Almost Here

Spring that is.

Just around the corner now, and I know that for sure as I've had a couple of springlike gardening sessions this week. Despite cold and frosty starts, both days I was out in the back garden by 10am wearing two fleeces and a scarf, and by coffee time I had peeled off to my long sleeved t-shirt.

I savour these early season garden tidying sessions as you can see and sense everything starting to come to life again, you can feel real warmth in the sun, and it's so good to get things tidied and ship shape ready for another year. Such a good feeling of well-being working in the sun and fresh air, cutting back old and dead stalks, pruning the roses, sweeping up leaves, weeding, tidying, raking and clearing away the dead leaves in the borders to find hidden treasure beneath such as fresh green growth and a crocus flower.

Last year I badly neglected the garden as I was too busy setting up shop at my space in The Loft Room, and was on a roll making cushions, bags, aprons, hearts etc. Nearly a year on, and with a well stocked space which I just top up with some new vintage treasures or a new make most weeks, the pressure is off and I'm finding more time to keep up with the other important things I mentioned in my post last week. 

So this week I was able to re-plant the rhubarb that had been taken out of the old vegetable patch to put in the new raised beds that were made last year, and found so many crowns that I've divided them so will hopefully have a good crop of rhubarb this year. 

I've also taken stock of what I want to grow in them this year. I am ambitiously planning globe artichokes, leeks, beetroot, courgettes, purple sprouting broccoli, peas, runners, and both dwarf and climbing french beans. As usual I will grow a few tomatoes too.

After last weeks completed cross stitch designs I have become a little obsessed with cross stitch again, and so have unearthed all my cross stitch books and have been planning a few new projects.

First some simple navy and white designs from a great book called Made in France by various authors. Am stitching a series of three different lighthouses with a New England feel about them. I'm not sure yet whether I'll frame then individually or in one of those triple aperture frames.

Once those are finished I've got various ideas swirling around in my head for my own designs. Other good books I'm using for ideas and inspiration are the invaluable Jane Greenoff's Cross Stitchers Bible, and the super Embroidery Companion by Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy.

I discovered Alicia's blog nearly 5 years ago when I first started blogging, and then bought her book. I still love to visit her blog for a good dose of stitching and crochet inspiration, and its full of lots of beautiful home and family life photos.

I have actually made a few cushions this year......

And have added a few more to my Etsy Shop

 vintage French ticking

 linen and vintage buttons

So that about rounds off the week. I am feeling a bit sorry for myself today as my bout of cross stitch yesterday evening resulted in a painful wrist and so after looking forward to a quiet weekend of long dog walks and cross stitch,  all my stitching plans for the weekend are on hold. 

 If I can't stitch or crochet then I can at least get some inspiration and eye candy from Pinterest and  catch up on my backlog of blog reading where I know I'll find even more creative inspiration!

Have a Happy Weekend!