friendship gatherings in The Linen Garden

...August, this year, brought together a gathering of friends to transform my studio into a more styled version of itself.  My studio is 'The Linen Garden' an affectionate term I use to describe my place of work.

 

 ...and what a wonderful two days we had transforming this room into an 'Arts and Crafts' inspired place of work....

...I want to share with you 'The Linen Garden' shoot - this is the first part - the second will follow next week - but this isn't a post about the details of the images, the wheres and whats - but it is about 'friendship'. 

As a maker I sit and work alone, for a high percentage of my working week, just me and the radio between the school run.  It is hard to be disciplined, but I seem to be quite good at it.  But what keeps you going is the wonderful working relationships of projects such as this.  I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have such a wonderful cluster of friends who too work in the wedding industry, We inspire each other, we meet for work related projects but we also 'go out to play' and gather at car-boot sales and such and have a ball and it always ends in tears - tears of laughter and jealousy of each others purchases.

I adore these ladies, their sparkle for life, their kind souls, their love of treasured 'things' - makes me smile....and laugh....and feel part of a wonderful little community of creative folk.  I sometimes can't believe that this is actually my 'job'.....

There is also another avenue of 'friendship' that has wonderfully grown over the years, this little online community. From the gorgeous cluster of floral appreciators here at The Linen Garden to the little Facebook and Twitter communities that are an active part of my daily social life. And every single message and comment left reminds me that I am not working on my own.  I feel I have lots of friends here - some I have met, some I feel as if I have actually met, some I have plans to meet. Alot I will never meet in person but will treasure their input into this creative little home-makers world. My daily fuel. So I send you a hug (hugs are very important in life don't you know - I am sure you do) and say thank you and hope (fingers crossed)  you stick with me for another exciting year as September is my new year - the month of new designs, new projects.  So it may have been a little quiet here since The Linen Garden was 'sewn' but the Fair season is about to calm and I have so much floral inspiration I want to  share with you.....and this is the start.... would love to know what you think....

 

Photography: Becky Mitchell

Styling & Props: Tea With Ruby & Vicky Trainor

Linen Stationery: Vicky Trainor

Floral Styling: Darling & Green and here Darling & Green
Model: Sophie Dale
Birds: The Cotton Potter
 

...a travelling....

 

...packed my bags again last Friday and headed down to Worcestershire to Hagley Hall  for The Designer Vintage Bridal Show.....this is The Vintage Drawer all set out in pretty floral layerings... and 'Little Betty' came too.  A fabulous weekend that has left me exhausted but exhilerated all at the same time.  Oh  my!

 

Thank you to all who stopped by for a little chitter of the ol' chatter.  All the images can be seen over in the DVB Album over on my Facebook Page.....  Two more shows to go and then I can retire to the comfort of my studio and start to nestle right in to this Linen Garden a little more regularly than I can do at the moment.  Next week I will be bringing to you The Linen Garden photo shoot in two pretty parts.... Have a lovely weekend - I for a change am putting my sewing case down and my feet up.....

 

ribbon making....

 

.....it may have been a little quiet around here for the last week but it has been rather frantic in the studio - busy making new samples to take to The Designer Vintage Bridal Show, at Hagley Hall in Worcestershire, this weekend.... here are the ribbons that I adore making.... fabulous to decorate around cakes, to use as a garland or to edge a shelf.  Infact they have many many uses..... I will be previewing them over at my Facebook page before listing them on Etsy next week....and I am currently making itsy-teeny-weeny-versions for bracelets....

...will post my antics from the show next ... have a lovely weekend... hope you are doing something naughty....and beware those pesky September spiders...

 

a travelling.....

...this is the time of year when I take to the road for a couple of months and go meandering around from County Durham to Yorkshire to Worcestershire....making samples, designing my exhibition spaces, setting up, dismantling, excited, exhausted, sore feet maintaining smile on one's face, new people to meet, old friends to see, sharing a little floral love across the land ....

 

 

Here are a few colourful snaps from my visit to Durham earlier this week... the car is still yet to be unpacked as in 6 days I hit the road and head for The Designer Vintage Bridal Show at Hagley Hall in Worcestershire....Excited?  Yes I am...... Although it will feel terribly strange as I am venturing out and about on my own for a whole 5 days.  As a Mum with a 5 and 8 year old this experience has not happened since 2004..... so while I will miss everyone, I am also looking forward to a little pampering, a whisper of a social life and hoping my hotel room has a very deep bath..... If anyone is having a party on Sunday 23rd September, when the show ends, please let me know so I can come and gate crash!!