cath kidston – Page 2 – Jennifer Michie

October 3, 2009 / 0 Comments

Chilly Willy!

Brrrr! Today the weather has changed. It is blustery, cloudy and very cold. We were out running errands and upon coming back in the cottage, we knew it was chilly, because the radiators had come on by themselves and were humming away making the house toasty!

Today it feels like we might be skipping Autumn and going right into Winter! It is definitely pumpkin weather now. The perfect weather to get a hot chocolate on-the-go and take a nice crispy walk through the woods. I will have to get out my wellies soon. I will finally have a chance to use my gorgeous Cath Kidston polka dot green wellies I got for my Birthday. I can’t wait for my first puddle of the season to go stomping through!

This is lit candles, wrapping up in cozy quilts and drinking hot chocolate weather.

(Image from Good Housekeeping, Jessie Wilcox Smith)

June 24, 2009 / 0 Comments

Better Gnomes & Gardens

I have a thing for gnomes; they are whimsical, magical, seemingly
happy little creatures. Usually dressed in bright clothing with pointy little hats. They are friends to woodland animals and charming decorators of their red polka dot mushroom houses.

In looking for some vintage ephemera I went to one of my favorite sources, D. Blumchen & Company and I came across a gnome village they had created with instructions coming soon to tell you how to make your own mushroom gnome men.

Although considered a kitsch object, gnomes have been around for generations. In Sweden and Denmark there are numerous vintage postcards and household items with gnome and pixie themes. It has carried on to the present; many of their Christmas decorations revolve around these magical beings. I, myself have a few Danish pixies that come out to play at Christmas and guard over the presents Santa has delivered.

Like Cath Kidston’s Miniature Garden (blog written 5/13/2009), this little model village is again something I find charming and enchanting. Another little world you wish you can step inside and wander around. A world where ladybugs pull your flower laden cart and cozy candles bring a warm glow to the soft inside of mushroom houses, where you sit, sipping tea out of acorn cups next to a crackling fire.

Click on the picture below to go to D. Blumchen & Company’s Website.

“Better Gnomes & Gardens” Image by Artist Ken Brown, embellished by J. Michie

June 15, 2009 / 0 Comments

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Birthday IceCream

Today is my birthday! This year has gone racing by and it doesn’t seem right that it should be June already. I LOVE birthdays, whether it is mine or someone else’s and I think they should carry on for more than just your actual birthday as well, like Alice in Wonderland’s “Un-Birthdays”:

“There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents … and only one for birthday presents, you know.” – Lewis Carroll

In saying all of this, for the first time in my life I am not overly excited about this particular Birthday. I thought, like many of us do, that I would be in a different place right now, but that is obviously not in God’s plans for me at the moment.

Jack Byrnes’ wisdom tells me that you don’t always see the whole puzzle, so I am just waiting on some pieces to come together. We are blessed with a home, with food, with a job and most importantly with love, and that is all you really need. So, I continue to walk in faith and as Frank Sinatra sang, “the best is yet to come”. I’m going to hold to that and embrace the moment.

As my husband told me this morning, good things come to those who wait, and I have patiently waited for a pair of wellies for forever and amongst my birthday gifts this morning, sat a shining green pair with polka dots on them, just for me!

May 13, 2009 / 0 Comments

The Enchanting World of Miniatures

What is it that is so fascinating about a miniature world? A little place that makes you wish, like Mary Poppins you could jump into the chalk drawing and peek inside. I love Cath Kidston and today as I opened my e-mail, cup of tea in hand, I smiled as I saw a newsletter waiting from her.

In it are the details for her latest competition; to design a miniature garden. I scrolled down to see a vintage looking bowl filled with tiny “trees”, a tin foil pond with moss gently rolling down the hillside. Geese meandered around bunches of flowers, while a girl, red apron tied to her waist, stood not far away. You could imagine her dipping into her apron pocket to scatter grain for them. I was entranced like a child, I wanted to step inside and walk around this enchanting petite world.

It is these little things that don’t let me forget my inner child, something that is too important to let go of. In a world where things can often become too serious, these are the moments that take you back, make you smile. Suddenly, you can be 5 again, with the wind whistling in your hair as you pump your legs faster and faster; because you know if you get just a little higher, you will be able to reach up and touch the tree branch hanging over your swing.