Winter to Spring Fashion Transition

Winter to Spring Fashion Transition

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As Spring is swiftly approaching, I thought I would put together a few little outfits that would be appropriate during the transition from England's extremely cold Winter to a not-much-warmer Spring. For you today, I have a casual, some smart-casual and an evening outfit to hopefully inspire your winter-spring fashion needs. 

Also, I've tried to include the most affordable looks I could. Hope you enjoy!!

Outfit 1 : STRIPES AND DUNGAREES

Top - Forever 21 (similar here)

Dungarees - New Look (similar here)

Tights - Topshop

Sunglasses - Primark (similar here)

Backpack - Missguided

Outfit 2 : VINTAGE FLORAL

Top - Topshop (similar here)

Skirt - Boohoo

Necklace - Accessorize

Lipstick - MAC Russian Red

Outfit 3 : PINK CHECKS EVENING WEAR

Top - New look (similar here)

Blazer - Primark (similar here)

Skirt - New look

Shoes - Missguided

Lipstick - MAC Mehr

Outfit 4 : DUCK EGG BLUE (CASUAL)

Jumper - Matalan (similar here)

Jeans - M&S

Shoes - Primark (similar here)

What are you favourite Spring colours/outfits? What is your favourite season?

Lots of love

Spring/Summer Evening Look

Spring/Summer Evening Look

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Clothes:

Top ~ Select (£2.99)

Skirt ~ Boohoo (£10.00)

Shoes ~ Newlook (£11.99)

Hairband ~ Primark (£1.99)

Since the weather has been ridiculously beautiful recently, I decided to purchase some new 'summery' skirts (this number above being one of them!) I absolutely love this gorgeous daisy pattern and think it would look perfect on an evening out. This small white crop top makes this outfit even more summery, paired with a jewelled floral hair band. 

Makeup:

Foundation ~ Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation

Concealer ~ E.L.F Conceal Palette

Blush ~ Urban Decay Naked Flush Palette in Streak

Bronzer ~ Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

Eyebrows ~ Rimmel Brow pencil in Dark Brown

Eyeshadow ~ Naked 2 Basics Palette

Eyeliner ~ Collection 2000 Fast Stroke

Mascara ~ Revlon Lash Potion

Lipstick ~ Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Pencil in Berry Much

What is an evening look without a dark red lip? Maybelline's drama velvet lip pencils are affordable, long wearing and highly pigmented, not to mention their stunning colour range. I definitely need to buy some more of these - but this colour is most definitely the one for this look. The soft, sultry brown eyes are also uber pretty, especially with the thin feline flick. I decided to intensely contour; I love a good ol' bronzed glow in the summer, it makes my skin look super healthy and radiant. 

What would you wear on a summer evening night out? Are you brave enough to wear a dark lip?

Love you all,

Foraging Fun - Forest Candles

Foraging Fun - Forest Candles

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I have developed a love of foraging!  Often, I'll be driving along the road and a plant will catch my eye but I'm usually on my way somewhere with a car full of kids,  and can't stop.   So reecently I went for a drive with the intention of wandering and discovering,  and was rewarded by finding this gorgeous flower.  It really caught my eye, being so bright among the other native shrubs growing beside the road.  

Forest Candles - Stackhousia Monogyna

 Closer inspection revealed a plant that grows from a central mass with many stems, all tipped with clusters of flowers.  I cut a generous bunch to bring home!

My trusty "Flowers and Plants of Tasmania" tells me this beauty is Stackhousia Monogyna or Forest Candles, a perenial herb.  It grows in heaths and open forests from sea level to alpine regions.  These were found in heath beside a country road near the coast here on the Tasman Peninsula.  They grow up to 60cm and have a pretty perfume as night falls.

Further research reveals that Forest Candles, whilst widespread across all states of Australia except the Northern Territory, is not well known and rarely cultivated.  It flowers in spring and summer when, as its name suggests, it stands out brightly amongst the other vegetation.  

I am really quite blown away by the beauty of these "Forest Candles".  And it has certainly encouraged my foraging tendencies.  Prepare for future foraging finds!!

Life on the Farm

Life on the Farm

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Banksia Coccinea bud

Spring is a productive time on a flower farm.  There are signs of life everywhere.  I thought I'd share some of the things that have been going on here at Swallows Nest over the last week or so.  I'm pretty excited about this little bud - its the first of my Banksia Coccinea's to flower.  They were planted around 3 years ago and I've been eagerly awaiting the first flower.  I check the buds almost every day.  Cant wait!

Banksia Ericifolia

Some Banksia Ericifolia that I planted as a windbreak are all flowering too.  I am surprised by the intensity of colour in these blooms.  Such handsome flowers!

Bansia Ericifolia

I love the purple centre contrasting with the yellow and orange.  

Before!

We've been reclaiming territory here.  Blackberry weeds have been slowly invading some large Richea Dracophylla.  I've been panicking about loosing them so this week we attacked the blackberry and set them free.  After only a day we had them back under control, pruned and mulched, and wow!  I can tell they're happy!  

After!

The after shot!  

Richea Dracophylla are a plant endemic to Tasmania.  Their flowers are just coming on now and are really special.  I cant wait to see how well they perform next year, now that we've given them some love.

Richea Dracophylla

Lots of flower spikes almost ready to pick.

Richea Dracophylla

Such a special flower!  

Pruning always uncovers little treasures.  We found 4 abandoned nests in one day - adding to my already large collection.  This little one is lined with fur!

Leucospermum Scarlet Ribbons

One of the jobs I really enjoy at this time of the year is checking the buds on the Pincushions or Leucospermums.  These are a summer crop for us in Tasmania, generally starting in November and with different varieties the flowering continues through to February.  This little bud is going to be a Scarlet Ribbons Pincushion.  The buds need to be checked because sometimes the plant makes 2 or more flower heads at the end of the stem. 

Pincushion Buds

We pick the extra buds off, making sure that one single bloom has enough room to open properly.  The little buds can be "popped" off with your fingers.  I just find it a relaxing thing to do, and it gets you out among your plants, keeping tabs on how they're going.  

Waratah!

Of course the big event of the last couple of weeks is the beginning of the waratah season.  We are looking forward to having these beautiful flowers for sale over the next few of months as we have different varieties with different flowering times.  

Waratah and Richea flowers in a "Get Well" bouquet

Waratahs and Richea flowers will feature in arrangements to say "Get Well", "Farewell" and  "Thank You".  They'll also feature in wedding bouquets and in flowers for a funeral over the next week or so.  It's all part of life as it rolls on into spring and summer for 2014. 

Spring Native Bouquet - Swallows Nest Farm