A Fanciful Twist

Billowing Breeze

There are a few memorable...

Wonderful...

Delicious things in life.

One of them for me?

A simple one perhaps?

Warm spring days, windows wide open, and a nice breeze gently billowing curtains.

Back and forth, swaying around, glimpses of sun and porch.

I don't know why I adore it so much, but I do.

Do you?

Seems one of my littles does too.

Tail sticking out from behind the curtains.

I was dusting about.

Saying hello to Mrs. Mouse and her babies, who I have had since I was around 4 years old.

(I love them to pieces!)

When I noticed that perfect breeze, and Matty watching it so intensely.

So, I stopped what I was doing.

Just stopped everything, simply to enjoy it with him.

Rustling roses in the vase...

Fabric dancing about.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

Billowing.

Throw in some cuddling, and it's a pretty lovely afternoon, ain't it?

Tiny roses by our side...

Dropping petals...

With every breath of air that swirls in.

I remember one of my first times at the country house.

Almost 14 years ago (in a month).

Sleeping under a window, warm sun gently waking me.

I had slept in quite late.

I just kept falling fast asleep from the glorious warmth.

As curtains billowed in the breeze.

The sun so warm, almost hot, and the breeze fresh and cool.

It was a perfect balance.

I thought to myself at that time, that it was the best most wonderful sleep I had ever had.

I think about that time, that morning.

Everytime that spring breeze moves in and dances with my curtains.

 

Something simple.

But soooooo wonderful.

 

Are you a fellow billowing curtain breeze lover?

 

Happy Sunday evening!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

From Old Patio Umbrella to Colorful Garden Goodness!

It's about time we had some serious fun, don't you think?

I have been cutting scraps, tying knots and standing on a ladder conjuring some up.

Of the "colorful garden contraption" variety, that is.

Happiness for an old tattered garden umbrella.

And colorful happiness for me and the garden too.

How on earth did this all begin you ask?

Well, truth be told, I got sick of seeing my 3 old umbrellas sitting by the workshop.

Looking majorly pitiful.

Bare bones.

And honestly, I was about to throw them out because I couldn't find proper covers for them.

As the old covers had long turned to dust.

Plus the wood was getting all ruined.

I have had them for about 12 years, so they had a long life right?

However...

I had an idea brewing.

 In my mind, I saw a colorful garden contraption.

Yep, that's the proper name for it me thinks ;)

So, I took stacks of scrap fabric and ribbons and tied them on to each naked umbrella arm.

I started from top to bottom, arm by arm, like you see below.

(make sure you tie on the ribbon + scraps when the umbrella is open and not closed)

I tried 2 other methods, because at first I intended to actually make a new umbrella out of scraps.

But it didn't look as festive, so then I started just tying on the fabric and it worked good.

Then I strung up an über long felt ball garland, and tied it around...

To create...

This!

My sad old umbrella skeleton is now a super happy colorful garden contraption, hoooray!

If you could see it in person, it's extra fun.

Mainly because each arm is covered, and you see the whole happy 3-d thing..

It adds a much needed fresh spring spark to my garden world.

(My sis put up the dream banner, what perfect colors without intending)

It looks great against that super blue sky, don't you think?

I wasn't careful with each piece of fabric being the same length.

They were about 9" - 12" long, and no more than 3" wide.

I wasn't careful with the color scheme either.

I just went crazy fabric times on the whole thing.

And because, as you know, I am a lover of felt balls, remember here?

I decided to use some of my stash as a garland.

See how easy it was to take this sad thing below...

And turn it into this crazy happy colorful garden contraption?

Also, I painted the wooden part white, after I had tied it all up.

I had not even thought about it before, but then thought, white would make the color pop more.

So, if you try this at home, paint first :)

And, as I said before, make sure you tie and garland the umbrella up while it is open at your desired level.

That way it is easy to close and open as you see below.

We soooo needed something extra bright and happy while we wait for trees to get leaves.

Although I have to admit...

This wild colorful thing is making me Mad Tea Party crazed.

Longing for this year's event already.

 

Now, if you have an old sad patio umbrella skeleton in your garden...

I highly recommend this project.

Talk about junk to treasure.

That is, if you think gobs of colorful scraps tied together makes treasure ;)

 

Fun fun, in fact, you can even keep it inside it's so pretty.

And just keep adding things to it.

How fun would that be???

 

Okay, off I go for now.

See you soon.

 

Love, V

 

 

ps:  To be honest...

I think this creation was born from me singing this for so many days in a row.

Heck, if I could spend the rest of my days making Willi Wonka garden umbrellas, I might say yes.

 By the by, have you heard the arrangement for Jackie Evancho's version?

It's so beautiful, the instruments in that intro.... oh my...

Chatter, Chatter, Chatter...

So, I was on a ladder, up to ribbon and fabric scrap shenanigans...

(which I thought I would have shared by now)

Whilst my brain rumbled about thinking about everything under the sun.

My brain, sometimes it drives me insane.

It thinks and twists and turns and twirls and repeats over and over again.

What about yours?

Yours too?

So, I finally stopped for a lunch break.

When I thought about that quote...

(artprint by Matthew Taylor Wilson)

I have been a pretty optimistic person most of my life.

Making the best out of nearly everything.

By default, not because I try.

Just because it came naturally.

Even when times get tough, my brain pops into happy mode.

(after a proper freak out session of course)

 

Welcome Spring {Hello Wisteria}

Spring crept in...

Bringing the wisteria blossoms with it.

Gobs of beautiful fragrant flowers droop and sway.

Where big black bees, furry bumbles and butterflies gather in bliss.

At least, I like to think they are in bliss.

Everyday we stroll out to the wisteria.

Many times a day actually.

I started with 3 wisteria vines 3-4 years ago.

Two from White Flower Farm (ordered on-line) and one from Home Depot.

The one from Home Depot is huge and beautiful climbing up our front porch with strength, but has yet to flower (they say it can take 5 years to bloom for the first time?).  So, if you are buying one ask if it will bloom soon, or how old the plant is.

One of the vines from White Flower Farm didn't make it, not sure why?

And the other one is doing gloriously, it's the one you see here in the photos.

This is its second, but best, year blooming.

I am taking advantage of every little flower drop.

Collecting in my potion jars, all the dry flowers that carpet the ground.

(you can find some potion labels of your own here)

We are all so in impressed with the amount of blooms this year.

We just stand and stare and breathe in big gulps of early spring air.

The vine is twisting around a patio gazebo in the garden.

Actually, if you want to know the truth, one of the artists sold the gazebo to me after an art show we did on our property years ago.  She put it up for the event, but was too daunted to take it down and asked me if I wanted to buy it?  So I did.

Soon thereafter the canopy tore to pieces and I was just left with the metal, so I put it in a little space outside of the tiny gallery, where an old greenhouse used to stand.  Now the walls of the greenhouse are all that are left.

Along with some locks and window frame pieces I find in the dirt from time to time.

Actually, it was a greenhouse built by Fenton, remember him?

Anyhow, Mister Lovee and I put the gazebo thingamabob in the old greenhouse space ages ago, and now the wisteria is growing up and around it.

I think it's a good place for wisteria to climb about at its own wild leisure.

Under pink sunsets.

Heads gazing up.

Never getting enough.

Oh spring, spring spring spring.

Like a lost love you bump into.

Falling into love all over again.

Knowing you will meet again once a year.

Sigh...

You gather up as much of its love as you can while it is here.

Never being able to gather just enough.

The time speeding by too quickly.

And yet, you wouldn't have it any other way.

Dry blossoms underfoot.

Never forgotten in jars filled with Fairy Wing Magic...

Beautiful wisteria.

 Thanks for the wonderful visit on these fresh new spring days.

Lovely blossoms.

 

Are you a wisteria fan?

 

I was reading that "Wisteria flowers naturally bring to mind our need for peace, quiet, and time to honour the divine essence of who we are." (taken from here)

Isn't that wonderful?

 

How have the first days of spring greeted you?

 

 

Love, Vanessa