Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Secret Garden

 I wanted to make myself a new garden notebook for this summer, so i bought a book with handy pockets and lots of pages, (meant for recipes) and decorated the front cover with scrapbook papers and rubber stamps......many were from my stash but i also found some beautiful new ones in the *secret garden* range from graphic 45............as soon as i saw these papers and the lovely artwork they reminded me of the first garden i ever knew and loved................
............when i was a small child we lived in a victorian house with a walled garden at the back.....i have wonderful memories of the atmosphere there...a fig tree growing against a warm brick wall, apple trees, roses and a vegetable patch, mulberries, radishes, daisies and crab apples, and in the spring time bluebells and lily of the valley......i think of that garden often and always, looking back, it was sunny :)...........when i grew older and read *the secret garden* by frances hodgson burnett, i thought it was rather like my garden too...............
 ..............the new garden notebook is a work in progress as i decorate the inside and i'll be showing you more pages of it soon...............
 ...........here is the front of the book being decorated, with bits being added and taken away :)..........
 ...............we are planning lots of lovely garden visits soon, so i will be writing in this book, and storing postcards, leaflets and garden ephemera in the pockets...........can you see my latest crochet crush in this picture too?..................
 .................making sweet and colourful flowers from various youtube videos..........
 ............i'm still loving crocheting the ripple blanket too, and it's about half finished now and a joy to work on........but somehow i got a little yen to try these multi layered flowers and to see how they work.......always a pleasure to find out the way something is constructed :)...............

 ............I've made quite a few now......couldn't stop really...........and am not sure what i'm going to do with them yet but i just know they will be lovely for something soon..............
 ...............i thought i'd pop a picture of some real flowers in here too............i love these bellis daisies.......i didn't manage to get a picture of the cherry blossom here before it suddenly all got dashed off the tree by the high winds...........it was like confetti over the grass and the tree had turned back to green after being so white and flowery the day before....................the apple blossom is still holding on and looking lovely though so i will take some pictures of that next.....................
.............by the way, the secret garden papers and stamps are available in many places but i got mine here.........thank you so much for dropping in here today it is always wonderful to see you and to hear from you too............wishing you a happy, sunny, flowery and crafty week.............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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60 comments:

  1. Teje Karjalainen15 May 2013 at 14:31

    Helen, that's a lovely idea and you made your new book so beautiful! Thar absolutely inspires to write and add different little things and memories there! When I was young, I used to do all kind of books - one big was for all the dog breeds, I draw pictures and wrote everything I just could find for the breeds! Have a lovely garden trips! x Teje

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  2. 20 North Ora15 May 2013 at 14:47

    Helen - What a beautiful book to have to write about your garden and keep items in. As usual, it has your cheerful and happy look. Love those little double layered flowers!

    Judy

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  3. Jules15 May 2013 at 14:47

    Beautiful! Thank you!

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  4. greenrabbitdesigns15 May 2013 at 15:03

    I love how you describe your childhood garden Helen, isn't it funny how looking back the weather always seemed sunny!
    Your garden notebook is so pretty and will be a lovely place to store some new memories.
    Gorgeous crochet flowers too, I know addictive they can become. :)
    V xxx

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  5. Cindy15 May 2013 at 15:35

    Your garden journal is very pretty. I've been wanting to make one, and I did start, but I forget to add to it!
    If you show more of your book, maybe it will inspire me to keep up with mine:)

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  6. elviras drops15 May 2013 at 15:39

    Love your garden book, so pretty!
    You are lucky growing up in a house with such a wonderful garden. I aslo read that book when I was quite young and loved it.
    I also really, really like your crocheted flowers, I'm looking forward to see how you will decorate with them.
    Mari:-)

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  7. KC'sCourt!15 May 2013 at 15:55

    What a lovely idea, I'm off to make one! First of all I need to locate a book with pockets...... I read the Secret Garden too. Its a lovely story.
    Your crochet flowers are pretty too.
    Julie xxxxxx

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  8. Gerda15 May 2013 at 16:11

    You made your book look really lovely and springlike. Love your crochet work too. Sometimes it's so relaxing just crocheting little things. I do have a lot of flowers laying around too. Groetjes, Gerda

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  9. forgetmenotsblue15 May 2013 at 16:12

    I love your garden book what a good idea using a recipe book. I like the pockets.
    Lovely crochet blanket and flowers too all very pretty :)

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  10. Vintage Tea Time15 May 2013 at 16:18

    I have a garden notebook - but not nearly as pretty as yours! - and without pockets - a recipe book - what a good idea - thanks! Sweet little crochet flowers too. Have a good week. Abby x

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  11. SuperMomNoCape15 May 2013 at 16:32

    Oh I love you Secret Garden journal. It's so pretty.

    Perhaps the small flowers could be sewed onto your ripple blanket once it's finished... perhaps a little in from the end, following one of the ripples.

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  12. The Faerie Factory15 May 2013 at 16:38

    Such a pretty secret garden journal. The Secret Garden is one of my favourite books and I love the old black and white movie too. I'm always trying to peer over walls and through gateways to see if a secret garden lies behind them. Thanks for such a bright and cheery post .... Sarah x

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  13. vintage grey15 May 2013 at 17:22

    Hi Helen, Such a beautiful garden journal!! Already full of pretty inspiration!! Love the roses and strawberries! Your flowers are so cute!! Wishing you a sweet and creative week!! xo Heather

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  14. sewa mobil15 May 2013 at 17:45

    Very nice, thanks for sharing.

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  15. Things and Thoughts15 May 2013 at 18:33

    You are so well organized Helen! It has never passed from my mind to have a garden book!And so cute...just perfect!I always leave your blog a little happier...Thank you!

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  16. Deborah15 May 2013 at 19:22

    Your lovely garden journal is such an antidote for our dependence on the internet and computer file folders. Thanks so much for triggering my own garden memories.....especially my mother's amazing yellow rose trellis.

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  17. Teresa Kasner15 May 2013 at 19:39

    Dear Helen, visiting your blog is like a walk in a summer garden, all pretty flowers and lovely colors.. I adored your description of your childhood garden. I also love the Secret Garden and even have it in my iBook shelf. :-) ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  18. busybusybeejay15 May 2013 at 19:45

    I love your description of your childhood garden.Crochet flowers make lovely bunting for in your craft room or bedroom.

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  19. Ladybird Diaries15 May 2013 at 19:46

    I love your little garden journal - so pretty!
    M x

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  20. Hannapat15 May 2013 at 20:36

    What a lovely idea and something you can look back on one day. I love what you have done with it, its gorgeous. I so enjoy walled gardens and how lucky were you to grow up with one as your garden. I to absolutely love the 'secret garden', it is such a wonderful story. Love the colours of your ripple blanket, its looking great and the flowers are very sweet. Thanks for sharing xoxo

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  21. Lesa15 May 2013 at 21:15

    I'm just joining the crowd to say what a lovely experience it is to read your posts. I don't say it often enough, but I truly enjoy a peek at your creativity and then be inspired by your art. Thank you for letting us share in your beautiful work.

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  22. Unknown15 May 2013 at 21:52

    Scatter your pretty crochet flowers over you ripple blanket - a Secret Garden Blanket! Such a clever idea for the notebook, could be adapted for different hobbies, too. Chrissie x

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  23. Brenda Pruitt15 May 2013 at 22:36

    I love your cute little flowers and your gardening journal!
    Brenda

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  24. homemade@myplace16 May 2013 at 02:32

    beautiful delicate flowers!!!!
    xxx Ale

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  25. thriftwood16 May 2013 at 07:27

    What a pretty notebook, Helen ... would be a joy to use! Love your pictures, so colourful, especially love the bellis in the teacups. Was wondering what to replace my muscaris and mini daffs with, as I have them dotted all over the house... now I know!

    Tanks for sharing your lovely ideas

    Claire xx

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  26. Simone16 May 2013 at 08:38

    The garden notebook is a great idea Helen. I think they would make lovely gifts too! If I am looking for inspiration I know I will always find it in your blog! I love your clean, fresh and up to date approach to crafting. x

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  27. Naturally Carol16 May 2013 at 08:55

    Maybe a bit of sticking and stamping is just what I need to get over my overdose of knitting and crocheting just now! Beautiful inspirations! Have a happy week Helen!

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  28. Vintage Sheet Addict16 May 2013 at 09:06

    Your childhood garden sounds enchanting, we went from a small but perfectly kept garden to a rambling overgrown one! It had old cars, sheds, and air raid shelter....child's paradise really....so many things you could break limbs on! Unfortunately we were only there for a few years then moved to a small but perfectly maintained garden again! :) x

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  29. CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS16 May 2013 at 13:52

    Your secret garden sounds enchanting and those wee crochet flowers are so very sweet. Hugs Judy

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  30. Lori ann16 May 2013 at 17:12

    dear helen, i LOVE your new garden notebook! i am a very big lover of keeping different books, journals. yours is so very pretty and even though i don't have time (or should say don't give much time) to gardening, i am inspired once again by you. maybe i will need a garden book too! i am also loving the ripple and those darling flowers. crochet is mostly a mystery to me, although i can do the very basics.
    maybe this will be the year i do more. thank you for the lovely photos and always delightful inspiration!
    xxxxxxxxx lori

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  31. Mia16 May 2013 at 18:52

    Hello dear Helen,

    That is the most adorable garden-book!!! I think I will "steal" your idea when we get to the new house and get to the garden. That is a lovely, lovely way to keep the memories fresh and also write down things for the following years to remember. Thank you for sharing!

    Happy and sunny weekend soon!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  32. Unknown16 May 2013 at 18:54

    Gorgeous and stunning Helen,you always give us so much. Just love your work.
    Lots of love
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxx

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  33. Crafted by Carly16 May 2013 at 19:51

    What a beautiful book - and a lovely idea! :-)
    Carly
    x

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  34. Anonymous16 May 2013 at 20:30

    Thank you for sharing a little bit of your childhood - all your 'secret' gardens sound and look idyllic. How sweetly you have used these early inspirations in your crafts. Your new book looks set to be another treasure. Pat x

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  35. Madelief16 May 2013 at 20:38

    Dear Helen,

    It's good to see you are 'hooked' too :-)

    Your flowers look really sweet and your ripple blanket lovely! I am still working on my granny square blanket. In between I try out some flowers like yours and doilies, but it doesn't always go well :-)

    Your garden journal looks good. Looking forward to see more!

    Happy evening!

    Madelief x

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  36. mynestofyarnandbuttons16 May 2013 at 22:25

    Hi Helen, A garden book is such a nice idea and pretty too. I love the way you enhanced the cover and the pages. A new book for each year is a good way to keep your garden ideas year to year.
    Love the candy colored crocheted flowers, I can imagine how addictive they must be.
    Hope you have a sunny weekend for your gardening, xoRobin

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  37. Paula17 May 2013 at 00:35

    Hello sweet Helen, your garden book is beautiful! Your childhood home and garden sounds incredible! I am so glad you have such wonderful memories of it. I love the Secret Garden! I just finished reading Anne of Green Gables, now I am reading A Little Princess, then I am going to read A Secret Garden. I have read them all before but enjoy rereading them again and again. I love all the cheerful papers and stamps you used on the cover of your book. Your crochet flowers are so lovely as is your ripple blanket! I love your English Daisies. Those are some of my favorite flowers, but they don't do well in our climate. If I can find them in the spring I always buy some to enjoy in the garden while the weather is nice. Thank you for sharing the link. I hope you have a happy, sunny, flowery and crafty week too! Lots of love, Paula xo

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  38. koralee17 May 2013 at 04:34

    Oh my what lovely pages in the most adorable jounal! Your colours over here always make me so so happy my friend. I adore your little english daisies...I planted some in my garden this year. xoxo Happy Happy weekend to you.

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  39. Gracie Saylor17 May 2013 at 07:51

    Ohhhh, your own secret garden, Helen...I'm so glad you had one, and shared your lovely memory of it with us!
    I have yet to keep a garden notebook or crochet any flowers, but yours are lovely and encourage me to do both. Thank you :-)
    xx,
    Gracie

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  40. ♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM17 May 2013 at 09:42

    Good morning Helen...Your secret Garden notebook is beautiful and I'm going to enjoy reading about all the things that go inside those gorgeous pages in the coming months!
    I love your pretty crochet flowers ...I've been making flowers again myself this week in the evenings and it's definitely addictive..I can see I'm going to have flowers everywhere soon...only a good thing! (will show you in my next post) Your daisies are so very pretty too....
    Keeping my fingers crossed for a sunny weekend so that we can spend time in our gardens (I haven't been there at all this week)
    Happy weekend lovely friend,
    Susan x

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  41. sew17 May 2013 at 10:55

    Your book is lovely & it will be so nice to see how it develops. I too have the crochet flower bug (incurable, I think) and have made a garland with a crochet chain to hang around the window in my little summerhouse. Thank you for your endless inspiration.

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  42. gillyflower17 May 2013 at 11:05

    Your garden notebook is so pretty, and is such a good idea to record visits, ideas and leaflets.
    Love the sweet little crochet flowers, and the bellis daisies look very pretty.
    It's so good to visit here and see so much prettiness on another dull and chilly spring day - thankyou!
    Gill xx

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  43. my4lilgirls17 May 2013 at 13:13

    That is so pretty Helen, would love to try one, bt my gardens a mess at the mo, so I don't feel too inspired bt it. Mind you the suns out today so I might finally get busy out there.
    Loving your blanket lovely colours
    Karen x

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  44. Clara {Clover and Violet}17 May 2013 at 22:33

    Love your flowers crochet and real! What a sweet journal, I have been thinking of making one to keep for quilts! Such a pretty post!

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  45. The warm fireplace17 May 2013 at 23:38

    Todays post brought back lovely memories of my nannas garden, it was a cottage garden with crazy paving paths that twisted and turned, i loved to run around and hide in it, smell all the lovely scents from her flowers.
    Sue

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  46. moonstruckcreations18 May 2013 at 13:05

    The Secret Garden was one of my favourite books as a girl.

    Love your garden journal, so pretty yet practical too!

    Have a great weekend, Helenxx

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  47. Annie Cholewa18 May 2013 at 21:57

    I like the idea of writing notes about gardens you visit.

    We were at Powis Castle garden yesterday ... primroses, tulips and honeysuckle were all flowering it's been such a crazy spring!

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  48. Anonymous19 May 2013 at 01:10

    Love your new book, and what fun to have it ready for your garden visits! Hugs ~ Mary

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  49. ...Nina Nixon...20 May 2013 at 19:25

    Hi Helen - I'd love to live somewhere with garden like that. We do have a walled garden, but all it contains is snails that like to hide then sneak on out at night and eat my tender plants...big sigh!

    I love your note book.

    Nina x

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  50. serendipity22 May 2013 at 10:12

    What a lovely idea for a notebook, very pretty. xx

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  51. Sam I Am......23 May 2013 at 15:41

    What a great idea and now I'm off on another tangent! LOL! I stayed away from scrap booking but now you've got me hooked and I just spent 45 minutes on Amazon looking at G45 products....Oh My! LOVE!!!! So many ideas and your notebook is such a great one and pretty too. I love your crocheted flowers. I made some last year but yours are so 3-dimensional and really look just like your real flowers in the pot.
    The ripple is so sweet and colorful and they are so fun to make. How you do it all is beyond me but you do and we're all very grateful for it!

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  52. flowers on my table27 May 2013 at 22:24

    I love your secret garden notebook Helen, it is really pretty. I love the sound of that first garden you fell in love with, it sounds like a little piece of heaven. 'The Secret Garden'book and movie have long been a favorite of mine too.The double layered crochet flowers are really cute. Much love to you, Linda x

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  53. Tammy31 May 2013 at 11:15

    I always have intentions of starting some sort of journal -- art, travel, quotes and inspiration -- but somehow, I begin and never continue with it. Your garden journal is so lovey. And I know without a doubt you will do something wonderful with those crocheted flowers. Best wishes, Tammy

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