How fire feeds inspiration

Weekend just gone was all about warming up the home and the spirit, quite literally, as we officially made our first log fire after only one single and 'smoky' attempt in the past. Luckily it only gave warmth and a pleasant sheltered feeling this time, along with the winter comforting smell, sounds and pictures: that of the burning, crackling wood, and that of smoke going up our chimney - just like the story books with winter pictures.

On a day like this, I didn't even want to leave the room. I kept staring at the fire, watching the playful smoke and sprites dancing randomly before they were sucked up by the cold wind above our house, it felt so idyllic and so inspiring that I wanted to keep the warmth theme by baking bread for the rest of the day - a Saturday that felt so peaceful and so filled with homely cosiness.

I didn't want to let the inspiration go. So I prepared ideas for making an art journal in the style of this but also took delight in reading from this page that I found by chance in an attempt to put together a few workshop activities for my country's national celebration feast planned for the Sunday coming.

I was so filled with joy to see that someone out there finds the energy and time to write genuinely true, authentic and prideworthy things about my home place. I shall go back to those pages, making sure I have a warm log fire warming up my readings!..

Post -Halloween pumpkin pleasure

Although Halloween's been and gone, there one thing that still gets me reminiscent of it - the c u p c a k e pictures that I made the day before, when I baked my first cupcakes using a pumpkin that I then carved into this. I can't believe 'what a piece of cake' it was to make something that looks and tastes so nice. It's quite a pleasant surprise they came out so yummy and pretty on my first attempt. I would have kept them all for myself (as I'm a cake-oholic) but the trick-or-treaters were knocking at the door, nevermind, 42 cakes wasn't bad at all, plenty for everyone, including work. I used a recipe I compiled from online, but I saved it for next year, when I hope I'll also find some themed candies to go on top, it had to be orange smarties this time. Anyway , I'm a big fan of (home-made) cupcakes now!

Scented mini hearts

If i was to find a formula of a happy home that would be : love, warmth, cosiness, fun, colour harmony and an inviting scented freshness that would entice the guest to discover more. With this thought in mind, last night I made these scented mini cushions that I filled with lavender from our front garden bush, and I already found them a brand new home, our wardrobe. I'll openly admit the most challenging part wasn't cutting or sewing them, but coping with the intensity of the scent, however it's been a heart-warming experience, I'll certainly have a go again, perhaps experimenting with other pretty shapes.

Wonderland room making

Last week was fabric themed for me as I was dealing with 26 metres of it, dilligently attempting to make two sets of bedroom curtains, using and ab-using my sewing machine - I didn't actually know it was a success until Friday when they were finally put up. I must admit, even though I made curtains once before, I initially thought I probably was too brave this time, considering the increase in curtain size and number. It was such a relief, seeing the 2 weeks of curtain making were finally looking to have been worth all the measuring, cutting, stiching, ironing, sewing, calculating , thinking.
My fabric furnishing fortnight culminated with last Saturday when the 4 metres left of the curtain fabric were used to upholster our very own headboard, which quite frankly took all day, a lot of patience and a lot of creative stamina. Well the result was a room like a little Wonderland, in fact now opening the door into there is a bit like Lewis Carrol's Alice's adventures, a room with a new view, that of a real retreat, very close to a fantasy escape from reality - it's got that story book sweetness and soothing pleasure about being in it, the raspberry coloured warmth.. The only bit of problem will now be the morning waking in this blackout space, after a long while of daylight 'alarm clock', as the old curtains couldn't deal with keeping the morning light out, now it will be endless sweet dreams and surely sweet cosy sleep!
I must sit down and get some pictures uploaded that can talk for themselves! Until than (which I hope will be soon), l e t t h e i n s p i r a t i o n b e o u r g u i d e !

Cushion craze

For the last two days I've been cushion craft dreaming .. it started with randomly finding this page where these little 'creations' are not just there to be cuddled up and fill a corner, but also to be cute little eye-catchers to enhance every day. If you think - like me before - that a cushion is 'one of them square stuffed fabric items that clutter a home unnecessarily', well, I now think they can be basically anything you want them to be, a variety of shapes, a love message, a poem backing, a letter, a flower, a colour collage, a memorabilia, a photo frame, a personalised work of art, to reflect you, your personality and your home. The handy way to define your style, your taste, your ingenuity.

I once made a mother's day present writing a quotation onto a decorative cushion, it was an experiment that proved very rewarding. I didn't take it very seriously at the time, however now I realise my artsy instinct was trying to tell me something - that I should design my own cushions! I suddenly believe that a home's personality and warmth is proportional with its number and style of cushions.

A cushion is after all the most supportive friend after your family, friends and pets, it's the one that you fight with when you want to be silly, the one that holds your head when tired, upset, or ill, the one that you cuddle up to feel better and warm, the one that you lean on when you chatter round a coffee, the one that comforts your bum when there's too many guests and no handy chairs, the one that witnesses pillow talks, it's always there, it's so homely, why not dedicate it more time and and for a change, you 'pamper' it, adding pretty designs for everyday happiness! It doesn't even have to cost much money or time, all you need is your favourite fabric(s), cotton, sewing machine or even a needle, transfer paper etc depending how far you want to go, basically if you don't have the skills or time, just buy ready-made plain one(s) and work on that, either iron transferring or sewing your design! That's it! It will be such a pleasant experience rewarded by everyday softness and cuteness! This is my current challenge and can't wait to start designing, especially as I've got the best excuse, our bedroom's makeover currently ongoing! I'll start with browsing in fabric shops and once the materials are there I'll begin creating! My very own cushions! It will be much fun, I'm sure! Once I've done a few, I'll be back with fresh photos!

Have a cushy day! R.

A fresh new 'coffee' blog!

Dear reader,

First of all - Have you got a c o f f e e sat next to you ? If so, you're in the right place - this one is started because my coffee-loving creative self thought it's good to let ideas flow when the 'muse' is around rather than letting them zoom out into forgetfullness..So, from now on, my creative 'rush' will now have a shape (of a cup?..) and a consistency and hopefully a direction! :) Have you ever thought you've got so many ideas but never have the time and / or the dare to put them into practice or into lines? Well, you'd say there must be people out there with lots of them as well - true! But they're your IDEAS! Idea-lly, by writing mine down, I'll be able to weave them nicely into my everyday story carpet!
Creative Coffee Time - because being c r e a t i v e is what defines me , is an inherited trait I can't cure, and which seems to revisit mostly whenever I have my vital 'wake up' drink - sweet dear coffee! C o f f e e is one of those things that would be part of my 'survival' or 'first aid' kit - and curiously it switches the inspiration on and a pleasant cosiness that only a coffee drinker can understand! As a result, my coffee breaks will unanimously turn into 'coffee time' - as more often than not, I refuse to accept that the 'magic' lasts only as long as my coffee drinking, so inherently my coffees get cold in the hope of streching my inspired mood for longer! What a homage to coffee, hey?

Have a coffee-licious day!