Monday 13 July 2015

Strawberry Season

 We have had a lot of sunny, summery days over the past week or two, when i took these photos.....
 ..........this morning it was cool and grey and rainy, but that is how the garden likes it sometimes, and i know the sunny days will be back soon........we have been enjoying strawberry season here.....
 ..............picking them, and eating them.......daisy prefers eating strawberries and other fruits to eating sweets........i like to put them in this pretty vintage bowl that we found in grannie's attic...............
 ...............as well as real strawberries being much enjoyed, i have been working very hard at every spare moment on my strawberry stars quilt top...........when the end is in sight with a big project like this i begin to speed up with the piecing and the sewing.......
 .............i always feel inspired when the quilt top begins to drape when i put it down, and take on the feel and look of a quilt...........so many different effects as the fabrics fall randomly next to each other........
 ..............last week i just needed to make a few more pink patterned stars and sew them on, then add a few joining hexagons......this week i am adding the side joining pieces and the small border, and then it will be time to choose the backing and binding fabric and get it quilted.....i made the strawberry stars quilt from the star quilt pattern which is in my new book, due to be published in october......the templates for the quilt and the pieces which straighten and join the edges are all included and the good news is that all the templates in this book are full size so no need to enlarge them :)........
 ...............here is a peek at the pretty cover............i believe that the book is available for pre order now on amazon.....
 ............i will tell you more about *modern vintage gifts* and show some projects when i receive my   advance copy....... the pages are looking so pretty, thanks to the wonderful design team at david and charles publishers.............the whole process of making a book is very exciting to me :).....
 ..............out into the flowery garden now, to see my favourite roses in bloom...........
 ..............this bush is growing big and rambling now and is and ready for a bit of a trim, which i will do when it has finished flowering..............the roses here are under planted with cranesbill....i love the combination.............and so do the bees and butterflies.................
 .............below are some of my birthday flowers............beautiful peonies with lots of other pretty pinks and purple flowers, including some gorgeous clematis, and alchemilla mollis foliage.......mister p is a good flower chooser ;).................
 ............one afternoon each week i collect my sweet grandchildren charlie and daisy from school and they come home with me for tea and to play...........if the weather is nice we sit out at the garden table for drinks and a snack and talk about our day...........i love having this time with them as they are growing so fast and the same is true for their little cousin, baby rhys.......we saw him the past two weekends, and he can 'talk' a lot now, and eat pureed vegetables and fruit from a tiny spoon..........he is so cute with his chubby little limbs, beaming smiles and peachy, downy head..............
.................this week as well as doing my quilt i am working on a design for 2016......yes, that far off, it sounds like a date waaaay into the future..........i am also making a project for another magazine feature a little closer in time......so, keeping busy, but still enjoying the hazy days of summer......i hope you are too, dear readers, and want to say thank you for visiting me, following me and for taking the time to leave such kind comments..........wishing you all a wonderful week................back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

49 comments:

Jacky H said...

Hi Even though the weather hasn't looked much like summer you really capture the essence in your photos.
I can't wait for your book to come out.
Good luck with it

Gill - That British Woman said...

hot and humid here. Your photos are perfect summer photos. Grandchildren grow up so fast, already mine are 10, 20 and 30 months old......

Winwick Mum said...

Ooh, how exciting that your book is nearly ready - your quilt is looking fabulous! I also have a book nearly ready (a Sockalong companion book) and it's inordinately exciting to see your work in print, isn't it? Your post is full of beautiful pictures as always! xx

Kate said...

Such mouth-watering photos, Helen!

KC'sCourt! said...

Beautiful photos, and another book to look out for
Julie xxx

Jane said...

There is nothing that shouts summer more than strawberries is there Helen. Your new book looks wonderful, many congratulations. Enjoy your days with the grandchildren, such special times which pass so quickly. Have a lovely week, I think the sun is due back mid week. Hugs xx

Madelief said...

Dear Helen,

So exciting to have a book published. The cover looks beautiful! I can imagine the inside being very pretty and inspirational. I hope that you will show us more in due time.

Your strawberry quilt looks beautiful! Wishing you more warm and sunny summer days.

Madelief x

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Strawberries definitely mean summertime! I love your beautiful strawberry quilt and I'm very excited to get a copy of your wonderful new book!
Mr P really is a good flower chooser! :)
Have a lovely week Helen,
V x

Simone said...

Helen you are so busy, busy, busy!!! I love strawberries and I love the front cover of your new book! Hope you have a good week. x

Jo@awholeplotoflove said...

Lovely photos as always & that's fantastic news about your book. x

Christine B said...

Such beautiful photographs and colours again Helen... I always love visiting your blog! Your new book looks very exciting... I'll have to pop across to Amazon to have a look! Enjoy your week! :) x

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

Such a busy time for you Helen...well done on your new book! :) xxx

Ingrid Orens said...

On a grey day like today, your lovely photos remind me that the rain will only be temporary, that it is still summer !
And the cover of your book is so pretty !!! Congratulations !!

Susan said...

I love the cover of your book. I can't wait to get a copy and make the star quilt. :) Your strawberry stars quilt is lovely. Such soft colors blending. Thanks for sharing your world with us. I always find it a delight.

des souris et des lunes said...

I love every little bit of this post ♥

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

So excited for you and the book release, bet you can't wait !!!
Jillxo

Ali said...

Oooh looking forward to your new book - gorgeous photos as always and a great post xxx

Mylittlepieceofengland said...

How exciting, can't wait to see your new book I know I'm going to love it xx

Jenn M said...

The Strawberry Stars quilt looks just lovely, despite the weather you're having at the moment. I'm actually wishing for a few rainy days so I can sew in the basement without the guilt of missing the sunshine outside!
Can't wait for the new book: I hope the North American cover is just as pretty!
Jenn

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

I always enjoy a stop at your blog to see your beautiful colorful photos. LOVE the strawberry stars quilt and I know just what you mean about speeding up when the end is in sight. There's just a little added excitement seeing that your project is coming to completion! It's so fun that you have that time one day a week with your grandchildren. I have a friend who does the same - collects her two grandchildren one afternoon a week after school to spend time with them. :o)

Kim said...

Summer IS strawberries, rain or shine! :) Pretty book cover, how exciting!

PamKittyMorning said...

Oh Helen, it looks fantastic! I can't wait to rush to Amazon and preorder! As usual love all your photos, and thank you ever so much for making pretty things with my fabric! xo

Gracie Saylor said...

Well you should be excited about being part of creating your books, Helen! I am happy for you as well and I appreciate your work and your joy as you share it with us. I can appreciate also the joy you have being with your grands and watching them grow. Thanks for creating another, lovely and inspiring post. xx

Jo said...

Our strawberries have all finished now but they were very nice. Your quilt is going to be lovely. Jo

Janet said...

So looking forward to your new book. The quilt looks beautiful, very inspiring.

Viola said...

Hi Helen, your Strawberry Quilt looks gorgeous. Especially now as there is strawberry time. My daughter is picking them every day now and we enjoy them a lot. We have a lot of rain here in North Germany, I would love to have the sun back. The front page of your new book looks wonderful, I am quite curious about it. Have a nice week, Viola

scrappyjacky said...

Your garden is looking lovely....there's nothing like an English garden in early summer....nothing like English strawberries either!
Love the look of the book.

DianeM said...

OMGoodness...I CANNOT wait for your new book to be published!! I am enjoying all your summertime posts so much <3
Smiles, DianeM

Teje said...

Dear Helen, I'm so happy for your new book! Hope to see it soon! Hand sewing also here, your strawberry stars are so beautiful! x Teje

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Oh dear sweet Helen, you are too much! You are making and doing so many lovely things. I love the growing quilt and the book is wonderful. Can't wait to hear more about and to get my hands on one! Glad you are enjoying the summer days and having time for your grandchildren. They do grow so fast. Take care and maybe I will get back to blogging sometime this summer, for now I just have time to read a few!
xoRobin

Annerose said...

Hallo Helen du hast ja einen tollen Garten, wunderschön und dein Quilt wird ganz toll. Wie immer so schöne Stoffe und Farben. Ich bin gespannt auf dein neues Buch.Liebe Grüße AnneRose

Rhona said...

What beautiful summer pictures! Your granddaughter sounds exactly like my daughter was at that age (and still is!) preferring fruits to sweets....but that's such a good thing!
How exciting having a new book published...congratulations! Looking forward to seeing it.

Sharon - creativity and family said...

such a pretty summery post. I love the look of your quilt, beautiful!!

Frances said...

Helen, strawberries really are the Stars of the season, aren't they.

Your quilt's combination of fabrics suits your design perfectly. I predict great success for your upcoming book. I know how glad I am to have your Pretty Patchwork Gifts. I consult it often, and each time know that eventually...I will make my first hexy quilted something or other!

xo

Cindy said...

What a pretty quilt! I love the hexies in between. I can't wait for your new book. I know I will love it!

sew said...

Beautiful post, as always.
There's a pick-your-own just around the corner from where I live, so it's strawberries for us too.
These grandchildren grow up so quickly - my granddaughter was four this month - all the best birthdays are in July!!
I'm off with some friends to Llandudno today - Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

serendipity said...

Your posts are always so pretty and inspirational. I look forward to seeing the new book. Debbie. x

Kay said...

The book cover looks amazing, i can't wait to get it. x

Blondie's Journal said...

Your flowers are always lovely, Helen, and the bouquets given by your sweet husband---outstanding :) We've have tons of rain here in the Midwest and although it gives the plants a good drink of water, so little sun is not great. Hanging in there!

Your quilt is looking awesome. I love how you referred to the 'draping'. I don't quilt but I love embroidery and when I feel the bulk of the piece---it's very exciting!

Congratulations on your upcoming book! Is it about quilting only? Just curious---you have a good many talents. Love your times with your grandchildren. My little Elsie will be able to enjoy time in my garden next summer, and yes, lots of tea parties!! :)

Jane x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Your new book looks beautiful Helen...how exciting for you to finally see it all come together!! I love the shades of pink in your Strawberry Stars quilt...it's looking so pretty ... and belated Happy Birthday wishes to you too ♥ (yes, the 4th July does come around very quickly these days!)
Hope you have a lovely weekend,
Susan x

Stins said...

My goodness that book looks like a must have even if you can not sew... :-). Like myself. It must be so great to spent time with the little ones, children are so sweet aren't they? So great to see the world through their eyes....
Have fun! Love from Mirjam.
Oh, and that quilt is amazing!!!

Zwergenwelt said...

dear Helen,
what a lovely post with your cute and wonderful quilt stars, and the News about your new book, this would be a nice birthday gift for me in september, I take it on my wishlist by amazon ;O)
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy summer and sun, with best wishes XOXO Cornelia

Pat's Patch said...

Another beautiful post of summer sweetness. Congratulations on your new book. Love Pat x

handmade by amalia said...

So looking forward to your book, Helen. I adore your work and photography and choice of fabrics, it is all just so very lovely.
Amalia
xo

Maria Glazacheva said...

Magnifiques photos Helen ! ils sont mignonnes ses petites étoiles :)

Bonne semaine

xxx Maria xxx

Gillian said...

Your flowers are gorgeous and so is the quilt. I love the effect of the stars.

Linda said...

Beautiful photos and lovely blog. Here in Montreal, Canada it has been very hot and humid the last couple of days. We had some thunderstorms but hopefully there will be some relief soon as far as the humidity and intense heat letting up a bit.

Thimbleanna said...

Congratulations on your new book Helen -- it looks Beautiful! And the way time is flying, 2016 will be here tomorrow!!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos, and another book to look out for
Julie xxx
happy wheels
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