Happy Birthday!

The Orchard Studio blog has just turned one this week so I thought I would tell you about a few other blogs which I have enjoyed reading over this past year and which have provided me with ideas and inspiration. So we're going to light a candle and have a little drinky and celebrate - Happy Birthday The Orch! 

First up, my friend Kat at .Reveries and a Cup of Chai. Kat is a tremendously talented photographer and also has this blog too: .threads of light.   I always look forward to reading Kat's blogs as she is a very warm and open person and she writes about the things which interest and inspire her most.

Next we have Liz at Gwirrel's Garden   I have been reading Liz's blog since I started and love her photographs. Like me, Liz is partial to taking a few photos around the garden, and hers are totally stunning. I love her blog because (and I hate to admit this) but I do find a lot of gardening blogs quite dull. Despite my love of gardening I don't get a kick from reading about what other people are doing in theirs.  Liz however is different. She makes her garden come alive through her photos and she takes stunning macros too!

I also make my daily visits to The Sartorialist.  This blog has fantastic images of interesting people and their clothes, on the street mainly in New York but also in Europe.  Having trained as a fashion designer back in the early 90's, I still love fashion and I love reading fashion blogs. I love this blog as none of these people are models, they are simply snapped going about their (glamorous) business!

More recently, I started reading this blog, ThxThxThx.  Leah who writes this blog does a thank you note a day some of them really hilarious and original. I love this idea!

I am also most partial to reading Sarah Hardaker's blog at Hardaker and Pope.  This blog is perfectly formed and forever full of great ideas and recipes, things to make, places to go, things to do. The photography is always a joy and I have been inspired by lots of ideas from Sarah.

 

Another stunningly beautiful blog, this time about food. Sunday Suppers .  This blog makes me want to get on a plane straight away and go to New York, which we are planning to do this year. If you like food and you like brilliant photography, this is the blog to read!

Ingrid at Of Spring and Summer is another very interesting and talented blogger and gardener. I love her blog because she keeps her posts short and sweet and they are always a delight. I have been following this blog since I started and I love her style.

There are of course many others I haven't featured today, but they do include Michele at Cowboys and Custard, for wonderful handmade cards, pictures and vintage bits, and because she is my mate,  Shutter Sisters, for an endless array of photographic wonderfulness,  India Knight, because the woman is just so full of good ideas and her blog is an endless source of shopping inspiration and Helen at Patient Gardener because she is just so nice and her blog is readable and interesting!

A very special mention for Becky at Vintage Fairy Tales. Her blog is a feast of eccentricity and humour and very imaginative photography, she just makes me laugh, which is a good thing, she is also really sweet and friendly, so check her out!