Tuesday 4 March 2014

Hello Spring....and a Winner

 Hello March and (this week anyway) hello Spring too.............the sun has been shining, the birds have been singing and the garden has new spring bulbs opening every day.............
 ............today is another lovely sunny day here and i have already had a little potter in the potting shed, which i have now tidied out and organised ready for the new gardening season..........
 ...........i've swept out the cobwebs and disposed of some things we no longer need...............
                   ...............brought in a few pots of grape hyacinths and primulas.................
 ...............and dusted all the shelves and the pretty things i use as props for photoshoots........
 ...............it is lovely to be out there gardening again, and mr p has re made the pond so now we have it filled with water again, reflecting the trees and moving clouds, and the birds have already happily discovered it too......we still have to add the edging and plants but the main bit is done........charlie is looking forward to when there are frogs in it :).................
 ...........the tete a tete are flowering now....the bigger daffodills are still in bud..........
 .............the colours are so bright and spring like in my crafting this week too.......
 ...............i have been quilting my kitty quilt a LoT of the time, but for a change i began a new hexie patchwork using the bigger hexie templates that i made for joining my star quilt together..........
 ..........love these fabrics, they make me think of seed packets........they are more fabrics from the pam kitty picnic collection.....i am loving using my stash of this as i expect you can tell ;)...............
 .............a lovely old needlework book came my way this week..........fascinating to read...............
 ...........and we had a walk in our favourite local gardens and saw the crocus field in flower.......so magical every year, such a pretty sight, the old gnarled trees make a wonderful backdrop...........
it is time now to announce the winner of the tickets for the country living magazine spring fair.......the first name out of the hat was........sweetpea family .........congratulations to you, sue, and if you can let me know your address i'll post the tickets off to you straightaway................thank you to everyone who entered, and there will be another - worldwide- giveaway here very soon :)
...........thank you, lovely readers, for dropping in here to see me, and for your sweet comments which i love reading...........i wish you a happy crafty week, with sunshine and flowers and a feeling of springtime in the air...............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxx

50 comments:

Simone said...

It's always spring time here at your blog Helen! So much mouthwatering loveliness in this post. I am looking forward to getting back out into the garden too. Can we see your pond when it is finished? x

Joy said...

A lovely post Helen - the colours are all so light, airy and beautiful - definitely spring at your place! Your hexes are looking so good and those crocuses are a delight to behold! It's so good to know you are having sunshine and able to be out in the garden again - everything at your place looks so neat and tidy! Joy x

Annerose said...

Hallo Helen,
schöne deine Blumen und die Töpfe und die tollen Farben. Das wird sicher wieder ein traumhafter Quilt, sieht jetzt schon gut aus. Ich wünsche dir noch ganz viel Spaß in deinem Garten und schicke liebe Grüße
Annerose

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Lovely springtime post Helen, the colours are lovely all those buttery yellows, pinks and greens! Your new hexie quilt is beautiful, such amazing little prints.
Isn't it wonderful getting into the garden again, I'm with Charlie I would like frogs living in my garden too!
Happy week,
V xxx

Unknown said...

Nice photos and bright work)

homemade@myplace said...

hexagons and flowers…. YES!!!!!
xxxxxx Ale

Scented Sweetpeas said...

oohh i got all excited there and then realised there was another Sweetpea family lol :-) Gorgeous spring colours out there in the gardens aren't there and our honey bees have been busy little bees which makes me very happy indeed. I hope you are all well, have fun watching your new pond come to life :-) ooh by the way, I am having another charity auction on my page this year in a couple of weeks time, this time in aid of the Alzheimers Society, if you wanted to join in by donating one of your fab books or something we would love to have you on board - I am making one of your lovely bunnies for the event again this year :-) xxx

Lillie and Moss said...

What a lovely "pick-me-up" post Helen. I am so happy to hear that there actually might be some hope that Spring will come my way soon. Love all your pretty hexi's. They will surely make a lovely quilt!
xx Shari

sweetpea family said...

Thank you so much Helen - you have brightened my day. Sue xxx

Blog da cidoleta said...

Lindas imagens, gosto muito de seu blog. E suas peças são muito bonitas gostei muito bjs.

Lee said...

Hi Helen,your blog is so uplifting and I adore how you do the pics,so refreshing.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my first attempt at machine sewing.My friend is getting some of the patterns enlarged for me then I will be on my way.I love hexigons and have always wanted to make something with them but didn't know where to start,now I do.have a lovely week.

Rhona said...

It's lovely to see the signs of Spring, even if it's only on your blog, Helen! We still have about six inches of snow covering everything....wish Spring would make her appearance here! Love the fabric colour choices...so bright and cheerful.
Have a great week.

Lee said...

Oops,I'm talking about your book of course lol.

Ladybird Diaries said...

Such a lovely post, bright and fresh! It's always a pleasure to visit you here Helen.
Marianne x

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Congrats to your lucky winner! I'm still sewing like crazy but some of my creations aren't turning out like I want! I'll have to try try again! heehee! Enjoy your day my friend!

scrappyjacky said...

I love to see all your Spring pictures....the daffs especially make me happy....they really say 'Spring' to me....our foliage is grown....but no flowers yet.

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

So nice to see spring flowers blooming and hearing about all you are doing in your potting shed. We have new snow and it's very cold here still. I know that one day it will be winter and the next spring, so I patiently wait for it to come. The flowers and trees with little green buds will be coming soon. Love your PKM picnic hexie sewing and look forward to seeing it finished!

forgetmenotsblue said...

Hello Helen
So glad you liked my efforts at making a quilt. Your book really is fab.
You hexagons are really pretty. So many lovely spring inspired photos. I've said this before your pick of the day vase is great, where did you get it from? x

Unknown said...

HayHay!
Lovely Spring Time!
A beautiful post! Thx!!!
Enjoy your beautiful spring :-)
-X- Danielle
ahappymess.blogspot.nl

Mia said...

Hello Helen,

Congrats to the winners!

What a lovely, flower&spring-filled pots, just what I needed here: its been a gray, rainy day here!

Wishing you a wonderful, sunny week!

Yours,
Mia

Unknown said...

What a springtime feeling and look here in your home and blog, Helen.
Congratulations to Sweet Pea Family.
I love daffodils and crocus. We are under meters of snow here in America!!
Spring will come BUT it is slow.

Many greetings to you,
Anne
PlumCreek22 Studio

Jane said...

It's so lovely to get outside again isn't it Helen and at 5.45pm as I type this it's still light, spring really is just around the corner now. Enjoy your creative week and well done to the lucky winners....I was lucky enough to win the tickets over at Vivienne's blog! x

Gracie Saylor said...

How lovely to see your Spring, springing around you, Helen :) I have done some tidying outside as well, but am still waiting for our daffodils to bloom. Charlie would be so excited to explore our ponds. In the afternoons and evenings the froggy chorusing is impressively loud :) Beautiful progress on your current crafting...thanks for posting! xx

Madelief said...

Another lovely and colourful post Helen! Temperatures in Holland must be the same as in your part of the UK. The tête a tête are in bloom in my garden as well. Hopefully this weekend the other narcissus will follow.

Love your hexie!!

Happy evening!

Madelief x

Unknown said...

Even though the mornings are still quite cold, I definitely feel that spring is here - and the flowering trees and bulbs seem to concur! Your hexies are wonderful, I do love hexies, and I'm so happy for dear Sue for winning those tickets! Chrissie x

Jilly said...

What a lovely post. The crocus field is such a pretty sight, I love the colours. It looks a very interesting book as well.

Josie said...

I have your book, but have only just found my way to your blog. I'm so glad that I'm now here, absolutely stunning pictures and so much eye candy.

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Helen, Congrats to Sue!!! Love all the flowers in your post, just a lovely sight. I can only find flowers in our stores here!!! So I'm really enjoying yours. What a beautiful field of crocuses. You are really going to town with the hexies, do love the fabrics.
Have a fabulous sewing week, xoRobin

sky-blu-pink said...

Yours is the prettiest potting shed I have ever seen, for sure! Love the hexy patches, especially the newsprint red ones. Congrats to Sue.

20 North Ora said...

Your blog always cheers me up. The colors are always so upbeat and cheerful. Love all of your flowers. We still have snow.

Judy

Brenda Pruitt said...

All so colorful and cute! I just love your blog.
Brenda

Lorrie said...

This post is a welcome breath of spring on a very wet and dreary day. Lovely bright colours, flowers galore and such a cheery tone. Love it!

Teresa Kasner said...

Hello my friend! Congrats to the winner of your tickets! I look forward to your worldwide giveaway. It would be fun to have something made by you - I admire you a lot. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Helen! So sweet spring here in your blog! I love your hexies and crochet! You do use always most beautiful Fabrics and colours! I enjoy to see your little flowers and gardening! x Teje

Unknown said...

Congrats to the winner!!
I love your new hexies, Helen!! They are so vibrant and colorful!! Have a lovely week,Pati x

vintage grey said...

Such lovely and pretty signs of spring at your sweet home!! Love those cute hexies! Have a wonderful week Helen! xo Heather

A little happy place said...

I love those fabrics and of course those sweet hexies! Congratulations to Sue for winning the tickets, I am sure she will have a wonderful day out! Have a lovely week Helen. Sarah xo

Jacqui Wise said...

Such a pretty quilt and I love your potting shed....inspiration to clear mine out and brighten it up!

gillyflower said...

What a lovely colourful and Springlike post Helen!Your garden looks lovely!
Congrats to Sue on winning your giveaway.
Love those little floral hexies, such pretty fabrics!
Enjoy the sunshine Helen!
Gill xx

Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts said...

Everything looks so bright and happy! The hexies are beautiful. Aren't crocuses wonderful?! A glimmer of hope after a long winter :)

Annie Cholewa said...

Such pretty spring things!

I think I have a copy of that book somewhere .. its fascinating because from a different time, isn't it?

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Your hexies look so pretty Helen....I love the pretty spring colours and it's lovely to see your garden springing to life too with the sunshine!
There will be some very lucky and happy little frogs around when they find their new home!
Congratulations to Sue!
Happy Thursday!
Susan x

Hannapat said...

Hello lovely Helen, your garden is looking so pretty. I love the pretty blue chair and seeing all your gorgeous crocuses, aren't they just the cutest little flowers going?! Also love your pretty hexies, I definitely need a lesson on these. Congrats to Sweetpea family for winning the tickets. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend xoxo

Unknown said...

Your posts always make me so happy, I can gaze at the photos for an age. So bright and colourful. I am motivated for spring now xx

Vintage Tea Time said...

Goodness, your potting shed looks very clean and pretty! Our muscari aren't out yet - I love them. Lots of crocuses and little daffs out though - and fritillaries, which are so pretty. Your work this week is very Springlike. X

Handicraft Passion said...

I couldn't stop admiring your beautiful work

Ali said...

Your photos are gorgeous as always so clean and fresh xxx

Pink Milk said...

Such beautiful colours, Helen. Your posts are always like a breath of fresh air. I always love the fabrics you use too - prettiest little ditsy flowers and rosy prints.

The weather forecast is very promising this weekend so I'm hoping to spend some time in the garden. Dusting off the barbecue might be a little premature though!!

Heather x

My Little Home and Garden said...

This is my second visit to this post and it's just as lovely as the first time, fbull of spring colours and flowers. I treated myself to a bouquet of tulips and will enjoy watching them up over the next few days.

I hope you enjoy your weekend, Helen.

Karen

Annie Cholewa said...

Our daffs are late here so we still just have green spears and I'm drinking in sight of other's spring flowers ... yours are so pretty, and ditto your potting shed and your patchwork. Here's hoping your Sunday is as gloriously sunny as mine here in North Wales :)