Bluebells and Wisteria

Every time I walk up the steps and path to my front door I am struck by the beauty of this garden. It is so incredibly lush, the rose bushes are loaded with buds and old-fashioned ''grannies bonnets'' are bursting into flower. Bluebells just seem to go on forever.

There are masses of pretty little pink flowers about to open - not sure what they are but they are gorgeous! And the sweet sweet perfume of the wisteria at the front door floats through the house on a warm day. It's heavenly.

I've done a little gardening since I last wrote, and now have tomato plants growing in the glasshouse - there is absolutely nothing like the taste of a homegrown tomato! And we have little lettuce plants settled into their garden bed, alongside the herbs. The strawberry patch is also looking very very good - I can almost taste the strawberries now!

Been busy with guests, too. Australians, Americans, English and Kiwis!

Was very excited to get the first block of Vero's Mystery Quilt in the mail last week - I can show you my block now as the patterns have been posted out so I won't be spoiling the surprise for any of the girls doing it. This is such a different project for me as I have not made anything with country colours for ages and I had forgotten how lovely they are to work with. I have dug deep into the stash for bits for this quilt, and have even found fabric from way back in the beginning days of Needle 'n Thread. I am going to enjoy every step of the way with this quilt - and part of that is because you have absolutely no idea what is going to turn up each month.

I have also finished the stitchery for a beautiful Carb-apple Hill design - this is called Summer Sampler and will be made into a long cushion. Maybe I will have the cushion made by the time I do my next blog!

It is nice to get back to my stitching - just doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that - catching up on the Gingham Girls, finishing the quilting on my Days in Provence quilt, and even a little cross-stitch. I've been tempted by some new things but am trying very very hard to finish some projects. So far it's working!

Oh, that is, except for a certain quilt kit I have ordered - well, it was impossible to resist!

Happy stitching!

Jenny

That was so much fun!

I've just had the best weekend! Hope you have too. Stitchery Retreat 2009 was held at the City Sanctuary and it was lovely!

I know that most of the girls had a really hard time choosing which project to start stitching as they were all so gorgeous. These are the samples that I have been working on over the past couple of months. This is Barb's birdie design which I made into a pattern folder, and little matching needlecase with Barb's birdie button on the cover (http://www.theodoracleave.blogspot.com).

Here's Brenda's beautiful ''Lucy'' which is one of her ''Bonnets and Bows'' designs (http://www.brendaryan.typepad.com/) . I made this one up into a good sized drawstring bag - ready to hold the current stitchery project.

Bronwyn designed a fabulous table mat - also with matching place mats though I did not quite get to do the place mats.

These are a couple of closer pics of the flowers at each end of the table mat.

Marg (http://www.marglowdesigns.typepad.com/) gave us a sweet stitchery sampler, scented sachet and chatelaine. I will definitely be making some of the scented sachets as lovely little Christmas gifts.

And last, but certainly not least, Natalie did an exquisite bag and needlecase, called The Paris Collection. I can't show you a pic of this though, but keep an eye out on Natalie's blog (http://www.cinderberrystitches.typepad.com/) and I am sure you will see it very soon.

Honestly it was almost impossible to work out where to start - the designs were all so amazing and I'm pretty sure that everyone who came will stitch each and every one of them.

There were lots of smiley happy faces...

....lots of chatting and laughing...

...plenty of stitching...

...and quite a few cuppa's!

Will I do it again? Sure will, and more. I hope that all of you who came enjoyed it as much as I did.

Happy stitching girls!

Jenny

Our new home!

I've been away for a while again, I know. So much has happened in the last couple of months - incredible, amazing changes - and a wonderful feeling inside me that this is very good! We're all moved in to our new home, the shop has closed, and all the shop ''stuff'' is here now too. Must admit to slightly underestimating the time it would take to ''move'' the shop! But it's all done - all unpacked ,in a fashion (minus the boxes that were just far too hard to think about - they went straight into some wonderful big storage cupboards - for those there will another day!) and we have even had our first guests to stay. Yes, I was nervous at first, but needn't have been - they were the most delightful couple, and apart from forgetting to put glasses out for the juice, everything went perfectly fine!

I have been busy stitching, too, just in case you were wondering. But I can't show you a single thing because it's all the ''secret'' things for the Retreat this coming weekend. I will show them afterwards though - the designs that have come from Natalie, Brenda, Barb, Bronwyn and Marg are absolutely stunning. For those of you coming this weekend, you are in for a treat.

So, this is our house - the front of it, anyway. It totally charmed me when I first saw it. I thought I would show you a couple of pics of the garden (seeing as I can't show you any stitchery) - this is my patch of paradise - so incredibly sheltered and private and when the flowers are in bloom it will look so so pretty - I can't wait.


There are gorgeous clumps of bluebells everywhere - primoses, tulips, a beautiful magnolia tree. The wisteria at the front door is glorious!

... and the fish pond which has seven residents! Don't know alot about fish, but I will learn. Have caught Charlie sitting on the edge a couple of times, working on a strategy I think!

What do you think? And the view from upstairs is something else - it's pretty hard not to love living here! I'll be back after the weekend to show you some of the things I've been working on lately. Coffee, maybe, on the balcony! See you later.

Jenny