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

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.

Rich Pickin's

Listing a vague description is not enough; here is our selection of beautiful Liberty fabrics that we bought at this lovely department store yesterday. It is worth the drive for the discounts on the fabric and although the selection is relatively small, we always seem to find something.

From left to right: Silk for a tunic, inspired by this one; Tana Lawn for Ella's dress; Tana Lawn for a skirt a little like this one (perhaps a little longer!) and wool for another tunic.