Springtime in the Garden

 Happy St. David's Day!

After a weekend of beautiful blue skies & warm temperatures the little daffodils in the garden have bloomed, a lovely sight after a dismal winter. I have spotted bumble bees, honey bees & a brimstone butterfly over the weekend, along with more garden birds making the most of the sunshine.

Spring means it's time to reach for the seed tin, check what seed is still viable from last year & work out sowing times. I use a moon phase planting calendar to help plan timings. For germination, especially if sowing directly outside, it seems to help. There is a full moon towards the end of March so will aim to sow outdoors by then, if no frosts are forecast. 

I have bought some new flower seed for this year, Helianthus annuus 'Sonja' for the bees, some Mexican Marigold for companion planting, Phlox drummondii 'Creme Brulee' to fill in the borders & Brachyscome multifida 'Blue & White Mix' to use in pots for the patio. I found a few self-seeded foxgloves growing well & a few strawberry runners which have survived my neglect & the fierce recent frosts, these welcome free plants are always a bonus. 

 

New Handmade Cards and Crochet Keyrings for 2021

I'm delighted to offer a new selection of individual handmade gits and cards in my Etsy shop. Including a new card design ideal for St. Valentine's Day, a finger labyrinth and Good Luck cards.

I try to make sure I am including local or UK sourced materials, reduce the amount of plastic and use recyclable packaging where possible throughout my range.

  Crochet keyrings using British Wool, featuring flower or wheel motifs.

Handmade cards, each one is individual, using a block printed Hamsa motif in watercolour.

'Grow Love' card featuring a flower motif  hand stitched onto watercolour paper. 

Hand stitched onto watercolour paper that is traditionally made in Somerset and mounted in a lightweight card frame this finger labyrinth is ideal for a moment of quiet reflection.

Click on images to go to my Etsy shop,
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Watercolour papers used are from The Two Rivers Paper Company, Somerset.
Two Rivers Paper – We hand-make beautiful rag papers for artists and designers at an ancient watermill deep in the Somerset countryside.

The wool is ColourLab DK from West Yorkshire Spinners. 
West Yorkshire Spinners – Reared, sheared and spun in Britain (wyspinners.com

Crochet Homeware Gifts in my Esty Shop

Find a selection of crochet trinket bowls, mug rugs and cloths in my Etsy shop this month. 

Cotton trinket bowls to save polished, wooden or painted surfaces

Soft ecru trinket bowl

Cotton and British Wool mug rugs to stop staining and heat marks

on tables, desks and kitchen surfaces

100% cotton cloths for general household use

click on logo above to go to my Etsy shop or past link into your browser :

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PatriciaRustArt

Windmills to the Sea

Windmills to the Sea now available as a Kindle Edition, click on photo to find it on Amazon.

'October 2020 

This year has been hard for everyone. Some of these poems have been written in response to the pandemic, some are from past years. My poems are the compass my heart travels with through life. Walk, for a while, with me. '

New Craft Gifts in my Etsy Shop

I am delighted to post about some new craft items available in my Etsy shop, including cards and crochet. Click here to go straight to the shop. 

Set of four bright abstract cards.

Crochet cotton household cloths.

Acid Green Cotton Twine Coasters.

 Fridge Magnets suitable to Post.