September 2025

I always feel that this time of year is one of transition as we edge away from bright summer with birdsong and bees, towards damp dewy mornings and the closing of curtains at teatime. The garden is a mix of spent blooms and dried up leaves beside the vibrant evergreens, already hinting at their glory time to come at the close of the year. These bull rushes in the pond once again stand tall with their rich brown furry heads held high and strong in the autumn winds. As usual in September I am stitching holly and mistletoe and Christmas trees, ready for the seasonal orders soon to be packed up. Lots of different greens!

August 2025

The garden here is very wild and untidy this year as for various reasons we have not kept on top of things. However, the established perennials have made it through and flowered despite our neglect of them! I went around the garden to pick a jug of flowers for the house and managed to put together this bunch, which includes seed heads from last year's forgotten leeks, fennel flowers and wild purple loosestrife.

I am once again stitching all things Christmas in high summer, but needs must to make enough stock for the coming season! Some new designs will be coming soon.... Remember, the Christmas Shop (tab on Home Page) is open all year, especially useful for those who like to 'shop early for Christmas!'

July 2025

The old lavender bushes growing here are now as tall as I am! Why they are so big I have no idea; the thousands of flower spikes are alive with bumblebees of all kinds, a joy to behold. Each year I cut some of the flowers to hang indoors in bunches, their scent becoming very much a part of our house in summer. Each year I am amazed to see the variety of insect life in our garden, from the tiniest brightly patterned moth to the weird and wonderful sabre wasp, which I saw for the first time in my life only last week. As I sit sewing in our little summerhouse on sunny days, I love to hear the sounds of the birds and insects all around me; I realise more than ever how precious each spark of life truly is.