Minted

In the last couple of weeks there has been a notable change in the everyday. The narcissus in my window boxes are about to bloom. I check the tight yellow buds that are just breaking out of their protective paper-like casing every morning. They are tentatively about to announce the arrival of spring.

It will soon be time to pack away the winter blankets and throw open the windows to let in the dappled sunlight. I tend to make a few subtle changes to my home to welcome in the new season. At the moment I am looking to update a picture that I've had on my kitchen wall for sometime to something new, fresh and optimistic. I find that when a piece of art has been on my wall for a long time, I fail to notice it anymore.

I have recently discovered Minted, an US-based online design marketplace that sells event stationery,  party decor and wall art from their global community of independent designers. An early pioneer of crowd-sourcing, Minted hold regular art and design challenges. Designers submit their designs, fans vote and Minted sell the winners. Minted ship worldwide and their prices are purse-friendly. It's a refreshing way to curate a shop and gives many independent designers the selling platform they need. This is just a selection of what is on offer. The fresh painterly patterns have a Scandinavian feel about them which appeals to me. They are calming while at the same time invigorating - perfect for the sunny spot by my kitchen window. You can browse the full art collection here. Which one would you choose?

Images from top: Morning Dew by Simona Cavallaro | Connection № 3 by Kelly Ventura | Flight of the Ocean by Sharon Rowan | Ice on the Lake by Renee Anne | Weathered by Melanie Severin | Trio of Spheres by Naomi Ernest | Sunset Fade № 1 by Kelly Ventura | Bits by Katie Craig


Minted are currently offering a 15% discount across its shop, but if your inspired be quick as the offer ends this Sunday.

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May

Photo: dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com 

What is it with all this rain? There seems to be no end in sight to it. But the fact is it can't go on for much longer can it? It will be June in a few weeks. In no time at all we'll be basking in the sun and all this rain will be a distant memory. 

I've been reading a fantastic new cook book this week, Bill's The Cookbook: Cook Eat Smile. The recipes are mouth-watering, but the writing to accompany them is like poetry. This is one of the best and a reminder of how the weather ought to be right now.

"So, we're done with Easter, then ....

The children have gone back to school and there are days when you step outside and can just tell - from the birds, from the heat of the sun and the light, from the new colours and a scent of something in the air, that we're off to pastures new and it won't be long until we tip, happily, in to summer"

Bill Collison, Bills Produce Store & Cafe, Brighton.

P.S. Thanks for all the wonderful Facebook and Twitter comments on my last post. It certainly hit a nerve with many mothers out there. x

Flower Power

Image: House Plant Guru.

OK, even as I type this I know I'm adding unnecessary pressure by making such an early announcement. But hey, with something to prove I'm more likely to succeed right? 

Well here it is. This year I am going to grow cut flowers down the allotment. Loads of them. Beautiful varieties. Vases of blooms will fill my home all summer long and beyond. I'll give bunches to friends and neighbours if I have a 'glut'. Everyone will benefit (except for my local florist - sorry Lynette, but your beautiful shop has probably gone some way to ignite this passion within me).

I've much to learn. A lot. From scratch. But I've a great starting point. I've ordered my 'starter pack' of seeds from Higgledy Garden. Winging their way to me are no less than twenty varieties of seeds:

Amaranthus, Ammi Majus, Bupleureum, Calendula ‘Art Shades’,Carnation ‘Superb', Phlox ‘Grandiflora Mix’, Cornflowers ‘Blue Ball’,Cleome ‘Violet Queen’, Cosmos ‘Purity’, Cosmos ‘Sensation’, Godetia. ‘Double Crown Mix’, Gypsophilia. ‘Covent Garden’, Helianthus. ‘Earthwalker’,Larkspur Giant Imperials ‘Crown Blend Mix’, Lupin ‘Sunrise’, Aster ‘Ostrich Plumes’, Nicotinana ‘Lime Green’, Nigella. Love in the mist ‘Persian Jewels’, Ricinus, Scabiosa. Pin Cushion Flower Tall Crown Mix. Then I added a pack each of Sweet Pea Beaujolais and Sweet Pea Purfumed Delight as I just couldn't resist.

Higgledy Garden's customer service is second to none. Their blog is crammed full of useful information and tips so you feel you have someone to 'hold your hand' along the way.

It's all very exciting. Roll on Spring; I can't wait to get started!

Our Little Patch of Eden ...

This recent spell of hot weather has worked magic down the allotment. All the seeds we tentatively sowed in recent weeks are all coming through; potatoes, carrots, spinach, beans, shallots, onions, peas, corn and cucumbers. Last years dormant herbs and our blush-pink stalked rhubarb plants have sprung back to life. It's looking promising.

Since my last allotment related post we've been down the plot quite a bit and it is good to see the old allotment community again for another season. We don't have much by way of a garden living in a city and so near to the beach, just a long courtyard and a small flat roof balcony, so we see the allotment as our green outdoor space - our own little patch of Eden.

Even this early in the growing season the plot gave us some loot to take home; vibrant stalks of rainbow chard, a couple of leeks, sage, chives and marjoram all of which made a delicious allotment flan for tea. Plus we picked some rhubarb which is now waiting patiently in the bottom of the fridge for a bit of crumble action later this week.

Sunny Mornings & Little Green Fingers ...

There has not been much blogging action so far this week. That is because with the sun finally coming out, I’ve been spending any spare moments down our allotment. It’s difficult to blog with muddy fingers.

I’m a bit of a fair-weather gardener and this week I’ve found myself wanting to go down to the plot and ‘do a bit of work’. I’ve had an enthusiastic and willing helper this week; Arthur.

This is his first ‘season’ in which he can actually get involved. Last summer he wasn’t even walking and generally allotments (or at least our slightly wild plot) isn’t very friendly to crawling babies, so now that he is up on his trotters there is a full ten rods for him to explore.

We’ve been down two mornings this week. It’s a tight schedule as I have to get down there early enough to get some work done but get back home for his late morning nap. Arthur generously gives me a two hour window, so long as I provide an array of snacks for him. There is lots to take in order to keep him occupied; wellies, full waterproofs, breadsticks, sandwiches, bananas and the odd biscuit. Plus water, milk, tissues, nappies, wipes and various toys. It is like packing for a fortnights holiday But once we are down the plot with wellies on it seems worth it. So far this week we’ve got our new potatoes in the ground, carrots  and spinach sown and we’ve planted a rose bush. I see us having many happy times ahead on our plot while the sun shines.