What you find when you go for a walk

E works ridiculously long hours. 5am starts two days in a row and often working late, late, late into the evening. It would be very easy to slip into the never seeing each other, but every day we go for at least one walk together. A stroll, or a march dependent on weather, time and fitness needs! We try and take different routes, just to turn down a new street or discover a building (or bar) not yet found. 

We do however have one spot that we often walk past, that always brings joy. On a fence outside a house on a lovely street, is an ever changing tray of plants for sale. You can see the seasons coming and going just in that small tray. Last night, there were the first flower offerings. £2 in an envelope through the front door, and these lovelies were ours.

A walk, a glass of wine, flowers in a favourite jug and it was a very, very lovely evening.

Enjoy the beautiful weather today. We're heading out to the studio after a lovely morning in town picking up fabrics. Happy days.

On Beauty

Beauty is as much about touch, taste, smell, sound and emotion, as it is about visual perfection.

I know the flowers don't look pristine anymore, but I can't quite give them up yet. There is something about that day between perfect and 'yucky' that seems to be the most beautiful of all. 

NB: The following morning, we have definitely tipped into the 'yucky' category.......

Floral Inspiration - Zadok Ben-David

Go here. A field of painted stainless steel flowers resting in sand. Inspired, and inspiring. Winter, definitely, new start, absolutely.

Flower Power - The Temple of Flora

A book and an amazing floral inspiration. Oh the day when the whole series, framed, lines the hallway. Until then, just two in our bedroom and many happy times perusing through the rest. One of my best book purchases hands down, ever.

As the publishers say:

A stunning achievement in botanical illustration

The complete reprint of all color plates from Robert John Thornton's monumental work The Temple of Flora, first published in London in 1799. Presented as 33 loose-leaf Elephant folio-sized color prints as well as a booklet including an introduction and explanations of the botanical plates.

Magnificent, inspiring, weird, phallic, innocent and utterly fantastic.

Floral Inspiration

This is 'Voyeur' by Michael Raedecker.Paint and thread together to create something really, very beautiful. Perfect for a winters afternoon and a font of inspiration!

Have a lovely weekend.

Floral Inspiration - looking forwards

To not dwell on the past, or especially the troubles of the present, requires all muster at times. It's a particularly tough week. However, this morning under the snowy branches I saw spring buds pushing through, proof that every does come to pass and loveliness awaits just around the corner.

I've had this image for a long time, so I'm very sorry that I can't credit it correctly .......

Floral Inspiration - Flair Magazine

Because it's as inspiring today as it was in 1950, because I covet all the 10 issues I don't have ( I just have a measly two..... ) and lastly because out of such creative genius, comes many gems of ideas for many, many people. And last but not least, because the above is a very beautiful spread.

Have a lovely weekend - sit on a bench, eat a mince pie and read a lovely book ( together or separately if you would prefer ).

Floral Inspiration - Flora metamorphicae

We have all (hopefully) seen carpets of flowers - daffodils in spring, the bluebells at Kew Gardens, or even the uplifting yet humble field of rape. I have been extremely fortunate to see Flora metamorphicae – a magical carpet of ceramic flowers. The hands of humans have in fact created a thing of true floral beauty.

Flora metamorphicae is a perpetual project created by a group of six ceramic artists. The ceramicists, who are based in Bergen, work in individual isolation to shape their own blooms which, once brought together, open in a carpet of 4000 flowers. The clever idea is to have a large amount of flowers with a diverse expression, as elements in different installations, both outdoors and indoors.

The magic is in that although each artist works on their own, the collective strength of their ideas creates an ever-changing, up-lifting and beautiful viewpoint.

Magic indeed.

Images courtesy of Flora metamorphicae

Floral Inspiration - Anna Last

Very challenging day today for a variety of reasons. Until I read  daily imprint. I have always like Anna Last. This image sorted me out, plus a visit to the textile gallery at the V & A and dropping a ton in their book store ( oh and at Waterstones on the way home for the books they didn't have ).

Thank god for flowers ( and books....... ).

Thank you for the picture Daily Imprint.

Floral Inspiration - Carolyn Quartermaine

Who isn't inspired by her? I think that anyone who is interested in design, is also usually madly, passionately in love with flowers. Carolyn Quartermaine's book although over ten years old is still my favourite design book and I have literally carried it all over the world.

I know we are going into Autumn, however my mother ( who is an amazing gardener) has been telling me about all the new life springing up in her garden in NZ. Daffs and freesias ( my sisters' favourite ) are popping up everywhere and her irises, although not flowering yet, are pushing their way north. I wish I could be there with her.

Friday flowers

 

A little crisp on our walk this morning . The first trees are changing but still a few pink roses are hanging on. The damson plums are weighing the branches but the grass is still burnt from the sun. 

Its blue skies, warm sunshine and the likelihood of a visit to Borough Market. 

And - it's Friday. A perfect day don't you think?

Floral Inspiration - the last of the hydrangeas

 

This mornings walk was still warm, albeit with cardigan. The streets are full of hydrangeas turning this colour. The last turn of brilliance before they leave for the year. I love them as much as when they are fresh and pale pink.

Image from here - thanks!

Floral Inspiration

The light is getting a little thinner and brighter now (does that make sense?) and perhaps only a few more weeks of lovely cornflowers and daisies. The roses have gone and the hydrangeas are turning. A little sparseness and lightness before Autumn descends. Lovely.

Floral Inspiration

We were dyeing silk yesterday and were inspired by the colours in this image. So now we have a pile of pale rose, tea and cream silk all waiting to be pressed and cut. Delightful.