A Walk Among the Flowers and Fae Matters...

Away from home again and traveling among the flowers in a cold and wet spring...

A few new things I've made recently:

Faery dream catchers for my Artemis Jane shop on Etsy:  http://www.artemisjane.etsy.com

Also on Artemis Jane, a magic mirror: vintage mirror with skeleton key and found butterfly wings encased in mica...
And speaking of skeletons, I've finally gotten around to finishing Ms. D. who started as a beach combed bone and early on looked like this:

And now looks like this:

And this:

Then on to the realm of fae furnishings...

Natural materials miniatures on my Pandora Jane shop: http://www.pandorajane.etsy.com
A wonky fae portal...

A simple fae kitchen set for adults or older children...

A mermaid chair and lamp of shells and twigs...

Fae acorn chandelier...

And another simple rustic dining set of driftwood and twigs, suitable for adults or older children...
More news to follow...wishing you a beautiful and creative day... and night!
Love, Diana

Returns and Travels

Back in Nantes after attending the fifth annual International Video Dance Festival of Burgundy (France) where my stop motion animation work was screened as part of a video collage in honour of the centennial of the Nijinsky/Stravinsky ballet "Le Sacre du Printemps" (or "Rite of Spring" as it is known in English), a seminal work that created a riot at the time of its first performance in Paris. The collage goes on to screenings at other international festivals later this month and afterward. Of course I was thrilled to be a part of this homage to one of my favourite historical dance works and the festival's strong selection of offerings ranged from otherworldly beauty to laugh out loud humour created by an international roster of artists in dance and video. It was a pleasure to be present in this stimulating environment with other creators and dance aficianados from France and countries as diverse as Mexico and Hungary.

April thus far has been an exciting month for me in the way of exhibitions, collaborations and new work--- I'll be sharing more later. However, whilst at the festival I did find time during the days to do a bit of hiking and I'd like to take you on a walk through one of the hilly Burgundian forests with its magical ambiance and quiet peace. Jagged moss draped stumps transform into faery forts or elfin creatures that start up on every side from the thick blanket of winter pale leaves. The trees possess miniature doorways at ground level and above, that could easily be taken for portals into other worlds. A rich variety of shelf fungus and tiny mushrooms crop up all around, suggesting the near presence of elemental beings or the equally mystical but clearly elegant interweavings of natural order. In the midst of an economically depressed region, the natural beauty here remains strong and inspiring, the evergreen woods full of bird song and the uplifting scent of pine, the green fields bedecked with wildflowers and gentle white Charolais cattle.

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Spring has officially arrived and brought with it a trio of new goat kids at the Jardin des Plantes...

I've added a few spring favourites to my "micro garden" outside the apartment door...

  

 

   

 And soon it will be time to find places for everyone out of doors in the courtyard...

 

Inside the cats are still in their cozy winter mode, sleeping much and taking over all the most comfy chairs for long siestas.

 

Twiggy Miranda in her favourite place...

 

There's not much room here but still I manage to make and do quite a lot... This week began with some new fae furniture coming into the human world...

 

A fae seamstress' work table with tiny hand crank sewing machine, vintage style.

 A fae reader's corner for curling up with a good book and a cup of tea.

 A fae fireplace with cheery flames cut from dried Chinese lantern flowers and a basket of logs close at hand.

 

 I have also begun experimenting with some lovely naturally twisty wood, copper and quartz to make fae wands. ( Available on my Artemis Jane shop: http://www.artemisjane.etsy.com ).

 

Come and visit again soon...Flea market dolls await...

 

 

as do vintage bottles---mind the mischievous faery trying to squeeze free!---

and a shelf full of art and magical things..

Wishing you all a joyful spring!