Blackberries sweet from the bush give sustenance during a walk down footpaths in Hertfordshire
Leek and sweet potato risotto give sustenance to friends joining me for a birthday gathering
Lemon butterfly cupcakes in posh silver cupcakes give sustenance to hungry parents, down for the weekend to choose a wedding venue
It seems that the added bonus of betrothing oneself to a boy is the knock-on effect of betrothing oneself to his family. Despite the tenuous connection while we are still unwed, I am claiming myself auntie to the Boy's nephew, born on August 29 after two days' labour, a failed epidural and the final intrusion of a ventuose suction.
Agony indeed.
However, the beauty of childbirth is maintained in the fact that this is now long since forgotten in the squidgy brilliance that is Jamie George, seen here posing for his first dealing with the paparazzi at the tender age of six days old.
....chancing upon the only surviving windmill in Hertfordshire while driving around the villages...
...savouring the fleeting final days of summer on the patio...
...settling into our new home and its fabulous period features...
....getting used to an electric oven in time for the birthday baking extravaganza...
...acknowledging that shooting into a lit window is pointless but revelling nonetheless in my reading seat in the bay window...
Let’s be honest, I’m unlikely to ever be in a position to ring up Damien Hirst and request he produce me a piece of artwork specific to my requirements. Though I live in custom-made frocks, they’re custom made by me, which isn’t really quite the same as Chanel Couture. I am, however, in a position to commission jewellery, and am now the proud owner of a beautiful pair of earrings, specially commissioned to my specifications by an upcoming designer, currently touring the land as part of the Dazzle exhibition.
My sister’s 21st birthday party had a very specific theme of ‘A Hint of Pink’. I and the other 80 guests, were under strict instructions that we were to wear a hint and not a lot of pink, lest we divert attention away from the birthday girl. I wracked my brains for details to coordinate with my black and white frock.
While I love the pearl and oxidised silver bracelet stocked by mirror mirror, it was slightly beyond my purse strings. I contacted Abigail Percy, the extraordinarily talented young designer-maker, to see what she could do. She sent me a beautiful ‘hasty scribble’ (her words) of suggested designs and I selected the elegant simplicity of a single pearl drop on a handmade fitting.
They arrived just in time, no thanks to striking postmen, and I felt quite the belle of the ball.
The process was smooth and enjoyable and I highly recommend thinking outside the box when looking at contemporary jewellery designers’ work. If you like their general style but can’t quite see what you want, contacting them for a discussion is free and could result in a truly unique and beautiful piece.
Thanks, Abigail, and I look forward to doing business with you in the future.
