MONKEY BUSINESS

on the hottest day for a long time me and bosco are taking refuge indoors in the shade. a second breakfast of ciabatta and marmalade was enjoyed outside (under parasol) before it got too much. we are now enjoying some coolness and a bit of a wander on the internet.

here's the wednesday link list...

listening and doing a bit of a march to stellify (definitely word of the week) mr brown you look a bit older but you are still a favourite in this house

a new favourite handmaker...i can't quite remember how i stumbled on anna alicia's work but i have fallen in love with her felt brooches. london based and here on etsy...she also makes pieces specifically for weddings. gorgeous.

imagining the happiness of a collection of pencil crayons like this!

and last of all...has anyone bought the sartorialist book yet? should i get it?

easing into a bit of creativity today with a little vase mat.

BE STILL MY AUTUMN HEART

toast has gone and made me
think of boots and tights
and roll necks
again...

clever folks
naughty though
i can't get scarves off my mind

FLOWER FRIDAY

i'm joining in shari's little project today
(drive-by-dahlias)
these are for my friend mary Xx

JUST A FEW THINGS

a cup of milk for me before bed and a list

how lovely this new book of evenings is available for pre-order now

looking at a pretty girl on a postcard from a recent visit to manchester art gallery
thinking i'm going to make some more coasters this week for birthday gifts
birds to make you smile (trying to chose a print to buy from this fantastic etsy seller)
we watched this last night and it was quite something

pyjamas are calling. hope you've had a good start to the week in your neck of the woods Xx

CONFESSIONS

today i have been ugg-clad and thinking of autumn. not a good thing is it for july? but it's dark outside and raining and actually a little bit cold. i have even given the woodburning stove a sneaky glance on more than one ocassion. can i confess that part of me wishes time would roll on by and just get to the lovely new season? i love that september feeling when things start to change. it doesn't help that i just got emails previewing fall collections for noa noa and boden.

other topics of the day included the new trend for no eyebrows in relation to the economic climate...umm no...no thank you. yes it seems that the less affluent we are the more tweezer-happy we become...according to some experts on the radio anyway. admittedly i have abused my own over the years. cue the screen doing that hazy-memory-wobbly-thing...some "looks" unfortunately were documented in photo form. but can i blame my over-plucking in the early 90s on the housing crash? and what about that cringeworthy experiment with bleach inspired by something i saw in italian vogue? luckily this one was only previewed to c in our early courting days...and the man still married me...he's definitely for keeps!

summing up...i'm dreaming of headscarves and big eyebrows.
(beautiful image source : noa noa autumn 2009)

TUESDAY TUESDAY

chewy macaroons for a tuesday. flavoured with a little cardamom and rolled in rose water scented hands before baking. obviously no relation to these beauties but satisfyingly easy to make and deliciously not so sweet that you can't eat four in one sitting with a cup of earl grey. recipe from feast by ms lawson which i just found written out here...please excuse my lazy bones for not jotting it out once more!

and a couple more joys to add to the good things list today. fancy a free stitch font? home sweet home is a new favourite thanks to the link from the very inspirational tea for joy...and for those who like a bit of woolly writing there's a knitfont too...mum are you reading?

lastly before i head to bed i heartily recommend rushing over to the world of miss pickering for a rather wonderful giveaway...do it for me because i feel non-eligible somehow for knowing the real miss p from school days and already being lucky enough to have received two of her beautiful arrangements. hey i even get to visit the floral emporium and fuss the handsome hound on a whim so i definitely count myself out of the running!

RHUBARB + CUSTARD

well yes...to say that things have been quiet here of late really is stating the obvious...but i have been creating...honest!

today i made a little thank you card for our lovely friends hilary + david who got married a few weeks ago. we took a long but easy-going road trip up to scotland to see them tie the knot and spend some days enjoying the beautiful surroundings. i popped a few photos over here when we got back.

as a wedding gift i got reacquainted with my sewing machine and put together a patchwork bed runner for them. nice and quilty with a couple of layers of cotton wadding...it should keep their toes warm and cosy for a few years to come! the colours were inspired by hil's invitations...and the sweet handmade daisy detail that would become a real feature of their day with a pretty necklace worn by the bride...little decorated cupcakes and her simple bouquet of the flowers.

of course a sprinkling of vintage buttons couldn't be resisted!