Into The Bluebells

‘You belong among the wildflowers’ - Tom Petty

One of my favourite things about May is the beautiful bluebells that spring up in woodlands across the country, creating an enchanting sea of indigo! Last year I visited the stunning Portglenone Forest, famous for its bluebells and was blown away by its beauty! This year I decided to kick off bluebell season with a trip to Crawfordsburn Country Park to combine a beach walk with forest walk and it did not disappoint! To find myself among the wildflowers with only the ocean waves and songbirds singing for background noise was dreamlike, as though I had stepped into a fairytale! Something that I look forward to doing again with some of our other famous bluebell locations!

If you haven’t already made a trip to your local bluebell woods, then I highly recommend taking an afternoon to play among the wildflowers! A trip within nature that you won’t forget!

Fairhead Heights

‘To the shores of freedom, where no one lives’ - Joesph Arthur

It might be that the North Coast is known more today because of the HBO mega-hit Game Of Thrones, but it is a coastline that I have grown up with and spent many years exploring. From The Dark Hedges to Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, Ballintoy Harbour to Larrybann and Murlough Bay to White Park Bay, all beautiful locations within their own right and places that I have been lucky enough to visit many times before they made their famous onscreen debuts! One location missing off my North Coast list though… Fairhead!

Fairhead is situated near the stunning seaside town of Ballycastle, a town that my family resides in and a landscape that I have seen in all seasons, but one that I had never seen from the top….until a few weeks ago that is!

Fairhead heights: The stunning views of Fairhead from Ballycastle’s Pebble Beach

Taking full advantage of the good Easter weekend weather I decided to hit up the North Coast to finally tick Fairhead off that bucket list! So, with the sun shining, my camera packed and walking shoes at the ready, it was time to explore Fairhead once and for all!

The stunning sights of Fairhead, a location that I highly recommend and one that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime for those beautiful coastal views! It is also an important location for Game Of Thrones fans, one that you might just recognise from Season 7!

Standing 600ft above sea, Fairhead can be seen from many coastal hotspots along the North Coast, but getting to see those coastal hotspots from the very top is something else! To take a moment to stand along the famous cliff edge and truly appreciate the beauty of our coastline is a time that I will treasure. Looking out and seeing some of my favourite North Coast locations from such a height and distance is something that should be experienced by all!

Fairhead Blues: Who can resist a look down when rewarded with such blues!

Fairhead rising an impressive 600ft above sea level and said to be one of Ireland and Britain’s toughest climbs!

Not only are you rewarded with stunning coastal views, but beautiful lakes and farm life too. A little something for everyone!

The cliff walk along Fairhead to Murlough Bay is breathtaking and one I highly recommend continuing on with. It’s along this path that you will see the famous Fairhead lakes, Grey Man’s Path and the stunning views of Murlough Bay and Torr Head coming into view. What makes it even better is how secluded the area is, a perfect spot to take full advantage of the peace and quiet that mother nature has to offer! If you are looking for that moment of mindfulness then this is the for you! What better than the great outdoors, fresh sea air and coastal views to spend an afternoon!

The famous Grey Man’s Path, an unusual walkway created by mother nature herself! One to keep a lookout for when walking Fairhead as it can be easily missed!

Well hello Murlough Bay! Just when you think the views can’t get any better, along comes the stunning headland of Murlough Bay!

The stunning sights of Murlough Bay and another beautiful location used for Game Of Thrones!

A visit to the top of Fairhead…. tick!

Little Landscapes

Last Thursday saw the return of World Book Day, a day in which small children dress up as fictional characters from their favourite books to attend school, something I know I would have loved in my younger days! I think this is a great way to get children involved in not only the art of reading, but the art of creativity. A way to make sure that they aren’t missing out on the key elements of childhood and those important developing stages. With days like World Book Day it allows children to see that there is a life beyond the screen in this gadget era we now live in!

I will admit that I do enjoy my screen time, scrolling through a world of photos on Instagram and Pinterest while also keeping myself up-to-date with all the goings on in the world, but I do draw the line at reading a book from a gadget. To me there is no better feeling than finding a pretty book (yes, a good cover does call out to me) and getting lost in its pages of storytelling, something that I feel a screen cannot deliver!

It is my love of pretty books that led me to the idea of creating a series of bookmarks, to turn some of my favourite photographs into a print size perfect for accessorising those current reads! I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting to using scrap pieces of paper or loose receipts to mark the page instead of a bookmark… something that seems wrong given how quickly we accessorise our gadgets, so why not our books too? ‘Little Landscapes’ are ready and waiting for you and your books on Etsy! Now you can own your favourite Lavender Line Photography print or typography print in a size that doesn’t require wall space or hanging and one that you can keep with you at all times! A perfect literature meets creativity combination!

Tiny squares ready to make their mark on those current book reads!

Introducing ‘Little Landscapes’, the perfect book accessory to brighten up those pages with your favourite landscape, cityscape, travel of typography print!

A ‘Little Landscape’ perfect for getting lost in that city based read!

Have you found the perfect ‘Little Landscape’ to add to your book collection? Why not mix and match a set of 5 to suit your every reading mood!

February Meets Summer

‘One must maintain a little bit of Summer even in the middle of Winter’ - H.D. Thoread

What a difference a year makes! Last year we saw the end of February become a Winter wonderland due to ‘The Beast From The East’ hitting the UK. This year it seemed that Summer came to play instead! Although it is alarming that temperatures in February were reaching up to 20 degrees in some parts, it seemed a little wrong to waste such beautiful weather stuck behind a computer screen, so… a trip to the coast was in order! The small perks that self-employment brings!

As I wanted to take some new beach photographs and take advantage of the weather to play around with my drone (still very much a newbie), I had the perfect location in mind. So, I packed my kit, filled my car and hit the road with some great tunes for company! It was time to escape to the stunning and picturesque White Park Bay!

Just a girl and her drone at play!

White Park Bay is a beautiful sandy beach located on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. Not only is it a coastal drive to remember, but once parked up the views are incredible! What really stands out is the unusual walk down to the beach, it’s here that you are met with an old country lane that leads to sand dunes and chalk grasslands before reaching a beautiful stretch of 1.4 miles of sandy goodness! It really is the perfect secluded spot to get that much needed dose of Vitamin Sea!

The stunning White Park Bay and a view that I will never tire of!

Hello blue skies and vitamin sea!

The beautiful golden sands of White Park Bay with Portbradden in the background

Such great heights, above the waves!

Any one who knows me knows just how much I love the beach. There is no better feeling than taking some time out to feel that coastal breeze, to hear those crashing waves and to clear your head in such beautiful and inspiring surroundings. It doesn’t matter the weather, a beach day is always a good idea!

The Freedom Method

‘We dream in colours borrowed from the sea’

Back in December I decided to do something that I had never done before, something that would be a memorable way to see out 2018 and kick off 2019 in style! I decided to take part in my first ever outdoor dip! Yes, I have swam in the sea when on holiday, but never on a cold winter’s morning in December… and it was the best decision I could make!

It was a post on Instagram that first drew my attention to the monthly outdoor swims that take place at Helen’s Bay Beach on the last Sunday of each month organised by The Freedom Method. Hollie from @TheFreedomMethod is a Life and Mindset coach with a great outlook on life. Her approach to mindfulness and wellness is inspiring, she reminds us that it is ok not to be ok all the time, and just how important it is to take time-out from everyday life to focus on our personal wellbeing with a medium that suits us best. It seemed only right that this was an event I should take part in, one to tick off my bucket list and a morning spent in my favourite surroundings…. who can say no to a beach sunrise even in cold temperatures!

Sunday. December. 8am

Catching that sunrise at Helen’s Bay Beach

Although cold at first, I found that my body adapted better than I expected to in such temperatures. Yes, I will admit that it was hard to push through that barrier and make myself swim, but once I made that push it felt liberating. I now see why this has become such a popular hobby for many, not only do you get that great sense of achievement doing something completely out of the ordinary and out of your comfort zone, but you feel great afterwards… free! It’s something that I would definitely recommend to others and something that I look forward to continuing throughout 2019!

Here’s to catching those waves and making beach memories!

‘Life is a beach, enjoy the waves’

The after!

Postcard Appreciation

Postcard: A small, commercially printed card, usually having a picture on one side and space for a short message on the other.

As an avid collector of postcards and someone who makes sure to pick up one (or three) wherever she goes as a keepsake, I felt it important to incorporate postcards into my line of work.  I wanted to create a series of postcards that represented who I am as a photographer as well as appealing to customers.  I wanted my collection to be multifunctional in that they kept to their main purpose as well as being a special photography print that can be framed and displayed in the home.  That is when I decided that some of my favourite Typography prints would be the perfect images to use in creating inspirational and motivational postcards, little words of wisdom to help you dream. inspire. do!

Are you an avid postcard collector?  Do you make a point in finding the perfect postcard to send to a friend or loved one?  Or are you someone who feels the tradition of the postcard is a thing of the past?  I personally am determined to keep the postcard craze going, to keep adding to my collection and to keep sending to my nearest and dearest! After all, there is no better feeling than receiving that handwritten piece of mail when you are least expecting it!

Lavender Line Typography postcards available to purchase now on Etsy!

Have you found the perfect typography postcard that suits you or a loved one?  Lavender Line Photography postcards now available for purchase on Etsy!

Nothing beats the feeling of receiving that handwritten piece of mail, to know that a loved one spent time selecting their card and took time out of their trip to send a little holiday keepsake!

An Afternoon With Audrey!

'I never think of myself as an icon.  What is in other people's minds is not in my mind, I just do my own thing' - Audrey Hepburn

Tuesday marked a very special day, a day when I got to see first hand one of the true Hollywood greats and an idol of mine's stunning 'personal collection' exhibition in London. I can't express the feelings felt when walking around Christies and seeing all items up-close and personal, an exhibition I just knew I had to get myself to even if in such short notice!  From photographs to film scripts and clothing to accessories, it was a truly stunning exhibition for any Audrey fan and one I wish was a permanent feature instead of items going off to new homes around the globe.

A dream come true for this Audrey Hepburn fangirl!

A beautiful and welcoming poster print of a favourite Audrey Hepburn photograph when entering #AudreyAtChristies exhibition.

Some of my #AudreyAtChristies favourites!

Chasing Those Sunsets...

'It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream' - Bern Williams

Anyone who knows me knows my love of sunsets.  There is no better feeling than finding that perfect spot to relax and watch the sun go down.  From those calming blues to those perfect pastel pinks, it really is the best form of daily medicine!  It seemed only fitting that a sunset post should be my first official blog post!  

Towards the end of April I set myself the task of capturing some new sunset scenes using famous Northern Irish locations as my setting, something that I have been keen to do for a while now but never got round to.  So, once our Northern Irish summer hit in May I made sure to set aside some time to go capture that golden hour goodness!  From the Cavehill to the Giant’s Causeway, Mussenden Temple and Benone beach, these are just some of the beautiful locations I have captured the dreamiest of sunsets.

Below are just some of my favourites, some of which I have made available on my Etsy shop, a perfect home decor treat!  Be sure to keep an eye out for new sunset locations!