Saturday 1 June 2013

Back to the Potting Shed

Here i am back again from our little trip to the lovely cotswolds...........so green and pleasant and flowery...........we stayed in a very tiny cottage, picture postcard style, with windows peeping out through the thatched roof.........the kindly owners had left a bunch of yellow tulips to welcome us and a delicious cake with the label written on........it was called 'blossom cake'..........
 .............it was such a sweet time to visit there.......apple blossom time, and i have never seen so many flower decked apple orchards all in one place before....and all such small, old,  pretty trees.....
 ...........there were flowers everywhere, wild flowers like cow parsley frothing in the hedgerows, spring flowers in the gardens, lilacs in bloom, clematis and wisteria climbing across the honey coloured stone houses, and masses of stylish pots and planters in the little towns..............
 ............we visited lots of gardens, but i haven't had time to sort out all the pictures yet as we have just got back, so here are just a few from my favourite garden...hidcote manor....so beautiful....
 ...........we visited it twice, once on a hot sunny day and once on a rainy afternoon.......it was gorgeous both times..................a dream garden for dreaming in.................
 ...........i loved seeing the potting shed and the kitchen garden as well as the flowers........
                                      .............and I always love a bit of topiary too :)..............
..............on our first day we walked into the little town near our cottage, and there was a man on the village green selling old keys so here is the one i had to buy....he gave me a ribbon too, to hang it from, and a page from an old book 'just because'............i love things happening like this...........
 ...............my garden journal is filling up with notes and ephemera............lots of inspiring garden ideas to remember for the future.............we visited some of the old manor houses as well as the gardens and saw some beautiful textiles, samplers, tapestries, tiny embroidered pin cushions and vintage toys....including some very old rabbits..................no pictures though (not allowed).......
 ................when we got home the first thing to do was check our own garden............
 .............all the columbines were flowering............so pretty...........the grass had grown a LOT..........the first rose was out...........lots of weeds had grown too...........
..............this is just a quick post to catch up, and i will be back to my usual routine this week, with lots of crafty things to show you............thank you for your lovely comments on my tulip quilt and bunnies in my last post, i so enjoyed hearing from you.......i have lots of emails to answer now i'm back and will do that in the next couple of days.........and i look forward to catching up with all your blogs now too..............wishing you happy sunny crafty days..........back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

49 comments:

forgetmenotsblue said...

What beautiful photos that cottage looks idyllic Mx

Ali said...

Beautiful photos - love how your journal is coming along -gorgeous and I have fallen in love with your potting shed :-) enjoy the rest of the weekend xxx

Unknown said...

un lugar muy hermoso, gracias por compartirlo,una casa de tela muy bonita, bye

jan said...

So lovely! I am glad you had such a grand time! Thank you for sharing those photos.
xo jan

thriftwood said...

A beautiful post full of flowers, pretty houses, ribbons and keys ... Lots f my favourite things!

Hope the sun's shining for you xx

Ladybird Diaries said...

What a lovely post. The little cottage is so sweet! Glad you had such a nice holiday.
M x

20 North Ora said...

That looks and sounds like a fantastic getaway! Everything is so charming and beautiful. So glad you had a great time. Love the key.

Judy

Gilly Tee said...

lovely photos, I'm off garden visiting in Cornwall next week so have stolen your idea of a journal--hope you don't mind.
Gillxx

debbie @ happy little cottage said...

Such a lovely way to recharge your creativity!!! Welcome back! xoxo

sky-blu-pink said...

Both garden and journal are so beautiful!

Gabriella said...

Lovely decoration.Kisses from Italia.

greenrabbitdesigns said...

It sounds like you had a lovely break Helen. Your photos are amazing , I love your little cottage so picturesque! Such a shame you didn't get to photograph the bunnies!
V xxx

Unknown said...

Hi Helen what a wonderful post, just loved it. Your images are superb and give us so much, thank you. I just adore your potting shed, must admit I am addicted to your little houses and bunnies.
Lots of love
Dorothy
:-)xxxxx

Gerda said...

Oh indeed, how lovely. Such a beautiful cottage. And a adorable little house again. Groetjes, Gerda

sweetpea family said...

What an adorable cottage, thank you for sharing your lovely images and I just love journals.
Sue x

Gracie Saylor said...

Helen, I eagerly scrolled through this post, savoring your holiday and thinking as I finished that you had acquired the key to the secret garden. Then I scrolled through the whole post again with special appreciation for your first picture of your little potting shed on the secret garden paper. Lovely!
I feel refreshed from viewing your holiday! Thank you! Gracie xx

Lillie and Moss said...

Such lovely images Helen but my favorite is the little fabric cottage...it's just darling!


Emma G said...

Just discovered your blog (when I really should be asleep to recharge from my little ones!), but had to post how inspiring it is- you are now firmly bookmarked and I'll be wading back through all your posts ( you've been very busy in the last 12 months!) so I don't feel like the last one to join the party!
What beautiful and stylish ideas-I'm hooked....ooh and could you point me in the direction of more info about the birdie wreath, it's just stunning!

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh my goodness.. you were living a fairy tale, weren't you? Staying in a thatched roof cottage in the English countryside is a dear held dream of mine. Welcome home!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

vintage grey said...

So beautiful there and glad you had a lovely break!! It must be hard to leave that sweet cottage! Love your sweet potting shed!! Have a great weekend! xo Heather

homemade@myplace said...

what a lovely place, Helen!
xxxxx Ale

margaret said...

you have shared some lovely photos with us tody, can`t believe you have a rose out, still trying to find buds on my bushes, nothing showing yet apart from plenty of very healthy looking leaves.

KC'sCourt! said...

Gorgeous!
Julie xxxxxxxxx

Erna said...

Just wonderful and sunny, hope you will enjoy a sunny Sunday..
Here the sun is shining.
Hugs
Erna x

Things and Thoughts said...

Heavenly beautiful Helen!

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

Helen, what a fabulous little break, a real haven! :) x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Good morning Helen...Your little potting shed is so sweet!
Such a beautiful thatched cottage that your were so lucky to stay in too and I can see that your new garden journal is already filling up with lots of inspiration! I do love old keys too...they all seem to hold a little bit of magic,
Happy Sunday,
Susan x

Plain Jane said...

A wonderful break with some great memories - I love the story of the man with the keys, I wonder where they were from? My garden journal is filling up too and comparing it with this time last year has been really interesting given the cold Spring we've had. Have a lovely sunny Sunday x Jane

Jane said...

Welcome home Helen. What a lovely holiday you had, so many pretty flowers there. I really love your journal that sweet key. I hope you tame your garden soon ;0)
Jane x

Naturally Carol said...

Thank you Helen for sharing your beautiful sunny pictures and all about your delightful holiday. These are just the images I needed right now to brighten up my mood, it has been a cloudy dull week and I've been a bit bruised and sore from my trip down the stairs. Enjoy your week!

Simone said...

A wonderfully inspiring post Helen. I really want to make my garden as beautiful as the ones shown on here. Fancy meeting a man selling old keys! I would love something unusual like that to happen to me!!!x

Cindy said...

What a lovely trip you had! I want to go:) I'm sure you are now inspired to work in your garden and also to make some flowery crafts too.

Unknown said...

Hi Helen,What a fab idea to have a garden break away!!!Just love the key story!!!Have a fab week!!!
Love
AMarie

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a perfect break, I too love Hidcote, its so pretty,and full of lots of lovely ideas,
My friend used to collect old keys, there is something comforting about holding a smooth old worn out key and trying to guess what it was for, I love them..
Happy Sunday
Thea x

Kay said...

Your potting shed is such a lovely idea. Thank you for sharing it with us.

My Little Home and Garden said...

The Cotswolds is one area I'd dearly like to visit, shall visit. I'm torn between the autumn or springtime. If you'd care to cast a vote for either . . .

As always, I enjoyed your post, Helen. Have a wonderful week.

-Karen

The Faerie Factory said...

What pretty pictures and that is the cutest potting shed I ever did see :)

Teje Karjalainen said...

Dear Helen, I'm so happy to hear that you had most wonderful trip! That place looks like from childrens' story! Your little house is so sweet and inspiring!
Have a lovely week! x Teje

Madelief said...

Dear Helen,

Happy to hear you had a good time in The Cotswolds. I enjoyed the story of the key you bought. I hope you will show some photo's of the gardens you visited on your blog.

Your little potting shed looks very sweet!

Happy week!

Madelief x

Sigrun said...

Oh my goodness, possible, that we have met us in the cotswolds, you made the same fotographs than I.


Sigrun

Mia said...

Hello dear Helen,

I think you've capture the summer in this post, just beautiful! And that garden journal...it looks fantastic, and it'll be the best read next to the fire during the winter (not that I would think that at the moment but still)!

Happy first week of June!

Yours,
Mia

Paula said...

Hello dear Helen, I am delighted to hear you had a lovely trip! I love your potting shed fabric house. Very sweet and cheerful! The cottage you stayed in is gorgeous and so are the flowers! I enjoyed all of your beautiful photos so much! How lovely to return home to your own garden blooming beautifully! The key is lovely and it was so nice of the gentleman to give you a ribbon and book page. I love things like that too. Your garden journal is beautiful and quite the treasure. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week! Much love, Paula xo

Anonymous said...

What a lovely time in the Cotswolds they are so picturesque and full of old worldly charm just like your holiday thatched cottage and 'magical' key. It all had the feel of a remembered childhood. And your own garden is very pretty and summery. Thank you for sharing it all. Love Pat x

Unknown said...

Lovely and inspiring, Helen. Your journal is filling up quickly. Thanks for sharing some of your travels.I love late spring and early summer!!

Anne
PlumCreek22 Studio

gillyflower said...

Looks an idyllic country cottage Helen, how lovely!
Thanks for sharing all these pretty photos Helen, your garden journal is coming on beautifully.
Just catching up with your posts as I've been away from the pc a bit, but alas not on holiday!
Gill xx

claire said...

looks like a super holiday and you've been busy already since getting back :)

flowers on my table said...

Hello Helen, looks like you had a wonderful time on your holiday, the photos are lovely. The columbines in your garden are beautiful.
Many thanks for your lovely comments on mine. Thanks for the link to Calico crafts, I got some lovely vintage ephemera stuff to make bunting, and the service was so efficient.
I finally managed to get myself a copy of your last book, it's lovely. I haven't seen your new one yet.
Much love to you, Linda x

Unknown said...

looks like a super holiday and you've been busy already since getting back :)
happy wheels
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