Friday 13 June 2008

Flower Power

Anyone reading this blog must have realised by now that I'm rather flower mad and one of the things I enjoy most about blogging is discovering other people's joy in all things floral, from the garden to curtains, to books and embroidery.
Every morning we walk along a lovely little path, in-between the fields, from the modern part of the village down to B's school in the older heart and is one of my places of floral heaven.
View from the path across the meadow that's just been cut for silage and smells fantastic!
Early in the summer the crowded hedgerows were bursting with forget-me-nots and primrose and we could see the rosettes of foxglove leaves beginning to mass underneath them. After being away for a week I couldn't believe the sight that greeted us on our first walk this week. Purple spires fill the lane and as just glorious.
All week I've been inspired by them and finally got around to making some floral cushion covers for my beautiful but still to be revamped vintage sofa (one day, one day...)
My favourite is the Cath Kidston Posy version which reminds me so much of prints my Grandma had. I'm keeping my eye out for a couple of bargain metres of this for some curtains to cover the washing machine in the kitchen but it's hard to come by.


And joy of joys, this month's CL is full of flowers and country weddings too - perfect weekend reading if you ask me.
Along with this.
The pictures in this wonderful Ladybird book are where I first learnt about garden blooms with my mum. Our copy was chucked out years ago when Dad had had enough of the bags of books in the attic that threatened to bring down the ceiling on us and I don't think I realised then what it meant to me. Thankfully it was really easy to track down a copy on the internet for less than the price of a WI plant and I'm enjoying having it again so much. The lupin print on the cover is my absolute favourite.
Ladybird pictures have coloured so many of my childhood memories and looking back I can see how much they taught me, everything from idenitfying sea shells to trees, the seasons and wildlife. How fantastic then that Ladybird are now selling prints of these beautiful drawings online from most of the original sries, including the Peter and Jane books.
Oh blimey, a whole new vintage obsesssion blooms!

15 comments:

Sal said...

Lovely..it all brings a smile to my face!;-)

Valloittava valkoinen said...

So lovely flowers and you live in so beautiful place!And those pillows are very pretty!!!
Greetings from finland!
Anu

prettyshabby said...

I love foxgloves in and out of the garden..beautiful!
One of my all time favourite childhood books is a ladybird book called 'Gingers adventures' about a naughty puppy in the 1940s..Ive been lost on that ladybird website for ages looking though the pictures..brings back lots of memories!!
ps love the cushions..especially posy..one of my faves too..if you are interested,Cath Kidston at Selfridges in B'ham still had it on the roll for sale..it's hard buying any more than half metres on ebay isnt it!

Pipany said...

Hello Steph. Welcome back and glad your break went well. I love all floral things too and really love the mix in your cushions - reminds me of a cottage garden. The dotty one goes brilliantly too.

Ladybird books are fab aren't they? I hadn't thought of it before, but I think you're right about them being where some of us learnt about things.

Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog by the way xx

This Vintage Life... said...

I love foxgloves too - and lupins and hollyhocks..I don't know what it is about those old cottage garden favourites? They're easy to grow too which helps! Your cushions look fab, I'm green with envy as I'm not one of life's natural sewers. Although I'm not CK's biggest fan I too love posy and have a cushion on my bed. It's one of her best designs...and Ladybird books just take you right back to childhood don't they? I think we were all born in the wrong era! x

Krafty Keely said...

I remember quite vividly using a ladybird book to learn to bake when I was about 5. Wonderful books learning was so much fun it was childs play.

Anonymous said...

Hi Steph, what a lovely post. You certainly do live in a beautiful part of the world. And we are SO on the same page with all things floral. I love that book. I too have very strong memories of Ladybird books. I recently came across "Tootles the Taxi" and I almost cried! I loved that book so much. Such pretty cushions too. I bought a lupin plant and put it in my front border this week. My mother-in-law said "you'll regret that, they seed everywhere". I couldn't think of anything better!
Carolx

The Fairy Glade said...

Hi Steph, those cushions are so gorgeous. I need to recover all my garden cushions and have saved all my old curtain material, just need to get round to it! Am going to tag you whilst I am here. See my blog for details. Dev X

Aqeela said...

What a fantastic website, i cant wait to decide on some ladybird prints to order! Im really inspired to start collecting ladybird books if i ever get pregnant God willing. They would be a joy to me and my children!

Great cushion covers too, i must get on with making some more, i have 9 plain cushion pads to cover!

Anonymous said...

I've shown my husband the foxglove photos - they are his favourite flower(he really loved the first photo btw.)As for Ladybird - I've seen the cover of the Elves and the Shoemaker which was my favourite story in their edition and I remember having a copy....Ah memories!

Reginas Cottage said...

Hello
You have beautiful flowers.And your
cushion are so pretty.I love cath
Kidston.
Have a nice week!
Regina

dragonfly said...

Thank you for sharing your part of the world - it's gorgeous.
Ladybird books really do take you back to your childhood, don't they? I'm sure I read somewhere over the weekend that they have reprinted some of the original ones recently...

mollycupcakes said...

Hi Steph,
Beautiful flowers, cushions and that book brings back memories of being little.
Many hugs.

Catherine x

periwinkle said...

Foxgloves are just lovely and I totally agree about the ladybird books I learned so many things from mine-- I think they still might be in my parents attic
Lisa x

zees5 said...

I love Country Living too! Could you please post a picture of your washer when you cover it? My washing machine (front loader) and dryer are in my sunroom ): But I am thankful for them, especially since I do not have a dishwasher for my family of 5!