grown up easter gifts

We are spending some of the Easter break with my in-laws and I realise that I need some gifts, but again want to avoid the chocolate glut. I borrowed this 'pot-maker' from Sarah and made loads of little (biodegradable) pots and my girl planted Sunflower seeds in them. I was really pleased with the FT versions which I had done for the men in the family, if they grow they should sport a fantastic deep red sunflower.

sowing the seeds

Last year we rather ambitiously took on a large allotment 3 days before our baby was born. Despite inheriting an established asparagus bed, a blueberry tree and a fantastic crop of strawberries we soon realised that we just don't have the time to dedicate to an allotment. So this year I have some left over seeds that need a home. I also have a few outstanding thank you letters. So I decided to combine the two and created some seed books. This year someone else will have the pleasure of growing my seeds!

spring green and primrose swap

just to let you know our 'spring green and primrose' swap will close this week. So if you want to join in email us at hardakerandpope AT gmail.COM and leave your details. swap packages can be anything you like, craft/stationary/fabric/easter/cooking inspired. Put your goodies in an A5 envelope and once you have registered your details Jo and I will email you with an address to send them to. We are going to add some special goodies to each swap package. Hope this explains a little for anyone new to the idea of swaps.

saw these and thought of you

I found these teacups minus their saucers in my favourite (and far too whiffy for Jo) charity shop. Anyway I bought them for Jo to cheer her up after a rotten week. I had intended to get her some spring flowers from the man outside the Sub Rooms in Stroud, as I knew that she had seen a rather amazing green and yellow combo there, however I was thwarted by traffic and went to Nailsworth instead where I chanced upon these. I thought they might be just the thing for an event Jo is working on for the summer. (its amazing what a nice tag, some cello and a bit of ribbon do to a present!)

mural wallpaper

I was inspired to take a photo (admitedly not a very good one - and I am sure Mr P will have his head in his hands when he views this one!) by the lovely pictures on Lobster and Swan. She was featuring some stunning de Gournay hand painted wallpapers. I love the style of those beautiful chinoiserie wallpapers which you so often see in National Trust houses, however I wanted to create something on a more striking scale. I hand painted the design, and then had it scanned and printed. (it is available for sale here). What do we think about wallpaper? Are we making a return to pattern. Or do we think paint is a safer bet. Tell us how you use wallpaper (if at all) in your home.

crown jewels

I don't know exactly what my latest project is yet, but I was inspired by the rich brocade and sumptuous sequin decorations seen in the Matthew Williamson shop in Bicester recently. Not only are the clothes fabulous but I was thrilled when I noticed behind the counter a single strip of wall paper, adorned with kitsch badges and brooches stuck alongside the flowers and birds on the branches. I got even more carried away when I saw an old velvet cushion with yet more sequins and brooches. Then I was reliably informed that the aforementioned cushion was not for sale. Thank goodness, I was prepared to spend a small fortune on it.

Then, at the weekend, a friend announced she had a box of old jewelry she was taking to the tip and asked if I'd be interested in anything for the dressing up box. Forget the dressing up box, inside I found an exactly what I need, an Aladin's cave of jewelry, the crown jewels. Now all I have to do is find some rotten, sun-bleached velvet curtains and all will become clear.

bargain hunting

I've been on a girly weekend 'up north' and discovered a fantastic flea market at a metro station in Tynemouth. Despite the fact it was the end of the day and the stalls were closing up, I did have time to find a couple of treasures, including this old box which I'm sure will become perfect packaging for a present for a new mum. Someone suggested I should put a solitary savoy cabbage leaf in it!

primrose path

I've had an empty pot in the bathroom since the Christmas hyacinths died and I have decided I can stand it no more. The solution was waiting for me on the sunny banks of the garden, where pale yellow primroses are growing blissfully and prolifically. All it took was a couple of minutes, an attack with the trowel and a bit of moss to tidy things up.

something for the weekend

the new 'not on the high street' catalogue plopped through the letterbox yesterday. For anyone who hasn't heard of them they are a fabulous online company who bring designers, makers, small producers together on one website. The site is really easy to use and the products are great. It is the perfect site for buying special presents, it also has a handy price tool down the left so you can search according to budget.

I have picked a few lovelies out to show you
carved oak swing £295 marnie moyle, peronalised kids veg planting kit £39 plantabox
whitstable oyster bucket £24 buy the sea, set of 2 garden lanterns £18 coasting along.

pearl bracelet £28 dirty cherub, thumbprint bangle£79 button and bean

leather thong charm necklace £30 samphire, pendant samphire.

manoir de kerledan

Some years ago friends of ours Pete and Penny Dinwiddie upped sticks from Wiltshire and bought Manoir de Kerledan in the Finistere region of Brittany. Penny is an incredibly talented garden designer and has created a stunning garden at the manoir. Penny is also a very stylish lady and the interior is as fabulous as the exterior (I think she could possibly have a career in interior design too if she wanted one!!) Penny and Pete have opened the doors of their home as a super stylish and very welcoming boutique B&B. Manoir de Kerledan has been included in Alistair Sawdays special places to stay.

Penny has recently joined the blogging community and you can watch her beautiful garden grow and see more pictures of the Manoir and its garden on her blog www.kerledan.blogspot.com.

I have come over all french inspired I think I feel new collection coming on!! perhaps I can photograph it at Pennys!!

purse tutorial

I have always had a fear of making anything with a zip. For some reason I thought it was too complicated and way beyond my abilities. However the lovely Amy Karol banished my fears and made it look so simple. I am glad to say zips no longer freak me out!!!

I thought I would post a nice easy tutorial to begin with. This is a great quick fix project and you feel you have actually achieved something good in a very short space of time!!!

I won't give you exact sizes as you can scale this project up or down to suit whatever size zip you are using.

1. cut out 2 x outside pieces for your purse and 2 x lining pieces (I use calico) and make them the same length as the zip.

2. make a sandwich of 1 x patterned (outside)fabric face up, zip face down and 1 x lining material on top an pin it as shown (pinning this way means you can stitch over your pins without breaking your needle and easily remove them when you're done

3. attach a zipper foot to your machine (don't worry if you don't have one just use the ordinary foot, it will just be a bit trickier) and set the needle to the left side.

4. stitch the sandwich together. backstitch to finish

5. repeat step 2 with the other pieces of fabric.

6. fold flat and press the front and the lining.

7. unzip the zip half way and fold the purse so that the right sides of the patterned pieces are together and the right sides of the lining are together.

8. pin then stitch together leaving an opening in the bottom of the lining for turning out.

9. turn the purse right way out through the zip. poke the corners out carefully.

10. press the hole in the lining fabric closed following the line ouf your stitching.

11.stitch closed backstich to start and finish.

12. tuck the lining inside the purse and poke the corners out neatly. press with a hot iron.

you can tie a ribbon onto the zipper to make it pull easily.

FINISHED!!