First Week of Spring

Greetings lovely friends & readers

And Welcome to my favourite season of them all ... 💗 Spring

Although it is raining today, the first few days of September have been beautiful weather & I have spent lots of time working outside - although I have spent many hours out there, there is always much to be done still . . . . . . 
 

A sweet smelling vase of spring bulbs picked before the rains came. 

It was back in May, in *this post* that I planted this pot of Peony Tulips - I'd never grown this variety before but these were gifted & I absolutely adore them with their frilly heads.

In early August my dear friend Jane posted me a belated birthday gift - a set of 3 gorgeous cross-stitches, not Jane's work but some she'd purchased.  I took one in to the Framers & then decided to make this "Dear Friend" one into a long plump cushion for my bed as I felt the colours would go well.  I backed it with a cotton linen fabric, made an inner & stuffed it really tightly.

This took me less than an hours work & I am so delighted with the finished article.  I just LoVe it sitting on my bed.

I've put a lighter weight quilt on the end of my bed now it's warmer & the colours all blend together perfectly (I think).

I'm still deciding what to do with cross-stitch No 3 so I'll keep you posted.

We had our craft get-together last Monday at Joyce's but unfortunately I was unable to attend - I'd still completed my catfood tin challenge from * this post *. 

I took 3 of the remaining catfood tins & painted them with cream chalk paint, then I poured soy candle wax into them & fragranced it with orange/clove oils.  I had this lovely festive serviette so I decided to decoupage some of it onto my tins using mod podge.

I thought they turned out so pretty ... then I decided to make a swing tag using the same serviette offcuts.  

This (thrifted) tray has been in my stash for years a very long time.  I painted it with 2 coats Forrest Green Chalk paint  - Yes I was going for a Christmas theme here.  🎄

As the candle tins sat too low in the tray I glued 3 circles of firm quilt wadding to the underside of each one - this just propped them up nicely to the right height.

The addition of some greenery & berry pips & I thought it turned out rather well. 

 Only one other lady had done her challenge so we are going to show them next month - I shall try & get some photos as it's always interesting seeing what the others come up with.

I have no idea of the name of this houseplant, it has a variegated leaf & pink stems, but I love it.  It was very potbound so I found this old pot of Mums under my house & chalk painted it Vintage White.  I added a leftover transfer & waxed it well.

From the one plant I was able to divide it up into 4 houseplants - some I will gift.  Should you know the name of this plant, please do leave me a comment below as I'd love to know it.   

It is very tricky to get good photos of Little One as he is rarely still.  Last night I clicked this of him on the dining-room couch, the fire is going beside him.   He is improving but still will scratch & bite - more playful than attacking.  He likes his eyes & side of the face gently patted & will be very still when I do this.  This is for all those of you that ask for more photos of him. (Shhh don't tell the other two)

Thank you as always dear friends, for your welcome visits here today,

Wishing you all a wonderful rest-of-the-week, remember to be kind to yourselves & to each other,

With much love & friendship to you all,