A month of photographs

Images by:
Heatheryounguk, Lillilivetandme, Lillalinaea
Lamiacasanelvento, b.o.sted, Idamagntorn
vjgarden, Lindathepotter, Celiahartartist

Back in May, despite my reservations and protestations to myself that I didn't have the time, I wandered over Instagram and began to be, for want of a lovelier phrase, a Regular User. I started posting every day and found that rather than being a bind, taking a picture or twelve and choosing one to post became part of my morning routine and something to savour. What's more, blogfriends of old are over there and each image is a mini post, a quick catch up with what they're making, baking growing or stitching. It's a very good place and I found I became rather hooked.

Image by Laura of circle of pines

Laura and I first met online in 2009, or was it 2008? Anyway, we first connected long ago in the days of blogging yore when my girls were very tiny and this online journal lark was still rather new to me. She commissioned a necklace, and it was an honour to make it for her. Then she moved blog home to Circle of Pinetrees, became an accomplished Instagram early adopter, and we rather lost touch. How lovely then, to have rediscovered her beautiful, restful images and begin to chat again via Instagram. 

Images by:
rock.paper.love, sewrecycled, maisondevere
littlegreenshed, meandorla, c_colli
happylittlefeather, maisondevere, wealdblog

Rather shyly I emailed her suggesting we run a small Instagram project together during July -a celebration of what makes those few weeks joyous: making, scampering, sandcastling, cake-eating, stitching, collecting, harvesting, growing and well, all the good things about that excellent holiday-ish month. She agreed, which was excellent, and I did a small dance of glee and then we shared our plan on the internet.

Around 1300 images were submitted for Making July. As an Instagram new girl I was utterly gobsmacked and thrilled. I barely knew how to add a hashtag (or as Kimmy calls them 'hashbrowns'). The Making July feed quickly became a truly gorgeous place to visit. 

Images by:
lp_lisalisa, canarychina, suerap_art
ceramicmagpie, lewesmap, sew_simone
janickeeline, bristol parenting cafe, anskye

In the last day or three (it has taken a w.h.i.l.e) Laura and I have chosen our favourite images from this joy-giving collection. It was almost impossible to decide and I fretted and machinated and paced for some hours yesterday. Finally I selected 27 beautiful pictures that capture the sheer summery happiness and then gnawed on my fingernails whilst struggled to whittle them down further to just two.

This image by @Lewesmap of cherries ready to be eaten and @vjgarden's wonderful picture of a little walnut boat were the ones that stood out for me. Frankly I want to scoff the cherries and then sail this little boat in a puddle or stream. My girls made similar boats, with sails made of ferns, at Cod Beck North Yorkshire two weeks ago. Oh summer, you fickle fiend. It's absolutely tipping it down outside our bedroom window as I type this. The cherries and sparkling water are nowhere. Grey, dreich skies and puddles are evident. I'm having a slightly wistful July-based reverie.

Laura has also chosen two exquisite favourites, by @lillalinaea and @harryandfrank. Images of small hands busily playing with shells and some heavenly-looking lavender shortbread. They're seasonal moments that capture July wonderfully.

I'll be making charm necklaces for the four winners - fine silver feathers perhaps, acorns or forget-me-nots, wrens or little autumnal twigs. It's their choice

Are you on Instagram? How do you find it compares to blogging? I'm @silverpebble2. It would be great to see you over there and I highly recommend it as a soothing place to forget stresses and find both inspiration and excellent like-minded folk...(oh and our new guinea pigs)

Note: Lewesmap, vjgarden, harryandfrank, lillalinaea, please email me on emma@minniedog.co.uk and we can begin to plan your necklaces.