Thank you and a Little Reality.

I wasn't going to blog until my giveaway was over, but some habits seem hard to break. I also wanted to thank those of you who have entered so far; the feedback has already been so useful and has helped focus where I am going with products for the future. What I have found interesting is that your comments have very much reflected the orders I have received since I started the business almost 18 months ago - that long? Where did time race go? - with a huge variation in what people listed as favourite items. My orders seem to take in the whole range from bags to bunting to door hangings, and I can honestly say there is no product that has been left un-ordered. This used to worry me a little as I felt I was indulging my own huge range of interests and perhaps not being entirely professional in my approach. Now I think, blow it! If people like a wide variety and I enjoy designing and making a wide variety then where is the problem?



One of the products that seems to be quite popular judging by your lovely comments is the Bright and Breezy bunting (seen above in all its former glory). Hmm...reality check methinks as I have been so busy business-wise that the garden has somewhat taken a back seat lately. Nature is fighting back and the bunting on Davey's writing room, once indeed Bright and Breezy, is now faded and tired, the colours bleached out by so much sun (and so much rain too) and the room itself being surrounded by triffid-like nettles. I love making the bunting and so will be making more very soon, some for our own use and some to replenish the stock running low in my sewing room. I am also thinking of adding a new colourway to the range, an equally bright and cheery - new name maybe? - line of festival flags which are great in the garden or inside for parties...or just because.



While I am finally allowing reality to impinge - darn it - I noticed the duck house so lovingly built by Dave several years ago now is desperately in need of a scrub and repaint. Ducks, as those of you who keep them will know, are messy. They poop copiously (and noisily, sorry to shatter any dreams here) and love to ferret around in earth, particularly soggy earth, flicking it hither and thither in gay abandon. Ours have the use of a vast pond and four ducks diving, splashing, shaking wings dry means there is a lot of mud flying around hence the mess viewed here on their house. Once a pretty forget-me-not blue, it really is rather sad now, so time I wielded a brush once more.



Nettles in the hen pen are almost taller than their house and laugh at me each time I venture near!



There is a prettiness in some of the wildness with ramsons and bluebells viewed through tangles of slightly faded scarlet tulips.



Of course, neglect means there are masses of golden buttercups to gather. Wonder if I like butter?



A quick search reveals prickly, hairy goosegogs - I love them in crumble with golden clotted cream (Cornish of course).



I know this is a tale I have told before, but when I was pregnant with Isabella, Dave sent me 100 bluebell bulbs as she was due in May and I had always wanted a Bluebell Baby. I knew nothing about them and they arrived on day where I was feeling grotty (20 weeks of all day sickness had pretty much wiped me out). Such a lovely, wonderful gift and very much typical of my lovely, wonderful, romantic Dave. Now Isabella is almost three and the bluebells are flowering beautifully all along the bank of the hedge, their evocative scent perfuming the air and that soft haze of blue shimmering against the leaves. I love them.



So perfect.



Well, that was supposed to be a post showing all the grotty bits in an attempt to prove that blogging can sometimes present a slightly unreal view of life, but you know, once I started looking all I really saw was the beauty hiding away. I am quite good at shutting my mind to mess. Notice there are no shots of the house though - apart from this one where it is fairly hidden away and can only be seen peeping through the undergowth!



Thank you again to all those who have entered the giveaway. Lovely to hear from new people and I hope you will return as I love getting everyone's comments and getting to know new people. If anyone hasn't entered but would like to there is still plenty of time. Just leave your comment on the post below. I am changing the draw to Monday 12 noon as I realised that a Sunday evening was a strange time full of homework and uniform washing and baths...groan.

Have a good weekend x