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 !