Flowers for a Friday

Today's flowers are of the edible, sugary kind. Amongst many other things I have been kept busy this week trying to teach myself cake decorating. My boyfriends Aunt and Uncle will soon be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and I have taken on the challenge of making the cake. Although I've always done alot of baking this is my first attempt at traditional decoration so of course lots of practice is necessary.

I was in two minds whether to share these photos as I feel there are so many imperfections (especially with my piping techniques) but here are my first two mini attempts.

I've got two weeks to improve but I'm enjoying it so much that I don't mind spending lots of time practicing. Wish me luck!

Flowers for a Friday

Today I bring you flowers from the lovely Horniman Gardens in Forest hill. We visited a couple of weekends ago after some very strong recommendations from friends who couldn't believe we lived so close and hadn't been. It turns out we live even closer than I thought and it was a beautiful place to spend a sunny afternoon. Two couples had definitely picked a good day to get married there. I think we are so lucky to have so many green spaces to go in London.

Flowers for a Friday

Well it seems Granny is full of good ideas. Who'd have thought that an empty herb jar could make such a good vase. Admittedly it could have done with a bit more cleaning first but other than that it makes the perfect partner for these lovely sweet peas.

I love sweet peas anyway, there's something quite unassuming about them yet they are so pretty. They always remind me of walking through the village back home in Cornwall where they'd often be for sale in a little bucket outside the village hall. I always intended to buy a bunch but I don't think I ever did.

Flowers for a Friday

One of my favorite things about my boyfriend's Gran (whom we currently live with) has always been the the way that she always has fresh flowers displayed on a table in the hallway so that they are the first thing you see as you enter the house. These are hardly ever shop brought flowers but ones that she has cut herself from the garden (on occasion I am suspicious they may have been nicked from a neighbours garden tut tut). No matter the time of year she always finds something to brighten the place up. So today I'd like to share the current lovely arrangement.

Flowers for a Friday

Just one flower today. I've been watching these flowers bloom up the side of the shed for a little while now and kept thinking how striking and bold they looked. They are one by one fading now which is a sad site but I caught this one before it was too late

A few snippets of the weekend just gone.

It's been a relaxing but quite productive weekend with plenty of sunshine (yet no sunburn which I consider quite an achievement). Granny got home from her week in Cornwall so we no longer have the house to ourselves but we do have gifts.

Looking forward to trying this chutney but I'm not sure what it would go best with.

I've been working hard getting some more books bound and designing this wrap for them. Opinion's on the results are welcome. I'm hoping to get them up on etsy soon.

I'm loving the Haynes lane market in Crystal palace. I was only intending to browse but I couldn't resist this beautifully carved arts and crafts tray. It's got a few blemishes but I love it.

I'm also loving my new cushion by Black Cactus which I picked up at the Dulwich Wood House craft fair. I'm feeling it would look perfect on a luxurious grey sofa (one day perhaps).

It's beautifully handprinted with a design inspired by the pitcher plant.

Sunday afternoon was barbeque day with the boys providing us with some soothing acoustic music. The most relaxed I've felt in awhile.

I just had to include these little garden visitors who suddenly appeared in the tree right above me. We may be in London but there is still plenty of wildlife to seen.

Flowers for a Friday

I have to admit I don't often pay much attention to the front garden, I'm usually in too much of a hurry to get in or out of the house to really look at it. A couple of days ago however I was getting back from the studio and was suddenly struck by how many beautiful flowers there were in this small space so as soon as I'd put my stuff down in the house I was straight back out with the camera to try and capture them. I love the way photography encourages you to seize the moment, there's no guarantee that if you put it off till later the image or your inspiration will still be there