walk

Happy May Day everyone! Such a lovely time of year. One past traditional May Day event I love is that people would get up before sunrise in order to gather flowers and greenery to decorate their houses and villages, in the belief that the vegetation spirits would bring good fortune. 
I have some apple blossom and lilac which I'm hoping will do the trick.



We went on such a beautiful walk the other day, the weather was just perfect.
Down old farm tracks, over wooden stiles, across fields, though pretty villages, into cool musty churches. Hawthorn bushes in flower, lining the way and swathes of wild garlic. We stopped by this lovely stone wall, where the grass was covered in primroses, dandelions and forget-me -nots. It was a buzz with bees and hoverflies. 

I love a nice walk, to slow everything down, to forget about those 'to do' lists and just enjoy the moment. Taking time to notice all the little details of the day. 

Do you have any favourite walks near to where you live? 

spring days

Spring seems to give me lots of motivation, must be the lighter, longer days, and recently my days off have been spent at home and in the garden. 

Here's a few things I've been up to...

Working on a very exciting new sewing project...more on that to come. 

I made this delicious Squash and Spinach Tart from the lovely Anna Jones cook book, 'a modern way to eat'. I have never made my own pastry before and it was surprisingly easy. 

Spending time, helping out at my boyfriends produce store. So many lovely things in that shop!

I keep rearranging things at home, decluttering, trying to get a simple, fresher look. I really love white ceramics, the two beautiful white handmade vases are from the lovely Illyria Pottery in Oxford. 
The White SylvaC flower vase I found in a charity shop for 50p a few years ago.  

I'm still starting most days with 10 minutes of meditation using the Headspace app. I'm really enjoying it 

My favourite flowers, Anemones and Ranunculus on the mantelpiece, a gift from my boyfriend.

I'd love to know what you have been up to lately... Have a lovely Easter Weekend.

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?

everyday things..

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely bank holiday weekend. It's been a gorgeous day here today, I've been at work but looking forward to Sunday off. What have you been up to? 

I've had a few stressful days recently, so it's nice to find simple pleasures in everyday things...
Here are a few photos from my recent days, picking daisies and forget-me-nots from the garden, presents from my mum's trip to Spain; Spanish Vogue, dark chocolate and sweet tortas. An old floral painting I found whilst tidying up, that's now pinned up on my bedroom mirror. Hanging out, drinking coffee at my boyfriends shop '2 North Parade Produce Store'
Pretty violas from my window sill, if you keep cutting the flowers, the more they keep flowering. I'm looking forward to planting some herbs soon, dill, chives, mint and thyme are my favourites. 



 

my sewing room

What a beautiful Sunday morning it is! I hope it's sunny where you are too. I can't wait to get outside for a run across the park, all the birds are tweeting away...it definitely feels like spring.

Here's a few photos from my sewing room which is now nice and tidy, I want it to be a practical space but also look lovely too. It would be great to have a complete change but as we are only renting our little cottage, it's difficult to change things too much.

These glass jars are perfect for storing bits of vintage lace and trims. The pinking sheers and china lady belonged to my great Aunt Lily who used to be a seamstress in London.



I love working in this room, it gets all the afternoon sun. From my desk window I can see apple & blossom trees, farm buildings, fields of horses and one donkey. It really is lovely!

wild flowers

Pink lace brooch- listed here

 

wild·flow·er also wild flow·er  (wīld′flou′ər)

n.

1. A flowering plant that grows in a natural, uncultivated state.

2. The flower of such a plant.

 

It feels like spring is a long way off today, but in my sewing room I have colourful flowers everywhere. I've been drinking hot chocolate, sat at my computer adding lots of lovely handmade flower brooches to my ' found & sewn' folksy shop.



Vintage lace brooch- listed here

Flower brooch-beaded vintage lace- listed here



I have quite a collection of vintage wild flower books. I love learning the names of wild flowers like Venus's looking glass, Penny royal, Wild candytuft and Cloudberry.  I have already signed up to the Wildflowers count this year where you can take part in the UK's only annual national wild plant survey.



Some handmade lavender bags, pin cushions and brooches on my sewing room shelf.



Flower brooch- black beaded lace - listed here

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!

 

time out

I love the Botanic Gardens in Oxford, especially this time of year when the sun is low in the sky, casting light through the trees and the garden is still and quiet, with just the last  few flowers still in bloom.  It's the perfect place to go when you need a little time out.

 

My favourite welsh wool purse which I bought at Blighty Bazaar and my cosy Toast gloves.



This glass house was full of scent from these beautiful white Narcissus, it's nice to think spring isn't too far away.