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"Art, Like Cookies for the Soul" ~ Nancy Lee |
Welcome to Bluebell Land!
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Only for happiness, repainted dolls . . . a new kind of "canvas"
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Where to find Nancy Lee's dolls . . . 402.274.3040 phone or nancylee@nancyleemoran.com
Spring in Cornwall: the Bluebell Picnic
Photographs are copyrighted by Jennifer, shared here with Jen's kind permission.
~ Story written by Jen Anne of Penwith of England in May 2009 ~
Graphic design, editing and website coding by Nancy Lee Moran of USA
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Author Jen Anne
Once Upon a Time
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Early on in their Easter holiday from school the girls went to Lamorna, a pretty cove near Penzance, and walked up under the trees by the rushing stream to look for bluebells. Beautiful as it was there, they found none. Perhaps it was too early in the spring.
Sparkling Sunshine |
Dancing Penny-Shine on a Stream at Lamorna  |
Another excursion brought them to Cot Valley right on the tip of the West of England.
In the distance behind the girls were the Brisons, a rocky landmark.
"The long journey of waves across the Atlantic is finally at an end," remarked Esme, ever the dreamer.
"Uh oh, I sense one of Esme's poems coming on," teased Ashley.
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A profusion of wild flowers greeted them near a rocky inlet where waves broke noisily.
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Still at Cot Valley
Chloe found a stream swelled by recent rains, which she plopped beside.
When her friends searched for her, she called out in glee "Here I am!"
Chloe is a Lark doll created by Helen Kish in 2007, face painting by Nancy, floral dress by Ulla (ulladesigns).
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On to Helston for a Bluebell Picnic
Because the land is exposed to fierce gales, especially in winter, woodlands are not a feature of West Penwith (the far west of Cornwall). The only trees are small and twisted. Since the girls wished to see spring bluebells, their guardian phoned a friend near Helston. Helston is home of the famous Floral or Furry dance every Spring, an event lavishly decorated with bluebells.
The girls were invited to visit woods on the Helston property. They were to bring a picnic lunch and on no account to disturb Lady Polkinghorne, their hostess.
Esme murmured dreamily, "Lady Polkinghorne . . . Perhaps she is like the Lady of Shallot, hiding away and only looking at the world through the reflection in her giant mirror." Esme had been reading Tennyson in her Golden Treasury of Verse.
"Oh, please!" laughed Demelza Louise. "I get the impression she is just a crotchety old lady." Demelza put the picnic lunch into her striped satchel.
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Upon reaching the woodland, they saw a spectacular carpet of bluebells laid out before them. Chloe stood marvelling at the bluebells and the huge ferns.
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They paused to rest by a stack of logs.
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Let's tuck into our picnic lunch!
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After lunch, Demelza Louise climbed a tree for a better view.
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Chloe, meanwhile, had spotted a huge tree.
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Chloe and Demelza, just sweetly daydreaming in trees . . .
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What is Chloe doing?
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"Chloe, that's too dangerous! Come down, you naughty girl!"
"You climbed a tree. Why shouldn't I?"
"Come down NOW!"
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"Oops I think I'm slipping . . . "
"Oh no, you're going to fall!"
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Whose feet are these?
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Ignoring the pair, the other two lay back sunbathing.
Chloe had only been teasing anyway.
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Well, what have we here?. . .
"I'm not going past that monster!" Chloe declared. "Let's go another way!"
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The water of a lake was beckoning, glittering between the trees.
Enchanted by it, the bigger girls pressed on.
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"Wait for me!" cried Chloe, who soon attracted the unwelcome attention of another bird, a handsome goose paddling along in the water. When she had called out to it, it charged up thinking she had food to offer. She backed away as it grabbed at her outstretched hand, and oops! . . . slipped off her feet.
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Meanwhile the older girls lingered by a boathouse. "Don't worry so much about Chloe," whispered Ashley. "She is managing just fine. Don't let her provoke you."
"Oh, you and Esme are so lucky not having to mind a younger sister. She has always been spoilt."
One note for the reader:
Ashley and Esme were separately adopted by their Guardian some years ago. Sisters Demelza Louise and Chloe have recently joined them in Penzance, since their own parents have departed on a great adventure sailing round the world. |
"Maybe we will see an arm clad in Samite brandishing the great sword Excalibur out there!" Esme's imagination runs off with her again.
"As long as it isn't Chloe's hand waving for help . . . Demelza's imagination is rather more prosaic but no less active.
"Chloe is here!"
"Sorry Demelza, I didn't mean to worry you. It's been a lovely day, hasn't it?"
"You have been a nightmare!" But Demelza Louise was smiling now.
"I've had such fun!" said Chloe.
Then too soon, as they made their wandering way back, they finally looked down over Lady Polkinghorne's gardens . . . weary feet and gladdened hearts.
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And they didn't even bring me any cake, grumbled the peacock.
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A few more notes from author Jennifer about Lomorna Cove in England . . .
A pretty stream waters the lush valley that culminates in this rocky cove set between rugged granite cliffs. This is the place that attracted a colony of Post Impressionist artists to settle and paint here in the early 20th century. The work of these artists, best known of whom is probably Laura Knight, is represented in the Penlee Gallery in nearby Penzance.
They were not the only creative people to make their homes here. John le Carre, author of best-selling novels in the spy thriller genre ~ The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Smiley's People, The Constant Gardener ~ has a house on the cliffs on one side of the cove. I (Jen) particularly admire le Carre's work for its moral complexity and the psychological depth of the characters.
In spite of a busy life as a writer of fiction that includes active participation in the filming of a number of his books, le Carre has made a signal contribution to local life, most particularly in his becoming president of the Morrab Library in Penzance. This independent library that houses over 40,000 books was established in 1818 and is to be found in what was a fine gentleman's residence in the beautiful Morrab Gardens. Le Carre has donated copies of all his books to the library and has set up a bursary to enable two young people a year to study in the library. He was concerned that this institution should not merely benefit the more mature members of the community who treasure its extraordinary collection, but also reach out to youth.
~ Jen, May 28, 2009
Note from Nancy Lee
I also admire the sincerity and genuineness of le Carre's characters. In March 2009 I brought home from our local library his new book, A Most Wanted Man. After finishing a third of it, I decided to purchase the unabridged CD version. During May, while painting pictures and repainting doll faces, I listened and was led by le Carre into seeing many viewpoints of our complex multicultural world as revealed by a young Muslim, an idealistic lawyer, and a banker, all "decent people caught in a moral maze."
~ Nancy, May 30, 2009
Please send your questions and requests to Nancy at nancylee@nancyleemoran.com
or by phone: 402-274-3040 Central Time
All rights reserved. All art and photos on the site are protected by copyright © law.
Each may only be reproduced with written permission of the artist. Site page design copyrighted © by Nancy Lee Moran.
Thank you for visiting Nancy Lee Moran's website!
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About these dolls and Story Notes . . .
Three of the dolls are Seasons (16-inch (40 cm) vinyl dolls by Kish and Company in 2003). One doll is Lark Creamsicle (14" Kish doll produced in 2008), who has a new wig.
I love Jennifer's enchanting stories and photographs, which open a window onto the beauty of the land and bring life to these dolls.
Jennifer once told me that my repainted Kish dolls inspired her stories, and that I encouraged her to create these stories by offering to design website pages for them. If so, I could not be more pleased. Jennifer and I love literature and stories and dolls, which bring joy to our lives. Hopefully the stories will add joy to your life, too!
Nancy Lee Moran's POLICY TO SHOW RESPECT FOR HELEN KISH & other doll creators is as follows:
The dolls I use were factory painted. I would never repaint a doll that the artist (Helen Kish) had painted herself, such as some of those in the Kish Signature Line. I would not paint one in a limited edition of fewer than 300 (preferably 500 or more). I consult the beautiful book I own:
Helen Kish: The Artist and Her Dolls by Louise Fecher (hardcover published in 2006). I am NOT affiliated with any doll company, creator or manufacturer.
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