Monday 7 July 2014

Flower Market

 After a leisurely start to our day, with breakfast outdoors in la palmerie and a stroll along the promenade des anglais, we arrived at the flower market......
 .............lots of people had told me i'd love it there and i did............mr p liked seeing it too.......
 ...............so many fruits to see and buy..........and lots of little cafes on the edge of the market......perfect for a cold drink and a rest in the shade as the day was very HoT.........
                                     ................melons, peaches, big bright tomatoes.......
                                      ..........and of course big bunches of sunflowers...............
 ..................not just flowers, fruit and vegetables....there were pretty coloured soaps too......
 ...............and baskets of colourful nougat (my father's favourite, we bought him some)..............
 ..........seeing the flower market reminded me of my half done quilt, which i had put to one side due to the 'christmas rush' of designing lately...........when i got home from france, i got my quilt out again and sewed some lemons on it, and then it seemed complete............
 ................it already had strawberries and cherries on it........quite a fruit market.............i pinned the layers of the quilt together with curved basting pins and began hand stitching it..............
 ..................here is my shady spot in the garden, perfect for sipping cups of tea and sewing a quilt while listening to the bees buzzing and enjoying the scent of roses and honeysuckle.......
 ...................here is my soon-to-be-scrapbook filled with ephemera from our trip............
 ..................and here are the stripy roses in our garden this week, the last ones to flower......they have a gorgeous scent though not very many flowers............i celebrated my birthday last weekend and received some lovely flowers and presents for it......pictures to follow soon :)........
 .................next week it will be all about the sweetpeas :)........they are all coming in to flower now and how lovely it is that cutting them is positively encouraged, in fact essential to their continued growth....so no flower-cutting guilt at all.....snip snip snip..............
...............thank you lovely readers for calling by my little blog space to visit me........and merci for your very kind comments and for taking the time to write them when life is so busy........i hope you are all enjoying a happy week with sunshine, flowers and time to craft................back soon xxxxxxxooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxx

46 comments:

Ingrid Orens said...

I absolutely love the quilt you are making !! The cherries on it are so cute !
PS, my god, they're completely bonkers in Nice, 5 euros for half a kilo of strawberries ?? That 's really ripping off tourists...

KC'sCourt! said...

Looks at those lemons - I can smell them from here! Those soaps are a patchwork in themselves! I wish I can grow sweetpeas.........
Julie xxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucie said...

C'est tellement beau, on s'y croirait presque! Your blog is a pleasure for my eyes.
Lucie xxx

Lorrie said...

There's nothing like a French market - everything so fresh and arranged beautifully. Belated Happy Birthday. Your stripy roses are gorgeous. I didn't get sweet peas planted this year, so I'll have to enjoy photos of yours when they come.

mrsmcbee said...

JUst love your new quilt you are making!! Can't wait to see it when its done. Are the squares about 4 inches?

Jane said...

What a gorgeous market Helen and it has inspired your quilt so perfectly. I hope you had a very happy birthday and were spoilt xx

A little happy place said...

What a feast for the eyes!! Sarah xo

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Isn't the flower market just so beautiful Helen! We visit every time we're there, I would never tire of it!
And those vintage inspired post cards are must haves too! :)
I think lemons are the perfect addition to your quilt, they will remind you of the Côte d'Azur very time you see them.
I agree about sweet peas, definitely guilt free cutting.
Have a lovely week Helen,
V x

Cindy said...

What pretty pictures of the market! And your fruit on the quilt will be a great reminder of your trip.
I love sweet peas, but I planted them kind of late. Hope I get some flowers. In the meantime, I will enjoy yours:)

Sam I Am...... said...

Lovely pictures and I too LOVE that quilt...I think it is my new favorite!
Happy belated birthday!

Unknown said...

Wath a nice market my friend, thank you for sharring :)
Sea blessings from the hearth
Nina

scrappyjacky said...

That looks so like the market we visited in France....they are always wonderful.
I do look forward to seeing your scrapbook.

Simone said...

Belated Birthday wishes! Flowers, fruit, soaps, nougat, quilts - what is not to love? I yearn to go to the South of France one day. I am sure I would feel quite at home! x

Christine B said...

Hope you had a very happy birthday Helen! The market photographs all look so enticing and I love how you added some lemons to your quilt when you got home. It is looking delightful! xxx

Dora, the Quilter said...

What wonderful market colors. They should inspire a few quilts! Thank you for sharing them with your readers!

Unknown said...

Beautiful!!! Such a stunning trip, and obviously inspirational, the colours of the quilt reflect the market! Chrissie x

Ana Love Craft said...

Belated Happy Birthday, Helen!!!Very nice market and great pitures!I love the lemons on your wonderful quilt!
Your garden is absolutely beautiful and inspiring!
Have a fabulous day and week!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

Joy said...

Ah …. all things bright and beautiful …. thank you so much for sharing your delightful holiday pics with us, Helen! Your quilt looks gorgeous and you have such a lovely spot in the garden to sit, sew, and meditate on happy things. Happy Belated Birthday, and I'll look forward to pics of your special day as well as more of your beautiful sweet peas, I love them! xoJoy

elizabeth ann clawson said...

I LOVE your quilt! Actually I love everything you make. The colors........ sigh so pretty.

Baa. xxx said...

What a beautiful place to sit and sew!

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh my, what a colorful and exciting market! What I wouldn't give to go there. I think it's neat that you came home and sewed a lemony memory on your quilt. Love all your colorful images, my friend.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

vintage grey said...

Hi Helen,
Oh, what a beautiful day and such a lovely market!! I am in love with your quilt! It is beautiful! Wishing you a wonderful week!! xo Heather

Gracie Saylor said...

Belatedly, Happy Birthday, Helen! I loved seeing some of the lovely things you saw on your trip and how they inspired your creativity when you got home. I love sweetpeas, too, but have not succeeded in growing any yet, so I will enjoy yours from across the pond :) Thanks for sharing! xx

justpootling said...

Such an amazing market Helen, a true feast for the eyes, and isn't it funny how inspiration just comes from everywhere. I love that on your return you added the lemons to your quilt - a perfect reminder.
Have a lovely week
Kate x

Amy at love made my home said...

Glad that you had such a great time! The sunflowers are beautiful aren't they. Your quilt looks very pretty, the lemons are a great reminder of your visit! xx

Unknown said...

A belated happy birthday Helen!!!! Love the quilt you're working on!!!! The market looks fantastic and the soaps and nougat would have been in my shopping bag for sure!!!! A perfect spot for outside crafty works!!!! Love it!!!! Have a fab fun filled happy week!!!
Love
AMarie xxx

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

Your photos are beautiful!! I love the flowers and the fresh fruit too! Your hexi pillow really has my attention and your quilt with the appliqué is also a favorite!!

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Happy Belated Birthday Wishes to you lovely Helen...it's such a treat to be catching up with your posts today!
How beautiful your photographs of your trip to France are...the colours are so inspiring and your quilt is looking so very pretty too..I'm sure it will always remind you of your trip and those wonderful markets.
I love your stripy roses (and you know I always think you find the prettiest of flowers!)
Hope you're having a great week,
Susan x

Anonymous said...

Hello Helen,
Your fruit market quilt is looking fabulous - your appliqued fruit and lettering fabric. Loved the patchwork of soaps on display, and all the flowers are beautiful. Love Pat x

Annerose said...

Wie schön und lecker das alles aussieht. Gefällt mir gut und deine Kirschen sehen faszinierend aus.
Liebe Grüße Annerose

Anonymous said...

Hi Helen! Everything looks so sweet and summery here! I love your summer photos and the quilt Project as well as the hexy pillow are most beautiful! Have a lovely time! x Teje

forgetmenotsblue said...

Hello Helen
It all looks so beautiful! The quilt project looks fab!
I have stripy roses too aren't they so pretty x

driftwood said...

oh I love markets, that one looks amazing xxx

sky-blu-pink said...

What a beautifully colourful post! Live the fruit salad stylemof the quilt, and your little garden shady spot is delightful! I hope you were throughly spolied on your special day!

Jennifer Hays said...

So much color and pretty things to see. I love the little fruits appliqued on the quilt, just darling.

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I think sweetpeas are just the best, lovely summer post! :) x

DianeM said...

Happy Belated Birthday! Your trip pics are gorgeous <3 I love the addition of lemons to your quilt top - perfect choice :)
Smiles, DianeM

Christine said...

You just made me want to go to the farmer's market! I love the quilt and your quilting spot! It looks so dreamy.

Poppy Black said...

So, so pretty! Everything looks so fresh and colourful xxxxx

Frances said...

Helen, may I wish you a very Happy, if a bit belated, Birthday! Many happy returns, too.

Lots and lots of happy colors in this post, from France and Britain. Your "stripey" rose is a really lovely, distinctive flower. And, how much I do love sweet peas. Aren't they irresistible?

It's fun to see how your travels and your own garden are influencing your current stitching. Everything is looking so good. xo

gillyflower said...

The finished quilt is lovely Helen, and the fruits are the perfect finishing touch! Your bench area looks very pretty and peaceful, lovely for a spot of hand sewing in the outdoors!
Hope your weather is better than ours in the south east at the moment - no chance here of any outdoor sewing.
Gill xx

Mia said...

Hello Helen,

Great inspiration - those fruits and berries in their many colors are wonderful, and the quilt will be so pretty! Happy sewing!

Wishing you a great, sunny July-weekend soon!

Yours,
Mia

claire said...

I love your market pic's - we are just back from Italy and I took similar photos of Italian lemons and tomatoes! I love the stripy rose too :) Lovely pictures .

cristina said...

Your hexie cushion is beautiful!
and the waves blanket is so beautiful
stroll through your blog is always a joy!!!
Thank you Helen for sharing and thank you for visiting me!
thank you! you make me happy!

flowers on my table said...

Hello Helen, the market looks very colourful and lovely. My Dad's favourite was nougat too, I remember buying him the little cardboard cartons of individually wrapped nougat, I think it was Callard and Bowsers, and he thought it was awfully posh! I dare say he would have loved French nougat.
Your quilt is beautiful, I love all the appliqued fruit. Your stripey roses are just divine.
All my love, Linda x

Unknown said...

What a gorgeous market Helen and it has inspired your quilt so perfectly. I hope you had a very happy birthday and were spoilt xx
happy wheels
super mario bros
pacman
agario