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 🌱🤍 
.
.
.
.
.
.
#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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MEET · January 25, 2018

Sarah Corbett founder of The Craftivist collective

Meet Sarah Corbett founder of The Craftivist collective

How many times have you found yourself commenting, in recent times, about the state of today’s world? How many times have you felt either angry, defeated, or both, about inequality, injustice or damage to our planet? I certainly have done a lot of grumbling, whilst feeling pretty powerless in the scheme of things.

How can I stop the oceans filling with even more plastic? What can I do about the shameful rise in the numbers of children and families living in real poverty? Then there’s the increasing problem of homelessness, systemic racism, the gender pay gap, under-resourced mental health services and so much more…

My spare time and energy are both limited and I hate confrontation. So any sort of direct activism would send me running for the hills. I also don’t believe that countering wrong-doing or institutional incompetence with aggression and anger is the right – or an effective – way to respond. So what’s the alternative?

Well, I have discovered one that I really want to share with you.

how to be a craftivist book by sarah corbett

A month or so ago I became increasingly aware of a beautiful-looking yellow book that was getting a lot of positive attention among the creative community on Instagram. A few makers and influencers I follow, and admire, commented on the huge impact this book was having on them. I decided to find out more. The book in question is called How to be a Craftivist: the art of gentle protest and it’s written by Sarah Corbett.

The first paragraph about the book on Sarah’s website drew me right in: ‘In today’s world it’s easy to feel helpless, but here is a book to initiate debates rather than shouting matches, to enable collaboration in place of confrontation. Gentleness can be a great strength, and quiet action can sometimes speak as powerfully amid the noise as the loudest voice. And if we want a world that is beautiful, kind and fair… shouldn’t our activism be beautiful, kind and fair? An interesting book for anyone wanting to be the change they wish to see in the world (whether they like craft or not).’

how to be a craftivist book sarah corbettsarah corbett craftivist

If I’d needed any persuasion to part with my £12 to buy a copy, those words would have done the trick. The book arrived beautifully gift wrapped and with a hand-written message from Sarah. As well as ordering the book, I made contact with Sarah herself to ask if she might like to be featured in this blog. Her response was, unsurprisingly, very warm and friendly and we arranged to meet earlier this week.

sarah corbett craftivism

By the time we were seated opposite each other at Paper & Cup café in Shoreditch (a not for profit social enterprise helping the homeless through funds and employment), I had read most of the book and researched a bit more about Sarah and her particular take on Craftivism.

I also watched this Q&A session with The Guardian journalist Lucy Siegle:


I knew that Sarah had grown up in a deprived area of Liverpool and had spent much of her life as an activist and award-winning campaigner for major charities including Christian Aid, Oxfam and the UK Government Derpartment for International Development (DFID).

I also knew that the idea for the Craftivisit Collective first occurred to her on a train journey while working for a major charity. She was feeling pretty burnt out from too much confrontation as well as quite travel sick. She had bought a small craft kit to pass the time. As she stitched, Sarah began to reflect on the potential power in what she was doing.

paper and cup cafe shoreditch

‘Stitching calmed me down. It helped me think through issues more clearly and I was able to be creative with my hands,’ her book explains. ‘It felt empowering. I discovered that the act of stitching in public led to people asking me questions about the injustice issue I was stitching about. My local MP had been ignoring my petitions and requests to take action against injustice. So I hand embroidered a message on to a handkerchief asking her not to ‘blow’ her chance of making a positive difference in her powerful position. I gave it to her as a gift to show that I wanted to encourage, support and help her tackle injustices as a critical friend not fight her as an aggressive enemy.’

The Craftivist Collective

Sarah’s approach worked. The issues she raised finally gained her MP’s attention because of the way she’d gone about it. Sarah was then able to build on this relationship to politely – but consistently – hold her MP to account.

Sarah realised she was on to something, and in 2009 she founded The Craftivist Collective. The term ‘Craftivism’ was first coined by US maker and writer Betsy Greer as ‘a way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes you stronger, your compassion deeper and your quest for justice more infinite.’ Sarah contacted her to ask if there were any guidelines to follow. Betsy said there were not and gave Sarah her blessing to create her own Craftivism projects.

‘Unlike the usual forms of activism, my ‘Gentle Protest’ approach to Craftivism is not aggressive, loud or transactional, but focuses on the gentle art of protesting, threading humility through all that we create and do. Gentleness is not a weak form of protesting. It’s not mild or non-assertive. It requires self-control when what we feel is anger or sadness at injustice. It requires thoughtfulness and to do it well, Craftivism isn’t fast and easy. Using craft for activism doesn’t automatically make it gentle. My goal is to enable people to do activism in a beautiful, kind and fair way that models the world we want to live in.’

The Craftivist Collective is just that – an inclusive group of people committed to using thoughtful, beautiful crafted works to help themselves and encourage others be the positive change they wish to see in the world. Sarah supports this by developing tools and projects that Craftivists can undertake as individuals or by organising their own group gatherings.

A gentle manifesto

As Sarah’s manifesto states, her mission is to connect hands, hearts and heads to truly make a difference:

craftivist manifesto

So here Sarah and I were in Shoreditch last Monday morning, with a pot of tea each. I furiously scribbled notes as we chatted. Sarah has an infectious passion for what she is doing that I found very inspiring. I asked how I could best help her right now.

‘Please tell people about the A Positive Note campaign we’re running in collaboration with mental health charity Mind,’ she answered, without a moment’s hesitation. ‘We only have until March with this. Ask you readers to join us in sending a positive message to their MP – encouraging them to help improve the lives of people with mental health problems. That’s one in four of us in any given year. Basically we’re asking our MPs, politely, to deliver on the election promises made to us. All the parties put mental health in their manifesto (the first time this has ever happened by the way!). By 2021 mental health and physical health will be on a par for the services needed to cope. That needs addressing now, while we have so many new MPs and at a time when every MP vote and seat counts.’

positive note campaign mind

How to get involved

The easiest way to support the Positive Little Note campaign is to buy one of Sarah’s ready-made kits. Each contains everything you need to create a beautiful hand-stitched fabric envelope containing a message to your MP. Here’s a film Sarah made to explain how it works. The kits cost £12, with all profits raised going to Mind.

‘

craftivism a positive note mind kit

I asked Sarah to explain a little bit about the thinking behind the hand-stitched note idea:

‘MPs receive so many petition cards and emails every day it can be difficult to have your campaign noticed. Not only do these hand stitched bespoke envelopes attract attention from MPs and their staff because of the time and care spent making these beautiful objects, but the encouraging and thoughtful handwritten note inside (asking for health equality) engages politicians’ hearts and hands as well as their head. This helps the Craftivist become critical friends with their local MP rather than aggressive enemies.

positive little note campaign with Mindpositive little note campaignpositive note campaign mind

‘I’m so proud of these kits (all made super ethically in the UK by me) and that 100% of profits go to help Mind continue their important work. You can take part on your own or in a group – big or small. It’s up to you. ‘

How to begin?

I was also keen to ask Sarah about getting involved with Craftivism in a more general way. Where to begin?

‘Visualisation is a powerful tool,’ she explained. ‘Best place to start is by imagining the sort of world you’d like to live in. The world you’d like to help craft. Not the one you want to eliminate. Share dreams, not complaints. Start with what you can do to make changes in your everyday life. If you feel like you want to change the world, but don’t know how, becoming a Craftivist is a way to become part of a bigger picture, something holistic. When you switch the light on in the morning, think about your energy supplier, the bulbs you use. Are they as ethical as they can be? Do the research and find out, if you’re not sure. When paying for your train ticket, think about the bank you use. Are they as ethical with your money as you’d like them to be? Look into alternatives. It’s all about being the change you’d like to see in the world.

‘As human beings, we all want to be seen and heard. And we all need to be part of the solution to world problems. Using craft materials that are small, delicate and soft creates a comforting space which helps us to ask ourselves and others uncomfortable questions about how to tackle injustice issues.’

Sarah’s gentle protest approach to Craftivism is rooted in the principles of love, respect, solidarity, collaboration, forgiveness. Not combat, shaming or selfishness. That really resonates with me.

It takes more strength, in my opinion, to protest in a thoughtful and self-controlled way with compassion and empathy for all involved. Human beings are fragile, after all, and we should be handled with care.

Buy the book

how to be a craftivist by sarah corbett

I have loved reading Sarah’s book. It’s full of interesting ideas and I highly recommend it to you if you are interested to find out more about gentle forms of protest. Buy a copy here >>

Today the Craftivist Collective has thousand of members around the world. Sarah has delivered talks, workshops and events to over 12,000 people and her book is getting a lot of attention. None of this success has happened overnight or easily, however. It’s all testament to Sarah’s hard work and determination:

‘It’s taken years since I picked up the needle on that train journey,’ she told me. ‘Craftivism for me is about being in it for the long haul.’

And she knows that her campaign is taking on a life of its own as it gains traction with more and more people.

‘I’m aware that some people may use it on campaigns that I may not agree with,’ she says. ‘But my goal is to inspire and empower you to take a stand against injustice and increase the skills needed to engage in Craftivism effectively. Being gentle in the way we use power can lift people up to take the action that is needed. We need to be careful to be a gentle protester, not a rebel. A rebel tends to be unreceptive, rigid and unwilling to learn and listen.

‘The art of gentle protest requires that you don’t maintain conflict but focus on a path to resolution. I want to support people to be their best selves. Helping, not harming, others. “Shouting, heckling, and hating are not the only forms of political engagement,” Leonard Cohen said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Our gentle protest approach to Craftivism is part of that light, and it is getting in.’

Sarah Corbett

Adopt a Craftivist

To help fund Sarah Corbett in her work, you can ‘adopt’ her here 

You can either make a one-off payment or choose from monthly payment options from £10.

INFORMATION


Photography: copyright From Britain with Love and Craftivist Collective

Craftivist Collective is listed in the From Britain with Love directory here >>

Are you a maker or creative course provider? Like to 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


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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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