crumpets and crabsticks

Illustrator based in the Isle of Man. Her interests lie in British culture, general anthropology and watching people, the environment, mathematics and pattern. She largely uses water colour, acrylic, and computer based image making software.

[crumpetsandcrabsticks]

Blein vie noa dhyt.

Today is the start of a new project called @Bree As Cree which means energy and heart. I have been asked by the organisers to contribute community imagery using a word prompt each month.

Januarys word is 'Bree'. Pronounced as expected (like the cheese) bree is energy, but it's also a lot of other things. I am a literal person, so I've gone for the Energy from Waste plant. my best guess at the pronounciation of the whole phrase is:

𝑠𝑜-𝑒𝑟-𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑖 𝑜𝑟𝑐ℎ

[crumpetsandcrabsticks]

Todays word is Dove - calmane

shee (𝑘𝑜𝑙-𝑚𝑎𝑒𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑒) is peace pigeon.

Calmane (sometimes spelt colmane) is a pigeon or

dove as they are all the same family - columbidae.

The shee bit means peace, It's a word you might spot a

fair amount more this time of year.

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berreen Nollick (𝑏𝑖𝑟-𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑁𝑂𝐿𝐿-𝑖𝑔) is Christmas cake 👍

[crumpetsandcrabsticks]

Todays word was fireplace, and

there' no Manxer a fireplace than a chiollagh.

(𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑙-𝑎𝑘ℎ)

And a good day it is to warm your legs by one. The act

of which is a known as brabbag (𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑣-𝑢𝑔)

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Todays word (unfortunately for it) is pronounced 𝑓𝑎𝑦𝑙-𝑦𝑎𝑦𝑟.

Are you ready to put your 2025 feaillerey behind you?

Do have you got your 2026 feaillerey ready?

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Pye mynrey (𝑝𝑖𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛-𝑟𝑢ℎ) is my word for today.

Mynrey comes from the commonly used diminutive 'myn',

• myn-changaroo = wallaby/small kangaroo

• mynroagan = queenie/small scallop

and the action of mincing things making things small - mynaghey.

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Todays word is pine, but I used went with 'Garey biljagh' which literally means tree garden, and we have lots of pine 'tree gardens' here more commonly known as plantations. Our favourite is Archallagan - one that is lucky enough to have it's own little cafe at the moment run by @deja_brew.im bringing a pop of colour and warmth to what can be a dark and very damp place at this time of year. Gura mie mooar ayd for your service to walkers!

[crumpetsandcrabsticks]

Had a busy weekend doing craft fairs - so here's todays word 'candlelight' from a card I have available. The Manx on this is 'Gennal as gial' (𝑔𝑒𝑛-𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑧 𝑔'𝑦𝑎𝑙) which means 'merry and bright'

DM me if you're interested 🎅👌

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I don't have a Manx Gaelic word for the poinsettia (𝑝𝑜𝑦𝑛·𝑠𝑒ℎ·𝑡𝑒𝑒·𝑢ℎ). They were new to the IOM after the language had already begun declining, being imported from Mexico in about 1830.

Maybe we could make a name up for them?:

• Blaa y nollick is rightly already taken for 'Christmas rose'

• I suppos lus y nollick makes just as much sense as the red parts aren't actually petals but modified leaves?

• What about Rollage jiarg (𝑟𝑜𝑙-𝑎𝑒𝑔 𝑗𝑒𝑟𝑔) 'Red star'?

Or should we honour its roots and just call it cuetlaxochitl. (𝑘𝑤𝑒𝑡-𝑙𝑎-𝑆𝐻𝑂-𝑠ℎ𝑒)

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I found a new word for snowflake - claddan (𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑡ℎ-𝑎𝑛) I think I chose the compound word lhiannag sniaghtee for the last time I did this one as I knew how to pronounce it over the other options... Proof that we're learning!

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The Manx on this one is dorrin sniaghtee (𝑑𝑜ℎ-𝑟𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑁'𝑌𝐴𝐾𝐻-𝑡𝑒𝑒) means snowy storm.

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I'm doing the 'drawcember' prompts for this month to get me creating again as I've been in shop mode for a little too long! I'm limiting myself to just an hour to make imagery to post...

Todays word is 'wonderland' so I thought i'd do the only bit of our island that is wintery and wonderful most of the season.

The Manx on this is 'cheer ny yindyssyn' (𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑢ℎ 𝑦𝑖𝑛-𝑑𝑖𝑠-𝑠𝑖𝑛) which means 'land of wonders

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I'm sorry guys, but it's time i posted about these.

Theyll be available from me at fairs, or through

https://manxsy.com/store/crumpetsandcrabsticks/ which is like a kind of local to me form of Etsy, cos Etsy is shite now and they never liked the Isle of Man anyway...

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I was privileged to be asked for do the cover image for 'In Terra's Keep' the latest release by interceltic music group called Trip.

We worked back and forth on the brief, and they pushed me to go beyond my usual style, I'm really pleased with the result.

As you can see from some of the WIPs below, the design wraps around the cover and includes the back panel seamlessly.

[crumpetsandcrabsticks]

Get to finally show off the fundraiser Christmas card design I did for The 'Mooinjer Veggey' A Manx Gaelic speaking Nursery in St Johns. (Which means 'little people' but also The Fae)

The caption reads 'shee as boggey' or 'peace and joy' they're £2 each or a 10 pack for £12. All funds go to Mooinjer Veggey.

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Finding inspiration in Manx Gaelic Christmas songs.

Gura mie ayd Annie Kissak and those keeping the songs alive.

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Was pleased with the trees from earlier in the week, so had a play with some patterns from them, adding some woodland motifs of acorns, amanita, strawberry leaves and sorrel.