paint the second side too quickly, which ended up in the paint getting
smudged and stuck to the protective paper I had underneath it.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With some of them, I know exactly how I’m going to
achieve the effect I want, for example, this nature inspired one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I painted the background, then the grass, painted the
wooden flowers separately, then glued them on. Also, my Kintsugi inspired heart
was quite straight forward. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This was based on the Japanese concept of Kintsugi, where
broken items are repaired with gold, giving them a web of golden lines all
across the surface and in the process making them more valuable. We’ve all had
broken hearts in one way or another which have had to be mended, or if not
completely mended, glued back together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This purple one was another I really enjoyed making,
with the different textures of the acrylic paint and the Prisme paint. The
Prisme paint takes a whole day to dry properly, which means it takes two or
three days to complete both sides, but it has a lovely sheen when it catches
the light.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m3A7zpCXrQ2TqVBpOGtd58qGHQWz1oCOvwdEKXBpMcnQWi2JZckplMZ04Ecc1bjP0xcD1V6T53P0CpIFAPLSBL6ccv9j9dwLVJz9mihKV2CGF12cqu3QCb2W8fzThdUFzyBpaO5sSCas/s1600/Purple+Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1441" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m3A7zpCXrQ2TqVBpOGtd58qGHQWz1oCOvwdEKXBpMcnQWi2JZckplMZ04Ecc1bjP0xcD1V6T53P0CpIFAPLSBL6ccv9j9dwLVJz9mihKV2CGF12cqu3QCb2W8fzThdUFzyBpaO5sSCas/s400/Purple+Rose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the hearts that gave me more of a challenge,
was the Steampunk inspired one. I had to decide how exactly I was going to
position the painted cogs for the best effect, wait between each layer for them
to dry to get the shaded look, and decide how best to position the metal cogs,
which I attached after everything was completely dry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZjAycplcfn5nppAGLe2RHFr6VS_xbXLYKIey15PZdHL79bKKPfY0of48gzAmsSu6UltkNBkozkKvoW_gwNqy7hisEARxXBNvKwlGhhHvZvJYd39E4aGANyG2zz-vBJtNGTS0BDkoFulr/s1600/Steampunk+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZjAycplcfn5nppAGLe2RHFr6VS_xbXLYKIey15PZdHL79bKKPfY0of48gzAmsSu6UltkNBkozkKvoW_gwNqy7hisEARxXBNvKwlGhhHvZvJYd39E4aGANyG2zz-vBJtNGTS0BDkoFulr/s400/Steampunk+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My vintage inspired heart also required more thought.
It also has more elements to it and more work. A painted background to give it
the appearance of faded paper, stamped and coloured rose and notes, all
attached in decoupage style and the border painted to look like old letters.
This one is single-sided, because if I did the same amount of work on both
sides, it would be a bit more expensive!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEOTbeUoJXLx3uZrD3PMhxgJUT0L7fDlYpK_etM9D7TZ3NWyAm8VjRZjgNEmSbETreddlWyBh4ivGOt5B3puDe4iqAoD0kqcUZB6K-FYbH8tgjDt23wl9B2VeNdc0iIVkfjiTyY9Ts2g9/s1600/Vintage+Rose+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1282" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEOTbeUoJXLx3uZrD3PMhxgJUT0L7fDlYpK_etM9D7TZ3NWyAm8VjRZjgNEmSbETreddlWyBh4ivGOt5B3puDe4iqAoD0kqcUZB6K-FYbH8tgjDt23wl9B2VeNdc0iIVkfjiTyY9Ts2g9/s400/Vintage+Rose+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I also make personalised hearts with a name of your
choice hand written using pyrography. This is an example:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7VUSEr4ptJnNpl3y6ooIvvFaAhzcdEGlK8KKZ9oYyO5z5k342ZMbHXyY83Vy8BdNfJSrFhhmzyjjT7o7l5uqIYBvifOn3OuLfuBBYu821tZ8uSeybCkr6DWep-vcZ0yWkvH1c8bRTE0a/s1600/Personalised+Valentine+Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7VUSEr4ptJnNpl3y6ooIvvFaAhzcdEGlK8KKZ9oYyO5z5k342ZMbHXyY83Vy8BdNfJSrFhhmzyjjT7o7l5uqIYBvifOn3OuLfuBBYu821tZ8uSeybCkr6DWep-vcZ0yWkvH1c8bRTE0a/s400/Personalised+Valentine+Heart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The flowers are painted separately and attached, and
it is varnished to protect the wood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My favourite one to make is my turquoise heart with
purple swirls and a jewel for a bit of shine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZBGtHMpXFYTidFqa7zTkC228ld6ahgZWEQO9HsEYywcX5oAonhlsElTzTq1Z7dINVqxSAd0zkkI8cpQ68wVmpjLM985gHcOIIX4AiZGtKSvtr8p-DEeMZh4HS1E7aaKUTvIOEIDJQwOd/s1600/Turquoise+swirl+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZBGtHMpXFYTidFqa7zTkC228ld6ahgZWEQO9HsEYywcX5oAonhlsElTzTq1Z7dINVqxSAd0zkkI8cpQ68wVmpjLM985gHcOIIX4AiZGtKSvtr8p-DEeMZh4HS1E7aaKUTvIOEIDJQwOd/s400/Turquoise+swirl+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This needed a lot of paint mixing to get the right
colours and accuracy for the swirls. It also has faint stamped writing which
shimmers slightly in the light. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Each heart measures 8cm x 8cm and is about 0.4 cm
deep. They all have a ribbon attached to hang them up or they can simply be
placed on a shelf. However they’re displayed, they would make a lovely gift or
keepsake for a loved one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are more designs available in my shop, along
with all of these, which you can find here: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots">etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some are ready for shipping, others I’ll need to make
especially for you, but in any case, they take around two to three days to
ship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is also currently 10% off all items for a
limited time, so get them while you can. Oh, and there’s free shipping in the
UK!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As always, you can find me on social media:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">twitter.com/RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">instagram.com/rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/RustyandBoots">pinterest.com/RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">facebook.com/RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you have any comments or questions, feel free to
get in touch.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-76899412474127281222020-01-20T08:21:00.000-08:002020-01-20T08:21:11.093-08:00Valentine Gifts and a Story of Dwynwen
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here in Wales we have St Dwynwen’s Day on 25<sup>th</sup>
January. It has been described as the Welsh St Valentine’s Day, but I’ve found
out that that isn’t quite correct because of what happened to Dwynwen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQV4I3tA5FuY8Eo5NN8VSttPCaDQuFX6Qc6cZU4RM5UfB_b7qJ7v3256cOzfMYyeelB0eGrhyphenhyphenqjTA9UL2lcaqMZCcTl2eX-a2pTuKaFeKH6-imTbM4JYaUyHYuOjXx9nkoewHrrHLfvF1/s1600/Flower+Heart+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQV4I3tA5FuY8Eo5NN8VSttPCaDQuFX6Qc6cZU4RM5UfB_b7qJ7v3256cOzfMYyeelB0eGrhyphenhyphenqjTA9UL2lcaqMZCcTl2eX-a2pTuKaFeKH6-imTbM4JYaUyHYuOjXx9nkoewHrrHLfvF1/s400/Flower+Heart+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are two versions of the story, more or less the
same, but this is the one I know. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dwynwen was one of 24 daughters of King Brychan
Brycheiniog. She loved a man called Maelon Dafodrill but when, before they were
married, she rejected his advances, he became angry and left her. In her
sadness and fear, Dwynwen prayed to God for help and Maelon was turned into a
block of ice. For rejecting him, Dwynwen was granted three wishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVACjgYR6MTFc6iHzZqzFOkuLUFP1twMa7LK9rRwn0ZLrl7ld_NPC8pRbz9wLPjUeyGdIV7Jxh2TX4bTExrvgNjWG3yRuo-MdM_aOy4VuzAthziA7s5EOyOEGeZ9-pUkR8HLMY4oiGZNw/s1600/Kintsugi+Heart+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVACjgYR6MTFc6iHzZqzFOkuLUFP1twMa7LK9rRwn0ZLrl7ld_NPC8pRbz9wLPjUeyGdIV7Jxh2TX4bTExrvgNjWG3yRuo-MdM_aOy4VuzAthziA7s5EOyOEGeZ9-pUkR8HLMY4oiGZNw/s400/Kintsugi+Heart+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">First of all, she wished that Maelon would be thawed,
second, she wished that her prayers on behalf of all true lovers be heard so
that they either obtain those they love or be cured of the love, and third, she
wished that she would never marry. Dwynwen became a nun and set up a convent on
Llanddwyn Island on Anglesey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaeBIArCsIguWJxd7vUQ6PwHfOA9gUvgl3ZpdjVndPU40nRM07BAOltsSdTc6Fd0SaZEk8e1zj1E_OjJjqa7lxCbRCEL1Ft7fXe3qi74-yqHpdJCxkgk1_PlYJPj5yBoyQOUBxpEcGrFz/s1600/Mam+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaeBIArCsIguWJxd7vUQ6PwHfOA9gUvgl3ZpdjVndPU40nRM07BAOltsSdTc6Fd0SaZEk8e1zj1E_OjJjqa7lxCbRCEL1Ft7fXe3qi74-yqHpdJCxkgk1_PlYJPj5yBoyQOUBxpEcGrFz/s400/Mam+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The second version of the story is the same, except
that her father had arranged for her to marry another prince, not Maelon.
Dwynwen fled and begged God for help. An angel appeared and gave her a potion
to forget Maelon, after which, he was turned into ice and Dwynwen was granted
the three wishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcsx5xpgPwB6Lw8zfJiByRylVLl6nwyCniwvvNxYZEHXxqlPpYh0bmGlaziygkUNHXxbuv9jwd3UNphozgPG5kBO9NT04lmNnb2v6R7QUqdaaJ48p5gSe7pnP6U9uEOcijZno9DkZ5OYh/s1600/Purple+Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1441" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcsx5xpgPwB6Lw8zfJiByRylVLl6nwyCniwvvNxYZEHXxqlPpYh0bmGlaziygkUNHXxbuv9jwd3UNphozgPG5kBO9NT04lmNnb2v6R7QUqdaaJ48p5gSe7pnP6U9uEOcijZno9DkZ5OYh/s400/Purple+Rose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The story was first written by Iolo Morganwg, an 18<sup>th</sup>
Century poet, antiquarian and literary forger, who most likely made it up.
Dwynwen may well have been a real woman, though, as there are records of
someone with that name in the genealogies of Welsh kings from around the 4<sup>th</sup>
Century. Her father, Brychan Brycheiniog was a semi-legendary figure and I
think all stories come from some kind of truth, however small.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaio83nR95zhDOmr54yC5T-lM412BS3r-Wcl8Nj8wlMlrmJGlImVbbdijKFQQalRjh7Xe_OaT6pLa1QNsW0w0XCTAbcYB2iqojQgvsjmjG3k4N_phw4hB5MC8OCFX0OsAQV926suWBmXD/s1600/Steampunk+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaio83nR95zhDOmr54yC5T-lM412BS3r-Wcl8Nj8wlMlrmJGlImVbbdijKFQQalRjh7Xe_OaT6pLa1QNsW0w0XCTAbcYB2iqojQgvsjmjG3k4N_phw4hB5MC8OCFX0OsAQV926suWBmXD/s400/Steampunk+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The name Dwynwen means “she who leads a blessed life”
and, as well as being the Welsh saint of lovers, she is also the saint of
animals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro1SNCCADiysiXY-t1XtpCrSQhNWgloXJTJG5I58IepAKfx8Nw-p19e-J6BOBFrNe-CCz2lhlBF4ulriyL01E3zOZ3jeQ2QR0JiPwH-OHyJh2aGB3EK0TpdMaGuOSSkmgoDJ1_S9XKKEI/s1600/Vintage+Rose+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1282" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro1SNCCADiysiXY-t1XtpCrSQhNWgloXJTJG5I58IepAKfx8Nw-p19e-J6BOBFrNe-CCz2lhlBF4ulriyL01E3zOZ3jeQ2QR0JiPwH-OHyJh2aGB3EK0TpdMaGuOSSkmgoDJ1_S9XKKEI/s400/Vintage+Rose+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The day itself has become more popular in recent years
and can be celebrated whether you’re Welsh or not. The Welsh for “St Dwynwen’s
Day” is “Dydd Santes Dwynwen”.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrerPCdmwrjafNgWc5HqG-zb6tuz2AzU__rE_J_THCbU9MRCyfsEpNfk6eiMsf8qMZ1J6H3V8oWvDOFdKFUyHLQbxCZh9Rk4jeASUd5951Bg5akX3nBJC5NzrMKsEzbR8D2j1xQcVduGO/s1600/Wave+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrerPCdmwrjafNgWc5HqG-zb6tuz2AzU__rE_J_THCbU9MRCyfsEpNfk6eiMsf8qMZ1J6H3V8oWvDOFdKFUyHLQbxCZh9Rk4jeASUd5951Bg5akX3nBJC5NzrMKsEzbR8D2j1xQcVduGO/s400/Wave+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A little shameless promotion: if you’re looking for a
gift or keepsake for someone for Dydd Santes Dwynwen or St Valentine’s Day, the
hand-painted hearts in the photos here are available in my shop, currently with
10% off! <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots">Rusty and Boots Shop</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL78DaqFjF1q5c7Z_sfnTxZEqfhYHrFOuApC7U-Ir24HtLQmU6_ysn9PnvbJKlIfcMq22_sfeHHZUxEAZ4fPNkOqjVjy7uhLzKhG-qRHmJzlSrJ3LpJorrCdJGIdgw7wX_1iVsbn9bp_M/s1600/Turquoise+swirl+heart+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL78DaqFjF1q5c7Z_sfnTxZEqfhYHrFOuApC7U-Ir24HtLQmU6_ysn9PnvbJKlIfcMq22_sfeHHZUxEAZ4fPNkOqjVjy7uhLzKhG-qRHmJzlSrJ3LpJorrCdJGIdgw7wX_1iVsbn9bp_M/s400/Turquoise+swirl+heart+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As usual, you can find me here:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">instagram.com/rusty_and_boots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">twitter.com/RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/RustyandBoots">pinterest.com/RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">facebook.com/RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you have any questions or comments, feel free to
contact me. Have a lovely St Dwynwen’s Day.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-65244628159860011152019-10-24T08:28:00.000-07:002019-10-24T08:28:52.113-07:00Halloween Art Sale<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">First of all, let me mention (because I know you like
sales!) that I have 10% off my Halloween art and prints in my shop. If you like
a more subtle effect in your Halloween decorations, with cute rather than
scary, you’ll like it. It’s especially for my blog readers, but I’m going to
make you read about Halloween before I tell you how to get the discount. You
could always skip to the end, though. I hope you won’t. You’ll see my art and
prints as you read…</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTv-BWXp3hi78OiUB3jmp5olUA4nV68r8Yyb3NJvqB4CYc7gJs4mXxXWWAjg4oWgWG-lYvHLVG6cklG0OXxZApGLC-Yk9abpWT0DV45lpe1_TyeWj4feWQZD6nEnvZ6cRAKnRtBejuutH/s1600/photostudio_1569576961758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTv-BWXp3hi78OiUB3jmp5olUA4nV68r8Yyb3NJvqB4CYc7gJs4mXxXWWAjg4oWgWG-lYvHLVG6cklG0OXxZApGLC-Yk9abpWT0DV45lpe1_TyeWj4feWQZD6nEnvZ6cRAKnRtBejuutH/s400/photostudio_1569576961758.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Halloween decorations are kind of a new thing, aren’t
they? Back when I was a child, people only went to town on the spider’s webs, pumpkins
and skeletons if they were having a party, as far as I remember, although
lanterns have always been used. Pumpkins weren’t the original vegetable to be
carved. That came from the USA. I and my mother had swede lanterns when we were
children. My grandfather carved one for me. I still remember the scent of it:
warm, sweet and …vegetably. Turnips were the traditional lanterns and were lit
to keep away evil entities at Halloween. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qAmq4TVIKatavTKzzLckEl7lrC0PENYJEuOw2y_k6TuimNl_DwcrUoFeLaCQwf1OugE3gjD_7n-3QbQWrzD1hTigHnLHUz4HC73VCXOHwofGaVrs7rcJvbu0yOOXqP8Ti05D0k3ErvcW/s1600/20190926_133017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qAmq4TVIKatavTKzzLckEl7lrC0PENYJEuOw2y_k6TuimNl_DwcrUoFeLaCQwf1OugE3gjD_7n-3QbQWrzD1hTigHnLHUz4HC73VCXOHwofGaVrs7rcJvbu0yOOXqP8Ti05D0k3ErvcW/s400/20190926_133017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I read an article once in which a journalist said we
should do away with Halloween because it’s an imported American thing and just
celebrate Guy Fawkes as that’s the older tradition. He obviously didn’t do his
research! The Gunpowder Plot happened in 1605. Halloween, also known as Samhain
in Irish, goes back at least two thousand years here in the UK. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The native British, who we call the Celts (and a
people I’m very interested in, along with their art), celebrated Samhain as the
end of the year, the end of harvest, the beginning of the dark half of the year
when the sun’s power weakened and as a time to honour the ancestors. It was
also a time when the veil between our world and the Otherworld became very
thin. Beings of both realms could step through with ease.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH04Yfv_I_hCfl4-071Dzi3oicQjy-icBGLGsq-zqi-PcN655BVQ_OkMwP-0SonA2pcqwmyeIusOfUYqt_WM4oOJqrN-etjfJSlkuRFvknhm2Q2fEExotl-S7TSQkZE5F5vczOYkcJuJNC/s1600/photostudio_1569611739735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH04Yfv_I_hCfl4-071Dzi3oicQjy-icBGLGsq-zqi-PcN655BVQ_OkMwP-0SonA2pcqwmyeIusOfUYqt_WM4oOJqrN-etjfJSlkuRFvknhm2Q2fEExotl-S7TSQkZE5F5vczOYkcJuJNC/s400/photostudio_1569611739735.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It was celebrated right up to modern times, as I mentioned
with the lanterns and British migrants who went to live in the USA took the
traditions with them. Those traditions evolved there and were imported back to
us as we have it today. I prefer the older version, all about the seasons,
connecting with the earth…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Black cats were seen as lucky here, by the way,
particularly in Wales. It was good luck for a black cat to cross your path. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnTo288esxAt0UlMqn2LP13EudgG7Z39ZN6qEkBIM3KFS23BjZ1BVom8NJEzLobUMnEKY6Wzv6Fk8sEsnHzGUDH0M1rDMwPIr-MCsKOeF8kzMgI8_I4OSxMIv5kAr4L-M_Eu1lRfwXJQm/s1600/20190927_180524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnTo288esxAt0UlMqn2LP13EudgG7Z39ZN6qEkBIM3KFS23BjZ1BVom8NJEzLobUMnEKY6Wzv6Fk8sEsnHzGUDH0M1rDMwPIr-MCsKOeF8kzMgI8_I4OSxMIv5kAr4L-M_Eu1lRfwXJQm/s400/20190927_180524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">So, my Halloween/Samhain artwork includes a black cat,
pumpkins and a tabby cat in her witch’s hat (because witches’ cats are not all necessarily
black). The Bat and the Hat is an original watercolour. The Cat and the Hat,
The Cat and the Pumpkin and The Pumpkin are all prints. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">You can get 10% off these by typing HALLOWEEN2 into
the box at checkout in my shop: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/RustyandBoots">RustyandBoots</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Or you can use this link: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RustyandBoots?coupon=HALLOWEEN2">https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RustyandBoots?coupon=HALLOWEEN2</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The offer runs until 31<sup>st</sup> October, but
please bear in mind that if you order late, it may not arrive until after
Halloween. If you like cats and witchy things, though, they might suit your
walls all year round. There’s also free shipping to the UK! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBJk2W_oEKc1c3i2Uqi9io4ZgJ3zMtqG5pEjApbrV6mioyJFFwi60v16zUoYD0LIySrYQPQ3q0fimQ0ef42OFWHpQyLSfBMC0bFomAS5kNujLgdxK8KNsBOsU8GxNq6vxu2CHyP2ndbWa/s1600/photostudio_1569611775152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBJk2W_oEKc1c3i2Uqi9io4ZgJ3zMtqG5pEjApbrV6mioyJFFwi60v16zUoYD0LIySrYQPQ3q0fimQ0ef42OFWHpQyLSfBMC0bFomAS5kNujLgdxK8KNsBOsU8GxNq6vxu2CHyP2ndbWa/s400/photostudio_1569611775152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I really hope you like my painting and prints as much
as I do. They’ve been getting a lot of love on social media, which you can find
me on here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span></div>
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Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-54352743071601493692019-10-16T08:35:00.000-07:002019-10-16T08:35:19.465-07:00Wall Art for Your Home<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hello again! It’s been quite a while since I last
wrote a blog post. Things, such as life, have been getting in the way and as
time marches on, there seems to be less of it. I’ve been busy with my shop and
some personal things that have taken my time. I hope to post regularly from now
on though.</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While I’ve been away from my blog, I’ve been making
lots of new wall art and having lots more ideas, which are all drawn in my
ideas sketchbook with notes on colours, shapes, etc and I hope you’ll be seeing
them soon. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhOLgytVPPOYAdcS5tsvRGqOFkG4Xf2joVU1iCDcGc18eKQcyaRxh0O4Y9V5Y_j65m3PknE32mFNTKSL9lZtN58ZtUgThzqZfWmpYDAQylfZsQLf8XPd4NrrS4QiLIVk_V6vkfJQoc-RE/s1600/photostudio_1563285970450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhOLgytVPPOYAdcS5tsvRGqOFkG4Xf2joVU1iCDcGc18eKQcyaRxh0O4Y9V5Y_j65m3PknE32mFNTKSL9lZtN58ZtUgThzqZfWmpYDAQylfZsQLf8XPd4NrrS4QiLIVk_V6vkfJQoc-RE/s400/photostudio_1563285970450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the new things I’ve been working on is
dreamcatchers as wall hangings. I’ve been interested in them for a while, since
my mother bought me one for a birthday years ago and I love the idea of them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They’re originally a Native American creation, made
with string, beads and feathers and are meant to catch the bad dreams and let
the good dreams through, but I have read somewhere that the opposite is true:
that they catch the good dreams for you and let the bad ones through so you
don’t have them. Most people agree on the first explanation, but if you have
any thoughts on which one is correct, let me know.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just a side note: I love the Native American mythology
and way of looking at the world; I think it’s quite similar to the Celtic myth
and view with its connection to nature, respect for the land and seeing Spirits
in every tree, rock and river.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With the dreamcatchers I’ve made so far, I haven’t
tried to copy those traditional types; I’ve done something different, using
weaving and crochet. The lavender crocheted dreamcatcher is inspired by winter
with its pale frostiness and I’ve tried to make the crochet look like a
snowflake. The “frosted” leaves are all handmade from scratch and take quite a
while to make. It would be a lovely addition to a cool, minimal décor.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3saQRaAknMSjQvqqFaOlhH9Ca-r5uZqPM-Twct4JUiLPphAz_sZ98qUUdLGlIkeiag7Y3z1-Jn9Nq4cu1tDx_m4O0vrpenqr91yb4XPi8IIg_vBrH-hFBG9PJA8FgUo9HsckFVbvX5dL/s1600/Winter+dc+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3saQRaAknMSjQvqqFaOlhH9Ca-r5uZqPM-Twct4JUiLPphAz_sZ98qUUdLGlIkeiag7Y3z1-Jn9Nq4cu1tDx_m4O0vrpenqr91yb4XPi8IIg_vBrH-hFBG9PJA8FgUo9HsckFVbvX5dL/s400/Winter+dc+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The purple and orange dreamcatchers are hand woven and
are the first two items that I’ve woven in the round, apart from experiments.
One is very bold, with warm colours and the other I decided to make an
opposite, with cool, calming hues. They’re both finished off with a simple
fringe and the varying yarns – from 4 ply to chunky – give a lovely texture.
Also, because they’re handmade and I can’t achieve the same placement of yarn
with its varying colours every time, each one is unique. If I make another
purple one it won’t be exactly the same as this one, meaning that you’ll have a
one-off piece.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think I now love weaving as much as crochet! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuBno-gpjff-2OpUyOqsX4fx1fcwDqmFoMM3GAaKuZcLZmY9aSmHmYty2fWucoficNPnu5ekiNzlaGA4d-ZUeXVVj2y0AWuGKcohyphenhyphenLvuC80ofD1WfinEdRIimK_qeILTfR9p87A9Urqhi/s1600/photostudio_1561995765497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuBno-gpjff-2OpUyOqsX4fx1fcwDqmFoMM3GAaKuZcLZmY9aSmHmYty2fWucoficNPnu5ekiNzlaGA4d-ZUeXVVj2y0AWuGKcohyphenhyphenLvuC80ofD1WfinEdRIimK_qeILTfR9p87A9Urqhi/s400/photostudio_1561995765497.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All of these, along with other items, are available
now in my shop with free shipping to the UK. You can find it here: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/rustyandboots">Rusty and Boots</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They won’t be on their own for long as I have more
dreamcatchers on the way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This one has recently joined them:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s handmade with chunky yarn in blush pink and beige
and is a bit of wall art that will bring a hint of cosiness to your décor this
winter. Just looking at it makes me feel warm and comfy! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As always, you can find me on social media where I try
to reply as soon as I can:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuBno-gpjff-2OpUyOqsX4fx1fcwDqmFoMM3GAaKuZcLZmY9aSmHmYty2fWucoficNPnu5ekiNzlaGA4d-ZUeXVVj2y0AWuGKcohyphenhyphenLvuC80ofD1WfinEdRIimK_qeILTfR9p87A9Urqhi/s1600/photostudio_1561995765497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/rusty_and_boots">@rusty_and_boots</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/RustyandBoots">@RustyandBoots</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/rustyandboots">RustyandBoots</a></span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-9805689795447603382019-02-07T06:54:00.001-08:002019-02-07T06:54:42.955-08:00Much Room for Mushrooms?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">If you’ve seen my social media posts, you might know
where I’m going with this. Last year I had a bit of a mushroom phase, which I
like to think was like Picasso’s pink and blue periods. That’s what I like to
tell myself, anyway!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>:D<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My mother asked me one day if I’d seen this
particular group of mushrooms growing nearby, so I went to look and took my
camera with me. This is what resulted: lots of photos of cute fungi.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAwh6n3wrIf2iQENJ3_sSkGMZFucm2fz4dhv_nrbdVsE4Y2Hdaigg0QQ9DI6xmg65HduW8HZCT-_twWXiXhyphenhyphenHCMZj_sQTcaEHyBi2sDpuZ8MaUPTTIlx3yqSaZqqFRflp5VpHDG0vUmlJ/s1600/Mushroom+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAwh6n3wrIf2iQENJ3_sSkGMZFucm2fz4dhv_nrbdVsE4Y2Hdaigg0QQ9DI6xmg65HduW8HZCT-_twWXiXhyphenhyphenHCMZj_sQTcaEHyBi2sDpuZ8MaUPTTIlx3yqSaZqqFRflp5VpHDG0vUmlJ/s400/Mushroom+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFYXh7I8550-4Qx9-FA4SMPj3PBfNC-BsORGCL8N8EOlW3LzENftZX5ZDO6vJ6ESnmeyfR2q9yZXzpQ5PlJxkn09jFMZ7kLf9g2Hky9UgvyuEprALsCQdEq8L8RQ8iEdmUmQTjA6f_6D1/s1600/Mushrooms+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFYXh7I8550-4Qx9-FA4SMPj3PBfNC-BsORGCL8N8EOlW3LzENftZX5ZDO6vJ6ESnmeyfR2q9yZXzpQ5PlJxkn09jFMZ7kLf9g2Hky9UgvyuEprALsCQdEq8L8RQ8iEdmUmQTjA6f_6D1/s400/Mushrooms+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJNKSmW443S2kw0eL__BE2n8nyD780b7qflJnQlFdsuQZHCluCx00VHm-63XkFhqCP0QP8iS6ccXnTldSSVDnwBvrOiYozIBYzI8uET72uqEdhtq1wubFCfG26G5l1YxgmtXt9JbfU9-i/s1600/Mushrooms+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJNKSmW443S2kw0eL__BE2n8nyD780b7qflJnQlFdsuQZHCluCx00VHm-63XkFhqCP0QP8iS6ccXnTldSSVDnwBvrOiYozIBYzI8uET72uqEdhtq1wubFCfG26G5l1YxgmtXt9JbfU9-i/s400/Mushrooms+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bIfkP0c4c0PeDLtMIlZVbBsND_4udQMUAymmc6DhTnvz75ydEG2iP-Tm7R-snr0BtS-v8CyKFvn2IOYAz9lx1QjAbg3UkD0x-YZ8EOCsK9VQo3VwXmLaBJ4-78WW7rPwrzTr0JZQ7tBh/s1600/Mushrooms+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bIfkP0c4c0PeDLtMIlZVbBsND_4udQMUAymmc6DhTnvz75ydEG2iP-Tm7R-snr0BtS-v8CyKFvn2IOYAz9lx1QjAbg3UkD0x-YZ8EOCsK9VQo3VwXmLaBJ4-78WW7rPwrzTr0JZQ7tBh/s400/Mushrooms+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">While I’m on the subject, did you know that
mushrooms are only the ‘flowering’ part of the fungi? Most of it is underground
in vast strings of interconnected webs and are mainly found around trees,
especially in a forest. As you can see, these were surrounding a tree stump.
Fungi is useful to the trees because it connects them to each other and helps
them to communicate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I know that might sound hippyish, but it’s been
scientifically proven that trees communicate with each other. If one is being
cut or eaten, it releases chemicals which other trees pick up and they react to
it by producing another chemical to make their leaves taste worse. At least
that’s what I remember from watching a programme on it! They communicate in a
similar way through the fungi, so it’s like a symbiotic relationship.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Nature continues to amaze me and the more I learn,
the more I think our ancestors were right that there are spirits in the
landscape; i.e., more going on than we think.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Anyway, I was inspired by these photos to draw this,
a sort of whimsical, fantasy art picture where the mushrooms in the middle are
feeling a bit hemmed in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">That turned into a painting:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOby5bKvR3v3IYOLUoVT8qvIHACCYO_ynafuc-b0kroDSCaNHmukmbatWFYpX_HZ-CNxf37o_XSEHp_m-P7CjjYM2oSXcWomZN5cic0kUpWqCRsolOOaL7Q4ZXV5yC1tJiYXqWLMkeVJ6/s1600/photostudio_1547309062056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOby5bKvR3v3IYOLUoVT8qvIHACCYO_ynafuc-b0kroDSCaNHmukmbatWFYpX_HZ-CNxf37o_XSEHp_m-P7CjjYM2oSXcWomZN5cic0kUpWqCRsolOOaL7Q4ZXV5yC1tJiYXqWLMkeVJ6/s400/photostudio_1547309062056.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It is now mounted and available in my shop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I love fantasy art, especially that of Alan Lee,
Anne Stokes and Lisa Parker. I’ve been thinking about trying some myself,
particularly after joining in with the Drawlloween challenge last year hosted
by Mab Graves on Instagram. I really enjoyed it and surprised myself with what
turned up on the paper. I’ve also begun to like whimsical art, so I think I’ll
be doing more of this, trying to stretch myself into new areas. Here are a few
of the artworks from the Drawlloween challenge, as I didn’t post on my blog
during that time. Some of them need more work and improvements and I may do
better versions. Let me know what you think. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-75067498137944755612018-12-20T07:49:00.002-08:002018-12-20T07:49:43.205-08:00Slow Burners<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There are a few “slow burners” for me to tell you
about today. The first is that, if you haven’t seen my social media posts, my
shop Rusty and Boots is now open on Etsy! Yay! </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, very long,
but now it’s finally happening and I’m excited but nervous about it too. Some
of the items on my shop are my wall hangings that I’ve already shared on this
blog and some are newer, my hand painted hearts, for example, but all the work
is handmade by me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There have been quite a few hurdles to overcome in
getting my shop open and the work ready for it, setbacks and delays etc. but it
got there in the end. It’s now a reality and I can’t quite believe it. Textiles
and art have been really big things in my life since I was old enough to hold a
paintbrush and my mother taught me to sew and knit as a young child, so to have
an opportunity to create things for you is amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Here are a few of the things available so far:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My painted hearts.</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My wall hangings.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL3b-rWllox8dQGyE5rnAxOAwyXRVj9CIRJgF_CqJIYRkWoCocyi6s6TWMWBDnp8DBwLhwnKNT5X1HxH6cCuzkmUafV9q0_uGujM84vy_nj-emRdliQ4oHrxWuqjYptdZZkWcmMcJsRId/s1600/Cat+Nap+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL3b-rWllox8dQGyE5rnAxOAwyXRVj9CIRJgF_CqJIYRkWoCocyi6s6TWMWBDnp8DBwLhwnKNT5X1HxH6cCuzkmUafV9q0_uGujM84vy_nj-emRdliQ4oHrxWuqjYptdZZkWcmMcJsRId/s400/Cat+Nap+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGDLVJRP3WW1EsjU8UcCbgjyfBLhLM_QjJUfUlbk0g0P27hZDP9qHXWSewzvrUU0RlkwXoHewEui800df0gVIIWlqq_27MgYTvT58KXBvxr18zmVTu9hxvyTzZWf5J5iGRqrm0pwb2x9l/s1600/Wallflower+hanging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1014" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGDLVJRP3WW1EsjU8UcCbgjyfBLhLM_QjJUfUlbk0g0P27hZDP9qHXWSewzvrUU0RlkwXoHewEui800df0gVIIWlqq_27MgYTvT58KXBvxr18zmVTu9hxvyTzZWf5J5iGRqrm0pwb2x9l/s400/Wallflower+hanging.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The wall hangings are made to order so may differ
slightly in the details but that means that each one is unique, no two will be
exactly alike. Here is the link to my shop if you’d like to have a better look: <a href="http://etsy.com/uk/shop/RustyandBoots">RustyandBoots</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve got more things coming soon and I hope you like
them. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve also been experimenting with something else;</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve had a bit of an interest in pyrography for a
while and always wanted to have a go. So, for my birthday this year, my parents
got me a pyrography tool. Yay! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Pyrography turns out to be not a great thing to be
doing in the hot weather that we had this summer, but it’s good for keeping you
warm on chilly winter days. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As I’ve only just begun to try this, my attempts are
not perfect, but they’re ok I think. They’re good enough to give me
encouragement to carry on and get better. Here are a few of my first forays
into pyrography.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsAgHsaL6zcQWGe7Fn12lLUF0RCt_H4q2GI_ZhlrTY1P8Jgbs9LfrBRpfhUgsnAwApcrTME568Z10G3Sq9_zXZnNsUvunB98Tn9KIyGU93I9VCwE4n8S5j8SgJ5rD0M_QlJOi9-LNYA8n/s1600/photostudio_1544199292668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsAgHsaL6zcQWGe7Fn12lLUF0RCt_H4q2GI_ZhlrTY1P8Jgbs9LfrBRpfhUgsnAwApcrTME568Z10G3Sq9_zXZnNsUvunB98Tn9KIyGU93I9VCwE4n8S5j8SgJ5rD0M_QlJOi9-LNYA8n/s400/photostudio_1544199292668.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Here, I’ve tried to get the pattern going all around
the box.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c0_ruBgU0YBWaqeDHsYNTW1ZsbRS6XL4h1L6NyfXQQJzh3-wsdkYXWSf1ttot2iRV3VDNSI0Lqs6-iKxSD0k8eBglwfKNl50o4N8okFdOasosczuXZGkKitNX_Dsgx8ETX4irSGi85Rg/s1600/photostudio_1544199144665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c0_ruBgU0YBWaqeDHsYNTW1ZsbRS6XL4h1L6NyfXQQJzh3-wsdkYXWSf1ttot2iRV3VDNSI0Lqs6-iKxSD0k8eBglwfKNl50o4N8okFdOasosczuXZGkKitNX_Dsgx8ETX4irSGi85Rg/s400/photostudio_1544199144665.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5xcMGIGgSJg3KADjWsSXYbW0MKNUCOTQ6ESqZTmsrk6SU3tREwtlxpmmOg-IXATQc6HQq8GyoeRmv4HZS-5ziSPe9iDPt9MrodE2LzVtdWF_Ijr7oBJ-iMCAUZxs6wZ0TUkACZuNgrn4/s1600/photostudio_1544199168948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5xcMGIGgSJg3KADjWsSXYbW0MKNUCOTQ6ESqZTmsrk6SU3tREwtlxpmmOg-IXATQc6HQq8GyoeRmv4HZS-5ziSPe9iDPt9MrodE2LzVtdWF_Ijr7oBJ-iMCAUZxs6wZ0TUkACZuNgrn4/s400/photostudio_1544199168948.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTav1gkVhNy3TA9PkLeQe2Y3mafHWqUk2EtGbahrLwI8s-mC0juJZHMLkbHvuasH3nno9ToGrn_47u5ixqkiNMh907YGJCGxOoY92s39D0BbEyeFqYSAn58EqGKYrFpznrOujujsgELLE/s1600/photostudio_1544199272548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTav1gkVhNy3TA9PkLeQe2Y3mafHWqUk2EtGbahrLwI8s-mC0juJZHMLkbHvuasH3nno9ToGrn_47u5ixqkiNMh907YGJCGxOoY92s39D0BbEyeFqYSAn58EqGKYrFpznrOujujsgELLE/s400/photostudio_1544199272548.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Finally, I wish you a happy Winter Solstice… </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj9K3fp7x4CjtY5grFtEIaCfWObf8ynXOrJvlMhqHOP5PVDO3OG7BCX4-X6g5kUtvxboC6iCRtLH2Z8IXQSJc6OR2HCsZfRokDwPbOPQ51X0q64Ci-XfkNo1j8_9q32re4UXr3NZdTQeZ/s1600/20181218_200719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj9K3fp7x4CjtY5grFtEIaCfWObf8ynXOrJvlMhqHOP5PVDO3OG7BCX4-X6g5kUtvxboC6iCRtLH2Z8IXQSJc6OR2HCsZfRokDwPbOPQ51X0q64Ci-XfkNo1j8_9q32re4UXr3NZdTQeZ/s400/20181218_200719.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">…and a Merry Christmas. </span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-42831293525124491062018-10-30T08:31:00.001-07:002018-10-30T08:31:13.657-07:00Weaving Trials<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As I wrote in my last but one post, I’ve been doing
a lot of things recently. For today, I’m going to tell you about my weaving
test. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve tried weaving before on a normal straight loom
but this year I found out about weaving in the round with either a square or,
yes, a round loom. I just had to give it a go and see how it worked. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Before I show you though, please bear in mind that
this is my first attempt and only a practice run to try it out. I only used
yarn that I had in my stash and I didn’t attempt to produce any type of pattern
on my first go. My aim was just to get the hang of it before trying anything
more complicated and to see how it looked when I took it off the loom.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This is how it turned out, just as I was about to
take it off the loom:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4J_johAyvKcl1EWgGhYejMjf4e-at1MNP-KWxThpsS_v1uCq94PidX_l-_MLZ6-A9tF98MzyArSv0I8-5SRXpcrSalqkVi-xPACd25OLAULeApoN4pSA2Y2-3EBca5aTLXFnLizGThE2/s1600/photostudio_1536675976747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4J_johAyvKcl1EWgGhYejMjf4e-at1MNP-KWxThpsS_v1uCq94PidX_l-_MLZ6-A9tF98MzyArSv0I8-5SRXpcrSalqkVi-xPACd25OLAULeApoN4pSA2Y2-3EBca5aTLXFnLizGThE2/s400/photostudio_1536675976747.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And here it is all cut off and tied up:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpuAkjq0r0pN2qp1VU_h28hGf5AycD69MZtKjjmmYuRm1iz2rgA_z-xf_818Ggy-st7f8yypQeRjoFLeZuiaTv6TQhZCZ6Jdm0vOpGAopmqO5gc3WHvhTejtkklmIsFLGe2xAoAY4DH4Q/s1600/photostudio_1536676288931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpuAkjq0r0pN2qp1VU_h28hGf5AycD69MZtKjjmmYuRm1iz2rgA_z-xf_818Ggy-st7f8yypQeRjoFLeZuiaTv6TQhZCZ6Jdm0vOpGAopmqO5gc3WHvhTejtkklmIsFLGe2xAoAY4DH4Q/s400/photostudio_1536676288931.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’m not quite happy with it because it turned up at
the edge like a bowl and I’m not quite sure why. If I were to tie it to a ring
to hang it up, I think it would be all right, but if I was going to do anything
else with it, I’d have to work out how to get it flat. Maybe I pulled the yarn
too tightly. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But these things are all part of learning and I’m
sharing it with you because it shows not everything turns out correctly first
time round. Art and craft are all about learning how things work, what doesn’t
and how best to deal with whatever materials you’re using. Sometimes I wonder
if people think these things pop out fully formed and don’t realise the work
behind it, the trials and the failures, the tests and the try, try, try again. I
know I’ve been through lots of this kind of thing and I sometimes forget when I
see other people’s work that they’ve probably gone through a similar trial and
error period too. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">When I’ve done some more trials with this and worked
out what I’m going to do with the finished thing, I’ll let you know.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Have you ever tried anything that didn’t work first
time, that you’ve had to have several attempts at to get it right? Let me know.
</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-43796726347081558042018-10-10T07:17:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:33:10.639-07:00Fabulous Felt<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I first tried felting a long time ago, back in
college. I left it alone for quite a while because I could never get the result
I wanted, but having recently tried needle felting, it got me wanting to try
wet felting again. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I got some wool from Crafty Cat Knitty Bits and
started to felt, only then remembering the effort involved in rubbing the
fibres together. Anyway, I carried on, nearly getting repetitive strain injury,
and here is the result. I think I should have started with something smaller,
but it kind of worked as a first attempt after so long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I tried to get a kind of vessel shape and tried to
keep all the beautiful colours visible in their own right rather than mixing
them up.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyfuq94nukvfjKCFmgdgfIA8cAbCREJ45e-oC1N6iaTiQp1p8RD2yDv-bs1XkRcYNBCz3A0c_03nPIcoCuP2RrHmmyZzlJdMscLCIUuTizlZPH-a4piQmXv-qJCz4XZYYBISfLclaXQVs/s1600/Felt+Vessel+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyfuq94nukvfjKCFmgdgfIA8cAbCREJ45e-oC1N6iaTiQp1p8RD2yDv-bs1XkRcYNBCz3A0c_03nPIcoCuP2RrHmmyZzlJdMscLCIUuTizlZPH-a4piQmXv-qJCz4XZYYBISfLclaXQVs/s400/Felt+Vessel+%25282%2529.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I added the swirls when it was dry using needle
felting. It was easier than trying to achieve them with the wet method and I’m
fairly happy with it, but I need to refine some parts when I do another vessel
and I may go smaller. All part of the learning process! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHs_sqlBUssxXu3F9GNchb0YvexuTlM8qUhWPhr0okM27vWnseOlLgeDwZqcn4_06fN6laJARJKxraLKOwTTr33xjyT84QiU4TAbK0GSERT3vppzoKBmuO_EMmWHoXOF8Cl_ehirpuFNP/s1600/Felt+Vessel+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHs_sqlBUssxXu3F9GNchb0YvexuTlM8qUhWPhr0okM27vWnseOlLgeDwZqcn4_06fN6laJARJKxraLKOwTTr33xjyT84QiU4TAbK0GSERT3vppzoKBmuO_EMmWHoXOF8Cl_ehirpuFNP/s400/Felt+Vessel+%25283%2529.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I quite enjoyed making it. I think there’s something
about making something with your hands, especially being so ‘hands-on’ with
felting. It seems like a natural thing to be doing and is very satisfying,
especially when you get a product at the end of the process. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-22904404685724709942018-09-24T08:33:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:33:10.402-07:00New Season, New Start<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I haven’t written a blog post for over two months.
There have been lots of things happening and not good things. It’s been a range
of personal and family problems, including Boots my cat being ill. It turns out
he has a thyroid problem and now I’m giving him medication for it. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve been trying not to let it all get to me and
I’ve been carrying on with my creative endeavours. I’ve learned over the past
two months to be calm under stressful situations and to let it be rather than
fighting against the tide. Things are what they are and sometimes you can’t do
much to change them. You can change how you react to them though. Some wise
words from a friend: will it bother me tomorrow? If not, it’s not worth getting
stressed about today. I’m learning to deal with things better, in a much more
philosophical way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My artistic pursuits might be too much for one post,
I don’t want to bore you, so I’ll start with this:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve been doing a lot of knitting recently, having
bought lovely 4ply yarn from Crafty Cat Knitty Bits which is hand-dyed. Here is the yarn:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdktXYwS8NatxpG2hMeQCl8o1MpaL_ooe-8EF30Ih3jqRLN3AaLiNvxi5in-7HO0pr1SdH7-2LulU-dYV7AqWeUwU1u9TMJ9qaaZqpT4S1FnH_gQUYpgvzSfbCtGaJtDvcW8MBuOJ4ezj/s1600/photostudio_1533382067321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdktXYwS8NatxpG2hMeQCl8o1MpaL_ooe-8EF30Ih3jqRLN3AaLiNvxi5in-7HO0pr1SdH7-2LulU-dYV7AqWeUwU1u9TMJ9qaaZqpT4S1FnH_gQUYpgvzSfbCtGaJtDvcW8MBuOJ4ezj/s400/photostudio_1533382067321.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Beautiful colours, aren’t they? It’s BFL and lovely
to work with. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I decided to knit a hat for the chiller times in
Autumn and for the cold days in Winter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I was worried about whether I’d be able to do it
because I’ve only knitted with double-pointed needles once before, but the
pattern I found on Ravelry was really easy, just rib stitch and then stocking
stitch. It’s called the Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It took a while because I’m not the fastest knitter,
but here’s the finished thing:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTZMJmUr0hBM96J0RkgvoN621l2GO0nUlSBnVCWUabiUyiRKq4mfdR6lKzQXqwW_UEWo2hyphenhyphentjwD0EBYwPoDIBQD4n4L10Vt8nPdEcYrAAdrxrUwR5XDTC1Ut33UNSjguusm7NmnbVYFWS/s1600/Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="764" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTZMJmUr0hBM96J0RkgvoN621l2GO0nUlSBnVCWUabiUyiRKq4mfdR6lKzQXqwW_UEWo2hyphenhyphentjwD0EBYwPoDIBQD4n4L10Vt8nPdEcYrAAdrxrUwR5XDTC1Ut33UNSjguusm7NmnbVYFWS/s400/Hat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">(Yes, that’s me modelling.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht86QwVYWaNwSsEyX9kkMpBpw4V_inXYyNwTEesmXxyxMgfBUH5YkHl5hluDTBkkfqPOpMSQbH5gO1mFgiXEQWC9idOF1za-MNAGWf-E2xOqb8qHouDxQvPCZOABgj5Yso_oRYLSYimFvu/s1600/Hat+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht86QwVYWaNwSsEyX9kkMpBpw4V_inXYyNwTEesmXxyxMgfBUH5YkHl5hluDTBkkfqPOpMSQbH5gO1mFgiXEQWC9idOF1za-MNAGWf-E2xOqb8qHouDxQvPCZOABgj5Yso_oRYLSYimFvu/s400/Hat+3.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3bXjU1JkTxuIbnK_pBYx-YMCers0xeKrCjfQHBQJI-4qFcV9DODAvK_4EUh6sDo5jeTX_lyzhN5mn1vs2L10miNeq20esGfCARp0eMPKBFz0YGcP5U2M-uvv-iwVLq8LnDfzVpi5UH8Q/s1600/Hat+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3bXjU1JkTxuIbnK_pBYx-YMCers0xeKrCjfQHBQJI-4qFcV9DODAvK_4EUh6sDo5jeTX_lyzhN5mn1vs2L10miNeq20esGfCARp0eMPKBFz0YGcP5U2M-uvv-iwVLq8LnDfzVpi5UH8Q/s400/Hat+4.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIjW0EvsIGVxHxkxK4ievX5PI2pSi-KMzmoCSRIbiJNXUaIm5zSdOZp_uM09iAP26Wf3QhLQcrsmCW1462zaIpkgxBPewo87-JI1thuh0wnHLAVWgaKbDJh_08v7jOpKKHF2BEx6v_FOI/s1600/Hat+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIjW0EvsIGVxHxkxK4ievX5PI2pSi-KMzmoCSRIbiJNXUaIm5zSdOZp_uM09iAP26Wf3QhLQcrsmCW1462zaIpkgxBPewo87-JI1thuh0wnHLAVWgaKbDJh_08v7jOpKKHF2BEx6v_FOI/s400/Hat+5.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’m quite happy with how it turned out. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve got another knitting project on the go at the
moment, as well as lots of other things, which I’ll be posting next week,
hopefully. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I hope you’re having a good week. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-1674633614871664222018-07-05T08:22:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:33:10.355-07:00Progress<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I know I’m going really slowly with this but I don’t
know why. My “Wild Nature” wall hanging has now been embroidered by hand and
I’ve got to make the leaves.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9gum762cgt760bo4QUIoV01E-akPqO3ES7MxFCMgLJLkLUJ3geJvmqaphbwWgvOh1m93viP7aI55AFmVzxzSRzt4QXEZxw6iM0bQRG17qy_qkDUgnmLmlSTU5sO2GMy7L4CwzD9nEenI/s1600/photostudio_1530111814262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9gum762cgt760bo4QUIoV01E-akPqO3ES7MxFCMgLJLkLUJ3geJvmqaphbwWgvOh1m93viP7aI55AFmVzxzSRzt4QXEZxw6iM0bQRG17qy_qkDUgnmLmlSTU5sO2GMy7L4CwzD9nEenI/s400/photostudio_1530111814262.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I think this is going slowly because I’m having so
many ideas at the moment and I’m getting distracted by them. I bought this
lovely hand-dyed wool top from Crafty Cat Knitty Bits to try to do some felting
with it. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhcCPn2c6WrpZejGgbHK2o-882j_rc8sFR_XM8MNN5_6YHfiYlfi25biqfVUTLbXnRHAlhX3UVvIk6Xud9OU5tp-bI9D5Fhc8iYpyzwDz66y-Ru9-yjdugMoysstDn37rmpdAS9Jp6X-h/s1600/photostudio_1529753779710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhcCPn2c6WrpZejGgbHK2o-882j_rc8sFR_XM8MNN5_6YHfiYlfi25biqfVUTLbXnRHAlhX3UVvIk6Xud9OU5tp-bI9D5Fhc8iYpyzwDz66y-Ru9-yjdugMoysstDn37rmpdAS9Jp6X-h/s320/photostudio_1529753779710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve had ideas about trying felting again for a
while though I haven’t done anything about it, but when I saw this, the colours
were so gorgeous I had to get it. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Lovely Debs who made it sent an extra piece of wool
which I couldn’t wait to try, so I made this bracelet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZofmqXaKZokRzXLu37t4mIgH7NBZ6ezX3J0S_rdawrXChkIHl-hKYPyL_B-wIekrFriaHi_WfV9oQkAgeU15mBQkfi5XHoNRmnHGBi1AVFugjXulnyMmeMxLXiA-CMewQkWGv0TzQNRY/s1600/20180625_125755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZofmqXaKZokRzXLu37t4mIgH7NBZ6ezX3J0S_rdawrXChkIHl-hKYPyL_B-wIekrFriaHi_WfV9oQkAgeU15mBQkfi5XHoNRmnHGBi1AVFugjXulnyMmeMxLXiA-CMewQkWGv0TzQNRY/s400/20180625_125755.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It’s fairly easy to felt really, you just need wool,
water and soap and rub it all like mad. I first learned how to do it when I was
18 and doing the Foundation Art and Design course. My first attempt didn’t turn
out that well though; it was felted but because I’d used different colours of
felt in a pattern, they weren’t really that neat. I hope I’ve improved! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve begun some of my new ideas as well and I’m
going to give you a sneaky peek at them. Here is a painted heart which I’m
going to use with some fabric.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcJBbgj_FSvmfYwYTRrM4Ifl_bMAEuv05mLgxHearFQKxob6epWZ163-UMD0eLT83z0D43xObkQQYYrdXdN4-IbC6FJToJGhbqdE9DGmxQt_FHHwxaWiIEVJKcKNS1xUY63nzKcKoCEVM/s1600/photostudio_1530792610219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1018" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcJBbgj_FSvmfYwYTRrM4Ifl_bMAEuv05mLgxHearFQKxob6epWZ163-UMD0eLT83z0D43xObkQQYYrdXdN4-IbC6FJToJGhbqdE9DGmxQt_FHHwxaWiIEVJKcKNS1xUY63nzKcKoCEVM/s400/photostudio_1530792610219.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And here’s another painted heart with a grass and
flower picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifym7gcN7B-qykkp_Jk24XdMp3DoqVPafj0VuPoWAe4SXKPrNK3uyVKHFhuFFec8retrD4527rGRrWjIb1ld79ZAozi09v1a-9_gkUmraC7IDFfo1t0758CVqPFvL55sDPgyrWBS6ZDBC/s1600/IMGP1316_edited+Grassy+heart+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifym7gcN7B-qykkp_Jk24XdMp3DoqVPafj0VuPoWAe4SXKPrNK3uyVKHFhuFFec8retrD4527rGRrWjIb1ld79ZAozi09v1a-9_gkUmraC7IDFfo1t0758CVqPFvL55sDPgyrWBS6ZDBC/s400/IMGP1316_edited+Grassy+heart+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I don’t know about you, but I’ve been boiling during
the last week. This heatwave is kind of nice in that it’s been dry, but it’s
been too hot for me. The air has seemed thick with the heat, like it’s pressing
on me and I’ve resorted to eating ice cream and lollies nearly every day. It’s
been hard work! I’m thinking of emigrating to Norway. Or Iceland. Or maybe the
North Pole. Yes, the North Pole sounds nice. Here’s hoping it cools down this
week, just a bit. Have a nice time whatever you’re doing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-41599282641633323632018-06-07T08:54:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:33:10.592-07:00New Fabric & Other Things<br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I went
shopping the other day and as well as coming home with two new plants – a
cactus and a succulent - (I’m dangerous when I go shopping; you never know what
I’ll come back with!), I bought some lovely new fabric.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Here are the plants,
if you’d like to see them:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(I re-potted
them in some bigger pots.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">These are the
fabrics I’m planning to use in a few new project ideas I have whirling around
my head. (I’ve also written them down so I don’t forget!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv1V4VoklJXWHGwiBMdTKNZYCS6rpmPjPq-wU48FZUStZeE4da-LHAfQHH7ciR3_brnmo1cX3aJuDe1CL3oPuvX8eHdGmPH1E-HXNzkcMQzlW4y8KDqVG-961gzno8SPc14ZHZrUQbnMx/s1600/photostudio_1527593762044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv1V4VoklJXWHGwiBMdTKNZYCS6rpmPjPq-wU48FZUStZeE4da-LHAfQHH7ciR3_brnmo1cX3aJuDe1CL3oPuvX8eHdGmPH1E-HXNzkcMQzlW4y8KDqVG-961gzno8SPc14ZHZrUQbnMx/s400/photostudio_1527593762044.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I hadn’t
planned to buy so many, but when in a fabric shop, I can’t help myself; they’re
all so gorgeous and spark beautiful new ideas. It’s the same in a book shop – I
have a stack of books waiting to be read – and in art shops and I also have a
bit of a weakness for shiny things like beads and jewellery findings. This is
why I shouldn’t go to animal shelters: I’d end up bringing the whole lot home.
I wouldn’t be able to move for little furry creatures. There’s enough to do
looking after one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ve got some
feathery creatures in the garden though. A couple of weeks ago, my mother
noticed a wren flying back and fore to the ivy around the cherry tree and when
I listened a few days later, I heard a riot of tweeting coming from there, like
there were chicks competing for food when the adult came back with a beak full.
I didn’t want to disturb them at the time, but this week I had a look and found
the nest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It was empty,
so the chicks have fledged and I’ve seen three flitting around. They’re tiny! I
tried to take a photo of the mother as she left the nest, but ended up with a
photo fail, getting just her leg and tail because she hopped off the branch as
my finger pressed the button.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14JyoUeXy4R9wpqYt81g4v6f3tH3PGX8aljwFSR4igB5nX8UaSQ-cj19Ly6a_JX1jBlm_4WAsZc7Zhori5sAJKaruCcedfGrWnTJeEhZl472xPrsADqVC0BNM5p0cfbdRxv9pRX8kcGbD/s1600/Wren.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1023" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14JyoUeXy4R9wpqYt81g4v6f3tH3PGX8aljwFSR4igB5nX8UaSQ-cj19Ly6a_JX1jBlm_4WAsZc7Zhori5sAJKaruCcedfGrWnTJeEhZl472xPrsADqVC0BNM5p0cfbdRxv9pRX8kcGbD/s400/Wren.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I did manage
to get this one though:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">A female
chaffinch on the bowl of water I put out for them. She almost looks like she’s
smiling to me. Then there was another one perching on a branch:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0onQocwT6Bdx_85g5JBM9KdxRbx23QXfZ_jJ4Uw1H4WT8MwZCQItd4RR7tKCY0GJtIwR0z7FHMdeJ6hhpQlOgFpncWEZmRjyvSKXQ4-4kNqwRL3TqkbpeeD9ZnI6z7yrv-EQRDl3eTFv9/s1600/Bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="792" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0onQocwT6Bdx_85g5JBM9KdxRbx23QXfZ_jJ4Uw1H4WT8MwZCQItd4RR7tKCY0GJtIwR0z7FHMdeJ6hhpQlOgFpncWEZmRjyvSKXQ4-4kNqwRL3TqkbpeeD9ZnI6z7yrv-EQRDl3eTFv9/s400/Bird.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And a
woodpigeon on a tree:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY_gikHXoqhE_zauORhVYsPCNn7AcSGklFtvSm-3nxbs-aRKzsLUpcTznTL_gXZA934piIMVmYcui9HeDhcdXPAyhXPDQyrRw8ZxOFu_Z1MFda2xPBeFcZ4PxBY_2brNJARtKeEunMujv/s1600/Woodpigeon+totem.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="983" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY_gikHXoqhE_zauORhVYsPCNn7AcSGklFtvSm-3nxbs-aRKzsLUpcTznTL_gXZA934piIMVmYcui9HeDhcdXPAyhXPDQyrRw8ZxOFu_Z1MFda2xPBeFcZ4PxBY_2brNJARtKeEunMujv/s400/Woodpigeon+totem.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It wouldn’t
be my usual blog post without some flowers, so, if you haven’t had enough, I’ll
leave you with some poppies, an aquilegia and droplets on grass and an aquilegia
leaf:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-75331486696471556352018-05-24T11:04:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:33:11.159-07:00Wild Nature II<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the wonderful weather we’ve had the last few
weeks, I’ve been inspired and more energised to create more textile pieces.
I’ve been working on another version of my Wild Nature wall hanging; the one I
made before was a bit too small so I had to make it again to my satisfaction. It’s still in the work in progress stage,
but here are some shots of its development.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As with the Wild Nature no.1, it began with strips of
satin in varying shades of green: </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-80InuLHxw9khZ0NbInBl-0HvGS_FS3UKYA-wGbuD56QtPXUIpvPFwnUjnLWjUaA9euRVp9andsWFIYZJTWH1FdWWAbZ1q26Xxk377biYVoFbVY59-uMtNuaj3833OlK2fay1IWHCwiqE/s1600/photostudio_1526417449803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1144" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-80InuLHxw9khZ0NbInBl-0HvGS_FS3UKYA-wGbuD56QtPXUIpvPFwnUjnLWjUaA9euRVp9andsWFIYZJTWH1FdWWAbZ1q26Xxk377biYVoFbVY59-uMtNuaj3833OlK2fay1IWHCwiqE/s400/photostudio_1526417449803.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then I printed organza with a leaf pattern and layered
it on top:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEehh9vT0NCq6PQSEAm0HNQQYGFHycDpqy8eh_UUjrwjh9tl4uZwR-853A9pmJx98RGAEF6Pa4jf54BsxOWQtZ161k-hnndgZLmgg60fyPe-IADk11_J1mjrLY6X5WTvDE-5nSeSbnX2uJ/s1600/photostudio_1526417370938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1144" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEehh9vT0NCq6PQSEAm0HNQQYGFHycDpqy8eh_UUjrwjh9tl4uZwR-853A9pmJx98RGAEF6Pa4jf54BsxOWQtZ161k-hnndgZLmgg60fyPe-IADk11_J1mjrLY6X5WTvDE-5nSeSbnX2uJ/s400/photostudio_1526417370938.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And now I’m hand sewing swirls through all layers:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh53qFCagqcG4GNeIkkJgyVTkPU8ke9oX0yRU2F7jQosIuTCqXQFgAu6xpt2NAGfTDNVRJqnVk4RWXkvR3KyGNDFGBxj0DK5OOUje4KxhXw1ay6GJ6jM-KTx9_MwYwY74oFtAS0aWwEfq/s1600/photostudio_1527180159636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1144" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh53qFCagqcG4GNeIkkJgyVTkPU8ke9oX0yRU2F7jQosIuTCqXQFgAu6xpt2NAGfTDNVRJqnVk4RWXkvR3KyGNDFGBxj0DK5OOUje4KxhXw1ay6GJ6jM-KTx9_MwYwY74oFtAS0aWwEfq/s400/photostudio_1527180159636.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s important to me to get this right because</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1, I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I like to make
sure everything is done to the best standard I can achieve, although I’m aware
that being a perfectionist can have its downfall in that you can sometimes not
want to let something go, to believe that it’s done and done well. I’ve
mellowed a bit in the last few years and I’m happy if something is “good
enough”. I’m also more inclined to see a problem as a challenge to overcome
rather than immediately thinking “it’s not working!” and having a meltdown. But
if a line of stitching isn’t straight or isn’t going the right way, I’ll unpick
it and do it again, otherwise it will be on my mind all the time. Someone else
might not notice, but I’ll know it’s not right!</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2, It’s all part of the goal I have for this year. I
know I keep mentioning this goal then not telling you much about it, but I’m
one of those people who doesn’t like to shout about things until they’re
definite. It seems to be coming together at the moment though, so hopefully it
won’t be too long before I can tell you everything. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile… the flowers are continuing to grow and
bloom. The bluebells have chimed…</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7nPuro-DetwDkwMcl8U7tpAUX4oqRgkT6SREecH2P0tDZtpN30HBLe95A3teTIA-Bu0-qL9igX5u5Mc4byoCdPcG2em_7jjAoSG9Uww-QTWPaikR9vhYrQa6v13jihNMTNlRStnLH8N-/s1600/Bluebell+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7nPuro-DetwDkwMcl8U7tpAUX4oqRgkT6SREecH2P0tDZtpN30HBLe95A3teTIA-Bu0-qL9igX5u5Mc4byoCdPcG2em_7jjAoSG9Uww-QTWPaikR9vhYrQa6v13jihNMTNlRStnLH8N-/s400/Bluebell+%25282%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyRy5Q1hIHiPPLDiGe2JxKGrvfSt0rCkoh77c8u9CEsrjbzNmTvgHtgB0sHxG3ObMZZ98lXPCrT4taotkvRofv27NpcEIuQHTPjRMw9yBLgqtY7sAE8ddVpOCARcD0GQmsvqoEUilT3Qb/s1600/Bluebell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyRy5Q1hIHiPPLDiGe2JxKGrvfSt0rCkoh77c8u9CEsrjbzNmTvgHtgB0sHxG3ObMZZ98lXPCrT4taotkvRofv27NpcEIuQHTPjRMw9yBLgqtY7sAE8ddVpOCARcD0GQmsvqoEUilT3Qb/s400/Bluebell.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">…and the tulips have shone with bright colours. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8XX1qyWvKqBj4YaK3yMQM-REJV3baR4VhYxe1QdvEMZ-WbmwaSX3ZQD4Qfs3b8D4c3Xpy9kwsCyKdNDJAJsaRcHf5RJPJriCEctJ7HByTyG1mmAwHfSBfaNI-IwRm7_V4SaJ0sfBDXJJ/s1600/Purple+Tulip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8XX1qyWvKqBj4YaK3yMQM-REJV3baR4VhYxe1QdvEMZ-WbmwaSX3ZQD4Qfs3b8D4c3Xpy9kwsCyKdNDJAJsaRcHf5RJPJriCEctJ7HByTyG1mmAwHfSBfaNI-IwRm7_V4SaJ0sfBDXJJ/s400/Purple+Tulip.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r19ugGVT5Tvo8_uhGMJkKQVZvEqwYbLxd0dYqklYzWaLGTPeQY1GZIrmpBRe9vfbJP5pulCVAuaOvsMsCZ5YjcaIGW0N551ON6-_uhabOHhxejJ_iGgQ-2o0IOgcde1hgk3TAy5uywx9/s1600/Y+%2526+R+Tulip+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r19ugGVT5Tvo8_uhGMJkKQVZvEqwYbLxd0dYqklYzWaLGTPeQY1GZIrmpBRe9vfbJP5pulCVAuaOvsMsCZ5YjcaIGW0N551ON6-_uhabOHhxejJ_iGgQ-2o0IOgcde1hgk3TAy5uywx9/s400/Y+%2526+R+Tulip+%25282%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3_-S4v_2JRtFTb_tpE3VxYcohiwsiZ9-dfoO4f6JeB5fbLk2i8OUXUsCtnbsKOu8rKBU7352wKcHxDHNhUAQOY9RCRwKVmfXKmu0IvmhtBDbzWVvgv8L4UG_T3R2i9vB94ALPjGj9y1_/s1600/Y+%2526+R+Tulip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1017" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3_-S4v_2JRtFTb_tpE3VxYcohiwsiZ9-dfoO4f6JeB5fbLk2i8OUXUsCtnbsKOu8rKBU7352wKcHxDHNhUAQOY9RCRwKVmfXKmu0IvmhtBDbzWVvgv8L4UG_T3R2i9vB94ALPjGj9y1_/s400/Y+%2526+R+Tulip.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My aquilegias have unveiled their glory…</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgVT7WIoH-i4a-mHYRHhKlq6AvSbxAxZgFiLa7qo7t1lcplzNaZ1eKBYC-mjHEDzTHc-2c4aejrj8uh_Qh5y_xd3FoFtsh4Nsen_FvX9hULE49ghrfnHhtGrmnEWJLlmV4IkbZkRlVJJ0/s1600/Red+Aquilegia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgVT7WIoH-i4a-mHYRHhKlq6AvSbxAxZgFiLa7qo7t1lcplzNaZ1eKBYC-mjHEDzTHc-2c4aejrj8uh_Qh5y_xd3FoFtsh4Nsen_FvX9hULE49ghrfnHhtGrmnEWJLlmV4IkbZkRlVJJ0/s400/Red+Aquilegia.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">…and this beautiful flower appeared nearby.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOVO6oMyvqHF9FC3YhN1S8uOW2nQKpxNz9ece2e76OeMTbxKWnZnzHhuP3u6WiVob296qMi6xrrVto-sDQwJLsI70nImhrUoEicqtc1ihx3Ybt9nD7USLDPXDp34cDLdnMCp76jQyVV83/s1600/Cuckooflower+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOVO6oMyvqHF9FC3YhN1S8uOW2nQKpxNz9ece2e76OeMTbxKWnZnzHhuP3u6WiVob296qMi6xrrVto-sDQwJLsI70nImhrUoEicqtc1ihx3Ybt9nD7USLDPXDp34cDLdnMCp76jQyVV83/s400/Cuckooflower+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think it’s Cuckooflower, also known as lady’s smock
and it’s beautiful, but then I think all flowers are beautiful. 😊🌺🌼</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enjoy the holiday weekend.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-56468429012020014652018-05-18T11:14:00.001-07:002018-10-10T07:33:11.017-07:00Rusting Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7bi0wtkFxBSHjq4Ujdn48scK3paNYzR4FQpRKkMv2wGTe_bgAbuytyPbccR8xBONO70YopQ6uZ_1d5Vzm7i3jFAM485f-deuT7z96rwj7QHfrousGh3We8j8WhVb4tAm2oprmJaGxv-o/s1600/photostudio_1526573283455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7bi0wtkFxBSHjq4Ujdn48scK3paNYzR4FQpRKkMv2wGTe_bgAbuytyPbccR8xBONO70YopQ6uZ_1d5Vzm7i3jFAM485f-deuT7z96rwj7QHfrousGh3We8j8WhVb4tAm2oprmJaGxv-o/s400/photostudio_1526573283455.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As promised last week, I spent the weekend preparing an
experiment in rusting. If you’ve seen my blog before, you may have seen my
trials in this a while ago but this time I’ve used tin cans. I cleaned them up
first, of course, then dunked the fabric in vinegar and wrapped it around them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WnCcV05kuxJiLlud01PMEsCZnIJPTjr31248CRxLzSKD4Rhp3YUZBnVQfg6C9b7HUC0zRuUIibQPcPy_SOwnzzI7gBpxQ59APep6w0UmbLnt1y3XHvdYN_T4jUIUDDM030bzT9KxBdU3/s1600/photostudio_1526316083537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WnCcV05kuxJiLlud01PMEsCZnIJPTjr31248CRxLzSKD4Rhp3YUZBnVQfg6C9b7HUC0zRuUIibQPcPy_SOwnzzI7gBpxQ59APep6w0UmbLnt1y3XHvdYN_T4jUIUDDM030bzT9KxBdU3/s400/photostudio_1526316083537.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I also put a few leaves in between the folds of fabric to
see if they’d leave an impression or some colour. Hand-picked from my garden, I
used the leaves from dandelion, honeysuckle, herb Robert (Geranium robertianum),
sycamore, ivy and lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is how they looked in the middle of the week:</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC33iBMdWCb2cQGSHGhdzYj3kHk2cbXDa6vazk7mMQvF2Pg_6eQAz-UOro8mgaNQm5HyUcuFrq81R1JSs4bc3Vgrcp3YlJHK12u5LQqd2aBMOSJKNwOrFMxlbwg1uXJbgxIyQg3xwtm125/s1600/photostudio_1526417229972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC33iBMdWCb2cQGSHGhdzYj3kHk2cbXDa6vazk7mMQvF2Pg_6eQAz-UOro8mgaNQm5HyUcuFrq81R1JSs4bc3Vgrcp3YlJHK12u5LQqd2aBMOSJKNwOrFMxlbwg1uXJbgxIyQg3xwtm125/s400/photostudio_1526417229972.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPe5flDOxEmNcmZ9wIqXFAw9ptg2CqYbFov5apqAAD2HJssDsXeIWw-zmOsBLoNeKnvMQXsCbDLHyW_SwOdze_P0Uo2KAdDMPqdcX91Lpot0RA8mEyvEonGdvcjDhfxVShYRjrhdIppKJ/s1600/photostudio_1526316191188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="926" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPe5flDOxEmNcmZ9wIqXFAw9ptg2CqYbFov5apqAAD2HJssDsXeIWw-zmOsBLoNeKnvMQXsCbDLHyW_SwOdze_P0Uo2KAdDMPqdcX91Lpot0RA8mEyvEonGdvcjDhfxVShYRjrhdIppKJ/s400/photostudio_1526316191188.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8T2BifzQyhfcLcTgIiaToq-fbpj_5vXpOeK8OhL3qwYd0L8PrTt4AJrkHb4Pc6iXVw6jCjI7deW2sro3mu5Nkjc2W9qjAy-YrFQahuu6L7jKRjHMAsL58dwVxNQfophvhKroyDFlOEG9/s1600/photostudio_1526316254797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8T2BifzQyhfcLcTgIiaToq-fbpj_5vXpOeK8OhL3qwYd0L8PrTt4AJrkHb4Pc6iXVw6jCjI7deW2sro3mu5Nkjc2W9qjAy-YrFQahuu6L7jKRjHMAsL58dwVxNQfophvhKroyDFlOEG9/s400/photostudio_1526316254797.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve kept them wrapped for a long time to try to get the
best transfer of rust I could and to give the leaves time to do their thing.</span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After leaving them to dry on the cans, I unwrapped them,
gave them a wash and hung them on the line to dry. This is how they looked
then, bringing to mind the song about green bottles: “there were six rusted
fabrics hanging on the line…..” I just hoped none of them would blow away! With
the warm weather, they dried quite quickly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgqa_0w0V8QPQSiMSbjH7f7iO6ucJe3nkNBxIXT9slbfHbnskjdPZaiYygaSMv6AnhdDCZU45U-QEHqsUajmvRA10FLbmCirAyLu_nk453clOyJFXHJJVeqYiDfmapL7Ks11SuNauU-WM/s1600/photostudio_1526573486277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgqa_0w0V8QPQSiMSbjH7f7iO6ucJe3nkNBxIXT9slbfHbnskjdPZaiYygaSMv6AnhdDCZU45U-QEHqsUajmvRA10FLbmCirAyLu_nk453clOyJFXHJJVeqYiDfmapL7Ks11SuNauU-WM/s400/photostudio_1526573486277.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-zttBQTqBe4685ZXts24RfwQcqCEVFqg914XxXhkdDInhQb0Gzs0eMJWEeMfCYBx360TUkv6mULSfcVy-55tGVN0K6fB7ygBmNj6RxBc0BjEwLBxAljUKGM7VSJf34Fh0tpLzqlOaJIg/s1600/photostudio_1526574354808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-zttBQTqBe4685ZXts24RfwQcqCEVFqg914XxXhkdDInhQb0Gzs0eMJWEeMfCYBx360TUkv6mULSfcVy-55tGVN0K6fB7ygBmNj6RxBc0BjEwLBxAljUKGM7VSJf34Fh0tpLzqlOaJIg/s400/photostudio_1526574354808.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc7Tsgdzrys_RBDT6zsyp9bXMWGj2s0YImtrYHwXpsinuZXJtEV7SAxmqIu7Ctb9yr2kGPbhGp9qrWO2_36T6JWVREkris4uVWNyGad6-navXHsklx_6TyeItfmym_U_p7QiQbjBcCk4a/s1600/photostudio_1526573762777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc7Tsgdzrys_RBDT6zsyp9bXMWGj2s0YImtrYHwXpsinuZXJtEV7SAxmqIu7Ctb9yr2kGPbhGp9qrWO2_36T6JWVREkris4uVWNyGad6-navXHsklx_6TyeItfmym_U_p7QiQbjBcCk4a/s400/photostudio_1526573762777.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here are a few close-ups:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRDid9if1eirlifT43Mgxwg07nP94CiP3-u3tZcboUJ_h6XT0MKU6ZarYn6747MF-nC7sd_fO6oFjubbqw4SMJY9rVTM0bNkDqGXubHoNXwn6dh1aZDaUSnSbrJYz6LcBYdWEiOJdo_cg/s1600/photostudio_1526573852502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRDid9if1eirlifT43Mgxwg07nP94CiP3-u3tZcboUJ_h6XT0MKU6ZarYn6747MF-nC7sd_fO6oFjubbqw4SMJY9rVTM0bNkDqGXubHoNXwn6dh1aZDaUSnSbrJYz6LcBYdWEiOJdo_cg/s400/photostudio_1526573852502.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-19FYWV53aUXHwdbDSsLk2Y5PUFg_DOjK4GTrlHDQb0YbweYeipsW8T6CRJ7r3ygSUIjlTu0EnRQRj9br8vQoT_NXaeA96RLNxm0KkzgFvw3hHF8qxIjpXTV5RhcHOQYYJEKImDdv_GRT/s1600/photostudio_1526573901897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-19FYWV53aUXHwdbDSsLk2Y5PUFg_DOjK4GTrlHDQb0YbweYeipsW8T6CRJ7r3ygSUIjlTu0EnRQRj9br8vQoT_NXaeA96RLNxm0KkzgFvw3hHF8qxIjpXTV5RhcHOQYYJEKImDdv_GRT/s400/photostudio_1526573901897.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eJZUdOuJjSFA8AICV-Zh2VC2wcePTooVBQKlw8Zj6AJLJZutPmnpQ4TkwoXzs4jfQpF9i77eGs6tbXKJ-GMlkOgueT0OBwZDVWD5kBWK1SzsAfvcFJaHkfOR4-bwG-qeEIdeaFEMQ_4O/s1600/photostudio_1526573973403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1144" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eJZUdOuJjSFA8AICV-Zh2VC2wcePTooVBQKlw8Zj6AJLJZutPmnpQ4TkwoXzs4jfQpF9i77eGs6tbXKJ-GMlkOgueT0OBwZDVWD5kBWK1SzsAfvcFJaHkfOR4-bwG-qeEIdeaFEMQ_4O/s400/photostudio_1526573973403.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cPxmnggC7lo7_2jQ6AfYXgPDqP5xdOtNd5937L8wNHPkbP8J_ov3DVzZ6Jrv1_ikZr0U-BgRArOZuDbqqMCmtZQ3CGKcs0kYDf6ylSNZLqJ5cAGzd_GDiqspGlOjKF2iQ4WCBq3ph4bR/s1600/photostudio_1526574047600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cPxmnggC7lo7_2jQ6AfYXgPDqP5xdOtNd5937L8wNHPkbP8J_ov3DVzZ6Jrv1_ikZr0U-BgRArOZuDbqqMCmtZQ3CGKcs0kYDf6ylSNZLqJ5cAGzd_GDiqspGlOjKF2iQ4WCBq3ph4bR/s400/photostudio_1526574047600.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I love the colour that the rust produces on the fabric.
It’s colourful yet subtle at the same time and the patterns it creates are
unpredictable but always pretty.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The question now is, what am I going to do with the
fabric? I’ve got a few ideas floating around in my head and some lovely lace to
go with it, some embroidery thread, ribbon and maybe some printed fabric to
layer it with. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don’t know if I’ll have anything made by next week,
I’ll have to see how I go, but I have got other works in progress which I’m
going to share.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have a lovely weekend! </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-15226173364839496502018-05-11T09:09:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:33:10.261-07:00A Profusion of Flowers<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve been absent from my blog for a while. When did I
last post? Anyway, I return with lots of things. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First of all, if you remember from the beginning of
the year, I was planning to do a drawing every day. Well, I managed for a while
but then failed completely. Life just took over and I didn’t have time.
Sometimes I didn’t have the energy, sometimes I just didn’t feel like drawing.
But that’s ok. I’ve learned in recent years not to be bothered by little things
that don’t get done; it’s not worth it. I’ve also learned not to force myself
into something because it never works; it ends up being my worst work and
something I’m really not happy with. </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve been doing a bit of quick sketching in the last
few days though and here are the results.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIloS8VWZdoGV9qEZm5PKrPzUytWTCBUhpycWm8pgPeFWFa-R879bzhGBLZx7rYBLCQIMTL2s07sjFS4OJLYYAYM7EWyy47M-cBsclt6S-xrqrK9kKwfsPdp3UFiAYfW70YkkxM3IsLJWS/s1600/photostudio_1525266131160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIloS8VWZdoGV9qEZm5PKrPzUytWTCBUhpycWm8pgPeFWFa-R879bzhGBLZx7rYBLCQIMTL2s07sjFS4OJLYYAYM7EWyy47M-cBsclt6S-xrqrK9kKwfsPdp3UFiAYfW70YkkxM3IsLJWS/s400/photostudio_1525266131160.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIGoor0hMACuF6U5sGxBKRLPR1DXpuTp52roexd2wh-HTAfSyR8gE86scBhZ_uX8aDJ-yAlK4PGEahXFQJP55gZ2Wpo4IU8ro0fgsTHB7LlA2bmI1FBgjO_FtTmDC-Fpeb4u58iFk6Gu5/s1600/photostudio_1525265998957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1090" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIGoor0hMACuF6U5sGxBKRLPR1DXpuTp52roexd2wh-HTAfSyR8gE86scBhZ_uX8aDJ-yAlK4PGEahXFQJP55gZ2Wpo4IU8ro0fgsTHB7LlA2bmI1FBgjO_FtTmDC-Fpeb4u58iFk6Gu5/s400/photostudio_1525265998957.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve also been photographing like mad with all the
flowers finally coming into bloom. You may have seen them on my social media.
At the moment it’s like a cherry blossom explosion! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The blooms are starting to fall now though and the
petals slowly fluttering down are like a snowstorm. They’re carpeting the
garden in a profusion of pink. (And the neighbour’s garden too probably.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m extremely proud of these little flowers in
particular. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sowed some wildflower seeds two years ago but only a
few actually grew. They didn’t bloom last year so I’m assuming that they’re
biennials and it means I’ve only discovered what they are this week. I think
they’re Red Campion; I’ve looked in my wildlife book, compared the pictures and
that’s the nearest likeness I can find. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m going to be doing some experiments in the next
week and will be posting the results on social media during the week and here
next Friday, so if you’re interested, come along and have a look. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have a lovely weekend.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854028437172123494.post-53979837107465855342018-04-05T07:46:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:38:28.235-07:00Flowers of Spring
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We should be heading into Spring now that the Spring
Equinox has been and gone and I’ve got some flowers to herald its arrival.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You know how much I love flowers; they bring joy and
colour to days when you don’t feel so great – and I have plenty of them. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I’m just going to show you my photos and let you
enjoy them. I hope you do and they bring a bit of cheer.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaHcMKEJg1llXkCEVTjc545azS_ebi0vj5_IDeEPfEhosA2URs6QPWGUB3Oyx_X_mpGMC7vEw73xJKgfUeUI5VsQPQV4ruPMhr6mSQCbpAmGoSMdFhrRR_qSxfhVatFfUfcDGThaXqGH1/s1600/Daffodil+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaHcMKEJg1llXkCEVTjc545azS_ebi0vj5_IDeEPfEhosA2URs6QPWGUB3Oyx_X_mpGMC7vEw73xJKgfUeUI5VsQPQV4ruPMhr6mSQCbpAmGoSMdFhrRR_qSxfhVatFfUfcDGThaXqGH1/s400/Daffodil+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also found two feathers with rain droplets on them
and couldn’t resist taking photos.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1cwXYYHERRFaBH5wSRhjX5s5VB7IkxabQOctdOBukXrGtgj5JG1-BBuJFttkZ-KjeiCApZ6YI4XdsV9STG_4XGX2pR1a01QOPdAluMNjAaopl-OZWUboOVaRWFtWhs-zxQXDW5qae59V/s1600/Feather+1+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1cwXYYHERRFaBH5wSRhjX5s5VB7IkxabQOctdOBukXrGtgj5JG1-BBuJFttkZ-KjeiCApZ6YI4XdsV9STG_4XGX2pR1a01QOPdAluMNjAaopl-OZWUboOVaRWFtWhs-zxQXDW5qae59V/s400/Feather+1+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD57-Jq3_VAf8j6zdjb4cKYtfayy-X24EA12cv4Z7tyTyceqOLy1MNMQCwL2E7Gd-GC9OxAsOsG-3Lh_zw1x8fkeLBHZxpAhnev8330x6MS4hko4JsEUV0yxgkVk21jBsCjRaraSoHRFlE/s1600/Feather+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD57-Jq3_VAf8j6zdjb4cKYtfayy-X24EA12cv4Z7tyTyceqOLy1MNMQCwL2E7Gd-GC9OxAsOsG-3Lh_zw1x8fkeLBHZxpAhnev8330x6MS4hko4JsEUV0yxgkVk21jBsCjRaraSoHRFlE/s400/Feather+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6PFQ5op4QW8mjU2skpGgaKQDD4auHD5jnJDZ7f7KaR6QgqltTH7Mvosln0c2itCYXEo1LQcK4KMSABahDikMSiAFn_eNihckh37dvasR96Hq6sB_XtP80X4UNlnrjvYQqo2XLaPV5jpp/s1600/Feather+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6PFQ5op4QW8mjU2skpGgaKQDD4auHD5jnJDZ7f7KaR6QgqltTH7Mvosln0c2itCYXEo1LQcK4KMSABahDikMSiAFn_eNihckh37dvasR96Hq6sB_XtP80X4UNlnrjvYQqo2XLaPV5jpp/s400/Feather+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have a lovely weekend.</span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sarah Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580280239757820097noreply@blogger.com0