endless summer

It feels like a good old fashioned summer, the days are long and warm, time passes slowly, spent outside in the garden picking herbs and flowers for the house or on long walks in the countryside watching the swifts and swallows gathering high in the sky, circling rooftops. Weekends away visiting new places. All these bring inspiration for making cards with vintage snippets or sewing lengths of stripy bunting for a garden party. 

What's been making your summer?

the colour of summer

I just love these lighter summer evenings. I seem to have a lot more motivation and energy to take photos, finish projects, go for a run and having dinner outside surrounded by our pots of herbs and flowers makes me so happy.

I hope everyone is having a lovely week and enjoying the weather. 

I've been gathering together inspiration for some new designs, which are now scattered across my work desk. I just love the lilac flower hair garland and I'm always inspired by the work of Alphonse Mucha. 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Take care x

to do lists

How's your January going so far? I know it's not most peoples favourite month, but I always think it's a good time to make plans, sort things out, make lists and look forward to the nicer months ahead.

I love buying new stationary and I've just bought a diary for 2014, I have so many notebooks it's ridiculous but I find I'm always jotting down ideas, places to visit, wish lists, new designs and general 'to do' lists, whether this makes me more productive, I'm not so sure...

I have just opened up a Folksy shop, have a look here. I'll be stocking it with lots more handmade items soon and I would love to sell more work online this year. Do you have an online shop, where you sell your own work? If you have any tips or advice, that would be great!

 

home sewn style magazine

I'm very excited to tell you that I have a sewing project in this lovely new sewing magazine 'Home Sewn Style' published by Practical Publishing

I was contacted by the editor Vick Guthrie of Crafty Goodness who saw my handmade accessories in my Etsy shop.   
I was asked to create a beaded lace brooch with step by step instructions on how to make it. I really enjoyed designing and making this project especially for 'Home Sewn Style' so I hope you like it too.  

The magazine is packed full of lots of great projects from making an Oxford cushion cover, felted cardigans to a quilted throw which I am planning to make soon.

The magazine is available in W.H.Smith and supermarkets nationwide.

 

this & that...

 

A few photos from the last few days, a summery display of vintage bits on my mantelpiece. I absolutely love the marigolds oil painting by Pauline Vincent, one of my favourites artists.

The Pink Carnations are from our local farm shop, I seem to buy a bunch every time we visit as they are really cheap and last ages.

 

A cup of tea while I'm reading Pretty Pastel Style, I've finally got myself a copy.

 

Do you remember those garden flower cigarette cards I found in a charity shop, well they were featured in the lovely Pretty Nostalgic magazine this month. It's a great magazine full of vintage inspiration.

 

These Hollyhocks grow by the side of my mum's house, they remind me of summer in the garden. I think I take a picture of them every year.

lovely things

A few nice things from my week...I've just subscribed to Selvedge magazine, and this 'souvenir' edition dropped through my letter box the other day, lots of inspiring articles inside....

I have a bit of a thing for china birds, this one was a present from my very lovely friend 'Candy Pop' Thank you, I love it! It now looks happy in it's new home by my jars filled with vintage lace.

...bits and pieces from around my work room; a beautiful reel of pale blue taffeta, part of a diamante necklace, a piece of lace waiting to have beads stitched on to it, a lovely old tea spoon case and stamps from the market....

What nice things have cheered you up this week?

Sunny Sunday

Looks like it's going to be a beautiful sunny day here today, So I'm up early getting a few jobs done before I head out to enjoy some summer sunshine!

Sunday morning is when our local farmers market is held and where the lovely slice of cheese cake came from, so I may be cycling up there again this week for another slice.

The Vogues are from my large, growing collection, which I have been sorting through. I'm thinking I should get rid of a few, as they are slightly taking over, but I'm still not convinced ?

Have a great Sunday.

trip to paris

I'm back from Paris.... I had a great time away, if only it could have been for a bit longer. My sister's new apartment is lovely with big windows with shutters, very bright and sunny. There were a lot of boxes to unpack, which was hard work, but it was fun arranging rooms from scratch.

We went on a few shopping trips to look for furniture and other bits to make it more homely. My mum bought the beautiful orchid, which looks perfect in the living room.  

I was very hot and humid in Paris, so after a long day of unpacking and moving furniture, we all went for a cold glass of Leffe in a near by cafe. 

I did buy a few little things for myself....

Paris Vogue, novelty key rings, interior magazine, tea and biscuits... just a few euros left.

 

may morning

 I hope everyone was up at the crack of dawn this morning to welcome May Day in!

I love this time of year and especially May with it's blossom trees, bluebells and cow parsley in flower, gardens and the countryside turning green again and more days spent outside in the warm sun.

 Here is the finished purse I have been working on, I have also used the rest of the fabric to make a drawstring bag. It definitely has a spring like feel.

The little needle case was made by 'Hen's Teeth'  which I bought from Viv in Ludlow. I love it's design and inside it's lined with liberty fabric.

My local flower shop 'Daisies' getting in the spirit of the royal wedding celebrations.

pretty things

This handmade vintage place setting was given to me by my friend Natasha. I love things like this, that have been so carefully made, and I imagine this being used for a special occasion. Natasha has a lovely inspiring blog, actually she's responsible for getting me in to this wonderful world of blogging.

 

I couldn't resist these vintage tea cups, you can never have too many? At least I have an excuse, as I also need them for my garden cafe which is open along side my open studio exhibition in May.

This little button purse was sold a while ago, but it's nice to look back at older work.

I wonder where it is now ....?