Thursday 13 September 2012

Autumn Week

First of all today i want to say a great big thank you to everyone who entered my recent giveaway for the rosy lavender sewing notions.....it was wonderful to read all your lovely comments and i just wish i could give everyone a little gift.......the random number generator did its work and chose the four winners.......
.......and they are: heather from vintage grey, maria from dinki dots, susan from mary jane's tearoom, and tammy from t's daily treasures.....congratulations to you all :) .....please email me your postal addresses so i can send you your gifts............i will have another giveaway soon so if you didn't win this time, you just might next time :)...........
.........the last couple of days have been that mix of weather we often get in autumn, when the temperature veers between bOiLiNg and fReEzInG....so you never know what to wear but it's usually too warm or too cold........we've recently had two sunny and beautiful weekends though, and spent time clearing the garden at granny's old house ( mr p's childhood home).......we chopped down the brambles, honeysuckle and nettles to reveal the little old back garden gate which used to be in constant use.........lots of happy memories.........
.......during the week the house and garden are full of workmen as it is all being renovated, but at the weekend it was quiet and peaceful as we cleared the tangle of wild plants, which were rather beautiful in their way (just not filling the garden )..........when we sorted out the house and the garden shed  a while ago, i wondered where all granny's flower pots were......i knew she's had some, years ago, but couldn't see them anywhere....
........and then i found them, in a big pile, almost buried in weeds and brambles at the boundary edge, some of them covered with moss........i was really pleased to find them and have brought them home with me now....they need a bit of a clean up and then i'll put them in the potting shed :)......... 
.......crafty wise this week i have been putting the finishing touches to a christmas project for a magazine, and working on easter designs for another magazine...all top secret for now......the fabric above is attracting my attention for new projects............sew pretty isn't it?..... lots of lecien prints stacked up and inspiring lots of new ideas..........
.........this is a picture of my peachy new dahlia blooms......i am quite thrilled with them, having never grown dahlias before....they are from my cutting garden and next year i plan to plant more of them ........
........this weekend we shall be celebrating my daughter sarah's birthday.....how fast the years are flying by.....thank you for visiting me here.....wishing you all a wonderful weekend.......back soon xxxxxxxxxx

43 comments:

Simone said...

Lovely peachy and apple green post. I kept checking back to see if I had won the giveaway but alas it was not to be! Congratulations to those that had fortune on their side! The dahlia blooms are perfect. I should like to grow them one day. x

vintage grey said...

Yay! I am so excited to be one of the winners!! Thank you so much for such a wonderful giveaway!! What beautiful vintage flower cards! Love how you have them hanging.Can't wait to see your Christmas project! Happy sweet day to you Helen! xo Heather

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

Congratulations to all the winners!! Your blog post is so pretty with the gorgeous flowers and fabric, love them!!

Miriam said...

Congratulations to the winners, but :-(( for me!
Ciao,
Miriam

Gracie Saylor said...

The dahlias are especially beautiful, Helen. I once grew some white ones...yours encourage me to try again!
Happy Weekend! xx from Gracie

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Congrats to the very lucky winners! :)
I love those little flower cards Helen, they are so pretty. That was a lucky find with the old flower pots, flower pots today just aren't the same.
Your dahlias are such a beautiful shade.
Happy weekend,
Vivienne x

Happy in red said...

Oh, it's really autumn isn't it. Ugh!!
Esther.

Madelief said...

Dear Helen,

Congratulations to the four winners of your giveaway. The are lucky ladies!

Your Christmas projects sound very exciting. It must be fun working for magazines this way.

I hope your daughter Sarah will have a happy birthday this weekend. Congratulations!!!

Madelief x

Anonymous said...

Hi Helen,Your Dahlias are so pretty,Congratulations to the very lucky winners and Best wishes for a happy birthday to your daughter. Xxxx

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

Congratulations to the lucky winners :) Happy Birthday to Sarah! Lovely pictures and words, as always Helen! Have a fabulous weekend with your family! Ada :)

Maria - A Playful Stitch said...

Oh my goodness, I can't believe my name was there amongst the winners!!! Thank you so much, I'm so lucky! I'll email you my address right now! :o)
Thanks!!!
Maria x

Anonymous said...

So glad you found the flower pots! Did y'all pick blackberries?! Love the fabric, every piece is gorgeous. Re: dahlias, I had a pot of them this summer for my first time, they were beautiful til the heat settled in. Then came tons of rain and whoosh the plant grew big and green ... but no more blooms. Soon I am going to research which of my container garden might be able to come inside the house for the winter. Thanks for sharing, Mary

Criossa said...

Ohhhh the fabric looks so wonderful!

Thedarkerside73 said...

Well done to your giveaway winners!

What a lovely post full of old pots flowers and fabric. All my favourite things!

And I just love an old gate too! A beautiful post.

Hope you have a lovely weekend celebrating your daughters birthday.


P x

Cindy said...

Lucky you to have found those old pots. I love those things! You dahlias are beautiful. I have never attempted them, but might give them a try next year.

Crafts @ Home said...

Congratulations to the winners. What beautiful plants and fabrics, they seem to go together well. Have a super weekend, no doubt spoiling the birthday girl :)
Sue Xxx

gilly said...

All things bright and beautiful! Your pics are always so lovely and those fabrics look yummy. Have fun birthday celebrations with your daughter ( there seem to be an awfful lot of us September babies around!) and enjoy the weekend. And congrats to the lucky winners too :-)
Xx

debbie @ happy little cottage said...

Congratulations to all the lucky winners!!!

Your dahlias are so pretty, and seem to be the perfect flower for September!

Happy weekend! xoxo Debbie

Annie Cholewa said...

Congratulations to the winners!

Such pretty garden photos Helen, and how lovely that you found those pots :D

Rhona said...

Congrats to the winners!

Love your garden pictures and those dahlia blooms are just gorgeous!

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Helen, just love all the photos.. congrats on the winners.. maybe I'll be lucky on your next giveaway? You're the best.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Hello Helen...You know that this is a very happy start to my Friday!..I feel so very lucky to be a winner in your beautiful Giveaway!
This is such a pretty autumnal post too...Granny's garden is like venturing into the secret garden through that pretty gate with so many hidden treasures...it looks so beautiful..
Lovely, inspiring new fabrics too and your dahlias are simply stunning....such a pretty colour.
I'm skipping off now to send you my address Helen..Thank you for making my day!
Hope you have a lovely weekend and Happy Birthday Wishes to Sarah!,
Susan x

trish said...

Congratulations to all the dear winners!
Your pictures today are so beautiful. I am so glad that you found your granny's flower pots. Such a treasure. My grandpa was the gardener and always had pots full of something lovely. :o)
Have a lovely weekend and the Happiest of Birthday Wishes to your dear daughter.
Trish xo

Mia said...

Congrats to all the lucky winners!

And I just love the way you can turn your creativity into a Christmas-mood today and then to Easter tomorrow! I so would like to see a glimpse of those secret projects, but I think we just need to wait!

Enjoy your weekend, and sunshine from windy and autumn-y Finland!

Yours,
Mia

Crafted by Carly said...

Helen, I love the colours in this post!!!
Wishing you a happy weekend.....
Carly
x

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Helen! Beautiful colours! I see now so often beautiful yellow that I think I have to start to like it. I used to feel that it's not my colour. Your fabric bundle is the most sweet and I hope I could find some flower fabrics.
I wish you wonderful weekend!
x Teje

Tammy said...

Dear Helen,
Thanks so much for your email. Always so lovely to see a post filled with your pretty fabrics, creations and things from the garden. We just bought new plants for our balconies today so I spent several hours repotting everything. Boy oh boy was it a messy job with all the dust on the balconies. Will be glad when we get cooler weather so the plants can be really happy out there. Still so very hot. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

purple-roses-country-cottage said...

Dear Helen, I love the pretty fabrics you show us in your post. You are right: you never know what to wear: Today it was pretty stormy, wet and cold. Tomorrow the summer will come back. Crazy! Congratulations to the lucky winners. Have a lovely weekend. Nicole

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Helen,

Congratulations to the lucky winners of your giveaway.
The peachy dahlia blooms are so beautiful and love the stack of pretty fabrics.

Happy birthday to your daughter and enjoy the weekend
Hugs
Carolyn

Shane Pollard said...

Hello Helen

I'm your newest follower and I found your blog via Tammy!
I've just been having a great look through your posts.
I've found lots of inspiration thank you! The fabrics and projects are wonderful.

LOVe that dahlia - as we are coming into Summer in New Zealand I'm about to plant dahlia bulbs for the first time too! They seem to be everyones favourite this year!

I also like the idea of your garden journal, so I'm going to make one for this year too - thank you!!

Do pop over and see me Helen and I'll get out my prettiest tea cups and make you very welcome!

hugs
Shane

ella said...

Tell Sarah i said Happy Birthday
I hope you have the happiest weekend
Ella xxx

Crafty in the Med said...

Congratualtions ladies....lucky lucky you!!

Amanda x

koralee said...

Our Autumn like days are amazing here....lots of sun and fall colours arriving daily...pure joy. Love those dahlias...one of my favourite flowers...and happy birthday to your sarah!!! xoxo

Eileen said...

Helen, I just found your blog through Pinterest. I love your work! It's so beautiful, and so me... I am re-doing a vintage camper I've dubbed the Pink Paradise and I can see so many of your projects in it - lol! Thank you for sharing all of your lovelies with us :)

Lori ann said...

congratulations lucky winners! i'm sure they'll all treasure a treat from you helen!
lovely post, i loved it right off, autumn is such a perfect season.
xxx lori

gillyflower said...

Congratulations to the winners - lucky them!
Love the pile of pretty Lecien fabrics, such gorgeous colours and designs - must be strange working on Easter projects already!
have a good week Helen!

20 North Ora said...

Helen - Your dahlias are just beautiful - but so is that fabric! I love everything you do.

Judy

harmony and rosie said...

I can't believe I missed your giveaway, what a blow! So glad I popped in to feast my eyes on your cheery photos.
Happy week Helen xox

claire said...

I am in awe of your dahlia's :0
I would love to manage to grow one (this years got eaten by slugs)
Are you lifting them this winter or will you leave and see?

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Hello Helen,
Our postman arrived a short time ago with my lovely Giveaway prize...My pin cushion is beautiful and will have pride of place in my workroom (not sure I will want to stick any pins in it though...it's far too pretty!)
Such a lovely surprise to receive some pretty Cath Kidston buttons too...
Thank you Helen...I'm definitely feeling very lucky!
Hope you are having a happy Wednesday,
Susan x

Claudia said...

Dear Hellen,

I hope you don´t mind I´ve been totally inspired by one of your appliquè works. Of course I´ve included a link to your post and gave you all the credits for the creation. (My projects are just for personal use - I never sell them.)
Please visit my blog whenever you can: http://linhasimaginarias.blogspot.com.br/2012/09/aplicando.html
I love your blog!
Best regards, from Brazil

Paula said...

Oh what absolutely beautiful images - it's been far too long since I've paid a visit to your beautiful blog - SO much to catch up on!!! Your Dahlias are gorgeous - so inspiring - Im always so behind on organising my cuttings garden - my fingers are not quite as green as I'd like them to be as yet!
Sounds like you've got some exciting projects coming up, and I look forward to following them.
Best wishes,
Paula xxx

serendipity said...

That pile of fabrics looks almost good enough to eat! So pretty. Your dahlias are a lovely colour, I plant more every year and usually lose some over winter but I'm going to try and find some like this. xx