Secrets of a Butterfly

Les Fleurs boutique

Bonjour!I have just been shopping in France! well not quite but more or less....my parcel arrived from Les Fleurs today. Its such a gorgeous shop with all sorts of pretty little things. Just the sort of thing i'd like one day. I found it through Mandy's blog as her belle and boo range is stocked there. Here's a look around inside isnt it a treasure of a place,magical! makes me want to put up more fairy lights...

I'll show you what i got and hope those recieving any at christmas won't have seen them on here. the bunny i chose for Nic my cousin, isnt it sweet, she wants a rabbit herself but her mum won't let her so i'm giving her this for christmas instead. this pretty postcard and some other small bits and pieces,some for new year gifts.arent the mini postcards divine! Lucie was very friendly on her emails and i think you'd enjoy browsing if you stop by anytime,everything is listed on her boutique site and she also has a blog. its in french but is very easy to follow by going by the pictures and clicking the links. Though you'd have to check if the shipping was to outside the EU.

I did quite alot of parceling yesterday. with many of my christmas giving being in the mail, it needs sorting quite ahead of time. I still have family gifts to get. I have books for part of my dad's, Eric Clapton is one. Not sure what to get my brother Neill this year.i have a pair of cufflinks so far, love and fleurs Kat x

Hush,little rabbits and malted milks!

    These cute little rabbits fromBlossomhill cottons remind you of anyone? Yep Whisp and Jasp,my grey bunny and my white bunny. Hazel is a lovely lady in Canada who makes tiny felt animals such as these 2,and each one is done with such care and such very small stitches! They're only a couple of inches long,so i marvel at how she does them. She also has a beautiful Blog to visit.

Things on my mind at the moment are..staying warm as toast at night in these pj's from Hush and enjoying one of my favourite biscuits Malted Milk, with the cow print on them, they remind me of growing up as they've been around for years. Have wrapping paper on my mind too thinking of what to use for who,will need to start wrapping soon as i like to have plenty time and do it myself now that i'm able to. Below was a shot i took of some paper that though not very christmassy, is so pretty,its from paperchase. Speak soon, stay snug,love Kat x

ps if you feel like it,share your own favourite biscuits on your blog,i can come over and see which they are!... i love chunky kit kats too and its not just because of their name!

I'm looking forward to Strictly come dancing tonight, i think at the mo my fav's are Gethin and Camilla,mainly because i thought their chenistry last week was amazing, i've heard they're an item in real life now, which would be So romantic, does anyone know if thats true? I also like Matt and Flavia and Kelly and Brendan and Alesha and Matt so i'm not voting since i like them all and never want any of those pairs to be knocked out! its been too good this year to choose between them all. All the pics for this post went a bit higgldy piggldy for some reason and i can't seem to fix it, so here they all are the things i've mentioned this post at the bottom : )

Flowers for my Angel

It is my dear friend Jo's birthday today,on earth she'd have been 39 this year. As it is now, she's in heaven, and an extra special guardian angel that i'm privilidged to have by my side. I chose these flowers at a florist today for her. We always sent each other nice flowers so i think its a tradition i'll keep up.here is one of the last photos jo texted me,she's holding a 'me to you bear' i sent her christmas 05.She was very ill here and in a hospice but she never lost hope and never stopped caring about other people, she was a definite angel in all respects. When someone like that has been in your life you are never the same and you never forget them. I often hear her voice in my mind and know how she would feel about things that are happening. There were long periods when we could'nt be in touch because one or other of us was simply too ill to text or talk. And so this is just another spell, it maybe longer than the rest but we are still very much connected and supportive of one another and i know one day we will give each other a massive hug and be able to spend time together. it doesnt matter to me how long till that day, because i know we are still with each other even now.i feel her love for me and i treasure it. I love you Jo jo take care,have fun now that you can sweetpea and keep enjoying the flowers, God bless K xxxxxxxxx

Come shopping with me

I went to RE last week,its a very unusual shop, full of reclaimed and recycled things. Some of which you wonder who would possibly still need or want and some of which are real gems. I suppose it depends on the browser as to which you feel about what. One man's junk is afterall another man's treasure. I took some photos as i felt sure many of you would enjoy browsing with me. Their website is also good for this and you can pretend like your visiting with me,shall we go for a coffee after they have some lovely little coffee shops in the village? i prefer to drink tea, but they do hot chocolate too if that's your favourite.

Lets see now, i wanted to tell you about what finds i made there,its a bit like going to a flea market really. i found two scarves i liked on this display and some mother of pearl vintage buttons in the glass cabinet. i also got a candle with mary and jesus on for £1 and some metal birds...

They have many things hanging up, at the moment there are some lovely big paper decorations in white. Giant snowflakes. These arent too expensive considering their size and are on the website if anyone wants any. They do bells too, like the sort many of us grew up with. Some are huge!

Here are some views around the rest of the village and the church and then we'll pop into acanthus before it starts to get dark which its starting to around 4.30 now... Acanthus is a lovely shop full of presents, perfumes, toiletries that smell of lavender and rose, jewellery that sparkles and christmas things that glisten....

take a peek inside with me

doesn't it smell lovely.they have L'occitane which i like to get for my dad at christmas,the aftershave balm you can just see their range on the back wall to the right hand side all those shelves their. I also highly recommend their hand lotion and their foot cream if you have very dry skin. It has shea butter in and is the best i've found. Its been nice seeing you in the village today,shall we go grab that coffee now........

Believing and caring

Just wanted to share my latest canvas which i added to my Etsy a few days ago. I used some of the new vintage flowers that i posted about last time and pretty much everything else is vintage too. I'm pleased with how its turned out. I'm hoping to do some more small ones(5x5") now that the christmas cards i did for mam and myself are completed.

I have to tell you about Dogeared jewellery today as i'm really getting into their newest lines. I've always loved anything with wording on like, believe, dream, peace, that sort of thing, hence i add those words often to my collages. I would have loved to design a range of jewellery along those lines and low and behold Dogeared have and its just the way i would have done it myself. Its largely avaliable in the States but some does trickle over here, i've found it best stocked at Asos and Accessories online . The full range though can be seen on their own website Dogeared.com this is what they say about the new Shine collection...

"A little bit gorgeous a little bit rock and roll. You'll be shining like a star (a rock star) in our newest jewels. These shine necklaces, remind you to trust your inner strength and sparkle like the bright star you are! It's all about layering and length, so with chains that hang 18", 24" and 36", we've got you covered".This is my favourite and i'm hoping Santa may read this! I'm really drawn to Citrine at the moment must need its sunshine-y energy.

As christmas approaches,like many of us my mind often turns to which charities to give a bit of extra to than i normally could throughout the year.I know each of us are drawn to varying organisations through our interests or family connections to them. I thought it might be nice to share some that i take an interest in. I donate to Shelter as they do alot for the homeless,and i always think of them more over the coldest period of the year. At least they give them a little bit of christmas care over the holiday too, like a meal on christmas day. They work with youth projects and help people get a rung on the ladder, a place to stay so they can then apply for jobs.  The updates on newsletters where they could easily be depressing stories,instead we are told of an inspirational story of how a particular young person has turned their life around and found their way back into society,finding stabilty a job and relative safety after the traumas they've come through in their lives.

I also found out about Mary's meals last year, which fund projects feeding children around the world in some of the most desolate areas. It costs as little as £5.30 to feed a child for one whole year! yes i couldnt believe it either. And that small donation makes such a huge difference.

 

I Believe we all make a difference *** we choose how we shine and where that light is felt  *** I've found even the smallest thing, that maybe thought insignificant, has touched my life, so i know if i do it too,it has the potential to touch anothers in the same way.  Sometimes its the smallest things that make the biggest difference anyway isnt it.  Love and sparkles K

Postal Goodies

Well i certainly enjoyed the winter catalogue from white stuff that arrived in the post this morning. In the shoot they've taken some of the photos in a knitted house! yes everything is knitted even the chair and teapot,here's a close look at whats on the table..

I'd say its reminicient of the house in hansel and gretel,made of sweets, but thats not a very nice fairytale, so we won't go there! Here's a shot taken in front of a vintage dresser,it too is all knitted, some amazing work has gone into all of it both on the outside and on the inside, with all the decor and furniture. and lastly we have a bedroom complete with kitty on the bed how fab is that.White stuff has some nice tops and t shirts,basics that can work well with jeans and have a bit of a twist to them, often with that homespun charm such as little embroidered flowers on the tops or crochet details.

I also have to share these goodies from belle and boo with you that also came this morning,at last the post seems to be clearing the back log after the strike and so more things are getting through. Lets hope there isnt another on the run up to christmas. I think if i can, i'll send my parcels off early. Anyway you know how much i adore Mandy's work and i couldn't resist these tags for my christmas gifts this year and also some other things that make such postable presents. This one is so sweet because it carries with it a message of peace,with the little dove being on it. I'm not always a fan of red but i like this shade,and at christmas time its always nice to have a touch of red isn't it.

Check out what's printed on this postage label... i love it! it comes on things from Canada,hence the english and the french. It was on my supplies from Papier valise some genuine vintage paper posies and sequins,glass beads,real tickets and little lockets... what's more fun collecting little treasures together like these or using them in collage work, hmmm i'm not quite sure!well till next time, i send love, Kat

Creating...a dream come true

Hello everyone there seems so much to chat about today i'm in the mood to do a post to you and don't know what to share and what to keep for another time! Above i've put a picture of one of the canvas collages i did for Kate, she actually bought three different ones for christmas gifts which i was over the moon about. I really enjoy making them up and each one is so different. On here you can see vintage fabric lace buttons and wallpaper. The wallpaper is so fragile as its from as far back as teh 20's and 30's. I find it fascinating to have it in my hands and to be using it after so many years. The designs are just so beautiful too. i'm often hoping some company will reissue them or make modern versions. Its happened with fashion after all so why not with decor. But then not everyone is a wallpaper fan. We are though and have laura ashley in alot of rooms now. They are one of the few places to do really nice colours and patterns these days.

Here is another precious photo this time of my dream come true...its in lola l'amor boutique,on Clayton road in jesmond, and shows my work displayed!two small canvas angel collages and up on the wall to the right are two large canvas collages of mine also.

and here in the glass cabinet are 3 of my journals....up until now i have only had cards or lace bracelets for sale so this was such a big thing for me. I was always a creative person, but when you have to wait for over 10 years before you can get your ideas out you certainly have alot of creative energy stored up inside your soul and just want to make and make!! and it doesnt really matter where it leads me or who likes it,its just a passion. I feel really lucky that the angels guided me to lovely people and places over the past year. after being tucked away for so long in a bedroom and no one really knowing who i am and what i'm about to have this presence in the world, with my artwork out there means so much to my heart and to my soul. And if i sell any its just a bonus, its more for the healing aspect to it all at the moment,as i am still limited in terms of what i'm up to making. And really it just means i can enjoy the making of more and have room for them in my small craft space!  Its so small, but i'm thankful to have it as a place to store everything i source. i have a small sofa too that i sit on and paint and sew. I couldnt sit up even in bed for years,so to do this now is amazing. It is such a dream i can't tell you....

Its hard sometimes to share things that are going good,as there's a part of you that fears doing so incase of it all turning back into a pumpkin or something, like with Cinders at 12 o'clock. When you've only had distress in your life and then things look up its a matter of trusting it.And i do because it feels intuitively to me, to be different now. See, the condition meant that at many stages before things went better but never held, and this i'm dating back to the onset of ME as a teenager and going into school thinking i was ok only to be off the following week or month. Trying so hard to make myself be ok and be able to get back to normal and yet the harder i tried the worse things only  seemed to get.And so as i heal there are different memories and patterns that come up and also alot of held emotion from some of the stuff i lived through that at times has been pretty scarey. I really value E.F.T.(emotional freedom technique) for this of which there is a link to info on it under the wellbeing section.

For anyone dealing with any sort of trauma whether recent or long held i can recommend it. healing isnt just physical it involves all levels of our being, emotional and spiritually too. All things have their timing. A bit like the seasons there is time for expansion and time for reflection, time for letting go of past pain and time for opening up to new joys. Sometimes i've found we can move through all of these on a weekly basis sometimes they take a few months at a time. may your time today be a productive and peaceful one, With love and kathryn wheels!(for bonfire night on the 5th!)kat xxx