The Stories Behind Some of my Favourite Photographs

 One of my passions is photography.  I took it up in earnest over a year ago and have since loved capturing some magical moments with my children.  It's great that I can combine it with lots of my other favourite things too, such as food :)

 This was one of my first 'staged' food photos.  I made them purely because of the name ... Knock You Naked Brownies ... and if you make these for your loved one that's what will happen.  These truly are the most amazing brownies I've ever had and incredibly easy (I'll post the recipe soon I promise).

 When my kids are off school I try and get out somewhere.  This pic was taken in the Collins Barracks Museum in Dublin (the one near Heuston).  Now the more professional photographers among you will point out the many, many things wrong with this pic and it's not one that would print well but I love.  I just love the lighting in it.  And I may add the museum is a fab spot to spend a day.

 Many of you will have seen this pic before as it's probably one of the most photographed rooms in Dublin.  It's the Long Room in Trinity College.  It's housed in the same building as the Book of Kells.  Absolutely gorgeous and the smell of old books and peace and quiet means you could stay all day and just chill.

 My mum and dad recently moved into a new house next door to me.  They have the most fabulous garden, especially at this time of year when the flowers are all coming out.  I'm not sure what this one is and neither are they so they asked me to photograph it so they could ask in garden club.  It was a beautiful morning with a light frost from the night before.

 I love this one if for no other reason than I got to eat cake afterwards :)  My poor countertop hasn't been as shiny since.  I wanted to try and capture what tea should be like ... china teacups and cake on a stand.  I like the reflection too it just seems to work well.

 Found these little guys on a shrub which was being thrown out and ended up in my garden.  We were checking if it was actually alive.  I love the way the red and brown just work.

 This was a sad, sad day.  I had bought my tickets and I was ready to go but then the Garth Brooks concert last year got cancelled :( I was not a happy bunny.  So I donned my skinny jeans, cowboy hat and guitar and took this one.  This was my first selfie with an actual camera not a phone and I really like it.  All it's missing is the pint of Guinness ready to be sipped between sets :)

 Every year we head off nice and early to Tullamore Show (for those outside Ireland, or city folk, it's the largest county agricultural show in Ireland).  Last year I had my camera in hand and snapped the day away.  Just wandering around I came across this beauty and it's my favourite shot of the day (out of about 500 pics!!!!)

So that's it folks.  Just a small selection but I hoped you've enjoyed them.  I'll leave you with a panoramic view of Laois / Offaly.  On a beautiful day you can truly see for miles and I think it shows off our little country quite nicely.  See you soon xx

Fabric Flower for Headbands, Brooches, Belts, etc

For these guys please be prepared for some pain ... hot glue on fingertips is inevitable.  But they are quite simple and great for jazzing up a plain outfit.  We are getting family photos taken at the weekend and I wanted to try co-ordinate us all so we're going pinks and blues.  These flowers will be added to my girls outfits just to give them a little extra for the day.  Though the blue one might end up on a hairband for my youngest.

For this one I cut off the hem of an old dress (the longer the material you use the bigger the flower) so it was about 15mm wide but you can go wider which will also effect the end size of the flower.  Then fold about an inch at the end and glue it (I've used hot glue for all these).  Then simply keep rolling up the fabric around it but as you go twist it every now and then (I roughly did 2 twists per round of the flower and then alternated the twists on the next round so they weren't always in the same part).  As you go along keep adding a little glue to keep it in place.  Then just glue the end to the flower and glue it onto more fabric at the back like this.

For the next flower it's so much easier and quicker.  Cut a circle of felt as above for the back.  Then of your flower fabric cut 4 circles for each layer.  In this one I've done 4 plain pink and 4 organza (horrid to glue).  I've used lace and a diamonte to finish off this one or you could use a small rose like the blue one above or cut another round of your fabric and fluff it up in the centre.

Now take your first circle of fabric, put a dot of glue in the centre and fold in half.  But another dot of glue in the centre of the straight edge and fold again so you end up with your circle in a quarter.  Do this with all your circles.  Glue your first layer to your felt backing.  Put some glue in the centre and add the second layer.  I alternated the 'petals' but you don't have to.  The I glued on the lace and diamonte to finish.  Then depending on what you want to do with it will decide whether you add a pin or elastic or ribbon to the backing with glue.

If you find you have strings of glue everywhere you can blow the flower with a hairdryer (warm setting) and they'll disappear.  I found I had a lots of glue on the blue flower so I heated it again with the hairdryer and added some glitter ... I mean what girl doesn't love glitter :)

I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did.  Let me know how you get on, see you soon xx