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!

ONE LITTLE RASPBERRY

the sunshine has lead me astray...not much time for words these days...just time to report that the first raspberry has been spotted then savoured on the spot. it's a race with the birds but i got the prize today. i must say that they are my very favourite berry...should i confess to this in the midst of strawberry season? no apologies...i'm just not that fussed on them. anyway raspberries go so much better with chocolate so that's the winning match for me.

so i'm off now to dream up ideas for a wedding headpiece. but first must come the outfit! two weeks to go so i'd better get looking...but who wants to go shopping though when there's tennis to watch and roses to be picked in the garden?

FIVE YEARS IS WOOD

TEAR SHEET TUESDAY :: 009

i'm back into making mode and about time too!

chambray ciel :: school navy
cherry pop :: summer cotton

THIRTY FOUR

today was a very good birthday.

truth be told i think it comes high in my top five...a high chart entry indeed when it ranks alongside the one where i not only had a strawberry shortcake birthday cake but also wore a strawberry print ra-ra dress and received a bean bag in the shape of a strawberry...all made by my clever mum. it was sunny that day too. i think i was seven.

and my mum didn't disappoint with this year's cake either. raspberry and chocolate. ciaran and me have just indulged in two helpings with an evening cuppa. life is good.

i woke up early and read my book before ciaran woke up. i didn't even need to open the curtains it was so bright. listening to the birds in conversation outside. opening cards in bed. a long catch up with my brother on the phone. lunch outdoors with warm shoulders and chatty people. hugs from my family. a surprise flower arrangement that i want to carry with me from room to room. (my very favourite peonies and a sweet william that has a special meaning...my dad took my mum a bunch wrapped in newspaper when i was born) and with two new cake stands too this birthday is nearing the number one spot!

i am a very lucky girl.