Secrets of a Butterfly

Magical Magnolija

I love it when you stumble across a new find don't you, your heart skips a beat, whether it be to purchase or to just be inspired. I never share my 'finds' thinking i am the first to find them, i am sure Inga is well known already, with a pretty etsy and a flickr stream. But all the same i document her here because this space is where i collect together what inspires me and she certainly has. In her own words

"my name is Inga. I live in Vilnius in Lithuania and I'm in love with this city.
I am a student, learn to be a designer. I can't imagine my day without create something.
It's my Hobby, my Job, my Daily Life and I really love it!"    isnt that perfect!

Holly wrote a feature about staying true to what you love upon your blog which i read recently.
 She says... " I must confess, that blogging for nearly four years now has definitely improved my eye and sharpened my ability to curate and pull things that fit into my aesthetic. I believe that blogging, based upon my own personal experience, works wonders in this area. The more you “curate”, the more you come across a sort of pattern or spot a theme – you’ll notice that your tastes and interests start to become very, very obvious to not only your readers but to you" read the full post here

She was also saying how she always seeks to share only the things she loves not any that she is persuaded to feature or feels obliged to. I think this truth serves two purposes. One it keeps blogs heartfelt and two the blogger themselves charts their own personal course of loves and and finds what speaks to their hearts,which as Holly writes can be a handy way of finding your direction or your personal style or tastes in decorating and clothing and a whole host of things. it should never be all about publicising work just for the sake of keeping up a stream of posts should it. That takes the magic away.

And anyways though blogs are read by others they do initially stand as a journal for personal account, reflection and inspiration of the writer. I dont know about you but i always find the best blogs are those that share personally and from the heart of the writer. In the same way that art is most treasured and felt by the viewer when the artist or designer puts something of themselves into a piece. Otherwise its soul-less. Regardless of what their content focuses upon blogs need to be full of soul.
Speaking of soul i'd like to add the beautiful poem i found on Inga's etsy profile below, all the images in this post today are by Inga at her etsy shop, where she sells pictures and gorgeous clothing and accessories....love kathryn x

I wish I were a bird
Resting in my nest
By the tree
Under the open sky
Sun shining bright

All seems perfect
Star studded night
Moonlight perfect
The gentle breeze
Rustling of leaves

Music so vivid
Enjoying every bit
Sleep without tensions
Life of perfection
Free to fly

Liberated bonds
No fears
No hopes
Only a life to live
I wish I were a bird.....

Butterfly girl...Alexa

Butterfly girl......Alexa Chung...."A Parisian walk"  no.2  in the series.
click here for image credits
also just to add a big thankyou to the lovely Suze who featured me and some of my photos on her fab new blog, if you fancy a peek its here. I am clearing a nasty cold/throat thing at the mo (as many of us seem to have been lately!), so friends-if i'm not as 'around' you'll know why,xx

Adorable cuteness

 
Isnt this just adorable. a little rabbit family. Its made by Myko in Washington,US and her shop Myko Bocek studios is over at etsy. she also has just started blogging here. I have to show you some more of her work as its so expertly crafted from wool and vintage flowers and ribbon.

This pair of mice have a little baby nestled in a cradle I LOVE it so much i have to show you it in greater detail and from the back you can see their little tales entwined, Myko has thought of every last detail!

 Here is what Myko says " I am half Japanese and grew up on a rural farm in Delaware. My eclectic upbringing reflects my love of vintage and cute. Because of my love for vintage I try to incorporate it as much as I can into my work. I also use eco friendly materials such as wool yarn and wool felt which is sustainable. And I have repurposed many of the materials I use as well! :)
 I sculpt, draw, and love to create and have done so since I was a small child. Art has always been part of my life. I briefly attended the Art Institue of Portland in Graphic Design but consider myself a self taught artist. I currently work a full time job as a visual merchandiser for a beautiful (and large) Gift, Garden, and Home Decor store. And I'm a mom of four wonderful children, my youngest being 11 and my oldest is now 21."
"To make the cute animals I meticulously hand sculpt and shape the pom poms from wool yarn, wool felt with wool roving."

 
two sweet kittens in the grass and below the mouse with candy that i have ordered! i will be sure to share her with you when she arrives, at present she is on a plane somewhere over the ocean, cute wishes to you today, hope this has brightened your hour wherever you are reading from, kat x

My trinkets and treasure

As promised last post here is my own collection of things i treasure.If you'd like you can click on the pictures and they come up larger. Here there are:- Butterfly trinket boxes from dear friends Annie,Mary,Anna and my brother Neill, Bagpuss, Chloe perfume, Belle and Boo dove picture from mandy, two bunnies in wood heart resting upon that.  Some friendship bracelets recieved from friends over the years. A lola rose amazonite butterfly necklace. Paul and Joe makeup lies at the front. Some soaps in pretty packets. A special book i made. A swarovski aqua butterfly Mam got me on our holiday last year. A bowl of crystals. In the centre is a snowman from Frida, a badge with my name from when i was little, and a butterfly brooch of my Nanna's. The vintage china teacup and saucer came down in the family from my Grandma. By the way the bedspread is new i just got it from Laura Ashley and am really liking it, especially as it was half price. I love their sales!

.... these things that are so special to me, i guess they are like secret treasure, i think its nice that i get to share them with you my friends here at Secrets...if you'd like to share your own treasure leave a link in the comments, it'd be lovely to see, love and wishes K ps this is part 1,more to follow sometime soon....

Special treasures

1. Childhood Treasures, 2. corner of my home, 3. frames, 4. Untitled, 5. forgotten, 6. My kitchen shelves tell a story

This collection of pictures is of people's treasures and trinkets,the idea for this post was inspired by one of Jane's over at her blog Posy, where she shared Glimpses of her special treasures around her home here are two of her pictures below. You can pop over to see more, i love 'visiting' Jane's place in Devon.

Its been one of my favourite posts lately. And encouraged me to take some photos of my own treasured mementoes which i will post up soon. In the meantime i love seeing these little collections from others don't you? (the 3rd one down is one of my 'altar') I did a gallery of these sort of collections on flickr too,just nice to share a bit of magic and things that we love here at Secrets, hope you feel it too, love Kat xox

 

Butterfly girl....Keira

Butterfly girls....Keira....."tip toe quietly"

This is my 1st post in a new series under the category of Butterfly girls...i started to make them over the summer and am getting to share them now. i hope you'll enjoy them, they will be style crushes, inspiring voices,talented actresses, and just generally girls we'd all like to 'spend a day in the life of'!
for all image credits click here  love kat x

A present from Paris

 
Paula went to Paris the other month and then sent me a wonderful package in the mail. There were postcards from her trip to the palace of Versailles and some Laduree chocolate, along with the goodies above. I was so touched that she sent me these beautiful things. Its great isnt it, when we make friends through blogland and get to exchange mail. Thankyou so much P, x x

I wil share too a picture of her wearing the vintage lace bracelet that i sent her. You can visit the full post here and also see more of Paula's pictures as an English girl in Paris which follow on. Her blog has just lately had a fresh new look, the background is all little pink bows and its lovely!

and one of P's beautiful Parisian shots, more at her flickr

Paris is not somewhere i have been to. Though i know i would like it if i did. love kat

 
 

..there was a girl called Lula

Once upon a time there was a girl called Lula....

Do you know about Lula magazine? so many of us do, i know, and its become something of a little gem to look forward to over the months, being only produced twice a year. Maybe we get so used to glossies and celebrity and fashion being so readily available that when something comes along thats that bit different, but which we also have to, dare i say it- Wait for! it makes such a refreshing change doesnt it. There's something to be said for having to wait for the good stuff in life, maybe it makes us appreciate it more when it comes along. Here's just a glimpse of what lula's like.....

 

 
For those of us in the Uk Lula can be a little hard to find sometimes, the place it seems most avaliable is the store Borders. with Thanks to Mary for the sweetest handtied rose bouquet, tc K xx

My heart is magical

 
A little set i did on polyvore (click for links to images) xox

And a stamp set i got from Nothing Elegant who has some gorgeous and unique items from korea. i love doillies don't you. Heres what she says "My name is HyeKyung and I would like to showcase really pretty accessories and super cute stationery all made in Korea!
I really like to collect fresh, lovely and stunning things. So I really want to sell anything pretty. Expecailly stationery and accessories made in Korea." Think you'll love them as much as i do. kat x

Farewell summer

Flickr lovelies from = 1. seeing.summer.off, 2. A shelf, 3. Untitled

October now and the days have passed when we can sit outside here. I did catch a few moments of sun last week in the small front garden we have. Many people in the street have had there front area paved over often to park another car. But i need grass! and so do the birds,flowers and insects. So i hope dad has no plans there. i know he loves to be in nature as i do so i don't think he will.He has achieved a job he's wanted to get done for ages, tiling our front doorstep. It was in a mess for ages as the paint before had chipped off alot now it looks all smart!

 

I seem to have had a run of finding new blogs lately (does that happen with you, you'll not find anything for ages and then loads seem to come on the same browse...like one leading onto the next until you forget where it was you were coming from originally!)I  have added them in various sections down the sides as you can see, you'll notice the re-arrange if youre a regular here at Secrets. along with some other 'shop' type finds to the Beautifulness sidebar on the right here.

i hope you enjoy my links? i don't have sponsors as i'm an 'unprofessional blog'(!) so they are all just my own personal favourites. I make up many of the little boxes myself showcasing something i love from that person's blog or etsy. I think it gives a nice vibe to the place since they are all the same sort of thing that i am drawn to. I hope you agree and find them useful. I find the boxes are easier to touch on when browsing blogs on the iphone. ...till next time tc. kat x

P.s. can i ask fellow typepad bloggers...does anyone else have a problem with jamming while composing a post and the cursor turning to timer symbol and crashing the computer? it seems to happen more often than not and esp upon entering photos. Maybe i am doing something to encourage it, i would appreciate any comments if you've experienced it/solved it? thanks