snippet and ink

When I am designing I gain inspiration from allsorts of places, it could be a garden or a National Trust House, somebodies clothing, a bag or some stationery anyway I find inspiration in many places. When I am stuck for colour ideas I look on Kathryn's fabulous blog snippet and ink. Although it is theoretically a wedding blog, I find I go back to it time and again for all kinds of ideas. If you have any events coming up this summer (don't just think weddings) then have a look, I am sure you will be super inspired too. I am working on a couple of summer events at the moment - if you live in Gloucestershire check back for more info on the Amberley cow trail day in May. I was very inspired by these 2 lovely boards and will be using them as a basis for some of the refreshment stands for our cow trail day!

snippet & ink: daily wedding inspiration: February 2009: "Top row from left: strawberry cake, flower and shoe photos both by Jose Villa, milk bottle 'vase' photo by Cooke Studio Row 2: photo booth photo by Meg Smith, poster invitation via Southern Weddings, lunch boxes and strawberry shortcake both from Martha Stewart Weddings Row 3: bouquet by Saipua, vintage veil from i speak film's flickr, wagon from Brides Row 4: truck via Sweet Paul, invitation from Poppies for Grace, lantern photo by A Bryan Photo Posted by Kathryn at 5:30 AM 21 comments Labels: green, inspiration board, picnic, red

snippet & ink: daily wedding inspiration: February 2009: "Top row from left: hot air balloon poster via Oh Happy Day, apple trees from Jan_ice's flickr Row 2: Laduree macarons via Housemartin, shoes from Krisatomic's flickr, dress photo by Aaron Delesie, lunch boxes from Martha Stewart Weddings Row 3: red poppy bouquet via Project Wedding, paper lanterns from Lola Event Productions, cocktails from Soiree Charleston Row 4: green bridesmaid dress, barn photo by One Thousand Words Photography via Junebug Weddings, flowers from Brides, lollipops from Rebecca Thuss Posted by Kathryn at 8:00 AM 47 comments Labels: blue, green, inspiration board, pink, red, rustic Sponsored Post: Pearl by Milkmaid Press

chocolate mousse

I started the week lacking inspiration for the food shopping list. However help was at hand, I asked the children what they would like to eat. Boy has a huge, savoury appetite and requested fish pie, spaghetti bolognese and pizza. The little girl has a very sweet tooth and demanded chocolate pie. Despite my explanations that it wasn't a very healthy meal option she insisted. As ever in a world of children, diplomacy and compromise won. I promised chocolate mousse for pudding with our Sunday Roast. Not only did that please the little girl, but it gave me the opportunity to use the cups that Sarah bought me - they were disinfected in the dishwasher before use!

It is so quick and easy I had to share it with you. This recipe makes 6 full cups of rich chocolate mousse:

375 ml double cream
200 g marshmallows
200 g plain chocolate

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat gently until chocolate and marshmallows have melted, pour into pots and chill in fridge over night.

peacock in his pride

We went to Prinknash Abbey today to look at the birds and deer and were amazed by the beauty of the Peacocks. We were able to get really close to them as they stood shaking their impressive plumes and the intensity of the colours was incredible. Surely the inspiration for something...

martha

I always love going on the Martha Stewart website. it fills me with inspiration. It saddens me that we have no magazine in the uk that is the equivalent. The photography is stunning. anyway fortunately for us over here in the uk, where is it is difficult to buy Martha Stewart living, there is a fantastic website which has everything that one can find in her numerous publications. Here is a little bit of Easter baking to whet your appetite. All of the recipes can be found on the martha stewart website.

bloggy gorgeousness

bloggy loveliness this week comes from emma bond

she is a super talented garden designer based in Bath. she has a lovely website

have a look at her blog, makes me yearn for cornwall in the holidays!

stitch & bitch

Sarah was unable to make our weekly stitch and bitch session due to the demands of her glamorous, magazine lifestyle! As a result I had a quiet morning and managed to finish this 'Spring Chicken' smock, just in time for me to post it to my Goddaughter for Easter. I'm new to this applique lark and found the curves literally drove me round the bend, especially since I was jangling from 3 cups of coffee. I don't know how Sarah does it so well on her cushions. However, I was pleased with the overall result, just don't look too closely.

Thanks again to Amy Karol's bend-the-rules Sewing for the pattern.

childrens wall murals

I have been busy these last few weeks trying to get my kids fabric and wallpaper collection ready for launch. I thought i would let you have a smeak preview today! this is a wallpaper panel which is 130cm wide by 2 - 2.5m high. it can be sized to fit the height of the bedroom wall. I love the idea of big repeats in wallpaper, and enough goiing on to captivate a childs imagination.

pleasing photograph

i had to do a ' lifestyle' photo today for the English Home magazine, (a very lovely magazine which has fabulous photography and styling). Anyway with there being only 30 seconds of sunshine today I was quite pleased with the result!! I also had some exciting news this week, I have been accepted to sell my wares on not on the high street.com.

grown up easter gifts

We are spending some of the Easter break with my in-laws and I realise that I need some gifts, but again want to avoid the chocolate glut. I borrowed this 'pot-maker' from Sarah and made loads of little (biodegradable) pots and my girl planted Sunflower seeds in them. I was really pleased with the FT versions which I had done for the men in the family, if they grow they should sport a fantastic deep red sunflower.

sowing the seeds

Last year we rather ambitiously took on a large allotment 3 days before our baby was born. Despite inheriting an established asparagus bed, a blueberry tree and a fantastic crop of strawberries we soon realised that we just don't have the time to dedicate to an allotment. So this year I have some left over seeds that need a home. I also have a few outstanding thank you letters. So I decided to combine the two and created some seed books. This year someone else will have the pleasure of growing my seeds!

spring green and primrose swap

just to let you know our 'spring green and primrose' swap will close this week. So if you want to join in email us at hardakerandpope AT gmail.COM and leave your details. swap packages can be anything you like, craft/stationary/fabric/easter/cooking inspired. Put your goodies in an A5 envelope and once you have registered your details Jo and I will email you with an address to send them to. We are going to add some special goodies to each swap package. Hope this explains a little for anyone new to the idea of swaps.

saw these and thought of you

I found these teacups minus their saucers in my favourite (and far too whiffy for Jo) charity shop. Anyway I bought them for Jo to cheer her up after a rotten week. I had intended to get her some spring flowers from the man outside the Sub Rooms in Stroud, as I knew that she had seen a rather amazing green and yellow combo there, however I was thwarted by traffic and went to Nailsworth instead where I chanced upon these. I thought they might be just the thing for an event Jo is working on for the summer. (its amazing what a nice tag, some cello and a bit of ribbon do to a present!)