Walk in the woods

A lovely little walk in the woods in Lancashire, among the wild Ramsons, tall trees and little streams.

We came across this beautiful patch of forget me nots, and I couldn't resist taking some photos!

What I've been up too this week ...

My new Botanical Collection launched on Sunday! Including this handbound sketchbook below made from upcycled pages of a vintage version of Edith Holdens Book.

I've nearly sold out of Wildflower Books! I'm hoping to add a few more later in the week, when I get around to photographing them and writing the descriptions.. I still have a few really lovely vintage books left like the two below..

A few flower lockets in Owl and Wallflowers recent Botanical collection here.

I've been busy making resin Jewellery! Made from high quality UV resistant resin, inspired by the Victorians, cabinets of curiosities and museums botanical collections..

All the glass lockets and resin jewellery in Owl and Wallflowers Botanical collection will come gift boxed, and stamped with my own hand drawn logo that I sent off to the English Stamp Company for a lovely custom stamp. The filler inside the boxes is all made from eco friendly recycled materials off course.

I'm also working on a few new pieces of jewellery that will hopefully be finished in the next few weeks.

Thank you all for the support and orders from the Botanical Update on Sunday - it has been such a busy couple of days! After a busy day yesterday packaging up parcels, I'm spending the afternoon again today wrapping up all the orders and sending them off to their new homes all over the world. 

We've been for some lovely woodland walks this week, and for some wanders along the canal tow path. The Gorse is in flower and looks so lovely against the Winter Pine trees.

On Another note, this week we have started planning our annual trip to Scotland. We're hoping to go away for a few weeks in Summer and stay on a few islands in the Inner Hebrides. Some photos below from our adventure last year, lots of stormy seas, crashing waves, sunsetty skies, mountains, wildflowers and lots of muddy boots!

 I can't wait for this year! We're hoping to stay in a cottage, but also take our tent and visit a few campsites as we travel up from Lancashire. I'd love to stay in Glencoe again and Rannoch Moor, it's such a lovely place and such a vast stretch of complete wilderness.

Lake District Holiday, day four, Burnmoor tarn

Hiking again today. We headed towards Burnmoor tarn, one of the largest tarns in the Lake District. The tarn is set in a hollow between Wadale and Boot and surrounded by marshy wet ground and a countless number of small streams running of the mountains and the nearby Scafell pike.

There were two beautiful waterfalls, water gushing down from Scafell pink and nearby mountains. We had to wade through deep marshy ground to reach them though.

Lake District Holiday , day three, hiking

We woke up to dry weather so decided to spend the day hiking. After packing a picnic lunch of sandwiches, apple juice, fruit, yoghurts and homemade flapjacks we set off. 

First we walked through Wasdale Valley, following the path of a fast flowing stream. It was a steep hike up to Sprinkling tarn but the views were well worth it. 

Surprisingly, I wasn't that cold in my navy corduroy trousers and thick red woollen socks, considering the snow scattered on the mountain tops. My rucksack was heavy,  full of jumpers, my gloves and hat.

We climbed further to reach Styhead tarn. And stayed there a while, eating, taking photographs, exploring.

And all of a sudden the light changed. The sky became brighter and the sun came out. The view was transformed.

We built snowmen, using pebbles from the tarn. I never expected to be building snowmen this year, and especially not in March.

It was such a lovely day and well worth the hike.

Lake District Holiday, Day two, Ravenglass steam railway, Wastewater

It was a wet, rainy day so we decided to go to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway and spend the day travelling up and down on the oldest working 15" gauge locomotive in the world.  

I was feeling a bit under the weather anyway, so it was lovely to have the opportunity to see the Lake District from a steam train. I took so many photographs so wanted to share a few of them with you here. 

Afterwards we walked around the small coastal village of Ravenglass, once occupied by the Romans for over 300 years. We walked down, passing through small woodlands scattered in snowdrops, to the Roman Bath house remains, apparently one of the largest remaining Roman structures in England. I was amazed by how much of the walls were still remaining all these years later.

On the way back to the cottage we stopped in a lay-by close to the edge of Wastwater tot make some photographs and walk a little as the fading light was so beautiful. 

Lake District Holiday , Wasdale, Day 1

We stayed in Wasdale, in the Lake District, just under Scafell, the tallest mountain in England.
Driving up, we got a bit lost, missed a turning and ended up having to take a long detour.
We arrived at the lovely whitewashed stone cottage mid afternoon and after unpacking went for a walk for a couple of hours through the valley.

Herdwick sheep

Wasdale Valley

There was lots of snow on the tops of the mountains, and down below was quite misty and cold. The light was very hazy, the hills disappearing into the clouds.

In the evening, I sat by the cold fire, drinking cloudy lemonade and writing in my journal.

Gorse flowers