Artifact Uprising Book

When R asked me what I would like for Christmas, I asked for a photo book.  I happily spent hours pouring over the page layouts and choosing photos.  I order my soft book option via Artifact Uprising.  Yesterday it arrived and for those who follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you would have sensed how excited I was with it's arrival.  For years I would view my photography on screen only, but over the last year or so, I have been more regular in ordering prints.  It feels so special to see them in print and after months on pinning Artifact Uprising products on pinterest I was thrilled to take the plunge and order a photo book.  

Tea Delight in Paris

During my short over night stay in Paris, I stumbled across this delightful tea emporium.  The smell of fruit teas and the 'take me home' tea caddies in so many tempting colours, kept me snapping away as not to forget this place.  The shop manger of Betjeman & Barton kindly let me sample some teas and arrange an array of tins as to make my choice.  I finally opted for the matt mustard caddy, truth be told, if I had a little extra cash, I would have bought another two.  Not only did I discover this note worthy shop, but I concluded that I am really slow...a little awful at making decisions.  So I have taken a book that has been sitting on our bookshelf for some weeks now and decided to read it.  It's called The Chimp Paradox by Dr Steve Peters.  Have any of you read or heard about this book?  My husband thinks that it will be good for me as I enter into the world of selling my prints via 'open houses' and retail spaces!

Random Friday

Firstly let me start to wishing you a wonderful Friday.  I love Fridays, even though by the time they come around I am shattered!  I love how relaxed I feel, during the week I am thinking of all the things I need to do, but by Fridays I switch of ready for the weekend.  The first image is from my coffee last week at Stanmer House, the rest is home.

Random Stills

Feeling both exhausted and excited about the pending work on our lounge.  Grateful that we are starting to feel a bit better.  By the way, finding this book 'ONE' incredibly moving and challenging about how we evolve our thinking to being on our own.  Any plans for the weekend?

Quiet by Susan Cain

Today has been a conveyor belt of the girls friends coming to play.  We spent some of the day drawing on pebbles.  Then a surprise gift came in the post from CS, a book that she has recommended for sometime.  Naturally I love chatting and meeting new people.  However, a year ago I recognised that I really cherish being on my own.  Time to be stop, think, process and be creative.  I had two lots of twenty minutes through my hectic day and dived straight into this super insightful book.  It is called QUIET. by Susan Cain.  

Cold Weather Conditions

There is a yearning for spring in our home.  We are done with gloves, hats, earmuffs and scarfs.  We are dreaming of blossoming flowers, salad days and spring cleaning.  Instead we are constantly fighting off colds, ear infections and stocking the log burner.  Anyway I am still not 100% so I most afternoons, I have been flaked out reading this rather insightful and challenging book!

Vintage Tea

Last week it was a friend's birthday and I bought this charming book The Vintage Tea Party Book.  She wrote a message saying "she is seriously in love with this book and cannot put it down" and who can blame her.  I cheekily photographed a couple of pages, in fact too many to choose from.  From the styling to the illustrations I too have a lot of love for this book.  Alas I have to be sensible about spending my pennies and owning too many things, so I am pleased with the simple notion that someone is enjoying this book more than me.

Book Crawl

The current episode in our life is sadly all about the lack of sleep. Last night was a record, two hours then up for 4 hours for various child/poorly reasons, then another 2 hours of sleep before starting the day. I am far too tried to talk to anyone today, so I am going to hide away. This week is looking a little glum....I truly need a good nights sleep. Sleep deprivation really affects me....is it just me? However on Monday these lovely books arrived to brighten the odd moment of my day.

ps. our girls are completely unaffected by their awakening.

A little find

Yesterday afternoon, the girls and I popped into our village. It was nice to make the most of the dry weather. There are only a handful of shops, three being charity shops. I purchased just one item, a book from the local charity shop. A beautifully illustrated Children's nursery rhyme book by Brian Wildsmith a UK born artist. Until now, I hadn't heard of him, so I did a search on Google and found out a bit and browsed images from his other books. His passion for colour is evident and he seems to have been an influence for those in illustration.

Sisters

Although I have siblings, one full and two half, I have been brought up as an only child. I have no real bond with may half brother or sister and I can count the number of times that I have met my full brother on my hands. So watching our girls love, cherish and enjoy each other, has been a thrilling experience and joy to me. I have friends with sisters and I continually observe their relationships so as to gain insight, sometimes peppered with a longing of my own. When listening to this mornings women's hour on radio four, I learned that an author has written an intriguing book about sisters. Previously a doctor, now accomplished writer, Luisa Dillner covers in her recent book the role and functions of sisters, citing historical figures and various present day sisterly relationships. I am sure that this book will be on my Christmas list! I am interested to know about your memories of growing up with siblings.

Short but certainly sweet

Two books I am reading...

ps. listening to Chairlift