Rosy Lady

First day of Autumn

xx

Weedy beautiful

I have made an attempt with the garden in the Spring but the slugs, snails and spiders had other plans for the garden and in the end, I admitted defeat when I got fed up with all the dead plants.  This year ended up so busy with work, designing in my spare time and life in general.  So, when I ventured out into the garden this week, I was 'pleasantly' surprised by how happily the weeds were taking over.

So screw it, as much as I love flowers and beautiful gardens, I've always secretly known that I don't have 'green fingers' like the rest of my family but I can always pretend that I intended to go for the wild, untamed look.

I know it's not a bed of roses but, I think a chair covered in deep purple flowers and heart shaped leaves is a close second.

And, I make the connection that magical things happen in my garden if I just keep out of it.

Hope you have a magical weekend!

xx

Wet wet wet

I love the look of raindrops, isn't it a great design in nature?  A way to add a bit of sparkle to a cobweb:

 Or, on Hydrangeas:

It is a wet and cloudy day today.  I know it is to be expected, it is England after all but we actually live in the part of the country with the lowest rainfall and most sunshine so, I'm not really complaining but on a day like today, I want to be warm and snug indoors.  No such luxuries today.

Hope you have a good day whatever you have to brave today.

xx

Castle inspiration

While I am thinking about architecture that inspire, I wanted to share my favourite castle with you.  These photo's were taken a couple of years ago when we went to Ireland and then travelled through Wales on our way home.  If you ever get to Wales, a visit to Cardiff Castle is well worth a visit.  The architecture is very colourful, decorate and unusual and there is an interesting history spanning over 2000 years!

 

It's Friday!

Finally light at the end of the tunnel (for this week anyway).

Have a good weekend!

xx

Last days of Summer

Autumn is fast approaching so, I'm trying to enjoy the last rays of sunshine.  That is in between my day job and working away in my studio.  I have to admit that being in my studio wins hands down over being outside, as the weeds in my garden can testify.  I don't really mind a change in season, each season has it's own pleasures that I enjoy.  Autumn brings a colour palette of bright oranges, reds and yellows with the changing leaves with the opportunity to start to wrap-up warm; Winter means vegetable soups and stews, getting into the Holiday Season, snow, snuggling in front of warm fire places and sleeping with my hot water bottle; Spring equals tulips and wild daffodils on the side of the road and Summer long days of sunshine, barbeques, cold water melon and a holiday.  Anyway, back to reality for me, I'm off to work but a change in season to me also means the hope of a change in season in my life, being expectantly excited about what is happening for me...

xx

The road less travelled

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could 
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair, 
And having perhaps the better claim, 
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 
Though as for that the passing there 
Had worn them really about the same, 

And both that morning equally lay 
In leaves no step had trodden black. 
Oh, I kept the first for another day! 
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 
I doubted if I should ever come back. 

I shall be telling this with a sigh 
Somewhere ages and ages hence: 
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- 
I took the one less traveled by, 
And that has made all the difference

This poem by Robert Frost has always spoken to me.  I have never been one to do as everyone else; to take the safe or convenient option in life as I have always been determined not to have any "what if's" or "it could have been's" in my life.  I belief that we have one life and should make the most of it.  That it is up to us to fulfill our dreams and to live the lives that we want to live.  If you are passionate about something and have the commitment to pursue it, the right doors will open for you but you have to take the risk and walk through that door, no turning back.

If you have followed my blog for a while, you will know that I am following the road of becoming a full time pattern and textile designer.  Wherever your journey takes you, may have have the courage to follow your dreams.

xx

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of Summer

It's a long weekend in England with Monday being a bank holiday.  We are enjoying the last of the Summer sun before Autumn starts to set in.  We've been spending time at the Italian market in town, swimming, playing tennis and today I want to go to a garden show.  We've been to the show a couple of years ago and it provided great opportunities to take photos to inspire future design work.  These are some of the photos we took last time but this time, we'll have a better camera:

xx