Nature in the home - a series...

Good day!
Today's nature in the home comes from the quite wonderful flickr pages of Brian Ferry.
I have had a love of affair with his photography for a long time.  And he does love to feature plants!
I have also had a long time love affair for succulents and cacti.
I always think of my mum when I look at Cacti - she hates them!  Teehee... I think they are beautiful, architectural and dangerous!  A great combination.
These weathered terracotta pots against this greeny/grey wall is just gorgeous.... a taste of the Mediterranean.
x

february photo challenge...

Source: instagr.am via littlegreenshed - on Pinterest

I haven't done a manifesto yet for February.
To be honest my brain is mush at the moment.
Finding it difficult holding an 'adult' conversation with myself let alone with anyone else or 'doing' anything in particular other than picking up snotty tissues and changing the TV channel when Tracy Beaker comes on!
So... in desperation of wanting to do something for me, I have decided to take on the photo a day challenge for February.
I know lots of people have just done one for January and it feels like I'm a bit late on this, but for me it's not about when I do it... it's actually doing it!
So here... here is my list of daily photo challenges.
Better charge the camera.
x

Grateful's:

1. Parents generosity

2. The worlds juiciest orange

3. A larger wood stack (thanks Dad)

Look what I've been doing today....

Today I have been photographing Yixing teapots.
Cute aren't they?
I've been helping Dan to photograph these new products for Canton's website.
I am so worried I will drop one, so perfect and delicate, each one is hand crafted in China by small artisan potters, each are inspired by nature.  The top one above resembles a squash.
Perfect for drinking traditional green tea.
Speaking of which I need a cuppa!
x

5 photos & 5 things....

I am taking part in meetmeatmikes game: 5 photos, 5 things... here goes:

1. My favourite creature is the Owl.  I have loved owls since a small child.  And whilst travelling I visited a witch doctor in South Africa who told me my guardian animal (we all have one apparently) was a large tawny owl - which totally freaked me!

2. I travelled for 5 years in the 90's.  Visited many countries and met some inspiring people and some people I wish to forget.  It changed who I am as a person, and for that I am enternally grateful.

3. I love photography.  I daily fall deeper in love with it.

4. I dream of owning a cottage, campervan, treehouse, teepee, boat.... it changes.

5. I can't grow beetroot.  And it is my favourite vegetable!  The irony!

Hop on over to meetmeatmikes for some more facts from some amazing blogs.

x

Colour your monday happy....

Recognise this image?  Yes it's from my post a couple of weeks back.

To my surprise and delight Emma Lamb has featured it in her post today!

I cannot believe it?

This is the second time that Emma has featured one of my photographs on her Monday colour theme.  This monday's theme is Fuchsia Pink.

Thank you Emma for brightening up my Monday!

x

All Colours In

I had such a great surprise yesterday! 

I have been following this lovely blog by Emma Lamb for nearly a year now.   Each Monday Emma does a post called 'Colour your Monday Happy, in which she will have a colour theme and showcases lovely photographs which people have uploaded onto her flickr pool all colours in.

Yesterday Emma posted her colour theme as warming autumnal yellows and oranges....

And to my surprise I saw this:

How amazing!

I took this photograph in the Temperate Biome at the Eden Project in Cornwall whilst we were on holiday earlier this year.  Such a long time ago!

 

Thank you Emma for choosing my photo!

 

For more of my Flickr have a look here.

 

x

Diana love

Since starting this blog in March, my love of photography has grown.  I enjoy taking pics so much, that when I am not with my camera I am always seeing perfect shots to take.  I feel I have become addicted.

I have come across the Diana on many a blog.  The camera uses film, which will be a challenge to go back to after snapping away with a digital.  The beauty of this camera is that the images it takes look so old school, and you can play around with it.  Fully wind it on or leave it half wound on for a layered effect.

Like these beautiful images from here comes the sun blog. 

Take a look at Lomography Shop for more info.  Hmm maybe I need a holga too!

Sigh!

Yes please Mr Christmas, a camera like this would suit me just right!

x

Love Letter

Love Letter print by Cassia Beck

I have WON!

Little me, as won this awesome print by Cassia Beck, whose work I have loved for a while.  I first discovered her talent whilst looking on Etsy for my lovely friend Holly as she was moving home.  You may remember my post here, where I was choosing her a print.  Well I eventually chose Blue Monday by Cassia, under her other shops name, Lolas Room on Etsy.

I have been following her blog ever since.  Last week she mentioned that Here Comes The Sun blog was giving away one of her prints.  I entered and I was 1 of 135! Odds werent looking good.

So to my delight, I was notified yesterday that I won!

I am so over the moon.

Cassia is printing it for me this week, so I should have by the weekend.

Now, where to put it?  My work room? Bedroom?

Cant wait!

Horray it's Friday!!!

Country Living Magazine - Edible Flowers

Okay it's been a tough week, and I am really exhausted... dunno what's the problem, whether it is the cold weather, feeling like summer is over again for another year (please no!!!)

or it could be the election, the uncertainty of it all, and watching the news every night isnt good for me, to dwell on the worlds problems keeps me awake.

So all in all, i've been feeling a bit blue, mojo missing, and incredibly grumpy.

Until this little beauty arrived on my doorstep....my monthly subscription to Country Living Magazine!

Yes I know I live in the city, but my heart is truely in the country.  I love Bristol and all it's greeness and forward thinking people, great shops, galleries and masses of great things to do.  But I am still the county girl at heart.

So when my mag arrived I made myself a special cup of Green Tea in a pot and sat down for a little me time... luckily eldest son was at pre-school and my youngest was playing diggers... phew!

Flicking through the articles on 'bringing back afternoon tea' (great cake recipes), wonderful gardens, gorgeous houses, when I spied an article on recipes using edible flowers.  Ahh so they've been watching Alys too!

Recipe for Blossom Vinegar

Such great recipes and beautiful photography, I will have to give them a try.  I really like the recipe for Marigold, Parmesan & Courgette Risotto, which uses the Marigold petals as an alternative to saffron as it leaches its golden colour into the dish and also giving the dish a midly spicy note too... yum.

Another recipe was to make a Blossom Vinegar to be used in a dressing for salads.  The flowers that Elisabeth Luard recommended to use in the vinegar were roses, violets, thyme, rosemary, marigold and oregano.  It looks so beautiful in the jar.

So after 15 minutes or so with a good cuppa and my magazine I feel slightly revived and ready for a better weekend...

Have a great weekend, make sure you give yourselves a little 'me' time, and if you can have a look at this mag... made me feel better anyway!

International Garden Photographer of the Year 2010

Tulips, Photograph by Sergey Karepanov

I have just spotted these awesome photographs over at the guardian.  They have the winners of the International Garden Photographer of the Year 2010.

Wow, these photographs are stunning, truely inspiring for someone like me who loves plants and photography.

Alderman Allotments. Bristol, photograph by Mark Bolton

I love this one, the autumn morning sunlight over the brassica beds... ah I've got all romantic!  Maybe I am biased as Alderman Allotments are not far from mine.

I wish I could take photos like these, they are absolutely gorgeous...

Layered Landscape, photography by Marianne Majerus

So pop on over here for more wonderful plant filled photography.

Enjoy!