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Lately, I've had to move my workshop back into my home and the creative part of me is secretly relieved. All the collected objects of my story are now 'back home.' I can walk straight from the bedroom into the workshop just like when I was a child and all my 'work' was reachable while still in my dressing gown.
Magnicent expamles of the Dutch painters still inspire awe. One place I'm putting on my list of places to visit when we are released back to our lifes is the Ashmolean Museum to see some of these: https://www.ashmolean.org/still-life-paintings
The short video is a pan of the top of my computer desk. (Credit: Jim Clarken, Echt Productions.)

Last week, I finally found a 'standard' lilac for my patio. It's still in a pot waiting for the Summer sunshine to bring out the blossoms but I have a lovely reminder of sunny gardens everytime I take out the cushions used in the Chez Maison Bespoke Bedset. I've made them up in a Lilac print from Titley and Marr who clearly understand how to traslate that inspiration into a devine print.

Although mid-Winter is well gone by it can still be difficult to motivate to freshen up after the Xmas decorations come down.

Putting a project in motion does help. For me the project that works best is making marmalade.. the Easy way. The steeping and washing of the oranges really is does re-fresh the spirt at this harsh time of the year.

We have made a video based using Jim's Granny's French cookery book which produces delicious results.

Baking at Christmas condures up spices and dried fruit packed into Cakes, puddings and mince pies. Back in the day when I was in domestic-science class we got to make a Christmas cake. The cake mixture was made during class time but we all took the raw mixture home in the tins to be baked. The best bit was, if we decorated them at home to our own designs we could bring them back into the school for display. These days I'll happily make plum puddings and homemade mincemeat for pies but instead of a fully fledged rich fruit cake we have what I call a “Solstice Cake.” The Solstice cake is essentially a home-bake Pannetone. The “Irish” version here has a buttery Broiche texture with a strong hint of fresh nutmeg and just some candid peel and golden sultanas for the fruit.

The Celtic New Year, Halloween, is the time to mark the transision from Autumn to Winter.
We need all the supports of Home in this northern hemisphere to combat the chills and discomfort of the Season. Lots of cushions and wollen wraps will help. Shop Chez Maison Home Accessories online.

We took our upcycled chair out into the woods at the Glen of the Downs in Co.Wicklow yesteday and brought some of our Chez Maison cushions with us. The deep green of the moss and the holly (on the left) look so fresh but the carpet of leaves has started to build... It's time to cosy up for the Winter for us 'in this neck of the woods.'