Monday 4 June 2007

Back in the pink



This rose is the first to flower in our new home. We planted it last year and have been waiting patiently ever since. It opened on Saturday, glad I think to feel the sun shining again. Every summer in our previous home we would pick the first rose of the summer and give it to my oldest daughter to press. We had done this every year since she was a little toddler and I was hoping that the tradition would continue. Well, the intrepid explorer returned from her Italian adventures on Sunday and the rose was there waiting for her! Pretty, pink and blooming.



The rest of the garden is coming into its pink phase too and I'm loving it. We now have some pink foxgloves, the geraniums are in flower and the lavatera that we planted to brighten up a corner under the fig tree has just begun to bloom too.
Sunday was spent lazing around the garden listening to my daughter's holiday tales - well that was the plan. The reality was that for three hours she lay asleep on the grass, waking only for food and drink. Italy - the land of art, culture and wonderful food and what did we get? Tales of running around in bikinis during thunderstorms, awful hotel food, rude shaped pasta and 24 hour coach trips. Today, however, when she'd caught up on sleep and eaten the contents of the fridge, she did tell me that yes, Verona, Venice and Lake Garda were every bit as beautiful as she'd imagined! It's good to have her back.



On Saturday I was able to get on with making some more things, having had a very quiet time craft-wise over half-term. My youngest and I had had a lovely few days together, despite the rotten weather and it was a real treat being able to spend time with her. Perhaps all her girliness rubbed off on me as the first thing I made was this pink and lilac girl's bag. It's got a little pink butterfly on it too, now I wouldn't mind a few of them flying round my garden!



I had some fabric left over from the bag and decided to make these two pompoms. I think I'll put them in my Etsy shop before my girls grab them!

25 comments:

OhSoVintage said...

Your bags really are lovely and so unusual. I love all the ones you show. What a beautiful rose and such a lovely idea for your daughter to press the first each year. That's typical of children to concentrate on what adults consider to be insignificant elements to her trip - at least she had fun and if she was a boy you wouldn't have been told anything! How lovely to have her home again.

The Polka Dot Pixie said...

Breathtaking photos! I really love your bags too. They are beautiful!

Tina said...

I need to agree with your daughter, Venice, Verona and Lake Garda are indeed very beautiful places.
And your bag is just cute! :)
x

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

I love this post, I want to get my rag balls out...Oh that sounds rude!!! I used to make the hug rugs, pre children now, the best bit was displaying the fabric balls. Quite a talking point at the time. I love what you did. As for those pom poms, to cool.
Suzie Sews

AC said...

Glad your daughter had a great trip.
They are both gorgeous Kim.
Are you interested in a swap for a pompom?
Alison x

Raindrops said...

What a lovely Rose. And bag the colours a beautiful. Do you perfume your pompoms? Tricia

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Your photos are gorgeous-you are so clever!!

Clare and Mike said...

That rose is just beautiful! I have just planted a new one called 'Spirit of Freedom' which is an old fashioned type and a lovely pale pink! All your creations are wonderful as usual too!

Racheal Miles said...

The flowers are really very nice, I do so love pink.
The bag and pom poms are so unusually made, is there a name for it?
Racheal x

andsewtosleep said...

What a lovely rose and such a sweet tradition. The bag and pom poms are so very pretty. Clever you. Mary

Anonymous said...

Your rose is beautiful, Kim! How lovely that it was open for your daughter whn she came home. That's a nice idea to press the first rose of the season. Love the bag too! ♥

meggie said...

The rose seemed to welcome your daughter home!
Sounds like she had a lovely time, & it is so nice for you to have her home again, safe & sound. Love your pics, & the gorgeous colours in your balls!

Anonymous said...

Your rose is truly lovely and that girly bag is so cute!

Marie x

Heidijayhawk said...

that is an awesome bag! i love it! enjoy the roses!

Rowan said...

Glad your daughter enjoyed her trip to Italy, having a couple of schoolteacher friends who took school parties abroad I can only say I'm glad I wasn't with them:)I rather gathered that sleep wasn't top of the agenda.
Your pink rose is lovely. Mine are all starting to come out as well - wonderful scents every time I pas by them.

Betty said...

Your daughter sounded like she had a good time. Remember when we were that young....sigh...
Pretty, pretty purse!! love it!

Rosemary said...

Hi,
Thanks for your nice comments on my blog.
Your blog is really great too!
Rosemary

Samantha said...

Love those pom poms. Mine is still looking gorgeous!

Ginny Gibson said...

Oooooh I do like PINK!!!

But I think I like lavender too:)
Oh Heck I just love colour.

Great pictures and the butterfly bag is adorable.

Best wishes Ginny

Niki Fretwell said...

I love the idea of pressing your first rose every year.

I can't imagine how you manage to make so many of your lovely bags. I made a woollen hooked rug once and it took several years to complete!

Glad your daughter enjoyed her trip. My eldest is now back from her studies in Montana...it's like she's never been away!....

Cape Cod Washashore said...

What gorgeous flowers you have in bloom! No roses at my house just yet. I love your latest rag bag with the darling butterfly! And those pompoms! It just gave me a memory of seeing old tv movies from the 50's when guys would have a huge fuzzy pair of dice hanging from their rear view car mirror! If I ever got caught by the police with your lovely fuzzy pompoms hanging from my car's mirror, I'd be pulled over in a flash! heehee

Betty Jo said...

What a gorgeous rose! I'm wondering if I can grow roses in containers. Your creations are so pretty. xoxo

weirdbunny said...

I love your pompoms so much !!!!!

So glad your daughter enjoyed Italy, sounds like she had loads of fun.

No sun here today, cloudy and cardigan weather. Let's hope the weekend is hot and sunny ! - love Julia x

natural attrill said...

Hello, I just followed a link from Nostalgia at the Stone House to find you.

What a beautiful idea for your daughter to have a flower to press each year.

I am so envious of your living by the sea, I would love to, am hoping we might be able to when my son has finished school in a few years. I would like to move back down south too. Oh well, dreaming!

You make some very pretty things.
Penny.

hannah said...

I love those rag balls, they look so pretty just sitting in the bowl together, great colours.