A crystal veil

Crystalline by Jo Bradford

...

The Snow

It sifts from leaden sieves,

It powders all the wood,

It fills with alabaster wool

The wrinkles of the road.

It makes an even face

Of mountain and of plain,-

-Unbroken forehead from the east

Unto the east again.

It reaches to the fence,

It wraps it, rail by rail,

Till it is lost in fleeces;

It flings a crystal veil.

On stump and stack and stem,-

-The summer's empty room,

Acres of seams where harvests were,

Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrist of posts,

As ankles of a queen,-

- Then still its artisans like ghosts,

Denying they have been.

~~By Emily Dickinson~~

Join The Dots

Join The Dots by Jo Bradford

This is one of the other new lines I have created for the winter season. I made these about a month ago to list specifically as Christmas Card Designs, but have had so many enthusiastic requests for prints of these, that I have decided to list them as fine art photographic prints on Etsy as well. I am madly in love with the colours and shapes, and very pleased with this work, definitely some of my favourite new work of 2008.

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CYBERMONDAY SALE!!

Sparkle by Jo Bradford

I am having a 2 day CYBERMONDAY PROMOTIONAL SALE in my etsy shop... $5 off every item in my store for the next 48 hours.....

Come on over to see my new listings for Christmas and grab yourself a bargain

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A World Where Dreams Are Real

A World Where Dreams Are Real by Jo Bradford

On my way home on Friday, I pulled over my car to make this picture, thinking all the while that it was the embodiment of those song lyrics from lod faves of mine, The Cure...

Enjoy.

"I lift my lips from kissing you

To touch the wind that whispers through

This twilight garden turns into

A world where dreams are real"

~This Twilight Garden - The Cure~

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The Gathering

The Gathering by Jo Bradford

A happy gathering watches the last light drain from the landscape as twilight melts away to night

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Pure

Pure by Jo Bradford

This is a new piece which is a sister to my recent art work "Pale", both of which are available to purchase in my Etsy store.

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Lighthouse Lane

Lighthouse Lane by Jo Bradford

"Leaves of Grass"

I stand as on some mighty eagle’s beak,

Eastward the sea absorbing, viewing,

(nothing but sea and sky,)

The tossing waves, the foam,

the ships in the distance,

The wild unrest, the snowy, curling caps -

-that inbound urge and urge of waves,

Seeking the shores forever.

··· Walt Whitman ···

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Wickedly Chic Blog Feature

Thank you to the Wickedly Chic peeps who made mention of Green Island Studios on their blog today.

Black Nun Blog Feature

Thank you to the peeps at Black Nun who wrote a lovely feature about Green Island Studios on their blog today.

Inside

Inside by Jo Bradford

I have been cramming a lot into my days the last few weeks. There has not been much time to blog between the activites. I have been delivering alternative process workshops, teaching people how to take photographs and develop and print them and also making and listing and selling new work on all of my galleries. There have been a lot of late nights recently and as I type my eyelids are feeling heavy and ready to close for the night.

Blow blow thou winter wind

Windswept by Jo Bradford

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho! the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember'd not.
Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho! the holly!
This life is most jolly.

~ William Shakespeare

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Karen Faulkner Blog Feature

The wonderfully talented Karen Faulkner was kind enough to mention me on her blog today. I am honoured indeed!!

Childhood Cheer

Childhood Cheer ~ By Jo Bradford

What with all this freezing weather, harsh winds and those looming grey skies, I am feeling the need for a bit of cheer. Luckily for me, I have been so busy over the past few months that I have not had time to process many of the lovely summery photos I made a while ago.

Today my studio was a bright and suny place thanks to these lovely golden buttercup photographs.

Incidentally, in the language of flowers the Buttercup represents childhood, cheerfulness and the desire for riches.

Happy Monday xx

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Sea of Dreams

Sea of Dreams by Jo Bradford

Like summer waves on sands of snow,

Soft ringlets clasp her neck and brow,

And wandering breezes kiss away

A threaded light of glimmering spray,

That drifts and floats and softly flies

In a golden mist about her eyes.

"The Sea Maiden"

Poetic musings by Dowell O'Reilly

(1865 - 1914)

Babs Blog Features Green Island Studios

Thank you to the lovely ladies at Bab's Blog who wrote about me on their blog today.

Etsy Front Page

My Faithfulness picture was featured on the Front Page of Etsy today.

Thanks to stringmealong for making the treasury.

Translucent

Translucent by Jo Bradford

I have been enjoying immersing myself in my photography in my studio these last few weeks. The front area of my studio has large north facing windows, an artists dream from a lighting point of view. I am also lucky to have a wonderful plant nursery in the shared yard at my studio workshop space. I often scrape together my pennies and pop into the greenhouse to see what delights have been nurtured there by the loving hands of Mary and John, whose business it is. I loved this shoot I did last week as the early evening light in my studio was filling the room with a warm glow. The translucent petals were positively radiating coloured light as I worked, and the scene filling my lens was rather reminiscent of stained glass windows.

Etsy Front Page

My Evening Silhouette II picture was featuredon the Etsy Front Page today.

Thanks to justCHARMING for making the featured treasury.

Moor Memories

Meadows Green by Jo Bradford

"Full many a glorious morning have I seen

Flatter the mountaintops with sovereign eye,

Kissing with golden face the meadows green,

Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy"

Sonnet 33 ~ William Shakespeare

Clancy's Classics Feature Green Island Studios

Thank you to Diane at Clancy's Classics who featured me on her blog today.

Design Style Guide Feature

Green Island Studios was featured on the Design Style Guide blog today in

Jean Levert Hood's article about Affordable Art

Pale

Pale by Jo Bradford

.

Art thou pale for weariness
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth
~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

.

Faithfulness

Faithfulness by Jo Bradford

Another picture from my new series "The Language Of Flowers"

Golden Days

Harvest III by Jo Bradford

Seasonal Wealth

Harvest Part II by Jo Bradford

Harvest

Harvest Part 1 by Jo Bradford

Utata Front Page Feature

I was the featured photographer on the front page of Utata today.... have a look.

Thanks to Jamelah!

Passionate Thoughts

Passionate Thoughts by Jo Bradford

Another image from my Language Of Flowers series....

the Tulip signifies pure love and passionate thoughts.

The Language of Flowers Part I

Good Fortune by Jo Bradford

...In the language of the flowers

the Alium represents

good fortune and prosperity...

A Thing Of Beauty

A Thing of Beauty by Jo Bradford

...
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Its lovliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness, but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing..."
...
Excerpt from "A Thing of Beauty" by John Keats

September Joy

In The Dunes by Jo Bradford

...

I love this time of year in Cornwall, the skies are blue and the air has that crisp hint of Autumn in it. The sun still shines bright and strong and warms us all as we make the most of those long stretches of empty beach, and deserted dunes which we now have all to ourselves again. Bliss

...

My Inspiration Blog Feature

Eline Kwantes of My Inspiration Blog featured my work on her blog today. Have a look here. Thanks Eline!!

Sailor Of The Atmosphere

Sailor Of The Atmosphere by Jo Bradford

...

Insect lover of the sun

Joy of thy dominion!

Sailor of the atmosphere;

Swimmer through the waves of air;

Voyager of light and noon;

Epicurean of June;

Wait I prithee till I come

Within earshot of thy hum -

All without is martyrdom

...

The Humble Bee ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Etsy Front Page

My Under The Greenwood Tree picture (aka Great Green Goodness) was featured on the Front Page of Etsy today.

Thanks to GollyBard for making the treasury.

Forbidden Fruit

Forbidden Fruit by Jo Bradford

To satisfie the sharp desire I had

Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolv'd

Not to deferr; hunger and thirst at once,

Powerful perswaders, quick'nd at the scent

Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keene.

(Satan tempting Eve)

Milton ~ Paradise Lost (9.584-588)

Etsy Front Page

My The Creek picture was featured on the Front Page of Etsy today.

Thanks to Jenarter for making the treasury.

Be my Rock

Be My Rock ~ by Jo Bradford

This is one of a several pieces I have made recently. Just after sunset, I set myself up on the cliff edge, with the wind howling, snuggled deep into my down jacket. I left my shutter open long enough to catch the moody sea washing across the rocks in the darkening evening light.

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Rainy Days Mixed Tape

Blue Butterflies by Jo Bradford

My work has been selected for Poppytalk Handmade this month. The theme is Mixed Tape! ~ A compilation of those wonderful Poppytalk Handmade peeps, Jan & Earl's, favorite things from emerging design talent from around the world. The market will feature papergoods, affordable art, ceramics, housewares, gifts and jewelry and will be running Sep 08 - Oct 10, 2008.

This is my third Poppytalk market this year. This time I was inspired by the rain (kind of).

Although it has been an unbelievably wet summer this year, I am not letting it get me down. I have been making the most of what is around me for inspiration, and recently it's been big seas, storm clouds and raindrops. The best thing about lots of rain during the warm months, is that Cornwall has never looked so verdant, the rich greens in the landscape are gorgeous and inspirational... it's a jungle out there!!

Etsy Frontpage for PoE photographer today

One of my pictures made it on tothe front page of Etsy today - yeay!! Thanks to the folks at Photographers Of Etsy for the alert and the screengrab!

Love At First Sight Feature

I was featured on Geisslein's lovely blog "Love at first sight" today. If you haven't come across Geisslein before, she is based in Frankfurt, Germany and writes a blog about how to be creative. Thanks for the mention m'lady!

Sea Fever

The Island by Jo Bradford

..

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song

and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face,

and a grey dawn breaking.

..

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume,

and the sea-gulls crying.

..

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way

where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream

when the long trick's over.

..

~ Sea Fever By John Masefield (1878 -1967)

(English Poet Laureate ~ 1930 -1967)

Etsy Front Page

My Wood Peony picture was featured on the Etsy Front Page today.

Thanks to beadtwin for making the featured treasury

Great Green Goodness

Great Green Goodness by Jo Bradford

Under the Greenwood Tree

Under the greenwood tree

Who loves to lie with me,

And turn his merry note

Unto the sweet bird's throat,

Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see

No enemy

But winter and rough weather.

~ William Shakespeare

Life Of Galli Feature

Thanks to Sarah Galli who wrote about my work and featured a couple of my pictures on her blog today.

The Brightest Star

Wood Peony by Jo Bradford

I have the pleasure of several beautiful woodlands within a few minutes walk from my studio. My dog, Charlie, and I, make full use of them on a daily basis. I love to take my TTV camera contraption down to the woods with me. While Charlie crashes around in the undergrowth sniffing for the creatures that dwell there, I tuck myself away in a dappled dell and photograph the hidden treasures I find. This wood peony was surrounded by bluebells and dewy grass in a quiet glade on the edge of a stream. The breathtaking white of the flower glowed in the sunlight that pierced through the leaves overhead like a spot light that mother nature was shining on this star of the woods.

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Life Is But A Many Hued Reflection

Life Is But Light In Many Hued Reflection by Jo Bradford

The rainbow mirrors human aims and action.

Think, and more clearly wilt thou grasp it, seeing

Life is but light in many-hued reflection.

~ Goethe

"Life is but light in many hued reflection" is from a series of 7 images of bubbles I made while exploring notions of transience and the human condition.

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