The last few days of May......

 

As we leave May behind us I must just share a few photos with you that I meant to post before now and havent had a chance to, what with us being in the middle of exams here plus the main PC being out of action, and with that, my ability to upload photos and post.

But first and most important, I must thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post where I showed you Bella's quilt - I was overwhelmed!

The quilt now lies on the end of Bella's bed.
(Note the un-ironed duvet cover - I don't do ironing I'm afraid, except the important stuff like hubby's shirts - life's too short and all that........)

At the time of finishing the quilt the weather turned foul again and so I started a new one - hand pieced this time, being in the mood as my good friend Jane (hi Jane if you're reading this!) and I have had a couple of tranquil mornings recently showing Jane how to do paper pieced hand sewn patchwork.

I'm sewing together diamonds, making stars from recycled and vintage fabrics and bedding, and other odd scraps of fabric - the beauty is that they don't take a lot of fabric and it doesn't matter if there's only one of each fabric, so it's great for using up odds and ends.

(New book too - Vintage Chic by Christina Strutt of Cabbages and Roses - is a real feast for the eyes if you love pale shabby chic interiors)

I'm using pale and pastel colours, so it'll be a "low volume" (LV) or "quiet" quilt compared to my last one.

And it won't be made as quickly! One to chip away at when in the mood.

Jane has chosen some gorgeous floral fabrics in pinks and greens, including some Tilda ones, and is sewing hexies into a cushion cover which she may well have finished by now, and if she had her blog up and running I would now be linking to her......did you get the not-so-subtle hint Jane?!!!

I've also painted a chest of drawers bought  a few weeks ago. It's an old Stag chest, so nicely made with dovetailed joints and a good shape.


 

Using two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Antoinette, a lovely pale pink, I lightly distressed it after waxing with clear wax, and changed the knobs, although I used what I had in the house and will need to seek out more of the clear ones.

 

 

 

Am really pleased with how it came out, although there is too much light in these photos to see it as it it really is.

I know the bluebells are nearly over, and you have probably seen loads in blogland already, but I must just share with you the bluebells in the woods behind us...the scent was lovely on this sunny day in May.....

 

 

 

can you see the badgers sett in the centre and the path of trampled bluebells?

 

the broom was just coming out too

 

surrounded by bluebells

 

wherever you looked

 

a sea of bluebells

 

their fragrance filled the air as we walked along the narrow path

 

can you see the Brimstone butterfly in the centre - we've seen it every time we walk here the last month, and in real life it's a really bright, almost dayglo yellow, like a highlighter pen colour!

 

and we just had to make some cupcakes in bluebell coloured cases

 

And now here in June the garden is full of colour with the azaleas and rhodendrons in full flower.
I've been busy potting on seedlings and planting out the runner beans and climbing french beans - so much to do now so I'd better get off the laptop and on with the gardening!

Hope you have a great week!