“I wanted to be the blossom and I wanted to be the colour of those speckled blue eggs and I wanted to feel that happiness for ever.”

I found this empty nest in November, with the egg some feet away, in an old pile of wood and branches.

Inspiration, that enigmatic and intangible thing which cranks up the creative process, first met up with me in a hedgerow. As a 5 year old, I pushed my face through a thick tangle of twigs and leaves to look at (and never to touch or disturb) the beautiful blue of a birds egg in its nest. In the school yard, with a sky made totally pink with the frilly petals of cherry blossom, I felt it again. Both the blossom and the eggs made me feel different and bubbly inside. And I wanted to hold onto that happy feeling by mixing the colour of the eggs from the big tins of powder paint in the art room or scrunching up tissue to make the  pink petals. Because I wanted to be the blossom and I wanted to be the colour of those speckled blue eggs and I wanted to feel that happiness forever.

School days and long weeks of Summer Holidays over and in my first job as a Commercial Artist, I discovered that I had to encourage  inspiration to visit me on a more regular basis. And we found a way of working together when I realised that a little inspiration goes a long way and that creative people only really become accomplished by working hard, often for a lifetime, in an attempt to make something special.

Inspiration and I are best buddies now and we still meet up in unexpected places, Lately, we don’t make plans, we just let it happen. I get an idea to bring the garden into the house and turn my galley kitchen into a muddle of mud and mayhem. I cook, style and photograph in a ridiculously small space and when happiness constellates in the beauty of the chaos, then I know we are together again. But on bad days, when Dartmoor is heavy with mist, the wind has wrenched the greenhouse door off its hinges, its too cold to go pushing my face into hedgerows and I need an inspirational top up, then I just turn to the pages of my favourite blogs. And in seconds, I can see that all over the world there are other creative people sharing their inspired ideas through images so stunning, ideas so surprising and experiences so poignant and moving that, yes, I get an instant inspirational re-boot!

But the really great thing about getting inspired and sharing those ideas through our blogs is that, just sometimes, others like what we do and nominate us for an exciting award!

 Thank you so much to Sophie and Ade of Agents of Field for nominating me for this fabulous award.

Young, sassy and full of passion for what they do, Sophie and Ade of  Agents of Field,  are tackling working their allotment and living and loving the life at a pace which leaves me breathless! Sharing their successes and failures as they go, their journey is one which inspires and excites. Drop by and meet these two new bloggers who combine to make a great team and help welcome them to the great big family which is the blogging community; a great melting-pot of folk who lovingly and generously share their ideas.

Sophie and Ade asked me to feature 3 things which have inspired me this week, so here they are!

Pulling baby Carrots from containers throughout the Winter, right up to the time when the birds are thinking of building their nests is just fabulous.

This amazing paper has inspired me to re-paint a dresser and paper the inside with this gorgeous blue and white pattern.

I just love this shot of pink on these pretty cups! I have painted a little white cupboard especially for them in my utility room.

And here are my nominations for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award.  Have fun visiting them and remember-

BE INSPIRED; BE CREATIVE, MAKE A MESS!

Teddy and Tottie

 Mrs Walker Goes Back to School

seeingthrough35mm

Cynthia Reyes

Pamplemousse