Pastel Beach huts and Summer Days

I thought these beach huts at West Mersea would be a fitting celebration to start the summer holidays with. I don't know if its because this is Stanley's last summer before he starts school or days out and human company feel like such a treat but I'm really looking forward to the months ahead. 

Getting prepared for the holidays is much about the right mindset as it is about getting the calendar full of activities. I used to always worry that I didn't have enough going on for my little ones but if this year has taught me anything, it's, I have all I need to survive (and so do you!). I've stocked up on a few new craft supplies for Milly who loves to draw and ordered Stanley half a kilo of Lego wheels as he's really got into building lately, the rest I'm letting the weather and daily moods decide.

For me, the pace of lockdown really suited my creativity. Without the pressure of having to be anywhere I was able to pursue different avenues of thought and came up with ideas and plans better than I could have imagined. I'm really looking forward to getting some sewing on the go (I have a gorgeous embroidery post lined up to inspire you), exploring natural dying (see this post about fabric dyed flowers) and simply seeing where the weeks take me. Whilst this can all sound a bit dreamy, giving yourself and children space is so important for learning and development. Constant noise drowns out our instincts and connection to what makes us truly happy. If you have a chance give yourself some time and space to let your mind wander, it's the best adventure you'll have this summer. 

Although talking of busy, I'd also like to redecorate Stanley's room but that might be pushing it...

Enjoy these photo's if you can make it to West Mersea, do. It's such a pretty place. 

The garden so far...

I've taken SO many photos of my garden this year, some I'm saving for future posts, some are simply  happy moments which I'm sharing today. Since getting my cutting garden up and running three years ago it's provided me with so much more than just beautiful flowers. This year it's abundance has been a currency for connection and kindness. Whilst lockdown has been lonely at times, sharing my activity in the garden and chatting online with so many like minded souls and selling my flower jars within my local community has been the BEST thing to come out of these strange days. I have had the pleasure of swapping plants with my neighbours, exchanging wise words and even the most beautiful smelling candle for my homegrown bounty. I love how simple jam jars of flowers have inspired so many to get growing and adding flowers to their own gardens. As someone who struggles with their self worth, my flowers have shown me what I'm capable of and I'm excitedly drawing up plans to turn the whole of the back section of the garden into a cutting space to sell more cut flowers next year. 

The biggest success this year has to be my incredible Ammi (above), towering tall, it filled and hid a really harsh new fence. Autumn sown and rather neglected during the winter - it forgave me and produced clouds of white flowers for months. I have taken out two thirds of it as it suffered so much wind damage recently and I needed the bed space for cosmos, dahlia's and some unlabeled plants! It's a firm favourite and is on my plant list forever more. 

Another great success has been my wild 'meadow', it was simply the bare patch where the compost bin once stood. I added a seed mix in March and has done its thing ever since. A few tips if you fancy doing similar would be to mix your seed in with sand and sow in a grid pattern so you know what's growing should be growing. Secondly once freshly sown,  cover with chicken wire or mesh, cats and small children take no care in freshly planted areas - this is my preferred method of keeping them away. This would be great if you have no time to garden but want to look at a flower filled space. This patch isn't big it's probably 80 x 120cm so you don't need a lot of space to get growing. 

Talking of meadows, I've kept a lot of self seeded grasses around the edges of flower beds. It's looked really romantic as the grasses this year have been beautiful. However, I went in hard at the weekend as the grasses have passed their best and removed a few big clumps, they were housing too many slugs and snails which have been rampant this year. I have lost a lot of small plants to these greedy beasts, I can't lose any more. 

The hydrangea bed I dug in the winter of 2019 has really some into it's own. They loved our soggy winter and have really started to grow healthy and strong. I cannot wait for this bed to become fully established, it will be magnificent in a few years. I've been adding some climbing roses to fill the fence, they were really slow to get going but in recent weeks have started to flourish, as they are climbing I think they will flower next year on this years growth, again I can't wait. This bed looks really gorgeous first thing when the light amoungst the tree creates the most beautiful shadows, it's a favourite spot to stop and ponder in the morning. 

With my own "second wave' of flowers due (dahlia's, cosmos, zinnia's and sunflowers are coming) I'm looking forward to seeing what the second half of summer brings. Like I said earlier, my plans for next year are grand (but scalable), I'm taking note of the quiet weeks so I can plan flowers to fill gaps and working out how to grow in bigger quantities (new greenhouse, maybe?!). If you don't already, you can follow me on Instagram where I share more of what I'm growing. Have a great weekend. x 

DIY - How to make a shell necklace

I'm not sure what's happened to "summer" but I want to bring you a summery DIY necklace all the same. As I've said previously I've fallen back in love with jewellery making and this simple shell necklace tutorial can help you turn your gathered treasures into something really beautiful and wearable. Once you've got your supplies gathered you'll be able to turn pockets of treasure into sweet summer momentos.

You'll need - Beading Thread, Beading Needles, Flat back cameo mounts, Double loop split ring, bolt ring, seed beads (there are alot of colours to choose from - I would choose something matte rather than shiny and a metallic), E6000 glue, a small selection of shells. 

Step 1 - Depending in the size of your shell take your cameo mounts and add a dot of E6000 glue to each, apply to the back of the shell. I positioned these on the arches of the heart, make sure the eye of the mount it poking over the top, you'll need this hole to tread through. Also make sure the holes line up both sides. 

If you don't have a heart shell - I admit this was a lucky find - you can create a mix of tiny shells and sea glass on just one cameo mount (see this post for inspiration). Keep this detail really light and delicate and avoid anything too chunky. 

Leave to dry. 

Step 2 - Take a length of beading thread and fasten securely with a couple of knots to one side of the mount. Thread the loose end onto a beading needle and add your seed beads. The advantage of making your own jewellery is you can decide on the perfect length - each length of beads on this necklace was 20cm. 

Step 3 - When you have reached your desired length, make sure the beads are sitting snuggly together and tie the beading thread around the split ring and knot the extra thread a few times to secure. Snip off any extra ends. 

Step 4 - Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other side, this time tying the thread around the loop on the bolt ring.

To secure add a tiny dot of glue or clear nail polish onto each of the knot. 

If you are not beach bound this summer, fear not! These work just as well without the shell detail, just add beads as one continuous length and make a simple beaded necklace. 

If beading feels like too much work then why not create an easy charm necklace - get yourself some gold discs, a premade necklace and a few jump rings. You can add shells to the discs using glue in the same way I have done above and fix everything together with a jump ring 

Or why not make both and layer together in a happy holiday mix - no beach required! 

These posts might inspire you too. 

Simple Beaded Silk Necklace 

Leather and Charm Bracelets 

Summer Solstice Cake

Oh hi there beautiful! I made this rose topped cake at the weekend and HAD to capture it amoungst my blooming ammi. Saturday was also the summer solstice which I didn't realise but I'm sure made these photos feel extra magical. I love summer and will never pass up the opportunity to celebrate it in all its beautiful floral glory. As I didn't have long, I set this cake table with a cloth picked up in France, an arrangement I was playing about with using left overs from my flower stall and pretty rose patterned plates. Simple moments really do make the everyday beautiful, cake instructions below. Bon appetit! 

For the cake I swear by the all-in-one sponge by Queen Mary Berry. I baked mine the night before so it had plenty of time to cool.

For the decoration I whisk up a small carton of double cream with a tablespoon of sifted icing sugar. I then hull and chop strawberries into quarters and add them to the bowl (I sometimes add raspberries too). I give them another mix until the cream turns pink. 

Using a spatula I spread a thick layer onto the base cake making sure I get right up to the edges and sandwich the second cake on top. I then spread a thin layer to the top and sides. Due to my children misbehaving I popped it into the fridge whilst I sorted a small skirmish  - it worked wonders and set the cream. You don't have to do this step but I recommend. 

To finish I scattered rose petals around the edge of the cake and added three juicy strawberries and a few mini meringues off centre. I then added small roses and feverfew daises to fill in the gaps. As a final flourish I sprinkled a few more rose petals and a gentle dust of icing sugar. 

Keep cool until ready to eat or instagram! 

More summer cakes here...

Classic Sponge with Eton Mess Filling 

Layered Lemon Cake

Early Autumn Afternoon Tea

Buckets of Flowers

Happy Friday! I've been busy this morning getting my homegrown flowers cut and rested and jam jars scrubbed for tomorrow's flower stall. They are looking so pretty and summery, I'm really excited! From earlier in the week, here is a bucket of beautiful english garden flowers I snipped for a friends birthday party (socially distant of course!). She was having a festival themed birthday for her daughter's 19th birthday so I went bright and clashing with lots of grasses reminiscent of english meadows. I put everything together in vases (these lace sprayed vases have resurfaced) and got five vases full. I did a doorstep drop off and my friend dotted them around her house and garden - perfect. 

I'd like to start offering buckets of flowers for any event you might be having. I've written so many times about the joy and importance in making your everyday beautiful - I feel like lockdown has really shown people that celebrations at home can be just a special as being out. I'm delighted that I can now offer flowers that you can use alongside my tutorials for laying and styling tables - I'll leave a few links to some styled tables that you might enjoy. 

If you are looking for fresh garden flowers, I'm based in Leigh-on-Sea,  Essex and can put anything I have growing together for you (based on seasonal availability) from £5 jam jars to something bigger. I'd absolutely love to hear from you, you can email me or an instagram message works too .  Have a lovely weekend, I hear the sun is back. xx 

Summer table 

Fathers table table setting

French and Foliage inspired wedding

 Party Under the Pear Tree 

Under the Sea Party Table 

Talking Tables Truly Alice Party Table