Interlude

I have decided to take a short blogging break...

I’ve found it difficult recently to find the time not only to write an interesting post, where I’m not repeating a tale I’ve written in the past, but also to get round to visiting other blogs. I don’t want to churn-out ‘filler’ posts where space is filled as an obligation, which can be frustrating for the reader – we’re all busy girls, I know, and time is precious. (And whilst I'm being honest, I also feel a little like this lovely lady, who says things so well...)

My daughter breaks up from school on Thursday, so I’d like to spend some time with her too. It will be good to take some time out and to feel refreshed and raring to go, rather than having my blog feel like just another chore I have to do.

I’d also like to focus on my business and the items I make to sell. I’d love to come up with some new and inventive ideas –I’m looking to live by the quote by Herman Melville that I’ve added to the bottom section of my blog…"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation."

A good friend of mine took the brave step recently to work on some original hand embroideries to exhibit at a textile fair at Petworth House. She hadn’t sold her work before and was nervous as to how it would be received. All of her pieces took her many hours to finish, with each one being completely original and different to the others.

I found her attitude totally inspiring and it reminded me that I sometimes feel constrained by trying to stay commercial. Of course I need to make money from my business, and it is a very lucky person who loves what they do and can make a decent living from it…

To give an example as to what I am trying to say; the patriotic rag dolls that I created this month for my website, using vintage union flags for their skirts – Was I selling-out? One can’t fail to have noticed the boom in merchandise on the high street with the bold flag design– something I’m sure will continue well into 2012 when London hosts the Olympic Games…

I imagine the concept for reintroducing the union flag as a fashion statement would have been by some of the well known fashion designers reworking the looks from the 1960’s, when it was last popular, or from the punk era. (Maybe I should mention Geri Halliwell here too, with her infamous tea towel dress!) Catwalk fashion so often influences the slower-to-change home interiors market and so it would be inevitable that this strong look would make it into our houses too. Emma Bridgewater and Jan Constantine ran (are running) with it, to name but a few.

I must admit that when I took my sewing machine to the original queen’s coronation flags that I bought at the V&H, I did question myself as to whether I was compromising my integrity somewhat. Was it really ‘me’ and did I want to jump on a bandwagon…but I was also torn, knowing that I needed to earn money and that this was a popular look which would make the dolls saleable…Maybe I’m being too hard on myself; its not like I’m looking to set a trend myself, but I am looking to find my true style and to really go for it…

I want to keep away from the blogs for a while, so as not to be influenced by them. There is an uneasy undercurrent, which many are aware of, and so I’d like to step back, just for a short time, so as to think more clearly…I’d like to remain happy and positive and not be dragged down right now. Life is good.

I’ve included lots of photos of some of the vintage costume brooches that I have found over the years. These are a passion of mine, after my love of antique and vintage textiles, and are something that I often like to add to my hand made items. Their diversity of design and materials are what fascinates me and when I add the perfect piece to a handmade item, it seems to bring it to life.

I hope that you will enjoy taking a look through the photos and that they will serve as a reminder that I will be back blogging very soon, to feature more of my nostalgic loves and exploits!

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I don’t want to be away for too long – “Summer Wishes” to you all – hope you have a lovely time whatever you have planned,

Niki x

Twenty? Can that be Right?

(special cake made by younger sister)
Another of my gorgeous girls is now in her 20's...I think I may have to lie down to come to terms with it! ;-))
...not least because it doesn't seem anything like a year ago that I mentioned her 19th Birthday on my blog...
"Happy Birthday!"

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend,
Niki x

Two Heads (or more!) Are Better than One...

When I've had a spare moment, I've been making-over this old dresser. I gave it a coat of French grey eggshell paint. (Farrow & Ball's 'Light Blue')

The interior looked very dark, so I thought I'd line it with paper.

I decided to use some pages from The Studio magazine from 1898, of which I have several copies in my collection of old ephemera.

I used wallpaper paste to apply the selected pages onto the back.

And I continued onto the sides and over the shelves until it was complete.

I love some of the illustrations, such as these for old metalwork, and the photo of a wallpaper design in a Victorian parlour.

The drawer pulls were screwed back into position an then the fun bit could start!

I thought I'd use the cabinet to display my vintage hat stand collection all together. (Or my severed head collection, as my daughter calls them! ;-))

Most date from the Deco era, although a few have been cobbled together by me using old doll heads and vintage finds.

This one is too tall for the cupboard, so I had to lay her down.

My French fabric covered boxes are on the top - as well as a few more tucked underneath.

Its the ideal spot for our telephone and a lamp too...

I do feel that our house is finally coming together (after 12 years of being here!) and maybe some time soon we will be able to relax and really enjoy it! ;-))

Hope you are enjoying your weekend,

Niki x

A Lunch Date

Fresh flowers full of fragrance fiddled and faffed for a friend...

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Pretty posy placed in prime position by pleased pal!

Light luscious lunch lovingly lavished locally...

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Crumbly cake cut and consumed keenly!

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So many words were used today, chatting with friends over lunch, that the above few were all that were left! ;-))

Have a lovely weekend,

Niki x

Thank You, Rain!

The steady fall of rain this afternoon has surprised me with its focusing influence...
Too wet to venture out into my garden, or further afield...
But actually reassuringly calming and cocooning...

I've sat all afternoon in my small basement workroom, with the door propped open...

The rain amplified by the funnelling effect of being under the wooden balcony...

No breath of wind, has allowed the rain to fall in long vertical lines which smack the ground.
Small pools of water have intensified the damp aroma, and there’s an over powering sense of growth and renewal amongst the lush vegetation.

A cool, peaceful, soothing air; like soft background music with a comforting, romantic quality.

It's certainly woven its magic over me today to help channel my energy...

Thank you rain, you were just what I needed.

(Only, please don't fall tomorrow, as I have plans! ;-))

Niki x

One for the Nostalgia Photo Album

Yesterday was a special day for our family.
It began with us leaving home in the morning, at the start of a rather epic car journey to complete in one day...

We crossed The Severn...

and passed through the beautiful Welsh valleys,

enjoying the scenery in all its rugged glory.

To finally arrive here for the very special ceremony.

It was the day for our first-born to graduate!

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Smiles all round and a swelling of pride that she'd finally achieved her goal...

and was now about to embark on the next chapter of her life.

With the formalities over, we all walked down to the seafront for a few moments of fresh air and quiet.

We'd booked a celebratory evening meal at the Constitution Hill Restaurant, which is reached by taking the cliff railway up the steep terrain.

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The journey up allows for some of the best views over this old fashioned seaside town.

Then it was time for fun and laughter, and good food shared amongst friends.

After a wonderful evening, we took our daughter back to her new (very old!) flat, which we hadn't seen before, as she only moved in last Saturday. Thankfully I didn't need to go home and weep, as it really wasn't too bad!

;-))

And just to refocus on what my blog is usually all about, have a look at what can be found a couple of doors down from her new residence, on the corner of the street...

This quirky little display shop has been set up by the town council, with the objects inside coming from an Aberystwyth clothes shop that closed down in 1923. Its tucked away down the side streets of Aber for tourists to chance upon.

Sorry for the quality of my photos - it was 9pm by this stage, the light was fading and I had to capture the images through the glass windows.

More details about the museum can be found on this information sheet below. (click to enlarge the photo)

Wouldn't you love to go shopping here?

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Later, our goodbyes were said and we left our dear daughter at her new home in Wales to begin the long drive back to ours...

Three and a half hours later we'd made it, and were more than ready for bed, but it had been a happy day and one we shall look back on with pride and fondness.

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I'm feeling rather tired this morning, but its been lovely to relive the day - looking through the hundreds of photos that I took, which include many new and precious memories.

Niki x

Painting with Petals!

Violet

Indigo

Blue

Green

Yellow

Orange

Red

Have fun with colour - paint your world with petals!

Niki x

Revamp It!

Natasha is organising a 'Revamp It' challenge and I have decided to take part.

What you have to do is to take a piece of clothing - either one you have hanging in your wardrobe already, or buy something in a charity shop/flea market and REVAMP IT!

You can find the full details of the challenge here on Natasha's blog.

I found this rather fetching bri-nylon nightdress (thank goodness they don't make nighties from this stuff any more!) at the flea market, which is going to be my project. Its a lovely coral colour; not orange as my photos might suggest, and was hanging amongst some retro clothes on a rail in the rain this morning. I can't wait to get started...it will be something fun to work on in the evenings, as I aim to embellish it with some hand sewing...

Whilst I'm here, I'll show you some lovely old children's books that I also found, mostly dating from the 1930's.

I absolutely love the colour plates inside them. Here are a few:

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And I'll leave you with a selection of my other vintage treasures - sorry only a few words; time is extra precious today.

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Hope you're having a lovely weekend,

Niki x

Rounding-off the Week.

Its been a funny week...not the best, but certainly not the worst...I've found myself in an odd kind of mood...hubby has been very busy (he has his own business, also works from home, and forgets that he shouldn't work past 9pm at night and is allowed to take a holiday...even if it is without holiday pay ;-))

I've struggled to keep up with emails this week, have wrapped and posted lots of my on-line shop orders - thank you everyone, and I started making some Christmas decorations for the next fair, yes, in July(!) - Clicking onto the V&H fair website and seeing that calendar countdown to the big day, is fatal! But I didn't get very far with my creating...difficult to think about sleigh bells and Santa's with the sun shining through the workroom window and the feint whiff of freshly harvested grass coming from the farm across the road...

So what I really needed was to get out into the big wide world again, to talk to a human being or two, and to re-focus. An ideal opportunity made itself known this morning; I had an invite to a vintage textile fair in Bradford-on-Avon...so I took myself off for a couple of hours...

This is the ancient Tudor Hall - isn't it lovely?

My favourite stand: just look at that chippy pink paint and those adorable little sewing drawers...

Sadly both beyond my budget...

But I did find some treasures...and someone to talk to ;-))

And after a quick cup of tea on the garden terrace, I headed back home with my loot.

Lots of French gorgeousness, which I am always drawn to...

I've bought jars of these French milk glass buttons in the past, but the lady dealer who sells them is coming to the end of her supply, so I thought I'd better stock up. They look pretty on display in their gingham topped jars, so if I don't use them all for a while, I shall enjoy looking at them anyway.

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I bought several lengths of antique and vintage lace, as well as the check muslin curtaining in the background, which I find very useful for dolls petticoats.
I thought these dainty lace motifs would make ideal wings for fairies, with a little starching.

Fine cotton voile handkerchiefs for gift sets...

Along with this eye catching 50's crepe hankie.

And I loved this small size French latte bowl (I have larger ones, but I've never seen this smaller size before)

I've sat it amongst my espresso cup collection. (A slightly bizarre obsession, given that I never drink coffee! - but we all need our little foibles, don't we?!)

Next is this delicious French fabric covered hat box from around the 1920's.

Look how vibrant the fabric once was...but I love its mellowed tones now.

And another box, this one from the Deco era, which I was instantly drawn to, but made a surprise discovery inside, thankfully not scattering the contents across the floor ;-))

I could actually do with your help, if you have any ideas...I just don't know what these are...

They are made from very thin slithers of wood which have been dyed in the typical 30's colours. The stamped writing is on both sides, with most of them printed with St. Raphaël Quinquina, which is a grape juice based aperitif, mixed with quinine. The circular ones have two waiters printed on, which was the trade mark used during the 30's - with the drink being available in red or white. I wonder if they are perhaps chips for a bar game in France?

I'm going to put them together with some other bits and bobs to make some small craft packs suitable for scrapbook crafters.

You can have such fun searching the www, can't you? I found these two lovely poster designs for St. Raphaël whilst trying to discover what the tokens might be.

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Update 16/07/09: I have had this comment left by Stephanie: I confirm those chips are for a game, which is called "le nain jaune", I used to play with my grand parents with coloured woodchips, nowadays you can no longer find them, they have been replaced with plastic ones!If I remember correctly the rounds were worth one point, the square five, and the rectangles ten...That is how they taught me to count! Thank you for the info Stephanie! N x

Back to my purchases; I'm afraid I was unable to resist this wonderful textile panel. It took most of my money, but it is a treasure in my view. I love it.

And finally this little textile piece, whose design fits within the old mottled frame so perfectly.

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When I returned home from the fair at lunchtime, there was a surprise parcel waiting for me on my doormat. It was from one of my lovely customers to my website. Thank you again Barbara!

Inside the pretty wrappings was this thought provoking book by Susan Squellati Florence, which was just what I needed this week…funnily enough I was searching the internet last night for some helpful words and found the quote that I posted on my blog yesterday…isn’t it funny how life goes, and just what you need seems to come along at the right time….I do love this little book, with its dreamy watercolour illustrations and will enjoy digesting its messages.

You can just be.

Take time to really listen to each other. Take time to forgive, time to forget.

Take time to pause and feel the golden gift of life.

Included with the book was Barbara's sweet note written inside this pretty card. It is a print of Carl Larsson's 'Letter Writing'.

This was so apt for me. I discovered Carl Larsson's work when I was around 18 years old - fell in love with it then, and still love it today. The interiors that he featured in his beautiful water colour paintings of his own home, influenced and inspired our first home. At the time, stencilling was a big fashion statement - do you remember that, back in the 80's? Well Carl and Karin's home was beautifully embellished with hand painted designs, but for the less artistic hand, stencils helped achieve a similar look. I fell for the turquoise and red pallet in a big way, with my favourite painting being this one, 'The Name Day'.

Even today I use lots of red in our home and we have a turquoise painted front door...

One day I should like to call at the door of 'Lilla Hyttnäs' in Sundborn, Sweden and will relish being in such an inspirational home...

I seem to have gone off on a bit of a tangent...its funny how small things can get you thinking and reevaluating ...and it has been a bit of a funny week...

Hope everyone has a fab weekend,

Niki x

Thought for the Day

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." - Herman Melville

A Patriotic Trio

I have made an update to my on-line shop this morning. Included in the listings are three of my handmade rag dolls all dressed in union flag skirts that probably date from the queens coronation.

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There is Queenie in her cherry red mohair jacket.

Unity, in a smart check ensemble.

And Poppy, who is predominantly a vintage floral girl.

I've added several gift sets.

As well as lots of vintage treasures.

I hope that you will enjoy taking a look when you have a moment.

My thanks to all who made a purchase from my last update and I hope that you were happy with your treasures.

Have a great day!

Niki x

My Little Piece of Escapism.

It seems all but a distant memory now when hubby spent several days concreting 21 supporting posts into the ground of our very sloping site and we dreamed of creating our little bolt hole at the end of the garden...

Together we put up the panels of the small beach hut design and negotiated the unwieldy roof panels onto the top.

In the meantime, we watched our next door neighbours-but-one call on the professionals, and within a day they had a new shed erected at the end of their garden! Hmmm...but then they don't have the satisfaction of doing it themselves, do they?! ;-))

The very orange wood was our next task to tackle and several tins of paint later and a fair few days of activity were required to turn it from this...

To this...

There is a large old dog rose that rambles to the left of the summerhouse, which we intend to drag up over the roof, so that hopefully within a year or so it will all look as if its been there for years...

The new path that hubby laid now leads somewhere...

And its somewhere very inviting...

At first we weren't totally sure if we would make proper use of our new outside addition, but we've soon got into a routine of sitting after our evening meal with a cup of tea and switching-off from the hectic home life.

With having that detachment from the house, we don't seem to have the distraction to make us think that we should be doing this or that and not taking a ten minute break...

We wanted to make it as homely and welcoming as we could, so I've added bits and pieces from the house, or bargain buys from various sales. The little iron table came from the flea market a couple of weekends ago. I gave it a coat of 'Hammerite' paint for protection and it now provides a spot for a pretty potted pink pelargonium.

Would you like the grand tour? (Ha! If you can have a grand tour of a space approx 8' x 10'!!)

Here's the bamboo table that I made-over recently...

Home to the radio, my candle from Kelly, and a table lamp with a shade that I covered in a vintage Sanderson fabric. The dreamy cottage print hangs above, which used to be on a wall in my daughters bedroom when she was a little girl.

The shelf below provides a storage place for some of my old gardening books.

Just to dress the windows a little, I used a narrow length of another Sanderson fabric, printed with roses and birds, which I also picked up at the flea market.

They are simply pinned into place with these decorative flower pins. I bought them from Kelly last year and had been using them for my bulletin board, but I believe they originally came from America and are actually designed for pinning up curtains...

I'm really pleased to be able to put them to their intended use now; something I couldn't do before, as we don't have wooden window frames anywhere in the house. The colour of them couldn't be better either...don't you just love it when things come together?

Ideally I would have liked 4 Lloyd loom or basket chairs inside, but being realistic, there is comfortably only room for 3 of them. The blue one below had been relegated to the shed a year ago, when we no longer had the space for it in the house. I had already covered it with a fabric slip cover, which can easily be removed for washing, so is ideal in the garden.

I've been trying to achieve a 'summer-all-year-round' kind of a look, so have gone for flowers and lots of greens in a big way...as you shall see...

As space is tight, I added this folding chairs for an extra guest, softened by a cushion that I made from a section of vintage hand embroidery.

Other gift items about the place offer reminders to me of friends and their thoughtfulness:

The lovely purple daisy print cushion below that I had from Sue at Christmas.

A retro jug from Teena...

The wall pocket posy holder from Helen and a crinoline lady embroidery from Maggie were recent Birthday gifts.

My charity shop leather flower mirror, that I tried to sell at the flea market recently didn't find a home with someone else...thankfully now, I'm glad I came back home with it, as I love how it looks in one corner, reflecting the garden.

As a lover of vintage and nostalgia, I was torn between various accessories. Did I go for Victorian roses, retro or kitsch graphic designs, comfortable 1930's styles, or more rustic country items?...in the end, I went for a little bit of all of them!

The vivid red Lloyd loom chair was pilfered from our kitchen. (I'm actually enjoying the space its now freed up in there!) I added my daughter's old patchwork quilt to make it a bit more inviting, and of course another floral Sanderson cushion. The quilt makes a lovely picnic rug too, so can be spread out on the floor outside to extend the space during the summer months.

A £2 car boot sale table from a couple of years ago was painted in a turquoise eggshell paint found in the cellar. The ideal spot for a cup of tea and a vase of garden flowers.

One of my most favourite 30's prints hangs above, which will add some summer colour during the colder months.

More gardening books squirreled beneath, to enjoy during relaxing moments.

The other basket chair with my handmade French fabric slip cover came out of our laundry room - it always got used as a dumping ground by certain members of the family, so I'm glad to have removed the temptation!

The pièce de résistance is the painted cupboard at the back of the summerhouse. I really wanted it to be welcoming in here, so pretty things to look at are important, in my view, to create a homely feel and a place where we want to spend time.

This old cupboard has been in our kitchen in the past, also in my husband's office, and now here. (Its OK, hubby has the cupboard that was in our living room...The living room has a new (old) one that is waiting for a paint job from me! - nothing sits for long in our house

;-)) heehee!

I've gathered together all sorts of bits and bobs from around the house to display on the shelves - perhaps you recognise some of the items from past blog posts about my thrifting trips?...

The French wallpaper border adds a splash of colour to the shelf edges.

Reminders of days out are provided by some of the mementos on display...

Such as the pair of violet baskets from Ashburton in Devon...

My parrot from This n' That in Totnes,

And these two tiny teddies were bought for me by my girls when they were a lot younger.

Reading by candlelight...

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Time to contemplate the crossword...

Vessels to arrange a few posies...

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And a granny-squares blanket for cosy knees.

There we go...I'm sure I've bored you enough now...please excuse me while I enjoy the view for a few minutes...give me a nudge if I start to snooze...

I have a cupboard I should be painting really you know!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Niki x

The Winner & A Day in the Life...

Thank you to everyone who entered my Blog's 3rd Birthday Giveaway. The winner of the prize above (chosen by a random number generator) is .....

Number 111....which is...

Isabel of Maison Douce.

Congratulations to you Isabel! Your prize will be on its way to you soon!
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Moving on...I am often asked how long it takes me to make one of my rag dolls.
The simple answer, recording the actual physical work, is usually one full day. However, I am always on the lookout for vintage fabrics, trims and embellishments, which get neatly (sometimes ;-)) squirreled away in my workroom until such time as the perfect selection of items come together with an idea for a doll. I often find myself thinking about how I would like the next doll to look, usually when I'm working at the tedious body-stuffing stage of another!

I usually start with what I would like the jacket to be made from. I generally limit myself to French C19th white linen, Scottish mohair scarves, or pure wool blankets, so as to narrow my choice and fabric supplies. This stage is the most important, as if I get the selection of fabrics wrong, the doll won't be of a pleasing design and may be unsellable. But having said that, I am never entirely sure what the finished doll will look like, until all the clothes are put on her and I add any embellishments.

For a change recently, I thought I'd use the lovely soft green velvet that I bought at the flea market. Having that as my starting point, I carefully gathered together a selection of vintage and antique fabrics. The floral fabric, top right in the photo below, is one of my Scheurer panels. Yes, I am being very brave parting with it! I had to trim it a little; the sample size panels are just slightly too long for a doll's skirt. So yes, brave, mark II, was to take the scissors to it!

To coordinate, I also chose a Sanderson floral upholstery fabric, C19th French ticking and some cotton lace. I don't use pattern template pieces for my doll's clothes. I like to be dictated to by the design of the fabrics, placing the patterned area in a suitable position within the size of panel I feel is suitable. Sometimes too, I may only have enough of a vintage fabric to make a certain item of clothing - for example, the top or bloomers need less fabric than the skirts, dresses or petticoats, which I like to be generous with.

One of the reasons that I chose to stop supplying a shop in Bath, was that the owner began to regularly ask me to make dolls in a red or blue Vichy check dress and linen jacket. After making these for several years, I began to feel like a production line and the creative edge of my craft was lost.

I stopped making them completely for a while, before I found my way again, making solely for my on-line shop later on, with each doll being unique.

Once all the pieces of fabric are cut to the required shape, I sew them all together on the machine, adding any lace or trims I feel necessary as I go.

Necklines and waists are finished by hand, something I usually sit and do whilst waiting for photos to upload onto my blog(!), or whilst watching the TV in an evening- thinking at the same time about what my next project will be! - We women are so good at multi-tasking, aren't we?! ;-))

I often finish coats and jacket edges by hand too, with a decorative running/hem stitch, adding vintage buttons that I carefully choose from my collections.

The stage of making a rag doll that I least enjoy is the body. As you can imagine, I have made vast quantities of these and they are tedious! The stuffing of them causes me RSI problems too, as I like my girls to be firm and well rounded!

Once all the sewing is finished, the more enjoyable task of putting the finished doll together can begin.

Firstly, I hand paint the boots onto the dolls feet, then I press all the clothes.

Fluffy mohair tops trim the boots, along with vintage buttons. Here I've use old mother-of-pearl shirt buttons.

Then she starts to be made decent, first with a pretty French floral top and then a pair of ankle length bloomers, followed by a lace trimmed petticoat.

The fabulous floral skirt and velvet coat completes the outfit. She then gets her wig.

Which is prettied-up with a fabric rag ribbon bow.

I then decide if I think she would benefit from some accessories. This time I chose a handmade bobbin lace collar and added a vintage floral costume brooch which unites all the colours of her outfit.

After giving her, her facial features, (always a bit nerve racking, in case I make a boo-boo!) - I then decide what name I think suits. At first I was going to call her Jade, with her velvet coat being such a pretty shade, but it reminded me more of crisp Golden Delicious apples, so I've named this lady Pomona; taken from the Latin meaning 'apple'.

And here she is....

I shall be taking Pomona with me to the next V&H fair in November. She will be packed away safely for a little rest until then!

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Oh, she just said to me, before she gets packed away, 'could she please just show you her lovely layers beneath her Scheurer fabric skirt?'...you don't mind taking a peek do you?...

Have a great weekend, won't you?!

Niki x

(And Pomona!)

Feel the Love!

Thank you for all the supportive comments I received to my last post - I know so many of us have a heavy workload, so can easily empathise when a fellow blogger talks of feeling snowed under, over-worked, overwhelmed or just plain shattered....its a shame that women still feel the need to 'do it all', often at the detriment of looking after themselves properly. I appreciate the fact that you actually read my ramblings, and so were constructive in your remarks. It means a lot that you took the time to do so...I think this very hot weather is getting us all a bit jittery too, so look after yourselves! x

After making a fairy doll yesterday (wahoo, go me!), and spurred-on by feelings of embarrassment, I had to do a bit more hacking and slaying in the garden...We have a huge grapevine growing up over a rusty metal arch tunnel. Our window cleaner arrived bright and early - He's one of a dying breed who still uses long ladders and not those cleaning tools on long poles; apparently he's probably breaking a health and safety law, as our top windows are three floors up at the back of our house. Anyway, there he was grappling with his ladder, trying to negotiate the grape vine, which looked like it could devour him at any moment, in an attempt to reach and clean our tiny utility room window.

So, with feelings of guilt that I'd made his job even more arduous, the hair cut began!

Another filled wheelie bin later, the hot task was over. The vine creates a shady area in the garden and a walkway out from my basement workroom - as demonstrated by Miss Millie here!

Later on I thought I'd take a few photos of whats looking lovely in the garden just now...

The other rose that my brother bought for me is now in flower - its called 'Times Past' and is a climbing variety.

My foxgloves have been sprouting baby flower spikes from their base.

Astrantia.

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I love these astilbes - they really are that colour - I've not digitally altered these photos at all - a gorgeous rich ruby red, with the off-white ones in the background.

Summer bedding in a terracotta pot.

Penstemons are another of my favourites.

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I wasn't the only one enjoying the flowers...

buzzzz...buzzzz..yummy, yummy....

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A bit more 'faffing-time' and I should be able to show you the summerhouse...hubby and I sat and had a cuppa in there yesterday evening, listening to the birdsong...it was wonderful to escape the day for a few restorative moments...

Have a lovely day,

Niki x