Monday 25 April 2016

Spring Garden

 The sun is shining here and the sky is blue............spring has arrived in our garden.........
 ............it has been a lovely weekend to potter in the greenhouse.............
 ..............i am so enjoying growing lots of future flowers from seed in here............
 ................the tulips we planted in the autumn are all coming into flower now..........
 ..............it is lovely to see them growing taller and brighter each day, mingling with the violets and primroses, daisies and anemones.............
 .............crafty-wise this week i am busy working on some secret projects but here is something i can show you right now....a new block for my sampler quilt............this one is called bride..........
 .................i love this little bouquet effect block and it is a perfect one to add to the new quilt......the one below is called april.............these blocks are so pretty i think............
 ..............they are both from the newest farmer's wife quilt book..........a few years ago i made a version of the original farmer's wife quilt which some of my regular readers may remember......lots of us were inspired by the blocks (you can see my quilt on my sidebar)..........so lovely to have another book filled with pretty blocks to try..............*the farmer's wife 1930's sampler quilt* is by laurie aaron hird and is available on amazon and at many good book stores................
 .............besides a little block sewing i had time at the weekend for a little crochet too......
 .............making maybelle flowers in lots of pretty colours............( i found the maybelle pattern here on the lovely my rose valley blog......)
 .................this is our new picnic basket all ready for our first days out...coming soon......but in the meantime i have filled it with bright yarn for my flower making...............
 ..................here is the cutting garden with some of the tulips partly open............
 .............in the greenhouse is bea the garden bunny surrounded by cosmos seedlings and sweet scented carnations or pinks as i like to call them.......below you can see the tulips fully open in all their cheery brightness................
..................thank you for dropping in to my little blog space dear readers, and for leaving such sweet comments........it is a treat to hear from you and i am looking forward to doing lots of blog visiting myself this week (and email answering too!).................have a wonderful week with sunny days, sweet flowers and plenty of crafty inspiration too..................back soon xxxxxxxxxxxx

39 comments:

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Afternoon Helen,
Here in Newcastle, we had some lovely weather last week, but now, we have the artic winds blowing and it is really cold. I am hoping my flowers survive the cold spell.
I would love to have a bed of flowers which I could cut and bring into the house, but unfortunately my garden is too small, so I grow as many flowers as I can, but leave them where they grow.
I do love quilting and I really do like your bouquet block it is lovely.
I have really enjoyed my visit with you today. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Best wishes
Daphne

My Little Home and Garden said...

I love springtime and seeing things starting to appear in the garden. Your tulips are beautiful, Helen, a sure sign of the season and I'll look forward to my own in May. The lovely crochet and quilt work have their own splendid garden-like colours. So pretty!

Karen

Stange and ich said...

Love Helen,
the great colors simply fantastic.
I hope you enjoy the great weather.
snowy greetings
Antje

Kate said...

I so love all the colourful and creative beauty you've shared today! Thanks for the link to those beautiful crocheted flowers - they'll be a project to take to our cabin. How nice for you to have a greenhouse to potter about in with your green thumb(s). :)

KC'sCourt! said...

Great pictures. Love the colours
Julie xxxxx

eclectichomelife said...

It's turned colder here but I do so love spring flowers and they are out in abundance. Your greenhouse looks full of hope for the coming growing season, just perfect x

Jane said...

Your tulips are looking beautiful Helen, it makes all the effort planting them in the autumn worth it. Lots of cheery projects are on the go over at yours, enjoy spring! Hugs xx

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Everything is so pretty. What are your plans for the Maybelle flowers? I wish our growing season wasn't coming to an end. It seems everything just bloomed all at once a few weeks ago and now it's already getting too hot. Wishing you a great week.

PamKittyMorning said...

So lovely, the garden the blocks, everything. Love the bride block, always one of my favorites.

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Beautiful Helen....your garden is looking lovely and springlike and I love the sight of all those little seedlings, such a joy growing from seed, isn't it!
I love your new quilt blocks, so pretty, that does look like a beautiful book.
And as always lovely to see some pretty crochet.
Have a good week,
V x

Kim said...

Tulips get me every time...so lovely!

Jacky H said...

Good afternoon
it's been rainy and sunny here in the Midlands.
I love your colours there so bright and cheery.
Thanks for the link for the crochet flowers. I'll certainly give them ago.
Have a good week .
Jacky

Viola said...

Dear Helen, your garden looks so lovely, I love tulips very much. I just have a few left in my garden, the root vole ate almost all of them. I adore your quilting every time you post about it. I wish I could sew that well. Have a great week, Viola

Elderberry-Rob said...

How lovely your crochet is - I love the colours. Garden is looking fabulous, we have some tulips but they don't like the clay soil and haven't done well, yours look like they love being there.

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

I adore tulips. Just ADORE them:) And I live Annette's maybelle crochet flowers, beautiful pattern :)
Have a great week ,
Jillxo

crazydazy said...

Thanks for the link to the crochet flowers, they are very pretty...I'll definitely be making some of them.

Ali said...

Gorgeous xxx

Gracie Saylor said...

So lovely to see some of how your garden grows, Helen. I am especially impressed with the bouquet block you made and the pretty flowers you are crocheting. Thanks for the pattern link. After record breaking warm days we have had some April showers, and it is cool enough inside this afternoon that I am headed off to find a sweater after I type to you. Happy creative week! xxxxxxxxxx

Little Quiltsong said...

Your tulips are so beautiful!! I'm still waiting for mine. The weather here has been so undecided - they keep coming up and going dormant - wondering if spring will stay :)! Love your crochet flowers and blocks!

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

Your spring garden is so lovely with all those beautiful tulips! Is that a bee hive I see in the background?

20 North Ora said...

You are definitely in Spring time mode. All of your flowers are just gorgeous and I love your two new blocks.

Have a great week.

Judy

Cindy said...

Your tulips are so pretty! Each year I vow to plant more, I love them so much! I also love that bouquet quilt block. So pretty!

Leanne said...

Hello Helen
I love looking at your garden phots, Its Autumn here in Australia and over the weekend I just planted 200 tulip bulbs in my garden. Now I can't wait for Spring. Enjoy your pretty flowers.

Teresa Kasner said...

Good for you to grow flowers from seed. I usually buy little pots of them and stick them in bigger pots. I guess I'm into instant gratification.. :-) I love both of your quilt squares and adore the Maybelle flower crochet. Your color selections always thrill me. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Gill Smith said...

Beautiful spring garden Helen, my favourite season. Here in North Devon it's looking very pretty with all the wild primroses in the hedgerows. Love the picnic basket! Won't be long before we can be out using them eh?
Love Gill

Annerose said...

Schön sieht das bei dir im Garten aus. Und deine neuen -Näharbeiten gefallen mir auch sehr gut. Bei uns hat es in den letzten Tagen immer mal geschneit und es ist wieder kalt geworden. Nachts sogar Minusgrade.
Ich wünsche dir noch einen schönen Frühling und schicke liebe Grüße Annerose

Annette - MyRoseValley said...

HI Helen
Spring dear spring. Come back. You were here and I enjoyed your visit so much, but then you left... Sunday snow came. No no no... Lets get back to spring. Love your spring post. Flower me happy. Color me happy. And how lovely to add some Maybelle flowers to all this prettiness. Making a bunting to bring with you on your summer pic-nics?

Hope the sun stays. Here it is pouring...

Xxx
Annette

gillyflower said...

Loving the latest quilt blocks Helen, so pretty! Am going to have a look on Amazon for the book I think, its an age since I've made any quilt blocks and seeing yours has made me want to have a go again.
All looks colourful in your garden and you have lots of seedlings in the greenhouse.
Have a good week Helen
Gill xx

Amy at love made my home said...

Your garden is beautiful and it looks as though it is going to get even better over the summer. Your quilting is, as always, absolutely beautiful!!

bj said...

Everything is always so colorful and beautiful here. such a delight to visit.
Our tulips out here in West Texas bloomed at the first of April and are now spent.
Your quilt blocks and crochet are just fabulous....so pretty.

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

What a beautiful spring garden you have...I keep dreaming about colourful tulips at the moment, must make sure I plants lots for next spring! :) xxx

Jane said...

The tulips in your garden are beautiful and looks as though you've got a good supply of seedlings going there. I love to grow flowers from seed, it's so satisfying. Love your pretty quilt blocks too. Enjoy the rest of your week. Jane xx

handmade by amalia said...

I want to comment on all the pretty things but I'll go for the picnic basket this time, as I've not seen one like it before. I love picnics. I hope you have a blanket to match.
Amalia
xo

Pat's Patch said...

Lovely tulips, .Bea bunny and seedlings. Your quilt blocks are my favourite of he moment, but love it all. XOXO

Jo said...

Hello Helen, I love the block called bride, it would make a bursting star if four were put together wouldn't it? Lovely work as ever. Jo x

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Gorgeous post dear Helen! I am still here, busy busy with life. Lot on my plate these past few months. Have been enjoying all your loveliness as much as possible! xoxoRobin

Lee said...

WOW,As always Beautiful pics.I Love Tulips and yours are so pretty lovely colours.Beautiful quilting blocks and colours.I like the crochet.will look forward to see what you create with them,they look so pretty.Happy Week and Weekend.xxx

driftwood said...

your tulips are so lovely. I must grow some more xxx

cristina said...

Helen Love your maybelle flowers! and your tulips!
Hope you have a wonderful week too!
Kisses!!!!!Q