Summer is officially here and the weather is beautiful. Hot days and warm nights mean everything (including me) is thriving. This is how my garden grows:
A rambling, cottagey wilderness of flowers and vegetables cohabiting peacefully.
Sweet and delicious sugar snap peas to be eaten for tea (or straight from the garden if you can't help yourself).
Strawberries thrive in hanging baskets and the birds don't come this close to the house.
Pretty maids all in a row... Guarding the door are the two ballerina apples Waltz and Bolero. Next is a blueberry in a blue pot, seven tomatoes, a lemon twig, and peeping around the corner...
Miss Rose Chiffon, my darling miniature peach tree.
If you look under the cover of the leaves you can see her babies. They are soft and green and fuzzy and the shape of a blob of glue from a hot glue gun - a fat round teardrop.
Pots on the steps can be changed with the seasons.
Miss Bolero and Miss Waltz also have babies... this is Miss Waltz's and she promises to be ripe later in the summer.
These little pansy sisters begged me to take their photograph.
I love to mix and match in the garden. This basket contains thyme, geranium and a lovely black succulent.
This is a potentilla which I grew from seed. It took two years to flower and I had all but forgotten what it was supposed to look like. I began to expect insipid, tiny pastel flowers, but what I got instead were these amazing watercolour-painted petals.
And finally, because I
have got a fancy-pants new camera and because this
is a garden post, here is the obligatory insect macro:
He turned his butt to me at the last second, then buzzed and flew away.
Hope you enjoyed this little tour. I for one always enjoy seeing what others are doing in their gardens!
(My print giveaway contest is still open. If you haven't entered already, just go
here!)
Here we have a lovely collaged wallet from Arlene Travnik. The top layer is a sheer white organza and there are beads and buttons and charms all trapped within pockets under the fabric. Perfect for a distraction while waiting in line at the checkout! (I have been playing with it all afternoon anyway!) Thanks Arlene!
I made these little trees for the Kiwi Christmas Ornament Swap. They were such fun that I thought I'd share the process in a tutorial.
(Click here to get the full sized pattern)
When you are about 1.5cm from the top, take a piece of ribbon about 17cm long. Fold it in half and pinch the 2 ends between the felt and backing fabric. Hold it in place as you stitch around the top of the tree.
When you get back to the bottom of the tree, stitch about 1cm past the corner. Then fill with stuffing. Use a paintbrush or something similar to push little wads of stuffing into the corners.
Insert the pot into the gap and continue stitching to close the gap.
To finish off, tie a bow at the top with matching ribbon. Secure at the back with a dab of glue if neccessary.
Today's gift is this amazing house plaque by Jeannine Peregrine. You all know how much I love houses so this piece is just perfect for me. The house has a beautiful texture washed over with a lovely muted burgundy - I just want to keep touching it! Thanks Jeannine - I can't wait to hang it up :)
Today's gift was packaged in a tiny box. It didn't rattle much when shaken... hmm, not jewellery then?
But yes, it is jewellery! Cleverly packaged inside a plastic bag so present-shakers would be fooled.
And customised with my initial. Thanks so much Amy!
Today's giftie, gorgeously wrapped in gold, is from Penelope Harris.
Inside is this teeny palm sized book, with a soft velvety cover and a golden cord on the spine.
The book is full of pockets and the pockets are full of cards. The book tells a story of Alchemy:
Thank you so much Penelope - you are a bookbinder extraordinaire!
Fuzzmo and I drew the name of a winner this morning. It is....
Christine!
I get to open one of these a day for the next 12 days *rubs hands together*. It's for a fabulous swap I'm participating in called the 12 Days of Christmas swap. I made 12 gifts for 12 people and each of them made a gift for me. Each gift is numbered, and we open one per day counting down to Christmas. Fun, yes?
These are my wrapped gifts. I meant to show you this picture before now, but you'll have to wait till Day 6 to see what's inside!
Day 1
A rambling, cottagey wilderness of flowers and vegetables cohabiting peacefully.
Sweet and delicious sugar snap peas to be eaten for tea (or straight from the garden if you can't help yourself).
Strawberries thrive in hanging baskets and the birds don't come this close to the house.
Pretty maids all in a row... Guarding the door are the two ballerina apples Waltz and Bolero. Next is a blueberry in a blue pot, seven tomatoes, a lemon twig, and peeping around the corner...
Miss Rose Chiffon, my darling miniature peach tree.
If you look under the cover of the leaves you can see her babies. They are soft and green and fuzzy and the shape of a blob of glue from a hot glue gun - a fat round teardrop.
Pots on the steps can be changed with the seasons.
These little pansy sisters begged me to take their photograph.
This is a potentilla which I grew from seed. It took two years to flower and I had all but forgotten what it was supposed to look like. I began to expect insipid, tiny pastel flowers, but what I got instead were these amazing watercolour-painted petals.
