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, wealdblogRather 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.
rock.paper.love, sewrecycled, maisondevere
littlegreenshed, meandorla, c_colli
happylittlefeather, maisondevere, wealdblogRather 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, anskyeIn 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.
lp_lisalisa, canarychina, suerap_art
ceramicmagpie, lewesmap, sew_simone
janickeeline, bristol parenting cafe, anskyeIn 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.
I love instagram, but fear it may have murdered my blog.
Some really fantastic images there, I can imagine why it was hard to choose. The winning photos are beautiful. I don't have the sort of clever phone that takes photos, so no instagram for me, but I love following Laura's blog. And yours of course! CJ xx
Sublime photos, and oh gosh what a fabulous prize for the winners! I'm very new to IG although have followed several for quite a while now. All of the selected photographs seem so restful and quite beautiful – much to aspire to and inspire. Niki.
I've tried, but I find that when I'm enjoying making stuff I forget to stop to take photos and when it's a real struggle, the last thing I want to do is record it!
i try and ig (im kazzyloves on there) but like/prefer the personal feel a blog has…lovely images you shared~ i do follow quite a few of them 😉
Such beautiful images, I especially love the lavender biscuits! I really enjoyed taking part in making July and love to look at the collection of photos, makes me wish it was sunny ouside! Will be lovely to look at during the winter time 🙂 Saf xxx
Yay! Lovely photos all around. Making July was one of my favorite IG projects ever.
Happy to have found your on Instagram Emma. Such beautiful photo's!
Madelief x
I love the 4 winning photos!
Thank you for choosing my linocut image for one of the shortlisted pics in the mosaics.
Instagram. Is like quick blogging and also used as a showcase portfolio for creatives – still like blogging best.
xx
oh such lovely photos, my ig feed is filled with my cat, and a few faded flowers……. but yes I agree it's a very happy place x
I have such mixed feelings about Instagram, not least because of all the great blogs it's killed. I'm on there but not using it just now. Truthfully I think it suits certain kinds of lives and maybe mine's not among them. I do keep meaning to try harder, but then I wonder if that's more a fear of missing out than a true desire to participate. You have elicited and chosen some fabulous images here though, I love them all.
I'm new to Instagram but do enjoying seeing all the photos although haven't quite got the hang of the "hash browns"! It does seem to have killed off a lot of blogs though, which is a shame. But I guess things are constantly moving and changing… Just wish I didn't always feel one step behind! Still don't really get Twitter!
Emma, although several of my local friends continue to tell me how much I would love Instagram, I am still without a smartphone, and so continue on with my sporadic blog posting.
I think I also share some of Annie and Gina's thoughts.
If I ever do get going on Instagram, it will perhaps mark the bursting of some sort of bubble.
Meanwhile, may I tell how much I enjoyed seeing all these images!
xo
I have an instagram account, but thats all I can say really. I am typically late to the party, but to be honest my heart still lies with 'a' blog. The photos here are so lovely though, especially the little hands and shells 🙂
Val
xxx
I love these pictures. I also like reading the words with them, so maybe I'm more drawn to blogging than Instagram..
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