« February 2011 | Main | April 2011 »
Today's peek into the Secret Wardrobe reveals some treasures for a tea party and dress for a summer's day.
Dress from Boutique by Jaeger, clogs by Miu Miu, Bag in Liberty print for the charity Comic Relief, Cake stand in the Flutters and Fancies range at John lewis, Bake book at Oliver Bonas, Candle at Marks and Spencer, Tea set by Linea at House of Fraser, Cushion by Kirstie Allsopp at Bhs
Love
I am a spiritual traveller, i traverse worlds of insight and knowledge, collecting the beautiful and treasuring the Earth's gifts. I somehow find, i am always where i need to be on this journey of the heart
I was going to go into the Enchanted wood to see what i could find to share with you this weekend. As regular readers know i often post the Wood photos i find on a weekend.
But to be honest i'm feeling sad and a bit low in spirits today after a rough night and a kind of up and down week in general. Spirits raised spirits dashed, that sort of thing.
So i needed to find a few images that spoke to me in a different way and collect them together. Finding the beautiful and sharing my feelings here, in order to bring a balm to my heart. ( and using my essence sprays too)
We can connect through expressing the reality of our inner feelings and find we still are accepted in a warm embrace.
Wherever we are in the journey and however we may feel, this blog is a space for all, whether that be insecurities, confidences, realities or dreams....
We navigate many different worlds within a day and need not judge ourselves any the less for feeling overwhelmed than for when we feel on top of the world - i needed to remember this today.
Love YOU lots lovely friends readers and new followers - thank you for helping me to find new ways of expressing in the world, a new sense of purpose even within the tougher moments, for listening and valuing what i have to say here and for commenting with care,
image sources: Artwork by MaeChavrette on etsy and girl photos (i havent an original source? please comment if you know it) but i found them via California Closet
Holly wrote a beautiful post from her heart, about the need to believe in ourselves and in our dreams.She included this photo, of the canvas collage i made her as a gift to celebrate her birthday & book launch.Its so special to see something you made arrive at a friend's home. I don't think i will ever tire of that lovely feeling {smile}
I loved the story Holly shared, of how as a child she wrote a little book, "Alana's wish" and made enough copies so that she could sign them and hand them out to the waiting queue of toys upon her bed {smiles}....and now her dream of a tour, and signing copies of her very own book has come true!! (the full post is here)
Reading her words about how my parcel arrived at her house, it sounds like it was perfect timing ( also known as syncronicity), she was guided to go down and get it, despite no noise to say it was there waiting .. i had a few tears reading this.
For I know that feeling myself, when a parcel full of friends kindness arrives at my home at just the right moment after a really hard time. Its so uplifting that feeling of connection and care.
Seeming to have been delivered with an angels touch. (it happened to me this week with a package from Julie...more on that in another post)
The universe is so clever so orchestrated, it brings it home to me that I am never in this alone and that a million little things are always being done to assist me.
I think gratitude, recognition and appreciation of this type of syncronicity is what allows it to expand and occur more and more in our lives.
Who says the every day cannot be magical, we don't have to be a child at a theme park to feel wonder, awe and magic in the world.
Making this collage is something i have wanted to do for about a year. The illness i have (and the way i feel even though i am healing from it), is largely to do with exhaustion, so I wasnt well enough to do it till just recently. To create it, was my own dream coming true. I have so many ideas and things i's love to make and create and for so long these things have just been inside me or on bits of paper, or in notebooks. Waiting like little seeds without light and water or even soil. There are conditions that have to come together in order for dreams we hold dear to come about and the biggest of these is health.
There is always a right time for them. Things i believe never happen by chance.
Holly living her dream of writing a book and seeing it in the homes of people around the world, is amazing and inspiring. It seems a world away to me, especially considering i feel soooo tired today. But it doesnt matter how big or small a dream is, it still takes the same magic to bring it about.
All dreams are worth believing in. They wouldnt be in your heart without there being a good reason for them to be.
Look for the little things, look for a hidden meaning that only your heart can whisper to you.
I promise it's there. Let the blanket of snow that covers these whispers just melt in the light, and see what treasure is uncovered.
The gift I gave Holly has a quote upon it to Believe in your dreams.
I believe in mine. I'm not alone, because i know if youre reading this, you believe in yours too.
Love & blessings
I recieved my copy of the new interiors book, Decorate yesterday and couldnt wait to show you some of my favourite pages, as well as share my review.
Its always a treat to purchase a new interiors book, but this one is that bit extra special, as it's been co-written by a fellow blogger and friend Holly Becker, whom i'm sure you know through her popular blog of the same name Decor8
I must confess I have quite a collection of interior books upon my shelf, the ones with beautiful photos of people's homes.
Decorate is by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick with photography by Debi Treloar.
The thing that surprised me upon settling down to look through my copy of Decorate for the first time, is how unique it is. Its not at all like other titles I have on my bookshelf already. Its a weighty book, both physically and in the amount of information it imparts. It could so easily be overwhelming, yet the balance is kept and it is interesting, informative, instructional and inspiring, in equal measure.
The rooms are from homes around the world, which gives such a variety of styles from which to choose. The influence of different countries is evident yet the book retains an overall cohesiveness.
The photography is done in such a way that you feel a part of the rooms you are looking at and can almost imagine living in them, curling up on an inviting sofa, washing up a plate or two at the belfast sink....
I must admit to not always finding the text inviting to read in other decor books i own, and I tend to take in more from the photography alone. Yet here in Decorate the writing sections are laid out in such a way that you find yourself drawn into reading them, almost without trying!
I especially like the quotes (both in large type and smaller) dotted through out the pages and inside the front & back cover. I'm a quote loving girl, but as well as simply bring pretty to look at, the words within them are really helpful tips that stick in your mind.
There is a place for online decorating inspiration of course and especially blogs, which bring us so much on a regular basis (the author Holly writes one of the best herself) but then there is still equally, a place for books.
It seems easier to find the spark of an idea for your own decor when you can turn the pages at leisure with a nice cuppa and notebook to hand.
I have only had my copy a day and already I have an idea for a fireplace and a bathroom wall. Two things I had searched online for inspiration for- and not found.
Decorate is an encyclopaedia of knowledge,
that can't fail to inspire whatever your budget or period of home.
There are dream rooms to emulate,
there are little touches to replicate.
There are also practical tips you can use with ease, ways to organise your belongings in a stylish way and recommendations on how to plan your projects to successfully fufill what you envision.
It will help you add colour and life to your home, in however small or large a way you would like.
I guess it's like having an interior designer all to yourself,whenever you need their advice you just need to open the book and turn the page!
Love
These oh so pretty treats of pampering products are just the thing to bring something special to a friend's day, or to save up and spend some extra pennies upon.
Inside the Apothecary cabinet today....
MOR lip delight, MOR Belladonna butter, Daisy Eau so fresh Eau de toilette, Rose & Co Rose water hand cream, Molton Brown Rose Granati hand wash, This works turbo balm
Love
Just thought i'd post some pictures from my home, i took some of the first bunch of daffodils this spring. They are cheering me with their sunny yellow on my window sill. I got the willow tree angel as she has a butterfly in her hands, and its called Freedom.
The gift was from my friend Janey, and its a beautiful vintage lavender pouch. I love it, and its been handmade with such care.
She creates them for wedding favours and you can find them on her website Sweet days and roses.
There are some heart shaped ones as well, i think they make perfect gifts.
Thank you kindly to those who left comments on my post for Japan and donated to get the postcards, they'll be in the mail to you all soon, there are still a couple of sets left if anyone would like those please read my previous post,
Love
Watching the news daily about Japan, i am struck not just by the awfulness of what's happened but by the courage and dignity of the Japanese people. Something also tugs at my heart strings as i watch the pictures and see the unfolding aftermath of such devastation. I find myself wanting to do something to help. Yet what can i do?...the situation is not beyond hope, for that would be to under estimate the bravery of those involved and their strength of spirit. But i feel so far away its as if i can do nothing to benefit them.
Wondering about this brought me back to something that i often feel, when struck by something on such a huge scale, it can either freeze or mobilize us. This seems true for both those within an experience and those simply hearing or seeing pictures of it.
Not always do we have a choice as to which, especially if we are a part of the event.
But watching as we are, it seems there is a conscious decision we can take, do we stay in our heads and try to comprehend the incomprehendable or we move into our heart and do something, however small, to make a difference within this global community in which we are now all such an intricate part.
But what can we do, realistically, just us, little and seemingly so removed from a situation such as this, the aftermath of the earth quake - tsunami.
Seeing people there within the devastation, having to try to survive and do the smallest things to keep going. Makes you realise that, yes small simple acts do have an immense value even in such a huge disaster. Infact they are the only thing that so many have to hold onto as a way forward.
And so this leads me to the reason for posting. Just i know it is leading many others around the world on their blogs and within there etsy shops.
About a month ago i started collecting together some donations from my favourite illustrators for a giveaway I am planning here at my blog to mark its 4th birthday.(hopefully more on that later in March)
Kayo Tamaishi my friend in Yokohama, Japan,(who is thankfully safe and well) kindly sent me 10 copies each, of two of her postcard prints from her etsy shop last month. They are the designs shown in the photos here.
Now though, instead of using them in my giveaway - i thought it would be wonderful if we could, together, raise a bit of money for the Red Cross Japanese appeal.
So i am offering the postcards up to you dear readers. All you have to do is be amongst the first 10, to leave a comment on this post to say you would like a set of 2.
I will then email you to confirm they're still avaliable and you can give me your address to mail them to. And then you can make your donation. I am suggesting an amount of £5.00 or $8.00 Which you will need to donate directly yourself to The Red Cross Japanese appeal, through the appropriate website/text number in your country.
Thanking you in advance for taking part in my little, but meaningful way of caring about Japan,
Love Light and Hope to everyone,
First thanks so much to those of you i have heard from in the past few days on the Angel post and the post about my photo. Its been so lovely to have your company and to read your thoughts.
I did quite a few replies in the comments section, which maybe you caught, and if you emailed me, then i shall be replying as and when energy reserves are there, know you'll understand any delays ;)
I shan't say i spoke too soon about feeling better, but uh, i have been feeling more poorly again...its the nature of it that there are ups n downs. And maybe the next "up" will stick longer. Thats seems often the way, a little 'snakes and ladders' but you know i'm going in the right direction and thats what counts to me, hey.
In the mean while, lets talk about something fun shall we... What sort of jewellery do you tend to like? Do you have any fave designers or etsy makers? You can see some of the bits n pieces that caught my eye in the collage above.
I seem to pick things in gold or silver with little charms upon them, or gemstones, that rather like tatoos, have a personal significance to me.(they are just easier to remove than permanent ink -just as well as i do tend to go through phases as to which are my favourite!)
the treasures above, would be just a few of the things you'd find inside my dream jewellery box.....
top left to right..turqouise ring at Urban Outfitters, Moonstone ring by Monica Vinader, Isabel Marant tasseled drop earrings, Green navajo inspired earrings at Urban Outfitters, Luna Lights amethyst earrings by Ac Biography at Astley Clarke, Ac biography lotus charm necklace from Astley Clarke, Golden butterfly pendant by Alex Monroe, Golden Om bracelet at Liberty, Purple crown chakra bracelet by Daisy at Mywardrobe.
Till next time,
Ps, Alex Monroe (who the butterfly is by)is giving £5 from each website sale, to the Red cross Japan appeal.
My favourite childhood books were The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton.
Enchanted Wood, is a cataegory of posts upon my blog, where we can revisit and reawaken the connection to nature and the magic that we may miss from childhood.
Its a place where the photographs can take you inside of them, into another world, where you can rest a while, feel the enchantment about you and begin to remember your self and your dreams beyond ordinary reality.
Where pixie dust, and fallen leaves mix together, where bells can be heard and magicalness lives. Come with me, take steps into the Enchanted Wood, hear its forgotten whispers with your heart and breathe in its peacefulness.
This collection is specially for you if you are going through, or have just come through, a really hard time. It is made for you by your angel to deliver a message of hope and reassurance, that it won't be this hard forever.
by Mayu
I hope in the Enchanted wood, you feel your angel watching over you, cherishing all that you dream of and holding you softly in their love.
by Dorien Coremans
I hope in times of need, we can all sense that we are never in this alone.
by Mayu
by Mayu
Allow comforting wings to enfold you for a few moments. In this space beyond time,a forest angel wishes to reach out to your heart and impart Peace
with love
P.S.this post includes photos by Mayu(a Japanese contact on my Flickr)i felt i wanted to include lots of photos from Japan, and just wanted to say to Mayu that we are thinking of her and everyone there at this awful time after the earthquake and tsunami,xx
Whenever i have had a photo taken this past year and half, i haven't felt well or really looked myself.
So it was a big thing to me, when last week i had been feeling better and had a photo taken in our living room. I think it looks like the kathryn i have been missing.
I have used it on my facebook, replacing one from a few years back. And think i'll change the little one on here too.
Its just a little thing, this photo, but its something that means so much. Its actually quite emotional to post this picture and share these words to be honest.
There are parts of me apprehensive for it, (the feeling better that is) to hold, and if i write of it, will it go, and then there is a part that just wants to be in the moment and mark something good for a change. So i'm going with my heart and saying it. {smile}
I am really into scarfs right now. I have a few i rotate depending on how i feel that day. The one here is a Noa Noa and one of my favourites.
On another note, as some of you who saw my facebook page know, things have been harder round the house. My Mam is having a lot of pain in her leg, causing walking to be much more difficult even than normal for her. She is being so brave but its been going on since before Christmas with both sciatica and muscle tightness being the cause.
Thankfully, a Chiropractor we found out about in February, is now really helping. Its a long road to full recovery for her, but the fact that she has support and someone so knowledgeable to give the treatment is a real relief.
I hadnt known much about what a Chiropractor can offer before, but its so interesting and may even be a therapy that i could benefit from at a future point. The Wellness centre is a lovely place, and they work with all sorts of people. Often with clients during pregnancy and with newborns, who have a need for realignment after the birthing process.(not surprisingly really, considering all that pressure on their neck, head and spine) By relieving pressure and aligning, it can rebalance the whole being, with the nervous system and organs then able to perform better and energy flow smoother as a result. Fascinating and very healing stuff.
I have some photos of Whisper to share before long, and also a Giveaway coming up this month to mark my 4th anniversary of blogging! ( yes 4 years!!) So i hope you shall keep dropping by, as i love to hear from you.
Take care my lovelies,especially my dear lil japanese 'sister' Kayo who is thankfully, safe and sound, but who is in the midst of such an awful time in her country,our thoughts prayers, light & love are with you dearest Japan,
k xoxo
