Take a walk with me ...

We found an hour or two in the midst of a busy weekend to stop and smell the roses, albeit someone elses! A local garden opened as part of Australia's Open Garden Scheme.

Here are some images from an amazing 3 acre garden belonging to a cheerful Italian couple, probably in their sixties, or perhaps even seventies. It is an astonishing achievement for them - they are obviously hard workers, having created the garden in the last 15 years or so. Enjoy! 

Lots of amazing topiary ...

... perfectly clipped.

The roses were in full glory. Red & white roses, grafted to a single standard stem, lined this walk.

The always beautiful climbing rose, Pierre de Ronsard ...

... and of course, it didn't take me too long to find the David Austins!

This was a very lovely climbing rose I spotted. Please tell me if you know what this rose is called. It was the softest of peachy pink, loose form. 

I was particularly smitten with this lady - isn't she gorgeous?!

A wonderful garden to explore, with paths leading every which way.

My children have come to expect that their mother will, from time to time, drag them about Open Gardens. I think I am winning in coercing them into garden interest. My 10-year-old son declared upon leaving this garden, "Hey Mum, you know, I reckon that was even better than an hour on the computer"! High praise indeed!

If at first you don't succeed ...

I imagine everyone by now is enjoying Sew Mama Sew's Handmade Holidays tutorials, but just in case you have missed them, be sure to check them out. 

For each day of November, they have gathered together a wonderful theme-related set of tutorials, sure to spur you on to a handmade Christmas.

The theme for November 4th was 'Gifts for Music Lovers' & amongst the projects was this quick and nifty iPod cover. Considering the complete & utter failure of this knitted attempt for my daughter, I decided to return to more familiar & comfortable territory of fabric related craft. And with a much more satisfactory result:

Of course, it had to be red and white considering her latest accessorising trend!

How one thing leads to another ... and another ...

Sew-Amy left me a message recently, requesting that I show more of the embroidery in this post. I had intended to post the finished article, but since it is not likely to be finished for some time (!), here is the progress thus far:

Inspired by Janelle's gorgeous journal covers, here, here, here and here, I was keen to make one up myself. Then I happened across the Sweet Tidings blog, and this post. Which in turn led to the lovely Elsa Mora blog and a free embroidery design.

This little design had whimsy written all over it for me!

And what better title for a journal for me than 'Whimsy'?! Stitched on linen with the lovely variegated DMC colours that Natalie used for this project.

So the embroidery is done, and all that remains is to make up the cover. Who knows when that will happen!

For everything there is a season

For those of you not enjoying the beauty of spring right now, here is a stunning shot of the impending beauty of your winter, sent to me by Danetta a few months ago.

Can you see the tiny, perfect snowflake? Thank you Danetta for this wonderful image and the reminder that each season is created precious & beautiful. 

Blooms

Some more Spring bloom photos from our garden at the farm:

Betchel's Crabapple Malus ioensis 'Plena'

A very Australian bottlebrush, Callistemon 'Perth Pink'

Silver Bush Convolvulus cneorum

Chinese Snowball Tree Viburnum macrocephalum

A lovely sage, given to me by a friend. Not sure of the variety.

A cheerful, bright pink daisy Argyranthemum frutescens 'Supalight Bright Carmine'

A sweet little gladioli which I don't know the name of. Also given to me by a friend. Multiplies readily & is very pretty.

A quick little project

No time to sew? This little treasure can be whipped up in no time at all.

Pink Penguin has a great tutorial for making this cute little fabric basket here. Made from scraps from this project and this one.

Quilted with love

I posted a little while ago about the quilt my Mum was making for my Grandma who has recently moved (reluctantly) into an Aged Care home. Here is the quilt all finished.

The pattern is called 'Crazy Eights' by Bits 'n' Pieces. A very versatile, simple pattern which details how to make a lap quilt from 8 fat quarters.

My Grandma loved the quilt, but tried to convince my Mum to keep it because 'it was too good for her to use'. Mum, of course, made Grandma keep it & promise to use it, but last we heard, it was folded up neatly in a drawer! Oooh, she's naughty!

Can you name this plant? Specimen #3

I spotted this beautiful tree while taking the kids to school this morning. I have no idea what it is, but it is spectacular.

The most wonderful pink panicles, so pretty.

A small, neat tree.

Really hoping someone knows what this is because I think I NEED one!

Thank you to Gina, all the way from South Wales and Fran in Tasmania for identifying Specimen #2 as the Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum). Horicultual hero points to you both!

Just fiddling about ...

A little bit of this ...

and a little bit of that ...

a little Dear Jane ...

and a whole lot of nothing much at all!

From the archive

Fellow stitcher & rose-lover, Joy, left me a comment recently. She is the creative soul behind Joypatch, and the designer of a bag I made a couple of years ago for my Mum.

 

This design is appropriately (!) called 'Housework' and is a great pattern for charm packs.

The text is backstitched on cream sandcastle fabric & the charm pack I used is 'Anticipation' by Sandy Gervais for Moda. The cane handles were salvaged from an op shop find.