I used not to like auricula. Their faded colours and generally old fashioned look. But now I want lots in my garden. They hold their heads up, looking for the sun. They have strong stalks and don't complain if not regularly watered.
When I lived in Paris there was a florist nearby which sold giant snap dragons (I can't spell their real name) they stood tall and it would be great to have those in the garden to cut and display. But I haven't seen anything like them here. Any ideas?
Fresh from the oven, lots of buttons and a few big beads as well.
... looking out over the London skyline in Peter Jones' cafe over a drink after a long slog round the shops in the Kings Road! The new Anthropologie is well worth a visit. Their waterfall, stitched linen wall pieces and stamped walls ... We also enjoyed Jigsaw with its range of Cabbages and Roses' clothes and home accessories. Zara's well priced range. And Oxfam - the deluxe version in a side street of smart white painted town houses.
My birthday treat yesterday was visiting Wisley. What glorious gardens! The sun shone. The band played. There was a 'Contemporary Craft and Design' show in two marquees. We had picnic sandwiches and later tea and cake. Wisley is off the A3 not far from Guildford.
The first time I've been there and I certainly want to go again. Thank you lovely friend Thelma for my surprise day out!
Today I am sorting out possessions. For years I have bought pretty bits of china from charity shops and rather than having it sitting unseen in a cupboard I have displayed it on the kitchen dresser. Call it a Sophie Dahl moment! I think it would make a nice postcard don't you?
I am spring cleaning so that the house will look as good as possible for my workshop on free knitting.
A friend gave me the paints pictured below as an early birthday present. I love the neat way it stacks together.
I make these from polymer clay then paint them with acrylics and varnish them twice. You can't wash them but they can be used decoratively. They sell for £3.50 each.
Steyning in Sussex is the prettiest town to explore. I wish I'd remembered to take my camera! The buildings are old and individual and there is a quiet air of well-being along the High Street.
Steyning Bookshop is one of my favourite shops. A wonderful browsing place with unusual stationery - some of it American I think - greetings cards and a large range of childrens' as well as adult books. A good place to shop for presents.
A short way along is Sussex Produce where the fresh-from-neighbouring fields vegetables and saladstuffs is as locally grown as possible and all beautifully arranged and displayed like pictures from Country Living magazine.
No time for tea at Steyning tea rooms this time but I can recommend it from visits in the past. Walking past lovely houses we found a superb view from the playing field where we ate our sandwiches in the sun.
I just had to buy this book when I saw it in London. Beatrice Alemagna wrote and illustrated it and it is published by Phaidon.
'Little speckled bug' below is my favourite bug! A pleasure for children and adults - the book's message is that we are all different but all special in our own way.
I picked up this pretty bunch of freesias from Waitrose for just 29p. The china is all from charity shops. This is supposed to be a joyous spring shot but all the photoshop jiggery pokery can't disguise the fact that the day is grey,and it is still too darned cold. But it's April, one of my favourite months. The month to really get going in the garden and plant out all those vegetables and flowers for later loveliness.
