Secrets of a Butterfly

Best blog posts of the year - part 3

The last few days i've been sharing some of my favourite posts by bloggers in 2010. A chance to curl up on the sofa with your laptop and take some time out to revist past loves.

Today's round up includes some deeply written and insightful posts. Those that can leave you reflecting on how things apply to your own life. They are from women who write from the heart, bravely and honestly.

It takes courage to blog so personally and yet because of this, its often these posts that can touch us the most deeply.

Being true......

Giving-ness - by Sheye Rosemeyer..a truly insightful and eloquently written piece on the beauty of giving without conditions.

"I aspire to live with giving. Whether it be knowledge or support or concern, or whatever else it might be, I am striving to give with a whole heart. Every. Single. Day. To live by the idea that something cannot be taken if you give it away." Sheye, the top photo is also by her.

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Heather of gathering Spriggs, who's photo is above, has been writing some beautiful posts, that give us all a moment to pause, and consider our inner thinking and how we view ourselves. Two of my favourites are..

Keepin it real

Inspired to intimidated

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Don't look back - Kelly rae's post in February, i loved these words...

"we are much more than just artist and crafters. we are people who have a unique and much needed gift of expressing ourselves and the beauty of the world around us"

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and this more recent post
Learning to be new - a letter from her friend Jen about what it is to start a new venture be it motherhood or a business or any other new thing in life,this is a post full of real and honest reflections(as so much of what Kelly shares is)and is so encouraging.

and i had to mention this one too

The power of our stories...

"we are all in this together - the circle of healing. my story and art touched her, gave her some hope. but really it's her story and art that touched me and gave me the hope i've needed to see, to be awakened to" -Kelly rae

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I cherish these moments upon blogs, when we really make a difference in each other's lives.
One blog linking to another, one life touching another, one heart offering hope to another,
Love

Best blog posts of the year - part 2

Blogland can sometimes be all about rushing ahead and all things new, but sometimes, like flicking through an old magazine, or re reading a favourite novel, it can be good to simply curl up on the sofa with your laptop and take some time out to revist past loves. Here's part two of my favourite blog posts of the year.

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My favourite fashion feature of the year was by Liss at Daydream Lily

"Earlier this year I worked on a Daydream Lily inspired collection with Element Eden for summer 10/11. The capsule collection includes outfits, homewares and accessories all in a whimsical, delicate 'daydream lily' style. The collection was then shot by photographer Steve Gourlay in Courtney Brims' house (who also did the illustration for in the collection!).
I was involved in all the steps of creating it... from working with the Element design team to helping style the shoot. It was such a fun and amazing experience!" Liss

here are the links Element/Daydream Lily Collaboration

A Daydream Lily post on Element Eden lookbook.

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We love: pretty little things - at Dujour mag's blog, a post with some of Alix's gorgeous photos, along with THE wedding post of the year at her blog The Cherry Blossom Girl Sur un petit nuage and Oui

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Nadinoo at work - Nadia posted some beautiful shots of her at work in her London studio where she creates the clothing for her label Nadinoo

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Mori Girl - Liss of Daydreamlily posted about the Mori Girl blog - The mori girls belong to a Japanese subculture. 'Mori' means forest in Japanese, and mori girls look like fairytale forest wanderers...

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Cotton candy and the carousel - my favourite of Paula's at her blog Pink bow

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Handmade bags - Mallory from Where the lovely things are, did a post at Neet magazine on her favourite bags, so many lovely etsy sellers to pick from.
Another selection of favourite posts is up tomorrow,

Best blog posts of the year - part 1

Starting today, i wanted to share a round up of my favourite blog posts from the year.

Its been quite exciting to look back and put together some special links that i hope you'll enjoy revisiting or seeing for the first time... there will be 4 posts,packed full of goodness. That's one a day for the rest of the week, in the lead up to New year.

Blogland can sometimes be all about rushing ahead and all things new, but sometimes, like flicking through an old magazine, or re reading a favourite novel, it can be good to simply curl up on the sofa with your laptop and take some time out to revist past loves.

So here is my first selection named
Blossom, snow, cupcakes and lace.....

Dreaming of pink blossoms - The top photo is by Georgianna. Her post featuring snow and blossom photos stood out as a favourite, though there were so many i could have chosen from her, (so there is another mentioned a bit later).

Black liquorice door - by Jeska at Lobster and swan

" Every time I walk up towards my house, freshly painted pale grey like the British sky with white icing around the windows, I can't help but wonder how fabulous it could be in pink, a huge hunk of pink birthday cake with iced windows and a black liquorice door..."Jeska

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Hug-o-war
- Rebecca at her blog Sanctuary, shared some gorgeous photos from the ever so stylish Hug-o-war

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"A long time ago, when the Earth was green,
there were more kinds of animals than you've ever seen,
they'd run around free while the Earth was born,
and the loveliest of all was the unicorn..."
- Irish folk song

Falling in love with creating - This poem featured in a post by nancy of Wolf and willow on how she learnt to use her imagination as a child, with a little help from a unicorn

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Many shades of Lilacs - Georgianna's post featuring an array of lilacs
And this lovely interview with Georgi at Vie boheme

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Table - Emma Cassi's work table and sketches of her designs were a real insight into her jewellery making. And this photo below of her with her handcrafted necklaces in February.

Also liked this interview wth Emma at Daily imprint

More favourites tomorrow!

Secret Inspirations

 

I have a guest post over at City of Blackbirds today, my friend Eadaoin, asked me to share about the topic of inspiration, and how i find it, so i listed my top 5 secrets....if you like you can read about that here: Follow that which you Love.

And i also guest posted at Pink Bow yesterday, while Paula is away. I shared a secret boutique. You can see inside and read about it here.

I love guest posting at friend's blogs and hope you enjoy the secrets,

Love

 

 

This little light of mine

image is by Jasna

 

Beautiful Heather (from Gathering Spriggs) has given me a stylish blogger award and i am to share 7 things about me, so here goes....

 

I have been writing to a "penfriend" in Sweden since i was 11

My favourite song is True Colours by Cyndi Lauper

I love, love, love, the gemstone Morganite

I ask my angels for help with things all the time

My favourite makeup is Mally

I will have been blogging 4 years! in March

My middle name is Louise after my Nanna

 

and i would like to tag the people who left comments on my Winter's wish post, it helped me to hear that you feel i am getting a good balance here at Secrets, between personal posts and sharing things i find.

It was, as you know, something that i was wondering about last week. Its been great to have people to share those thoughts with and to get responses that have been encouraging and kind hearted.

(hydrangea in my kitchen)

So here are the lovely lovely people, for which i am most thankful, that helped me along my blogging pathway...( please know i am sharing the comments only to tag the blogs who wrote them and by way of thanking them, not to give myself good press! )

"Sharing what inspires us as well as what is going on in our little world creates a wonderful, creative mix! :)" - Zuzu of A cottage in the woods

"Please don't worry though about saying you are unwell or going through hard times on here - it is your space and your space to talk about exactly what you want" - Cassie of Hydrangeas and white daisies

"I think you find a nice balance....you need to do what feels right to you. Your blog is such a treasure and I am so glad that I found it and you." - Stephanie Small sweet steps

"...there is lots of inspiring material here, you manage to find the pretiest people and things online. But also when you do write personal posts they are always so insightful, thoughtful and beautiful" - Eadaoin City of Blackbirds

remember i tag you, Zuzu, Cassie, Stephanie and Eadaoin as a Sweet & Stylish blogger - to share 7 things about yourself - and tag more people if you want to......( i will not be offended if you havent got time, it is December afterall)

and thanks to Merry and Helen too, though i can't link you as you don't have blogs...

"It feels like your blog is a cozy, comfy house that I can always go back to a visit" - Merry

"You have a wonderful balance of words, thoughts,dreams and visual images. We all have burdens to carry and it helps to know that there are others out there experiencing highs and lows too" - Helen in Australia

Love and blessings in blogland

 

 

 

 

White Christmas - pretty and light

I am having another theme week at Secrets...
this time it's White Christmas, which seems fitting, since we have had such a lot of snow in the past 3 days! 12 inches lying, all fluffy and pure white in the garden.

Today all the photos are by Elena. She keeps a beautiful blog named Pretty Light.

This top image has inspired my wrapping plans. I knew i wanted to use kraft paper and doillies and this ribbon adds the perfect touch.

this heart garland is amongst my favourites of her images shared at her flickr

And i like the simple idea of doilies clipped to a string to form an inexpensive yet uplifting decoration. It reminds me of the snowflakes you cut out as children.

Often the shops are full of bright colours at christmas, greens, reds, silvers, golds, which is lovely...but sometimes i like to imagine decorating softer, with sage greens, ivory, beiges, winter whites...

Thats why i found Elena's photos from last Christmas giving me ideas. Such as here with the simplicity of gypsophelia and candle light.

fresh greenery, berries, and white flowers are perfect.

while it may be cold outide, a cosy home always gives a warm welcome

this last image is from Elena's shared blog with her friend Anya named
7500 km away, as thats the distance between where they live in Toronto and in Moscow suburbs.
here is what they say about their inspiration for keeping the blog

"Every week we take turns sending photographs to each other and as long as the photograph reaches its destination a new story begins. The person who receives an image creates the continuation of the story. We never discuss themes and we never know what story we will get. The name of every story comes only at the end."

Thank you for the christmas inspiration Elena.
Tomorrow i shall share my wrapped gifts, kraft paper and doilies with vintage bird tags :)
love

A little bird told me

 

A little bird told me that she discovered my blog on Friday, through Casee Marie of the blog The girl who stole the Eiffel tower.  So thanks Lisa of Lissylou and the 2 little boys for letting me know how you came by Secrets.

Without Lisa mentioning it, i doubt i would have discovered that Casee had so kindly featured my blog, (along with Oh hello friend and Wolf and willow) in her post :Weekend reads - Five beautiful blogs on Friday.

here's what she said, "It's a truly serene and peaceful blog-reading experience. You can almost hear The Honey Trees playing softly as you browse the endless pages of inspiration. This is the happy place to steal away to when life gets too busy, too loud or just too overwhelming. Secrets of a Butterfly is like a little secret garden, perfectly magical." 

 i was touched that she wrote such nice things!  and so pleased thats the atmosphere my blog has, as its always what i want to create.

The girl who stole the Eiffel Tower is a special place itself with beautifully laid out graphics and posts. This is what Casee says of her own blog.... "this is a place for fashion, art, literature, culture and glamour. It is the collected fancies of a whimsical gal with a big imagination and a flair for the old-fashioned. Join me as I attempt to fill the pages of my blog with inspiration and joie de vivre. "

Sounds very much like what i share here and I will certainly be taking time to explore it more,

Love Kathryn x

 

Which blogs do you adore?

I was wondering what are your favourite blogs? Surely i would love them too.

who keeps the blogs you read often and just adore?

those that when you discovered you felt you found a kindred spirit,

those you find you simply cannot live without.......

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 do tell, by leaving a comment below with the link to your favourite.

Share your secrets,  we shall find some new places and visit each other.

 

can i ask you to let me know if you have a link to my blog upon your own sidebar. I wish to return that gesture, if i havent listed your blog already.

with love

 
p.s. credits for the photos in the polyvore set are here

Paper petal garland

Wouldnt you like to know how to make this ever so pretty paper flower garland... you can read about it here.
A cottage in the woods, is a blog i came across lately, and yes it is as pretty as the name suggests. I'm loving the posts and country style photos Zuzu shares.
Here is a picture of her beautiful garland displayed.(complete with butterfly and key)

Just a little post, to keep in touch today,
so till next time, take care

Touches of vintage style

1. anniversaryselfportrait, 2. vintage, 3. ., 4. Rest

Hi, I'm guest posting about vintage touches for the home, over at Rachel's pretty place, Lovely clusters today. I'd be so happy if you joined me there.