Secrets of a Butterfly

Blossoms of friendship,kinship and belonging

Today i'm just imagining sitting here, in this beautiful garden, beneath this blossom and its spring and its a year since Secrets of a Butterfly began and in my heart i'm feeling thankful for everything thats come along since then, and how nice it is to know friends are out there reading this and smiling along with me.

Here's what i said in my first ever post a year ago today....

hi there This is a blog where i can link up with my friends and other crafters and share what i find inspiring. usually by way of things i see ,books or clothes or magazines and recommend places to visit online. be it your standard highstreet shop, or a one off boutique. I intend to share my secrets from the ordinary to the extraordinary, the mundane to the magical. please won't you join me and we'll discover new things along the path. everyday has magic about it in its own particular way. and the best part is sharing that with others. thats what blogs have come to symbolise for me, a way to connect with others on the same "page" of life. blessings Kx

A year (and quite a few more pages)on and i'm pretty sure i've been following my original intentions and having made some wonderful friends along the way i can certainly say that its all been so worthwhile, i've also got to track my health and seen my improvements,as well as how my crafts have developed. An added bonus has been the way writing from my heart to you all has helped my emotional healing journey and how i found through where my thoughts lay and what i was discussing, it reflected alot of where i was at and gave me further pointers as to what needed my attention. a sort of 'writing therapy' through sharing here. So thankyou all for that,cause if it werent for you i'd feel i was writing into thin air.

i love our little community,and the feeling i have of belonging and being a part of something.i like how i can drop by my friends blogs when i want to and find words that touch me and lift me and how i can respond and you recieve it instantly, wherever we are around the world. You are like my fellow butterflies and we, like the butterflies on the garland below, are connected by invisible threads of friendship and care,crafting and an appreciation for the little things, that don't have to cost the earth but make life good and make us smile more often than we frown  ( :

Butterfly Garland prize draw

I wanted to give something away to celebrate my anniversary and so if you leave a comment on this Post and with your name(be sure that when commenting that i have your email address to reply to also) then i will add your name into the hat and draw out a lucky winner.you will win this beautiful butterfly garland in pinks, whites and greens. the butterflies are on a clear thread and can hang along a curtain pole or around a mirror.They're from Monsoon and are so pretty. I would ask whisper or jasper to pick a name out(like other people ask their kids) but i think they'd struggle or just eat the pieces of paper! so you'll just have to trust me to be fair, and i think you know me well enough by now to know i will be!draw will close in 14 days,smiles and butterfly wishes,and lots of luck to you if you choose to enter,kat x

i guess thats why they call it the blues

hi friends just a short message today to share this angelic quote with you and a little warmth by the fire courtesy of Toast as its very cold just now, ...and a couple of other blue things that have come my way lately. I will be back on the 31st as its my 1st anniversary as a blogger and i have to come up with a special way to mark it, a giveaway maybe....keep you 'posted!'

A new blanket thats wool and a bluey grey. i love snuggling under a good blanket,find a similar style online here

my new jeans i just LOVE them and the little dove on them too, i know i'm gona live in these!!

Bit of a grey day in Hexham yesterday but still nice to be out and i took my umberella, which was needed!

love Kat xx

Easter blessings & bunnies

Easter wishes to all my blog friends, i hope you enjoy your easter break and have a pleasant Sunday.

I had to post this picture of Whisper and Jasper,it was taken a few weeks ago as the weather has been colder since and so they havent been out in their run much at all. But it took me ages to get them to be still enough next to each other to get this photo!!

So happy easter from us, love kat

photo from Seasons and celebrations.

Chocolate egg and oreos

My lovely suprise today an easter egg from mike, and a kit kat one, my favourite, mmm. thankyou treasure it was SO nice of you to think of me. and here's a couple of pics of my fav advert on tv at the moment, its for the biscuit Oreos, and features this cute little boy and his adorable dog, who's waiting patiently licking his lips, for a bite of biscuit and the little boy's telling him...  "sorry mum says dog's can't have biscuits so i'll have to eat yours too, ...never mind Charlie" (and he ruffles his dog's head)..... you really have to see it to know how good it is,but i tried to give the general idea here ( :

Its been snowing alot here the past twentyfour hours,but its not lying much. Will be back tomorrow to wish you a happy easter, love Kat x

Bunnies,cards and gifts all round

This post is going to be a very big thankyou to my friends for their easter presents and wishes, you have really uplifted my spirits lately and its good to feel that even if i havent been in blog land or texting for a while, i am still thought of. Above is a little knitted mouse(lovely pink colour!) and bunny from Luigi that were tucked inside the rainbow knitted bag, he and his mummy Anna got them from a charity fundraising stall. They contain cadburys cream eggs too. anna also gave me these by East of indiathe quote reads

'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away'

Today i had two things in the post that were such a lovely suprise the first a chocolate bunny from annie in the Isle of wight,i really appreciate it Silver star as i know how things are so horrible for you and i really want you to focus all your energy on yourself. you are in my thoughts and prayers this Easter and always will remain so.

and the 2nd a package fromtracy containing beautiful handmade bracelets and a knitted flower brooch along with postcards of places close to her heart,all the way from Norway Thankyou honey! Handmade treasures are always so special to recieve,and i really needed it at the moment as i havent been feeling so well.

i added the brooch to my vintage fabric bag that i've had for ages fromLouise loves she's had some more on just lately, they are made from vintage eiderdowns with bamboo handles.the bracelets fit lovely and are just my colours...

I sent out quite a few birthday packages in March i tried to send gifts that i'd made this year, as i think its just that bit different and more meaningful if you can. though of course its not always possible is it, for one reason or another.Here is a picture of the canvas i gave Kate in Scotland with a close up (hello wee friend!)its her birthday tomorrow so Happy birthday to you hon, and its Mary's (who made me the handcrafted paper box for my birthday)today so happy birthday to you too Angel. I gave mary a willow tree figurine and have something i made to send her when she moves house at the end of the month. i won't share it here incase it spoils the suprise.

Speaking of suprise presents i can show you what i gave to Luigi at easter as he has opened it now, so it won't matter if mummy sees it on here its from an etsy seller tiddly winks and he's called baby simon, he's very soft as his body is made of fleece.he just said luigi when i saw him.i hope he has passed on my cuddles to you, i sent him off with many.(anna had given me Veronica bunny made by the same person at Christmas.)

Michelle at Cowboys and custardthankyou for the lovely card you made i got it today and i love the badges!so cool i havent had a chance to get your parcel to you but i know you don't mind,hope the suspense of waiting for the suprise pressie isnt too much! lastly thanks to Amy for the easter card she made me, such sweet bunnies!i'm so glad you had a nice time around your birthday it was lovely to get your letter and hear your news about it. i know it can be hard but your outlook is a brave and one which will see you through hon.

Thats all for today,take care everyone, love kat x

Books that have special meaning to me

This book is my favourite at the moment. I've had others over the years which share about the same principles but this just has a simplicity to it that i like. The concepts are explained really beautifully and its a technique which Summer and her family have used in both serious and less so serious times in their lives, so its been benefitial to hear about it put into practice too. rather than just as a list of points to follow. There was a time in my life when i was so weak and yet had to do something that was the most challenging thing and i had to just allow myself to be pulled along in the flow.I just couldnt have done it otherwise. This flow is what Summer tells us about. It can be termed Universal force, Love, Light, God or whatever term feels comfortable, but essentially it is that Greater power that we are all made of and remain within. For there is nowhere it isnt and nothing outside of it.

When we surrender into this flow and go with it,amazing things can happen,life and all its facets can become easier to handle.Its destressing and relaxing.Things have more of a habit of falling into place, we are going with a current rather than pushing against one.

Its here in this state of calm Summer explains, that if we allow our mind's to drift and daydream we are directing our thoughts and these in turn attract things in our lives. Because as the saying goes 'everything that is created was at first, and for a time, a dream.' If you would like to get this book may i recommend Cygnus Books,here's a little about them from their website....

Cygnus can help you find the best books on health and healing, spiritual transformation, personal growth, psychic development and environmental concerns. The titles we sell are chosen with great care and thought, to help you explore ways to grow, heal and savour the fullness of life. All these books are offered to you at reduced prices, so you can feed your soul, without burning a hole in your pocket! Cygnus offers lots of wonderful features and messages, written by experts in the mind body and spirit field, to guide, uplift and inspire you. we publish a monthly magazine, the Cygnus Review, which you can receive FREE OF CHARGE.Choosing us-You are also supporting a company which believes that generosity, trust and kindness are just as important as making a living!

On the theme of favourite books,books that have supported, nourished my soul,uplifted my heart and taught me so much over the years are pictured here,(many of which i bought from Cygnus.) I just thought it'd be nice to share them with you....

from the back row on the right:

1) Peace Angels by Antoinette Sampson:A combination of words and pictures with an inspiring message - that the peace of angels is always near. A great book to give someone in time of need,to offer friendship and comfort.

2) Mudras.Yoga for your hands by Gertrud Hirschi:Hand and finger yoga positions are claimed to enhance health, relieve stress, prevent illness and support the healing of a variety of physical and emotional problems. This guide explains how they can be practised anytime and anywhere, encouraging readers to relieve that stress

3) Vintage Inspirations by Jane Cassini : vintage and antique finds for the home,including lace, brooches and fabrics, beautifuly photographed

4) Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell: as the sub heading reads Sumptuous settings and other lovely things all in the style she has made so popular

5) Home Sanctuary by Josephine Collins:teaches you how to make the place you live a space you love. Follow the steps in this book to a greater understanding of the relationship between you and your home as a place of healing, happiness and sanctuary.

6) Fragrant Heavens by Valerie Ann Worwood:It describes how plant energies can effect a positive connection between the physical and spiritual self, and how fragrance is associated with the human aura.  aroma can be used in healing, prayer and meditation. provides a definitive reference to over seventy oils,and which mix well together, explaining their uses with regard to spiritual and vibrational medicine.

NEXT row:7) I hope you Dance by M.D. Sanders:Draws on the lyrics of the award-winning song "I Hope You Dance" and expands on their ideas of courage, hope, and love to offer inspiration and encouragement. A great gift book with inspiring photos and words

8) Emissary of Love by James Twyman:In January 2001, a child named Marco touched James F. Twyman's finger. Within days of the brief, innocent contact, Twyman apparently began to manifest new and incredible abilities: he found that he could alter the form of matter, read thoughts, and even transmit images to others using only the power of his mind. Four months later, Twyman travelled to Bulgaria to find Marco and discover the mystery behind his psychic powers. This book contains his findings.

9)Everything i've ever done that worked by Lesley Garner:This beautiful collection of short essays by renowned journalist Lesley Garner acts as spiritual and emotional first-aid kit. Lesley explains, ‘I wrote this book because I think I know what to do and then life bowls me over again and I forget. I decided to get my experience down on paper so that I could turn to it, like a friend.’ The book contains things that work in darkness and things that work in daylight. There are techniques that will help you plan your journey and techniques that will light the next inch of the path when you’ve lost your way. They’ll give comfort in a crisis but they’ll also inspire you to lead a deeper, richer life. Practical, insightful and moving, this book is the perfect gift for those looking for inspiration.

10) Dance by Oraih Mountain Dreamer:Taking the content of her first book deeper, The Dance picks up where 'The Invitation' left off. Each chapter of this book begins with a line from the original poem, and explores our ability to open up to the adventure of living, facing love, sorrow and anger and learning all they have to teach us.  * Relationships - what we get wrong and how to fix them * Money - what it means and how to enjoy it * Ways to overcome fear and loneliness * Humour - how to be happier * How to find balance and harmony in your life The author answers each of her insightful questions by taking readers with her on a deeply personal, yet universal and inspiring, journey of the heart.

11) A return to Love by Marrianne Willamson:People are taught to be separate from one another and to compete to get ahead, that they are not good enough the way they are. This work provides a spiritual travel guide back to the truth people were born with and and shows how to accept back into their hearts the love that has been denied.

Front row: 12)The Nature of Friendship by Sarah Lugg:This is a beautiful little book of quotations about friendship, illustrated with Sarah Lugg's delightful art and collages. a pretty book for a good friend

13)Love poems of Rumi edited by Deepak Chopra:Born Jalal ad-Din Mohammad Balkhi in Persia in the 13th century, the poet known as Rumi expressed deep feelings of the heart through his poetry. This volume consists of new translations to evoke the mood and music of Rumi's love poems.

14) The Golden Cup by Marcia Willet:is one of my favourite gentle fictional booksParadise has been home to generations of Trevannions: Paradise, the house at the head of a sheltered Cornish valley where Mrs Trevannion lives, surrounded by her family. Frail and elderly Honor Trevannion, bedridden following a nasty fall, is inexplicably anxious and distressed by the arrival of a young American bearing an old black and white photograph of a double wedding and looking for a long-lost relation. Her children Bruno and Emma, granddaughter Joss and faithful cousin Mousie try to nurse Honor back to health, unaware of the secrets which she keeps from those closest to her. Increasingly troubled and confused, she begs Joss to find a cache of letters which have been hidden for fifty years. Too late to hear the story from Honor herself, the family are faced with revelations which could destroy the tranquillity of life in their beloved valley. Will they be torn apart or can they unite in admiration for one woman's courage in standing by the life-changing decision she made so many years ago?

15) Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff:September 1939. Overnight, Jewish nineteen-year-old Emma Bau's world is turned upside down when Germany invades Poland. And after only six weeks of marriage, her husband Jacob, a member of the Resistance, is forced to flee. Escaping the ghetto, Emma assumes a new, Christian identity and finds work at Nazi headquarters. As secretary to the charismatic Kommandant Richwalder, Emma vows to use her unique position to gather intelligence for the Resistance, by any means necessary. Poignant, affecting and gripping, 'Kommandant's Girl' is the beautifully written story of one woman's struggle to survive one of the darkest periods in human history.

16) A Passion for Charms by Amy Elliott:From magical amulets that promise the wearer good luck to tiny trinkets that commemorate important anniversaries, journeys and lovers, these beloved baubles are not only sentimental keepsakes but are, once again, the height of fashion. "A Passion for Charms" is guaranteed to enchant long-time charm-wearers and collectors, but it will also delight jewellery junkies and anyone drawn to the romance of family heirlooms, found objects, and fairy-sized treasures. The ideal gift for anyone who loves jewellery and enjoys collecting it.

I hope you have enjoyed this little peek into my world through the books that have a special meaning to me. Goodnight and Good blessings to you my friends Kat x

Self portrait challenge 'Finding my grace'

I love Erica's flickr photos so much, her use of light and how she's always capturing the true spirit of her little girl, is amazing.Her photos are more than just the image they speak to you and have a message almost. Like if you listen hard enough when you look at them you can hear the whispers of your own carefree inner child coming through,saying 'i'm like that too,i still want to dance barefoot in a frilly skirt or feel the wet grass beneath my feet, can we have some fun like that again like we did long ago, i miss it'......

Lately i visited her blog Bits n pieces of a happy life and found there that she is doing the Self portrait challenge. It looks a really good idea and i had a go today with doing my own version.here's what it says on the site......

The aim of this site is to create a community - an online community of people participating in a continuous artistic self-expressive art project.

To give a voice to those who want to speak

To encourage self-analysis and self-expression and self-exploration in people who would normally not be able to or don’t have a venue or audience for such.

To encourage people to challenge their personal boundaries

To free up inhibitions and allow that inner hidden something to be occasionally seen.

I'm deciding whether to join the group as its an on-going commitment. I think it has taught me alot about myself, taking my own picture though. I found it harder than i expected to get any soul into the photo,compared to when a loved one takes it and you are smiling at them rather than just a lense of a camera carefully balanced upon a shelf! But anyway i gota a couple of good ones that i'm happy with, and which once cropped down,have avoided any clutter strewn about around me!! Cause my room isnt as tidy as it can appear ( :

In naming this post i wasnt sure where to start,then i thought about the picture of me and how it is gentle and soft and yet how i know i am strong in side too,the two sides of the same coin. i feel that sums up the word grace to me a gentle strength, the source of which is Spirit ,personal to each of us.

To move with life rather than against it we have to find that grace inside ourselves,where there is a balance of soft yielding-ness and strong determination.Its that place where our human and divine selves meld and are one in the same. Grace comes from that part of us that is so often hidden, it is where beauty resides, not the kind of beauty the media and society seem to push upon us, a beauty that has to be flawless and ageless on the outside, but the kind of beauty that is in us because of the true nature of our soul, the beauty that comes through us and shines. The kind as a child we had naturally and effortlessly and that erica's photography captures and reflects back to us.

We long to connect with ourselves, there is a part in us all that wants to be seen as beautiful. not that we have to be perfect before we accept that we do have beauty.  Beauty is everywhere we can wake up and see it in our own eyes and when we do we soar.

Its an ongoing process of course, but when we see into our own eyes after taking the photos we have to recognise we deserve our own blessing, just the same way that we would bless anyone else. We are no different. I'm learning not to hold back on that blessing and to shine is to be strong not vulnerable.this is my lesson, what's yours? maybe you see it when you look into your eyes? love kat x

Delicately crafted

Megan Park is from Australia but now resides in London and creates collections with the skills of artisans and embroidery specialists in Delhi,India. Her home wares which include sumptuous cushions in gorgeous fabrics and delicately beaded throws,were closely followed by a womenswear collection,after many years spent designing for others to live her dream in this way must be why her collections are so inspiring. I find her belief in using the most skilled people and her commitment to fair work practices with them,is inspiring, and this care and attention is reflected in the prices of the handmade pieces in her collections. To come up with the concepts and designs and be able to follow through on them, having them made and then seeing the finished articles distributed, is what i admire. I adore the colours she uses and the way her beautiful things transend fashion, a bit like Alice Temperley's designs do too. They are heirlooms and works of art, which those who have them are lucky enough to own.