Colours of Spring

 I spotted the first snowdrop today. They are not easy to capture in a photo. But such a welcome sight.

We did the bird count for RSPB from our garden last Sunday. We got 10 varieties with which we were very pleased. It is a bit annoying, however when the nuthatch, which has gobbled up all the fat balls for weeks, chooses not to come on that day at that particular hour. 

We have had quite a few days in the garden throughout January, so plenty of jobs getting done. 

Our own insect hotel is as complete as it can be. Today we added hessian tubes full of thin logs, sheeps wool, pine cones and hay. Steve drilled holes in a solid piece of wood. We squeezed it all in, using a rubber mallet in some cases. We hope to fill gaps with straw.

I have had more ideas to decorate with pyrographed pictures and possibly a label at the top. Later in the year there will be a sedum roof added.

I decided to gather a lot of Easter related crafts materials in one place. I did this at Christmas too. I find it very inspiring.

I wondered if I was jumping the gun a bit but as a crafter, I have to be thinking ahead.
 

What to make? That is the question. So many choices.

 

On one miserable, cold day I did wash lots of used labels.

They have been used over and over again for years.

 

I am a bit obsessive about my labels I suppose.

 

Today my new wellies came in the post. Oh I am pleased. But I chose the old ones to wear in the garden in the afternoon, because I didn`t want to get the new ones dirty.

Odd logic I know!!! 

 

 

And the pots of spring colour are now in situ.

 

Ribbons Galore and Tiny Teds

As I do my annual sort out, I am inundated by many ideas that I want to try and in the end they all bank up, or I have several projects on the go at once.

There have been quite a few indoor days, so I decided to go through my ribbon and braid drawers.

As you can see I have rather a lot. So I have decided to make some ribbon wavers. 

The grosgrain ribbon from my brother, has been very useful for the bunting. I have used up lots of fabric scraps to make this colourful mini-bunting.

 

I find it very satisfying to use up my scraps like this.

I was keen to make little teddies to go in the patchwork bags. My first pattern did not work but this little one did work as long as I used felt.

I persevered with the much smaller t.shirt teddies. I had to sew slowly on my machine in order to get round the tight corners.

Here they are.

 

They will fit in the patchwork bags as well.

I also had some lovely soft Winnie the Pooh fabric so I made more tiny bags.

Now I am now making amigurami Pooh bears to go in them.

Coming up is the school Valentine disco so I usually find something to make to raise funds. This year it is bookmarks, made from scraps of ribbon and braid after my sort out. 

I hope the children will find them attractive.

When we have managed time outdoors, I have been filling the insect hotel on our front bank. Steve has made me a wonderful curved roof on which I hope to plant sedum later in the spring.

All in all a very creative January and its not over yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creating a Scarecrow Head

I can`t believe January is halfway through. We have had walks on the beach, muddy walks in the wood and we`ve even had a few visits to the garden.

We are trying to get a rotten elder trunk out. We even bought a new trenching spade to help. Steve has been sawing roots but we`re still not there.

I`ve been taking out nettle roots all along the orchard fence and under the guinea pig hutch foundations. Nettles are a very successful plant in so many ways.

 

Here is the scarecrow waiting for its reincarnation. I found plenty of suitable clothes in the loft. Recently I was given some slightly stretchy flesh coloured fabric. This has proved perfect for scarecrow head making. Several layers anyway.

 

This is how I made the head
 

I used three layers and sewed it into a tube.

I tied it at the top and then stuffed it.

Next I put the pre-drilled stake inside, stuffed round it and added button eyes.

I tried to get a bit of shaping into the face but I could not manage any deepness to the eyes to form sockets. I haven`t got a long enough needle. The mouth was embroidered in chain stitch.

I had very thick wool in the loft. I made a wig which I tied in bunches and added a floppy sunhat with a huge flower.

 

When she is dressed I will add a photo here. She`s going to be a bright, happy addition to the garden.

 

 

Other craft I have been involved in ....

.....using up my little scraps
 I want to put a tiny teddy in the small ones.

And with Valentines Day in mind, I made these bookmarks using some of the lovely ribbon from my brother.

My other January jobs have been honing down my knitting needle collection, sorting my crochet hooks and trying out some tiny teddies.

I wonder if we`re going to get any of the snow that`s being forecast.
 

First Soggy Footing

 We made our first visit to Freshwinds Garden this year. Good job we had wellies on. Every step was a squelch and we tried not to step in the same place twice.

The strong gusty winds have played havoc.

The lovely round cob shed door is going to need extensive repairs. It has blown open and bent its hinges and one piece has broken off. Its not an easy job.

The water barrel which was full, blew off its stand which I can hardly believe.

The guinea pig home blew right off its brick and paving base. Luckily they are spending the winter in a stable.

 Again unbelievable.

The covering over the sprouts was blown right off. Steve soon had that back in place. Here it is looking like a ghostly dragon.

I set to and carried on with my bramble clearing and I got to the end of the path. We found Wood Ear fungi on the elder. We will cut it right down and hope that some new shoots emerge. It will be a good chance to get rid of the nettles entangled in its roots.

 

Tim and Anne must have worked hard over the holiday. They added the new logs round the pond ..... which is very full. So plenty more seats for pond observation.

 

We had our teabreak in the warmer polytunnel where the cushions (unusually) were a little damp and the broad beans were doing well.

I crept round the stable wall to see if I could take some pictures of the new baby guinea pigs but Anne was there sorting the feed and they remained hidden in the straw. There are seven girls and two boys and they will all be in the orchard run in 2024.

I did get a nice photo of the donkeys under shelter. They came to me for a treat. Unfortunately I did not have an apple.

 

At home, after lunch we had a visit from my brother and he brought me a stash of grosgrain ribbon from the sales. 

I was a happy bunny.

 

Happy New Year everyone.