Spring on my mind

I just can't seem to stop thinking about spring! Please excuse me if you've traveled to and fro on Calico's sister blogs only to discover spring topics there too.

That picture was taken last spring, summer of one of my flower beds.

The twig ladder was a handmade gift from Lennis. Isn't it cool? I love it! When he first presented it the steps were covered with English ivy, naturally sweet that guy of mine.

I usually plant lots of flower seeds and I sow seeds more often then purchasing ready established plants. It' not only cost effective I get a genuine great feeling monitoring the tiny seeds transform themselves into beautiful buds. If the weather is good that transformation happens quickly and before you know your landscape is bathed with colorful blossoms.

I'm pondering serious spring thoughts. This season I'm experimenting with everlasting flowers. I've grown them before but it's been many moons ago so I'm anxious to bring back those happy flowering thoughts.
Straw flowers, baby's breath, statice, larkspur and a few different varieties of lavender so that I can make wands. All of those varieties dry nice. Cant' forget hydrangeas. I have a row planted on the north side of our home.

Straw flowers and vintage blouses. Kind of go together nicely don't you think?

Old fashioned Bachelor Button welcoming a favorite friend.

Another favorite flower, the delicate tiny blooms of a forget me not. I was thrilled when this single bloom sprouted a few weeks after I planted the seeds. Very unusal, because they usually don't bloom until the following year. A forget me not blessing, I'd say.

This is a hydrangea cluster from last season. It too somewhat of a sweet surprise as I had beautuful blue blooms directly next to the pink ones without treating the soil.

By the way, this is when you pick the flower heads to dry. After they've bllomed and beginning to turn a pretty shade of green with dense heavy heads. Simply stick the stem in a vessel to dry. No upside down action needed. The same techinique should be used for the other everlasting buds too. How easy is that? Love it!

Before the hyrdangeas bud out the peonies and mock orange bloom. Usually around Memorial weekend on my side of the pond. If you've never seen mock orange it's a very old fashioned bush type. The blossoms are white and they carry a lovely scent quite similar to orange blossoms, gardenia, or jasmine.

The sweet lacy like allysum. Another favorite. The perfect ground covering flower or low growing layering bloom.

The wild wood violet. That's what I call her.  When I was a little girl I remember seeing her pretty purple face in the woods. She'll be arriving soon!

 Miss Lilac too.

The edible flower, nasturtium. She prefers being started by seed. Her tender young brightly colored blooms arrive almost over night.

Part two of spring on my mind coming next.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Happy Valentines Day

I hope it's a day filled with hugs, kisses and smiles...xo
Jill

A little calico kitchen and my favorite chocolate cake

Yummy! This is my trusty chocolate cake recipe. The coffee adds a mild flavor to the recipe.
It's Ina's recipe. I have several of Ina's cookbooks that I reference recipes from. This is by far a favorite. I use dark dutch cocoa for both the batter and icing. That is why the icing is so dark.
Another play day this afternoon on Pinterest.
I found this cute little calico kitchen picture.

I love the wood bench, the plate rack, the light. Hey, I have that light! Just realized that as I look at the picture.

Well not exactly, but close.

Love that calico kitchen!

Beans and cornbread for dinner because old man winter has came for a visit.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Sweetness♥

I'd like to take this moment to thank everyone that happens upon Calico Petals, Fussy French and Bittersweet. Having three blogs may seem daunting to some folks but not to me. I enjoy the down time they offer me during my busy schedule. Yep, I'm usually on some sort of scheduling. I have to otherwise nothing would get done!
Can you believe Valentines Day is only a few short days away?
Thinking maybe holidays should be more than one day! What do you think?

Anyway I wanted to thank you for visiting Calico Petals. I don't often find the time to respond to emails or posts but please know I'm appreciative of your comments and emails and read each and every one.

It's been 6 years since my first post on Bittersweet blog. Wowsa! The daily interaction amongst fellow bloggers has brought joy to my life and a song in my heart. I mean that!
A lot of things have changed since that first post. I guess that's how time works. Nothing stays the same over time. Eventually a change occurs.

Some exciting things in the works for Fussy French, Bittersweet and Calico Petals.
Shh. I can't spill the beans quite yet.
Hint: There's a story behind every.....-------......

Warmly,
Jill 00

Fresh Idees

I love these calico petals plates grouped together. Photo courtesy of our friends at Pinterest of course.
They plates appear to be the same pattern and type. Do you know what they are? Just curious. Maybe they're not vintage, but rather re-makes.

I'm fond of this kitchen nook picture too. It looks cozy and inviting, warm and friendly. Doesn't it?
Notice how both pictures share plate displays.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

I have a small display of my favorite plates in my kitchen.

Do you have some of your favorite plates on display in your home?
I believe plates add a certain charm to any decor.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Flower seeds as gifts...

The cockscomb is a most unusual looking flower. It's easy to grow and flourishes during the heat of the summer. You simply pick the large clusters of blooms in early autumn and bring inside for drying. They dry beautifully.

I'm putting together a few seed packets to give as gifts.

I'll be creating a new seed packet for the assortment of seeds.

Zinnia, moon flower, brown eye susans, bee balm are some of the varieties I'll be sharing.

You may remember the seed packet I created last spring. It was inspired by my Great Aunt Enid. She was a natural garden guru and a wonderful cook.

H'm not able to share the pdf on blogger post. You can catch it at Bittersweet if you want to print out the seed packet.

Here'a a link.  Reduce to 100%.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Share your creative space...

I thought it would be fun to share our creative spaces this week.
Do you have a special nook or space that inspires you to create?
You can add a picture and link to your creative space below on the link button.
Simply follow the prompts.

This picture was taken last summer. It's the entrance to my home studio. A place where I share my creations with friends and patrons. I've been operating the shop from my home for 5 years now. Before that I owned and managed a shop downtown.
It's fun having a shop in your home! It's worked out great for me. If you're contemplating a home shop, I say go for it! It makes perfect sense to me. You'll have the best of both worlds!

Pretty ~ pretty

Several months ago I found an enterprising blog packed full with creative idees and information. One in particular stood out from the crowd. Who wouldn't love making pretty tapes in a variety of sizes and widths.
The blog is called "Just something I made." Click here to visit the cute blog. I love the fact Cathe, the blog creator offers sources to purchase the items needed to make your own pretty, pretty tapes.
The tapes would be a fun winter craft project, I think.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Vintage Christmas Aprons

I absolutely love this! If you're fortunate to have a vintage Christmas apron collection then why the heck wouldn't you show them off? Honestly, I see no logical reason why you would NOT!

How Calico Cute is this? Love the red and white. Two of my favorite colors when decorating. The gingham wall covering is to die for! It could have been too much, but the creator of this darling Calico kitchen has perfected the look with just the right amount of white trims, counters and appliances, Perfect, with a capital P,  I say! New decorating term, "Cutie Patootie!"

Happy Christmas!

Warmly,

Jill McDowell 00

Nosegay oh Nosegay where can you be?

A Calico favor to ask my readers... Have you seen this nosegay fabric? I purchased a few yards at a local fabric store a couple of years ago and have been on the search for the posy textile ever since!
I've searched high and low online but no luck finding this pattern.

The nosegay was the perfect choice for these handmade Calico's. Love mixing the blossoms with gingham.

The search continues...

Warmly

Jill 00

♥ Soulful Gift

My friend Julie gave me this hand painted vintage jar for Christmas a couple of years ago. The jar was filled with an array of old ric-rac, trims and baubles and such. It was a joy to go through the jar exploring what its contents were.

I now store vintage notions and millinery flowers in the darling bluebird jar. I proudly perched her upon a shelf in the studio. Every time I look at the jar a smile appears on my face. What a thoughtful gift my friend gave to me.

Running some idees before you...

A vintage glass jar filled with baubles and bows, such a delightful soulful idee to give as a gift during the holiday season.

Warmly,

Jill 00