Secrets of a Butterfly

The Gardener

 

 
Hello Sweetpeas,as you probably know by now i adore the work of British Jewellery designer Alex Monroe and have quite a few of his pieces from over the last, oh what must be 5 years or so now. So I was delighted to come across his new collection The Gardener,which on his website already! I hadnt been expecting it till the Spring.

 As you know my own garden has been such an important thing in my life because its where i have been able to venture to when traveling any further was out of the question. It has been invaluable as a way of connecting with nature and all the healing things that it has to offer, such as sunlight and fresh air, watching birds and picking flowers. For 5yrs or more even this world was out of reach to me, so it holds even more of a precious place in my heart. Consequently anything that represents that healing environment to me is very symbolic, like a talisman. indeed apples themselves have somehow come to symbolise health to me. And a key has come to represent a type of freedom, an opening up, or having the key to my questions now with me.

I have a soft spot for peas because of eating them raw from the pods as a child at my dad's allotment. So i am rather taken with the pea pod necklace. But and its a big but, there's also a key though. Which to me is like the Secret Garden key that you open to enter a whole new beautiful world. One i imagine to be full of magical things,like little water fountains, rose bushes, badgers and red squirrels...just like in the film there'd be a wooden swing too,with trees in blossom, and the little robin. So now i think you've helped me pick, i am decided on the key. I really want to add it to my list for Christmas now. love Kat x
ps here's some of our little garden at various times of year. Its my dad who is the gardener and keeps everything going,(thankyou Dad xx) he grows alot from seed in the greenhouse. Flower for hanging baskets and vegetables for the allotment. My best friend Jo loved her garden, she would have been 41 today but passed away from cancer in 2006. So i am dedicating this post to her. Xxxox

 

Wings of delight

 

I don't have a favourite type of butterfly, but i have always liked the delicacy of these tiny Holly blue ones. I heard that its Save our Butterflies week in Britian up until the 2nd August. Although there are many butterflies about this year, many of these arent resident to the Uk, they are the varieties that migrate often from far flung places such as Africa.  Infact there could be as many as a billion Painted lady butterflies scattered about the county here in August!

 The picture for native British butterflies remains mixed. Numbers appear to be up on the previous two summers, which were extremely wet and not good conditions for them. This summer has been better, in spite of the recent showers. This is particulary good news for the endangered Heath Fritillary,(seen below) which appears to have rallied and is having a good year.Butterflies seem to be nothing but resilient in spirit. They may look delicate but think of the strength it takes to fly,and as far as they do too!

 I recently found out about a charity aimed at helping them: Butterfly Conservation  with 14,000 members, one of their main goals, involves seeking ways to save habitat that support the butterflies life cycle here in the Uk. You can add species sitings to the website, and they have a great index of all the different types with photos, which is where the ones featured in this post came from including the Swallowtail below. with butterfly wishes today, kat x

Simple magical things...

 for image credits please click

 

Unicorns, bunnies, blossom and books.

the sky, falling leaves, sunlight through the trees

and little dancing lights that could be fairies

....all these are some of my favourite magical things

you know the song raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with string...these are a few of my favourite things. i thought of this when after making up this collage, i found myself wondering upon a subject to blog to go with it. i realised its my version of that song. what are your favourite,simple, yet magical things? kat x

Dandelions and daisies

 

there is something i just like about dandelions and daisies, is it because they are such a part of childhood, so remind me of fun carefree times, making wishes on the clocks and chains from the daisies. sweetpeas also bring back happy memories as we grow them in the back garden. what flowers do you associate with your childhood? with good wishes to you today,kat   (click here for image credits)

A walk through fairytale land

 

I have just put up a few mosaics on my flickr. this one is close to my heart so i thought i would share it here too, please see my flickr for the credits. I have discovered polyvore.com and have been creating collages in my spare time...i think it may even replace my flickr habit, but i am not sure. There is a link now on my blog down on the right hand column if you want to see what polyvore is like click through. I hadnt realised that you could be so creative with it.  Does anyone know how to display the polyvore creations on typepad blogs? It gives a code but i don't know how to then put that onto a post? your help would be most appreciated if you have worked it out, Kat xx

Mr Red squirrel

 

dear Mr. squirrel i cannot get to see you in the snow or in your forest, but i have this picture and when i think of you,you remind me that life is not just about hustle and bustle,and humankind, it is about quiet moments and nature, and belonging to something. i will remember........ 

i am just doing small posts at the minute,because it's what feels right for me.there are other things going on, but by posting small snippets i am keeping in touch with you all,my friends out there, near or far,human,angel or fairy,small animals and all, L&T, kat  (L&T=love and thoughts)

Here are a few of my favourite things

Two lovely ladies Philippa and Hazel tagged me recently and it involved my sharing with you the 6 quirky/unspectacular/ordinary facts or things about me,and in honor of a Tree of happiness award from Hazel-my 6 favourite things that make me happy. So i have combined them in this mosaic as a picture is worth a thousand words as the saying goes. Still i would like to add just a 'few' extra words to go along with....

6 'Quirky things that are unspectacular but i wanted you to know about me' are

1. I loved ballet dancing from age 4 onwards,and will do ballroom dancing in the future i'm sure

2. I love swings especially those in trees and will at some point have a garden with a big tree especially for this reason

3. I believe any time we are at peace we contribute that vibration to a collective global peace

4. I love bags and have to many-i think its because of the feeling of security, having what you need with you when you need it,a place to store and carry whats important,plus they are a cool touch to an otherwise boring outfit sometimes!!

5. I love fabric hearts, i seem to have a collection of them without setting out to start one.

6. I want to spend time in a tepee one day-(i think i had a tribal life before!)

And now my 6 favourite things that make me happy....(i havent included the obvious choices here like family, friends, pets or even blogging!)

1. The sky...i used to in times of despair when i could not do anything more, look out at the sky and watch the clouds drift and soak up that bluest of blues, the colour of the sky is,and gradually, slowly but surely, somehow remember there was a vast Universes out there that cared.The sky holds a special place in my heart.
2. The sea...many a year was spent vizulising being at the beach,and many a time i have used the ebb and flow of the waves to remind myself of the wisdom that is shown in nature.or the vastness of the ocean as a metaphor for the Oneness of all the energy of the Uni-verse.The sea speaks to my soul and i am grateful.
3. My discovery journalling...which simply put means-scrapbooking with the intention of gathering inspiration, and revealing previously hidden aspects of your Self through what you are drawn to include.Has been a huge part of my life for a long time, inspiring me in so many ways,whether in the area of healing, creativity, expression or the resilience of the human spirit. its a place i collect what uplifts me, touches me, or speaks to my spirit.This can reveal suprising guidance as well as a spring board for creativity. Using images, poems, photographs,wording,magazine articles,newspaper clippings,and my own writing. it has blessed me in so many ways and i'll always make time for it, because it gives me back so much more than at first would seem.
4. Wildflower meadows...with grasses that drift in the breeze,meadows have always been for me a place that represents freedom. a place where you can be yourself,and have fun,or feel at peace resting under a tree,soaking up the balance of nature and the fresh air.i so want to really be in one at some point..
5. A baby...just a dream for now, but i have always loved and wanted a child of my own and i feel that the universe has a plan on that dream and i shall see it come true.
6. Secret Garden....our garden here has always been of great support to me and on lots of years it would be the only place i would get to see. some years i couldnt even get to it,but dad did me window boxes which brought some of its life and vibrancy up to me instead. Its nothing grand,just a small ordinary back garden here in the Uk, but its ours and its lovely and i like that we encourage butterflies and birds and bunnies to play there. it adds to the 'ordinary magic' of what would, without care and love, be a pretty bland and non vibrant little square in the world.

So thats my tags completed time to tag you! ...and partake only if you want to of course by giving us 6 quirky/ordinary things about you or your life Tara-Lynn, Holly and Hazel

And give us your 'Tree of happiness' in the form of 6 things that make you happy.. Philippa, Carol and Raya.

(please click on the names if you want to visit these gorgeous blogs)till next time,with love kat xox

At the beautiful beach

Went to my favourite place today, the beach! had a lovely time, sat in deck chairs for a few hours as the sunshine was lovely and warm. Watched the waves and felt uplifted by the energy of just Being there. Felt the blessing of having a beautiful beach to go to and a blue sky day to match it.

I went down to the water and enjoyed the waves. While we were there the tide was still coming in and the waves got bigger as they reached the shore line. It was Seaton Sluice where i like to go but this time we went further along to a differemt car park as it was on the flat to get onto the beach. Which was better for Mam's walking.

I didnt want to leave! on the way home we stopped and icecream from a cafe. It was like homemade,and tasted like jersey cream was in it. Lush ( :

Just posting some snaps below and will see you soon,k xox

A day along the coastline

 

Had a drive along the coast this afternoon,pretty windy out and plenty of kite surfer's taking advantage of that. Enjoyed the sea,air,waves and had some chips along the way!

Wrapped up warm when out the car, had a little browse around a flea market thats inside the train station. Got a gemstone in the shape of a heart,its blue goldstone and sparkles amazingly.

Watched a spaniel running in and out the waves, how much energy it had!

Just waiting now to catch the end of Chelsea flower show and see who won the people's award...its the Bupa garden thats won,which had some beautiful planting and was very sensitively thought out for those with alzheimer's disease

I'd hoped it would have been 'Life to Life' the tribute to George Harrison.This garden is inspired by the life of George Harrison of The Beatles.His childhood, the colourful 1960s, his later years and finally his spirituality are all represented in it.Designed by Yvonne Innes and Olivia Harrison. I loved that one, the different sections representing different times of his life with a pyschedelic pathway through the whole,leading to the top part where there is a beautiful lotus like temple,so peaceful with white themed planting there.i had been going to give you a link but typepad has changed and i can't get it to work....anyone else having difficulties getting used to it or is it me?so here's the link written out instead http://www.bbc.co.uk/chelsea/show_gardens/life.shtml

better luck next post,love kat x   and thanks to Michele at cowboys and custard for the mention -see my list of blogs for link ( ;

Handmade items to give and to treasure

I have revamped my etsy shop, its something i have been wanting to do for ages now, and i'm pleased to say i am well on the way to stocking it with some of the items i've been making. i did this mosaic on big huge labs to showcase my range. Most of the pieces have a french vibe, with eiffel towers and old vintage postcard images featuring. Along with the wording you know i love so much like, 'wish upon a star' or 'believe'.

Do you like my new business card? Mandy of Belle and boo did it for me! i am very honored as the butterfly and meadow feel is just what i wanted. I sent her some star jasmine as she has been such a star to me.There's new things coming from Belle and boo too soon,so watch out for them.here's a sneaky peek at the new website front page!! i love swings in the trees and this was one of my favourite moments on holiday last year.... it would'nt seem much to many people,and may even seem too young a thing to do to others, but to me - the sense of freedom was amazing after many years ill in bed, in one room. To be out in nature surrounded by the birds song and to hear the branches and leaves of the tree and feel the wind against my face was an experience both of freedom and of fun, both of which were almost entirely absent for a long long time. i havent come across another tree swing as yet,but if i do, i hope to go on it.

One thing i have come to appreciate is to be in and to live each moment as much as i can,i did this even before i had much of an' out an about' life to lead,and it still supports me now. Also i must never hold back, worrying what others might think of me. Its my life, and as much as i can, i want to live it in my way. Maybe there will be a swing near Windermere this time,(in a different area of the Lake District) where we are going at the end of June-lets hope so ( ;

love and butterflies kat xxx