Botanical prints

I have been asked a few times where I got the pretty rose prints in my lounge. They were the pages of an old book of the Botanical Prints of Pierre-Joseph Redouté. After visiting the V&A yesterday I was browsing their online shop and found their beautiful collection of posters and prints. They have lots (not exactly the same), but of other beautiful fruits, flowers and birds.

Oh just one more unrelated thing I loved from the shop and then I promise to let you discover the rest for yourself! These oh so sweet finger pincushions. For keeping your pins safe and close by.

Dressing up box

Had to start with a pretty pretty post today. My friend Emma-li is having an art exhibition in her bar and has a few of these stunning photos for sale. I looked up the link and found even more beauty waiting for me on the 666 Photography site. Imagine rummaging through the dressing up box at this studio. I would want to move in their wardrobe permanently. I always fancied wearing a galleon in my hair. Only in the evening of course it might be too much for the daytime.

All images 666 Photography

Stopped in my tracks

My newest love. I was stopped in my tracks today. Silent and still. Just adoring this, Heather's new collaboration. The Cup & Saucer Collective is a creative venture between photographer Rachel Saldana and artist Heather Smith Jones. Creating collections of art and handmade items.

Go immediately and swoon over at The cup and saucer collective.

Image from The cup and saucer collective.

I know boys

Boys who look good. A friend with exceptional style. Caleb.

And

Boys who draw good. A friends who illustrates. Mitch.

All images Caleb Kilby and Mitch Blunt.

stitches and ribbons

Paint paper glitter stitches and ribbons. Trying to get back in the swing over at Etsy I have listed this set of four little postcard size artworks in my shop.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Looks as though our run of good weather has ended for now, but I have no need for sunshine, we are going to a house warming party tomorrow evening and I intend to say home and bake cupcakes tomorrow morning.
Does anyone have a favourite or unusual recipe link that they would like to share? I must head over to Cup cake bake shop and have a read of the archives for inspiration.

the c word

This beautiful picture card from a view to is reminding me that it is so nearly December.

Over ambitious

To think I wouldn't blog for a week. Not hungy or tired from lack of food just bored, Never realised how much I enjoy the act of eating. So in my zesty detoxed state I had to post about this mornings Etsy discovery, the work of Erin Zamrzla. I just adore these tiny tag collages. Not to mention her amazing book binding antics!

Investigate more at Erin's Shop Blog Flickr

All images Erin Zamrzla

Embroidered shoes

This little gang should have gone in the last post but discovered too late and well worthy of a post all their own here they are. Made by mixed media artist Cathy Cullis of November Moon. Could they be a school teacher and class on an outing? Knitted hair and embroidered shoes are but a couple of the beautiful handmade details on these lovely dolls. Find out more about Cathy and her other work over at the November Moon blog here.

Images Cathy cullis

Rummaging

I'm enjoying being a lady of leisure for a few days before I start another new job. My husband will be pleased to know (he is away for a week working on a tour of some kind) in his absence I have been sorting through the piles of paper and magazines I often deposit around our house. Whilst rummaging I found these great pages I kept about spanish artist Ernesto Caivano His own website is still under construction, but you can find out more about Ernesto and some other great artists over at The Richard Heller Gallery site.

There is so much to say, darn it, I will just post the article here. I think if you click the image it should be big enough to read. It is well worth the eye strain to read the about the amazing things this guy creates.


Such dedication and patience!

Wishing you all fun for this Friday night and the rest of your weekend.

Images-Ernesto Caivano.

Poems, proverbs and garden thoughts.

Reading This {frolic} post about garden sketches reminded me of a book I have and love, called In and out of the garden by Sara Midda it's packed full of delightful sketches of gardens and gardening. The inside cover reads:-

"This book is a potpourri of garden love. Here are summer days of raspberry picking,swarms of bees laden with pollen, peas ripe for podding, herbs for flavouring. Every page as been hand painted. Dip into it for recipes, poems, proverbs and garden thoughts." Need I say more? Even when its windy and raining as it so often is in England, this is the kind of book that creates a little sunshine indoors.

Gold and Black

Can't take my eyes off these stunning prints from Pica Pica design I love the dark brooding colour mix's and the combination of wild animals, children and patterns.
The colours in these fabulous prints lead nicely on to my next stop and the latest mouthwatering offerings from Cup cake bake shop. Pear, vanilla and chocolate. Boy o boy, am I just mad for cake all day everyday, and there are plenty of flavors to choose from in the recipe archives on this feast of a site!

Images from (top) Pica Pica design (bottom) Cup cake bake shop.

Blushing

A few people are making me feel popular today. A huge thanks to Ez over at creature comforts for this mention and lovely listing in her A-Z of design and style blogs. What a lovely surprise I arrived home to.

Secondly thanks to Katrina over at pugly feet (Those trays are a great find!) for the Excellence Award, Blush, Thank You : ) Can't quite make out what's wrong with the feet but she sure has a delightful face! I'm going to be diplomatic and award all the blogs in my making my day list with E for excellence, I couldn't possibly pick out 10. After all they are each responsible for being such good reads that my significant other barely gets any dinner or conversation or help with household chores these days or most evenings! Sorry Mr x x x

Thirdly thanks to all the people old and new who have stopped by to say hi and leave comments, they mean so much. I really look forward to coming home from my working day to catch up with all the blogs I love to read and to hear what you think.
Last but by no means least hello to Kate over at little doodles, thanks for your comment. I'm very happy to have discovered your patterns and gorgeous illustrations. Oh and hi to Valisa your pages are making me hungry, better go get that dinner started!

Bird illustration above from little doodles

Inspiration e-zine 3

More inspiring photos tonight. An eagerly awaited email alert from Erin over at Design for Mankind letting everyone know that the 3rd inspiration e-zine is out and ready to read. Horray! each new issue is packed with original ideas, beautiful words and great new blogs and sites to visit.
These two photos really called out to me.

See these images and read about the owners/photographers/artists (and many more) over at the Design for Mankind blog

Sofia Barao

Taking my mind off my rubbish new job this evening, this beautiful blog to read and lovely shop to browse.

Images from Sofia Barao's Etsy shop

"Art In Ashland"

They are at it again. "Art In Ashland" One day I will get to go on one of these art retreats! Quite an expense as I live so far away but wow what a vacation, the classes look so good and I would love to visit Oregon one day too. "Featuring Artists Pamela Garrison, Amy Hanna and Anahata Katkin in a beautiful crystal ballroom and garden courtyard." It all looks amazing and it would be great to see what each artist brings with them as inspiration. I wouldn't want to leave. These images are so beautiful I had to show them.
The venue is not too shabby either!

"Art In Ashland" August 2-5th, 2008 in downtown Ashland, Oregon. At the Historic Ashland Springs Hotel.

All images from www.anahataart.com

Box of tricks

When I first found blogs and before I had my own laptop I would always beg a few minutes use of the other half's computer and my first stop would be Pam Garrisons to see what beautiful new things she had been creating. Still checking in to see what Pam is up to each week. If you go over to visit now you can see what lovely jewelry she has been making from the contents of this treasure box (above) at Art nest. I would so love to go on one of these art retreats, it looks like such fun to meet all these different creative people to share ideas with. There is a great Art Nest flickr pool too so you can view all the attendants work and I found another great blog from one of the organisers too Blue girlxo. Happy nesting!

Image from Pam Garrison

Mara Caffarone

Up with the glorious sun this morning and browsing
Flickr again, going to be good today and get a move on so I am not late for work again! I do loathe working on saturdays, but I do get a lovely stroll in that sushine so its not all bad, now back to my early morning discovery these great works by UNKNOWN ♥ aka Mara Caffarone. A beautiful mixture of collage, paint and delicate line work. See more by Mara at the links above.


All images from UNKNOWN ♥

My folk lover

A new look for Catherine Campbell's website. I just adore her work, my very first purchase from etsy was one of Cathereine's Little paper cuts print sets. They proudly hang in my living room, often complimented by visitors. The trouble is I want them all! Her Etsy store My folk lover is like a candy shop, full of exquisite ink and water colour confections, and the blog tracks all her new work and experimentations. If you haven't already heard of Catherine Campbell what a treat you have waiting beyond these links, if you have, take a look at the newly listed items in her shop I challenge you to leave empty handed.

All images from Catherine Campbell

Riches

The red shawl and The dancer, inspiring paintings (I love the rich red and gold in these two portraits) by George Lambert. Australian naturalist painter & sculptor born 1873 - died 1930. I found these after reading the inspiration list over at casey's-elegant musings

More great images today via the great list of photographers paul works with over at sweet pauls. This time keeping with my theme today of red and gold, it's Gemma Comas I have picked to scout through. Loads of beautiful still life, interior and of course food photography here.
Straying from my theme for a second (easily done for a magpie like me!) I was drawn to this pair of photos using budding twigs, they gave me a warm spring feeling on this, again, grey cloudy day. England is rubbish sometimes. I just want to see a glimpse of the sky! But these images reminded me of what will soon be. Look at those beautiful Magnolia buds? just about to burst into life. Happy monday to all : )


Images from Gemma Comas and Art renewal.