The Lying Carpet

We are in the library at least twice a week so I always spot the new titles and am often the first person to hire things out (!) Last week I took home The Lying Carpet by David Lucas. It is the most head spinning book. I think it reminds me that life is a choice, its about truth and lies, inertia versus adventure, whether to watch or whether to 'do'.... that sort of thing. It involves a talking tiger rug which frankly I just love... and a beautiful little girl statue called Faith. The drawings are perfect too. Anyway its wonderful, mysterious, a fairytale, a bedtime story... and now I want to own it so I might read it whenever I like.

cream and white

My friends send me the most wonderful things... inspiring words and stream of consciousness thoughts... photographs of winter trees in which the criss cross of branches look like little fairy ladders, and beautiful white vintage lace...

And I spotted these at the supermarket of all places. Such beautiful cards... I will be sending them this yuletide, but of course, a few will be kept to adorn the walls of my bedroom.

This week has been all about trips to the library sale (children's books for 10p!), knitting endlessly (my meditation), and planning our little trip away next week..

happy weekend. x

More Bill Gibb...

I adore this woodland inspired dress. the dress itself is perfect, the setting, her hair... its like a glimpse through the trees at a magical realm.

Little bumble bee buttons and a whitework embroidery depicting a bee. At some point I will doubtless steal these bee themed ideas for my own creations. How I love them.

Pretty fabric designed in 1977. I love the stance of these birds, one serene and watching the other startled and about to fly. The thistle there I guess for Gibb's Scottish roots.

I hope our trip to the library tomorrow throws some more unexpected published magic my way.

Fashion & Fantasy

I have been reading a biography of fashion designer Bill Gibb. I picked the book up by chance in the library. Gosh its wonderful. Perhaps I was the only one, but I hadn't heard of Bill Gibb. I am so glad I stumbled on this book because it has been quite inspirational. He was influenced by medeavil history, pre-raphaelite paintings, gypsy culture, flowers... his dresses were art. He said he never saw anyone wear one of his designs but he didn't care. He was a true creative soul.
I want to copy some pictures to show you. (I can't find much online.) But here is the above pic for now...
I love to find new inspiration like this.

Baby & the Beast

Another day spent crawling around the floor of the library. ah bliss. Hired out a few craft and cookery books... then we went home and ate lunch in the garden. Yes! it was actually sunny enough. I remember last year we had a glorious April and May and then a rainy, stormy rest-of-summer. My July baby was born during a thunder storm.

Beauty & the Beast - I always imagine Beast as a lion... and I never want him to change into a Prince at the end... Is that just me?

Blowing Bubbles

I have spent the day playing at 'blowing bubbles' and crawling around the floor of the library. It is certainly true to say that having my daughter has freed me up to finally spend my days the way I always wanted to...

Ideas sort of come to me in flashes and its sometimes difficult to reach out and catch one... especially when I'm tired. In my head swims visions of dolls dancing with bears, a domestic cat with a mane like a lion, pockets full of stars and roses roses roses...

I have also been thrifting and collecting and making and ordering things for baby j's little room. Its pink and green and polka dots and flowers, its dreamy, sleepy and cut and paste, its books books books...

We are reading Minty & Tink tonight. Its just perfect. Are you really real?