hortensia

Food for the soul

It's that time of year when we all get caught up with so much.  Well, I know I do, and it can often be difficult to categorise everything in a relevant way.  The 'to-do' list includes presents, decorations, work committments, groceries. But not often what we really need right now.

I was lucky enough to be given these flowers at the weekend; they are beautiful, but somewhere deep inside, I knew they weren't what was needed.  Looking on the many, many lists, there didn't seem to be the answer to what that need was. Until I saw them:

Roses. Both pale and interesting, and dark and dynamic. I sit there looking at them and I feel better.

They have been my 'key' for a couple of days now, and I think it's a good lesson.

I shouldn't forget to feed my soul.

On a completely unrelated matter, I've been asked to review a product.  Hmmm.  Equal parts of excitement and wariness.  It's from a company I've not come across before, but then finding new places is always pretty good.  If only to compare.

This particular company sells many, many things - but one of the departments is for dining room furniture and the product I'm (probably) going to review for them is so beautiful I can barely wait for it to arrive.  I just hope it gets here in time to show you before Christmas, because it would look great with...

Well, let's just wait and see.

Away to drool over some more rosy pictures - obviously only a very small number made into this post.

P x

edit: the company in the above link is in the US, but they do have a UK counterpart.  Haven't gone completely off my rocker. Yet.

First paperwhite blooms

This morning saw the first blooms of paperwhites opening.

The sheer joy of looking at these close to is, well, just perfect.

And for the time being they need no support, they just stand there looking beautiful. The smell is just starting to break through, but I'm sure that will swell to fill the room.

P x

Silvered baubles

I've looked longingly at those silvered baubles out there in those oh-so expensive lifestyle magazines and shops, but haven't quite been able to bring myself to fork out the rather large amounts of money they required.

But here they are, along with some gorgeous grosgrain ribbon with jingle bells attached.

Each bauble has a shimmery ribbon to hang it from the tree (or stair decoration as these will be used for).

This picture only shows a small part of the haul - didn't want to look too OTT. The reason for the sudden huge outlay?  B&Q - half price decorations.  Just shows - wait long enough and they'll come to a store near you.

Just over a month ago I opened the hortensia blogshop and I admit to be being, well, a little wary. Etsy, Folksy and Coriandr hadn't done anything for me, and I was beginning to think I'd never sell online; markets and fairs would be my only selling opportunities.

But no.  Thank you so much to everyone who has bought from the shop; it really does make my heart sing each time an order comes through. The thought that my handmade things are  now all over the country, from the south of England to the tip of Scotland, is amazing. The www is indeed a wonder.

P x

   

Advent candles

Next Sunday is Advent Sunday, and the perfect start to Christmas.  In the past I've had calendars, countdown candles, wreaths, the lot.  This year I wanted the fresh smell of holly and yew, and the small glowing berries from the holly.

Added into the mix are a few pots of my Paperwhites - growing so strong and straight - with buds already forming:

My spirits are lifted:

P x

Christmas hearts

I've started to play around with wreaths and garlands - it's definitely gearing up time.

They're both lovely, but.... they also need something else.  And that 'something else' is fresh foliage and flowers. Because what's really missing is the smell of Christmas, and we all know that will make it perfect.

After I'd made a couple of bags for a customer in this fabric, there was enough left for another bag.  This may be one of three that make up the last in this design; it's probably time to start on another.

The sun is shining here (for now) so it's off into the garden to check pots etc, and decide which will hold which tulips.  Just keep imagining the colours ahead for me to drool over:

   

Mmmm.

As for the CL Christmas fair - well the outstanding stall was snapdragon's  - all clean lines, silver alliums and pale duck egg blue background.  And the most festive -Karon's  - all red, warm and enticing smells.  It was so good to see so many Scottish and northern England craftspeople exhibiting such fantastic things.  Never quite enough money for everything you'd like to buy.

P x

Japanese fabric - into bags

This fabric was originally intended for a quilt, but somehow, it just didn't seem right.

As bags, however, it really hits the spot.  The first one went to Tynemouth with me last Sunday, just to test the waters; didn't even have a price tag on.  Went to the very first customer, who didn't even ask the price. Just whipped it off its little basket pedestal and got her purse ready.

It's amazing how fabric has its own life, its own best place.

P x

Lingering flowers

I look out at the garden and sometimes all I see is dark dampness.  But not this morning.

Today was all about the last lingering blooms; which are obviously so much more precious for their rarity.

Even I was amazed at this gorgeous dahlia; it was hanging on the slenderest of fragile stems, far too heavy to keep its head upright.

It was good to leave the workroom for a little fresh air and quality thinking time.

 
Tomorrow sees me off to the Glasgow Country Living Christmas Fair with Rachel courtesy of Caroline from Twice. It should be another fantastic day out (last year saw me at the London fair with Marguerite courtesy of   Karon) though I'd be surprised if I saw anything so inspiring as those blooms!

P x 

Sunshine blogs

Take a look at a couple of new blogs added to the sidebar - especially http://www.papier-mache.com.au/magazine/ , it's so full of sunshine and joy. Just what I need in these dark days.
P x

Busy, busy, busy.

It's that time of year for us all; things to do, things to make.  I've not been posting for a little while, not because there hasn't been stuff going on; more, an unwillingness for this blog to be purely about the things I make to sell.  Which kinda makes things a tad difficult, because just now that's all I seem to be doing.

And I certainly wouldn't want you to think it's not a great deal of fun; being able to make things is special enough.  Finding people want to buy them makes it more so. It's just that that's not the whole of life.  There's a great deal of pleasure to be had in having a coffee (or two) with friends; walking around the garden to look at the turning colours; choosing what to make for dinner, and then finding you have plenty of time to do so.  The blog can become a life in itself; which of us hasn't taken a photograph in particular to show on the blog; made something just to have something to photograph!  Believe me when I say that this Is Not A Bad Thing.  It's just not everything.  But I wouldn't want to be without it. It's good to remind myself that I can do without it though.

Last Sunday at the market in Tynemouth was a bit special - wonderful people, ready to chat about all sorts of things, as well as buying lots.  You realise that you're having a good day when people even want to buy some of your display items - basket and cake stand.  Which I did willingly as I had spied this gorgeous little white folding chair, which I knew would display many, many things.  And all for less than the price of the basket and cake stand.  Win win.

Of course, once you get chatting to people as customers, and then they return, and then they get to know what you're about and what you like to do, well anything can come out of that.  Like this vintage sewing box which needs a little tlc. Can't wait to get started on it, though will wait until I've found the right fabric to replace the red.

One of the many, many good things about blogging are the other blogs out there, where you find not just inspiration, but also things you just want.  Like these:

(Sorry - meant to take a photograph of the new cards from Maureen which arrived today.)

Maureen creates these lovely cards, and after I drooled over the one sent to me, she agreed to sell me some and they arrived today.  In such gorgeous colours; they're really to send as notes to the girls.  Well, that takes care of 3; what to do with the 2 remaining? Ach, I'll just have to keep those for myself.  Shame.

And that colour change stuff:

Sorry for the blurring - was too far away, but just had to capture its delicious glow.

That's better, but then wistaria is always better, isn't it?

Did anyone watch Enid on Monday night?  Well, I enjoyed it, but it got me thinking about something in particular, not exactly related to the biopic.

What did you do to escape when you were a child?  For me, there were books, of course, the cinema and playing outside with a streetful of friends.  But there was another type of escape, and I realise now what I was doing - creating an alternative world.  This took the form of making gardens.  Either full size, as it were, in the actual gardens around our house, or else small, dish gardens.  The latter were great fun, and almost Japanese-like, using mirrors for ponds, creating lawns and flower beds out of so many different materials.  Was I crazy? Probably, but hey ho.

P x

Paperwhites - ziva

I'm not too sure what gets into me sometimes; I've wanted to get the paperwhites ready for indoor flowering for Christmas; I certainly know just how long it takes for them to flower from planting. So why, oh why, have I procrastinated for so long? Hey ho, done now, and of course I really enjoyed it.

A real mix of containers, though none of them are 'dressed' for Christmas yet. But they will be.

Some fabric buckets ready for Fiona; she intends to fill them as gift parcels of her lovely goodies.  I do enjoy making these; they're a little fiddly (especially the smaller ones) but very satisfying.

Last month we made some fimo decorations, ready to paint with silver (though that didn't happen - sparkly fairy peg dolls instead).  They go very well with the latest issue of Marie Claire Idees. There are some lovely things to make, and can't wait to make a start.

Finally, a BIG thankyou to my first Blogshop customers.  Very much appreciated; I like making things (obviously!!) but it's so very special when someone buys those things.

P x