bloom in the park

Late May, and my birthday sailed around again. My mum offered to look after the little ones for the day, so we made the most of it, deciding to visit Bloom in the Park in Dublin.

Bloom is a four day gardening festival, which showcases the best Irish garden design alongside innovative Irish food producers. We spent the day gaining inspiration from the impressive show gardens, admiring the beautiful blooms around every corner and savouring the delicious food on offer.

Unsurprisingly one of my favourite areas was the craft village. There were so many lovely products to covet. I couldn't resist a beautiful plant pot from KaroArt, a very talented ceramic artist based in Dublin. Her Etsy shop is a delight.

As the day drew to a close we decided to leave before the traffic jams inevitably swallowed us up. It was a good decision. We escaped the bedlam, stopping off for dinner on the way home.

A lovely day, well spent. I think we may already have a plan for my next birthday. 

precious things

I am really excited to have been asked by Sarah, a lovely blogging friend to collaborate on her new monthly series entitled Precious Things. Sarah has a beautiful blog called Mitenska, full of stunning photography and lovely writing.

So what's it all about? Precious Things is about celebrating little treasures. The things you'd want to save in the event of a fire (aside from living things of course). And recognising why they are so important to us.

What makes something precious? Precious things evoke memories of places and times past. Baby's first shoes, holiday mementos and old family photographs. All just as precious as gold or jewels.

The things I regard as precious are not necessarily valuable or expensive. They have stories attached. The stories of how they came to be mine and the memories they conjure up. They hold a special place in my heart.

For this month's precious thing, I have chosen a little silver snuff box featuring Eyebright one of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies. After I admired it at a market stall in Covent Garden Market, my lovely man bought it for me as a surprise. It's a treasured souvenir of our last visit to London nearly ten years ago.

We both adore London but haven't visited since the Christmas after we married. Three little ones have hampered our freedom to travel. But this little trinket rekindles many happy memories. It makes me want to visit again. One day, we will.

Thanks so much Sarah. I've really enjoyed choosing one of my favourite things to share here.

You'll find the other Precious Things posts at the links below. Do pop over and take a look. I know you'll enjoy them.

Sarah at Mitenska
Leanne at Today's Stuff
N at Creative Academia

scaffolding

One of my favourite poems.

scaffolding by seamus heaney

masons, when they start upon a building,

are careful to test out the scaffolding;

make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points,

secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

and yet all this comes down when the job’s done

showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

so if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be

old bridges breaking between you and me

never fear. we may let the scaffolds fall

confident that we have built our wall.

Seamus Heaney will always be remembered for the warmth of his words in a particularly difficult time in Ireland's history.

He will be sadly missed on this little island.



lovely things: our garden birds by matt sewell

Too good not to share.  One of my birthday presents received last week.  This book is really special.

via amazon

The illustrations in the book are gorgeous.  Each bird's characteristics have been described perfectly by the artist.  Matt Sewell obviously loves birds and describes them with humour and detail.

The watercolour illustrations are quirky and are useful for identification.  The descriptions are great fun however they may not be scientific enough for seasoned bird watchers.

However, it makes a beautiful gift for bird lovers who enjoy art and illustration too.  I am completely enamoured with the book and am delighted my family know me so well.

Take a look I promise you won't be disappointed.

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Lately I've been enjoying the gorgeous weather we've been gifted.  You've got to live in the moment here. Irish weather is often inclement so the wise among us take full advantage of sunshine when we can.

I've decided to leave 52 weeks of happy this week and double up next week.  Less screen time equals more sun time.

Thanks for all the lovely comments recently.  They make my day. 

rabbiting on

Hundreds of little stitches became, a cross stitch rabbit. Or maybe a hare. I love hares. A few visit our garden to play in the early mornings.

They aren't always the most welcome visitors as they feast on new plants and vegetables, but thankfully these are an obliging bunch and leave well alone.

Anyway, I digress. Back to the rabbit. I found this lovely pattern on pinterest designed by hancock's house of happy. It was a pleasure to complete and was thoroughly addictive.

I chose different colours and used two strands of embroidery thread on 14ct aida.

I wanted the finished piece to be larger than the original pattern so i scaled up. Each square on the pattern became four, one wider and one taller so the pattern grew to scale. The finished rabbit is 19cm by 22cm.

I'm going to have it framed but need a little advice. How do I iron it to remove the creases without damaging the stitches. To steam or not to steam?

Any tips from you crafty souls would be greatly appreciated.

giveaway ......

while looking back through my previous posts i realised that i had missed a small blogging milestone ... 100 posts ... that's a lot of rambling ...

 

so i would like to celebrate with a little giveaway ... and as my 100th post was lovely things ... anna wiscombe ...

it seems fitting that my giveaway gift is a lovely brooch made by Anna ...

 

 if you would like to enter ... all i ask are two things ...

that you please leave a comment on this post ... and that you are a follower of the linen cloud ...

the closing date for the giveaway is 3rd march ... i will choose a winner at random ...
and let you know who the lucky recipient is in a blog post on monday 4th ...

wishing you lots of luck ... xx



happy valentines ......

happy valentines day ... just wanted to wish you all lots of love ...

 

we're not big on the commerical side of valentines here ... but i am not averse to finding pretty things to adorn our home ...

 

with this in mind i bought this gorgeous little print for Mr F ...

 

it is just perfect ... and he was thrilled ...

 

 

and to make it even more perfect ... it is the work of a blogging friend ... the lovely Jen ...

 

pop over and visit her etsy shop and blog and see her beautiful artwork for yourself ...

 

i get to enjoy this lovely print too ... clever me ... and Mr F has arranged for his parents to babysit for us on sunday so we can have a date day ...

i am very excited ... xxx



lovely things ... anna wiscombe ......

another lovely thing to share with you ...

 

the work of Anna Wiscombe ...



'Anna uses birds, animals and leaves in her designs, she produces a collection of decorative and functional wooden products that are full of intricate details and have their own special character.

 

 Anna's love of nature and the shapes found within it are given a contemporary edge by using bright colours and stylised forms whilst always complimenting the natural beauty of the wood.

 

Whilst pieces are replicated, no two will ever be the same, making each one an individual character for you to enjoy.'

 

 www.annawiscombe.com

 

 

 Anna makes and sells beautiful necklaces and brooches ... as well as wall birds and ornaments in her etsy shop and through her website ... you can click on the first two pictures to be taken to their listing in the etsy shop ...

i am thrilled to have welcomed a family of wall birds into our home ... i can't wait to get them up on the wall ... 



 

 

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this past week we have been otherwise engaged ... they hasn't been much time for blogging ... we were working on something special ...

 

we are happy to be a nappy free zone ... the little fairy 'is a big girl now' ... the last of the baby stage ... xx

 

lovely things: laura amiss

Something pretty to brighten up your week.  A lovely artist whose work I admire, Laura Amiss.

source: laura amiss 









Laura is an illustrator and designer working with textiles and print.

"My handmade canvases are unique and are created using a selection of new and reclaimed fabrics. My work is composed of subtle lines and color combinations produced through layering, piecing and sewing fabrics together. I draw inspiration from my every day environment and hope that the way in which I recapture the landscape or moments of ordinary life allows people to appreciate them with a fresh perspective."

www.lauraamiss.com



source: laura amiss

Laura has a lovely etsy shop selling her prints and canvases.  The colours she uses are beautiful and are perfect to welcome spring.

source: laura amiss

I love these prints.  They're definitely on my wishlist.  So what do you think? Do you have a favourite?

not so lazy daisy

Just before Christmas my postman arrived with a parcel and inside all wrapped up so prettily.

Gorgeous gifts from my lovely friend, Lazy Daisy Jones.

Cue squeals of sheer delight as I opened parcel after parcel of beautiful handmade goodies.

How amazing are they? I am in love.  I am a little ashamed to say that the lovely doll was intended for my little fairy but I don't think I can part with her.  Can you blame me.  But I feel bad.

So after discussions with Miss Daisy it has been arranged that I can be her guardian until the little fairy is old enough to really appreciate her.  I think it's safer that way.

And those crochet toadstools, the cherry brooch and snowflake.  I love, love, love my gifts and if that wasn't enough in the parcel was some of the most amazing fabric tape.  I have been properly spoilt.

So to my wonderful blogging friend, thank you lovely Daisy for really spoiling me.  Isn't blog land wonderful?

 

This exchange of gifts was part of the Snowflake Swap organised by Kate.  Thank you so very much.

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Thanks so much to everyone for their comments over the festive season and welcome to all my lovely new readers.  I hope you enjoy it here.

Happy New Year. x

52 weeks of happy (11/52)

My four simple happy things this week.  It's feeling festive now.  Joining in with Jen at little birdie.

Jen is guest posting at modflowers today and during the week, pop over and visit.

Taking the wee ones to visit Santa Claus at Castle Coole.  He was staying there while training the reindeer.

My granny and grandad's nativity, now mine.  I love it for the memories.

A beautiful gift in the post from the very lovely Caroline. Thank you.

Making with the little ones.  More on that later.

Hope you are all enjoying much happiness of your own.

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I'll be back later with the giveaway winner.  I just have to organise the mystery hand.

lovely things: sanna annukka and a giveaway

Another lovely thing.  One of my favourite artists is Sanna Annukka. I adore her beautiful screenprints and have been a fan for a long time now.

The colours, patterns and style of her work really appeal to me and her new prints feature birds.  Be still my heart.

source: www.sanna-annukka.com

I had mentioned a little while ago that I would host a little giveaway.

I would like to send one of you a copy of the lovely new book illlustrated by Sanna Annukka which tells the story of The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen. Some of you may already know it.  It is very beautiful and a joy to own.

So to take part all I ask are two things.  Please leave a comment on this post and follow the linen cloud if you don't already.

The closing date for the giveaway is 16th December when I will choose a winner at random.  I will let you know who got lucky in a blog post on Monday 17th.

So good luck lovely people.

52 weeks of happy (9/52)

My simple happy things for this week.  I never imagined when I started this how quickly the weeks would fly by but I love the process of choosing four things which represent the happiness of the past week.

Thank you Jen for inspiring me.

My four happies.

Brotherly love.  A really sensible man to man chat about superheroes.

Daffodil and narcissi bulbs which we planted this week.  I'm looking forward to a burst of sunshine yellow in the spring.

A beautiful, structural seed head.

A little bird found at a local market for peanuts.  With my love for birds, I couldn't pass it by.

Hope you all have a happy week.

dear santa: etsy love

Blue Grey Hares - Hand ... deebeale $23.50	Miniature Wooden Butter... ladybirdlikes $9.00	Joy Giclée Print Snowdon $23.95	Beautiful Vintage Butto... BluebirdJewell... $73.00
Papercut - As soon as I... allcutupbydg $65.00	Rocking horse screenpri... roddyandginger $55.00	Fly Me To Your Heart - ... BluebirdJewell... $48.00	Poster Flowers No1, lim... EloiseRenouf $25.00

treasury tool supported by the dog house

Dear Santa, I promise I have been really good this year.

Is there any chance you could leave something lovely in my stocking for Christmas.

Pretty please.

52 weeks of happy (8/52)

 My happy things this week.

My Kimmidoll.  My little fairy says the doll looks like her.  That makes me smile.

 My owl brooch from a lovely friend.  Thank you.

Our West German vase.  I just love the colour.

Reading the current issue of The Simple Things.  There are some lovely features included.

As always I'm linking to the lovely Jen at little birdie.

Hope you are all having a happy week.

lovely things: abigail brown

As you may have guessed I have a bit of a thing for birds.

I seem to be inexplicably drawn to all manner of beautiful art featuring our feathered friends so today I thought I would share one of my absolute favourites, Abigail Brown.

Abigail is a continuous collector of fabrics, either bought new or used items she gathers to give new life to. Her pieces might be formed from her old pyjamas, someone's curtains from the 1970's or her friend's old skirt. She loves the colour and vibrancy of the new fabrics but the life that still lives on in an old garment or piece of cloth, and enjoys the process of turning it into something new. Her work centres around animals because they fascinate and inspire her.

Her work is all hand made; hand sewn by Abigail herself in her studio. Each piece is exquisitely crafted with great love and attention to detail. Whilst pieces are often replicated, no two will ever be the same and that is what makes each one such a treasure.

source: http://www.abigail-brown.co.uk

Abigail is very talented, creating her beautiful little creatures using preloved materials and her amazing skill.  I find it astonishing how real the birds look. Pop along to the website and take a peep.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

source: all photographs property of Abigail Brown

I have one of the beautiful owl prints and I hope to save my pennies and one day give one of Abigail's little birds a home.