The Orchard Studio

July Polaroids

I am steadily getting through my last supply of 600 film which expired in August 2009. These images were taken in Laugharne at Ginst Point, which is a vast deserted beach. Our house is on the hill overlooking this amazing landscape and we rarely see more than a couple of other people walking their dogs here.

This beach has also yielded some amazing finds including huge pieces of driftwood, shells, and strange flotsam and jetsom. More recently a sheeps jawbone and a large birds skull as well as a huge piece of rope and a sea-worn piece of timber sleeper which I hope to make into a bench. The last large piece of driftwood I found would not fit in the car however, and resulted in the smashing of the windscreen as I tried to slam the boot down to make it fit in!

This amazing lily grows outside the door to my studio, the scent is incredible and it brightens my day.

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!

Home sweet home

I'm back at last from sunny and very hot Majorca where everything was as expected, sun, sea, sangria and mosquito bites!

All was beautiful and very warm and also extremely expensive thanks to the Euro!

I am so glad to be back to my home, my friends, Ned and the cats.   Nothing like a holiday away to make you appreciate what is good and lovely in your life!

This shot shows a fantastic pink hisbiscus.  There were masses of them everywhere and they look so exotic and decadent.  I wanted to tuck one behind my ear and drink a cocktail somewhere glamorous.  Sadly I did'nt get round to the hibiscus bit!

 

Just to make you all jealous... we lay here most days!  However, I am not really one for the lying around so managed to read my way through three huge books.  I also managed to get quite burnt by accident so had to skulk about the apartment for a couple of days which was annoying!

I am really looking forward to getting stuck into my new projects this autumn.  One of which I will be writing about as it is an amazing commission to design and plant a vast perennial border, in a cottage garden style, which is a rarity these days.  I can't wait! 

We're all going on a summer holiday!

I'm off on my hols now for a week or so.  Going to leave behind all thoughts of work and lie in the sun and read.  Although I am taking my camera so doubtless I will be mooching about taking lots of photos!

We are going back to Majorca, a favourite holiday spot and one which I have visited pretty much all of my life.  We are staying in the north of the island, it is beautiful and peaceful and complete bliss!  Although the slight downside is that we are going with two teenage girls  - my daughter and her cousin - who could either be very very good or very very bad depending on the mood!

I am really looking forward to autumn this year as I have several interesting projects lined up as well as a new opportunity to write for a magazine about all the things I love from gardens and gardening to design and style, wildlife and food.  

Plus of course there is the whole back to school thing, new shoes, new books and a new start!  See you all in September!