A few days ago my jar of confetti hearts was looking decidedly sad ...
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... but after two days of almost non-stop punching (and two heart punches down - it seems they are not made for intensive punching!), isn't it looking much happier?
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I adore the delightful blues and whites.
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Do you want a close-up?
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Bliss! A happy sight for the eyes, and unspeakably satisfying to stick your hand in and have a good old rummage (now that does sound strange!).
A lovely evening spent making some teeny tiny confetti hearts out of some lovely pale blue paper. How these make my own heart sing to think that in a few short weeks they will be showering their sweetness over myself and my new (and only) husband!
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And don't the cut-out rows look pretty too.
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Although I fear it will take a few more hours until I make enough to fill these cones (and these are only half the number of cones we will have!).
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Typically, despite having over a year and a half, I am only just properly starting now. I can see many more evening making these little hearts. And honestly, I don't think I mind one bit!
It's a miracle how just a bit of sunshine can completely lift your mood! I've been feeling a bit dreary and down for a few weeks, but the feel of the sun on my face has made me feel all bright and happy and light. If only I could enjoy the sun outside, instead of the meager few rays that are begrudging allowed through the blinds in my office. I could happily spend the day relaxing on the beach, however, as I sadly don't live in a world where I can barter seashells, sand and other interesting odds and ends washed up by the sea for my everyday necessities (like food!), I unfortunately have to trudge to work. I can't help but feel that this desire for the beach may have inspired my outfit for today:
A happy little group, shaded by some wonderfully bright parasols. Surely there must be a picnic lunch amongst these sunseekers.
And these two seem to be content to have some relaxing time on the beach whilst they watch over their son playing in the sand. Blissful!
Another thing that has made me smile recently was this fortune from what I can only describe as being a very wise cookie. Seeing as I will be marrying my first (and only) love in a few short weeks, I think this cookie was pretty spot on!
To celebrate World Book Night, here are some bookish things. Rather fitting don't you think?
These are a couple of happy purchases I made at lunchtime. I was rather busy today buying some jiffy bags, making up a parcel, and hotfooting it to the post office to send it on it's way (in case you are wondering, the parcel contains the place cards for our wedding, which I am sending to a friend as his brother is apparently rather gifted with beautiful penmanship, and so he has kindly agreed to write out the place cards for me - I am beyond excited to see what they will look like). Anyway, despite all this busyness, I found some time to visit my favourite charity shop. A visit is always a danger, as more likely than not I end up walking out with something. In this case, two things: The Needle in the Blood by Sarah Bower and a book called The Pioneers, which is part of a series called The Old West.
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I'm not sure what induced me to pick up The Needle in the Blood, as it doesn't sound like my kind of book of all (it sounds like a crime thriller or something similar), but the strapline on the front had me hooked - "A powerful tale of sex, lies and embroidery". Now the sex and lies bit didn't really do it for me, but embroidery!!!! A work of historical fiction about the commissioning and creation of the Bayeux Tapestry, I'm looking forward to reading this (even if it also brought back some terrible flashbacks of getting locked in the cubicles when my parents took my brother and I to see the Bayeux Tapestry!). And I couldn't leave behind The Pioneers. As a result of Laura Ingalls Wilders' magnificent Little House books, I'm fascinated by this period of American history. And what a beautiful cover it has! I'm not sure if you can see the wonderful embossed cover.
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And the whole book is filled with wonderful photographs ...
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... paintings ...
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... and other intriguing bits and pieces. I suspect this will be a joy to flick through and read.
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And here is my current read, The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan. I can't remember how many times I have read this book (a pretty good indication of how much I love it), but it's one I never tire of re-reading (like all Amy Tan's books).
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There are some days that just feel like a gift. Days that even though you didn't necessarily do anything remarkable, still fill your heart with joy. I was lucky to have a weekend like this. A weekend made even more precious, as I had my boyfriend entirely to myself for two whole days. For the past couple of weeks he's been very stressed and having to work late (on a couple occasions not arriving home until almost 11pm). Normally he gets on the same train as me (at a later stop) and we make the rest of our journey home together. So these evenings alone have been quite lonely. Sadly it seems like these late nights are going to continue for a few more weeks at least. And so this weekend was even more wonderful.
It was filled with books:
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I picked up my copies of Damage by Josephine Hart, which I will be giving away as part of World Book Night. I've been involved with this every year since the first World Book Night in 2011, and I am just so exciting to be part of this wonderful initiative again. As someone passionate about books and reading, anything too do with encouraging a love of reading amongst others gets my vote. Plus it's a Virago book to boot - a book from my favourite publishers!
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And pretty summer dresses:
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Oh how happy I am that spring is starting to shine her rays of sunshine. Everything just seems so much more cheerful with a dusting of sunshine.
And more delicious broderie anglaise:
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Just perfect to make these beautiful blousey blooms for my heirloom bouquet:
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Don't they look look like the protective elder sister of the dainty little flowers I made a couple of weeks ago?
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And food and cakes and films and snuggles and practicing the steps for our first dance. Just my kind of weekend.
It was with somewhat of a heavy heart that I finished Jennifer's Chiaverini's The Quilter's Legacy last week. A chance purchase from a charity shop (one of the reasons I love rummaging through the book shelves at charity shops), The Quilter's Legacy is the fifth book from the Elm Creek Quilts series (there are currently twenty books overall). I've bought a couple of omnibus editions online, which cover the first six books of the series, so I'm eagerly waiting for these to arrive. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that the Elm Creek Quilts have an English publisher, so I've had to order them from America, so it'll still be a few weeks until they arrive.
Luckily, this wonderful book has arrived through the post for me: The Trianon of Marie Antoinette by Pierre de Nolhac. Originally published in French, there don't seem to be many translated versions of this little book available, so there aren't that many affordable copies available. I've therefore been umming and ahhing about buying this book for over a year now, but I finally decided to treat myself. I am so glad that I did!
I adore the embossing on the front cover, with a beautiful little fleur de lis just underneath the title.
One of the reasons I love pre-owned books so much, is that they contain stories within their pages that are not just limited to the words of the author. And this is a book that definitely has a story of it's own to tell. For there are pencilled annotations and marking throughout. Passages marked and underlined, as well as observations such as this:
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And this rather amusing aside:
Explanations about some of the figures mentioned, including their family relations:
And references to other relevant works:
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Even a correction of the text:
And the back of the book a previous owner has even created their own little index of references of interest to them:
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I am endlessly intrigued about the annotator. Was their interest intellectual - maybe for a school or university project, or perhaps as a source for a book or article of their own? Or maybe a personal interest? I think that the topic of the book must have held some sentimental value, for near the front of the book they have stuck in a copy of a painting of Marie Antoinette:
And further along, some leaves have been pinned next to a photo of Marie Antoinette's little hamlet (perhaps some leaves picked up during a visit to the area?):
As for myself, my purchase and interest in this book is purely personal. For within its pages are references to a beautiful structure that Marie Antoinette had built in that part of the grounds of the Chateau of Versailles known as the domain or the Trianon of Marie Antoinette. A structure I'm fascinated by, as it was in this aptly named Temple of Love that just over a year ago, whilst on a mini-break to Paris, my boyfriend of seven years proposed.
I adore simple things. A day spent quietly at home is more precious to me than any number of adventures. To be surrounded by the things I love, doing the things I love alongside the person I love. Perfect. And this weekend was perfect.
Shopping for some beautiful broderie anglaise trim at a local market.
Look how delicate and intricate it is!
Just perfect to make these dainty little blooms, which will adorn the heirloom bouquet I am making for my wedding.
And look at these. Is there anything more delightful than simple glass jars decorated with lace?
Another craft for my wedding. I can't wait to see these scattered around our wedding and reception venue, lit up by tiny tealight candles or holding a posy of simple flowers.
A quiet weekend. An unremarkable weekend. A perfect weekend!
