Thursday 29 March 2012

Petersham Nurseries

Favourite Trendy Garden Centre



The very rustic Petersham Nurseries





London is surrounded by garden centres, restaurants and cafes but this is the trendiest one I know. It is full of celebrities and the super rich of London and lots of foreign tourists. I love it too but am surprised by its success.




The lovely overpriced plants



The tables and chairs and garden wares are all old, mismatched and rusty, most of the furniture has seen better days and realistically belongs at the tip, the greenhouses are old and tumbled down and the plants and food are all overpriced.  BUT ... and this is a BIG BUT ... the restaurant has a Michelin Star and needs to be booked months in advance, the cafe serves the most delicious snacks and cakes and superb coffees and teas, and the plants are amazing, and the whole experience is full of delight and character.




Beautiful settings for beautiful plants - I want this orchid £40!

Rustic garden wares




Petersham is nestled alongside The Thames about two miles outside central Richmond town, and almost opposite the wide open spaces of Richmond Park. It is surprisingly rural given that it is so close to central London and is surrounded by watermeadows and fields full of cattle and horses. The walk from Richmond to Petersham is delightful - especially with Petersham Nurseries to visit at the end of it. Come with me and take a look  ...


The walk begins at the car park at Richmond Upon Thames riverside

A view to the right to a river crossing
A view to the left to Richmond town bridge

It is still fairly quiet but will get very busy later
The birds are noisy especially the ducks
It was nice to see a crane
The pleasure boat waiting for customers
Now the water meadows begin
You can just see the tips of boats on the river
It is hard to believe we are so close to London

Lovely rural footpath to the nurseries

The building behind the horses is the Royal Star And Garter Home
where all the poppies have been made for years by disabled service personal

And here we are at the nursery
Some cycled from town but we walked the two miles from the car
First stop the cafe
The cakes are tempting me
The jams and preserves are all amazing
The snack menu looks tempting
And the lunch menu looks interesting
Even the drinks menu looks good
After dithering we settle on coffee and cake for me and just coffee for him
We collect some iced water
Admire the scenery
Coffee and carrot, chocolate, and coconut cake which he mostly ate!
And this is where we sat in the sun
And this was the view
This is the entrance to the Michelin Star restaurant
Another view of the restaurant
Old clay pots in the shop
Isn't it just amazing?
Another view of cafe seating
This really is a nursery - but it is so much more

Before I finish this post I want to explain that blogger is really playing up and I just cannot get it to post my photos in a consecutive order - they are just going where they choose and so have given up. I know there are already plenty of pics but some of the better ones just will not post! Hope you enjoy this rather badly organised post anyway. It really was a lovely walk in the sun followed by a lovely walk back and a delicious lunch in Richmond.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Quirky Supplies



   More Goodies To Inspire You


Apart from getting a surfeit of  flowers and chocolate last week I was also lucky enough to be given some more of that wonderful Japanese fabric from  Sew Sister I just wanted to say a little about this company ...  I just love their fabrics and their stalls at all the craft fairs are really an inspiration. They are based in Surrey and make and sell some very quirky stuff; covered buttons and brooches, flowers, fabrics, felts and decoupage and lots of kits. Their motto is "quirky supplies for creative people" and they certainly live up to this billing!


SewSister taken at recent craft fair

Some more of her lovely work

We Love Buttons!!!
Charming Liberty covered buttons

I particularly love their Liberty covered buttons, which are also available online at Notonthehighstreet. They are only £1.25 each and look brilliant on anything.



in the pink and purple mixes
Decoupage papers


They also sell papers for decoupage and starter kits for those wanting a new hobby (sewing, felt brooch kits and decoupage animal kits). This lovely paper above is sold in a set of different colours and designs, each beautifully printed and very suitable for any art project. The pack costs £1.50 and is available from the same supplier.





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Anna Marie Horner
Lovely Fabrics



Anna Marie Horner 'Innocent Crush'

Anna Marie Horner 'Circus'

Anna Marie Horner 'Sharttered Sun'

Anna Marie Horner 'Summer Totem'


I have been wanting some of these fabrics for some time, itching to have them in my hands indeed, and so today spoilt myself with some from the lovely  'Gone To Earth'.  This company has a great choice and their service is fast and the prices really reasonable.

The 'Summer Totem' fabric, in particular has really caught my eye as the red in it is the same shade as my new Mary Janes and I think it would make a great skirt. I wish my dressmaking skills were better but a simple skirt design, free from a tutorial by Frugalandthriving  will help me out I'm sure.

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Colourful Homes And Crafts


Colour In My Life
Knitting And Crochet



Miriam Luchetto
Día de la Memoria
Nunca Mas
Mirium Luchetto


This knitting thing is really inspiring me to make some colourful changes to my life. I think I was brainwashed into thinking pastels were best for babies, and subtle colours somehow more 'classy' on adults and yet now I feel pastels are dead boring on anyone and subtle is definately not for me. Give me vivid colours anytime!

My attitude change has been heavily influenced by the amazing  Attic 24  and her bright, cheerful and colourful makes and charming home. She has even inspired me to take up crochet again and this weekend I could be found practising granny squares. How weird is that? I wonder if she knows what she has done to her followers?

I used a simple tutorial found   here  - I have crocheted many things over the years but had got a bit rusty and needed to remember just how it was done and so I found this tutorial very helpful indeed as it treated me as a complete beginner and explained things in a simple manner and with a video. Do take a look at it  ...




Lovely colour!


Mr Whizz Kid is finding this all a little uncomfortable - he truly is conservative and finds all the colour rather strange and unsettling. First there was the purple coffee table ...



That is my pre-dinner drink -  NZ Sauvignon Blanc


... then the red shoes ...



El Naturalistra No 95 Yggdrsasil Tibet  £95
From Natural Shoe Store Covent Garden




... then a "Passion Flower" painted doors ...





Door colour with a passion



Then the  purple studio set





... and now all this bright 'in your face' knitting and crochet - not to mention the 'riot of colour' quilt!




Riot of colour quilt block


Baby blanket progress



I have made masses of colourful strip quilts lately but he was visibly relieved when I gave them all away. This latest one is for us and there is more colour to come! How will he cope with it all?







My kitchen too has had some seriously colourful additions to go with a red Aga - toaster, liquidizer, pots, pans, utensils all being replaced with a dash of colour. I feel so much more cheerful when doing the dishes if all around me is a riot of mismatched colour.






















(I can imagine my friend S. cringing at this post - firstly for the colour and secondly for the untidiness of it all - she loves good (conservative) taste and tidy and everything put away out of sight - I love colour and chaos!)


Knitting Club


Now for some of todays knitting class. As usual the ladies were busy producing masterpieces ... they are all so very talented and so modest with it. Some of today's pretty stuff can be seen below ...




I loved these multi colours - the beginnings of a shawl I think
This intruiqing top made of multi wool and cotton was beautiful

This stunning jumper has been made in no time at all
Trying for a close up was not easy or possible - it was just too crowded
I just loved this pattern and the colour is my favourite blue
Another of these wonderful 'loopy' scarves - this all done in an hour
I so want to give this a go - one ball equals one scarf for around £9


I bought two more colours from the Amy Butler Belle Organic range to add to my already colourful blanket ... what do you think?





'Moss Green' and 'Cornflower Blue' Amy Butler Belle Organics