It’s not too late to sow sweet peas - so easy to It’s not too late to sow sweet peas - so easy to grow and blissfully fragrant in the summer months. 
They were my mum’s favourite flower, so growing them now feels like a precious connection. Especially when I pick some and arrange them in her beautiful old blue and gold jug just as she used to do with the sweet peas my dad grew for her every year.
There are some really handy tips for growing success from founder of The Real Flower Company Rosebie Morton over on the blog (link in bio). Rosebie has a whole farm dedicated to sweet peas near Chichester so she knows a thing or two about the subject!
Main thing I’ve picked up from her is to allow lots of depth for root growth at this stage and to make my own supportive wigwams from twiggy branches when the plants are really starting to go for it and need a bit of direction. This photo is making me yearn slightly.
I love this image of my friend Jo - we were trying I love this image of my friend Jo - we were trying out tiny living for a feature I was writing - this was taken on our way to indulge in a spot of forest bathing. To be totally honest, we were both a little sceptical beforehand. But we were only saying the other day how taken aback we both were by the amazing effect it had. I’m working on some new ideas around the subject - will keep you posted. X
I’m currently working on a redesign of the whole I’m currently working on a redesign of the whole site - which has meant lots of photo editing and reorganising so much content. What’s been lovely (despite the claw hand from so much keyboard work!) is revisiting work and becoming engrossed all over again. I thought I’d share a few of the things I’ve been (re) loving - with links in the bio to the old site for now, but not for long…! X
This  image is from a feature about preserving garden roses. I’m going to give this a really good go this year, now I have a better idea what I’m doing. I know there’s nothing quite like a fragrant fresh rose in Summer but there’s a fragile beauty to dried and preserved flowers that I also love, don’t you?
Snowdrops 🌱🤍 . . . . . . #capturequiet #ins Snowdrops 🌱🤍 
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#capturequiet #instabritain #natureandnourish #thewildernesstonic #cornersofmyworld
Signed copies of Bex Partridge’s new book Flower Signed copies of Bex Partridge’s new book Flowers Forever to be won! My bio has the link to enter as well as to get a peek inside. Beautifully photographed by Laura Edwards, I really enjoyed escaping into the pages and making plans for my own garden - hope you do too! X
To the Moon and Back Hares KNITTING PATTERN by Cla To the Moon and Back Hares KNITTING PATTERN by Claire Garland aka @dotpebbles_knits has to be the perfect post Christmas craft project 😊 
If you fancy getting your needles out to make this adorable pair, the link to buy Claire’s pattern is in my bio. Happy knitting! X
Thank you so much to Sarah @floribundaroseflorists Thank you so much to Sarah @floribundaroseflorists for a wonderful wreath making workshop yesterday. Such a special and creative space to spend time. I loved making my wreath - I went for a mixture of greenery arranged quite randomly with red waxed fresh apples, dried hydrangea, dried flowers, poppy and nigella seed heads and a winter white velvet bow. 
There were so many wonderful ingredients to choose from we were really spoiled for choice. 
Sarah’s new studio is such a beautiful, creative space. Think fragrant botanical candles flickering everywhere, mulled wine and apple juice simmering on the stove and containers full of fragrant festive greenery, waxed fruit, dried flowers and oranges, pine cones, lichen covered branches and even tiny gold wax-dipped fresh crab apples. 
Thank you for being so patient with my lengthy ribbon choice deliberations Sarah - and for bagging up a second choice option (dusky pink) to take home! X.  #wreathmaking #wreath #wreathsofinstagram #sustainablewreaths #wreathdecor #christmaswreath #velvetribbon #christmasdecor #festiveflowers
I’ve loved Olga Prinku’s work for ages now - s I’ve loved Olga Prinku’s work for ages now - she came up with the genius idea of embroidering on tulle using nature as her thread - and the results are sublime - like this Autumn colours beauty from her latest book.
I’m delighted that Olga is offering a fantastic prize bundle to my readers. For a chance to win one of her beautiful new dried flower embroidery kits (in collaboration with @driedandfloral ) as well as a signed copy of her wonderful new book(published by @quadrillebooks , pop over to my blog (link in my bio). It’s easy to enter so why don’t you give yourself a chance of winning this very lovely prize? Good luck! 
#driedflowers #driedflowerembroidery #olgaprinku #embroideryhoop #flowerembroidery #competitiontime #signedbooks #embroideryart #flowersontulle #autumn #autumncolours #hoopart #allthingsbotanical #instacraft
This beautiful image is by Laura Pashby @circleofp This beautiful image is by Laura Pashby @circleofpines and is from her beautiful new book Little Stories of Your Life. 
It’s packed with inspiration and practical ideas to help you become a visual story teller. Because, as Laura says, it’s the little moments that make up the fabric of all of our lives - and those moments are worth capturing and sharing with others.
We have three signed copies of the book to give away - just click the link in my bio to find out more. There’s a peek inside and a lovely film by @xantheb to enjoy too! X 
#littlemoments #littlestoriesbook #alifeofwords #lostinwords #competition #booksarelife #mindfulphotography #bookstagram #booksmakemehappy #booksconnectus #igreads #whatareyoureading #signedbooks
Thanks to Lisa from @inthemaking_aprons who has sh Thanks to Lisa from @inthemaking_aprons who has shared her wonderfully creative ideas for visibly mending well-loved clothing in need of repair and a little TLC.
She had me at ‘sometimes I like to use giant sequins…’ 
Hope you like Lisa’s ideas as much as I do. The link to head over to my blog and get all her step by steps is in my bio x
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Sustainably Made in Britain

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LIFESTYLE · May 9, 2019

Creative business ideas to help you live the life you dream of

Creative business ideas to help you run the business you dream of as a maker, ethical producer or creative course provider. Tried and tested essential ideas and tips for making a good living from your own creative business.

I know myself the all-consuming excitement that comes with launching your own creative business. A business based around the dream to make a living from doing what you love. There really is nothing quite like it, is there? Over the next week or so I’ll be sharing my 10 steps to creative business success. The tried and tested ways I’ve discovered for helping you to live the creative life you dream of. To kick things off, I wanted to share my own creative business story.

Finding and following your passion

Finding and following your genuine passion can be a key ingredient in creative business success – and a route to true fulfilment. But I’ve learned, from personal experience, that it’s really only half the battle. So many wonderful creative businesses, built on genuine passion and great ethics just don’t last the distance.

Over the years I have collaborated with hundreds of wonderful, unique and inspirational people who have set up their own creative businesses. And it makes me really sad to think that so many of them have fallen by the wayside. Not because what they were creating or offering their customers wasn’t great. All too often I have heard the same story – growing stress levels, working all hours of the day and night and still not making enough money to make ends meet. The exact opposite of the dream life that set them off on their journey. The dream therefore dismissed as an unachievable failure.

Creative business success depends on great photography and I love this photograph by yeshen venema of maker Sasako of Botanique at a workshop. Click through for 10 essential tips and creative business ideas to help you make a living from following your dream and making a living from doing what you love #creativebusiness #businessadvice #tips #ideas #experthelp #creatives #frombritainwithlove

Above: Sasako of Botanique flower shop and artisan store. Photo: Yeshen Venema

A willingness to work hard

Now, I’m not going to pretend it’s easy to make a living from running your own creative business, but I do know it’s very possible. I am doing it myself and I speak every day to other makers and creatives who are too. Over the years, I have come to see the thread that connects the businesses that stay afloat and do well. And it’s quite a simple one – a willingness to work very hard, backed up with a sound strategy and strong belief. I have absolutely no doubt that with a little help along the way, and a better strategy, many small business owners that gave up on their dream could have actually achieved their goals. I feel qualified to say this because that could easily have been me and I don’t want it to be you!

I’m going to share with you all the things I wish I’d known starting out. These are the things that would have saved me making costly mistakes and as well as many, many hours spent learning everything the hard way.

I have also pulled in great words of advice from a few inspirational people I know. My aim is to help you on your way. To enable you to live the creative life you dream of, by making a living from doing something you love. Do get in touch with your stories – I always love to hear them! X.

My own story

laura dunkley from britain with love tips on running a creative business

My own story is a lesson in the value of stopping to listen and learn before charging full steam ahead with your idea. I set up my own business in 2005, with a passionate belief that I had a brilliant concept. One that would enable me to use – and share – the skills, experience and contacts I’d gained from a career as a national women’s magazine feature writer and editor. The idea was to set up a beautiful, well-curated online platform where ethical UK makers and producers could be promoted effectively to a highly engaged audience.

My mission: to help cut down on mass-produced waste and over-consumption by supporting local, independent makers and creatives in the UK offering considered alternatives. Easy. I have a genuine passion for the subject, backed up by great contacts in the worlds of photography, press and PR as well as the skills to write and design content. That was all I’d need. Or so I thought.

I cringe now to think back to design agency meetings where we focussed solely on the design and branding for my new concept. Poring over, and perfecting, layouts. Like I’d always done as a print journalist. It was my territory and I was thrilled at how it was all coming together and making my vision a reality. At the eleventh hour we brought in a web developer to build the site we’d designed. He looked at the perfected designs, shifted uneasily in his seat, then took a deep breath and told us that it couldn’t – and shouldn’t – really be done. That it would be mean bespoke coding which would be costly, clunky and less than ideal. That we’d gone about it all back to front.

Make mistakes and learn from them

His advice: to forget the beautiful finished page layouts and start again – with an inexpensive WordPress template. To live with the fact that this wouldn’t be the same as the designs I’d honed and obsessed over. It would, however, mean I’d end up with a user-friendly, dynamic and powerful website, he told me. I appeared to be listening but I absolutely wasn’t. It seemed to me that he was being defeatist and I couldn’t get past the fact that my design was now exactly how I wanted it. Truthfully, it just wasn’t what I wanted to hear, so I didn’t take any notice and refused to listen.

So I pressed on with my original plan. I found a developer who could make the finished designs function within my budget. I worked with wonderful photographers from my magazine days to create a top quality set of images to use on my website and for printed material. Job done.

The launch was at The Country Living fair – and it was a huge success. We were selected as a show highlight by the editor and a feature on BBC TV London news followed, as did great support across the printed press. So I expected continued success to follow.

How do you judge success?

It was only a matter of weeks after the launch that it finally started to dawn on me that I’d failed to listen to valuable – if unwelcome – advice. That I hadn’t learned enough about the tech side of things. I hadn’t asked about the bits I didn’t know. Instead, I’d forged ahead with what I did know. The bits I loved. And now I was saddled with a website that was hugely limited in terms of functionality, complicated to manage and very weak from an SEO point of view. It was like pushing water uphill.

It was only now that I started to find out more about all the areas I didn’t know enough about… SEO (never going to be great because of how the site was built), social media (not possible to add in links to my site), newsletter integration (not possible with my site), blogging (not possible to incorporate one within my site)…

All of these things would have been easy to solve with a WordPress site built on a template. As I’d been advised to do. To say I was deflated and disappointed is an understatement. I’d spent my entire set-up budget before I’d stopped to think about what I needed to learn, rather than charging ahead with a plan based on what I already knew. I still feel embarrassed to admit how wrong I’d been.

Learning from costly mistakes

I had to do some soul searching and it would have been easy to give up at this stage. To listen to the voice of self doubt telling me I’d failed. But I knew that I still believed in my basic idea as much as ever. More so, probably, as by now I’d worked hard to build up a really supportive community via social media and email. I’d made costly mistakes, but I was determined to find a way forward. Part of the solution, I decided, was hard work. Hours and hours of hard work. Finding out all I needed to know. Getting around the limitations of the site manually (I worked out how to write bits of html coding myself! And only broke the site a couple of times 😬).

Often sitting up late after the children had gone to bed, plugging away at building my business and continuing to grow my community. Staying on top of the day-to-day whilst finding time to work on a strategy for the future. I decided that although there were mistakes and imperfections with what I’d created so far, the important thing is to learn from this, keep going and adapt. That’s not to say there weren’t numerous days when the voice of self doubt was making itself very well heard. I would wait for it to quieten down and make myself take at least one step forward each single day, even on the bad days.

Keep going

It’s now been 12 years since that first launch, and the business has taken many twists and turns along the way. I’ve made plenty more mistakes, including a costly marketplace site built in Magento that was just too big and unwieldy to manage. Especially after the lovely Nicky (who I’d partnered up with in 2014) had to leave the business, following treatment for breast cancer.

I had a crisis of confidence after she left that I wouldn’t be able to take over the bits she was so good at… social media, new tech stuff, spreadsheets, numbers, marketing… The voice on my shoulder was telling me I wouldn’t be able to do these bits as well as Nicky did. But giving up was not an option, as I still firmly believed in what I was doing. More long hours working, learning, trying, adapting. Not listening to the voice of self doubt. Listening, instead to experts I hand-picked along the way to help me get right the most important parts of building my business.

The power of belief – and expert help

Four years ago I relaunched with new branding and a fresh website I’m really proud of (built on a WordPress template!). I shed a few tears at the amazing response from my wonderful community of readers and followers. So many inspirational businesses decided to list in my directory and have since chosen to renew each year. Validation and a vote of confidence that really means a lot. All the hard work has been worthwhile. I really am helping small, ethical makers and producers to connect with the wonderful audience they deserve. That was my dream and it’s actually coming true.

I still struggle slightly with the pricing side of things (I would almost rather do it all for free to avoid talking about money!) But I do know, hand on heart, that we deliver great value to the businesses who pay to list in the directory. The content I’ve spent many, many hours creating over the years is now paying huge dividends, with over 2.5 million viewers a month on Pinterest, delivering  an extra 70K website page views a month. My newsletter mailing list is growing by more than a hundred each week. More and more wonderful businesses apply to list with me all the time. I still get a thrill to discover someone new and exciting, knowing I can offer valuable support and exposure.

Move towards the life you dream of

I get to attend creative workshops around the country to write about and share with my creative community. Together we’re moving towards the slow, considered and more creative life we all dream of. I am finally making a good living from doing what I love, and I want to help other people to be able to do the same thing. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to share the most valuable bits of information I’ve spent many thousands of hours pulling together, so you can fast track towards the creative business you dream of.

I’m sharing my 10 Steps to Creative Business Success in a series of separate posts, as well as a PDF with all the information in one place for you to download and keep at the end.

The 10 steps I’ll be covering are:

  • Creative business idea number 1: website design inspiration using WordPress and Squarespace
  • Creative business idea number 2: photography tips for makers
  • Creative business idea number 3: don’t underestimate the power of a solid Pinterest marketing strategy
  • Creative business idea number 4: the best online tools and apps to help you
  • Creative business idea number 5: social media marketing, photography, storytelling and strategy
  • Creative business idea number 6: profitability & how to build a sustainable business
  • Creative business idea number 7: make a clear marketing strategy plan
  • Creative business idea number 8: don’t be afraid to learn from mistakes
  • Creative business idea number 9: the power of planning to help you build a sustainable business
  • Creative business idea number 10: sometimes forget the plan and seize the moment

And if you would like to list with us and join our supportive community, do get in touch. It would be great to help support your creative UK business too! Details of what we offer are on our Join Us page here. Do drop me a line or fill in the online application form. I’d love to hear from you!


INFORMATION

Are you a maker or creative course provider? Like to list with us and benefit from joining our supportive community? We’d love to hear from you. Check out the packages we offer on our Join Us page and get more details from our Information pack here

In: LIFESTYLE

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About Me
I'm so glad you're here. I'm Laura - national women's magazine editor and journalist now sharing my passion for sustainable and creative living here. Hope you find something to enjoy and inspire! X

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It’s not too late to sow sweet peas - so easy to It’s not too late to sow sweet peas - so easy to grow and blissfully fragrant in the summer months. 
They were my mum’s favourite flower, so growing them now feels like a precious connection. Especially when I pick some and arrange them in her beautiful old blue and gold jug just as she used to do with the sweet peas my dad grew for her every year.
There are some really handy tips for growing success from founder of The Real Flower Company Rosebie Morton over on the blog (link in bio). Rosebie has a whole farm dedicated to sweet peas near Chichester so she knows a thing or two about the subject!
Main thing I’ve picked up from her is to allow lots of depth for root growth at this stage and to make my own supportive wigwams from twiggy branches when the plants are really starting to go for it and need a bit of direction. This photo is making me yearn slightly.
I love this image of my friend Jo - we were trying I love this image of my friend Jo - we were trying out tiny living for a feature I was writing - this was taken on our way to indulge in a spot of forest bathing. To be totally honest, we were both a little sceptical beforehand. But we were only saying the other day how taken aback we both were by the amazing effect it had. I’m working on some new ideas around the subject - will keep you posted. X
I’m currently working on a redesign of the whole I’m currently working on a redesign of the whole site - which has meant lots of photo editing and reorganising so much content. What’s been lovely (despite the claw hand from so much keyboard work!) is revisiting work and becoming engrossed all over again. I thought I’d share a few of the things I’ve been (re) loving - with links in the bio to the old site for now, but not for long…! X
This  image is from a feature about preserving garden roses. I’m going to give this a really good go this year, now I have a better idea what I’m doing. I know there’s nothing quite like a fragrant fresh rose in Summer but there’s a fragile beauty to dried and preserved flowers that I also love, don’t you?
Snowdrops 🌱🤍 . . . . . . #capturequiet #ins Snowdrops 🌱🤍 
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#capturequiet #instabritain #natureandnourish #thewildernesstonic #cornersofmyworld
Signed copies of Bex Partridge’s new book Flower Signed copies of Bex Partridge’s new book Flowers Forever to be won! My bio has the link to enter as well as to get a peek inside. Beautifully photographed by Laura Edwards, I really enjoyed escaping into the pages and making plans for my own garden - hope you do too! X
To the Moon and Back Hares KNITTING PATTERN by Cla To the Moon and Back Hares KNITTING PATTERN by Claire Garland aka @dotpebbles_knits has to be the perfect post Christmas craft project 😊 
If you fancy getting your needles out to make this adorable pair, the link to buy Claire’s pattern is in my bio. Happy knitting! X
Thank you so much to Sarah @floribundaroseflorists Thank you so much to Sarah @floribundaroseflorists for a wonderful wreath making workshop yesterday. Such a special and creative space to spend time. I loved making my wreath - I went for a mixture of greenery arranged quite randomly with red waxed fresh apples, dried hydrangea, dried flowers, poppy and nigella seed heads and a winter white velvet bow. 
There were so many wonderful ingredients to choose from we were really spoiled for choice. 
Sarah’s new studio is such a beautiful, creative space. Think fragrant botanical candles flickering everywhere, mulled wine and apple juice simmering on the stove and containers full of fragrant festive greenery, waxed fruit, dried flowers and oranges, pine cones, lichen covered branches and even tiny gold wax-dipped fresh crab apples. 
Thank you for being so patient with my lengthy ribbon choice deliberations Sarah - and for bagging up a second choice option (dusky pink) to take home! X.  #wreathmaking #wreath #wreathsofinstagram #sustainablewreaths #wreathdecor #christmaswreath #velvetribbon #christmasdecor #festiveflowers
I’ve loved Olga Prinku’s work for ages now - s I’ve loved Olga Prinku’s work for ages now - she came up with the genius idea of embroidering on tulle using nature as her thread - and the results are sublime - like this Autumn colours beauty from her latest book.
I’m delighted that Olga is offering a fantastic prize bundle to my readers. For a chance to win one of her beautiful new dried flower embroidery kits (in collaboration with @driedandfloral ) as well as a signed copy of her wonderful new book(published by @quadrillebooks , pop over to my blog (link in my bio). It’s easy to enter so why don’t you give yourself a chance of winning this very lovely prize? Good luck! 
#driedflowers #driedflowerembroidery #olgaprinku #embroideryhoop #flowerembroidery #competitiontime #signedbooks #embroideryart #flowersontulle #autumn #autumncolours #hoopart #allthingsbotanical #instacraft
This beautiful image is by Laura Pashby @circleofp This beautiful image is by Laura Pashby @circleofpines and is from her beautiful new book Little Stories of Your Life. 
It’s packed with inspiration and practical ideas to help you become a visual story teller. Because, as Laura says, it’s the little moments that make up the fabric of all of our lives - and those moments are worth capturing and sharing with others.
We have three signed copies of the book to give away - just click the link in my bio to find out more. There’s a peek inside and a lovely film by @xantheb to enjoy too! X 
#littlemoments #littlestoriesbook #alifeofwords #lostinwords #competition #booksarelife #mindfulphotography #bookstagram #booksmakemehappy #booksconnectus #igreads #whatareyoureading #signedbooks
Thanks to Lisa from @inthemaking_aprons who has sh Thanks to Lisa from @inthemaking_aprons who has shared her wonderfully creative ideas for visibly mending well-loved clothing in need of repair and a little TLC.
She had me at ‘sometimes I like to use giant sequins…’ 
Hope you like Lisa’s ideas as much as I do. The link to head over to my blog and get all her step by steps is in my bio x
Thank you @therealflowerco for these heavenly swee Thank you @therealflowerco for these heavenly sweet peas - the perfect way to celebrate #britishflowersweek 
I just wish I could share the blissful fragrance with you too 💕🌸
#locallygrownflowers #flowersofinstagram #supportlocal #britishflowersweek2021 #britishseasonalflowers #flowersfromthefarm #sweetpeas
This heavenly knitted lamb is by Claire Garland ak This heavenly knitted lamb is by Claire Garland aka @dotpebbles_knits and just one of the creative spring projects you might enjoy immersing yourself in right now. To discover other inspirational ideas and to get all the info you need - including this free pattern by Claire - click the link in my bio. Hope you find something that brings you a little seasonal joy x
Thanks to Erin at @floretflower for sending me a s Thanks to Erin at @floretflower for sending me a surprise signed copy of her dreamy new book Discovering Dahlias - and another signed copy to share with one of you. 
To enjoy a peek inside - and for a chance to win - click the link in my bio. 
The truly beautiful photographs (including this one) are all by Erin’s husband Chris Benzakein #discoveringdahlias #floretflowerfarm #dahliasofinstagram #flowersgivemepower #giveawayuk
Thanks to @sarahravenperchhill for sharing a beaut Thanks to @sarahravenperchhill for sharing a beautifully simple way to arrange snowdrops and other early spring flowers over on the blog (link is in my bio). I’ve already made my own simple flower grid using foraged twigs and it works brilliantly! 
As well as sharing her simple step by steps, there’s also a video tutorial where Sarah shares more inspiring ideas for creating with early spring flowers. The beautiful photographs are by @jonathanbuckleyphotography - hope you enjoy! X
Last call to enter our Pippa Greenwood Grow Your O Last call to enter our Pippa Greenwood Grow Your Own gift bundle competition!
My favourite #gardenersquestiontime panellist @pippa.greenwood offers a range of totally brilliant Grow Your Own gift bundles - which include garden-ready veg plants sent out at the right time for planting, email growing advice, tips and recipes from Pippa herself as well as signed copies of The Gardener’s Year. It’s the perfect gift for anyone interested in growing their own fresh produce - and comes with the best expert advice!
We have two Pippa Greenwood GYO gift bundles to be won - the link to enter the competition, and to find out more is in my bio - Good luck!
Last call for anyone who’d like to enter our Cla Last call for anyone who’d like to enter our Claire Garland Christmas Mouse knitting pattern competition. The link to enter is the top one in my bio. Good luck!
If you’re finding the world a somewhat shouty an If you’re finding the world a somewhat shouty and overwhelming place right now, you might like to get behind Sarah Corbett @craftivists new project - she’s crowdfunding to create the final part of her Craftivism trilogy: the Craftivist Collective Handbook. It will be a beautiful hardback with 20 gentle protest Craftivist projects and tools to help readers become positive and effective change makers. Because slow and gentle can be more effective in the long run than fast and loud. I am 100% behind Sarah’s project and have no doubt that those of us in the crafty, creative community have plenty to contribute when it comes to making a better, fairer world. 
Stitching a powerful message can be  more effective than shouting it at someone who’s not listening to you. If you’d like to get involved or find out more, follow the top link in my bio.
Thanks to @botanical_tales for sharing beautiful d Thanks to @botanical_tales for sharing beautiful dried flower wreath ideas over on the blog - link in bio. I love this dried mini wreath as natural gift wrapping decoration (you can buy ready-made too) - all the links are in the post.
Thanks too to Kirsten @henthorn_farm_flowers for sharing her step by steps for creating a stunning giant foraged dried flower wreath as well as her beautiful simple wreath in silvery winter whites. 
I’m increasingly obsessed with the idea of growing my own flowers for drying and creating lovely things with them. Watch this space for more dried flower inspiration coming soon... X
One of the joyful things about this time of year f One of the joyful things about this time of year for me is making plans for next spring and summer in my flower cutting garden. After two years of growing cut flowers, I’m ready for some fresh ideas and to raise my game a little more. I would like to fill some gaps in shape and colour and to extend the flowering season in particular. I’d also like to start drying and preserving my flowers... so I am thrilled that Kirsten of @henthorn_farm_flowers has shared a beautiful glimpse into her seasonal and sustainable flowery world as well as lots of fantastic expert tips and ideas over on the blog - the link is in my bio. I hope you find some inspiration too. Kirsten lives in a very beautiful part of the world - the Ribble Valley in Lancashire. It’s an area very close to my heart as I grew up not far away. Loved spending a little virtual time there again, thanks to Kirsten - and I am yearning to go back in person one day soon and breathe it all in again.
To be honest, I’m still clinging on to the last To be honest, I’m still clinging on to the last moments of Summer. I do always eventually embrace Autumn but, this year in particular, I’m wanting to hold on for as long as possible to the quiet bliss of the last few months. 
I do really worry about what lies ahead for us all, but spending time outdoors, connecting, really up close, to what’s going on in the garden definitely helps. I still have roses, sweet peas, snapdragons, zinnias, asters and LOTS of dahlias blooming so there are always jars and jugs of flowers on every available surface. Rose geranium leaves have been a revelation for adding a fragrant green frilliness - and now I’m full of love for abelia. 
This beautiful photo is by @gandgorgeousflowers and captures the between-seasons beauty in the flower garden right now. I am inspired to create something similar as I have many of the same colours. 
I do realise that it’s silly (and utterly pointless 😂) to resist Autumn as it’s actually one of the most beautiful times of year. As soon as the leaves really turn, and everywhere starts to smell like Autumn, I’m sure I’ll be fully on board. 
With that in mind, I’ve shared lots of inspiring Autumn Flowers ideas over on the blog (link in my bio) from some of my favourite flower creatives including @gandgorgeousflowers @simplybyarrangement @therealflowerco @wildbunchflowers @floribundaroseflorists @thesussexflowerschool @electricdaisyflowerfarm 

Hope you enjoy - and find a little bit of creative inspiration too. X

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