New Beginnings and Fresh Ideas

We haven`t been to the garden for over a week which is most unusual. So this morning we were glad to see the sun and it was a milder day. We sat outside for our teabreak.

Steve began pruning the quince and I decided to keep going with the willow at the entrance and then, as so often happens, I got very enthusiastic about a fresh entrance look.

Tim will be replacing the gate soon so its only fitting that the surroundings match up. The willow has become so thick and it only seems like yesterday that I poked a few slips of willow in the ground. I did as much as I could with loppers and a pruning saw but Steve soon joined us to use the bigger saw. Paula very gamely cleared up all the prunings. I saved a huge bundle of pussy willow for a vase at home. They have a pink tinge.

I do feel a bit guilty about depriving the bees of early nectar later on. We did actually see a couple of bumble bees on the winter honeysuckle.
This is what it looked like halfway through.

The two pallets were falling apart so I pulled them out very easily including the driftwood sign.
 

Then it was easier to get at the very thick willow branches.

They were tangled into the rabbit wire along with brambles and nettle roots. Some willow had even grown into the wire.

As we worked we were coming up with all sorts of fresh ideas for a new look. Paula suggested hollyhocks. I wondered about foxgloves and Steve was thinking about a different garden sign.

The bramble and nettle roots will need to be dug out and I think we will remove the rabbit wire. 

Jan and Julie gave us some plastic fencing and we may use that. One thing is for certain, the back of the gnome home will need to be cleared and rethought. And even more willow will need to be trimmed.

Its funny to think there was once a holly tree in this space in 2015. The pallets lasted well.

 

 Watch this space to see how things develop.

 

 

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Warm Fires, Hot Soup and Ancient Crepe

Recently I was given an exciting couple of carrier bags filled with all sorts of craft bits and pieces. They belonged to a former crafter and came via her daughter.

We had a great time unpacking it all. There was a huge pile of fabric which will be just right for my beach blankets.

There was a wonderful pile of crepe paper which is VERY old but of very high quality. I might be reviving an old craft of mine which was making crepe paper poppies. This is a craft I began in the 1970`s.

There is no date but on the back a book is advertised at 2/6 which would make it 1960s.

Along with the crepe paper were packs of all kinds of crafting wire as well as all the petal patterns. It was quite poignant.

I can`t wait to try the poppies again.

Another item was an old curtain. I pulled it apart and wondered what to do with it. In the end I made bunting.

Having cut out and pinned 25 flags, I went to bed thinking they were not special enough to complete the project. Next day I damp pressed one and then decided to add some very old braid .... I have stacks ..... and this lifted the look. My brother suggested this idea.

I can see this bunting hanging behind Gandalf or even behind the fernery.

Another intriguing item was the sewn parts of a rag doll. After a wash and press I stuffed her. Today she has gained hair, a petticoat and a dress. The knickers went wrong ..... they did not come high enough in the waist. I am having to make up the patterns. I will post more pictures when she is complete. I am happy with her so far.

There is nothing I like better than someone`s unfinished project (but not always!!!)

There were a few things I cannot use and they are put aside for charity.

We have had a couple of visits to the garden. Gosh it has been cold. But we have kept warm by doing the pruning .... apples and pears. I have trimmed the hedge at the back of the orchard.

Barrow loads of chipped bark completed the path at the side of the polytunnel. And then home to the warm fire and hot soup.

 

 

Acorn Caps and Scrappy Bits

Christmas is over. I enjoyed it all ... from all the preparation, all the crafting and all the very lovely family days.

Now I am well into the usual decluttering and reassessment of my fabrics and crafts. The only trouble with this is, that I get a hundred and one ideas about using stuff up. In February of 2024, my craft room was created. My promise to myself for 2025 was to really hone down my fabric stash. This is not easy but I gave myself a few rules and it seems to have worked. I took all the fabric folds out and for each one I asked myself did I like it and what would I use it for.  

The scrappy bits got used up first. I went through them all and cut out squares about 10 cm. There were enough to make a mini-quilt but this is still being created so photos will come later.

Next I cut out oblongs .... half a post-it note. These I sewed together in strips of 30, separating into dark and light.

 

After pressing I cut them right down the middle and top and tailed them.

I am making these into shoulder bags. More later.

I have had a great deal of flesh coloured felt off-cuts for years and I thought it was about time to use it up.

So I cut out 10 pigs. I ran out of bubble gum coloured felt so I had to wait to finish until I could buy some. Still loads left!!!

 I also used a lot of felt scraps for these bright flowers. I think they need faces. 

After going through my box labelled MODELS, I found a lot of discoloured paper balls so I painted them in a flesh colour, after initially thinking of throwing them out. I`m glad I didn`t. There were a lot.

So into my head comes the idea of wool-wound fairies. Here they are .... all 27.

They have bendy limbs and acorn hats.

I loved making these.

These little drawstring bags are made from recycled baby clothes. Small and soft.
 

 Then there are the inevitable fingerless mittens in quite thick wool. Looks like we might be needing them because its snowing.

 

I always have a few tiny teds on the go.

 

My favourite because it is so small.

Interestingly the one on the right is knitted ... not keen on the pattern.
 

And finally, bunting made from old trousers and dresses, all stretchy fabric so I sandwiched cotton in between.

 

 So far a very productive January. The weather has been foul so plenty of afternoons near the fire.

 

 

2024 REVIEW Part 2

 July

By July the craft trolley was going great guns. The children camping and yurting, love the little toys.

The garden was in full flow ....... so lovely to see in the dull days of this wintertime.

The towering hollyhocks were particularly good. And many more new ones are planted for 2025.
 

Harvesting continued but all in all, our tomato crop was well down on previous years.

August

The flowerbeds were bursting with colour. The roses were very good.

Harvesting continued.

September

September gave us glorious blue skies.

We made a start on the over-flowing compost heaps. It was quite a job.

The sunflowers went on endlessly, enough for vases and vases at home. 

October

The peppers and aubergines also went on and on, a real bonus for us as one of our favourite meals  is ..... stuffed peppers.

And we were still picking lovely bunches of dahlias. There were enough for the autumn coffee mornings.

November

In November I made a start on the barn path which has been like a jungle all summer. It is already sprinkled with germinating seedlings.

Boogie Woogie was a total star. I cannot begin to count the number of flowers it has borne.

We began pruning the willow and I started the willow rings in preparation for the wreath making workshop.

There were many delightfully warm days in November.

Eventually we had to harvest the contents of the polytunnel.

 We cut back all the dahlias and covered them over with carpet and held it down with old fencing. This year all of the garden dahlias have been left in the ground after last years disaster when we tried to store them.

December

The wreath making day was brilliant .... lots of fun, lovely goodies, plenty of laughs. And beautiful wreaths made.

The very same evening over £500 was raised for Farm Africa at Carols in the Barn.

And finally a lovely late afternoon carriage drive, not without some drama.

The last day of 2024 has arrived. We spent the morning at the garden clearing the polytunnel and wondering what 2025 will bring.

More of the same I hope.

Best wishes from us, to all of you who read this blog and a very happy new year.