Right now my Creative Mind is absolutely chockablock full to bursting, in fact it's absolutely bloomin' rammed to the brink up there in my busy thinking-place. It's a bit of a strange sensation, kind of stressy and exhilarating all at the same time. I am forever grateful that (so far) my Creative Mind is in good health and consequently I am never ever short of ideas. They tumble and run and spin and whirl pretty much all day long and sometimes even hold wild boogies in my head at night too. I haven't yet experienced a creative block, or a drought. Waterfalls and floods are more common though, and right now it's positively raging a monsoon up there in my Creative Mind. Well yes, you get the picture. And that's one of the reasons I continue to adore writing my blog - it's such a wonderful way to deal with aspects of my overactive creative thinking and I truly value having this space as a way to sort it all out a bit. The very act of uploading photos and writing out ideas and feelings and thoughts and plans is extremely useful, and I'm sure that's why I remain blockage-free.
Just recently I have been immersing myself in the visual treats of the season and indulging in a bit of a Spring-fest. I have been a devoted lover of home/lifestyle magazines for almost twenty years now, and month after month they never fail to deliver a welcome dose of seasonal feel-good, along with a dash of escapism and a heap load of inspiration.
My two must-haves each month are Country Living (UK) and Country Homes and Interiors. They are both fabulous magazines, consistently inspirational and uplifting, with gorgeous photography and beautifully creative styling. But what I love most about these magazines is the very seasonal bias they have. I am more than a little bit in love with seasonal living, with styling, decorating, celebrating, living and eating according to the time of year. And these two magazines embrace this idea incredibly well.
Summer is my most favourite season of the lot, and I've written about my love of Summer magazines before here on my blog. As the years go by I am learning to love all seasons and appreciate the good in each, but there is no way I would ever love Winter more than Summer, it just isn't happening. Spring though - well Spring is a pretty wonderful time of the year and the March and April magazines have proven to be very inspiring this year.
It helps that Easter is in Spring, and I do love Easter very much. I love the chocolate aspect (!) but also the abundance of decorative opportunities which in many ways I prefer to Christmas.
These few Easter images pleased me enormously (from April issue of CH&I)....
...."Vintage Easter" is a very pretty thing indeed, don't you think?
Often when I browse my way dreamily through these pages, it's not necessarily the actual subject matter that I'm tuning into, but the colours. As my mind is on a bit of a colour-obsessed mission most days, I find that I am always, always absorbing and taking note of colour combinations. It's like the ColourSeek button in my brain is permanently switched on, I just cannot seem to see the world in any other way.
Oh these pages!!!!!!!!! Sooooooo pretty and heart-lifting and so perfectly capturing the essence of Spring!
I am such a sucker for pretty styling and one of my most favourite stylists is the talented Selena Lake. Interestingly, as soon as I clapped eyes on these images I just knew they were Selena's work (she has a very recognisable style) and yup, I was right.
She has a way of mixing vintage with pretty pastel colours which is quite quirky and I love the overall effect. Very easy on the eye, very charming and always inspiring. The above picture makes me want to go immediately and de-clutter my Shelves of Doom just so I could have a go at styling them prettily for Easter. I want my shelves to look like that!
These pages are all from a magazine I picked up in the supermarket last week called "Prima Makes" (issue 6). This is a bi-monthly magazine heavily inspired by the seasons (love love!) and full of creative ideas for home and garden.
The ideas are often beautifully simple and do-able, with many of the makes aimed at mums-with-children. It also covers a wide variety of crafts, from simple paper makes to stitching, knitting, crochet, and baking. It encourages you to get busy creating beautiful, seasonal little decorations for your home, and delivers a real surge of creative energy. I want to plant up a pretty tea cup and make a little paper village! Little B - do you want to help me make little felt trees and cut out some pretty butterflies? Shall we make this happen? I think that next week during our stay-home holiday time we may well have some very busy little fingers and I am pretty excited to see what we can come up with.
Oh cute! Maybe we might be inspired to crack open the box of coloured felt and stitch up some sweet little Easter critters! The above photo has given me some wonderful colour ideas too - I'm looking at limey green and pale pink and sky blue with a dash of egg-yolk orange and soft butter yellow - mmmmmmmm - delicious!
So do you decorate for Easter or Spring in your home? Are you inspired to create a pretty little seasonal something for a shelf or table? Tell me your creative plans, I'd love to know if your minds are as busy as mine?!
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I just love the look of that canal boat! Your town is so picturesque - I can see why you love it. And I loved the pictures of your coffee and crochet at the outdoor café -- it looks like such a lovely time. Your description of your rambling about the town is making me want to do the same!
Posted by: Lizy Tish | April 27, 2015 at 08:26 PM
Oh dear, I'm behind on my magazine reading yet again. It's crochet, blog reading or my current book/audio book when I sit down and they get left. I still have the beautiful current Spring issue of Country Living to read....
Posted by: Rachell | March 27, 2015 at 12:19 PM
Thank you Lucy for such an uplifting blog. You are an inspiration, I wouldn't even know where to start with uploading photos so thank goodness for your blog and country living. I highly recommend landscape and land love magazines. They are bi-monthly and have become essential reading. Nice long articles, fab recipes, gardening, photos and great craft.
Loving your crochet. Have made the ripple blanket for my uni daughter (her flatmates love to snuggle in it).
Posted by: chris | March 25, 2015 at 09:34 PM
Dear Lucy having spent two weeks making costumes for Easter play I have been looking out Easter idea for the house. Have a copy of the Prima one with the Spring ideas!! It's all that soft shades of colour with the promise of sunshine and warmth to come. Heres to an Easter break with fun activities and Chocolate!!
Lots of it xx
Posted by: Sarah west mids uk | March 25, 2015 at 03:44 PM
What a great blog! Knitting and sewing for years,I've just taught myself to crochet at the age of 57 thanks to you!
Have you seen Landscape magazine? It's lovely! X
Posted by: Ann | March 25, 2015 at 09:06 AM
hi! we have an easter tree every year. i put some catkin and forsythia and branches of peach or apple or cherry trees in a vase and hang handpainted eggs on them. we almost have an egg-painting-tradition. i invite my siblings and my siblings-in-law and we sit around the table and paint and craft and decorate together. i love that my son is old enough to join in now and i think my niece could try this year too. we always have snacks of fresh veggies with dip and freshly baked bread and all sorts of other spring and easter related goodies to go with it. i very much enjoy it every year.
Posted by: julia | March 25, 2015 at 08:49 AM
I would just like to say a big thank you for such an uplifting and eternally positive view on life! I crochet, which is how I found your blog, but I also find myself tuning in to read your happy words and feast on the colourful pictures. You have actually have had an influence on my life (don't mean to sound like a crazy stalker!) and your blog is helping me to get through some very tough times. What a lovely lady you seem to be, and I am spreading the word of your work far and wide. Best wishes xx
Posted by: Emma | March 25, 2015 at 07:51 AM
Hi Lucy
I´ve lived in Sweden for over 30 years now. The Country Living magazine has been one of my best friends all this time. Somehow the UK feels so close when I open up a new number and like you I feel so inspired by the contents.
Just as inspiring is my daily delve into your blog. Long may your inspiration flow Lucy. It "infects" all of us. :-)
Posted by: Ramona K | March 25, 2015 at 07:50 AM
Hi There,
We are about to go into hibernation in this part of the world. I am quite looking forward to finishing the never ending blanket and getting snuggly. Lots of hot cross buns and cups of tea...mmmm delicious!
Posted by: Lisa Wallace | March 25, 2015 at 07:17 AM
I subscribe to both of these magazines here in the USA.
I won't tell you what I pay for them because you wouldn't believe me anyway. I look forward to them each and every month. The British magazines, across the board, are way better than anything printed here.
Love your writing, a huge thanks for taking the time to share your life and ideas with us.
Posted by: Lizzie | March 24, 2015 at 10:30 PM
Who doesn't like a bit of a Spring Fest! Jo x
Posted by: Jo | March 24, 2015 at 07:53 PM
I always read but never post anything but today I am going to. I looked at the happy vase of daisies on my table this morning, along with my mug of tea and my knitting (sorry, I'm a knitter!) and was inspired to take an "Attic 24 picture"! It's so pretty!! Thank you for your inspiration. And about decorating - yes, I do a few things for spring and I just might do more this year, thanks to you!!!
Posted by: Jenny | March 24, 2015 at 07:15 PM
Yes, I love decorating for Easter. I make Easter wreaths and little 'bird nests' with feathers and little fabric birds or candles in the shape of chicken , rabbit, bird etc. I hang some little wooden pastel coloured eggs from twigs and lay the table with table clothes with flowery patterns and decorate them with baskets full of dyed eggs , chocolates and biscuits.
Easter is a celebration of pastel and spring colours and I adore using them around in my house.
Good luck with all your decorative plans!!
Tina
Posted by: TINA | March 24, 2015 at 07:15 PM
Yes, I certainly do! Easter is such a fresh and pretty time of year - I love all the pale blues, yellows, lilacs, pinks and greens. I always have daffodils on the table and some branches hung with tiny eggs. I love those little fluffy yellow chicks, and arrange them along my blue dresser. I hang up my home-made bunting in pastel sprigged and spotted fabric, I've crocheted and knitted bunnies ... the list goes on! I also buy the same magazines as you, and Landscape too. A lovely post, Lucy - fresh and full of ideas :)
Cathy x
Posted by: Cathy | March 24, 2015 at 05:26 PM
I love Spring, Easter is my favourite of all the holidays, and I'm in Spring flower making mode at the moment, updating my wreath, I'm also planning on making some crafternoon magazine felt chicks as Easter decorations to add in with the eggs and Easter tree
Clare x
Posted by: Clare | March 24, 2015 at 04:33 PM
Love the photos Lucy. You have given me ideas. I particularly love the flower eggs display and the daffodils in jars. I seem to have a mind full of creativity as well.
Joan www.aviewtothefells.com
Posted by: Joan Jepson | March 24, 2015 at 03:31 PM
Uplifting, as usual. I make an Easter tree with branches hung with duck eggs I blew and dyed last year. They are hung with coloured ribbons and decorated with crystals/ beads I glued on. So much cheaper and nicer than anything I have seen for sale.
My husband calls the magazine "Country Homes and Wishful Thinking"!
Posted by: Catherine | March 24, 2015 at 03:21 PM
Spring colours for me will always be yellow and green (all shades thereof) but from your post I'm sensing a "Spring Picnic Blanket" in the making in your Creative Mind ... possibly using the "limey green, pale pink and sky blue with a dash of egg-yolk orange and soft butter yellow"????? Let me know if I'm right.... xxx
Posted by: Laura | March 24, 2015 at 01:47 PM
not 10 minutes ago did I request of Dave three branches from the cherry tree so that I can be decorating my Easter tree ... they have not arrived yet - oh he is reading his paper!! Loving your ideas and will look out for what you and Little B create Xx lots of love Joy Xx
Posted by: Joy | March 24, 2015 at 01:08 PM
Fabulous Easter inspirations! So much prettiness and the colours are heavenly. I too adore the teacup garden idea. Have seen lots of miniature garden ideas recently and may give this a try as it would be perfect for our boat. xx
Posted by: Denise Marshall | March 24, 2015 at 11:43 AM
over the years -i have crocheted covers for my mailbox
easter is my favorite-a basket with eggs and flowers-sadly there is such a short time between st.paddys day and easter
love your blog---
xooxoxoxox crafty mema
Posted by: crafty mena | March 24, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Yep, my creative mind excites and stresses me at the same time and holds wild parties at night that keep me awake. I have more ideas than I can ever hope to see through, which is both great and frustrating.
This drive sometimes drives me crazy and I sometimes feel jealous of people who are don't have the urge to 'create'. It must be much more peaceful in their heads!
Posted by: Claire | March 24, 2015 at 10:25 AM
I love English Country Living Magazine and borrow it from my local library. It makes me want to go back to the UK so badly!!! The styling and photos just always make me feel happy. Often the librarian will say "You've borrowed this one before" and I will say "I know!" Sometimes they even put the old ones out for sale for like 50cents and I am in a state of bliss!
Posted by: Nell Ward | March 24, 2015 at 09:50 AM
Gosh Lucy I could have written that. That's what's in my head at the moment! And you are SOOOOOOOO right, it's exhilerating, yet stressful all at the same time. I feel like I cannot concentrate on one thing, as my head is just bursting with ideas and projects. I'm trying so hard to get something down on paper and in order. It's hard!It's interesting that you say that blogging is a great way for you to get it all down and air your thoughts. I've been feeling the opposite and wondering if it's time to hang up my blogging hat now. I can't even think properly on that idea at the moment as there's too much to think about! These two magazines are the only two I buy if I buy any, but I am awful with Pinterest. Easter ideas GALORE at the moment on there. Maybe I should give it a rest for a bit, and it might help to make some room in my head! ha ha!
I always love love love your enthusiasm. Shove a bit my way please!!!!!!!!
Much Love
Vanessa xxxx
p.s Easter ideas in abundance here. I love the eggshells with flowers in......beautiful......sigh.....x
Posted by: vanessa | March 24, 2015 at 09:22 AM
Wow Lucy, I couldn't believe what I was reading. I've been getting both those magazines for about 20 years or so and had just decided maybe it was about time to assess my magazine buying habit and not get them any more and you post such lovely pics. Here in Oz, we get them about 2 months later than you, but I've kept so many articles, homes and gardens, I'll have enough inspiration to get me through my older years, I'm sure. Also have Selena Lake's book on pastel decorating. Thanks so much for your wonderful blog, and I'm a colour freak too, but more with fabric, as I'm a quilter. Take care.
Posted by: Susan Smith | March 24, 2015 at 08:33 AM