When I'm not in my workshop, I find being outside in nature a real source of relaxation and inspiration - even more so when the sun's shining and I can catch some rays!

West London has been my "patch" ever since I moved to the city 11 years ago (ooft has it really been that long?!) and although the area is probably best known for being right underneath the Heathrow flight path, the green spaces round here really transport me into my own little world.  Kew Gardens is stunning and a well-known tourist destination in the area, but one of my favourite places to recharge my batteries is at nearby Osterley Park.  

I've found myself wandering the gardens at Osterley a couple of times already in the past week.  The weather in London has truly been terrible since early-July - you would never know it's summer given the torrential downpours and grey skies we've been, ahem, "blessed" with lately.  But this week feels like summer is making a comeback!  So I took a book, a blanket, and a bottle of water, and decided to take a stroll (and some photos!).

Surrounded by gardens, park and farmland, Osterley is one of the last surviving country estates in London.  Its beautiful tree-lined drive gives way to a stunning lake, formal gardens, and an ancient meadow teeming with butterflies - and a few cows too!

Nature is so important to me, so I really feel at home here.  And what better place to take some photographs of my new jewellery!  These rings are made with raw rhodochrosite, peridot and amethyst stones, set in cute lil sterling silver claw settings - don't they just look right at home here by the lake?

And what better time to share my new necklaces with you.  Here they are hanging in a bush in all their glory - from the left, rhodochrosite, rose quartz and amethyst!

I would thoroughly recommend this little oasis in the middle of West London.  If you're in the area you should take a wee trip to visit!  And I'd love to hear your recommendations for green spaces in London that relax and inspire you - leave me a message in the comments below!

Leila x