The Eagle-stone

I should like to find an eagle-stone. It is a type of iron ore with a concentric construction.  Of far more interest to me is the legend that eagle-stones are hatched in eagle's nests and they prevent their own eggs from rotting. Now I'm sure that there must be a painting in there somewhere. I can see the images forming already and words are flying in on the wings of eagles and just waiting to be written. I love how the world of the imagination can transform a dull day into a vision of colour and inspiration.

If the myth of the eagle-stone inspires you, please share your creations.  I would love to see. We all dream and imagine differently upon the diverging paths that we walk.

Saturday morning sadness

Thinking of Norway this morning. So much sorrow.

Thinking of Somalia this morning. So much despair.

Trying to send more love and light out into the world. More hope and peace.

Can I work here please?

Maybe we will be picked soon for the Etsy shop.

Lulu Tonks and Tom Bones wait with anticipation for the arrival of the 'Edie & May' department of the 'Angels & Magpies' Etsy shop where designs for children young and old will be found.

Etsy Shop Opens

Angels & Magpies, my Etsy shop, is now open and is rapidly filling with colourful songbird brooches. Why the name Angels & Magpies? It is part of my history. The name of my primary school was 'Guardian Angels' and the name of my Grammar School magazine was the 'Magpie' Our uniforms were black, white and royal blue and I often wonder if they chose those colours because of the large number of magpies that lived in the grounds. So, there you are, that is where the name came from.

I hope that you will come along and take a look.  There will be lots of new items in the shop this week as I input all of my current stock. Here is a sneaky peek:

A Word and its Meaning

Exosculate: To kiss heartily.
                                           -Nathaniel Bailey's 'Etymological English Dictionary', 1749


In this month in 1439, a kissing prohibition was ordered by the English parliament in order to prevent the further spread of the plague.


I wonder who can drop the word 'exosculate' into the conversation tomorrow!

Words locked inside

I have been reading one of my favourite blogs: 'Moonlight and Hares' and I can empathise with the writer's latest post.  Sometimes words and ideas are locked inside and it feels as if inspiration is hidden deep down in our caverns of consciousness.  I do have plenty of work at the moment including a commission for dolls, fine art pieces for a September exhibition and fun items for a run of Christmas craft fairs that I am booking.  I am enjoying everything that I am doing but I am missing that spark, that motivating fire that you experience when the muse is with you.  I need that energy to really get into the creative zone where ideas fly and you feel that you are being fed by the inspirational force that is passing through. I am content though, happily getting on with the work that I have.  It would be too exhausting to be burning with inspiration all the time. I need time to develop the ideas that come, to design and make. A time to breathe and prepare for the dreams that may come next.

I am content to wait.