Autumn days

I love this time of year, don't you. I'm working on another great sewing tutorial which is perfect for these bright chilly Autumn days. I really hope you like it. I'll be posting it in the next couple of weeks.

I had last week off work for my birthday and I made the most of the sunshine by visiting secret gardens, these pale pink anemones are so pretty. Catching up with friends, long countryside walks, picking apples and blackberries to make crumbles. I spent a couple of days in London with my boyfriend, we stayed at the gorgeous Artist Residence boutique hotel in Pimlico. It was so nice I hardly wanted to leave, but we were tempted out by, the most delicious breakfast at 26 Grains in Covent Garden, walking along the Thames to Borough Market for doughnuts and to visit the National Portrait Gallery.  to see the Audrey Hepburn exhibition. 

I hope you are enjoying October too.

spring calm

A few snaps of the little things that have made me happy and content lately....

Beautiful delicate blossom trees in full bloom, now dropping like confetti on the ground.



Having an unexpected Saturday off work and deciding to spend the afternoon making Liberty print cushions listening to radio 4... I'm a complete granny at heart!  I made a cushion in this fabric for the bedroom, which I love.



Picking the last few Hyacinth from the garden, which smell delicious. Now the tulips, muscari and forget me nots are taking their place.



Spending time pottering around in my sewing room. The view from the window overlooks a farm, fields with horses, a donkey and apple trees, I waste a lot of time just staring out of that window.



A moment of calm to read the ever inspiring 'Cereal' (which I actually bought for my boyfriend) with a herbal tea and the most amazing dark chocolate from our recent trip to London .

What little things have made you happy this week?

summer sunshine

I was up early this morning with the sun streaming in through the curtains, so I thought I would make a cup of tea and finish off these lavender bags, before heading off to our local farmers market. We came home with pretty looking berries, yellow Patty pan courgettes and delicious cinnamon Danish buns ( which did not make it home)



Another early start tomorrow, as we are off to Newbury Flea Market first thing to snap up all those bargains... I haven't been bric a brac shopping for a while, so I'm really excited as this one is always full of great stuff. I'll let you know what I find.

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.

love

 Flowers of all kinds; retro roses and vintage snap dragons on handmade cards, a beautiful dahlias I fell in love with now potted up in the garden and lace beaded daisies I've been carefully stitching.

I have just bought some ivory silk for a wedding bag I'm working on for a friend, which will be decorated with vintage lace and silver seed beads to match her dress.

I'm hoping for a sunny weekend, as we are off on a little trip away and my sister is visiting from Paris next week ......see you soon!

pinks and greens

 

Pretty pink presents, beautiful tulips and chocolates for Valentines.

lobster & swan matchbox challenge

When I heard about Jeska's February 'matchbox a day challenge' I couldn't resist joining in. Jeska of the blog 'lobster and swan' is creating a beautifully decorated matchbox a day for the month of February, there is a loose theme for each day, today being 'the pretty one'

Jeska's husband is running the London marathon and to help him raise money for his charity, Jeska will be selling her finished little boxes in her etsy shop.

We are all invited to take part in the challenge.... they are so much fun to make, even slightly addictive. Above is my matchbox for today, which I have decorated and filled with a selection of vintage flower and butterfly stamps . If you need more inspiration, below are some of Jeska's lovely matchboxes or check out the flickr group to see what other people have made....

prettiest shades

I love mixing vintage lace with soft gentle colours especially pinks, like the dusky pink satin I've used on the clutch purse above. Vintage underwear is a great source of inspiration for colour and design. I look through all my scrap books of things I like before I start any new work. It really helps to look back through these torn out pages and bits of fabrics to come up with new ideas and designs.

I'd love to know where you get your inspiration from....

vintage lace

 On Monday I spent the day helping out with an art project at a local primary school where my mum works. It was so much fun, we were making giant bug  sculptures, butterflies, ladybirds and spiders were just a few of my favourites. We decorated them with tissue paper, sequins and paint.... I wish I had my camera with me.

I have also been finishing off bits and pieces for my open studio exhibition near Oxford, which starts on Saturday 14th -22nd May. If you would like to know more details about my show, please leave me your contact details.

As usual vintage lace will feature...I seem to be overflowing with it at the moment. I love making these handmade cards, adding stamps, botanical prints, old french letters, and of course, lace!

I've just finished these blog cards off with stamps and lace too.

This little orchid was a present, and because I couldn't find a flower pot small enough, I thought this teacup would be perfect.

beads, buttons & berries

It was a beautiful sunny morning (and my boyfriends birthday) so I thought I would make a special birthday breakfast, berries with yoghurt and local honey and fresh croissants. yum!

 A few sprigs of blossom and lilac on the table.

I've just started adding some buttons and beads to this lovely fabric, which will eventually become a clutch purse.
Have a great Sunday whatever you are up to.

new year

 I hope everyone has had a great start to the new year so far.

I had a lovely Christmas at home with my family - lots of long winter walks to burn off all that indulgent food, then back inside to the warmth of an open fire, just what Christmas is all about.

Even though it's grey and cold outside, there is still inspiration to be found in nature. I love how the snow clings to these seed heads.

Pink Hyacinth for the living room .... sometimes a little colour is needed to brighten up those gloomy dark days.