And mine looks like this...

My creative friend at Hearthwhich has been pondering the benefits of creative spaces this week. This is mine - or rather - it is the most frequently used of mine. I have the bonus of a little outhouse which attempts to be (when it is warm enough) a little studio, but for these cooler months, I have been spending my hours at this desk... and at the dining room table... and on the floor in front of the fire, atempting to complete projects. The wonderful irony is that I found a drawing the other day of my 'ideal workspace' - a little intention that I set last year, whilst battling to find a suitable workspace for my PGCE work. It is nearly identical - how blessed I have been to have found where I am. Add to that synchronicity the fact that I found the desk under a pile of books at the same garage sale as the dining chairs, and that it fits so perfectly into the alcove I had for it...well... it was meant to be.

Blessings abound in my life at the moment. I am reading another of Gill Edwards' books, which is helping me to appreciate just how much abundance there is. I am finding it particularly important on a week like this, when I am struggling to get used to being back at school, and still struggling to find myself living alone. A good and healthy move no doubt, but not without its challenging moments. To be thankful though, is all.

::This week I am thankful for::

The sun shining through the skylights in the morning

The goodnatured children at school

The engagement of my wonderful sister and her wonderful Dan

The space to begin my vegetable patch
The hands that came to help

The nourishing books that I have to read

Blog of the Week: Katy Elliott

Katy Elliott's blog is another favourite of mine. Her posts focus mostly on the renovation of her home in Marblehead, MA, and the inspiration that she is drawing on in the process. This dream-like project as far as I am concerned, and the way in which Katy is approaching it, with a resourceful and creative eye, is to be greatly admired.

Katy's posts focus on particular rooms that she is working on, as well as the sources of ideas that she has gathered through her creative career as an artist and an online editor of interior design magazines. As blogging is increasingly becoming a valuable outlet in my own life, I asked her why she chooses to blog about this enormous project:

 'I love to share information. Majority of the things I've learned in life and work and has been through word of my mouth. I use my blog as means to get the word out about the best craftspeople, products, artists and recipes. The best compliment I can receive is that a reader discovered something through my blog that made their life easier or better. Or hearing an artist sold a whole bunch of work because of my recommendation. Helping other people is the biggest high.'

Keep an eye on Katy's blog. She writes with an honesty and realism that refuses to romanticise the process that she is going through with this beautiful house but still makes it clear what a joy the project truely is.

Spring, Projects, and another wonderful engagement

Way back when, October time I think, I went to a garage sale and picked up two nasty-looking dining chairs. I painted them that very week, but only today did I finish reupholstering them. They now sit proudly around my dining table with some other odds and ends. Rather satisfyingly, the chairs came to a total of £4, the fabric was £2 from a fair in Cirencester, and the paint was the dregs of a pot I had, had for a while. Bargain Chic.

It was definitely the end of the year 11 study camp which left me feeling productive - I really am on hols now! And the sun did help too, of course!

This is where I am going to sit and chat to my friend Ellie, when she returns from a romantic trip to Rome, where her lovely boyfriend has proposed. Congratulations you lovely people! xxx

Punch Drunk

punch-drunk   /ˈpʌntʃˌdrʌŋk/ Show Spelled[puhnch-druhngk] Show IPA

–adjective

 1.(esp. of a boxer) having cerebral concussion caused by repeated blows to the head and consequently exhibiting unsteadiness of gait, hand tremors, slow muscular movement, hesitant speech, and dulled mentality.

2.Informal. befuddled; dazed.

 

Forgive me for my silence. Life has taken some weird turns in recent days and I need a day or so to recover from the madness. All good though :p

Blog of the Week

This blog was designed to be a part of my life through which I dwell on what inspires me. I continue to work towards figuring out my creative path, with a little practice, a little prayer, and a little patience.

As the Easter break approaches, I find my attentions shifting once more, and now that my house is my own again (a very welcome visitor having moved on) I am in the business of reclaiming and refocussing. My friend at Hearthwitch Cottage has some wonderful words of Pagan wisdom about this season, and perhaps unsurprisingly, this chimes with my holistic Christian approach. The feeling of rebirth can be unnerving and yet totally wonderful, and it is to that end that I am writing plans and lists and building my expectant hopes for the summer months to come.

In an effort to focus on the inspiration that I find in the world of blogging, I am going to begin writing each week about my favourites. The blogs that I will focus on will be the ones which are a constant source of thought and inspiration - sometimes designers, sometimes artists, sometimes just wonderfully inspiring people in general.

Image from www.jubella.com

About two years ago, sitting in my then office, feeling slightly blue about the state of the world, I was carrying out one of the more creative and interesting tasks of my otherwise rather dull day. I had to find an image of a baby for a document that I was putting together, and one link lead to another and... well, you know. I found myself suddenly immersed in the world of the blog.

I instantly fell in love with where I was - the endless photographs, projects, creative endeavours and wonderfully inspiring designs and designers. To top it all, was the world of Anna Maria Horner. Anna Maria's blog is a constant source of sunny inspiration in which she muses on her current projects, inspiration and studio life. She is a hugely successful textile designer and mother of SIX, despite looking about 25. I urge you to look and see how sunny it always is in Nashville, and how relaxed you can look with all that creativity and chaos going on. And if that isn't enough - you have to see her book, Seams to Me - which explains beautifully and clearly 24 sewing projects ranging from quilts to handbags to children's clothes. Lovely.

A Blessing

A ring, a mountain top, a very dear friend and her wonderful new fiance. God bless you.  

xx

Is that an 'Anna Special'?

'Ummm, yes' came the reply. This dish makes an almost weekly appearance at my table, for its easiness, its deliciousness and for the fact that it is really quite a frugal meal. It also appears to be sort of ayurvedic, and as I am feeling the push to overhaul my eating habits it is a relief that some old favourites can stay. I present to you Butternut Squash and Lentil Salad with Rocket, Feta and Walnuts...and olive oil... oh, and balsamic, or a squeeze of lemon juice...

You will need:
1 butternut squash
3 cloves of garlic
250-300g puy lentils (or lentils verte are fine too)
Half a red onion
Rocket
Feta cheese
A handful of walnuts
Olive Oil
Balsamic/lemon juice
Salt and Pepper

Chop the squash into small cubes (see above) and put into a roasting dish with the garlic cloves (skins on so that they don't burn), plenty of olive oil and season to taste. Roast in a pre-heated oven (gas mark 5) for 35 - 40 minutes, or until soft and beginning to crisp on the outside.

Meanwhile pour the lentils into a saucepan, cover generously with water or stock (be careful not to let the water evaporate away when boiling) and cook according to the packet instructions.

Chop the onion and fry slowly in olive oil.

When the lentils and squash are ready, mix together, along with the onion. Add the rocket, dress with olive oil and either vinegar or lemon juice.

Put the mix into your dishes, crumble both the feta and walnuts on top, season to taste. Enjoy!