Monday 20 February 2012

Patchwork and Pottering

 Two of my favourite things...patchwork and pottering in the garden....and i did some of both last weekend.....
 ...we were able to garden properly for the first time this season....i weeded and mulched one of the borders (mulching sounds quite professional don't you think?) and Mr P did lots of his favourite kind of gardening... that is, pruning things ;-).....we were both very contented and it was lovely to sit outside and have a cup of tea again in a sheltered bit of the garden, with the sun shining and the birds singing (and some homemade tea bread from the Mary Berry Baking Book).........
....and then a bit of pottering in the potting shed for me....with some new spring plants to either pot on and enjoy indoors or to decide where to plant outside......
 ....weekend breakfasts.... i just love that leisurely feel to a weekend morning....are you noticing  lot of CK things appearing here?......there is a reason for it which i will show you in a moment.....
 ...........a quilt i made a while ago, inspired by CK fabrics, especially the gorgeous blue strawberry one, my regular breakfast cereal bowl...... and a cute little CK badge on a gift that arrived this week.......
....lady luck has smiled on me again this week and i won the Cath Kidston Patch book  in the giveaway at the gorgeous Mary Jane's Tearoom....so exciting...(here it is being pictured with my Strawberry Hearts quilt..)
 ...a big huge thank you to Susan for this wonderful giveaway ...Mary Jane's Tearoom is one of my favourite blogs....not only do i love all the delicious colours and pictures, but i love to see Susan's original designs for her knitted mice and bunnies, they are so delightful....if you don't already know this blog do go and visit, you're in for a real treat.....
 ....it was lovely to be back in the potting shed again, i have swept it all out, tidied it up and found my gardening things again....it really feels like spring is here once i start to garden once more.....
 .....a bit more patchwork....this is a peek at a new quilt i've been slowly working on over the last few months...it will have more applique and some colourful quilting....i will be back with another update on it soon i hope, as well as another farmer's wife block......yesterday i taught my elder daughter how to begin to crochet a granny stripe blanket...i think she's hooked.... she rang up today to say she's now on to the third stripe :-).....
......i love my crafty things, they make me sooo happy....and it's always wonderful to hear that it makes others happy too.....thanks for popping in to visit me here today, it's a pleasure to see you.....enjoy your week, i hope you find lots of happy crafty moments, and the sun shines for you too......back soon xxxxx

42 comments:

Unknown said...

OOh! Your pictures are gorgeous today! So light and bright - it certainly looks like spring inside your house! I purchased the same colour of primroses this weekend too. They are the only sign of spring here in my home in Canada!

claire said...

Those are the first primulas I've seen yet this Spring. Gorgeous. Same for the lovely quilts and china :) A lovely bright, cheery post - thank you.

Ali said...

Lovely bright & cheery post - congrats on your win. I love your quilts xx

Vintage from the Village said...

What a pretty post ! love it all- especially your quilt ! I will pop over to the recommended blog for a look
Sue x

Anonymous said...

I do love your posts, they are so bright and colourful and pretty. Congrats on your win, it is a lovely book. Have a great week. Hannah x

Jelly Jam said...

Oh I love a bit of mulching! It always seems to make everything look a bit more finished off but it's so easy - my kind of gardening.
Lovely springy photos.
Ellie
x

MelMel said...

Your pictures are stunning...loving your CK touches....really really love your oilcloth.....one of my fave ones from CK!x

mags said...

Your posts make me happy! Such bright and sunny colours (especially as it is really raining in Cumbria). I'm just about to start my first quilt fo felt inspired by your lovely heart quilt.

harmony and rosie said...

Beautiful little primulas and they look very fetching with all your lovely goodies. You sound very happy, doesn't the sun make a difference?!
Have a lovely week Helen.
Kate x

Deborah said...

Oh my! You have so many wonderful irons in the fire! Your blog inspired to me to do a "color" post for Spring.
I'm excited to get out to do some pottering and mulching! And I do adore Cath Kidston. My dream is to visit one of her stores!

Jane said...

How lovely to be back in the garden Helen. It warms the soul doesn't it. The temperature is set to hit 15c by the weekend . I can't wait . What a lovely win many congratulations . Enjoy all your crafting and have a lovely week .
Jane x

bellaboo said...

I can't wait to get out in the garden and feel the warmth of the sun on my face again. I always love visiting your blog,it's so bright and cheerful.Your patchwork quilt is dreamy!
Have a very happy week. :0)

Annie said...

We so desperately need to get out on to our patch here but life keeps getting in the way ... that said Mr K. has a day off on Thursday so fingers crossed! I have primulas that need potting on, though just simple yellow ones here, nothing so snazzy as your joyous pink edged affair.

Liking the look of that quilt - can't wait to see what you do with it - and lucky you on the giveaway win!

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Garden days are happy days! Your little primula are so sweet. :)
Congrats on your lovely win, I think the book definitely went to the right person!!
Your new quilt looks beautiful.
Vivienne x

birdie blue said...

sounds like the perfect weekend. your pictures are, as always, so pretty. your primulas in particular, gorgeous.

have a lovely week, my friend.
xo
molly

Teresa Kasner said...

Ohhhh.. that adorable pink, white and yellow primrose just gave my eyes a lovely leap of joy! And it goes so well with your natural color choices for your quilty and floral lovelies. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

flowers on my table said...

Hello Helen, I think it's marvellous that you have managed to get a bit of mulching in. I keep looking at the garden going 'I must do that' and then swiftly running inside to the heat! I am looking forward to getting out there. My husband planted 2 pear trees we bought each other for Valentine's day, yesterday, so we have a little bit of an orchard going now, with the apple and crabapple trees.

I love your Cath Kidston quilt, it's gorgeous. Well done with the giveaway, you seem, like me to be rather good at winning them! Lots of love, Linda x

Lorilee said...

Ah such beautiful colors and patterns! I also love being out in my garden! This weekend, the hubby and I did lots of weed-pulling in the lawn. I also harvested most of my beets and made pickled beets. I'm glad your daughter is enjoying crocheting. I recently started it up again after no projects for about 6 years. Congrats on your win!
Blessings,
Lorilee

My Little Home and Garden said...

Hello, Helen
Thank you for your kind comments on my maiden voyage into card-making! I love all of the gorgeous colours in the papers. They remind me of the beautiful fabrics and yarns you use!
I feel like humming a happy tune when I see your posts. Have a lovely, creative week!
-Karen

Mia said...

Your posts bring so much joy with these wonderful colors, and sunny images! It's really needed here (snowsnowsnow), thank you for sharing! And that quilt is co pretty (not to mention the book!)!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Yours,
Mia

Teje Karjalainen said...

Helen, I'm always so happy to see that there is post from you!
Again you have so sweet and adorable photos, colours and so many lovely things!
Congratulations for winning that book! It looks fantastic!
Thank you for bringing us spring!
x Teje

KC'sCourt! said...

Pretty post - the colours are beautiful. Love the patchwork
Julie xxxxxx

Unknown said...

Wow what a beautiful post today such a gorgeous feast on the eye. So many pretty things and colours.Very psring like its lovely. Enjoy your lovely book. How lovely that your daghter is learning to crochet to ;-) Love your fabrics on your patchwork to. dee x

Jill said...

Your quilts are stunning, so fresh pretty fabrics, you sound like you had an idyllic weekend, it is so nice to be in the garden again, makes you think of warm days and evenings to come.
I will be popping over to Mary Jane's tearoom right now!
Jillx

Simone said...

A stunning post Helen. Very pink and pretty! The sun is shining outside too! I hope you get to spend more time in the garden this week. x

fee @ chipper nelly said...

oooh I've found you! and what a lovely find...I'm off for a good old nosey around
Right up my street
fee x
(I know...I should be making your blocks!!!)

fee @ chipper nelly said...

...just seen how many blogging friends we share....fee x

sew said...

You have excelled yourself with your pictures today - beautiful colours - and brought a bit of Spring into the homes of all who enjoy your blog.
Congratulations on your MJT's giveaway win - something lovely has recently found its way through my letterbox too! I've made one of the Tearoom Mice from Susan's pattern - so cute, she sits on a little shelf in my hall(the mouse, not Susan!). Let's hope the sunshine continues to cheer us for a bit longer.

Thedarkerside73 said...

Ahhhh another picture perfect post! I do love the images you put on here, so cheery and inspiring.

I am sorting a few things out getting ready to get out there and start gardening again! My window sill has been cleared of knick knacks and gubbins ready for some seeds to be started! It is my little trip into springtime. Sadly no potting shed as two little bunnies reside in ours! lol.

Congratulations on your wins! You have some lovely things there.

Hope you have a lovely week and hopefully enjoy a bit of spring!


MBB x

koralee said...

Happy new week to you....I so want that book...it has been on my list for a while now...your dishes are adorable! Hugs.

Pink Milk said...

A delightful post Helen, such lovely sunny colours.

I'm loving the tantalising glimpse of your new flower quilt, it's looking rather stunning.

How exciting, you and your daughter will be able to sit and hook together!

Hx

ALISON said...

How lucky that you won.....Thanks for your comment.....Your place is always filled wiyh such lovely colours....ciao Alison

Jenny said...

Lucky you winning Susan's giveaway - I've not got the Patch book though I have one of her earlier ones (I forget which one.) Your CK inspired quilt is lovely, not seen that one before! Seeing all your beautiful flower sugar fabrics together, it reminds me that Spring hopefully will not to be too far away, fingers crossed! I do love all your colourful cheery patchwork, it really is gorgeous to look at... Anyway hope you have a lovely rest of the week and get to do some more pottering in your potting shed soon! Jenny xx

Barbara said...

Helen, these photos are just so beautiful ...
primroses, polyanthus and primulas are my absolute favorites, I remember reading about the famous section at Sissinghurst with polyanthus? under a grove of trees, apparently no longer there but it must have been enchanting ... as a child I watched my grandfather planting primulas in a row with a piece of string stretched out to mark a straight line all the while chatting to passing neighbours!
hope you have a lovely week,
Barbara x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Hello Helen!..Oh, this is a lovely post ..I love that word 'mulching' it somehow sounds that it can only be a good thing.doesn't it?...Being able to potter in the garden is so good for the soul too...I do miss it in the Winter months...I'm looking forward to seeing what pretties appear from your little white potting shed this year!
Your quilts are beautiful and I hope to do something myself in the Summer (fingers crossed!)
I wish you could teach me to crochet Helen..it is my remaining challenge!
Thanks so much for the lovely comments about my blog...you have made me very happy this evening!
Hope you have a lovely week,
Susan x

Poppy said...

It looks like Spring has arrived! Soooooooooo many beautiful pictures.... I can't wait to start picking flowers & veg from the garden. Not long now..........

Lou xxx

Natalia Glazacheva said...

Hi, Helen! So beautiful... The flowers are so colorful.Love your heart quilt and lovely prize you`ve got there :o)
By the way I have nominated you for the versatile blogger award and hope you will accept,although I won't be offended if you don't You can find out more details on my blog.
Love
Natasha

Lori ann said...

dear helen,
congratulations on winning that lovely book! all your photos are so pretty, full of light and color, and so much joy.
i hope you continue to enjoy that sunshine and garden!

Lori ann said...

i forgot to say your quilt is beautiful!!

Madelief said...

Dear Helen,

Your day in the garden with your husband sounds lovely! I hope the weather will be good enough this weekend for my husband and I to do some work in the garden too.

You made a beautiful colourful post!

Happy evening!

Madelief x

...Nina Nixon... said...

Hi Helen,

The sun makes all the difference doesn't it.

We spent an enjoyable weekend down at the allotment, but we have - as yet - to tackle our own garden. I think we need some more sunshine for that to happen.

Nina xxxxx

arobella creations said...

Your pictures are lovely the colours are wonderful! ANd your patchwork is so pretty- your a very clever lady.
Please take a peak at my blog
http://arobellacreations.blogspot.com