Time flies when you are having fun!

The Pixie and the Alchemist have great big smiles on their faces and have celebrated with a glass of Pimms tonight. We set ourselves a task a year ago when he moved in and one week short of our deadline ....we have made it!

We had between us 2 living rooms, 2 kitchens, 2 bathrooms and 5 bedrooms... as he was moving in with me there was basically 2 houses which somehow had to fit into 1. 
We basically kept the best of everything we had and I was determined that this house would become 'ours' so we bought items that needed renewing and chose them together. We also not only redecorated the whole house, but carpeted it all too.
There has been much discarding and during this we had a mew bathroom and shower fitted too! Madness and mayhem springs to mind! But it had to be done. 


Today was a milestone..... the last carpet was laid. At last, we can sit back and enjoy what we have achieved. The guest bedroom was the last to be done.... and it looks fabulous!


We've also been working hard at the studio and had a good old sort out there too. The Gallery/shop is all new and lots of storage space as well as getting rid of unwanted collected creative 'stuff'.... when 2 creative spirits join together it can be chaos.....for a while anyway.


Together the creative juices flow and he keeps me focused....something I sadly lacked before. It's nice to finally have someone who's supportive and has a creative mind.... the ideas just keep on flowing and growing.


It's been a busy year, as we've had to work, create, network, market AND get the house and garden together as well, but to be honest.... I wouldn't call it HARD work. Far from it, it's been a breeze. He's so calm and patient, it makes doing anything a pushover.


Oh.... and did I tell you.... right in the middle of all this, my son and daughter-in-law moved house and me and my son decorated the whole of their 3 bed roomed house too! I love decorating! That smell of emulsion especially, takes me places..... but AHEM! Enough of that.... my closest friends could let you into some of my sordid fantasies about painter and their overalls and the effect that paint has on me.... but that was a long time ago, when I saw the Chippendale's (not of the furniture kind!) and I have recovered since then.....well.... perhaps!  :o) 


Fortunately we both have the same drive and motivation when it comes to positivity.... and we firmly believe that you can achieve ANYTHING, if you only just put your mind to it! :o)


I haven't told him yet.....but I have my eyes on some gorgeous paint and I may just have to give the bedroom a bit of a freshen up......  :o)


Now then.....where's the Pimms??? 

Paper Fetish, from beginner to expert!

 I've always had a love for paper!
I remember as a child, my mum making flour and water glue, giving me a pair of scissors and an old catalogue and some blank paper. I created many pieces of expert art work.....Monty Python style. Legs coming out of mouths, birds flying out of peoples ears.....well you get the picture I'm sure. 
As a child of 8 years old and with a calligraphy nib I copied Gothic lettering I found lettering hard with a chisel nib, as a left hander I couldn't understand why. Of course years later, I realised I needed a specially cut oblique nib! I remember however, I was sent to the headmaster for a 'special pen' to use during handwriting class. A Platinum with a curvy end if my memory serves me well. (which could be doubtful at my age! - lol). 


In secondary school, my plan was that I wanted to become a graphic designer or sign writer. I used to copy lettering styles out of the Lettraset catalogue. It's here I became fascinated with lettering of all kinds. Whether on paper, carved in stone or etched in glass. 


Years later I got heavily into Quilling. If you've never heard of it go and take a look-see here
Still my passion for paper continued. 


To be honest I wanted to stone carve letters and learning calligraphy was a means to an end. 
It wasn't until I actually took a class in stone carving that I realised what hard work it was and if I was to have any wrists left at all, it was not something for me. 


So....lettering and paper seemed a perfect combination.
I learnt to bookbinding, from single section to multi-section, paper covered to the largest 500 page. A4 sized leather bound book for a shop in London.... very exciting!


I've done letters ON paper, and in books.....but finding this lost piece of cut out lettering art (now sadly VERY yellow and dirty) made me come back to cut-out letters....

This piece was created in 3 layers and was taught to me by a wonderful stone carver 

called Celia Kilner, who made some of these to explain to a stone mason that she wanted letters cut into and out of the stone.....

I have been fascinated with silhouettes and stencilling over the past years.

These two pieces are experimental pieces where I wanted to cut letters overlapped and in one whole piece.

I've designed my own stencils in the past, so being aware of letters which would drop out and fall away when using the positive, came in handy. I had to make sure the dot of the i on waiting and life and the apostrophe on I've were attached to a letter somewhere. Like I said, these couple of pieces are very much experimental at the moment and I have to fit the playing in after my commission work is out of the way.....which has been very hard lately, but I have lots of ideas and will show you the progress as time goes on.

I
 love paper-cuts...... of all kinds. Paper is so flexible and can be manipulated. Cutting can both strengthen and weaken the paper depending on how it is cut. 
And with the wide variety of weights, finishes, colours and application types, it's an amazing material to work in. 

I LOVE PAPER, I DO!

I don't think I will EVER

 achieve anything as spectacular as this though!

Resisting change and technology! - Not everything new is bad!

Ok, ok, ok.... I'm the first to admit I'm a total technophobe! I think my long standing passion for calligraphy, lettering, wet ink , paint and paper as well as my inability to understand written instructions in their simplest forms, made me this way.
I mean, if you show me I can understand and remember.... give me written information and I... well run away in the opposite direction.


It was a surprise to me when I met Steve....a true techie head. So, in his daily life he's a  pesticide chemist, he also loves messing about with electronics, he can make things and understand how things work....even the complicated things. When I balk at technology there's usually a wry smile appears on his face and then it's accompanied by the explanation of why technology is good and more importantly why it is good for me...I take some convincing I can tell you, preferring the simpler things in life (no I'm not going to make a joke about my ex's here.....although it's on the tip of my tongue to do so!)   :o)


After using a fellow artist's iPad a couple of times....i suddenly realised what I had been missing out on! For a Virgo I can be pretty disorganised (no change there then!) and I make notes on bits of paper....lots of notes and LOTS of bits of paper. Having a visual impairment means I very often loose these bits of paper, which then results in a frantic scramble around the studio or on the kitchen table (my favourite place for leaving the bits of paper) and sometimes ends up with me in a stroppy Pixie mood with myself, for being so disorganised and not mindful of what I am doing and where I am leaving things.

In a bid to get sorted at the studio...I did buy these amazing drawers.... all colour co-ordinated to help me find things quickly..... it helps, a bit!


As business picked up at the back end of last year, I suddenly found myself with 8 Wedding orders on the go.... and the paper juggling exercises became overwhelming. 
One of the great problems with Wedding orders is that the work is scheduled in at different times. The invitations come first then later the place cards, menus, order of service  and other ephemera. Place cards are always a last minute thing as the client doesn't know who is turning up and how many cards are needed till last minute. Keeping a diary, note book, order book, catalogue of designs and a variety of sketch books... Oh yes as well as the bits of jotted notes and post-it-notes became an impossible situation...... so guess what happened? 

The iPad3 was due out a week after I decided to buy one. While the screen resolution of the iPad2 was good, I thought I would wait and go for the 3, with it's even better quality screen. Sighted people would probably not even notice the difference.....but I can. And as they say, every little helps!


I honestly can't believe how useful it has been for me already.
It's my address book, diary, organiser, notepad, sketch pad, it can play my talking books (blimey I thought I was state of the art getting an MP3 player!) it can read out my emails, it's my photo album for taking to wedding fairs and it's fast becoming my (almost) best friend (did I really say that?) ..... I could ramble on and wax lyrical all day.  I was even tempted to rush out and buy a Mac and an iPhone....but I'm holding off on that one. Baby steps Susan (Sunday name for firm out loud voice).


Oh....and did I mention someone else in the Pixie household likes it too.....

So.... here I am.... smitten with my new gadget. Within 24 hours I knew more than I ever knew in a year, when I first got a PC!

My 2 year old grand-daughter can use it.... honestly she can!

And if anyone is pondering and procrastinating on getting one....especially artists who are not used to the less tactile side of life......do not hesitate....it will be the best decision you ever made! 

At the end of the day and the worst case scenario,

It makes a great cat toy!

Message to self:

Another Message to self: 

Not everything new is bad,

evil, a waste of money,

consumerism gone mad

or complicated! 

Message to my wonderful partner

Steve: 

OK, you can stop grinning now!

In memory of Karen

It's been 2 weeks. 2 very long weeks, since we received the shock news that Steve's nephew found his fiance of 5 years dead in bed after just a few days where the doctor and subsequent hospital visit diagnosed nothing more than tonsillitis. 

We went down to see the family and console Joe at the weekend. It was a tough call, as is any loss, especially when sudden and unexpected.

Having been through it myself 12 years ago when my own partner died I could at least give him some kindly words of advice. Mainly, do whatever feels right, no matter how stupid others may think your ideas are. Take each day in baby steps. Laugh if you want and cry if you want. It's nobody's judgement call but yours.  

Time is a great healer. The knife in your stomach and the pain from your heart being ripped out, does not last forever, no matter how much you feel it will at the time.

Be gently on yourself and take comfort from your family who love and care for you so much.... and friends too....they are important and will help get you through this. And do you know what? You NEVER forget that kindness.

The wheel of the year will turn it's circle. Sometimes it feels too slowly. But almost without trying, one day you will wake up and realise just how far you have come and the suns warmth will be felt on your face once again. 

For the rest of us.....life goes on....

In memory of Karen 1961 - 2012

Please play the video.

It's the most beautiful fitting tribute

to those who have gone before.

Life is too short!!!!

PLEASE HELP! Urgent post!

A Mass Healing For Baby Jennifer

Last Friday night Jennifer, the 1 and a half year old daughter of two members of the Dagda became ill. The first real indication that something was wrong was that Jennifer was being s...ick and developed a small 50p sized dark blister over one eye.

Chris and Lucy called the emergency services and the ambulance responded within 10 minutes and took her straight to Stafford District General Hospital. This is a journey of about 20 minutes. By the time she arrived at hospital she had progressed to having dark blood blisters over approximately 40 % of her body. Jennifer was immediately diagnosed with meningitis. Initially it was thought to be Viral which is bad enough in a child of Jennifer's size and age and is pretty serious and involves high doses of antibiotics and a long stay in hospital. After some more tests she was re-diagnosed with BACTERIAL meningitis.

During this time she suffered 2 cardiac arrests and went down hill rapidly. Her body started shutting down and the doctors did all they could to stabilise her. It was soon discovered that Stafford didn't have enough equipment to fully support Jennifer as the doctors were now trying to cope with 2 cardiac arrests , kidney failure septicaemia, lung failure and other complications in a small child. It was decided then that they needed to transfer her to the specialist paediatric intensive care unit at stoke university hospital which was 30 miles away.

The doctors couldn't get a drain into her lungs and therefore a very young and dedicated nurse had to “bag” Jennifer all the way in the ambulance. This involves him pushing air into her lungs using a “bag”... complicated by the fact that she was so small , and her lungs were full of fluid and all of this done by hand just feeling the back pressure from her lungs.... too much and she would drown … too little and she would suffocate ALL IN THE BACK OF A SPEEDING AMBULANCE.

The dedication of this man was second to none. By the time she arrived at Stoke , she had blisters over 80 – 90% of her body and looked black and blue all over. REMEMBER this was just a few hours since the ambulance was called. By the time the doctors had attended to her she was receiving EIGHT different drugs fed by 8 machines into her poorly body. There were also 6 drips and one kidney dialysis machine.

She was suffering from heart, lung & kidney failure an her body was just shutting down. The doctors said that Jennifer was then receiving ALL the help that they could and there was literally nothing else the doctors could do and that she was the most poorly child in the UK. No other child was receiving as much treatment as Jennifer and there was nothing else they could do. Chris and Lucy were sat down and basically told to expect the worst. A post was put up on face-book asking for healing energies to be sent her way. Initially it was aimed at the Dagda (our pagan group) but soon spread through our friends lists to many friends.

WHAT I'M ASKG HERE IS:

On Thursday Evening starting a 19: 00 We and many of our friends around the world are taking time out to sending healing prayers and thoughts for Baby Jennifer.

I know many of my friends and readers of this blog are involved in healing, healing circles and other matters spiritual. Could I please ask that you light a candle and send out some healing too? Whatever your faith, please help us generate all the energy we can muster. Together, I believe that miracles happen! She has had many set backs between Friday and now, but our Dagda Princess is a tough cookie and there are hundreds of people around the world rooting for her :o)

Can I also ask, that you click the share button and pass this blog post far and wide please.... and share on any healing groups you are connected with too.... and please join our Facebook page DAGDA Jennifer

With thanks and brightest blessings xxx

LATEST UPDATE:

Our appeal for A MASS HEALING

has gone viral.... and currently stands

at over 3 million people!!!!

*AMAZING!*

I'm so dizzy! My head is spinning....like a whirlwind it never ends....

well, actually, that's not entirely true....

it does calm down eventually,

and nothing lasts forever...

A week ago today, we left the hospital, a little dazed and in shock. Steve's been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and after a two and a half hour consultation....we left the hospital CPAP Machine in hand.

We were shocked, because after monitoring we really thought they would say that everyone stops breathing every once in a while and his results were nothing out of the ordinary. How wrong we were.... he actually manages to stop breathing 51 times and hour! The result of this is oxygen levels drop and your heart rate goes up and POW! you gasp for breath and all is well, until the next time. You can imagine what he feels like been woken up 51 times an hour.

We are reassured and have proved that after 1 week, Steve feels fully awake and alert all day long....something most of us take for granted.Not to waste the day and in his usual, lets make the best of this manner....he decided to take me to Whitby and treat me to fish and chips at my favourite restaurant.... we have both been vegetarian for 28 years.....but I do like to eat fish now and again..... mainly because I believe that women need their calcium and other good things not found in the main veggie diet.Whitby was a little sharp, but the sun shone and we gradually came to terms with what we had been told. I was looking forward to seeing him feel 'eyes open, wide awake', not only in the mornings but during the day and evenings too. So often, sleep apnea can be mistaken for laziness, which he very much isn't.

4 days later, his new kiln had arrived (he's like a dog with 2 tails!) and we went to the studio to try it out and then came the snow! It was lovely and toasty in the studio....but I couldn't resist some snow writing....

Smile for no reason!

Can I just add, that this photo was taken just before I almost fell flat on my asse (which will give you cause to laugh FOR a reason!)..... my balance these days isn't what it used to be lol. I bought some banner blanks. I was quite taken with them and decided to sod the expense, as there was no way I could cut those fluted edges myself, for the price I had to pay for someone else to have done it before me....anyway....I wanted to have fun! I'm offering these banners to order.... perhaps with Mr & Mrs for Weddings or Beccy's 18th for birthdays or whatever....

Yesterday, I created a new design for my Wedding Stationery collection.

I've a few more ideas in the pipeline. Although I love to work with the bride and groom and create something just for them, it's nice to have a jumping off point,,,,These are in silver foil, but there are lots of colours to choose from....

While I was making the banner, I decided to create a wall plaque out of A4 sized MDF and personalised it with the names and the date, to be used as a commemorative gift for the newly married couple. Perhaps they will sell, perhaps not....but it's another idea for visitors to the shop.


All in all, quite and eventful week. Steve's got used to the CPAP, so have I and I now have a bright eyed and bushy tailed man, who in my opinion is amazing for getting to grips with having air pumped up his nose at great pressure all night and STILL managing to sleep! I feel quite emotional, that at last he's getting the sleep he should and now feels like the rest of us have been feeling for years. Perhaps now, he won't think I'm such a live wire, always rushing around and on the go.....In fact, I may find it hard to keep up!

All is well with the world! :o)

Sunflower Healing

I have quite a few friends at the moment, who are going through a really hard time. I wish there was something I could do....but I can't and this affects me greatly! Sometimes there seems to be no let up in peoples struggles. All 'we' the ones close by, can do is hope, pray and keep them in our thoughts.

Is the human spirit indestructible?

Healing is always possible

but not inevitable.

All living beings & systems

attempt to re-establish stability after trauma.

when we have dealt with hardship & pain

we do not return to being who we were before the struggle.

Hemingway wrote:

some will be stronger in the broken places.

it is a surprise to realize I am both stronger & more fragile

than I imagine or remember.

Sending sunflowers,

to brighten your day

and lift your spirits high,

to all those who need them.

xoxoxoxox

Funny Face Competition....

I never go anywhere without my camera.

With only 2 cats left in the normally full menagerie,

I've very little choice when it comes to

photographing funny faces.

First I asked Dodger....

'Show me your funniest face'.....

hmmm.....not bad.

Blue, 'Show me your funniest face'.....

Actually that looks a bit frightening to me,

can you do another one with your mouth closed perhaps?

Yeah.... that's a better one.

Now your turn Daisy,
can you show Grandma
your funniest face?


Hahahaha.... but it does make you look a bit.....errr drugged.
Have you got a funnier face inside there????

Hehehehe.....YES! Spot on.
So the winner of the funniest face competition goes to.....wait for it.....
Daisy aged 22 months! Da-Daaaaaah!

You are not alone.....

When I wrote this post at the beginning of the year,
I somehow thought I was alone in doing this and thinking this way.....
To my surprise I found this blog called One Word 365 where I see that there are (at this present time) another 364 people who have blogged about the very same thing!

You see, even when we think we have come up with something totally unique and different... by the very fact that there are millions of us on the planet, our ideas can never be totally unique.
While we are different in many ways, we are very much the same in others, we are all connected.

Celebrate your uniqueness

and your connectedness.

What is your word for 2012?

Have you seen it materialise yet?

Onwards and Upwards

In the blink of an eye and flash of a star 2011 seemed to be over before it started. Where does the time go? I swear that time goes ever faster as we got older....or perhaps I'm having too much fun and want it to last forever!

Thankfully, yet another year with more great dreams than dramas!

We shared a wonderful extended holiday with family and friends and to be honest, by the end of the year we are whacked and need a break to recharge our batteries before the madness and mayhem begin again.

With Spring progressing to Summer comes Art Shows, Craft Fairs, Wedding Fairs, Camps and long walks in nature... it's certainly a busy old time and one that I wouldn't change for the world.

The year was marked with me and Steve moving in together and we settled down easily and effortlessly into our shared life. Thankfully, neither of us likes high drama and it's refreshing to at last have found someone who is not only calm and fun to be with but supportive and unfazed by most things.

The business has steadily grown and I think at last I am more focused on my goals and where I want to be, but with the artistic mind, anything could happen! .... we shall see.

Daisy is growing up fast and will be joined very shortly with a baby brother.....great news, another fun, little person to join the clan and for Gramps and Grandma to spoil rotten.

As many old time friends and followers of my blog know, I'm not one for resolutions.... to make them is heading for a fall in my opinion. So, I tend to make wish lists and come up with a word (usually given to me in meditation).

The *WISH* list this year was particularly difficult, as I believe I have everything I need, so instead I'm making a goal list....which is still in progress.

My word for this year though is

opportunity

and my affirmation will be:

I am open and available to opportunity.

Now, I'm not one to turn down opportunity, but I do have a problem with resistance to change and some of these opportunities involve change. Change makes me feel a little bit jittery and new things slightly fearful. I need to go with the flow and embrace new ideas, whilst not letting go of my gut instinct. I am with worlds greatest procrastinator, so I'll need to work against this. Above all though I am a pragmatist (I'm sure being a Virgo doesn't help much here!) but sometimes it's a strength not a weakness :o)

Above all, I want to take more time to do Art for myself. It's all very well having your own little business, but producing things with the sole intention of selling it can become like a straight jacket and stifles creativity.

I also intend to sort out my work/life balance. Spending time with Steve, my friends and family....most of all my Grandkids is important to me and those years, if lost, can never be replaced. Those early years of growing up are so important and all too soon, you turn around and they are all grown up.

I've watched over the last week, my fellow creatives, getting started on new projects. I've enjoyed my time off and appreciated the rest period.... but now I'm itching to get going, fully refreshed and rejuvenated.

As of Monday, it's all systems go and I'm looking forward to the unfolding year, with exciting new opportunities and challenges that it brings.

I hope everyone who reads my blog has a year filled with possibilities. Open yourself to new adventures and opportunities. Free of fear.

It's 2012, a new year and the chance of a slate wiped clean, all ready for you to create your new story.....what will yours be?

Many blessings for the year ahead,

Sue xxx

It's not a hot flush.....it's the sparks that are flying!

Well, what can I say! I've been thinking a lot recently about the menopause and why is should be called 'The Change'.
there's one helluva lot of synchronicity happening around me right now and we must learn to go with the flow.
this blog is about to undergo MAJOR changes....driven on by many factors, but mainly a deep need inside to make it somewhere for people to come and

BE Inspired, BE Motivated and BE Creative!

I've been working on many projects and the universe has given me a good hard shove in a direction that I have procrastinated about for years.

It's all about working to your strengths.

Where this started and how this come about is any ones guess. I've tried to work back on a time-line to pin point the exact moment when this 'Change' happened in me....but I can't! That's another symptom of the menopause.....FORGETFULNESS!

At the moment I'm working on mini-art pieces....quite unlike the formal calligraphy I have been taught. Driven on by my dear friend Melissa Dinwiddie and her idea of creating some art EVERY DAY. Melissa herself has been though some big changes too, you can read all about her on her blog.

Reading and connecting with her has probably been the catalyst for the biggest changes in me and what I am doing at the moment.....but there are others who have been a big part of this synchronicity, energy shift, universe kicking up the arse thing that's happened to me and I'll write about then very soon.

For now, the blog needs a revamp. BIG TIME revamp and it's all in hand. Articles are being written and the old posts, no longer relevant are being removed.

I did wonder whether to start a new blog and delete this one altogether, but I have many followers both on Blogger, Email and Facebook it would be a shame to loose them.....beside which....I LOVE the name and it very fitting for my new blog.

Am I excited?

Oh YES, I most certainly AM!

I will be back very soon....in the meantime.....

BE Inspired,

BE Motivated and most of all

BE creative!

While I busy myself in the background

and make those changes....

MENOPAUSE ROCKS!

It's not a hot flush.....it's the sparks that are flying!

Did anyone else feel this way when they hit menopause?

you hear so many bad things about this stage of life....I'm interested in hearing YOUR story....either leave a comment, write on your blog and leave a link in my comments box or email me inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk

I'd love to hear others exciting experiences

TRUST ME GIRLS....It's not all bad! :o)

Bright, hot blessings,

Sue x

CREATIVITY comes from having an open mind to new ideas....

I've been so busy lately, what with wedding Fairs, Wedding Orders and commissions, I've hardly had a day off for weeks.....but it's all gonna be worth it.

Tomorrow I'm getting new flooring in the Gallery. The blue carpet was dark, tired and worn out and it certainly doesn't do my shelves and wares justice.

I've also been listening to a lot of Talking Books this year on my way to work. The latest was a Biography of a well known Chef. Strange you may think? Well the wonderful thing is that there is an awful lot of synchronicity goes on with fellow creative, whether they create in paint, fabric, dance, music photography and yes EVEN food! The following quote I listened to over and over again and the words are still resonating inside me. I have been playing with doodles (more about this soon) and from these doodles are the stirrings of something new, something lively and fresh, totally unexpected and fabulous fun. But, that can wait until another time.

For now I share the quote:

CREATIVITY comes from having an open mind to new ideas,
constantly questioning the established rules.

Though rarely does it come on those days
when you set out to be creative.

Raymond Banc

Does this resonate with you?

When do you get your best ideas?

Does creativity always come when you want it to?

How do YOu clear the creative blocks?

Answers on a postcard please lol.

No seriously....share your answers with others by leaving a comment :o)

May your creativity run wild! xxx

Lammas - It's time to reap what you sow!

It's been 2 years.....2 very long years.....since I last went to the annual Lammas Camp at Lime Tree Farm. It was my decision to not go to any camps at all last year and also planned a relationship free year, after seeming to have a knack of picking up mentally dysfunctional suitors, who came with serious mental health issues. I needed a year out, to take stock and gather my thoughts and focus on my business a bit more. The break brought it's rewards in more ways than one.
I met my wonderful soul mate Steve at Beltane last year and wanted to spend a year with him, getting to know him and simply enjoying each others company. This time it was slow and steady away....and I will blog more about this at a later date.
It was time for the Bell Tent to come out of her hiding place, get all glammed up and Grandma's Magic Tepee (as known by Daisy my Granddaughter) was ready to rock and roll once again. It was Steve's first camp, although he had met a few of my Pagan friends over the last year.


This time, we set up the bed directly opposite the door, giving extra space at either side. I don't know why this had never occurred to me before, but the Feng Shui really worked well and the tent had a more comfortable feel....perhaps it helped that for the first time I set up camp with no head banging off the steering wheel, no angst'y shouting and absolutely no stress....what a relief that was! and a true breath of fresh air.

A single burner is never enough on camp and we made the decision to buy a wood burning stove, which also doubled as a cooker, after reading about them on a blog post by The Hermitage. The wonderful thing about these stoves is that with a fixing kit they can be used inside a bell tent. It somehow just felt more apt and natural that the tent and the stove worked hand in hand and seemed altogether more aesthetically pleasing. For this camp we opted to use it outside to see how it performed.

However.....keeping Steve away from it was a different matter! What is it with men and fire....or men and axes, or drills, power tools and chainsaws for that matter??? Must be that hunter gatherer kinda thing :o)

The stove did well.....it kept us fed and watered all weekend and was a blessing at night when we sat huddled round to keep warm, whiled away the hours chatting and laughing and watch the moonlit sky.

The stall looked good. There is nothing so powerful as 2 artistic brains together. The broomstick took up her place by the side of the door, bringing the magic right inside.

Steve the ever relaxed one, enjoyed his morning coffee and really looked at home.....

And there was plenty of space for my stock too, thanks to the wonderful innovation of some trellis work to hang things on. This made a huge difference to my stall as normally the tables are full to bursting.

The weather was perfect, the company of friends was even better and everyone at the camp this year had a wonderful time and said they have never experienced a camp like it. There have been times when the tension was felt by everyone who was capable of feeling. Even 2 of my 3 ex's turning up did nothing to dampen the spirit, well I only needed one more and a had a hat trick.....wow I even managed to be civil to them both!

And we had a little visitor to our shoppe. I love Lammas Camp as it always brings out the Crickets, that seem to serenade us all day long and we were not disappointed.....this little fellow was set free after trapping himself in the netting during the night. It was a major operation not to break his leg, but he left happily and without injury after Steve set him free.

And there was a handfasting....of 2 of the most beautiful people. They have been through a lot in the past few years and have stuck together through hell and high water. They are both very special and really hold the standard for hope and love triumphs over adversity. No not these two....that's me and Steve......

These two.....and they must hold the record for the most people attending a handfasting. It goes to show how much they are truly loved.

And of course we had Damh the Bard to play at their Wedding... only the best will do sometimes :o)

Something major happened that camp. The ritual for the handfasting was to release and let go of past hurts. I never really thought I was holding on to any...I really didn't, but something definitely shifted in me (and others) that weekend!

It really was the best camp ever.The nutters seem to have gone. The weather was good to us and the people were all happy, smiley, relaxed and calm. It was over too soon.

We returned home to see the corn was being harvested off the field. The sun has done it's job and the harvest has started to be gathered in.

What a perfect year it has been. Many seeds sown and harvested and many more to sew. It's definitely a lesson in reaping what you sew this year. I feel blessed. Blessed that the business is finally working for me, blessed that I have a beautiful and treasured Granddaughter who is growing oh so fast, blessed with friends that are still strong friends no matter how little we see each other and blessed that I have truly met my soul mate, who can receive love as well as give it. Yes, blessed I am.

Barking Mad? = Yes....but I like myself :o)

Ok.....so before you all think I've gone barking mad I just want you to know that the 20 links as seen below at links to posts that I Blogged while I was taking my little sabbatical away from The Creative Spirit. Now, I wouldn't want you to miss anything now would I? Even worse and gawd forbid that you think I have been idle in that time.....no sir-ee! It's been all go-go-go, but I wanted to do a catch up before I continue and rather than write each one out laboriously, I found a little gadget at the bottom of the posts with the 'Blogger' symbol on.....and.....voila! Instant re-posting, albeit without pictures and most of the guff. But the choice is there if you want to read them.

I'm used to these little icons for Facebook and Twitter, but never used them for Blogger.....now all my posts on my business blogs with be added to 'The Creative Spirit' this way.....there just isn't enough time to create and cross blog all my posts.

So....enjoy the posts if you have missed them and I'll catch up with the rest very soon!
Happy Creating! Sue xxx

Well, it looks like I'm here to stay :o)

Bl@@dy hellfire! Sometimes I feel like

I've made more comebacks than U2 and Take That!

And that includes our past, our present and our futures. How we react and deal with the individual pieces that make up the whole is what is important, not the life experiences themselves. We can grow from them or be consumed by uncomfortable memories.

I tried so very hard to leave the Creative Spirit behind....well The Creative Spirit Blog that is. My finger hovered over the 'Delete this blog' button so many times and it's not the first time I've thought about this. I started this blog way back in September 2006, and a lot has happened since then. I had to remember why I started this blog in the first place. As a child I asked and received every year a diary and would start with great enthusiasm, only to find the entries dried up and then ceased altogether around March time.

Discovering and enjoying the wonderful world of Blogs, after joining a message board, I thought that this was an ideal way of keeping track of my life and my art and something to look back on with fond memories.

I had met what I thought was a long term partner (how stupid we can be sometimes lol) and the resulting breakup was aired publicly, as had my many, prior to that, special days together. I changed tact and tried to keep it less personal....I wanted to erase that memory forever....but after all this was an account of my life, my interests, my musings and my work. I wanted to delete all the posts with reference to that particular relationship as his pictures were there as a constant reminder to how stupid I was to waste my time on him....and especially more so now I HAVE met my life partner and what I have now is far greater than anything I have had in the past....but then I reminded myself of this.....The Honest Blogger Award. Created for Honest Bloggers Everywhere.

I now realise that I have nothing to hide, I am too honest for that even, I wear my heart on my Steve (That was a typo....but I have left it in as it was so funny! Of course I meant SLEEVE!) and through 'The Creative Spirit' I have made and met many friends. Since my first blog post on September 14th 2006. I have followers by email, Twitter, facebook, Networked Blogs and Linkedin and have had over 32,000 visitors, so either this is a fluke or I must be writing something worth reading.

I tried to introduce some personality into my business blog at Inspired by Script but it didn't look and feel right so I have deleted the post.

So...I am back! This blog will be used as my running journal, for my readers, you are welcome...if you are offended or upset in any way, I am sorry for this....but this is my running journal, my thoughts, my pet peeves, my funny take on my visual impairment and living with a disability....my animals, my grand-daughter, my work, my garden, my Paganism, my camps and most of all, my love for a wonderfully creative man that entered my life and showed me what true love is all about.

If I blog on Inspired by Script or North Yorkshire Weddings I will make reference to these, but only as it saves me cross posting and Blogger has changed it's cut, copy and paste facility I no longer have the time to type everything 3 fold.

A large part of this blog will of course feature Steve as we share a great deal of our time together and he also shares the studio space I work in....Oh and did I mention, I love him very much? So if you are likely to get bored with this.....run away now, it's not too late!

So, my wonderful Bloggy Friends and Creative Spirits, I have missed you to bits and I am glad I stayed. Life is full of challenges and trials, half the fun is getting through them and leaning lessons on the way.

I promise you....what you see is what you get and I thank you for all the emails and messages of support. To know I have been missed is very moving.

With love and bright blessings,

Sue xxx AKA -Pixie Sue, The Purple Pixie and Poppie....talk about an identity crisis....any way you like, I am one and the same :o)

Goodbye is the hardest thing to say.....

Spring always gets my creative juices flowing and the ideas come think and fast. This year has been no different....but there have been many changes in my life.

Steve has moved in to both the house and the studio and being with a fellow creative has certainly spurred me on with things that have been on the back burner for quite some time. He helps drive and motivate me as I do him. Together we make a great team.

My once full of animals home is now down to just 2 cats after the sad and sudden loss of my lovely Garfield impersonating cat Simba, she was so missed by my remaining 2 that they went through depression and it's taken then some time to recover.

On a personal level, I have been devoting my time to my Wedding Website and Blog and building up portfolios containing my new designs to be installed in various shops and with Wedding Planners.....all good stuff.

I have also found a niche motivating and inspiring other creators, helping them along, giving advice and encouragement, something that I get great pleasure from and with their encouragement I have started a new blog called Makers and Shakers. (Connecting Creators together, profiling their work and offering advice, motivation and inspiration to those new on the path of selling their wares.)

The blog is at the moment still in it's infancy and I am writing a lot of articles off line ready for future publication. I've wanted to do this for quite some time and you can only hear the words 'You should write a book' so many times, before you take up the calling :o)

So....what I am saying here is that posting on this blog will be very infrequent as I build up my other blogs.....possibly I will ditch this one for good as it has served it's purpose.

You can keep up to date with my work at the studio by visiting and following Inspired by Script

and my Wedding Blog and website at North Yorkshire Weddings

You can also find me on Facebook: Inspired by Script on Facebook

I hope my followers will join me and many others on Makers and Shakers and we also have a Makers and Shakers Page on Facebook!

Oh.....and on the subject of Makers and Shakers, I know I have a large number of followers that are also Makers and Shakers.....so why not get some FREE publicity and share your knowledge and experiences with other by answering the call of Spotlight Sunday... it's painless and fun! Honest!

So for now....it's not goodbye......it's just I am otherwise engaged with pastures new. Change is good :o)