FRILLS, FROCKS & FANCIES

Winter Forest in Maine

MAINE

GRETTA FLOUNCE SKIRT AVAILABLE ON ETSY: HERE

Is it any wonder why animals love the winter forest?

It's quiet and warm when it's storming out there

 

Some pass the winter in a torpid state

Others become more vigorous

 

 Way inside the forest,

one can hear...

 

a tiny bird singing,

a twig creaking in the wind,

sounds of slumber.

Snowflakes, snowdrops, snowfall,

snowdrifts, and snowbanks are bountiful

Trees with their branches ice covered

 

Streams flowing smoothly and uninterrupted

Nature's way of keeping all intact...

 by Sharon Nyberg. 

Hmmm now, what to do?

Looks quite cold out there...

Memories of summer a distant past...

SUSANNAH DASHWOOD

Verity Hope Dress AVAILABLE ON ETSY: HERE

One last SWISH...

... SWISH ... SWISH...

 

And then retire to bed....

 

With a nice cup of tea...

Visit:

SUSANNAH DASHWOOD 

malphi.etsy.com  

 

Boots an' all...

I don't know what I would do without my wellie boots and spotted these rather wonderful rustic looking racks...just what I need!

This lovely cast iron rack can be found at Dibor a lovely website selling French style for the home. The rack is currently £89.00 and measures 64x76x34 cm.

 

But I'm rather loving their Wellie boot bags too.  They're made from tough durable jute cotton and priced at a much less painful £19.95.

 

This is a rather nice rustic wooden boot jack from greenfingers.com Made from pinewood and priced at an even better £12.71.  Strange price but I suppose that's because of the recent drop in VAT.  Anyway I rather like this one because of its originality and those bristles would come in very handy after a muddy walk along the river.

Queen of Wellie boots in my eyes is Ilse Jacobsen from Norway.  Her range is just to die for.  You could wear these boots in the town or country and they'd be just perfect.

 

There are so many colours to choose from (I particularly liked the brown from last season) but have a look at these aqua ones!

 
Rather scrumptious indeed!!

Mohair Crochet Shawl....

Here's an idea for a quick but highly rewarding project using a mohair shawl...

I first gathered a whole bundle of mohair and cotton crochet flowers, berries and leaves...if you don't crochet you can cheat like me and buy them ready made...

I always prefer toned down colours so tea staining is ideal for the job....simply make up a brew and throw the whole lot in!

Even if you don't want to do anything more with them at this stage...it's worth dunking them if only just to see them floating around prettily!  Easily pleased me!

After leaving them out to dry naturally...

so they stay nice and fluffed up...

it's time for the really fun part!  I don't like too much of a symmetrical design, I prefer a more whimsical look so arranged the flowers out in that manner.  I like the mixture of mohair flowers with the cotton cherries but avoided using sequins.  (A) they would get lost in the mohair and (B) think it would make it look more factory made somehow.

I tried to use a variety of sizes with the flowers to the whimsical appeal.

After tacking them initially in place I then secured them properly with needle and thread...Voila!