Maddie Templeton

Category: Mosslings

  • ‘Meet the Artist’ Days and Making New Friends

    Since the Pensychnant Open Art Exhibition opened last month, I have been honoured to be invited to attend two ‘Meet the Artist’ days at the centre. These thoroughly enjoyable events give visitors the opportunity to meet the people behind the exhibition pieces, and to chat to them about their work and what inspires them.

    Keeping busy at a recent Meet the Artist event.

    During these days I have met some lovely like-minded people; folk who care about saving the planet, and who put their love of the natural world into the heart of their creations. In particular I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Roger Oakes, a fabulously talented artist with two stunning woodland pictures in the exhibition. Roger and I chatted throughout the day and drank a lot of coffee, and I was delighted when he bought his very own moss person to take back to his home near Dolgellau in Gwynedd.

    Since then, Roger and his wife have been out and about in their magical local woodland with their special moss lady, helping to call her kinsfolk home. Roger has kindly sent in some wonderful photos of their adventures together, and I’m sure you’ll agree that the moss lady looks perfectly at home in this enchanted Welsh forest.

    Content exploring the magical mossy forest, and calling her kinsfolk home.

    Roger Oakes has the ideal surname for a friend of the mosslings, as his own companion has an oak leaf on the hood of her cloak, and here she is happily settled in a mighty oak!

    Thank you, Roger, and I look forward to catching up with you – and your mossling – again at Pensychnant in the near future.

  • That was quick – thank you, Shirley!

    I’m thrilled to report an update on my previous post. No sooner had the North Wales Creative Stitchers exhibition opened than the moss man I submitted was bought by a lovely lady, Shirley, who wasted no time in taking him straight into the stunning woodland around Pensychnant House. Shirley sent in this beautiful photo of their first adventure together, and it’s clear to see that her moss man was happy to be among the trees, calling his kinsfolk back home to the forest.

    Thank you, Shirley, and may you and your special moss friend have much fun, and many wonderful journeys in nature together!

  • North Wales Creative Stitchers Exhibition

    As a volunteer working with a local youth textiles group, I was delighted to be invited to submit two of my pieces for inclusion in an exhibition of the North Wales Creative Stitchers at the beautiful Pensychnant Nature Reserve near Conwy. The exhibition, featuring some fine pieces either for sale or on show, opened last weekend on Saturday 16th May 2026 and will run until Sunday 24th June. So if you are in the area do drop in any weekend and take a look!

    The new exhibition can be found in the dining room of Pensychnant house.

    My two pieces: a friendly frog and a mossling, together with the story of the moss folk. This is the second mossling (see next post!) to be exhibited.

    Pensychnant is a very special place; the perfect escape to enjoy nature and art, and to indulge in some delicious tea and cake! Open every weekend and on bank holidays from April to the end of September and offering a variety of engaging and interesting events, do make sure to visit if you are in North Wales and support their vital conservation work.

  • Spring Success

    The weather was good for the recent spring fair at Pensychnant Nature Conservation Centre, where I had a stall in their bright and sunny marquee.

    This event saw the launch my first pyrography products, a collection of key rings and trinket boxes which proved popular, as well as my increasing range of needle felted goods. Everything I make has a story to tell, and each item is carefully crafted with love. The day was a great success, and I’m happy to report that several moss people have gone to new homes and are looking forward to exploring woodlands and nature with their new friends.

    A few of my new range of pyrography gifts, which proved popular at the Pensychnant Spring Fair

    Early morning set up in the spring sunshine…

    Thank you to everyone who supported me!

  • Are they back in the Conwy Valley?

    During a recent walk at Llyn Crafnant in the Conwy Valley, we’re sure we caught a glimpse of the shifting cloak of a mossling among these trees by the river. Perhaps they’re returning home to this stunning wooded spot!

    Shhhh… they’re here somewhere!

    Learn about the ancient moss folk here.

  • First fayre – Christmas 2025

    On 29th November I had my first stall at a live event, at the wonderful Pensychnant Nature Conservation Centre’s Christmas Fair. It was fun setting up and chatting with people, and I’m thrilled to report that the day was a great success! I sold most of my stock and several mosslings have now gone to new homes, so will soon be venturing out into the forests with their humans to help bring them home!