The Briar Rose Gate

Decant your Sloe Gin....

2009-11-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

Update; 7th November, I strained my two bottles through the coffee filters which removes any residue of fruit pulp, and results in a lovely clear Sloe Gin. After a bottle slipping out of my hands and covering me, and the kitchen floor, in pink sticky gin, I still managed to have 1 .1/3 litres of Sloe gin decanted and safe( probably would have been 1 .1/2) if all had gone to plan. During the filtering I went through about 5 coffee filters in the process, wet them with water before pouring the gin through. By pouring out the gin slowly, most of the sloes will stay behind, jammed in the bottles, you can then shake them out 'childs money box style' to clear the bottles. Once washed you can pour the decanted gin back into the bottles. I have it on good authority this year's Sloe Gin is definately up to standard, so I had better hide the full bottle, for Christmas.
A word of caution, if you have never partaken of homemade Sloe Gin before, it is nothing like Sloe Wine or Sloe Gin you can buy,..in strength or taste.
Its really just neat fruit flavoured Gin, so small tot glasses is the order of the day for drinking.

Folk Art Hangers

2009-11-04T01:48:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe how much time this little hangers took in painting and sanding, but it was a pleasant change to do some different work.

There are Three, all made of birchwood, and painted in white and black with gold accents.

Songbird, Mistle Thrush and Raven/Crow. (see Etsy)

Hare Preservation Trust

2009-10-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

If you care about our wildlife, and our Hare Population, take an informative trip over to Annette's Blog,
http://dragonhouseofyuen.blogspot.com/
its well worth the trip. :)
There is also a link far left sidebar below in the Blogs List to Dragon House of Yuen Annettes Blogsite, don't miss out on The stunning art photography of Sean Hunter and Annettes own Artworks.

Pyewacketts Halloween Party Giveaway

2009-10-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Just pop over to Pyewacketts to enter the giveaway to celebrate Fanciful Twists Halloween Parties.

and The winner has been drawn.......

Autumn Treats for Christmas-Sloe Gin

2009-10-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

You have time to collect the last sloes and make some wonderful warming liqeure drink in time for Christmas, and its really simple.
Dont be put off if you dont like the taste of plain gin, sloe gin tastes nothing like it.
First pick some sloes, fruit of the blackthorn bush, Picking late, in October means the sloes will reach their maximum ripeness - and flavour.
Sloes picked late rarely need pricking with a pin this is usually done to the early collected ones August,early September which are very hard and will produce a dryer sloe gin.
You will need.....
1 lb or 2 of Sloes, depending on how much you want to make.
Granulated sugar
Gin
Funnel
Empty Bottles
Gather and wash your sloes remove any stems,leaves, and badly squashed fruit.
Turn out on an old clean towel or similiar to dry, (sloe juice will stain clothing).
1. Fill your bottle with sloes to half way up the main body of the bottle.
2. Pop a funnel in the neck of the bottle, and pour in enough sugar to come to the top of the sloes level.
3. Fill the bottle to the top with Gin.
4. Screw on the Lid
5. Give the bottle a shake to get the sugar disolving.
After care...
Turn the bottle up and back gently a couple of times,just once a day, for a week with the later ripe fruits.
((2/3 weeks with the early(as they are more resistant))
Then after that just once a week for the next few months.
A week or two before Christmas, Strain your sloe gin through a coffee filter into a clean bottle.
You can now taste the decanted Sloe Gin, Keep or store to Christmas or beyond.
There are recipes on the internet to use the decanted fruit waste too, but only with the late ripe gathered fruit, the early is far too dry.

Note; If like Jen you live somewhere that doesn't have sloe bushes,
You could always this quickie Recipe by trying flavoured vodkas, a Polish Favourite.
One Lemon or orange peel, The coloured zest part only, none of the white pith. Popped into vodka to seep away for 24hrs or 36 at most, leaving longer will make it too strong.
(You better taste after 24hrs,! its a tough job but someone has to)
Then add a small amount of sugar to your own taste. Thats it..

Update; 7th November, I strained my two bottles through the coffee filters which removes any residue of fruit pulp, and results in a lovely clear Sloe Gin. After a bottle slipping out of my hands and covering me in pink sticky gin, I still managed to have 1 .1/3 litres of Sloe gin decanted and safe( probably would have been 1 .1/2) if all had gone to plan. During the filtering I went through about 5 coffee filters in the process, wet them with water before pouring the gin through, poring carefully, most of the sloes will stay behing in the bottles, and you can shake them out childs money box style to clear the bottles, once washed you can pour the decanted gin back into the bottles. I have it on good authority The Sloe Gin is definately up to standard, so I had better hide the full bottle, for Christmas.

Halloween Cat

2009-09-17T09:57:00.001-07:00

Sneak Preview of latest Halloween Wand, Witch's Cat.

These are all lovingly sculpted, sanded,painted and sewn, and a true OOAK (One Of A Kind) pieces of Art.

They all come signed Thrice, for Luck,underneath the head, and down the wooden baton and on their own unique label Tag.

Vintage Halloween Greeting Style Art

2009-09-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was given the opportunity to view some of an elderly friends postcard collection, along with many local vintage views were some charming Whitney little witches, these were beyond cleanups, so I decided to redraw them trying to keep to the original style as much as possible. After going through the Kate Geenaway style redraws, which is much similiar to what I would probably do, I think I managed to 'get it' right. They are bit different, but hopefully not too much. I hope to do tags and maybe cards for Etsy with them and possibly sell the originals eventually when I've scanned them to satisfaction.

Two new Batons, Wands

2009-09-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

Two new batons, or as it says on the vintage emphemera reference I found (after I'd made them), Witch wands.

The text reads;
Ride a Jack Pumpkin at Twelve-O-Night,
with a Witch's Wand as a Horse,
The Wicked Creatures Flee at the Sight,
and Die, of sheer Remorse.

' Goody Witch Raven' & 'Nevermore Raven',

both on Etsy soon.

Ice Bear Project, Art in The Service of The Environment

2009-09-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

Now back to more serious stuff, but Art raising conservation awareness in the form of a melting ice sculpture of a Polar bear.
Danielle Barlows Blog where was where I first saw this fantastic project highlighted
http://daniellebarlowart.blogspot.com/ Please pop over to her blog and read her post too, its a great blog too..

Renowned sculptor Mark Coreth is creating a life-sized sculpture of a polar bear out of ice for Trafalgar Square this December and then for major cities across four continents.
As each Ice Bear melts it will leave a skeleton, a pool of water and a powerful environmental message.
The Bear will be exhibited at ground level, so that everyone can reach out and touch this inspirational and iconic symbol of the Arctic. The Bear in the Square events will have a lasting impact on whoever experiences them.
FIND OUT MORE,On the Art and The Expedition Clips etc. on The Ice Bear Project Site
http://www.icebearproject.org/index.html
Sculptor, Mark Coreth will finish carving the bear from a huge block of white ice during the morning of Friday 11th December.

Byzantine Raven ArtDoll

2009-09-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

Here he is all Finished ready to go onto Etsy in the next few Days.
'Byzantine Raven' , resplendant in lusters and metallic Golds.

This little thief of time was inspired by the Martin Brothers Grotesque Pottery of days gone by.

Three Jesters Batons,Snowshoe Hare, White Wolf, & Digger Dog

2009-09-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here are The Three Finished Jesters Batons. You might have seen them in the early stages on The Pyewacketts Blog, any way ....UPDATE 8TH SEPT; They are all up for grabs on Etsy,... Now.

They are a One of a Kind OOAK, made in a modelling medium are completely 3D, and have delicate details and shading that unfortunately shows more in real life than in the Photographs, (Bright Sunshine didn't help). They are all mounted onto wooden Batons are signed underneath the heads and down the baton handle. They all have removable jesters beribboned collars/ruffs, and of course will bells on !

Snowshoe Hare, White Spirit Wolf, and Digger Dog

Raven Pastel Mixed media ' I Conjure Thee'

2009-08-21T23:48:00.000-07:00

'I Conjure Thee '
Summoned through the Mists of Magic, Time and Space pay their obedience and homage to the Spell. The favoured Raven starts to assume his earthly form once again.

Mixed media, and Pastel work, complete size 11 1/2 square, framing to approx 9 1/2 inch square

Now available on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29691621

SORRY CONJURED AWAY TO A NEW ROOST

Raven, Magpie Cartoon Art

2009-08-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here are three new mixed media bird cartoons
'Raven Time'

'Raven Air'

'Friends'
All three are now on Etsy, and will frame (visual area, showing) to approx 5 by 6 inches

Update these three are now on Etsy. 21st August

Wild Horses and More Blog

2009-08-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Carrols Blog 'Wildhorses and More' raises important issues of welfare and care of duty to the wildhorse herds in America Please pay a trip to her Blog and lend support with comments clicks and any way you can.

Update; Carrol has just left a comment that they are in the process of fighting to save 120 of their own wild horses from being sent to the slaughter houses, Thank you for the update, the more people know the better these practises should be exposed.

Thank you Carrol for the piece on Whoa Team and my Welsh Stallion Painting.

Carrol...PhotographingNature.etsy.com

http://wild-horse-and-more.blogspot.com/

Jersey Tiger Moth

2009-08-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

This was the first time I had seen one of these, and have found it to be a Jersey Tiger Moth, The photo one of many I took with its wings closed it refused to open them except to fly away, it was a chilly day,. The colouring was very beautiful on the upper side of the wings a pretty Light Burnt Orange with creamy spotting. This was the info I found on it....

One of the most attractive of the Tiger moths, this species was until recently restricted in distribution to the Channel Islands and parts of the south coast . On the mainland it is commonest in south Devon, but colonies have recently appeared in Dorset and the 'Isle of Wight', and it has also been found in other southern counties. It now seems to be expanding its range quite quickly.

It flies both in the daytime, ( I took the photo at lunchtime) when it can be found feeding on various flowers, as well as at night, when it is attracted to light. The main flight period is July to September.
The hairy larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants including nettle (Urtica)... (probably why it likes my Garden!!)

Cowes Week's Friday

2009-08-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

Cowes Week's Fridays Attractions include a free display from the Red Arrows,we are fortunate as we live in the Area, and able to get stunning views of their Displays. With even more thundering fly pasts as they line up and fly low right over our house top roofs, heres just one of many...

As you can see, some are so close you can see the pilots..

Fireworks later tonight, when darker, after 9pm...

New Treasury on Etsy PORTRAIT of FOUR PAWS

2009-08-02T02:54:00.000-07:00

Many Artists/Artisans and Creators of works that are members of The Etsy Whoa Horse Artists Team, will happily accept commisions to create a piece of Original artwork of your own pets, and animals.

This is a commission I completed many years ago of a 'Fishtailer' dog, I was told they were American/Canadian dogs originally used by the native americans for helping them catch fish. The lady who owned the one in the picture later commissioned a double portrait of her daughters two dogs, also Fishtailers, they had their Mountain rescue red official crosses on their collars as they were both used in mountain rescue on Mountains and Moors.

SARDA Search and Rescue Dogs Association( A Registered Charity)

A job which they loved and were very good at too.

ADO Challenge Art Doll Revealed...

2009-07-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

Well Here He is, 'Pyewackett' ,The Raven.

His body was modelled on a wire armature. His neck ends in a dressmakers dummy type peg, and his head is modelled in polymer clay, then painted and feathered, and in the best traditions of skeletons of course comes off, and just pops back on , so you can turn, or angle it.

This allows you to hang his Travel bag,(without ruffling his feathers) inside which are his stones he dropped to create Land(Earth), Drops of(Water) to make the fresh Lakes, Moon, Sun, Stars, he flies to up to hang in the sky(Air),to bring Light, and His firebrand(Fire) to bring heat and warmth to the World.

Inspired by The Native American Creation Stories, there are some beautiful versions of this story.

His head is decorated with Jesters ribbons and bells, as Ravens are also known as Jokers, with a wicked sense of humour. Pyewackett has a red feathered Carnival collar, a Christmas wreath necklet with hanging heart. 2 Inspirational hangers to hang inside his body, Dream & Inspire, and of course his Heart hanger. A Olde Worlde Map, and a Raven quill pen.
He carries along his journey a beribboned and decorated Dream Book ready to fill with ones desires, inside 6 tiny flip envelopes, and course the Treasure or Heart key hung around his neck.

Oh I nearly forgot, Pyewackett has a reversible satin feathered capulet cloaklet, feathered and jbells on one side to wear about his shoulders, or the plain feathered side out to wear as a Tail fan.

More Photos of his accessories (much better) on the Pyewackett's Blog ..

ADO Doll Challenge

2009-07-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

Art Doll Blog Event invited members and non members to experience the world of Art Doll Making by joining in their creative challenge.

The guidelines was to make a doll incorporating one or several of the 4 elements Earth, Air,Fire and Water.

I will Pop back Later today to post pictures of the Art Doll I made.

Just a hint... he is from the Animal kingdom, not a Pegasus or Unicorn!. With a touch of magic in his story, but of course I'm sure you guessed it would be something like that.....

Poppy's Portrait Arrives from Sheila

2009-07-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

My very own Portrait of my dear Poppy, arrived on wings from Sheila today!!

I cant tell you how touched I was that she has painted this for me, Its Stunning.

Here it is.. a picture paints a Thousand Words, ...Lindax

Sheila has some amazing blogs, and does great works for animal charities too, Please check them out.....

http://sheilatajima.blogspot.com/

http://artsavinganimals.blogspot.com/

http://artforshelteranimals.blogspot.com/

The Virtual pARTy

2009-07-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here is my offering for July's Virtual Party

Its a mixed media, Hard pastels, Derwent soft pencils, and Watercolours on Pastel Paper. 9x12 inches

What's a Virtual pARTy?
A "pARTy" is where artists create work from the same reference material.

A "Virtual pARTy" is when this happens via the internet.

http://the-virtual-party.blogspot.com/

The Hosts of this innovative idea are

The wonderful Artists

Linda Shantz http://www.lindashantz.com/

and

Kimberley Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/

who was also the Photographer who provided this months reference photograph for July

Breakfast on Rose Petals

2009-06-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

One of Woozle's favourite breakfast snacks on her meander down the lane on the way to her field are the small white roses growing in the hedgerow. She absolutely insists on a mouthful or two, and who am I or Mark to deny her that small pleasure.

Tea Party Toast Sun & Moon

2009-06-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Mad Hatters Tea Party was hosted virtually on a meriad of blog sites to celebrate the party Day 27th June

Well Heres a Toast " To The Sun and The Moon" and "Many More Parties".

There are Strawberry Cocktails,Champagne and fruit drinks.

You can see the last glow of Dusk, and the Moon near the bottom of the Glass.

If You are just arriving check the previous 5 Tea Party posts, and stay as long as you like.

Tea and Fairy Cakes

2009-06-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

Prince Can't Wait till 2pm

2009-06-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Prince has special permission from Oberon himself to attend the Tea Party as an Official Elvish Royal Prince.

He has already started on the doggy treats and games.