Doily hunt

I am on a doily hunt. Inspired by the many creative ideas on doilies, which I see passing by on the internet, I decided on making a table runner for Christmas. The last two years I built up quite a collection, but I still need one or two big ones and a few smaller ones to finish it off. With a bit of luck I will find some more on our local flea market, so that it will be ready on time.  

The white coffee pot and egg cups, with scenes of Amsterdam canal houses & churches on them, are recent thrift store finds. For only 2,50 euro (pot) and 25 cents for the cups it was an absolute bargain. I think they look very stylish. They like the design at home too, but think it is not done to have an Amsterdam coffee pot in a Rotterdam home. It's betrayal of the worst kind! I am totally outnumbered,..... it's four to one......but the pot and cups are still in my cupboard (don't know for how long though :-)

We have lots of guests lately. The perfect opportunity to do some baking. The girls and I decided on chocolate cupcakes from the Hummingbird bakery cookbook. A good choice. The cakes were absolutely delicious!  The sponge is light and moist and the chocolate frosting just perfect. I can recommend the recipe to you.

This week I made a slow start on my Christmas decorating. More about it next time!

A happy weekend to you all!

LOVE,

Madelief x

With a big kiss and hug to my uncle and aunt in Wahlwiller. Thinking of you.

Hidcote manor gardens

 

It feels like ages since we visited Hidcote gardens near Chipping Camden in The Cotswolds, but it was only three months ago. Our two youngest daughters, who are twenty and eighteen years old, joined us. The attraction of a croquet set on the lawn and a tennis court they could use, was hard to resist. So while my husband and I enjoyed the impressive gardens at leisure, our two daughters were working up a sweat.

I loved Hidcote! It is one of the best gardens I have seen so far. It was originally made by Lawrence Johnston, an American garden enthusiast, in the Arts and Crafts style. Yew, holly & beech hedges define a series of garden rooms, like the white garden and fuchsia garden. There are fountains, a lovely folly with beautiful murals, a kitchen garden, a meadow of wild flowers and amazing views over the Vale of Evesham. When you haven't visited yet, you should. I think I may even prefer it over Sissinghurst! I came home with lots of ideas for planting schemes.


Which garden impressed you most?

Happpy weekend!

LOVE,

Madelief x

Tea cups & granny squares

More than a year ago I started crocheting a granny square blanket. Somehow I wasn't  happy with the way it looked. When sewn together, I did not like the stitches being visible. My blanket ended up in a basket and I did not look at it for quite some time. Until Fleur from the blog In de Polder advised me to add a row in one colour. A really good solution. I picked up my needle and started crocheting again.

Next step will be to sew in loose threads and sew or crochet the squares together. I am not really sure what looks best, sew or crochet? What do you think? I welcome your advise!

As my old followers may know, I have a collection of mismatched blue and white china at home. In the photographs I added some old and new flea market finds. My favourite pieces being two lovely porcelain plates with a golden chequered rim and a blue rose by Myott and a very elegant German porcelain soup cup and plate by Selltman Weiden. The 1970s floral sheet was a recent thrift store find and one that put a smile on my face. I think it will make a lovely table cloth :-)!

Did you find something nice at a flea market or thrift store lately?

Wish you all a happy weekend!

LOVE,

Madelief x

A meadow of wild flowers

 

It has been on my mind for weeks now, to thank you for the kind comments you left on my blog. They brighten up my day! A big kiss to you all!

When in England, one of my favourite pastimes, beside roaming charity shops and discovering secret and not so secret gardens, is to go for a country walk. The huge network of public footpaths never fails to impress me. We do have many beautiful walks in Holland, but only few of them have Public Right of Way. It's so much more fun walking cross country, instead of tarmac roads.

We walked part of the Gloucestershire way, Macmillan way and Cotswold way. Through meadows of wild flowers and quaint looking villages. Past derelict farmhouses, foraging geese, haunted mansions and country gardens full of stocks. However, "the piece de resistance"  of our walks was the Duck race in Bourton on the Water. It brought back lots of good memories :-)!!

Wish you all a wonderful weekend! I hope the weather will be fine enough to spend outdoors.

LOVE,

Madelief x