A little bit of everything and not much at all, really

A lovely welcome to my little autumnal place♥

What have I been up to this last little while?? I suppose a little bit of everything.....and not much at all, really. Oh, I have been busier than a bee, but it's just that I don't have a lot to show for all my busy-ness.

Autumn is casting it's beauty all around the place. The countryside is decorated with trees showing off their autumnal hues. Everywhere is cloaked in the gorgeousness that only Autumn can conjure up. It is as if almost overnight the trees have decided to put on their show. Before too long gust force winds that visit often these days, will strip the branches of the leaves causing them to rain down upon the ground forming a mosaic carpet underfoot. The scrunching of the leaves under one's feet is truly a magical sensation.

The Cosmos and Dahlias too, have been delighting us with more pretty colour. I suppose they must disappear sometime soon, but for now I will eke out every last bit of enjoyment, whilst I can. How pretty the flowers look with french ribbons coquettishly dancing around them whilst resting upon a bed of crisp autumnal leaves. Truly, my heart smiles....yet again♥

There has been a little building happening here, too. My husband has desired a fernery for those plants that need a little warmth and nurturing in the cooler months. For years now he has been squirrelling away windows and wood for such a project as this. He tells me he has been having the best fun.....making it up as he goes along. I call it 'Pete's Folly'.  As a gal who has always hankered after one of those conservatories that grace  Victorian and Edwardian buildings of old, this will be my own little glass sun catcher. A humble one, yes, but nevertheless a little greenhouse showcasing mismatched windows and whimsy. I am loving the progress of this little building. I am loving the mismatched windows, the peeling and cracked paint; the higgledy piggledy nature of this folly. Me thinks it might not only be used for warming up plants' toes and protecting them from Jack Frost, but it would be an excellent place in which to enjoy many an afternoon tea party.  A small afternoon tea gathering mind you, as let me make it clear this folly is a simple one. It is going to have windows all the way around so as to catch the views; the veggie patch, the garden and the paddocks and mountains in the distance.  'Tis very early days yet.....so watch this space!! I cannot wait to see it finished. In my mind's eye I am styling it already. I have mentioned to my Pete that his folly is going to be the most excellent of props. =) Of course he just did what he always does when the subject of props and styling is chatted about......he just smiled.

The Hydrangeas have been fading to shades of blue green, crimson, magenta....all in different stages of fading for their autumnal display. I love how Hydrangeas fade for months on end during the Autumn and Winter seasons.

Yes indeedy, Pete's Folly is an excellent location for a photo shoot or two. What say you??

I have been enjoying a little applique this last little while, as well. I have appliqued most of the baskets of my Buds in the Basket quilt. So I suppose with small moments of daily stitching there has been an accumulation of a lot of stitching, really.  I fashioned oodles of leaves and circle buds to be appliqued onto the baskets.

There are only three baskets to applique now and then I can join them all together. As it is Sunday tomorrow I will enjoy a little happy hand stitching, perhaps in the afternoon. I am still dithering how to border the baskets. I suppose a border of puddles of scrappy fabrics would be the way to go, but I am thinking I might just use one fabric with flowers blooming all over. Cutting  oodles and oodles of scrappy fabrics and then stitching them together is not something I really want to do, as the last couple of weeks I have been cutting and stitching tiny scraps of fabrics together on a project for one of my stitching girls. Besides, I have used a border of scrappy fabrics previously for two of my quilts and this time I might mix it up a bit.......decisions, decisions?

Anyway........'tis delightful to have you visit my little autumnal place. I hope you are all enjoying a most beautiful weekend. Sending all you lovelies a little love, swirling around and around on the wings of those blustery, autumnal winds.♥

Until the next time...............

Linking up to Kathy's, Slow Sunday Stitching.

Easter Greetings to You♥

This Easter time, when the world is so fragile, brittle, broken; and is groaning, may the message of Easter renew my faith, filling me with wonderful wonderment at Jesus' love for me. May the joy of Easter lift me from sometimes....sadness, hopelessness, loneliness, weakness and despair; to hope, joy, strength and beauty. In my own small way, in my own little corner of the world, may I dwell upon the love of Jesus that He showed me all those centuries ago; when He walked utterly alone along that long and dusty road to his death. May I immerse myself in His love that He shows me.....today.....now.  Each day may I fall down on my knees in humility, with gratitude; with a heart brimming over with thankfulness of His ultimate gift to me. Then, may I pick myself up again and follow Jesus every day, living each day as He would want me to, knowing I no longer need to walk alone. Certainly big shoes to fill, but in my own small way, I can but try. Jesus' love demands nothing less, really. May I reflect upon, today and every day, that Jesus paid the ultimate price of love for me. He died and rose again so that I may live with Him forever. For this I will be forever thankful. May I linger in Jesus' amazing love, in His amazing grace. To me Easter is all about Jesus' amazing grace.

May you and yours enjoy a blessed Easter as you gather together and joy in the presence of each other. May you experience a sweet renewal of faith, hope and joy. Oh, and from one who has been known to enjoy  nibbling on a chocolate bunny's ears......may you enjoy some chocolate, too♥

Until the next time...................

Showy, Flirty Dahlias

A lovely welcome to all you lovely, lovelies♥

This week there has been a flush of Dahlias blooming in the garden. It is as if they have en masse, banded together to bring the last carnival of vivid, intense colour and delight to those who gaze upon them. It is the Dahlias' last hurrah for the year.  Dahlias are extroverts.  They are flamboyant and indeed, shrinking violets they are not. Dahlias are showy, flirty  pretties with  petals of frilly concoctions which rather remind me of a ballerina's tutu.

Gazing upon Dahlias, in my mind's eye I can see the dressing rooms of a theatre, where tutus hang on special hangers waiting to be worn for the final ballet performance. I can almost hear the buzzing excitement and nervous chatter of the principal dancers, the ballerinas, the danseurs; all applying the final touches to their makeup, perhaps catching those wispy strands of hair and tucking them into their coiffured buns. There are dressers tut tutting as they help each dancer quickly change into their costumes between each act. There is not a minute to spare! Aah yes.....I can catch a glimpse of the corps de ballet dressed in frilly, multi-layered, dahlia-like tutus twirling and twirling....and pirouetting across the stage.

And....as these pretties will soon be nipped by Jack Frost's icy fingers, I had to....just had to play and have some fun with these pretties, and a pretty fabric or two.

Yellows to peachy apricots to bright oranges.

Vibrant reds ranging from single flowers to magnificent full blown, dinner plate size, pretties.

Bright pinks.....pastel pinks.....glorious in between pinks.

Would you believe there are sixteen types of Dahlias. There are decorative singles or cactus types with pointy petals. Ones with peony-shaped flowers, spherical ball and pompoms to anemones, fimbriated ones with split ends to the petals and large flat collarettes. It seems to me that I will need to go in search of some of the Dahlias that we do not have growing in our garden. Me thinks a little flower catalogue browsing and shopping is going to be enjoyed throughout the coming winter.

Sending all you lovelies a little Dahlia LOVE from my little autumnal place. As always it is a delight to have you visit...thank you. Perhaps next time when you pop in there will be some stitching to show you. =) But for now, I am thinking I just might go in search of my dahlia-like tutu, slip on my pointe shoes and pirouette tippy toed, through my weekend.

May you all enjoy a most beautiful weekend♥ Until the next time......