St. George’s Day

Today is St. George’s Day and my Bramley Apple tree celebrated by giving me a beautiful show of pink colour.

With so many flowers the tree is overloaded.

I love apple pies, apple strudels and apple sauce, so I am looking forward to the autumn when I can pick the fruit - hopefully before my local squirrels take them!

See you soon.

xx

New Life

Today I saw the first of the new foals being born in the New Forest. They are so delightful with their long legs and hairy noses.

The New Forest has had ponies roaming in the area since 1016 and since then many breeds have been turned out to graze and improve the livestock. The first Stud Book was produced in 1910 and no outside blood has been permitted on the forest since 1930. The ponies stand between 12 and 14 hands high and they are perfect for general riding.

Although the ponies are allowed to roam freely throughout the New Forest and they appear to be wild, they are actually owned by Commoners who have ancient rights to allow their livestock to graze.

Many visitors to the area like to stop and stroke the ponies but they can be rewarded with a kick or a bite!

I leave you a photo of the new foal with it’s mother.

See you soon.

xx

Quaint Places

I love quaint out-of-the-way places with the traditional wattle of daub construction of ancient houses and the higgledy-piggledy way the houses and streets were constructed. The photo above was taken in Elm Hill in Norwich - a difficult place to walk in high heels!

This photo was taken in Lymington. The cobbled street leads to the quay where fishermen still land catches of crab and lobsters for local restaurants.

Bakewell - a favourite place in Derbyshire, where children feed the ducks and people eat the traditionally made Bakewell Puddings from the Bakewell Pudding Shop. The bridge is made from local stone and it is a ‘packhorse bridge’ which was built many years ago with passing places for packhorses to pass each other as they made their way to and from market

Nature’s Tapestry

A tapestry of nature…………..

Nature’s sculpture…………

Nature’s palette………

xx

Helpful Hands

I could really have done with an extra pair of hands today as I’m rushing to sort my son’s clothes and bedding to go back to university with for the next semester.

Pebbles decided that the best place to ‘help’ me was in the middle of the pile which proved too comfortable to stay awake.

xx

Milford Designs Updates

Don’t you just love this photo? - the sheer surprise!

I was in Poole Park this weekend and also at Lyndhurst Community Centre and I would like to welcome new customers to this blog. It was lovely to meet you all - many people were from the local area but several were on holiday. Welcome to the people from Hereford, Huddesfield and East Kilbride also the couple from Holland and Rose from Kansas. I hope you all enjoy your holiday.

Here are the latest updates; I am now making real gemstone earrings in sterling silver using Lapis Lazuli, Tiger’s Eye. Dalmatian Jasper, Picture Jasper, Turquoise, Cherry Quartz, Lemon Chrysophase and slice Agate. I am also able to make earrings for you in a style that would suit your requirements.

If I am at a spring or summer fair, and you are able to attend, please come and say hello we would love to see you - I’ve just bought a red gazebo so you can’t miss my stand.

See you soon.

xx

Vintage Charm

Today there was brilliant sunshine - a good day to take photos for the website - so I was just sorting the silver jewellery, having first placed some vintage (pre-loved) fabric on the table to protect the pendants and rings.

It occured to me how lovely it all looked together.

What is it about colours and textures that appeals to us?

So what is the collective noun for beautiful jewellery? A sunshine of colours? A frosting of loveliness?

From the brilliant bright green of malachite and hearty red of garnet, to the cool colours of blue topaz and blue lace agate and the calming colours of pink quartz and mother of pearl, each piece talks to people in different ways. Maybe it matches eyes, skin tone or clothes or maybe it brings back memories.

Whatever your reason - just enjoy!

xx

The Paleface

One of my favourite classic films is ‘The Paleface’ (1948) starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell. I am often asked why I named this blog Buttons and Bows and you might now have guessed the connection. The song ‘Buttons and Bows’, featured in the movie, won the Academy Award for The Best Original Song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgsiYRMKy_Q
There is a fascinating rhythm with the words:

Those frills and flowers and buttons and bows
Rings and things and buttons and bows

I think I am in the Milford Designs business of providing you with frills and rings and things - what’s missing?
Oh yes!
Buttons and Bows - well here’s the blog!

See you xx

P.S. Here are your frills:

Happiness is

Happiness is:

the face of a daffodil

watching the sun rise

seeing the first foals born in the forest

shades of the blue sea

giving and receiving a smile

a lick from a friendly dog

listening to ‘The Lark Ascending‘ by Vaughan Williams

the song of a robin

feeding the birds

a warm cuddly cat

Genetic Wisdom?

This is the book I am reading at the moment. Actually I am re-reading it as I find it such an astonishing book. Brian Sykes has traced the genetic history of human populations and where they originated. Though I don’t know their names my great, great (etc) grandparents were living there somewhere.

When I first read this book I decided to have my DNA tested by Oxford Ancestors - consequently to find that my maternal ancestor is known as ‘Jasmine’ and was associated with the spread of herding  and farming in the Neolithic Era.

I have also been finding out the maternal surnames of my direct ancestors:

Ruddleston, Spiers, Byrne, Wortley, Steventon, Lee, Goodfellow, Kellow, May, Frances, Pasby, Short. (Avisia Short married Willam Pasby in Salisbury in 1654)

Knowing the names of my great, great (etc) grandparents has made historical events, during the last three centuries, become more meaningful.

I wonder what legacy we leave to all our descendants?

xx