Tiny Tree of Life

An Etsy customer asked to make a tree of life to go on her set of wedding fairy lights. They just arrived back from the laser cutters and they are really very sweet. They are only about 5cm tall.

I'm just waiting for my laminator to get back from the menders as it was a bit poorly last week and get swallowing my work. When it's back I'll turn these teeny trees into lanterns.

Teatime at Gordon Riggs

So I've been in all day writing (it's hard you know it takes me SOOO long to write anything) and I needed to get out, so me and my Ffion took a trip to Gordon Riggs for some plant inspiration and I fancied a new succulent for the windowsill. I can't quite believe that plant in my trolley. What the heck is it? It's amazing!

It was very therapeutic looking at all the plants and smelling in the air and we marvelled at all the shapes and laughed at how we were both happy to see the simplest of things.

We had to bring some of the strings of peas home as we love them.

Tip for the day: If you're going to go to Gordon Riggs, go at at 5pm because everyone is at home having their tea! It was so peaceful and we had the place to ourselves!

Dewy morning walk

We had such a lovely Friday morning walk. There was a lots of dew and it sparkled in the morning sunshine. I didn't think I'd be able to capture the dew on the grasses but just looked at my pics and found that I did.

Super speedy Scrabble!

The other night I wanted to feel like we were on holiday as we're not having one all together this year. Last year in our holiday cottage in Dorset we played a lot of Scrabble. In fact we were all obsessed by it but we never play when we're at home. So out came the wine and the chocolate and at home we have the added extra bonus of cats. Robert time lapsed it so this is super speedy Scrabble. Wouldn't ask you to watch it otherwise. YAWN!

After we finished our game I looked at my my Twitter stream and found out about all the atrocities going on across the country. I'd been busy working and it was the first I'd heard of it. Shocking. I was in Manchester yesterday afternoon doing some interviews and actually had a look around Miss Selfridge on my way back to the station before it was set in fire only a few hours later. This morning I was there again for another book interview and witnessed the aftermath. Lots of damage and boarded up windows and shopkeepers photographing the evidence. Nice to see SO many people ready to muck in with the clean up. I've never seen so many brooms!

We just had another game of Scrabble tonight. Ffion came back from camping and wanted a game. Funny how the words 'riot', 'thug' and 'loots' (well loots backwards) made it onto the board!

H is for Harebell

This gorgeous Edwina Bridgeman sculpture went uncannily well with my Harebell lamp. Look how the flower on her skirt is the same shape and she has harebell shaped hair too. The fact that she sits on an old 'H' printing block just topped it off!

Name lamps

I haven't posted any pictures of the personalised lamps lately but I'm still making lots of them. There have been a lot of Roses lately. Eva Rose, Libby Rose, Martha Rose, Elena Rose. Very popular right now. We did a new photo shoot a few weeks ago over at Andrew Sanderson and Debbie Georges house in Holmfirth. They have a beautiful house full of lovely furniture with interesting ornaments around the place to use in the photos. He took this lovely picture of one of the name lamps which I think I'll turn into a postcard. The Beatrix Potter books make it for me. I had them all when I was little.

We have loads more pics too. I'll show you soon.

Wet Friday Morning Walk

I couldn't persuade Fiona to come for a walk in the drizzle this morning but it was lovely, especially under the trees!

Tomsk came with me though, some of the way! :)

Drawing Grasses and the frustrations of writing a book!

So I bought a grass identification book to try and learn what last weeks grasses were but I still don't really know to be honest. It's quite tricky tell from the illustrations but hey they have nice shapes and they got me drawing so that's all good.

Over the past couple of days I have had Joby round to shoot some panoramic shots for the new virtual tour on the Radiance site. This year we decided to include the workshop too...with me in it 'working' and when I sat down to 'pretend' I ended up creating some stuff that I am pleased with and has potential lampage!

I like this one. I'd like to do a grassy wall panel. I'm a bit frustrated at the moment as I have so many things to juggle and whilst I'm doing one thing I always feel I should be doing something else. I have only EIGHT weeks left until my book deadline and that is a bit scary. This week was supposed to be a' head down to write week' but the panoramas took a long time to shoot on Monday and Tuesday, Euan needed a trip to Leeds for walking boots and new shoes and today Matt is a bit poorly bless him so I have to be in the shop. I still have lots of information to gather and LOTS to write and I'm feeling the pinch. Right now though I just want to walk in the sunny hills and makes shapes with paper and light without a deadline looming!

I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end!