Making Spring - despite the weather!

Phew! That was a long break between posts - sorry about that.

I just haven't been very creative lately as I have been far more interested in my running than anything else - a major shock to the system I can tell you! I can now run for 3.5 miles without stopping which is truly incredible.

But I got something in the post recently that not only needs to be shared with you all but also helped inspire me to be a bit creative again.......

I was out in the greenhouse sowing seeds when the parcel arrived which was very appropriate..........

and I knew I was in for a treat when I spotted this little lady on the outside of the box...........

and this beautifully wrapped parcel inside...........

which contained all sorts of garden-y treats and treasures from lovely Julie!

sorry for the awful photo, I've lost my camera and had to use my phone - but can you see all the super packets of seeds, the copper labels and wooden labels, the notebook and scissors, the seeds from Julie's own garden and most excitingly of all my very own LCR hedgehog and special seedling-covered phone case!

There were a lot of excited squeals as I discovered each treasure and Fred and Dot were lurking, hoping to snaffle the hedgehog and phone case but I fended them off!  They are MINE!

Every time I use my phone case it makes me smile and my hedgehog is sitting on the kitchen work top with a collection of toadstool houses, looking very much at home.

Thank you so much Julie - the parcel was simply delightful and greatly brightened a very soggy day!

And the seedlings on the phone case have helped me push a creative idea that has been slowly germinating into fruition..........

I have my winter quilt (designed by Syko) on my kitchen wall, but I decided I needed to be able to change it with the seasons.  Therefore a Spring quilt was urgently needed but I couldn't quite get the design to work in my head.  Then a very simple plan came to me and I finally got myself sorted to put it into practice yesterday afternoon.

It is inspired by my seedlings in the greenhouse, by Julie's phone cover, by simple raindrop quilts that I think I have seen on Syko's blog (with an umbrella, if I'm remembering correctly) and by this gorgeous book that we gave Dot for her second birthday...........

I currently have the quilt in progress pinned to my winter quilt so I can see it. I've had to fold it up a bit in the middle as it was out of proportion but I am just going to have a seam there and hope it looks artistic!  I plan to add about a 2 inch border of patchwork in various fabrics that I have pulled out of my "green" box.  So it will be a very simple quilt - but already it is making me happy :-)

I just wish some of the seedlings in the greenhouse were as healthy looking - most are growing very well but some are shrivelling up and dying and I don't know why.  Hopefully enough will survive so I can start to plant these rather bare beds..........