A Return to Simplicity.

Loving these rainy overcast days, not that I'm complaining as the garden is starting to look green again and the many trees are having the best drink they've had for a long while. Flowers have appeared where none were before and the smell wafts across the yard day and night. I love the garden in the daylight hours as much as in the evening. If you know where to look you can often see small flowers hidden from view, especially on the succulents and cactus. Some flowering for just a moment and others opening and closing many times over. The native bees are busy collecting pollen and making new homes.Three Fire Tailed Resin bees have been busy cutting out new homes in a piece of mango timber specially chosen for a wood turning project but now belongs to a group of bees, including some leaf cutter bees.  I really understand that term "busy as a bee"! I guess there will be no lamp base or bowl turned from this piece of timber now. Here is a grea...

Or rather when a friend shares with you some of the latest range of Tilda Lemon Tree Collection, then you just want to do them proud and make something lovely and usable.  I wanted to make something functional and practical for my home and what better than a couple of items for the kitchen. Using a beautiful piece of gifted feed sack fabric I used an assortment of fabric pieces to add a bright and cheery  band to the bottom of the kitchen towel and then a couple of applique lemons above. Using the left-overs I had enough to make a pot mat/holder with some using Insul-Brite for the batting. They are going to look great hanging on the oven door.  Once I knew what I was going to make the rest was quite simple and easy to put together and I am thinking of making a few more sets to add to the gift box. Here are a couple of tutorials from Pinterest. Get this one here . And these delightful houses by Kerryanne ca...

I've seen lots of blogs out there talking about being prepared and making gifts ahead of time and having had a gift box for a couple of years now I don't need to be convinced of the benefits. Sometimes a little encouragement and inspiration is required to push me along and get started again. Nothing beats dipping into this goodie box and looking for something a friend or family member will enjoy as a special gift. Something purple for our daughter in law. She has been giving hints for the last couple of years and trying to steal mine......maybe I'm a slow hint taker!! She is sure to love this casserole carrier. Both only took a couple of hours each to make. But that's not all..... I made another smaller one for her as well. Now she will have large and small dishes covered. I love my little stash of handmade tags. This little zippered pouch will be added to the box as well. Love the little points, a bit fiddly but don't the...