Secrets of a Butterfly

Fabric journals,little knitted fairies and the cutest pink booties!

i just love notebooks, especially when they are coverd in vintage fabric like these ones above. As i mentioned on the earlier post, here are some further goodies from Amanda's online store Decorative County Living



 

She has some really pretty things! Before i go just had to mention I got some vintage china in the mail yesterday, its from a seller on ebay that i found. She has some gorgeous pieces and gives all the date and history details too. Will hope to share them with you soon, as i think, like me, you all love vintagey china with a history and a uniquenes don't you

I'm really glad you liked the Red Riding hood pictures,a new Butterfly girl should be coming up shortly. love K x0x

Silvery & festive

Browsing online at this time of year, you often come across many of the same decorations, so it can be quite special to find some that you havent seen elsewhere.
That happened when i returned to Decorative Country Living. They have expanded their ranges in all departments since my last visit. I have blogged about them before and they are listed on my sidebar.
 Based in a converted 19th Century chapel in the picturesque village of Caythorpe, in Lincolnshire. They sell a harmonious mix of antique, vintage and new items for the home and garden.

 Their website has gorgeous photos similar to the style you find in Country Living magazine. Now they have some gorgeous baby and toddler things and still stock their beautiful collection of heart related gifts in fabric and metal.

The Christmas range really impressed me. The photos here are from their site. The indiviual decorations are pricey. But if you continually use your decorations year upon year and want to add just one or two new then this site is worth a look. The gorgeous glass tealights in pink and silver colors are my favourite.




Part 2 on Decorative country living coming up soon! kisses n wishes Kat xx

Christmassy post

My chrissy-mas cards from the delightful Belle&Boo. do take a peek at the website or etsy store for some wonderful gifts and prints.



These two pics and the top one are from the website. My photos were a bit dark, thats what comes of the grey days with less sunlight...photos are less bright! I have started to wrap with help from Mam, we will get through them! I chose these papers with a vintage feel, i got them online at the dotcom giftshop.
a peek at some wrapped...
more pressie pictures to come in another post. have you started your christmas wrapping too? with friends abroad the parcels have to go off soon, hence why i seem ahead with mine..love Kat x

Wishes of Peace...my book

I have had such a happy day today...recently i have been compiling a book of photos and today the first copies arrived in the post from blurb.com. It has been something i have wanted to do for such a long time,so to have it in my hands is really quite amazing. I can't tell you how much it means, but i'm sure if you have followed my story you will be able to imagine.

"Wishes of Peace is a book to look at in moments of quiet reflection.

Combining words that uplift with photos that evoke happiness and gentle peacefulness.

Lets keep believing in the magic within all peaceful wishes...."

In describing the book up i'd say its like the essence of what you find here at Secrets of a Butterfly. The colors, the hope, the upliftment that i aim to share in my posts online but all inside a little book that can sit upon your bedside table, at least thats where i have placed mine :) The photos are my own, taken in and around my home. Some are from flickr and some i havent shared before. There are flowers picked in the garden, some nature photos such as trees and the ocean, along with things that have special meaning to me, such as the bunnies and a drawing from when i was 4. The accompanying wording sees each photo paired with its own wish for peace.

I truly believe in there being a power within words, especially when they are used in wishing or blessing another person,and with great love. Thats why i wanted the words to be simple but carry heartfelt meaning too.

Its been a personal project putting it together, but i am so pleased with how its turned out, that i thought it might be nice if i could share it with you. So i'm making it avaliable to buy on blurb.
Should you wish you can find all the details here. (I think if you wanted it for christmas if you order within the next few days or so it would arrive.) There are versions in hard back and soft back from £8. Blurb is international so prices and ordering can be done from your country.
Upon the site you can look through some of the pages inside my book too. If you do happen to get a copy or blog about the book being avaliable, please do let me know.
You were the first people i told, its just a small book, with 38 pages but it means a big amount to me, thankyou for being there to share in my dream becoming reality. Love Kathryn xox

Frankie giveaway winner

image credits

Thank you all for the great response to the Frankie photo book giveaway. I wish there could be more than one winner. Using a random number generator i'm pleased to announce the very lucky recipient of the book is Lucy who was comment number 9 (after taking out Amanda's notes as she wasnt entering having already got a copy). Lucy has a lovely jewelry web shop called The Parlor here. I hope to offer another giveaway in the future as its been fun! and i have another Frankie related post to come, probably later in the week, about the magazine. so chat soon, luv Kat x

image credits

From a kind heart

1. Somebody’s Memory, 2. Untitled, 3. Untitled

Memories, roads taken, written words from a kind heart, the warmth of a friend's hand.. they touch my heart as softly as fingers touch the petals of a rose. I treasure the moments we share together in one anothers company. Golden, bright, always a delight, where would i be without my friends old and new.
 
Thankyou Natasha for your kindness to me through the difficult times,your words mean a great deal (N's image the rose, is above) and for sending me a Frankie magazine from Australia i love it! She also included some of her gorgeous photo prints... i have 2 up on my wall in my bedroom, thats in the picture at the end of this post. And some are going in frames downstairs as luckily for me my parents like them just as much as i do. Check out Natasha's etsy shop if you havent already,as her work takes your breath away. I mixed the Magnolia photos of hers on my wall, in with some images from a Lula mag, so its soft, dreamy and peachy pink, my cuppa tea. I can't put them up in frames on these walls as they are actually cupboard doors that slide beneath one another, so everything has to be flat. Its handy though as it means theres alot of space floor to ceiling behind them and yet they also look like papered walls.

Watch out for a Frankie giveaway coming soon!......and thanks to everyone for asking after me i am pretty much through the virus, also thanks for the great feedback on liking my new banner,and writing blogs from the heart, which i shared about in the Magnolija post last week. It really helps me to hear your views and know you're out there caring,else blogging would get a bit lonely... bye for now friends,both near and far, kat x

images from inside Frankie and below my bedroom wall.....

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

 
 

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

Hush is Lush

Ok so forgive the corny rhyming title ...i just had to use it because its so very very true! Yes lately i have been unable to keep to my normal shopping habits as i havent really had cause for clothes. Well not the going out type at least. So thats where Hush have come to my rescue. You see presently most days i am having to either rest on the bed or on the sofa downstairs. I want to wear comfy clothes nothing restrictive but i still want to look presentable if someone comes round. And i need a welcome break from Pyjamas! Though they do do the most gorgeous versions of those too in brushed cotton..

Hush produce the most well thought out lounge wear i have ever found. They have been going for quite some years now, statring out as a little leaflet if i remember and now have expanded to a beautiful catalogue shot in a dreamy location in Australia where the founder originates from. Many of the items come in various colourways, and this is what i like best, because they do soft rose and raspberry shades which i adore. Not just the usual run of the mill navy or greys.

There are sloppy jumpers, and cardigowns, leggings, sheepskin boots, and one of my favourites legwarmers, oh and slouchy stripey bedsocks too. Its easy to mix there pieces in with things you already own, so that they become things to go out in too. well maybe not in the bedsocks but you know what i mean ;)

I have had such a boost from wearing their pieces and layering them together in various ways depending on our ever changeable weather! You can see 2 of my buys above. I also have some trousers, and nightwear from previous seasons. I find the stuff washes and wears so well and it last. Their website is a treat to browse too. With some great finds in the gift section...more on that in another post.
  I have this dress above that goes with the stripey hat. I think you'll all love their stuff as much as i do, till next time, tc love kat x

 

 

Its just Sew Cath Kidston

 

A brand new Cath Kidston Book is on the horizon,(jane did you hear?) i pre ordered at Amazon, i think its due Oct/Nov. there's also some new season stock in on the web shop, i picked out these little luxuries to share here. I am addicted to the little zip purses. I have about 3 but am always tempted by the new designs arent you? There's also a nice vintage floral duvet set, a less bright design than there has been in the past. exciting kxx