Tuesday 25 March 2014

Flowers and Crochet

 I am sharing two of my favourite things here today......as it says in the title, flowers and crochet :).....but first i must say a huge thank you to everyone who has entered my springtime giveaway on my previous post (open till march 31 if you would still like to put your name in the draw)...............i have so enjoyed reading your lovely comments, and finding some new bloggers to visit too........my pastel ripple blanket is finished and has been photographed........
.............and i have been loving having jugs of spring flowers in my studio and sewing room while i work this week ...............
..............the weather has been sunny, rainy, bright, but most of all chilly with a mean east wind.....
 ...........i finished off this ripple by sewing on a bobble trim, like i did with the bright ripple stripe i made last spring, but this time i used white bobbles which blend in with the last white stripes.......
 ............i have been working on my secret projects.......(all magazine commissions which will pop up eventually here)..........some of the projects involve paper crafts and scrapbook techniques which i so love to play with sometimes............my desk is covered with crafts materials and ready for a big tidy up now......................
 ..............here is the pastel ripple hanging on the potting shed door..............and some of my chalks...
 ...............i notice i seem to have used a lot of the pink one :)................
 ............... sweet pink hyacinths from the garden......i plant the potted hyacinths and other bulbs outside after they flower in the house each year and now have quite a collection outdoors each spring.......below are pink primula from outside daisy's pre-school.............and some soft new yarn....
 .................and a new persephone book..............i am not sure yet what i will make with this gorgeous new yarn, at the moment i am just enjoying having it there looking delicious.............
 ...............the little crate is handy to put a project in and pile up the yarn in too......i am always moving my crafty stuff about depending on where i want to work on it and also in an effort not to take over the whole house with it ;)..............
 ..............i keep sewing things on a tray (which is often in my photographs) and that is easy to lift onto a higher table away from small children's hands.......scissors and pins and needles are always in use around here........
                              ................one of my favourite spring flowers is the bellis daisy..............
                         .............i love to mix the garden flowers together with pretty china.....
..............and as this post has so many flowers, i had to have at least one blossom-against-blue sky shot, and here it is..............blissful cherry blossom on some small trees in the old village churchyard....if you stand right underneath the sky looks full of flowers.................thank you for visiting me here in my little blog space, lovely readers, and for your sweet comments........i wish you a happy sunny week with flowers and crafts to enjoy wherever you may be.........back soon xxxxxxxx

                                   *****my springtime giveaway is open until monday march 31*****

62 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello Helen, Beautiful spring flowers......I love the little bobbles sewn onto your crochet blanket. Thanks again for the fun giveaway and for your visits at my blog. I just celebrated my 1st year of blogging.
Anne xx
PlumCreek22 Etsy

Unknown said...

Such a bright and beautiful post. I LOVE your ripple colours. They are so perfect for Spring and Summer :)

Annerose said...

Frühling auf der ganzen Linie, tolle Farben und eine wunderschöne Decke ist das.
Ich mag den Frühling sooo gerne, die Farben, der blaue Himmel und das Erwachen der Natur.
Liebe Grüße Annerose

Crafty in the Med said...

such a delight Helen to pop into your blog.....all these pastel colours and beautiful makes are balm to my stressed out mind.....new course prep mixed levels is driving me loopy!!!


ahhh those ripple colours better than any therapy!!!

keep well

Amanda xx

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Helen, Such happiness reading your post today! Love the new blanket with the bobbles (we call them pompoms) I have such fun with UK's words as I'm sure you do with the US. Most of the time I think your words are so much better and more fun to say then mine! Flowers flowers everywhere and so welcome to see. I'm with you love to use all styles of china for vases. I'm not sure what one uses chalk for, can't wait to see! I love the crate for your yarn, it is really hard to not take over the whole house, I would have to agree and so would my Hb.
Take care, xoRobin

Joy said...

Ah what a lovely post Helen, sweet gentle colours throughout - crochet, bobbles, flowers, chalks, etc., I am in raptures, thank you! Joy xo

homemade@myplace said...

your blanket is gorgeous!!!!!
happy week, xxxxx Ale

crazydazy said...

great idea to use the pompom trim on the ripple blanket....I would never have thought of combining the two!

Wilfing Mum said...

Those Rooster yarns are delicious colours - would you mind me asking what shades they are? Vicki x

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

Always love to come visit you here and see all of your beautiful creations and gorgeous flowers!

Cindy said...

No flowers here yet, but I'm on spring break so I'm doing lots of crafting. Your stripy blanket is so pretty - love the bobbles trim. I hope you show your scrapbooking ideas as I do that also. Have a great week!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful ripple blanket. The colour combination is so pretty.
What a lovely idea to add some bobble trim.
I love reading your posts they add cheerfulness to the day!
Px

Ladybird Diaries said...

Such a pretty post Helen, I do love it when a new post from you pops up on my blog feed! Pretty, pretty ripple blanket I love your colour choices and the gorgeous bobble trim.
Marianne x

scrappyjacky said...

I so love all those pretty pastels....the blanket is gorgeous....and it's always lovely to see Spring flowers.

Unknown said...

Beautiful blanket)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Cherry blossoms are the most intoxicating and showy tree of Spring. Love your pretty colors in the crochet my friend! Have a glorious day! Happy Spring!

greenrabbitdesigns said...

I love bellis daisies too Helen, so pretty. :)
The white pom pom trim looks amazing on your beautiful blanket, such a good idea.
I have to agree with you, yarn needs to be admired before it's used. :)
Everything gorgeous as ever, have a good week Helen,
V xxx

serendipity said...

Love the pom poms on the pretty blanket and the blossom is gorgeous. xx

Jennifer Hays said...

Your ripple is gorgeous, Helen. I love the way the green changes to blue in the middle. The flowers are beautiful too. I can't wait until I have flowers blooming to bring indoors.

Pickworth said...

I always enjoy your comments so much, and they often remind me of having grandchildren around, such as having to keep scissors and needles out of reach!

Jennie {Clover and Violet} said...

Love your crochet Helen! And the chalks are so pretty, can't wait to see what you've been working on!

A little happy place said...

Gorgeous gorgeous post. I just love seeing cherry blossom against a blue sky, something I look forward to every year. Such pretty ripples and the poms finish it off a treat. have a lovely week! Sarah xo

Unknown said...

Just look at those ripples! The colours are spectacular! Flowers and crochet, there is no better way to fill my day...Chrissie x

Jane said...

Hi Helen what gorgeous spring flowers both inside and outside your home It's such a lovely time of the year isn't it. The evenings are also getting so much lighter too. Great to see your ripple blanket finished, the colours are stunning. I also spotted your chalks on your table...pretty pastels. Enjoy the rest of your week xx

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Helen! Beautiful stripe blanket and white pom poms are lovely detail! Your chalks look very exciting - I would love to see more how you use them. And your NEW yarns are delicious! Will be enjoy to crochet or knit with them. x Teje

Vintage Tea Time said...

Gorgeous blanket! Love the pom-poms. X

Ali said...

So pretty as always xxx

Swallow Barn said...

the colours in your ripple are just gorgeous Helen

justpootling said...

Such a beautiful Spring post Helen, and I love how you've finished the blanket with the pom-poms, so pretty.
Have a good week,
Kate x

Diane Kelsey said...

Where can you buy the Rooster wool? Wonderful colours.

Simone said...

So much beauty and colour! I love the pom pom trim on the ripple blanket, and the flowers and colours of the chalks etc etc! A lovely uplifting blog post. x

lilac and old roses said...

Just lovely! Please count me in and I'm keeping my fingers crossed x

Frances said...

Helen, thank you again for keeping my springtime hopes alive. It's still so cold here, and we are hoping that tonight's snow forecast is vastly overstated.

I love all the flowers you've show us, and also admire the ripply blanket's colors. My no longer quite so sharp eyesight cannot quite make out the title of your new Persephone book. Please do let me know which one you are reading. Perhaps like me you are a fan of the Persephone blog and the other extensions of this fine publishing house. I am very fortunate to have become acquainted with it founder.

Now, let me return to some knitting, and perhaps even post a new blog myself.

xo

sky-blu-pink said...

Such a lovely pink post, gladdens my heart! I have just bought your book Sewn Gifts, and am looking forward to making some of the pretty thkngsbtherein!

Stitching Noni said...

I love visitng your blog. The pictures are gorgeous and the colours today really speak of Spring :)
Love your ripple blanket!

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh my goodness, Helen.. you got a lot of comments on your giveaway post! You have made lots of friends in the time you've blogged.. and I know why as I love coming here to see your pretty colors and lovely projects. I need more pink in my life!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Amy at love made my home said...

Beautiful ripples!!!! I like the idea of the pom pom bobble edging, very creative indeed! I wonder what that beautiful new yarn will turn into! xx

Bee Lady said...

What a beautiful ripple blanket. I made that huge one for my bed and now I'm working on a granny square one, but I think I'm going to have some yarn leftover for another one. Hmmmm.....not sure what pattern to use. I love the flowers. I'm so ready for spring.

Cindy Bee

Sigrun said...

Beautiful woolen colours, and a nice jug - is it from Burleigh?

Sigrun

yarn and pencil said...

Oh it's such a delight to visit again today :-) Thank you, Tracey xx

Coco Rose Diaries said...

Such a beautiful post Helen, full of colour and inspiration. I love the colours you have used in your ripple, just beautiful. I might just have to linger a while with my cuppa and rest my eyes on all the gorgeousness again!

Have a super rest of a week!

Take care

Vanessa xxx

Pat said...

hello Helen. I love the white pompom edging on your pretty pastel ripple blanket. Lovely pastel blog. Love Pat x

Lorrie said...

Hooray for spring flowers and cherry blossoms against blue skies. Lovely colours here. The ripple blanket is so cheerful.
Have a happy day, Helen.

Christine said...

such a beautiful blanket!!!! I love all of your happy and colorful pictures.

Gracie Saylor said...

Just yesterday I took a photo looking up through white blossoms to a patch of blue sky with the intent of posting the results, Helen, so your final photo especially pleased me as something that we both share an appreciation of.

Like Teresa, "I think I need more pink in my life." I love to visit you through your posts! I ponder...how does Helen present colors so delightfully??? Somehow pink and white seem key.....

Case in point, your lovely new ripple...and as Jennifer noted I like your placement of the blues in the middle....but pinks and white somehow embrace me in the waves of the whole project, and gray is a steady tide that keeps me afloat while I contemplate the beauty of it all...

Wishing you happy days :) xx

Unknown said...

Ooooh pink blossoms are one of my favorite flowers! I'm enjoying spring so much, with it's flowers and the beautiful colors! The pastel blanket looks so pretty and cute, and the bobble edge makes it perfect! Just lovely!

gillyflower said...

Lovely post Helen, and I adore your pastel ripple blanket! The colours are gorgeous!
Gill xx

Lori ann said...

dear helen,
there is always so much excitement at your cozy home, i love seeing what you are up to, hearing about your magazine commissions. really so special!
your springy ripple blanket is so pretty and goes perfect with the flowers. daisies are one of my all time favorite flower too! yours is SO sweet!
xoxo lori

Kay said...

Beautiful blanket, I especially like the pink and green section. xx

Hannapat said...

Hello lovely Helen, as always this is a feast for the eye. I simply love your gorgeous ripple and I am just a tad jealous that you worked it with that gorgeous yarn, isn't rooster just wonderful. Loving your pretty styling too. Enjoy the rest of your week xoxo

vintage grey said...

Beautiful ripple blanket! I really love the colors! And, such lovely spring flowers!! Wishing you a happy, spring week! xo Heather

koralee said...

Jugs of Spring Flowers sounds so so lovely my friend....such JOY here in your post once again. The morning birds are chirping outside my window right now as I sip my morning tea...I love their happy songs...and your post is perfectly suited for the bird song I hear. Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend...wish you sunny blue skies. xoxo

Annie Cholewa said...

Perfect cherry blossom ... and somehow the soft pink seems like the essence of this springtime post.

I hope you too are in the pink Helen :)

paula said...

I love how you sew trim on you crocheting, very cute and clever:)

Pat said...

Such beautiful flowers Helen, and a lovely post, thank you!
Pat :)

Madelief said...

Your ripple blanket looks lovely Helen! Such pretty spring colours.

Wishing you a sunny day tomorrow. It's going to be 20 degrees Celcius in Holland :-)

Madelief x

My Little Home and Garden said...

Such lovely spring colours, in contrast to the grey skies found here today. I like the little bobbles that edge your blanket, Helen, and all of the delightful flowers!

Enjoy your new week.

Karen

PamKittyMorning said...

All your photos and projects are so pretty. Love the bobble trim. Your crochet is always so nice. The flowers so yummy.. I love the garden.

forgetmenotsblue said...

So beautiful! Lovely blossom. Your work is always so lovely. I really like the bobble trim on your crochet blanket really finishes it off x

Anonymous said...

Hi, the bobbles look soooOOooo cute on your colourful crochet, what a great idea!
Thanks for sharing...
Jay x The Sewing Wren

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Good morning Helen!....Ooh, your new ripple blanket is just beautiful...I love the pretty pastel shades and the bobble trim is such a lovely way to decorate it too!
Hope you're having a happy, crafty week,
Susan x

Mia said...

Hello Helen,

Such a lovely colors again, you just know how to capture the spring-spirit! I like (read:love) the blanket with bobbles, make it even more cute if possible! And that new yarn...just delicious!

Have a lovely day!

Yours,
Mia