Magazine Inspiration

Last year I cut right back on buying magazines and just bought the bi-monthly Land Love.  I had become so bored of wasting money on magazines that whetted my appetite for no more than half an hour.  So many magazines have little content and are just full of adverts.  Today I succumbed to a new magazine called Daphne's Diary.  It wasn't cheap at £4.99 but I am sure that it will inspire me for longer than a day.

Published in the Netherlands, it's strap line says that it is about Interior, Garden, Vintage, Workshops, Outings and Trips and Shopping.  I think it has most things covered then!

There are some lovely projects in the book such as making a rucksack from a rug, a natural room spray using essential oils and gorgeous paper roses that really do look like the real thing.

I am sure that so many of you would enjoy this magazine or bookazine?  I haven't been so inspired since Magic Patch's Born to Quilt magazine!

Strawberry Heart

I was delighted to find that my strawberries had hearts in the centres.  I have never noticed that before. Messages of love and inspiration come to us in a variety of ways and that was very true when I cut up the strawberries to make a healthy fruit salad.  The strawberries love me!

Thank you for the tips in my previous post.  I have decided to have a craft audit and see exactly what materials I have before buying any more.  I will start by having a good sort out of my jewellery making things and look at what I need to add in order to make finished items.

Funnily, my lack of crafty inspiration was short lived.  I put on a jewellery making show on TV this morning and watched a man do a necklace tutorial.  It was unlike anything I have ever seen being made before and I quickly sketched down the method to refer to at another time.

Buoyed up with enthusiasm and raring to go, I have a school blazer pocket lining to mend first, and a sponge cake to fill, then later I will methodically go through my craft materials and I will have my cake and eat it too!

Thirty Days

I am going to try and follow the advice given by Matt Cutts and try something new for thirty days. As he says 'the next 30 days are going to pass whether you like it or not, so why not think about something you have always wanted to try and give it a shot for the next 30 days.'

I think this will be a great way of making each month more memorable and I won't feel as though the months have flown by without achieving anything which is just how I have been feeling lately.  I am excited about all the new things I could learn such as finding out all I possibly can about British butterflies or learn ten new words a day (that would be 300 a month!), research a particular historical figure, research a particular county or country etc.  The possibilities are endless!

What I need to do now is come up with a list of new things that I want to learn or know more about.  I will be starting this on the 1st November and will continue every month (30 days) onwards. Please feel free to join in.  By the end of 12 months I will have a folder full of information that I was previously unaware of and a log of what I have achieved over the course of one year.

Home Sweet Home

I have noticed that not many people are posting in blog land recently so I thought I would do an additional post this week.  The very home sweet home above is not my home but as it looked so lovely I thought I would share it with you.  The porch is on the side of the house which is a semi-detached cottage.  The front of the house has candy striped blinds and floral Cath kidston curtains.  The pretty window boxes are full of silvery leaved plants. Someone creative lives here as the upstairs rooms have pots of paintbrushes and pencils in front of the window.  I didn't take any more photos of the house as I didn't want to be too intrusive.  I love all the attention to detail: the bows on the lanterns, the willow heart and the floral curtains.  I had a spring in my step after seeing such a pretty house.  I am inspired to make mine just as pretty!

Feel Good Factors for October

When the weather is miserable and the rain falls relentlessly, the nights are drawing in and summer is just a memory; we need to nurture our body and soul to deal with the onslaught of winter.

Now is the time to make ourselves feel good. It is not a time for diets and deprivation. It is time for nurturing and nourishing.

I hope that the list below provides some ideas and inspiration to help you through this difficult month.

Buy yourself a big, new, soft fluffy towel to envelop yourself after a warming bath or shower.

Make lots of tasty soups using colourful vegetables – be experimental!

Bake bread to warm the kitchen and fill the house with a wonderful aroma.

Stock up on reading material.

Fill a big bowl with pine cones and cinnamon sticks.

Make use of the pumpkins and squash available in the shops now – they seem to disappear after Halloween.

Take up a gentle craft such as embroidery or cross-stitch.

Plant some winter flowering pansies.

Stock up on seed catalogues and plan what to grow next year.

Buy (or knit) yourself a pair of soft comfortable socks to wear around the house.

Get back into the art of letter writing using the finest paper and ink pen.

Treat yourself to an individual cake presented in a box.

Buy or make a new scarf and wrist warmers.

Read inspirational quotes.

Drink a large mug of hot chocolate.

Stock up on store cupboard standbys such as tinned soup when you are not up for cooking or are feeling unwell.

Keep honey in the cupboard and lemons in the fridge for cold/flu emergencies.

Buy a new umbrella.

Light a candle.

Buy a bar of handmade soap infused with essential oils.

Make some cushions in autumn colours.

Make a draught excluder with woollen off cuts.

Focus on all that is good and put negativity on the back burner.

Start writing a gratitude journal.

Smile because YOU are LOVED!

Ssshhhh.................Work in Progress

I have been doing a spot of rubber stamping and card making. When creating I like to work in silence. Well I say silence but usually I can hear birds singing, building works going on, the fridge humming, lawn mowers etc etc as I sit at the kitchen table.

I can be quite productive in my solitude and quietness.

This ginger fluff bundle is one of my sources of inspiration.

Hampton Court Palace and Gardens (2)

Part 2

The pictures above and the 3 pictures below are of the herbaceous border which is situated in the Great Fountain Garden. It was introduced in the 1920's and is said to be the longest in the world.


I like the varying heights of the plants and the vibrant colour mix.



I have a small walled area in my garden and would like to try and replicate some of the planting shown here. It is quite a soft and 'natural' looking planting scheme compared to the formal flower beds shown in other parts of the garden. I am sure Louise would be able to identify many of the plants shown here!

This picture may give you an idea of the length of the border. Look at those vivid yellows!

I am not sure what this flower is but it is very pretty. I am sure all you green fingered bloggers are shouting the name at the computer screen!

Now I recognise the sweetpeas! I think they look rather unruly but their scent compensates for their untidiness.

If you fancy a summer horse carriage ride then you can join the Shire horses Harry and Jim for a tour around the perimeter of the Great Fountain Garden. I reckon it's the horse manure that keeps the gardens looking so good!

There were a few of these urns around the Privy Garden. I liked the detail of the figure in the handle.

The sign above explains that the area is left un-planted so that other plants do not compete for moisture and nutrients that are required for the Vine. The roots of the vine extend beneath the un-planted area.

This picture is not very clear because it was taken indoors behind glass. You may get a clearer view if you click on the photograph. The picture is of the Great Vine. It is the largest grape vine in the world. It is also the oldest at 230 years old. It was planted in 1768 by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. If you are visiting at the end of August you can purchase grapes from this vine in the palace shops.

So here we end our tour. I was at the Palace and Gardens for over five hours and never got around to trying out the Tiltyard Cafe or Privy Kitchen Coffee Shop. I didn't get to visit the Chapel Royal and many other parts of the garden. I did get to go in the maze though and thought I would never get out! I have never been very good with directions!

If you decide to explore Hampton Court Palace and Gardens I suggest that you make a full day of it to fully appreciate all it has to offer and to soak up the surroundings. I would also recommend that you take advantage of the free audio guides. These really do help to explain things when you are looking around inside the palace.

Hampton Court Palace and Gardens

Part 1

I had never been to Hampton Court Palace and Gardens so last week I took the opportunity of a dry day to go and visit. The following photos are outdoor shots of the palace and gardens because photography was not permitted in the buildings. It is such a shame as there were some splendid rooms with ornate ceilings, tapestries and works of art. The rooms included The Queen's State Apartments (originally intended for Queen Mary II), The Georgian Rooms, The King's Apartments (King William III), The Wolsey Rooms (Cardinal Wolsey's private lodgings), The Tudor Kitchens and the Chapel Royal.

The pictures above and the one below are taken in the Pond Gardens. They are sunken flower gardens that were originally ornamental ponds used for holding freshwater fish, such as carp and bream.

Look at the symmetry each side of the pathway.

The pictures above and below were taken in Clock Court. The clock is very ornate and colourful. My photographs really do not do it justice.

I love these chimneys. They are intricately patterned and show true craftsmanship. The cloud looks like smoke coming out of the tops of them.

This picture is of Fountain Court. At this point we exit through to the Gardens.

Yet another fountain in the Great Fountain Gardens! This fountain turns so you may think you are being rained on as you enjoy a picnic but it is just the spray from the fountain. I spotted some Koi Carp in the pond as they were swimming very close to the surface of the water.

Look at these wonderful clipped yew trees! The shadows made interesting circular patterns beneath the trees. I am not really a fan of formal gardens but I did find the shapes of the trees pleasing to the eye.

Have you ever seen trees that look like this? They remind me of crinoline dresses.

We finish part one of the 'tour' at one of the formal bedding areas. Next time I will be showing you flowers in the long border and the The Great Vine.

Born to Quilt and a Giveaway

I was looking through the craft magazines on a recent shopping spree and was bored by all the usual card making and sewing magazines until I picked up a special copy of 'magic patch' called 'Born to Quilt'. The reason this magazine is special is that the whole issue is dedicated to Veronique Requena the Franco-Canadian artist who is the owner of the Born to Quilt shop in France. Her shop recreates the atmosphere of American quilt shops.

I cannot praise this issue of the magazine highly enough. I am so inspired by the words and pictures that I really want to become a quilter NOW!!!

I should think there is something in the magazine to please everyone. There is a sewing machine cover, quilted notebook covers (shown below), quilted cats, bags, quilts, wall hangings etc. There are large projects and small projects for beginners to the more advanced quilters.

The photography in this magazine is superb. I only wish my pictures could do it justice.

The beautiful quilt above is at a level for beginners. I love the soft and muted shades.

The quilt featured above is for more advanced quilters.

The pretty little piece above is a doiley. This may be one of the first projects I attempt from the magazine.

A huge plus factor about this particular issue is that all the patterns are given as full sized so there is no photocopying or scaling up required. Have I told you how fantastic this magazine is?!!! Edited: some of the patterns require enlarging but most are full sized.

In addition to all the lovely projects (I think there are 15 in total) there are beautiful pictures of Veronique's home and shop and of her handsome Chocolate Labrador named Jules.

I love this magazine very much (could you guess?) and it has already become very well-thumbed through. I had to share all this gorgeousness with you so I bought another copy.

Would you like to be in with a chance of winning it? If so, then leave a comment here suggesting where Veronique could open a shop in the UK where it is easy to get to and from Dover or just a comment in general and I will draw a name out of a hat (or similar) next Wednesday. Good luck! By the way if you would like to visit Veronique's website it is http://www.borntoquilt.fr/

The competition is now closed. I will be drawing a name later today!

The First and Last of the Sock Monsters

Faced with a huge pile of unmatched socks and having been inspired by all the sock creatures on the web I decided to have a go at making a sock monster. I began sifting through the pile of threadbare, bobbled, grey and generally dismal socks and decided to buy some nice new fresh ones to work with instead. (I am still left with a huge pile of unmatched socks.)

I wasn't very happy at cutting into a nice new sock. I felt very guilty that this useful item was going to be turned into a dust catcher just on a whim. I turned the sock inside out and started to cut out the shape and then realised I was supposed to sew it first and then cut around the shape afterwards. I must have read the instructions about 5 times but clearly hadn't taken the information in!

Sewing this sock fabric was horrendous. I couldn't see the stitches as they kept getting sucked into the elastic, plus there were loads of hairy fibres hence the decorative heart pattern on the right side of the sock. I am not a machinist so I did the sewing by hand. I now remember why I don't sew. I HATE SEWING!!!

Anyway, I decided to plod on with the project and managed to finish stuffing and stitching. I gave 'her' some button eyes and decided enough was enough! She doesn't have arms or a complete face. I doubt that she ever will. So that was the first and the last of the sock monsters!

Edited: When I say I HATE SEWING I mean the stitching things together and joining up kind of sewing. I love to do embroidery and cross-stitch. I just don't enjoy the mundane bits! If I could master the sewing machine I am sure I would find it no problem at all!

Beautiful Bloom

I took this picture of a lone Peony in my garden before its beauty was blighted by the rain. The front of the Peony was tightly packed petals, so dense that the middle of the flower was unseen.

The back of the flower had more interest to me with the raspberry ripple effect on the base of the petals. The heads of these flowers are so heavy that the stem falls over if unsupported.

Looking through some quotes I found one that so aptly fitted my feelings towards this particular bloom. The following quote is by Auguste Rodin.

'The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms. Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him.'

Gizmo

I have a cat

A naughty ginger cat

Who loves to hunt

And stalk around

The little creatures

On the ground

I used to have two lady cats

Who did as they were told

They sat demurely by the door

They really was quite old

But now I have a boy cat

A bushy, fluffy, feral

We thought we'd name him Gizmo

But this rhymes better with Merrill

Naughty Ginger Gizmo

He'd have your arm off in a flash

And the privilege of keeping him

Cost me fifty pounds in cash

I'm sure I'll grow to love him

It's not yet been a year

He's going through a 'teen phase'

When It will end is not yet clear

He likes to tease the chickens

And jump at them from height

Poor Rolo and Peppercorn

It does give them a fright

But Gizmo has his moments

When dreaming of a mouse

He purrs and purrs so loudly

It almost rocks the house

Poem by Simone 31 May 2008

A Detour to Rye

We spent last weekend in East Sussex and had a brief detour to Rye for a couple of hours. The town was very quirky with cobbled streets, unusual houses and a humorous touch.

For example this house above is called the house with two front doors and the words are spelt out on the two front doors!

The house in the picture above is called 'the house with the seat' and you can just about read this just outside the front door on the rail and it is next door to the house with two front doors. How strange is that?!!!

This is a view down one of the cobbled streets.

A tiny little cottage with a Buddha sitting in the doorway.

A pretty corner house with a dovecote on the side. You can just about see two doves just under the middle chimney.

An unusual door tells us that the middle plank was once part of a prison door. If only doors could talk.

I was drawn to this pretty rounded brickwork at the front of this house.

A very spooky alleyway. I wouldn't like to venture down there on a dark night!

The way back home. We saw lots of interesting things during our brief spell in Rye. Lots of photo opportunities but alas, not enough time.