Unusually, this May Bank Holiday was mainly sunny, here in West Norfolk. Not always warm, though Sunday was actually HOT! Monday was dull then we had heavy rain which lasted throughout the evening and night. Unfortunately when I took the garden photos it was just a bit overcast, so not the best shots, to be honest.
Some lovely Spring flowers - I always think our garden is at its best at this time of the year.
Yes, my little Square Foot (actually metre) Garden is coming along. About to be overtaken by a rogue foxglove, but I never mind where they self seed. The radish is steaming ahead and the spicy salad leaves. The parsley and chard are taking their time but I think that's normal. I've forgotten what else is in there, but I have written it all on a plan Jim made for me.
Here at the bottom of the garden is a planter Jim built with the help of a bare-footed Fraser, our youngest grandson, when they visited three years ago. I am growing more parsley, herbs and ….. I forget what else! in here. You can just see my early new potatoes in their bags, also coming along nicely.
On the stitching front, this was my work table on Friday:
And here is the finished LOVE cushion :
And by yesterday I had designed and begun this one:
Here are some pieces I painted with chalk paint, as I began to tell you in my previous post. They are now waxed and finished. I'm on the hunt for other pieces to paint - it's a bit addictive!
I also did my cookery book holder, and the dining room mirror frame but I can't get a good enough angle to photograph it.
So there we are, I've been busier than I thought! More cushions to make for the June Fakenham Makers' Market, and another chair to paint; It should keep me out of mischief! Hope you are all enjoying some sunshine (though it is VERY blustery here today) and managing some creative moments of your own.
those tulips are very delicate in the first picture. a lovely shade of colour
ReplyDeleteAren't they gorgeous, Sol? Delicate pink tinged with green, never seen them before I bought them last year.Lx
Deletebeautiful stitches - as usual - loving the paint jobs as well - i'm laughing at you going round looking for more things to paint - it must be addictive!!!!! - also love to death the little footstool!!! is frazer a little kiwi? they have toughened feet - i'm sure!!! hope you have a good week xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynne. I remember when I had a similar addiction to stencilling - nearly 30 years ago. If it didn't move, I stencilled it! Yes, Fraser is Kit's son in New Zealand and yes, those kids DO have tough feet! I did tell his granddad (who hadn't noticed) that I was more worried about a brick landing on his little toes! Lxx
DeleteThose blues in your spring garden are really striking, Lynne. And those pink tulips are almost like rosebuds. Chalk paint is a new one on me - must investigate... X
ReplyDeleteHi Jane - isn't it lovely at the moment?Gorgeous colours. Yes, I mentioned chalk paint last post and expanded in the comments. There are TONS of youtube videos about it. he 2 points about chalk paint for me are that there are no toxic fumes, and also you don't have to do any sanding or prepping other than a wipe down and de-grease. Have a go - you'll love it! Lxx
DeleteLynne your garden is so pretty and charming. I love a cottage garden.
ReplyDeleteLookin' good at the omen isn't it? Lxx
DeleteYour garden looks fabulous, your stitching even better, hope the fair goes well :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, yes, I'm not doing them every month, but looking forward to the one in June. Lxx
DeleteLots of hard work here. Love the foot stool as well as the chairs
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say I did the patchwork on the stool - but I cannot tell a lie!! Lxx
DeleteI like the chalk painted furniture but dare not start another hobby, well not yet, the garden has had the lions share of my time for a month. We had a wet weekend so I dragged my scraps out and have pieced the top of a quilt. It will be on the frame for quilting soon, and if this weather keeps up done and dusted by next week.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam - I'm surprised you ever have a spare minute! But to be honest, this is not a hobby of any kind - they needed painting and while I had the paint out I wanted to keep going - hence the candle-stick and the stool legs! Lx
DeleteWhat a busy lady! Those chairs and the other pieces are really lovely.I keep looking at our chairs (exactly the same -but orange pine colour) and thinking I need to give them a new lease of life. Yours work really well with the furniture and fabrics in the background.
ReplyDeleteLooks like your garden is full of life too.The square foot garden is looking great, will you keep us updated on its progress? After all the rain we've had in Cornwall, I'm waging war on the slugs.I'm trying not to use slug pellets-crushing egg shells instead.I was caught out with some lettuce and broccoli I potted on. They ate about 14 of them!
We have so much pine in the cottage, Felicity, I was getting a bit 'browned off'!! I began painting the chairs a few years ago, and discovering chalk paint was such a helpful thin - straight in and no prep! And yes, I have a large jar of crushed egg-shells ready to go out as things get going. Lxx
DeleteOur tomatoes and courgettes are in and out every day and night, driving us mad, so windy here as well but due to die out this evening I believe. Square metre garden looking good, isn't it a pain to have to net against cat, birds etc. Love the painting and feltwork, as per usual.
ReplyDeleteYeah windy in our garden too! Torrential today (Wednesday) and we are out tonight at Syderstone for music - not fancying the drive if still pouring down!
DeleteLike you I have raised beds, it's the only way I can do any gardening these days, though three of mine are being used as cut flower beds this year, and one for strawberries, for the first time also. Carrots sown in large pots, wigwam of beans, and sweet peas and a list of plants to buy for the new bed as long as your arm! The potatoes are bursting out of their bags! No doubt a combination of warm sun and lots of rain, though it would be better if it were spread out instead of one torrential downpour like on Tuesday afternoon, did you get that?
ReplyDeleteLove the look of the new cushion.....
Hi Edwina, actually we don't have raised beds - I wish we did but my husband needs to dig, and he likes row gardening, so this is just my one little square foot garden. We now have the wigwams up for the beans and my spuds in bags are going great guns! Yes, we did get the Big Wet on Tuesday - and another one this afternoon! Thank goodness I walked round and voted this morning in the sunshine! Lxx
DeleteI have been inspired by your chairs and started on my paint splatted spare chair. Got a first coat on it and have a plan for a seat cushion. Next family meal there wont be such an argument about who gets the old spare chair - it will be the prettiest on in the house!
ReplyDeleteHi Trish, brilliant! Join the club! But I warn you - it can be addictive, I know when I have a spare bit of paint and a brush I am looking round everywhere for something to paint! Lxx
DeleteYou have been busy! I love the colour of the chairs. I have some that are similar with patchy white gloss paint on them. I may have to just get some chalk paint and do these (when the sun comes out eventually!!). x
ReplyDeleteHello Chel, I am pleased with how they've turned out. Do watch some youtube videos first about chalk paint; I wish I had before I painted the first chair as the finish would have been better; I didn't realise you could thin it down with water to get a smoother product which went on more easily, or did I realise you can mix colours - even using paint form my own watercolour tubes! Have ago, and enjoy! Lxx
DeleteBusy lady! Not letting any grass grow under your feet! I love the pillows.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, yes it's all go! Glad you like the stitching. Lxxx
DeleteIt certainly looks like you're keeping out of mischief !
ReplyDeleteI love the love cushion :)
Thanks Annie - fits and starts, fits and starts, that's how I seem to work these days, Annie! But when I work, I do get down to it, just need to be a bit more consistent! Lxx
DeleteHello Lynne, I hope that the reason you haven't been blogging is because you are out and about having fun:) I just want you to know that you are missed. Oh, and that little stool is wonderful. I can see you resting your feet there as you do your stitching.
ReplyDeleteDear Connie, thank you so much for your lovely post. I am still here, needing some impetus to give me a push in the right direction and get some blogging done. Have been a bit under the weather recently but seeing the silver lining hoving slowly into view. Thanks for always thinking of me! xxxxx
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