Thursday 3 April 2014

This and That.....


Hello everybody, and thank you so much for all your lovely comments on the Pink Popcorn Baby Blanket in my last post!

I'm glad to say Orla's Mum is very pleased with the blanket and it is already in use.


Meanwhile I have had another lucky giveaway win, making this the third in a month or so! I seem to be on a bit of a roll at the moment!

This time I was the lucky winner of Cathy Daniel's giveaway on her blog Cathy Daniel - Patchy Details, with a choice from her lovely new online shop which sells wonderful quilting design mugs, coasters, aprons and tea towels.

I chose a lovely mug with the design Right Hand of Friendship, and was lucky enough to be sent the matching coaster too, as well as some of her sweet ceramics.


Many of you will know Cathy from her old blog potterjotter and her beautiful patchwork themed ceramics. She still makes these and has also now expanded into quilting themed home accessories, which you can find on her online shop here.

Thank you Cathy, I shall treasure these lovely goodies!


Speaking of lovely designs, I found this gorgeous lilacy grey floral Tilda fabric online and just couldn't resist a little of it for a project I have in mind. 


Back to my first love, vintage and up-cycled fabrics, I have made a few more of the little pincushions for my Etsy shop. 

They are made from vintage French linen, tickings and Toile de Jouy, some English vintage floral linen, and a peachy pink vintage cotton.



Some are still waiting to be filled with lavender and filling.






I have had a little crochet fun making one of these sweet Waffle Crochet Spa washcloths from this pattern on Ravelry.

I used the same Sirdar Calico 60% cotton yarn as for the baby blanket, this time in a peachy coral colour with a contrast pink edge.

I'm going to be making lots more of these I think, it is lovely and soft to use and only took a couple of hours one evening to make.








Most of my days are spent outside now the weather is warmer, working in the garden, digging the veggie plot and tidying, moving plants around and putting in a few new ones, and lots of time in the greenhouse sowing seeds and potting on seedlings. 

It's a busy time outside at the moment, so much I want to do.

We have had lunch outside a few times too, including on Mother's Day. I had a lovely relaxing day, starting with breakfast in bed, after which Bella gave me some lovely, thoughtful gifts all just right for me.
Amongst them, a beautiful rose bush and some packets of seeds which were sown the very same day before going off to visit my own lovely Mum.

For Mother's Day lunch, amongst other yummy things Bella made a lovely colourful quinoa and bulgar wheat salad, with orange peppers, avocado and homemade French dressing - yum!


In the garden, the first little purple azalea is starting to come out............




first tulips.......


The camellia is now in full bloom.............


and here is Logan hinting that he might like a walk please.............he dragged his lead out to where I was sitting in the garden!



Hope you are all having a lovely week wherever you are!

29 comments:

  1. Hi Gill,

    Wow, you've been busy!! What a nice mug and coaster you won in the giveaway! I LOVE the floral Tilda fabric you purchased -- can't wait to see what you do with it. :) Your crocheted spa washcloths are charming; a friend of my mom's crochets dishcloths, and she always sends some to my mom, sister, and I.

    I love your pretty garden, especially the primroses, daffodils, and snowdrops. Gorgeous! Logan is a cutie. :-D We have a new Scottish Terrier puppy here; our sweet MacDuff died last November. Boy this fellow is a real pistol; I think we must have gotten the alpha dog of the litter. He's keeping us hopping at the moment, but we feel like he'll settle down and become a good family member. He's the third Scottie we've had, so we kind of know what to expect.

    I enjoyed your post, Gill -- hope you have a wonderful day!

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a gorgeous giveaway win!
    Love your little washcloth, they would make lovely gifts and as always beautiful pincushions! :)
    Lots of prettiness happening in your garden too, isn't it great to get outside again.
    V xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is looking very Springy at your house. This is such a lovely post, so much eye candy :) Congratulations on the win and have a wonderful weekend.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. What lovely gifts you won in the give away & I like your wash cloths. The more crafty blogs I read the more I see I want to make myself. Another wool purchase I fear, oh well! xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my goodness Gill, your camellia is stunning. What a total show stopper!

    I also spy your cornflower seeds - I've ordered some seedlings. The colour just takes my breath away.

    How lovely is Bella? Do you ever lend her out?! I could soon polish that salad off quite happily.

    Heather x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats Gill! What a dreamy graden you have!!!I can't take my eyes from your amazing spring photos...
    Happy week end!
    Olympia

    ReplyDelete
  7. Logan, you are precious!! Gillian, everything looks so springy and I like that Tilda print!
    Enjoy those luncheons Al fresco! It will be another month at least for us and in the mountains, another two at the very least (snow late May, early June at that altitude!)
    Hugs,

    ReplyDelete
  8. The pincushions are stunning, I really love the fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, that camellia is breathtaking. They are my favourites, so lovely to see such a big one. Your makes are beautiful as always, I do love the vintage linen. Nice to see your bucket of seeds. I sowed some cornflowers today as well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, you have been busy!! I really like your crochet work, the blanket especially. Your giveaway prize is delightful and will I am sure contain many lovely cups of tea!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. That Tilda fabric looks really lovely. Love your pincushions too. It's a busy time in the garden, isn't it? Yours is looking great. Abby x

    ReplyDelete
  12. The weather has been so overcast and horrible these last couple if days. Your lovely springy pictures have been a breath of fresh air this morning (so to speak!). And I will be checking out those washcloths on Ravelry :)
    B x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well done on the win, those ceramics are very sweet.
    Looks like you've got the perfect sun trap to relax in in the garden,once Logan has had his walk of course!
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes I'm gardening like crazy now. I have a bed that needs completely revamping so I'm waiting for the right day to get that done, not this weekend methinks. I would love a finished garden but I do think that ever happens, I shall just enjoy pottering until the weather cheers up a bit x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations on your giveaway win, Cathy's designs are lovely. Love that Tilda fabric, look forward to seeing what it becomes. I like the idea of home-made facecloths, what are they like to use, are they as nice as squashy towelling ones? Love Logan's subtle walkies tactics! Hope you're having a lovely time with Bella, my two girlies back this weekend. See you soon.
    Jane xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a colorfull, joyful post! Love the crochet, your vintage fabric pincusions and also the pretty Tilda-fabric! And you have such a beautiful garden!
    Have a nice weekend!

    x Margriet

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great post Gill - you know .... the way you style/stage your photos is really nice - you seem to have lots of gorgeous 'props' around to set off your lovely makes - you definitely have a flair for it! xCathy

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lovely little win there, isn't it nice to get out in the garden again, I'm hoping to get on with it when we get back from London. Your little makes as usual are lovely :) x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Gillyflower, what a pretty blog, so colourful and full of Spring. We are still getting snow, Brr. I'm just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lucky you! I love Cathy Daniel ceramics, such a clever, pretty design concept. And your fabrics are gorgeous, you know I'm a bit of a sucker for Tilda, that print was part of the charm pack I used to cover my hall bench - I look forward to seeing what you do with it! Juicy crochet cloth as well, what a colour! Just gorgeous post! Chrissie x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Such a lovely giveaway win! Your little wash cloth looks very pretty, and lovely to give as a gift with that delicious soap. Love your pincushions as always...you find such lovely fabrics. Enjoy your garden this weekend, Gill, it is looking beautiful!
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a feast for the eyes, so much prettiness all in one post!! I love that Tilda fabric, it's one of my favourite prints ever. Sarah xo

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovely pretty Spring photos. Love the little washcloth and looking forward to seeing what you do with that lovely fabric! M x

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a delightful post full of spring colour and lovely things! I just love the washcloth, you can never have too many of those. x

    ReplyDelete
  25. You're luck has definitely been in just lately. I love Cathy's makes, they're really lovely. It sounds like you had a wonderful Mother's Day and the meal that Bella made sounds delicious. I hope Logan got his walk.

    ReplyDelete
  26. So many good things in this post ... especially, that Tilda fabric, it's gorgeous, and your Mother's Day salad, which looks scrummy!

    I was lucky enough to win a prize in Cathy's giveaway too ... such a multi talented lady :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your this and that posts and so lovely . . . so much eye candy :)
    Congratulations on your win!
    Keep Smiling.
    Connie :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear Gill, your garden is so cheerful! Looking at those daffodils makes my heart leap. :) Goodness, I do love the things you make out of vintage fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
  29. The fabric is lovely....I'm over the moon for anything with roses on it. I love your washcloth and faved the pattern. I love those for when I'm watching t.v. I especially like your color combination. What a lovely gift from your daughter. Our Mother's Day is in May. Your Logan is VERY smart! LOL! TTYL!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to leave a comment - I love to read them!
Gill x