Happiness is a flower.......or two!

This last little while I have been having a rather relaxed time. I have been playing ladies enjoying tea parties and have been playing with pretty ribbons; with other such genteel pursuits thrown into the mix of everyday.

The husband of a dear friend of mine has been feeling poorly of late and has gone through some anxious moments. As she lives in Sydney and I live way down here at the bottom of the world, I thought I would send her a basket of flowers. Not the kind that putrify into a pongy bunch of organic matter, but the kind that never fade away, the kind that will put a smile in my friend's heart forevermore. Yes indeedy, I thought another flower cushion, Kim style,  would be the perfect gift to sprinkle a little sunshine and love in my friend's very worrying days.

Yet again, I gathered an assortment of pretty ribbons and fashioned pansies, roses, fuchsias, chrysanthemums and leaves. I thought this pretty fabric with butterflies fluttering allover would be perfect for the cushion. After all butterflies and flowers are the best of friends. My friend loves the hue blue, so pretty, blue flowers feature in the basket.

Sitting in my sewing room, with the morning sunshine radiating warmth and contentment I happily coaxed pretty ribbons into flowers stitching as I went, cinching each flower here and there. For the basket I weaved raffia-type ribbon in and out. This ribbon really adds the texture and feel of a bone fide basket.

After auditioning the arrangement, popping a  pansy here and a rose or two there, some leaves sprinkled throughout tucked away peeping from behind pretty blossoms, I began to stitch. I know you have seen my cushions of baskets filled with dancing flowers before, but every arrangement is a little different, is it not??

With the fashioning of my basket of overspilling flowers complete with a few little changes here and there, I stitched the cushion. I changed the ribbon for the bow as I decided the darker pink looked a li'l spiffier. Actually, the finished arrangement is a little different to that above, but that is what happens when you play with pretty, ribbon flowers; one always changes a flower or two.

On the back of the cushion, a lovely sentiment stitched on a doily to my lovely friend.

I have gifted many of these cushions to friends. Though a bouquet of fresh flowers is one of the most delightful things to receive, I always think a forever bouquet of flowers sitting ever so prettily in a ribbon basket is the perfect gift.

Hopefully this little basket of ever-flowering blossoms will put a smile in my friend's heart in these most anxious of days.

Just because 'we' are waxing lyrical about a flower or two, let's talk about Hydrangeas and their glorious autumnal, petal dresses. The bushes that grow under the canopy of trees have mellowed into the prettiest of autumnal shades. Being protected from the frost under the cover of trees, they have been allowed to change slowly without being burnt to a crisp by Jack Frost. Indeed they seem to have escaped his icy clutches.

With the garden being now bare of any pretty colour, I picked a few last remnants of Hydrangeas. They too will soon disappear, and won't return till November. I cannot believe I have been continually picking bunches for seven months. Hydrangeas truly are the most wonderful flowers.

I love the pretty autumnal-hued Hydrangeas against the soft shades of a vintage Italian coverlet.

Then again, I love the soft autumnal Hydrangeas as the star attraction against sumptuous folds of Fuchsia pink velvet. No matter the backdrop, Hydrangeas or indeed any blossom, shine.

Indeed a pretty flower fashioned by the twirling and ruching of ribbons, or a freshly picked flower from the garden always touches my heart with a smile. Either the fresh new beauty of Spring or indeed those that bloom beautifully even though their flowering season is drawing to a close, fading with their autumnal beauty; no matter which, a flower or two always puts a smile in my day.

As it is Mother's Day this Sunday, I would love to wish all you lovely mums the most blessed of days. For me, as it is with some of you, Mother's Day is bittersweet. For those of us whose darling mums are no longer here to celebrate the day with us, it is a day of sweet remembrances. Oh, how I would love to give my lovely mum one more hug, to be embraced with her sweet smile that always warmed my heart one more time......to cry with, to laugh with, to chat with, to enjoy that cup of tea with. So, so many happy and beautiful memories to be cherished in my heart. So, so many love-filled times that will always be held close to my heart.

This Mother's Day may all you lovelies enjoy a little sunshine, much love and many happy memories spent with your loved ones.....oh, and enjoy a li'l flower or two.

Until the next time.......