Markets and Gardens and Everything in Between..........

Hello there, how are you all?

Things have been a little quiet on the blogging front, but not on the sewing scene.

I had two market stalls last weekend so leading up to them, I was busy sewing up the proverbial storm.......

My 'new' sewing basket made an excellent display stand for some pincushions.

The markets were a lot better this month which was reassuring after the last two duds.

I whipped up quite a few Blanket Bunnies and Moonbeam Babies thinking they would last me quite a while................not so.

The little 'white' flecks on the Moonbeam Babies are stars, sewn with metallic, silver thread.

The writing 'Wish upon a star.....' is sewn in 'glowy' thread which glows softly in the dark.

The little egg cup which has tipped over in the photo was one that No.1 hand painted when he was very young. I used it to prop up the egg cosy.

My great auntie Ellie owned the little brown case, she kept her piano music in it and I've had it sitting in the cupboard for some time.

Not sure why I kept it, but it's certainly come in handy now.

Let's take a 'turn around the garden' shall we?

My late planted Poppies, have started to bloom.

Their beautiful, bright petals are so delicate........so far only orange Poppies have bloomed, I hope I get a variety of colours.

They are quite a splash of colour out in the garden.

Ah, Lilac.........I absolutely love it and this variety is dark purple with a white border.

The Irises are blooming, putting on a wonderful display........

You can see those little maroon leaves of the Forest Pansy tree, are a good match for the Iris.

Lots of sweet,

little,

heart,

shaped leaves, which will increase in size over the coming weeks.

As you can imagine the Wisteria is a mass of purple and the perfume is heavenly.

Our trellis is completely covered with this and I have to walk under it several times a day to feed the chooks, get to the vegie garden and potting shed so I am certainly enjoying this display.

Racemes of flowers hang down from the trellis, creating a floral curtain..........

A well placed garden bench, provides the perfect spot for a relaxing cuppa.

I decided to have a little play today and came up with this 'Wibbly Wobbly' town tea cosy. I would have finished it only I misjudged the measurement of the lining fabric and after sewing it on I then had to unpick it...........the whole three rows. grrr!!

Oh well, you have those sort of moments......don't you?

Well, the weather has started to warm up quite a bit and a drop of rain would be nice or I will have to start watering the garden soon.........

Monday, No.1 and I spent outside mowing and raking and turning the green stuff into something resembling lawn.

It was a beautiful day and we were certainly happy to count our blessings as we enjoyed the beauty of the countryside.........

I'm off to a local craft night tomorrow night.

It's being run by the local community centre, gold coin donation and bring along a project you are working on.

I thought I might pop along and see what's going on, should be interesting.

Not sure what I will take, probably some crochet, so I can sit and chat as I hook.

Speaking of crochet, have you seen Jules wonderful blanket over at Little Woollie.......

She had her 'Ta Dah' moment this week, when she finally finished her beautiful blanket. She's been posting regular updates about it's progress and I think you will love the colour and design of it.

Pop over and have a look for yourselves.

Well, that's it for me, Tigger is here on the couch sleeping as cats do and I'm about to do the same.

Thankyou for coming over for a visit and sorry, I've been away for so long.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

Afternoon Delight

What can make a beautiful Spring day even more enjoyable?

A letter

with a Royal Mail post mark on it,

one that has travelled thousands of kilometres across the ocean

a hand written letter from my sister in the UK...........

As this is a special occasion, I decided to set up an afternoon tea tray take a break from my sewing and head outside into the garden and enjoy the letter with a cuppa and something yummy.........

My sister and her family have just returned from a holiday to Tuscany and included with the letter was a lovely, little fridge magnet.

I love the picture, blue skies, sunshine, Sunflowers and a beautiful Villa..........

oh, I think I am a little envious.

I had been busy sewing another Sunflower tea cosy when the post arrived.

A moment of serendipity..................

While I'm outside let's 'take a turn' around the garden shall we..........

October and daylight savings has arrived.

The Wisteria is starting to open up, in a week or so it should be a mass of purple.

I think there will be quite a few cuppas had while sitting on the garden bench.

The perfume from the Crab Apples nearby is divine but what's that I can detect mingling with it?

Hmmm, Dynamic Lifter.............

Viburnum Plicatum, always puts on a beautiful display.

Crisp, white flowers line the branches, reminding me of snow on the boughs of trees.

Further along the shrubbery in the foreground is a Loropetalum .

It's a member of the Witch Hazel family.

It's pink 'shaggy' flowers and purple/green foliage contrast against a white May.

The roses are all in leaf with buds appearing.

Shouldn't be too much longer before I can pick a few flowers to bring inside.............

Around the corner is a Forest Pansy tree.

It's been covered in pink/purple pea like flowers for over a week and the recent rain hasn't dampened it's display, although there is a carpet of pink underneath it............

Let's take a closer look...............

In a few weeks it will be covered in heart shaped reddish purple leaves.

Throughout the drought it hung in, didn't grow all that much but has now put on some growth and looking so much happier.

Go Cats.............

While the AFL Grand Final was being played out on Saturday.

Tig was a chillin'........

Maybe he knew something we didn't !!

The boys were home for the weekend which is unusual for this time of year, so we turned on the TV, No.1 made 'killer Nachos' and we watched the Grand Final.

Well, I was sewing and watching, No.1 hung around till the food disappeared then went off to play some music and hubby was fully committed to the game.

Things have been a little quiet here this past week or so.

It's been very wet, typical, changeable Spring weather and I have found some of the grey, gloomy days haven't been the most inspiring when it comes to being creative.

Hopefully, this week will bring sunshine and the sewing machine will be whirring away once again............

Thanks for popping by and saying 'hello' .

It's always lovely to hear from you.

Till next time, take care..........

Claire X

Pull Up A Chair, Sit Down and Put Your Feet Up

I recently received this "One Lovely Blog" award from the crochet queen, Lee who resides at www.killiecrankiefarm.blogspot.com.

Let me introduce you to her. She lives in Tassie (Tasmania for O/S readers) and is a whizz with a crochet hook, whipping up wonderful creations which she sells through her etsy shop.

She has a wonderful sense of humour which comes through in her posts, which are about her family and growing Christmas trees and beautiful flowers on her farm.

She is taking part in Blogtoberfest, so is posting loads of lovely pics, drop by and say "Hi".

This is my first ever, ever, award, so I am tickled pink with it, thankyou so much Lee.

Later in the week I will be passing on this lovely award to 10 bloggers, so I am busy compiling my list.

Come back in a couple of days I may have been able to narrow it down to 10 by then................

Spring is well and truly here and when you add warm weather and rain together you get............... veeeeeeeeeery long grass. Monday proved the perfect day to dust off the whipper snipper and head to the tree belt and whip things into shape.

Yes, the grass was long and there was about 100 metres or so that needed
cutting down.

Actually, apart from the fact that it can be a hot, sweaty and dirty job, I find it quite therapeutic. Can be frustrating if the line keeps flying off the whipper snipper but I managed to get it all done in one go. No 1 son kept supplying me with a cold drink every half hour or so.

You may wonder why he wasn't doing it, a strong, healthy 19 y.o.!

Hmm, let me think, not sure if I would trust him to be careful around young trees plus the fact that he drove 6 hours after a gig and arrived home at 5am, so still a little tired.

I seem to do this job every Spring, whipping that grass off at ground level and seeing the tree belt looking neat and tidy appeals to my slightly OCD side.

To tell the truth I don't think the boys really give it a second glance and maybe they're scared of coming across a snake....................





Chairs emerging from the pages of an old book.

These chairs have been on my mind for some time.

Thread, fabric and old books..................




The Crab apples are still flowering beautifully, although the flowers have faded, the display and perfume is still beautiful.

There are 4 along the embankment.

Monday was an overcast day and the atmosphere created by the stormy sky was amazing. I just love this sort of weather

The Maples are slowly beginning to 'leaf up' starting at the top and working their way down. Love the contrast of the new red growth against background colours.

My Forest Pansy tree has fl0wered and is covered in 1000's of little pinky purple flowers that are somewhat heart shaped. This tree is a real survivor, although it isn't planted in the perfect spot, it continues to grow and blossom and make me smile.

I had 'the beast' outside on this amazing day and Tig just happened to be wandering by.
You can see the rain on the hills in the middle of the photo, before it heads this way.

Hmm... what is he thinking?

"Hurry up and take the photo woman, I've got a cramp in my leg!"

'Fleas, who me?"

Made me smile

So finally, after a few hiccups with the computer, things seem to be back on track. I am a little less frustrated and slightly more computer savvy, (but still loads to learn............now why is this in bold print. I swear I didn't push any other buttons!)

Like I said, still loads to learn.........

Thanks everyone for dropping by last week and commenting, I love having people from all walks of life and other countries stopping by to say 'hi'

I hope your week and weekend have been good. That you managed to find things to make you smile and enjoyed the beauty around you in the changing of the seasons.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X