Birthday

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my post about Nell. Yesterday it was my birthday. My sister sent me, along with some other gorgeous things, a bag of shiny Liberty coins to spend in store - isn't this the most amazing form of gift voucher. My son's eyes widened when he saw them as though I'd opened pirates' treasure and declared them too lovely to spend. 

What did I do for my 36th birthday? We bathed Nell so that she'd be sweeter smelling; I bought brownies from our favourite cafe; I made gnocchi with a blue cheese sauce; and I played football with the dog and children in the garden as it was an unseasonably warm day. I also signed up to be a photographer for (Domestic) Ali's compound word project.

It was a low-key birthday as one of us had to be at home at all times with Nell, but my day was already made when I opened this bundle of cards from my daughter in the morning - when I looked inside one of them arms sprang open and I was greeted by a wonderfully designed top too - look at that gorgeous yoke! Her cards go down in my mental list of favourite presents ever (the lego sewing machine remains they made me for Christmas several years ago remains my most treasured).

My husband made his own wrapping paper and tied my presents with string from his greenhouse.

And the cat sat on the bed in her usual place looking gorgeous. Nell has nearly outgrown the Liberty print covered bed that Polly left at our house, so I think it may be necessary to make her something new soon...I am drawn toward using Liberty prints again, but first I must attempt to set it into my mind that I will need to sew with an awareness that my work may be eaten or gnawed upon. That is not the easiest of tasks.

Florence x