Cosy Autumn

This post is a showcase of what autumn means to me: autumnal inspired jewellery, dried flowers, cosy knitwear, foraged goodies and the smell of coffee.

Outside studio

Summer Meadow Inspired by the Eden Project

Have I ever told you that Eden Project is one of my favourite places? Not only is it educational but it offers plenty of photography opportunities. During one of my visits, I was impressed by this meadow scene and few months later, I decided to paint it. Here are the step-by-step photos. Enjoy!

Foraging blackberries for a delicious cake

I love foraging - wild strawberries in late spring, elderflowers in summer and blackberries in autumn. The first day of September was sunny so I decided to go foraging and bake a cake. Even though I am trying to make no-bake low calories cakes, every now and then I would bake cakes with fruits like boiled clementine cake, gooseberry cake and today's cake with blackberry. I used the same recipe as for gooseberry cake that I found here and yes, I did make a gooseberry cake a few weeks ago when I bought some gooseberries on sale and they were too sour to eat. 

Art Bead August Challenge

I discovered Art Bead Scene Studio a while back and I was enticed by their monthly art bead challenge - creating a piece of jewellery inspired by a classical artwork and using at least one art bead. As I couldn't take part before either because I was too late or too busy with other projects when I checked this month's challenge I fell in love with the painting straight away. Twelve Princesses on the Way to Dance was painted by Kay Nielsen in watercolour and ink and it was published in 1923. This challenge made me look at other paintings by this artist and what a joy that was!

Tackling the bridal market

Colourful nails for colourful bracelets

I really enjoyed painting my nails for these photo shoots. Every bracelet deserves colourful nails to match. All bracelets feature a mini print after my paintings and they are designed to complement and enhance the image. For that, I used colourful glass beads, gemstones and millefiori beads as well as connectors and clasp toggles so they would be easy to put on. They are perfect either to complement your colourful outfits or as an accent piece that will draw the eyes. What I like about bracelets is that you can see them too when you are wearing them, unlike earrings for example. Have you ever thought of that :)? Enjoy the showcase and please let me know which one is your favourite.

Meadow connector + agate slice stone, agate flower bead and lava bead.

What to do with an Ikea box frame?

I normally put my work into three categories: 1 - ready to sell; 2 - I'm not so sure, needs more work; 3 - I like it, but I won't sell it. Those in the second category go through a few processes of adding, taking away, remaking until I am happy with the result. Sometimes, it might take weeks or months to rework a painting and this is the case with one of my cottage artworks that was waiting to be finished and I just couldn't visualise what else I could do with it.

July Healthy Eating

This is a visual feast of some of the foods I cooked this month. If you want to know more about any of them, please feel free to ask. Also, you can share your own versions, I would be happy to try them. In the meantime, enjoy the photos and let me know which recipe appeals to you the most.

Broad beans and spring onion soup, decorated with fresh basil, Parmigiano cheese and red chillies.

Yellow Summer Necklace

My latest creation: yellow summer pendant necklace with print after one of my floral paintings.