Magical Gardens

I have been working in my small garden, planting and laying down the compost we have made and the sense of peace that I felt  while  doing this was amazing. Every worry floated  away until I  was only aware of birdsong,the slight breeze and the warmth of the spring sunshine.

Later we went for a walk in the woods nearby and the scent of wild bluebells was intoxicating.
Spring is like a  good Champagne!
I have been watching Monty Don's inspirational T.V series on Italian Gardens with much pleasure, what a gift he has  being able to convey his own  enthusiasm for all the different styles and his love for the wonder of plants to us.
It amazes me that every spring seems to get more beautiful and meaningful with the passing years. Regeneration,a miracle of hope, it was Shelley who said " if winter comes can spring be far behind?"

The daffodils are over but every morning a walk around the garden reveals  the promise of more and more growing things.Early butterflys and bumble bees are visiting the garden while the blackbird is singing to his mate, such a small piece of heaven!

Some inspiration for our wardrobes!

This is really lovely I love lacework.Ther are some pretty lacy boleros in the shops.

I love the dainty detail of this and if you can't afford it how easy is this to copy with bits from the workbox!

Here is the whole thing,somehow however much I love this look I think the good people of Truro would find this a little over the top! Might cause a stir in Tesco!

This I really love and I would love to wear it!

What delicate colours and again an easy style to copy.

The use of all the different fabrics really interests me,it  takes a good eye to make this work!

Oh!Knickers!

  I think this is my favourite,the bag just sets it off and the whole ensemble especially the lovely jacket enchants me. I hope that has given you a few ideas for the spring and sewing projects.

I have just changed my Google acount registration.I am now on  aangela@btinternet,  please change if you are on my freeserve account.
 This is one of the doors of Truro Cathedral  I photographed last summer.
We have a wonderful view from our house of the three spires  which are lit up at night.The Cathedral is a central point here in Truro and a very peaceful and beautiful place visit for a quiet moment. Whatever your beliefs or non beliefs it has a tranquil effect.
Sometimes the spires emerge from the Cornish mist and seem to be floating above the city.The most spectacular effects can be seen when there is a thunder and lightening storm ,very gothic!  
 Having been ill in bed for a few days I  have spent time gazing out at the play of light on the newly refurbished  Bath stone  spires and letting my mind wander.    Seagulls wheal and fly around the highest points and a  pair of  peregrine falcons return each year to nest on one of the spires,their distinctive cries  are heard over  the city.    The bells are also lovely to hear when a peel is rung, my brother Andrew is a keen campanologist and loves to join the ringers when he comes to visit!
Many local hands worked on the symmetry of this building, stone masons left their mark and probably their secret signatures high on the lofty spires.

The last of the winter!

We took a trip to London to visit Mum and stopped off at a lovely Dartmoor village called Chagford. We had lunch in the wholefood cafe  and stretched our legs.I went into the village library and had a chat about the governments cuts  to our library services.

All around were signs of spring,Wordsworth's daffodils come to mind and even tho that poem is sometimes ridiculed I think read aloud and with sensitivity it is a beautiful and evocative piece

Blossom so delicate and fleeting!

Shelley says "If Winter comes can Spring be far behind?"

The trip was good but when I came home I got a chest infection which seems to me to be winters little act of revenge!

A few days away

Steve and I will be away for a few days visiting my Mum and stopping off at Glastonbury and Chagford on the journey.All whistle stops unfortunately but a change of scene is always  exciting. It will be lovely to see the signs of spring as we drive up country.I love the route we take A30 and A303 with just a bit of boring motorway at the end.It is always a thrill when Stonehenge comes ito view!

I can't sleep !

It is about 2 am and I can't sleep,I am not worried or upset  it just that my mind is not ready to dream.

I have been pondering Keat's quote "A thing of beauty is a joy forever" and William Morris's admonishion that we should have nothing in our homes that are not both beautiful and useful.

Jane Morris

Here are some images of beauty that I particularly enjoy!

Young lovers?

Provence

I think maybe I can get to sleep now" Night Night " or should I say Good Morning all!

A Valentine's Day Treat.

I have seen the Website and heard about this craft shop and so added it to my blog but I had never seen it in reality. So when Steve said where do you want to go for a Valentines treat I though it would be nice to find Lyrebird.
It is a little gem of a shop tucked away deep in the Cornish coutryside in the village of Constantine.I hope they approve of the buckets of flowers I have added!!

Inside we found Nichola Butland working away surrounded by Cornish crafted buttons, ribbons and lace. She was very welcoming and and happy for me to take photos.The aim of Lyrebird is to be an outlet for local crafts people and if you check their site you will see that there are many strings to their lyre!

These unique necklaces are all handmade in Cornwall,very tempting!

I bought a patchwork kit put together locally by The Other Thing and Lyrebird.The message on the recycled packaging says "Good things come to those who make" and I think this a wise saying. My husband's Grandma who was a wonderful woman told me that if ever she felt despondent or fearful the best thing was to "Do something with your hands" She made many crochet quilts and was an expert knitter.

Patchwork kits ready for you to make a cushion and felt kits for do it yourself decorations.

I love the Russian dolls and the Raku buttons .

Here we have just the thing for the eco witch about town, no petrol and easy to park!

These charming buttons are locally made and are so tempting that I bought some!

Lovely broaches made with beads and buttons ,so individual and eye catching.

How about this for a Valentine's night outfit ?

There are also  bags and hats.

Gloves and scarves all hand knitted.

I bought a lovely flower broach in pale lilac , it would look good on a coat or jumper .

These are nice smaller felt flowers.

Some examples of the individually designed jewelery.

I hope you enjoyed the visit to Lyrebird, we certainly did and it is good to know that most of the materials used are recycled which fits in with my view that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever" a quote from John Keats.
Another hero, William Morris would also approve of the aims of this  captivating shop.
You can feel the happiness and fun of being creative in the shop. It is also lovely to see Nichola at work at her big wooden table and to get a warm welcome from her. She even told us of a good place to get a cup of tea in the village! If you want to find out more and view the Etsy shop the link is on my blog.

Time for tea!