Society of Secret Fairies update

We have a new admin fairy and a new SOSF event! (Please note the use of the word 'event', not 'swap' - more on this later...) Emma McCann joins our happy throng, and we three are now we four. Welcome Emma, and thank you for hosting this event. Pop over to the SOSF blog for more info. Closing date for applications is October the 1st, and final posting date is October 18th.

Which brings me nicely on to the next thing, as I put my lecture hat on...FAQ quote from the SOSF blog -

Is this a swap site?

No , it's more of an opportunity to perform secret acts of kindness and to forge new friendships. Although we will announce themed "events" from time to time, the primary point of the SOSF is to encourage participants to build up a store of friends with whom they can continue to keep in contact, sending little surprises every now and then.

I can distinctly remember when I received, (it seems like a hundred years ago now) out of the blue, a lovely parcel from my good friend Tara, and then, not much later, another packet of niceness from my dear friend Maya. It seemed like a good thing to do - and I reciprocated. We blogged about it with pictures and thank yous. We had so many comments on our blogs about these surprise gifts, that we set up the Society of Secret Fairies - we though how great it would be if we could work as a kind of introduction service for like minded people over the world, and from time to time hold little formal 'events'. I wasn't at the time aware of 'swaps/swops' as they were more of an American phenomenon. Indeed, since then I have myself taken part in a couple myself - but our intention in setting up the SOSF was to provide a safe environment for fun networking, and we hope there is a little more to what we are trying to encourage than a mere exchange of parcels.

Unlike a so-called 'swap site', we do go to huge lengths behind the scenes to try to ensure that everyone is happy, and we are always here if there are any gripes or problems. We also keep a watchful eye on the very few people who don't play nicely. So - dear sweet fairies everywhere, try to remember, the SOSF do not organise 'swaps' and we always say thank you nicely. For a perfect example of good manners and a true secret fairy surprise, I have picked Lisa Ocean Dreamer's blog post here. Gold stars to the giver and the receiver; this is what it's all about.

All kinds of everything

It's quiet...summer is dribbling into autumn and there is a touch of melancholy to the mornings. Cricket at the moment involves wearing enough warm clothes not to get exposure, while watching one's beloved thwack a few balls and take a spectacular catch on the boundary. On Saturday, thunderstorms swept West Oxfordshire, raining off dozens of village matches. But where we were, the only downpour obligingly occurred during in the tea break, (time enough to scrounge a hot cup of tea and some wickedly gooey chocolate cake) and we watched the clouds rumble over Chadlington, to assorted cries of 'go over Charlb'ry way!' Which we later learned they obligingly did. Oh yes, and we won.

Sometimes our little cat Mouse sits and stares. And stares. And stares. She may be working out algebraic formulae, but I don't think so. She is a simple soul, and even simpler since wandering out in front of a car. Never been quite 'all there'. Something vacant in her eyes. So when I saw her gazing earnestly into the drinking bowl, I thought she was having one of her 'moments'; perhaps trying to work out who the strange staring cat in the water was. But she was actually watching this tiny chap floundering about. He was so tired, he was quite content to rest on my finger for his portrait.

And then there was this...another SOSF delivery from my lovely and talented friend across the sea. Quite undeserved and unexpected. My favourite nougat 'pie' and brittle honey seedy nutty snacks and natural chewing gum and - and - herbs and spices, and a gorgeous card. Oh yes, did I mention coffee? There was Greek coffee too...and now I know how to make it, as she cunningly posted the recipe for it here.

There has been an enthusiastic response to the call-up for SOSF participants. Remember, the closing date is 21st of September. So there's still time for all fairies - everywhere.

S.O.S.F

Art equipment, by its very nature, is very ephemeral. So I was really pleased to find this dear little box in my favourite ebayer's shop, Honeysuckle Cottage - it's like an online bric-a-brac shop, but without the dust. I think this must date from the 1900's or earlier.

Inside it is a little more battered, but what treasures awaited - 4 tubes of old watercolour paint, still soft enough to use. They are Reeves brand, which went out of business some times ago, but was famous for it's spotted dog logo. The tubes are lead, of course, and I'm sure there are some toxic nasties in the paint ingredients. Extra special effort not to lick paintbrush. I was interested to see how the colour had survived, and how it compared to modern day paints, particularly the sepia, as I use it a lot in base washes and am experimenting further with it in the grissaille technique of underpainting - as seen in the unicorn painting.

I used to use bog-standard Cotman sepia, which I rather liked. But when it ran out, I thought I'd try investing in a more expensive brand, and bought a tube of Old Holland. I didn't take to it at all.

On the far left, is the Cotman, a nice regular sepia; burnt umber and lamp black. The middle one is the Old Holland one - 'sepia extra'. I have been using it as I hate waste, but really it's just a warm brown colour (brown being a technical term we artists use...) and I am not a bit fan of any brown straight from a tube, apart from lovely sepia. This is too much like melted milk chocolate for my liking. The righthand one is the old Reeves tube - a perfect cool tone, almost black, and the nearest I've seen to Arthur Rackhams shades. I couldn't resist using it in this -

Which brings me nicely on to what a few people have been enquiring about - how to get involved with the Society of Secret Fairies. There is now a SOSF blog, where guidelines and a formal invite await. I am to be the initial admin fairy, so all addresses will come to me, to be sorted 'Secret Santa' style after the closing date. It helps if you have a blog or at least a website, as we want to be sure that all the fairies are good fairies and not bad ones. Be assured that any addresses given are kept secret and safe and not passed on to anyone except your fairy friend of the moment. Now, fly away all of you, it's nearly bedtime for UK fairies everywhere.

A patriotic parcel

Look, even the SOSF (Society of Secret Fairies) are supporting England in the footy - all those little St George crosses!

A very edible parcel indeed, which was diminished in size in no time...sesame bars, flat nougat 'pies', sandwiched between circles of rice paper, with bitter orange and honey, which were a bit unusual at first, but two bites in I was hooked...I may have to put in a regular order with the producers.

Perching rather stickily on the half eaten 'pie' a dear little dragonfly pendant, which nestles just above my decolletage, a sweet crocodile finger puppet, teddy bear pencil and, most intriguing of all, Greek worry beads, or komboloi, which I am still fiddling with, in an inelegant attempt to nonchalantly dicker with them, astounding my friends and flummoxing my foes. The card is a dead give away to who sent these delights...one day her work will be in all good shops everywhere, I'm sure. In the meantime, she has a lovely Etsy shop, here.

On a sadder note, RIP Fred Trueman, died today, one of the giants of English cricket. It is a spectacularly hot day over here, blue skies and singing birds - absolutely super cricketing weather, and the height of the season. I hope somewhere he's bowling a few fast ones to the angels. Tribute to Trueman.

Lavender fairies

It's been a strange week, with Andy on holiday while I was stuck working...it poured with rain for most of it, so I was quite glad to be studiobound - I forgot how long an A2 poster takes to paint up and there are still two chapters of 'Pinwheel Days' to go. It was on one of these dismal, rainy mornings that our Posty knocked on the door, looking somewhat grumpy as I cheerily carolled 'oooh, look at you!' while the rain drops streamed off his shoulders and twinkled in his thinning hair. He thrust a parcel in my hand and stumped off crossly. Can't think why. I made a fresh pot of tea and took my box off to investigate. Very exciting. Airmail tags, nice stickers and 2 colours of felt pen. From America. Society of Secret Fairies had struck again. Aromas of coffee and lavender as I slit open the lid to find my ship had truly come in.

What was in it? What wasn't in it?! There was alder smoked wild salmon from Seabear, a seeded herbal bookmark from Bastyr, (an alternative natural healing university), a pretty lavender bag (of course!) exquisite hand made booklets, chocolates (didn't last long), enough lavender sugar for a batch of lavender shortbread, (recipe included), delicious biscotti, playing cards, which reminded me I haven't played Patience for a very long time (because I haven't had a decent set of cards), yummy fruit leather, mellow ground coffee from Tullys, organic lavender chocolate, (sensational - I made the supreme sacrifice and shared it...) and all tied up with violet ribbons, scattered with little messages and kindness (you can't see that, but it was there).

And who was my secret fairy? She resides here. A thousand thanks to her for cheering up a dull week.

The SSF is open to anyone. There are no rules, except to remember that it is not necessary to spend a fortune to send a parcel of happiness, or even simply a card. It really is the thought that counts.