Getting there...

Morning all! I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your messages of support from my ‘Lost’ blog post – I have had such reassuring feedback which I haven’t actually been able to respond to every one yet but I just wanted to say:

‘Thanks xxx’

I am feeling a lot more positive about things – I still don’t think I really know what I am doing a lot of the time, but I am carrying on with orders and keeping busy! I am trying not to question it so much any more either as I know it will all sort itself out sooner or later. I have a few ideas percolating that I am looking forward to putting into action once I have a bit of spare time.

However, I think there has been another reason for feeling down – after an appointment at the doctor I have been diagnosed with glandular fever! I have been poorly on and off since September with all the symptoms but it’s only now it has been recognised. So, I don’t think that has helped. It’s not easy to feel focused and energised and positive when you are fighting a nasty virus. Unfortunately it keeps rearing its head and so my Doctor has given me permission to take it easy and she emphasised how I really need to start listening to my body, and STOP when it tells me to! Although you and I know, it’s really not that easy!! But I am learning to  be careful now with regards to my energy levels.

Aside all that, this time of year is always a busy one for me – work wise it is all teacher presents and Birthday/Christening gifts and alongside that there is a huge array of school activities – sports day, summer fair, camping trips and the imminent end of my daughter’s primary school days. Yes, she is leaving to go to ‘Big School’ and the thought is terrifying me!! So with everything that is going on it’s unsurprising that I am feeling a little weary…

But it has finally started to feel like summer and the garden is lush and blooming around me so that is keeping me ‘up’. I am making a conscious decision to be spending time and doing things that make me happy - this last month I've been to two wonderful fairs - the Contemporary Craft Fair (where I spent the most best day with good friends) and a fab Vintage fair with another good friend. I have got my crochet hook out again and I've treated myself to some sunshine shoes and a lovely bright tablecloth - that's got to keep me cheerful right?!

And I am enjoying being in my shed sewing away - my teacher gifts are so popular at the moment, I can’t make them quick enough! I am still taking orders for them so if you were keen to bag a few please visit my website and have a little look at what is on offer.

So I want to say another Thank You. To all my friends, everyone who has messaged, and there have been so many. It’s amazing how many of us go through all these feelings of uncertainty, as to whether the path we are on is the right one, when our creativity feels like it has dried up but I am so grateful for the supportive community that I find myself in. You are bloody great, you know that? What on earth would I do without you all?!!

Helen x

The winner is....

Wow - what an amazing reaction to my little competition giveaway, I am so thrilled!! Thank you to everyone for all the likes, shares and comments on my blog. I am glad some of you had a go at finding all the gorgeous things in my home that I've bought from various facebook pages. 

I am so lucky to know so many talented people throughout facebook and I love to support as many independent businesses as I can. I want to have original pieces made with love and passion in my home and facebook enables me to do that! I would encourage all of you to take a look at the following pages (click on their names and it will take you to their page) and drool over their utter amazingness... And it goes without saying that there are many, many other pages that I am going to be purchasing from in the near future! 

Anyway, for those of you who tried to spot them all, here are all the pages and where they were hiding!! (you may need to click on the picture to enlarge...)

1. Julia Crossland Art

2. Kim Anderson Artist & Illustrator

3. Anna Rayment

4. Frandie Macaron

5. Charlotte Bezzant

6. Chambers & Beau

7. Linen Circus

8. Camila Prada

9. Jane Ryan Opi

10. Folly and Glee

11. Rebel Rose

12. Kirsty Elson Designs

13. Quernus Crafts

14. Kyleighs Papercuts

15. Natalie Rymer Art

16. Richard Friend

17. Caroline Rose Art

18. Little Black Heart

Of course, I was there too! Well done to those of you who found them hiding away! I love the fact that all those pages were in the magazine feature with me, holding my hand...

ANYWAY! Enough of that - I expect you are wanting to know who's won a cushion? One of these was up for grabs (your choice of word & fabric...)

I spent an age writing all the names down from the blog and the facebook page, and popped them all in the tin. Eli wanted to get in on the action so here he is, poised and ready...

And the winner is..........

Debbie Martin!! You are the winner!! 

Thank you to everyone who took part and shared some of the Kindred Rose love throughout the last week. I appreciate it so much, you really don't know how much. It means the world that you are loving my little creations, and it is completely humbling. So before I collapse into a blubbering quivering mess, I will go! 

Debbie, if you want to get in touch with me on info@kindredrose.co.uk to let me know what cushion you would like.

Thank you!!!

xxx

A little magazine feature...

I am rather excited today! I have (for the fourth day running) been out to tesco (other supermarkets are available) to see if they have a copy of July's 'Your Home' magazine. And today they did!! 'Why would you do this?' I hear you ask... Well, I just so happen to be in it!!

Last year I got contacted by a very lovely lady called Nicky from White Rabbit Media asking me if I would be interested in going on her books with my house and work. How could I refuse?! And then after a number of communications with her she informed me she had got a magazine interested in featuring me, my house and my work. 

So began a mad panic to turn my house as it was (lovely but very messy and a bit grubby round the edges) into something worthy of a magazine feature! Me and hubby set about giving everything a good clean, but that wasn't quite enough (greasy kids fingerprints all over the walls, peeling paint in areas...) so we decided to give it all a lick of paint. And then some more cleaning, rearranging, buying, staging, flower arranging, and lots of final touches before it was ready. I was so pleased with how it looked.

It was a great day back at the end of April with Nicky here and her photographer friend David Parmiter snapping away to get the right shots. Luckily we were given sunshine and therefore great light for the pictures. They were great company and put me right at ease.

And then the wait. I knew the magazine was out at the beginning of June and so just had to wait. And wait. The last couple of days I've been so eager to see what was created from my interviews with Nicky and the gorgeous photos that David took, and I am so pleased with how it's turned out!

What I must emphasise to everyone though is this: My house DOES NOT look like this usually. This is STAGED and made to look lovely especially for the photos. Before you start hating me because of my immaculate house, it is usually a bit of a cluttered jumbled state! I don't clean on a regular basis (I am far too busy working, playing with the children, having a life) and more often than not the breakfast things have to be cleared away so I can serve tea. 

Ok, so this is quite extreme but I took this at a particularly bad time to show you what it can look like!!

The usual chaos of the lounge!!

So as lovely as these photos are, it has really given me insight to how much work is involved to get a house looking it's best. Granted, some people live in cleanliness and immaculateness all the time, but not me!

The beauty of my perfectly staged house lasted until approximately 5.17pm when the kids wanted tea, they chucked their uniforms on their bedroom floor, I opened a bottle of wine, ate all the macarons and a pile of letters from the school started forming on the kitchen side... 

But I've got the photos and the magazine to remind me that once, for one day, it looked perfect.

Now... I am SO chuffed with how the feature looks that I have decided to do a little competition. As you know, I adore many many pages on facebook and tend to spend far too much money supporting my fellow creatives and displaying them at home. I have counted that I have 20 (!!) fellow facebookers' work on display in the feature. How many can you find? (it's a bit like Where's Wally!)  

(Clue - one of them is me!!) (Another clue - I am wearing 2 of them...) 

I have decided to give away one of my word cushions (your choice of word and fabric from my collection) to a person picked at random in a weeks time. All you have to do is comment below with who you can find and share the love through facebook or twitter too!! You may find it easier to see details on my facebook photos - you can find them on my page here if you don't have a copy of the magazine.

I will let you know all the right answers next week and show you where they are in the feature...

Good luck!!!