Fresh Flowers

I took these pictures on a sunny day last week and thought they would be good for the February splash of colour post - so here they are! I've really enjoyed silverpebble's idea to post some splash of colour pictures through the dreary winter months -  the effect is so cheerful and uplifting. Maybe we should do it next year too?

Regular readers of my blog will possibly recognise the decorated syrup tins here holding the fresh flowers? I had one of the tins on my desk with pens in it, and then - somehow - it had a fake flower in it and looked quite pretty. So I found some of the other decorated tins and put some real flowers in them on my kitchen window sill - the brightest place to take a picture on a January day....

I found the daisy blooming in the front garden, beside the old sandstone gatepost - I don't know if that offers it extra protection from the wind and weather, but that particular plant always seems to have flowers on it, year round! I found some catkins in the back garden and a bit of foliage, plus some snippets from my bright and colourful pot plants...

The little birdhouse - actually I've got two the same but the other one is a tiny one - always looks spring-like to me and I love putting it in little arrangements here and there....

I hope you enjoyed my splash of colour today and that you are feeling cheerful and positive now that winter is behind us, and February (and spring) is here... Have a wonderful week! xxx

Sew Colourful

Good morning! It's a bright sunny day here in my studio - a very cheery start to my new working year! (And it's also time for a splash of colour, as inspired by silverpebble here.) A couple of months ago my sewing machine broke and was pronounced unfixable - so I ordered a new one as I needed it quickly for a work project. It arrived the next day - complete with some wonderful free gifts - boxes and boxes of free sewing cotton reels! I feel as if I have my own shop now! They do look beautiful and colourful, don't they?

 I love having sewing things around me and the decorative qualities often make their way into my work too.

 Like this sewing themed project featured in January 2011 Crafts Beautiful magazine - this page shows a card for a stitchy friend. The small cross stitch cotton reel is fixed by a length of embroidery thread and swings about, and the larger cotton reel tag can be used as a gift tag on all sorts of  presents.

This tiny sewing sampler hangs from a wire heart hanger (you can get these from Debbie Cripps here), and I used little twists of selvedge as ribbon to tie it with.

I thought you might be wondering who the little creature is that suddenly appeared the other day at the top of the side bar here - so here she is again - it's a little doll, or study buddy, from my Cross Stitch Keepsakes book. I call her Maudie.

I've just begun my next new magazine project which of course I have to keep very quiet about for now...I'll be using my new sewing machine...and also doing some quiet and peaceful hand sewing (which I like best)....getting back to normal....enjoying the quiet creativity again.
I hope you are having a sunny and cheerful start to this new year and look forward to sharing lots of creative blogging times with you all. Have a lovely week xxx

December Splash of Colour

 I'm loving the splash of colour idea started by silverpebble last month, where we post bright and colourful pictures at the beginning of each wintry month to brighten up the days until spring...This blue door with it's cheery wreath of red baubles was photographed in York. I loved its bright blue distressed look contrasting with the decoration. It was the door of an old building where a craft fair was being held....

 My second picture was taken in a cafe in Manchester about a month ago, just as the cold snap was beginning. We went over to see a friend's paintings in an exhibition  there but couldn't find the gallery at first so were walking along a very long Victorian street in a very icy wind when we decided to pop into a cafe for a warm drink and to ask directions. The bliss of entering this warm bright space and hearing the hiss of the coffee machines - and seeing so many bright tea pots all together!! We warmed up nicely, and found the gallery wasn't too far away...(and my friend's paintings looked great too).

And here is my last colourful picture - a Christmas decoration that I bought for my younger daughter - I was rather sorry to see it go after snapping a few pictures before wrapping it back up! I think it's quite sweet.
We have had an icy day here again, with white frost on everything, so the thaw of yesterday didn't last long. I hope you are all keeping warm and cosy whatever is happening weather wise where you are, and thank you for visiting me. Have a great week! x