I am a big fan of Brian Froud's work - this is the link to his website - and made such mention in my other blog I own. With a co-author, Ari Berk, he has a book out called The Runes of Elfland which I have a copy of (the picture above is from there) and which I treasure as it is one of the most magical things I own. The artwork is stunning and the story is beautiful.
In said blog I also mention my friend John Vickery of Wistmans Wands on Dartmoor. John is a talented artist who makes walking sticks for the gentry (take that as you will), beautiful staffs and handcrafted wands (of which I have quite a few) and wooden runes. The difference between what John creates and what people buy from shops is tangible. His work is done with great care and love - he admits to never realising he was a frustrated artist until he retired and discovered a knack for woodworking. He roams Dartmoor with his dog Gizmo by his side and collects wood from the land, listening to customers when they want wood picked from a certain tree at a certain time during a specific phase of the moon. Now, do you get stuff like that from an impersonal shop?? I don't think so!
Now, all these points come together - strangely enough - within days of one another.
A friend of Ari Berk's contacted him because of my blog (which, thankfully I made sure I gave all due respect and royalties to both him and Mr. Froud ) and Mr. Berk in turn visited and took down John's details and called him.
The result of this is...they are talking wood, runes and crafts whilst Mr. Berk and his family are visiting Devon for a few months.
What a strange bizarre and tiny world it is.
I am inordinately proud of my small role I played.
Preen, Preen. Just wish I didn't live 6 hours away from where the action is taking place!
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