Swedish Blue

I'm hoping this... 

will transform these... 

...into something nice for my bedroom.
 My pine bedside cabinet which I made up from a flatpack about 18 years ago and varnished and my children's old pine toybox which I'll use for storing odds and ends.

Sanded and cleaned ready for undercoating and painting.

I may wallpaper the draw fronts and fix new drawer knobs....not quite sure yet.

I'll let you know how they turn out.

Birthday Orchid

I was given this beautiful Orchid back in early January for my Birthday and it is still in flower nearly 3 months later. I love the way the sunlight picks out the delicate detail in the flowers. So pretty.

Lupins, Tomatoes, Dahlias and Raspberries

I've been busy on the allotment the past few weeks digging, weeding, laying new barkchip on the paths, under the plum tree and around my fruit bushes and generally tidying up. I'm also digging out my large compost bin which has been left brewing for a few years. It has produced some lovely compost which I've used to top up my raised beds and mulch my fruit with.

I started some Lupin seeds off last year at home and the warmth has started them back into growth. I haven't grown these for a few years so looking forward to their beautiful colours. Might be able to squeeze a few in the garden but if not I'll grow them on the allotment for cutting.

My tomato seedlings 'Roma VF' and 'Marmande' are doing well (indoors) and now need potting on. This is when I start to run out of windowsill space! Unfortunately my cherry tomatoes haven't germinated so I'll have to buy some new seed. 

I'm also trying two new Dahlias this year as cutting flowers which have beautiful dark blooms. 

A decorative Dahlia 'Arabian Night' with fully-double flowerheads of dark burgundy-red and 'Pompon, Natel' which has a very dark red (almost black) flower.
Could look good in a vase with orange and pink flowers maybe?

I also bought some new summer fruiting Raspberry canes yesterday for the allotment - 'Glen Ample' which have been given the RHS prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) so I'm expecting a great crop (well maybe not this year). I've been meaning to invest in some new canes the last few years but never seem to get around to it. Just need to build a support structure now!
Cooling down here in the south after our heatwave the past week.
Hope you all have an enjoyable week.

Bedroom makeover

The inspiration for my bedroom makeover began when I saw this beautiful sky blue wallpaper from Mini Moderns (in collaboration with artist Rob Ryan) on a program a while back called Kirstie's Vintage Home. 

The wallpaper shows Rob Ryan's distinctive paper cut designs and is called 'Our Adventure is About to Begin'. The little birds are holding these words in their beaks along with flowers and leaves as they fly away from their open cages.

I had a plasterer skim the ceiling and over a number of months I painted all the woodwork and hung the wallpaper.

My backroom housed my bedroom and I slept in my eldest daughter's bedroom while she was away at uni. It was all a little chaotic but I managed to move back in just before Christmas when my daughter returned home.

I painted my pine chest of drawers.

I hung a mirror with an 'old gold' finish bought from a charity shop for £15. I'm not usually a 'gold' person' but I do like this mirror.

 

 I removed all ten of my pine wardrobe doors over the summer and painted them and the framework. 

I also painted my old pine bed as I was determined to upcycle as much of my existing furniture as possible.

I treated myself to a pretty quilt set from Dunelm Mill called 'Duck Egg Beautiful Birds' (£19.99). 

I joke to my children that all the birds in my room keep me awake at night with their chirping!

I did start to make some patchwork curtains but they just didn't look right in the room. Too many different fabrics maybe? Instead I ended up buying curtains that matched the quilt cover and will use the patches (only pinned in this photo) to make a colourful patchwork quilt (but that's a blog post for another day).

It took me ages to find a ceiling light shade that I liked and could be fitted easily. In the end I bought this laser cut one from Wilkinsons with crystal effect droplets for £20.

 

I've also added some heart lace effect fairy lights that I also bought from Wilkinsons at Christmas. They look really pretty if I'm reading in bed with my bedside light on.

 

I still need to paint my pine bedside cabinet and a small blanket box, hang pictures and generally dress the room. I'd like to have a small table and chair in the bay window too. It feels so much brighter now although it still needs those finishing touches to make it feel a little more cosy and lived in but I'm pleased with how it's progressing so far.

Forsythia

 Patiently waiting for my Forsythia to open.