2 May 2012

May Flowers

Hello you.

Apart from a brief glimpse on Monday, this fella (or rather his larger, hotter cousin) hasn't made much of an appearance around these parts for some time now ...


I bought him in Spain a year or two ago and still can't decide whether I find him friendly or a little sinister.  (Spot the ladybird?)  Still, he sits on the fence surveying the garden goings-on.

I'm really trying to find joy in the rain but am fast approaching saturation point.


I took the dry window of opportunity on Monday to have a proper poke around the garden.

We have a south-facing smallish town garden which is now officially lawn-free.  I'm no plant expert but I know what I like and I do try and get to know what I grow.

The Viburnum is always one of the first things to burst into flower.  This year it hasn't disappointed and is covered with huge fragrant pompoms ...


The Crab Apple tree (malus gorgeous) is in full blossom ...



The Polyanthus is like sunshine in a pot ...


The strawberry plants are flourishing and just starting to flower ...


Oh, and a note just for Nicki - my anemones are FINALLY growing!!! (I confided in Nicki that I suspected I may have planted the bulbs upside down because nothing had emerged after three or four weeks.  Note to self, learn patience.)

One of my favourite things about having a blog is looking back at previous years.  Gardenwise, I'm sure things were a little further ahead last year.

If I were to put a positive spin on the recent foul weather, I would have to congratulate myself on being reasonably up to date domestically!  When it's yanking down with rain outside, there's no choice but to stay inside and 'do stuff'.  Feel quite self-satisfied yesterday and fed-up with housework though, I indulged in a creative afternoon.  I'd previously bought some gorgeous linen-mix fabric and was itching to sew.

Regular readers of my blog will know that sewing is not something I do very often.  I am a very impatient raving perfectionist which is an extremely frustrating combination.  I sometimes struggle to transform the pictures in my mind to satisfactory reality.  I love to make small and neat items but, frankly, large things scare me!  However, I knew exactly what it was I wanted to achieve.  I took my time, measured everything at least twice and made this ...


A perfect cushion cover!  (Blondie Daughter needs a little work on her camera skills - this photo was the best of a bad lot, trust me!)

I say 'perfect' because every seam is painfully neat and spot-on straight and I even added lace!!!  I completely forgot to take a picture of the reverse which is a plain stone-coloured linen; the envelope closure trimmed with a teeny pink velvet bow.

I didn't use any sort of pattern, just tape measure and logic.  I'm so proud of it I could yelp!!!

I know Blogland is crammed full of wonderful seamstresses who could run up a perfect cushion cover in ten minutes with their eyes closed (and oh how I drool over your beautiful creations) but I'm sure there are just as many of you out there to whom it doesn't come quite so naturally, like me.

I'm on a roll now and am about to embark on project number two ...


... watch this space! ;-)

Before I go, I would like to make my annual mention of Madeleine McCann.  It will be five years tomorrow since she was abducted while on holiday in Praia Da Luz, Portugal.

The police have released this new age-progression image as a guide as to how she may look now.


If you see a young girl you suspect may be Madeleine, please contact the police immediately.  I have updated the link on my sidebar with the contact details.

Still hoping and praying for your safe return sweet girl.

xxx

21 comments:

  1. Check you out, you made a cushion?!?! I too find that type of sewing does not come naturally. Have been toying with the idea of learning to put zips in, maybe make a pouch or something but I start to lose the will to live just thinking about it and other people make it look easy!
    Still, I like to think I can turn my hand to anything....
    XX

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    1. Och, ma wee pal Ali!!! If anyone can master zips, it's you. xx

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  2. Love your cushion - I've been wanting to make one for ages, but haven't had the courage ... yet!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  3. Your cushion is gorgeous! I like your sun face, he is jolly.

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  4. Your cushion is very pretty! I have the opposite problem...all sun here and working outside has left my house in not so good shape so I decided it would be 1 hour on outside project and 1 hour on inside in addition to the dailies. I've been crocheting a blanket/throw but it's getting a bit warm with it on my lap as it's getting fairly large now. I need some warm weather projects! LOL!

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  5. I too am tiring of the rain. Have recently taken on an allotment & can't get to it as the car park is a mud bath. At lease when the sun returns you can get outside knowing that inside is all taken care of. :-) P.S. looking forward to the next project. X

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  6. That cushion is really cushdy!! I have NO natural talent when it comes to sewing so I really admire your work xx

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  7. Thinking about Maddy a lot as well at the moment as she is the same age as the Princess. I am convinced, and always have been, that they will find her alive. I have a vibe, I can almost see the news unravel live on TV when it happens. I really hope I'm not wrong. Glad you are keeping positive too.
    LOVING the cushion cover hun, I live in hope that I will one day create something as lush.
    Do you work? I need more hours in my day!!!!!
    xxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. I feel she's alive too Gem, I really do. x

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  8. Much cushion love from me ... clever, you is (sorry, son's been watching Star Wars movies back to back today!) x

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    1. To me, that's definitely Will from the Inbetweeners (never been a Star Wars girl) - hilarious! x

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  9. Very super cushion!
    I love the lace, too.
    Xx

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  10. Your cushion is lovely, beautifully made Heather! Your plants look so pretty coming into blossom....I too have had enough of the rain for now, and was glad that Mr Sun appeared here for most of the day at last!
    Helen x

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  11. Ooooh I love your cushion....well done you :) I can't wait to get back into gardening if we ever move! It's lovely watching your garden come back to life. I've a feeling Madeline is alive....she's somewhere. I only hope & pray her parents discover the truth one day to find her, especially as she & I share the same birthday x x x keep up the fab cushion making!!!

    Jo x x x

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  12. The cushion is beautiful! Well Done! Hope you are less saturated this week and get an opportunity to dry out! Cx

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  13. Well done on the cushion front - it looks gorgeous and I love the fabrics you've used. Well done on the anemones too - the snails ate most of mine and I have one lonely waterlogged one to show for a whole tub of bulbs. Glad you are finding a few moments of sunshine to take a few photos. XX

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    1. No!!! Cathy, I've seen an enormous snail lurking in the vicinity of my anemones ... am off to hurl it into neighbour's garden ... x Hope you're well :-)

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  14. I love your cushion Heather and the fabrics are beautiful...I have some which looks very similar to your pink stripe and it's a real favourite of mine..I'm looking forward to seeing your next project...the fabric choices are so pretty!
    Your flower pics are lovely too and it looks as though all our flowers are doing well despite the lack of sun.
    Hope you are having a happy week,
    Susan x
    P.S Thank you so much for adding the link to my Giveaway!

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  15. Hi Heather,
    I love your cushion...clever you!
    I found your blog last week which browsing Jenny's blog post about her garden....I hope you are all well. Would love to catch up soon.
    Love
    Caroline x

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    1. Hi Caroline. Lovely to hear from you! Hope you are all ok. Hx

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Anyone ever told you that you're a peach? xx

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