Holiday Blues

I've just got back from a lovely (but wet and windy) holiday in Cornwall, so will be back soon once I've stopped sulking :)

Em xxx

Samuel Docker

If there's one thing about the wedding I had to be fussy about (who am I kidding, I'm fussy about all of it!), then it has to be the photographs.

We're not very interested in 'traditional' wedding photography. T and I are terrible at posing, and I want to remember the day almost as if I snapped each moment with some kind of inbuilt brain-camera (a bit like Robocop). I want real memories.

I found Samuel Docker by putting a simple search term into Google - 'Cool, alternative photographer, Leicestershire' and immediately fell in love with his style. He was the first, and last photographer we looked into, and I'm already excited about the photos! (No pressure there then, Sam)

I have had a rummage around his lovely website and pulled off just a small selection of my favourite images. I hope you enjoy, take a look at Sam's website and blog, and in six months I'll be sharing my very own Sam Docker originals! (thanks for letting me use the photos, Sam!)

Em xxx

Explanation of 'summat'

Somebody asked me the other day about 'summat' (Got To Show You Summat!), so I felt it warranted a little explanation...

I have a very vivid memory (though my parents probably don't remember this), of running in the house and declaring "Mum! I've got to tell you summat!".

Where I grew up in Lancashire (cough...the correct side of the Pennines...), summat is short for / slang for / lazy-speak for 'something'. 

Therefore, when I spot something on my web-based travels, I shall be declaring to you - "Got to show you summat!".

So there...

Em xxx

Oh happy day!

Today is a very exciting day, as I am now sporting my beautiful engagement ring made by Kate Bajic, whom I blogged about a few weeks ago!

T went to collect the beautifully packaged engagement and wedding rings earlier and I just had to take a few photos to show you! (Apologies, my macro photography skills need some work!)

You will have to wait to see the wedding rings, but they are equally lovely!

Em xxx

It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I absolutely love it. Thank you Kate!

Instagram Crafts!

Nothing much makes me happier than crafting and Instagram photographs, so here are a few snaps of my crafty efforts over the past months!

Em xxx

Getting prepared!

This little Owlet was derived from a pattern by Brigitte Read on Ravelry

Lovely yarn-y goodness!

Beginning a new project!

This tiny May Rose pattern can be found over at Attic 24

A sneak preview of my wedding table runners - more on this to follow soon!

Easy Mini Bunting using fabric tape and a length of yarn! Cheerful!

Got to show you summat!

I just HAVE to show you these Woodland Hoot lollipops from Andie's Specialty Sweets Etsy store. Not to everyone's taste I imagine as these are coffee flavour (yum), but there are chocolate ones available too.

Go and have a look at the store for squillions of other amazing confections and cake decorating ideas. I adore the vanilla vintage buttons.
 I can feel a purchase coming on......


Em xxx

Say it with flowers...

I'm busy collecting things for the tables and other decorations for the wedding, here's a sneak preview of my idea for the table arrangements...

Do me a favour...

Because I am easily distracted and am thinking more about the fun bits of the wedding planning, I'm considering what we might give as favours.

We've changed our minds several times between not bothering, bothering, or not bothering, and so this morning I have decided that maybe we should bother. Either way, I am certain it would be much more thoughtful to hand-make whatever treats we end up giving to our guests.

I have a little idea in mind that I might try and have a go at this afternoon (if I can be bothered nipping to the shop for some butter), but in the meantime have found these lovely ideas for homemade favours of the edible variety which I love, love, love!

1. How cute are these gingerbread button biscuits I found on Briggslekehus?! I reckon these would be really easy to make just using circular cookie cutters and a skewer to do the holes...

2. I love the idea of creating my own sweet packaging! The recipe AND the label artwork is available for these from Bakerella, but I suppose even just bagging up shop-bought sweets would be a nice touch. Might spoil people's dinner though...

3. These cookies are a little more 'grown-up' but I do love the decoration. Even one or two of these with some lovely packaging would do the trick. Amber Spiegel is selling them through her Etsy store, which is just as well as I'm not sure my decorating skills (or patience) can stretch that far!

4. I absolutely LOVE this little pot of homemade Rosehip Jelly! The recipe for the jelly itself (along with many other lovely things) can be found here on the Fancy Tiger Crafts blog and is such a brilliant way of using up fabric scraps. I have a pile of old Liberty fabric swatches just begging to be used for something. Perhaps this could be it!?

Em xxx

If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it...

1. Disa Allsopp 2. Liz Oppenheim 3. Hattie Rickards 4. Annina Vogel

So T did the safe thing and didn't choose a ring for me. As I'm not a massive 'ring person' I knew this was going to be a tricky one, knowing more the things I DON'T like than the things I do.

I set about looking around and the rings above really caught my eye, I particularly love the Victorian studded fox ring from Annina Vogel, but a niggling feeling made me think that on this occasion I should probably sit on the more conventional side of taste (boooo - but in theory I will be wearing this for the rest of my life!).

I decided it would be nice to try and find a local designer/maker, and after several disappointing web searches, I finally came across Kate Bajic via the Made in Leicestershire website.

This is the one my engagement ring will be based on...eak!

We met with Kate (a very lovely lady, fyi) and talked about how she could work the design I liked into an engagement ring with a small stone setting. I decided I wanted either an aquamarine or a sapphire.

In the meantime, I've been wearing a Disney-Princess-esque costume ring, which I have to say I've grown quite attached to. However, and super excitingly, we are heading over to Kate's in the morning to 'View The Stones', which sounds very grand despite the fact they will be only around 2mm in diameter!

Very exciting anyway, I can't wait to see the finished article, and I'll post it here too when it's finished!

Em xxx

EDIT: We picked the stone!!! Kate's house is a-ma-zing...but if you were interested, I chose a cabochon sapphire. Aqua marine was lovely but would just fade away in it's setting, and the cut sapphire just didn't look....real, if that makes sense. The cabochon was just right, and almost matches the colour of my eyes. Not long to wait for it now!

Where it all began...

Some of the gorgeous features around our hotel in Benahavis

We've been thinking for a long time about starting a blog, and while we don't intend for this to be all about weddings, when T proposed on the last night of our holiday in July, it seemed as good a time as any to begin!

There is soooo much to share, but I thought the best place to start would be the beginning, with a couple of snaps from The Holiday in beautiful Benahavis, Andalucia in Spain.

Cava and Passionfruit cocktails in mugs! Also note T's Zombie t-shirt....braaiinns

The teeny tiny pool at the Hotel Amanhavis

As much as I secretly fancied a night out in Marbs, Benahavis was the perfect place to get away for a week and do absolutely NOTHING! (except eat and drink).

We stayed at the Hotel Amanhavis which is a rather bonkers, yet rather wonderful little hotel with themed rooms (we stayed in the Christopher Columbus Berth - but trust me, it isn't as cheesy at it sounds!).

Yummy food, hot hot sunshine, bustling cobbled streets and a surprise proposal at the end...I wish I was still there!

Em xxx

Hello!

Thank you for visiting. I'm sure there will be something interesting here for you soon!