Secrets of a Butterfly

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

Win a Frankie photo book

You can win this Frankie photo book, from the Australian magazine of the same name! Its just been published and with fabulous selection of pictures from amateur and professional photographers alike its a rare treat. A book to browse, inspire and intrigue you. I am offering this copy as a Giveaway...and you can enter easily by simply leaving a comment on this post. i will close the giveaway in 7 days from now that'll be Monday at 3pm GMT and use a random number generator to pick the lucky recipient!





This photo above of the window is one of Amanda's of the blog Mocking Bird, click through to see her post about it and some more shots from the book. (the writing photo here is one she took from inside the book) You can also read more about the limited edition photo book and see the brand new illustrated calendar for 2010 by clicking through to Frankie. Good luck if you decide to enter, Kat x

Lotus petals, lanterns and leaves

 

 Flickr how i LOVE you, thanks for all the upliftment you give me, here are some things i'm loving... Lotus petals, lanterns, puppy, kitty, leaves in fall, bubbles, birdies, vintage fabric made into cushions, lace, dove decorations, roses resting, nikons, and meadows full of long grass. click here to see it bigger at flickr and to get the all important credits/links.

I hold my dreams and won't ever let them go, you are my sustanance, you are my Grace, and that can't change, blessings everyone Kat x0x

Nature's tiara

This is a showcase i made up before taking the break from Secrets and i'm glad i remembered to share it with you, as it is the gorgeous photography of a favourite of mine on flickr- Jacky Parker. Her work twinkles with magic like it has been sprinkled with light or maybe a touch of fairy dust!

Here's what she has to say on Flickr "I live Buckinghamshire England with my husband and two grown up children.I absolutely adore photography and my lovely garden, the two came together about 5 years ago whilst studying for a diploma in horticulture with the RHS"
Jacky's work can be browsed or bought at her flickr  website and redbubble  Enjoy! kat x

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.....

Gingerlillytea

I have loved Keri-Anne's dreamy photography for some time, so when she brought out a book through Blurb.com i ordered a copy and it arrived today. It is totally beautiful,and touched by magic, delicate and dream like, the images are calming and uplifting,it makes you feel rather like a good story book did as a child... this book is for grown up girlies though, who still like to believe in fairy tales and their own guardian angels. Its full of some of my favourite images and has delicate words on some of the pages. i've shared some pages below with you. If you'd like to see more of Keri-Anne's work she goes by the name of Gingerlillytea and can be found at flickr,her blog on etsy and to order a book visit here

 
 

Don't forget to keep dreaming and believe in your own special fairytale.........love 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

Aqua dreamer

Follow my blog with bloglovin add me by clicking the box in the left hand sidebar,just if you fancy ;)

Some gorgeousness from flickr that i just had to share with you today9its freezing isnt it, think its time for the heating on).....please click here for all the image credits. i have been loving searching out favourites recently. I've also made up some Galleries which is a new feature on Flickr (the photo sharing website) Its where you can group together photos in any theme you wish, it highlights which you like by other photographers and i've found it a good way to gather inspiration together under certain banners like,   'have i told you lately' and whispers.  luv Kx
P.S. Thank you so much for your comments about my return i appreciate them all very much

Summer's grace

Saturday's showcase: I, along with so many of you adore the photostream of Kristybee on flickr. If you havent seen her yet, then don't worry you can find her, at her blog  on redbubble for cards&art and at Etsy for photos too. Her work has its own unique identity,(if i come across one on flickr i most often immediately know if its hers)many look as if they have been washed in a pastel hue, roses are a favourite focus, there is an eloquence and grace to every picture.

And in her own words " I've been into photography for many years. I love the everyday ordinary beauty in life. I have an incredible love of light and I try to show that in my work. My photos have a dreamy quality to them so they may have some grain or blur, which lends to the dreamy feeling I try to achieve.

I'm a jeans, white t-shirt, flip-flops kind of girl. Slightly obsessed with everything French, Bookstores and books, Photography, My Garden, Coffee, Vintage cameras, Sundresses, The beach, The sun, natural light...and the color white.  I love life and my two beautiful daughters :D"
and we love your photos Kristy, Kat x

Jewels on the beach

Congratulations Moa  who won the florabella print today, she chose Spring Pastles above. and how cute is Shana's little girl  Sasha Lilli looking at the beach! check her out here

you may have noticed my quietness as i havent been up to posting on here for a while, it actually feels like alot longer than the 10 days since i set up the giveaway below( that closed today). its been tough and i'm missing you and our chats, so hoping that i'll be up, writing again and keeping you company here more often, we shall see how it goes. take care and don't become strangers will you, love kat x