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!

Ready.

The rain was falling hard on Saturday morning, but the house was full of smiles as we prepared ourselves for a day of yoga and ayurveda. I had friends and family down on Friday night for various reasons, and on Saturday the friends and I headed to the yoga studio for a workshop with the Ayurvedic Yogi. The workshop was well-timed for all, and heralded a new beginning at the spring equinox. As the morning began, there was a general acknowledgement that at this time of year, just before spring really gets underway, we may well be feeling sluggish (yes), uninspired (yes), tired (yes) and a little overweight (umm...that too). Our workshop was just the remedy we needed.

Picture from Lilypodyoga.com

Ayurveda is to the body what yoga is to the mind. The Ayurvedic Yogi believes that our bodies are in need of as much love and attention as our spirits, in order to maintain full and healthy equilibrium. In order to meet your body's needs you must first discover your own natural dosha or constitution; Vata (predominantly air and space elements), Pitta (fire and water elements) or Kapha (earth and water). Whilst we all have a little of each type, and sometimes different parts of our bodies are predominantly different dosha, there is usually one which stands out. In order to maintain your natural doshic balance, different types are advised to make careful choices about what they eat and drink, as well as what they choose to put on their skin.

My dosha is predominantly Pitta but with quite a few Vata elements. My body type fell quite neatly into the Pitta type - average build, strong constitution, pale skin and prone to overheating; the Vata elements appeared to be linked more with my emotions - prone to anxiety and creativity in equal measure, occasional skin irritations or digestive problems when overwrought. In order to balance the overheating I should really be avoiding coffee, hot foods and alcohol and in order to balance the occasional dryness of my skin I should be using naturally nourishing ingredients such as milk powder, oatmeal and ground almonds.

We spent our morning in a long yoga session, then settled down together in Charlotta's kitchen for an Ayurvedic lunch. Our lesson was in the afternoon and we had the chance to make our doshic beauty products which really are good enough to eat; if you wouldn't put it in your mouth, don't put it on your skin.

The day was truely restorative. And today, the rain had gone. Spring has sprung and now, I am ready for it.

Blogroll

It's a pun, isn't it? Blogroll?

Because I have only associated it with the American blogs that I read and relish, I hadn't really seen the Very British Pun. Perhaps it is my imagination... please enlighten me.

In anycase, it has now become habitual for me to drink my tea and browse some blogs, meandering through my links to their links and beyond. Sometimes nothing much emerges, but occasionally something really good does. Today, via Katy Elliot, based in Maine, I stumbled upon Ben Pentreath who, funnily enough, is based in London. Found 'in a tiny Victorian shopfront' in Bloomsbury, Ben and his partner Bridie Hall, stock a delicious combination of prints, china, linen and furniture, which appeal to the senses and sensibilities of, well, me. Fortunately, they also have a blog, which is, as you see, another sheet of my blogroll.

In anycase. I have another project to add to the list, and a quick one at that. I found this tool carrier in an old shed the other day - under a pile of nails and old shopping baskets, it was on its way to the skip - but I thought it too good to loose. It is now my glass/plant/paintbrush holder - or will be, once I have scrubbed the grime off it.

Sunday

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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.