First Signs of Spring!

We have been kept waiting this year but spring has finally begun to grace us with her presence and the scent of blossom is once more filling the air. It is one of my favourite times of year because it means new life and lots of beautiful flowers as the world, similarly to Dorothy, steps from black and white to technicolor.

Picture from Diary of a Vintage Girl

Signs of Spring

1. Snowdrops 
2. Frogspawn
3. New Lambs 
4. Birds Building Nests
5. Bird Song
6. Primroses
7. Daffodils 
8. Bluebell Shoots
9. Hazel Catkins (Lambs Tails)
10. Ladybirds

I have so far seen everything but frogspawn but I thought I would share some of my first lambs of the year with you enjoy. 

Indoor Garden Inspiration

I have always fancied myself a gardener or always wanted to be one. So when I got my own flat I started to fill it with plants to tend. I wanted to share my tips to give you inspiration for your own indoor garden. 

Cut Flowers 

Cut flowers are a simple element to add an extra prettiness to a room. Especially at this time of year, you can get a bunch of daffodils for £1 from Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer. I particularly love daffodils because of there vibrant colour. 

Otherwise you can just cut some flowers from your garden, if you have one or your parents garden.  

Potted Plants

Tête-à-Tête

Tête-à-tête is one of the most popular dwarf daffodils. These potted plants add instant
colour to a room and can be bought cheaply from Marks and Spencer. They need to be placed in a well lit position away from draughts and direct sunlight. My one is a relatively new plant so has not started flowering. 

My one is new so yet to flower, but I am greatly looking
forward to it.

  
Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a native Madagascar and is known as a 'Flaming Katy. I have two Kalanchoes. They are easy to look after and long-lasting as long as they are placed in a bright position and watered when the compost is dry.

Both my plants are identical and continue to flower.

Pink Hyacinths

A beautiful indoor plant for your home, they can be easily raised inside for early colour and fragrance. Again they thrived when placed in a well lit position away from draughts and direct sunlight. The soil always needs to be kept moist, they are a pretty plant for any windowsill.

My one is relatively new and yet to flower.

Cyclamen

This delicate plant is one of my favourites, it's marbled leaves last for at least nine months of the year. The flowers are pale to deep pink on slender stalks are graceful and charming. Similarly to the other plants they are easy to look after, place away from direct light and keep the soil moist.

Mine has just started to re flower and the with all the bad weather
recently the leave have begun to stretch out in search of light.

I also have some unknown plants which my parents gave me. They are resilient and hardy and though they do not flower, they add foliage to any room. They need to be water now-and-again but otherwise these plants are fabulous for beginner gardeners because they can be left alone and do not need much care and attention.

    

Kitchen Garden

I also grow my own herbs. I started out by buying a kit from Amazon and got planting. I loved this kit in particular because it is plastic pots in a beautiful wooden trough that looks attractive on your windowsill. This is a very easy way to have fresh herbs growing on your windowsill all year round. I have successfully grown Basil, Parsley, Chives and Coriander. I have just replanted my seeds for another batch of fresh herbs. 

I have also recently started to grow Cress. This one of the simplest herbs to grow and one of the funniest too. I am currently growing mine in a cardboard egg box but you can grow it is almost anything. 

My Cress Seeds

Here are some Cress growing ideas:

Here are my top growing tips

1. Do not over water your plants.
2. Always water in a dish not directly into the plant pot.
3. Water when the soil/compost is dry.
4. You can use an old teapot is you do not have a watering can. 
5. Cut old/dying leaves and flowers to prevent disease and to prolong life. 

I recommend the Balcony Gardener for great products and ideas of fashionable growing in small spaces. 

Dala Häst Love

I thought I would introduce you to the Dala Häst. A Dalecarlian horse or Dala Horse is a traditional craved and painted wooden horse statuette originating in the Swedish province Dalarna. A long time ago the Dala horse was given as a toy for children to play with but in modern times is has become a symbol of Dalarna. 

Dala Horse

I lived in Sweden when I was a lot young and in 1995 I visited Dalarna with my family and was given one of these fabulous horses with my names hand painted on, and has pride of place on my family's mantlepiece. Ever since that day I have been in love with their beautiful simplicity and extraordinary patterns (but maybe I'm bias). It is for this reason I have often use the Dala horse in my sewing because I think the simple outline of the horse with a gorgeous bit of fabric looks amazing. In recent years the increase of the Dala's presence has excited me as Scandinavian design has become ever more desirable so has the Dala Horse and you can buy them now in all shapes and forms.

Here are just some of my favourites:

Felt Dala Horse Ornaments, Dala Horse Stamp, Dala Horse Biscuit Cutters, Dala Horse Mug, Needled Felted Dala, Cross Stitch Dala, Dala Horse Candle Holder, Dala Horse Charm, Embroidery Dala Horse, Dala Horse Garland, Dala Horse Christmas Decoration

Or if you are simply dying to get your hands on a Wooden Dala Horse like one of these:

Then the best place to get one is to take a holiday to Dalarna and visit the factory. However, if this is not an option then there are many places online when you can find them for sell such as Esty and Ebay. 

Or if you just fancy getting creative like me then here are some examples of what you can do with the simple Dala Horse Shape:

My Sister has always wanted a Dala Horse of her own as when my brother and I got  our Dala Horses she had not been born yet. So for her birthday one year I made her one of her own. Using fabric leftover from her curtains and Cath Kidston material for patches and hooves and a button for an eye, she was very pleased. 

Here they all are together.

I have often used this template to stitch on canvases, cards and tea towels.

Here is a template I use, so now you can have a go at stitching your own Dala Horse inspired project.

Island Vernacular

I have had an exciting week with my fruits of my labour finally paying off. Before Christmas I worked for several (long) weeks on the production of an art catalogue which would accompany the Island Vernacular Exhibition held at Plymouth Peninsular Arts Gallery.

The exhibition was to feature art from artists:

Milenko Prvacki

Covered Up Again 

  and Ian Woo

Arc

Both very different artists and the show was to reflect the use of multiple language streams within contemporary painting. The exhibition juxtaposed recent work by both painters to demonstrate the continuing vitality of painting as a medium for questioning, and the relevance of Singapore as context for for such enquiry.

Here is the finished article:

Front Cover of Catalogue

Signed by the Artists

Proud Publisher and Designer

I also did the the labels for the exhibition using Gill Sans Light and Frutiger LT Std Bold and Light.

And here they are:

My Lovely Labels

Enjoying a well earned glass of white

If you are interested in checking the show out you still have time and while your there check out my beautiful catalogue.

Sew my Favourites

I have been inspired. I am currently on work placement and have been blogging for the company so many now I must be half-way to becoming an expert (or so I would like to think).

Where to start... well I love sewing so why not there here are my top five favourite sewing books and why:

Scandinavian Stitches

Surprised by my selection... I thought not! But don't be too quick to judge because book is full of Scandi charm. There are 21 whimsical projects and most importantly they are easy to make by hand or with machine. The book design is fresh as Kajsa Wikman gives a modern look as folk art for decorating and gifting.

Everything Alice

This fabulous book is full of quirky charm. For someone mad on Alice (like me!) then this book is perfect. So fall down the rabbit hole with this craft-tastic book and indulge yourself with one of the 50 projects its has inside it's pages.

Fairy Tale Wonderland

Every wished your fairy tales would come alive well Tilda has the answer. I have had the privileged enough to have flicked through this books beautiful pages already though it is only available for pre-order. The projects are magical and you can make all your favourite fairy tale heroins and heroes, including: Pinocchio, Bambi, The Nutcracker and The Princess and the Pea.

Stitch!

I have a confession to make... dun dun dun I am a self-professed Cath Kidston addict! I love her: her material, products, books and everything. So of course she is on my list and this is my favourite of her books. Stitch is all about needlepoint and cross stitch. The projects are easy and pretty anyone with a needle and thread can have a go.

Kirstie Allsopp Craft

Cousin to Cath Kidston Kirstie Allsopp is another favourite of mine and in particular this book. A tie-in with her successful TV program Kirstie's Handmade Britain this book teaches you how to do a range of crafts as Kirstie takes traditional crafts and introduces them to you in a modern way.

 And that is it folks though there are many more and I am sure during my time blogging I will tell you about many more!

God Natt