Around our Spring Garden today

I thought you might like a little tour of my Spring garden today.

I am always amazed at the wonderful colours and varieties of flowers we can enjoy.

I wonder many times at Gods beautiful creations,and never ever take them for granted.

I couldn't resist picking a bunch or two for the table.

I was reading my herb book and read that in Victorian times, people used to pick little bunches of combined herbs and flowers and tuck them into their clothing.

They were called Tussie-Mussies or Nose- Gays to conceal the unpleasant smells.

Love in a Mist

Geranium

Sweet peas

Hydrangea

Love-in-a-Mist

Lobelia

My beloved roses

                   I am joining Show off  your Cottage Monday at the House in the Roses today

Once upon a time

Once upon a time there was a lady who was so in love with the little English thatched cottages she just had to collect whatever she could of anything cottagey

The first cottage the lady bought was this little gem.  The purchase began a life long obsession to own as many cottagey items as possible.

Not only that, but to also write a little story about her cottage.  That lady is me. 

 My story starts with the daily lives of the family who live in the cottage.

The family are a young couple with three little children and a ginger cat called Megs, who live for many years happily in the little cottage......until one day....... well to be continued.... 

I will let you know when the story becomes a nice little book for children. Meanwhile here are a few more pics of my cottage collection

I embroidered this cottage and garden on a silk cottage print

My love of the Victorian and Edwardian era

We can't travel back through time, but we can take a nostalgic journey into the past via the memorabilia we collect of that time.

Oh to have been born in the Victorian or Edwardian era (a lady of course) although I do live in an Edwardian house, built in 1910.

 The Edwardian Ladies are painted on silk and so beautifully dressed

I embroidered them with fine silk thread and had them framed.

Their elegant dresses are so beautful

I am also taking tea with my very Royal Victorian ladies.

The lady on the right I made from the top of an Avon purfume bottle and dressed her with vintage lace which I dyed.

The one on the left I made from a Judith and Kathryn silk print and dressed her with vintage silk and lace. 

 The centre most beautiful, is made of porcelaine sitting on a porcelaine chair.

I dressed her in dyed lace and velvet and covered her chair with green velvet.

What era would you have liked to have been born into?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend xx

A change of vignettes today

I really like bone handled cutlery and these are a set of fish knives and forks I bought on Ebay along with two sets of coffee spoons.  The whole lot for $7.50 (bargain)

The blue and white plates were given to me by DIL they belonged to her grandmother.They are English Royal Staffordshire Meakin, Willow pattern.

Some freshly picked roses from my garden,displayed with my little pink birdie basket,

 and a favourite rose patterned tea cup

 The sewing room needed a little display too, so I gathered together some nice little collectables.

I want to make some lovely lacy pillow slips with this vintage lace. Another to do project

The card of buttons came from a shop my parents owned when I was a girl in England.  The clock I bought in a lot at auction. 

I hope you are having a nice play around your home today x

A Pansy for your Thoughts

"There's rosemary,that's for rememberance; pray, love, remember;

and there is pansies, that's for thoughts."

William Shakespeare

"I pray,What flowers are these?

The pansy this,

O that's for lover's thought."

                                                              Happy Wednesday xx

Tea time Tuesday

Tea in the garden today

I am using  miss matched china from my collection today apart from the sugar bowl and teapot which does match.

My camera is having a little moment, but I have finally decided to replace her,so sorry that the photo is a little purple today

I love vintage tablecloths,especially when they have been hand embroidered.  I like to think that whoever worked them is appreciated.  I can't bare to see them left in bins in the op shops,unloved. 

I am joining Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage and The Plumed Pen today xx

Another favourite blue and white

I know I blog a lot about china, but you see I love it so much. 

This is a Niko set which I collected new in my working days. 

Athough this setting has quite large mugs rather than the teacups I prefer, I still love them because of the colour and pattern. I got them in a clearance sale and took whatever was left which is why it is a bit of a mix. 

 I only managed to get 7 side plates instead of 8 and have never been able to find another one, but maybe one day it will turn up and I may be lucky enough to find more pieces.

I am joining Show off Your Cottage Monday today at House in the Roses.I hope you enjoy your week xx

Pretend Country Roses

You know even though this china is not Old Country Roses by Royal Albert, I still cannot pass it by when I see a piece on one of my hunts for treasures. It is made in Taiwan and is certainly not the quality of Royal Albert, but it still is very pretty and only a fraction of the price. There is such a lot out there and so many different items too.

I am linking up with Beverly for Pink Saturday today at http://Howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ and Debbie at Pink Roses and Teacups.Happy Pink Saturday x

'A Moment to Remember

Do you ever look around at your home and garden and realise how many of your treasured possessions were actually given to you from loved ones,friends or family, past or present. While taking a moment today to sit,my mind was quite still.  My eyes wondered around the garden from where I was sitting in the sunroom.  Then a little time later, around the house.  This Noritake dinner set was left to me by my late mother,it was a present to her from my brother in 1966 when he came home on RAR from Vietnam where he was serving with the Australian army.

The lamp from dear friends

This too from the same friends

The little bell with its sunflowers from a late dear friend on our anniversary,I think of her whenever my little grandson wants to ring it.

 Beautiful burgundy coloured petunias for my birthday from a friend

An old lamp my hubby used at work many years ago

An angel from the table at a friends daughters wedding

A lovely statue given to us by our elder son and his wife.

Ducks from our daughter and family

Pot hanger from dear friends which they bought on holiday in Queensland

This pot we Christened the pregnant lady,passed on to us by an aunt when they left South Australia 20years ago to move to Victoria.  my aunt handmade it here in South Australia.

The bird bath which lay broken in the back garden of a house our younger son and his family bought.  We salvaged it and my hubby cemented it back together and I mosaiced it.

A shell mobile made by our daughter

 A little candle lamp given to me by one of my embroidery friends

Leadlight angel made by our daughter

Leadlight parrot mobile that once belonged to my sister-in-laws late father

My favourite rose which came from a home our daughter and family once owned

And finally this sweet little fairy rose given to me at Christmas time 5 years ago from one of my homeschooled embroidery students.  This is only some of my treasured treasures.  I would love to see some of your gifty treasures too.  xx