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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News · August 2, 2019

Join the Dare to Dream craftivism project

Join the Dare to Dream craftivism project

I have just the thing for anyone feeling the need to find creative, hands-on ways to help forge a better world. Anyone feeling a bit like I do…

This September, Sarah Corbett (award-winning activist and founder of the Craftivist Collective) is joining forces with Heritage Open Days (England’s largest festival of culture and heritage) to offer a series of Dare to Dream workshops.  The idea is to explore the stories of those who have affected positive change in their community by dreaming of a brighter future. And to ask what we can do to shape the future we dream of.

The power of people

In 2019, Heritage Open Days will celebrate its anniversary with 25 Years of People Power. Against a backdrop of Brexit – a time of unprecedented social division and uncertainty – hundreds of events across the country will celebrate change-makers; those whose visions and dreams have brought positive developments to our society, both large and small.

Alongside festival walks, talks and openings, the Dare to Dream project will explore the power of positive visualisation in effecting change and finding solutions to the problems that surround us. Through a series of ‘craftivism workshops’ designed by Sarah, participants will have an opportunity to think about the issues that matter to them, and how to be an active part of bringing positive change, both locally and globally.

Four free workshops

Sarah will lead four free workshops, launching at Dartington Hall in Totnes, where the concept for the NHS was established in the 1940s. Moving to Norwich, Manchester and Durham, each session will take inspiration from local dream-makers whose historic ideas helped to shape a new reality. Local organisers will also be running Dare to Dream workshops around the country, enabling national participation. After the festival, insights drawn from the workshops will create a picture of our dreams and hopes for society in the next 25 years.

Find out more about Sarah

I first met Sarah at the beginning of last year (read my blog post Meet Sarah Corbett founder of The Craftivist Collective). She is a truly inspirational woman and I am full of admiration and respect for her work. So I was really interested to hear about this latest project of hers and wanted to share it with you. As creatives and ethically minded individuals we have so much collective power for good. Let’s get behind this project and the #DareToDream hashtag and help to share the love.

Transformational workshops

Participants will hand-stitch their positive visions for the future onto fabric ‘dream clouds’, share their creations on social media, and display them in meaningful locations to encourage us all to be solution-seekers and change-makers.

Each Dare to Dream workshop will offer relaxed, thought-provoking discussion and reflection. Sarah has created a series of ‘crafter thought’ questions designed to help participants to dream up their own visions and dreams for change as they stitch their message about the world they wish to live in.

These messages are stitched onto ethically-sourced fabric dream clouds and the idea is that they are displayed and shared using the #DareToDream hashtag. Stitching dreams onto crafted clouds might sound fluffy, but the approach is supported by scientific research into how the human brain works.

I asked Sarah how people tend to respond to her workshops and the effects she has seen.

Transformational effects

‘It’s hard to capture the impact of people taking part in our workshops but, being there, it can feel transformational for people personally and politically. You can see people walking in with worried foreheads, fast-paced walks to their chairs, fidgeting with their phones or fingers at the table. Then the handicrafts naturally slows them down, the repetitive hand actions regulate their breath and helps them meditate on one of the 3 ‘crafterthought’ questions they have in front of them.

‘At the start you see people frustrated that they can’t thread their needle first time but then they loosen up their tight shoulders and calm their jittery hands. With every stitch people tend to move from powerlessness to hope because if they can make one little stitch after stitch in something physical to make something wonderful and new. It reminds them that they can and do make changes in our world too.  It encourages them to think and act more compassionately and strategically as an activist and active citizen.

‘Crafterthoughts’

‘Some people love just being alone in their ‘crafterthoughts’. Others listen intentionally to the conversations people are having around the issues and strategics of the craftivism project they have. Some people share their worries, concerns, questions and plans and are surprised by how much they openly share. Using your hands, head and heart in your craftivism – and having something to look at so you don’t need to make lots of eye contact – creates an environment where people naturally open up.

‘My projects engage everyone differently, as we are all unique and on our own journeys in life. But, stitch by repetitive stitch, my projects and I help people focus on solutions they can be part of to solve injustices. People become mindful of what they are bringing to their activism and everyone leaves more focused, inspired, empowered and more deeply engaged. Clear that they can be part of being the positive change they want to see in our complex fragile world. And that they can do this by using ‘gentle protest’ and craftivism as a positive tool.

The power of quiet and peaceful

With so much anger and division in our society right now, it feels like exactly the right time for these workshops. I suspect there are lots of us who care passionately about the future of our planet and fairness of our society, but don’t feel anger-fuelled activism is for them. Many of us are too thoughtful and quiet for shouting slogans or causing disruption. It doesn’t mean we don’t care as much. There’s a real power in peaceful protest too. Especially when people come together to find their collective voice and explore ways to make it heard. That’s exactly what Craftivism in general, and these workshops in particular, can offer.

The importance of imagination for making change

The Dare to Dream project is informed by neuroscience and positive psychology and the idea is to help address people’s anxiety, fear, negativity and tendency to form silos.

“When we pause and make a conscious effort to imagine our ideal world, we engage our prefrontal cortex – the creative solution-seeking system in the brain.” says Dr Charlotte Rae, neuroscientist at the University of Sussex.

“Neuroscience research shows that when we feel threatened, the habit-based centres of the brain drive automatic behaviours, shutting down opportunity for new thinking. This project engages the creative, conscious, planning system in the brain – the prefrontal cortex – opening up mental space to consider what actions we can take for a better future.

Grabbing our bran’s attention

Research has also shown that when we encounter something unexpected, such as a carefully-crafted cloud in a perhaps incongruous place, the brain generates a ‘surprise signal’ called ‘prediction error’. This is a very potent way of grabbing our brain’s attention, and pulling us out of habit-driven, automatic thinking into conscious, active, consideration of the situation.

By combining active pursuit of positive goals, with the unique fabric cloud format of messaging, your Dare to Dream activity makes use of these known neuro behavioural strategies to create effective change.”

“Throughout history, real change has come from those who have thought differently, dreamed big and believed solutions are there to be found. Dare to Dream offers a chance for everyone to think about how we can all positively shape the future, and make our dreams for a fairer, happier society become reality.”

 

What’s on when

Sarah is delivering 4 Dare to Dream workshops:

  1. 13th September in Totnes with Craft Revolution and Dartington Hall https://www.eventbrite.com/preview?eid=65669040869
  2. Sunday 15th September Norwich with The Forum https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/dare-to-dream-norwich
  3. Saturday 21st September in Durham https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/dare-to-dream-workshop-in-the-miners-hall-durham
  4. Sunday 22nd September in Manchester with People’s History Museum https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/daretodream-craftivism-workshop

There are a further #DareToDream craftivism events around the country 13-22 September led by local organisers. Find an event near you here.

How to get involved with dare to dream craftivism

If you can’t make any of the scheduled events but would like to get involved, look out for Sarah’s Craftivist Collective ‘Dream Making Kit’ which will be available from October. Or, why not set up your own Heritage Open Day local craftivism event next year? Because we can all be changemakers in our own way. Craftivism is a way to help make a better world whilst safeguarding your own wellbeing and sustainability.

It feels like exactly the right time for this, don’t you think? It’s easy to feel somewhat defeated by the amount of hate, over-consumption and injustice in the world isn’t it? I know I have. Helping at my local food bank means I have seen first hand the very real hardship faced by so many people right now. Safety nets have been removed and vulnerable people simply fall away. Literally down and out. It makes me feel ashamed of our so-called civilised country. Growing numbers of children depending on charity during the holidays because they go hungry without their free school dinners.

Feeling hopeless and defeated?

Then there’s the devastation we’re causing to our planet every single day. We’re living during a climate emergency, and still the colossal daily waste continues. It’s easy to feel hopeless and defeated. I know I have. What’s the point in blogging about sustainability and creativity when so many people simply don’t care, I’ve asked myself many a time. Then I’ll meet someone inspirational and something shifts. I feel excited to share what they’re doing with you, the From Britain with Love community.  We’re a community that values creativity and ethics. Made up of people like you and me. And that’s when I realise just how valuable and important it is for us to come together as we do.

The support and good heartedness of our sizeable, and growing, community makes it all worthwhile. We’re the people who can make a real difference. The creatives. The quiet, contemplative people who care. We may not shout but we can come together and make ourselves heard.

Dare to dream craftivismInformation

Get all the information you need about the Dare to Dream workshops here https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/unsung-stories/dare-to-dream

About Heritage Open Days

All events are free, including access to many sites that usually charge for admission.

Heritage Open Days is coordinated and promoted nationally by the National Trust with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and run locally by a large range of organisations (including civic societies, heritage organisations, and local councils, community champions and thousands of enthusiastic volunteers).

Heritage Open Days is England’s contribution to European Heritage Days, taking place across 50 countries. Other events in the UK are Doors Open Days in Scotland,  Open Doors Days in Wales; European Heritage Open Days in Northern Ireland; Open House London.

For further details, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk

About the Craftivist Collective and Sarah Corbett

Sarah Corbett is an award-winning campaigner, author of How to be a Craftivist: the art of gentle protest, and founder and Creative Director of the global Craftivist Collective. She grew up in a low-income area of Liverpool and was born into an activist family. Her TED talk ‘Activism Needs Introverts’ has been viewed over 1 million times.

The Craftivist Collective is a social enterprise providing products and services to help individuals, groups and organisations around the world learn and take part in ‘a gentle protest’ approach to craftivism (craft + activism), and transform the way people practice activism in more emotionally intelligent, creative and kind and effective ways.

Previous projects

Previous craftivism projects have addressed mental health, living wage and climate change amongst other issues. Their projects have helped change laws and policies, as well as hearts and minds.

They have worked with Save the Children, Unicef and Mind, have helped create the new Girlguiding craftivism badge, as well as collaborating with Secret Cinema and V&A, amongst others.

For further details, visit www.craftivist-collective.com

is listed in our directory – get all the info you need to connect.

Find Craftivist Collective in the Creative Workshops section of our Directory

Are you a maker, grower 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


A PIN TO SAVE TO PINTEREST

It would be great if you could share the love for the dare to dream craftivism project. All you have to do is hover over the image below until you see the pinterest button appear. Then share it to your boards. Thank you! X

Join the Dare to Dream craftivism project with Sarah Corbett. Click through to find out all the details you need to get involved with this craftivist gentle protest initiative to explore effective change and solutions to world problems through simple craft. Transformational workshops around the UK as well as kits so you can participate wherever you are will create a collective and very positive energy for good. #craftivism #craftivist #gentleprotest #artprotest #frombritainwithlove #daretodream

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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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