...thanks to the lovely Laura at 'my wee life' As I mentioned in an earlier post, she had sent me a hollyhock kit from The Miniature Garden and being finicky plants they have taken a year to reach flowering stage.
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| at dusk |
Like just about everyone else I have been down with a seasonal bug and lacked motivation to do anything except moan and whine (which I do with the same proficiency as procrastinating), so when life began to improve these were the loveliest project. I only wish they photographed better!
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| and in daylight With a window sill, I was able to finally place the geraniums (click for tutorial) made a couple of years ago and some new pink ones made this week.  The children rushed into the empty house, running all over it, up the stairs and down. "Hannah, look at the cosy kitchen!" cried Jane. "Look, it's got a wide window-ledge for you to put your geranium plants on!" The Happy House Children by Enid Blyton  |
A bit of playing still to do but it is lovely to see something happening and I haven't really been sidetracked from finishing the cottage...
(or the giveaway!)
Welcome to all the people who have called by, its lovely to see you and even better when I think of how much help you can be in the garden next time you visit. :D
The Hollyhocks look so real , as do the geraniums great work! I know how you are feeling it seems we are all suffering the same thing at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, for the compliment and the sympathy. :) I hope you begin feeling on top of things as well.
DeleteThe hollyhocks look lovely and the geraniums on the window sill look just perfect as is the wee passage - I do love Enid Blyton :) seeing your photos this morning has put a smile on my face as I go off to work!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it put a smile on your face although I still think you should be tucked into bed rather than trotting off to work. :)
DeleteLovely lovely hollyhocks! Love you miniature gardening skills, you've done a brilliant job. I'm so glad you are up to doing miniatures again. That window-sill is a dream come true, so exactly Enid Blyton. Heaven, for me, would be to live in your Cottage.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, you would find it a bit draughty still with the fronts not quite screwed on and no roof, but I agree I would love a nice wide window ledge like that too. :D
DeleteHeheh, I was just back to have another drool, I didn't notice the draught with my eyes warmed by that gorgeous window sill ;)))
DeleteYour soul is above human trials and discomforts. :)
DeleteYou're a hoot Christine! My laugh for the day :)))
DeleteOooh your kitchen window looks so cosy! I love the geraniums on the window sill and the loaf of bread cooling... The leaded glass looks really good too!
ReplyDeleteEvery cottage should have a few hollyhocks against the wall, and if it has a name like that you simply must have them. They look very pretty!
Thank you Josje, it always had to have hollyhocks, every story book cottage does!
DeleteHello Christine,
ReplyDeleteHang in there...spring is on the way and you'll be cheery again soon! It might have taken a year but the flowers are fantastic. Absolutley beautiful and such a great touch of color.
Big hug,
Giac
Alas Giac, I am in the half of the world approaching Winter! I'm so pleased with the hollyhocks and although I changed mine a little I have to give most of the credit to the miniature garden who chose the colours and had ideas I would never have thought of. :)
Deletethose are adorable, Im glad you were able to keep busy. my favorite film that describes what I go through sometimes is Sunset Blvd..when William Holden asks Erich von Stroheim why there are no locks on the door Erich replys: "Madame suffers from bouts of melancholy" classic line.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like I will have to watch Sunset Boulevard! :)
DeleteYour flowers look gorgeous and are perfect in their setting. How lovely to have Hollyhocks you had to really!! Love the window sill inside too it looks so real at 1st glance its so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Paula. Hollyhocks were pretty essential and I'm pleased to have added the windowsill to bring the garden inside too. :D
DeleteYour hollyhocks look wonderful, Christine, it is not a plant that one see in gardens anymore today, I remember what an impression they made on me when I was a child, all the older people back then seemed to have them growing in their gardens.
ReplyDeleteI love your geraniums too, they are such a cheerful sight when in full bloom!
I can't remember if I have ever seen a hollyhock in real life. I feel I should have but don't know where and from what I read when looking at pictures, hollyhocks choose where they will thrive and there are lots of disillusioned gardeners out there, like me who has tried and failed as well - thank goodness for miniatures!.
DeleteThey were well worth the wait Christine they look perfect in their spot. I know all about the whining, I too have felt this winter will never end. Now we have at last had a bit of sunshine and I feel ready to crawl out from beneath my stone!!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you Brits have had a hard Winter. I've heard so many say the same thing. Enjoy your sunshine but don't slow down too much on your wonderful projects. :)
DeleteOh, your Hollyhocks are Gorgeous! and I Love the geraniums on the window ledge... and the loaf of bread cooling.... Such an evocative picture... I can feel myself sitting in that kitchen....!!! Someday I need to start to learn how to make mini plants...!!! Maybe I just need some lovely kits...! I have grown Hollyhocks in my gardens... but they never last... they are a short lived perennial... but really a biennial... meaning they take two years to flower and need replanting every few years.. but to me they always stand for "cottage garden" in my mind!!! Yours are just Perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteThey say 'cottage garden' to me as well. Knowing your work, you would have a lovely time making your own colourful tiny garden. :)
DeleteHi Christine, I absolutely love your hollyhocks and geraniums. To be truthful, I love the whole look of your sweet cottage. I have hollyhocks growing in my garden in Ballarat. I did buy a couple of plants but they come again every year from the seeds that I drop.Geraniums are one of my favorite plants, easy to grow as they seem to be at Hollyhock Cottage!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Vicki.
Thank you and now you have inspired me to get a packet of seed and give some healthful neglect. :D
DeleteWell, I guess the climate in Pretoria must have been perfect for them then, dry and hot seems right, as a child I wasn't interested in the details of gardening, so whether people planted them or if they just grew by themselves I don't know. I think I was fascinated by them because they were so tall.
ReplyDeleteI bet they were fascinating, towering over you. They always have such a fairy tale story book connection too. :)
DeleteHi Christine,
ReplyDeleteI just love your Hollyhocks and your Geraniums are gorgeous too. Your Enid Blyton reference brings back a few memories too.
I'm feeling a little relief being in the throws of Autumn after such a hot summer.
ML Fi xx
Hi Fi, I bet it is a relief, you have really copped the extremes down south.
DeleteI like the flowers. The geraniums on the window are perfect.
ReplyDeleteBye, Faby
Stunning. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Faby and Donna. :)
ReplyDeleteThe hollyhocks look lovely, they are beautifully made; and the geraniums are very colourful and cheerful looking too!
ReplyDeleteThe hollyhocks are wonderful, I especially like the 'dusk' photo of them. Love the geraniums too, I'm very partial to them in real size and these little versions are just as lovely. They really add something special to the windowsill that creates a homely atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your nice comment about the salon by the way :)
Thank you Andy and Norma :) It's nice that simple things like a pot of colourful geraniums can make one smile, in real life as well as mini.
ReplyDeleteYAY, Hollyhocks for Hollyhock Cottage!!! And beautiful ones at that.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine I love your hollyhocks and geraniums it all looks perfect
ReplyDeleteHola Christine
ReplyDeleteMe encantan tus plantas, te han quedado preciosas.
besitos ascension
Just gorgeous Christine, I can't imagine the tiny little pieces that you work with to get these made...
ReplyDeleteHugz
thanks so much for bringing in your mini quilts... just so gorgeous.... I have done a blog post showing them... hope you don't mind...
ReplyDeleteHugz
Coooooeh! Wonder if that's how you spell it, just reading your post Christine, love the flowers, hope all is well with you up north.
ReplyDeleteHey Christine, I've got an art deco laser cut bookshelf kit that I was sent by mistake - it's exactly like this one at FMM although it didn't come from there http://fairymeadowminiatures.com.au/kits/laser-cut/laser-cut-art-deco-bookshelf-kit.html - Could you use it somewhere in Hollyhock Cottage? If so, or you know of another suitable home for it, please email me with your address and I'll post it to you - normabennett@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteMe encantan como han quedado,tanto los geranios como las malvas!!! Parece mentira como las plantas y las flores,realzan e iluminan cualquier rincón!!!!
ReplyDeleteBesos.
Will you be retuning to this blog? I do. Hope so x
ReplyDeleteHi Christine,
ReplyDeleteI was searching for a plate tutorial and came across yours! I think I might get addicted once I start! I have a very small mini budget and this will be a wonderful way to get china for my latest dollhouse. You can see the beginnings of it here…
http://naturessoulminiatures.blogspot.com/
On another note, I just love your Hollyhock Cottage! I am not only miniaturists, but also the new editor for American Miniaturist Magazine. I thought I would see if you would like to have your beautiful little cottage featured in an upcoming article in AM. I think many people would love you are inspiring work. Let me know what you think. You can email me at auralea@ashdown.co.uk if you are interested.
~Auralea
Hi Christine, your Hollyhock Cottage is so lovely and unique and inspiring. I hope you are allright and still working on it. Margot
ReplyDelete