The Hedgerow Design

Bees and Hedgerow Hanging Plaque

A customer was thinking of getting a hanging plaque from me, but couldn't make up her mind about a design. A few conversations later, and the idea of a hedgerow was given to me, as it was the name of her house. I originally came up with a design with dog roses, rosehips and blackberries, and made that as a general hanging plaque because I liked the idea of that design with my trademark bees included. That design morphed into a conifer, holly and blackthorn design to match the hedges around the house. I then made another roses version with the sloe berries and flowers of the blackthorn (currently available in my Etsy shop). I can see this hedgerow idea being quite a fruitful one. Customers do give me some great design inspiration.

Old English Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Some design ideas come from customers asking for tweeks. This time a customer asked for the Canal Folk Roses Design (left), but with red and pink roses (middle) . I thought that created a really different feel to the design so I expanded on it and came up with the Old English Rose design (right). It's got a lovely cottage feel to it, but it's also quite modern with the blousy flowers that are quite on trend at the moment.

Mosaic Garden Ball Sphere Decoration Ornaments

Mosaic Garden Ball Sphere Decoration Ornaments

I've made a couple of new garden ball decorations using some bird bath designs. The first is a Canal Folk Roses one which is a lovely bright design to add colour to a border. The other ball is the Daisy Bee and has a design with a combination of bird bath motifs on it, including daisies in 2 sizes, a bee, and mini butterflies. Another one that would look great in a container, or on a patio as part of a pot display.

Roses Mosaic Topiary Standard Tree Garden Plaque

The idea and the reality. I've had this idea for a while, to make some sort of mosaic topiary, and I've finally managed to try it out and I think it's worked out quite well. Very close to how I visualised it and first made a graphic to explain it on Facebook for feedback. The mosaic plaque is designed to be hung on a wall or fence, then you get to be the designer after that, making a unique display by adding your own choice of pot, filled with whatever plants and flowers you choose, and then you link the pot and plaque with a stem of your choice (I've used a cut down bamboo cane). No pests, no diseases, no pruning, and permanent full bloom roses, what's not to like?

China Blue Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

China Blue Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

I'm on a bit of a roll using the rose in a new design for this year. After the Pink Roses, this is the China Blue Roses. The idea behind this version was to have the roses in blue like they are a pattern on china, then the white background is a nod to the china being broken, as if the design is made out of pieces of blue and white china. I used grey grout on this one so it tied in the white a bit, and because it reminded me of the rough edges you get on some of the stoneware blue and white plates. Another version of this design is in progress, it's proving to be very adaptable. Keep an eye on my Facebook page for when I will be adding any of these designs to my website, or you can message me there to request any of the designs as a made to order too.

Roses Mosaic Bird Bath

Pink Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

After making a hanging heart with this new design on, I thought it would work well in a bird bath too. And it did. A few people are saying this design has a Mackintosh feel about it. I think that's the black grout I've used this time because the tiles are quite pale in colour so would get a bit lost in the usual grey I use. So, after the heart and bird bath in pink roses, I think I can feel a different colour version coming next. I love the new year. I think it's when the Xmas rush of making lots of current designs is over, and I finally get a chance to think straight, then all the new ideas I had half thought out when I was in a making frenzy come flooding out. Follow me over on Facebook to see these new ideas taking shape and get notification when they are added to my website too.

Pink Roses Hanging Heart Garden Decoration

Pink Roses Hanging Heart Garden Decoration

The first new design of 2015 from me, the Pink Roses Hanging Heart Garden Decoration. I had designed the rose and used it in a bird bath a few months ago, and I fancied using it to create a fabric look on a hanging heart. I used some very delicate iridescent and plain pastel pink tiles for the roses, and used fresh greens for the leaves to give a nice bright background. It's worked really well with the black grout popping the colours out. So 2015 has started well with this design, which I like so much I am going to use it in a bird bath, and I'm going to try more colourways of it too. You can either follow me on Facebook to see these new designs take shape and find out when they get listed on my website, or you can follow this blog.

Rambling Rose and Seed Heads Bird Boxes

Rambling Rose Bird Box

Seed Heads Bird Box

These two bird boxes have been hand painted with a slight distressed finish using layers of paint. Then both have had wire decoration applied to finish them. The first one has wire Rambling Roses that are hand painted pink and copper, and includes wire hearts on both sides of the box. The second box has wire flower Seed Heads all around the sides and front. Both are practical for the birds, and both are very pretty for your garden.

Cream Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Cream Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Another new design. Cream Roses. This time I wanted to add to the flower bird baths that I've got. At the moment I've only got daisies, so I thought I'd add some roses. I also wanted a light, airy feel to the design, so I used cream for the roses, and two light shades of jade green for the leaves and background. The rest of the design is finished with pastel aqua blue which has the feeling of a summer sky. It's a lovely shabby chic looking bird bath that would look great in a border, or used as a feature ornament.

Nature for You

Rose Garden Bag Charm

Beautiful Berries Bag Charm

Riot of Roses Bag Charm

I've opened a new section on my website called Nature for You. I'm going to use it to create nature and wildlife inspired items that could be given as gifts to wildife, or garden lovers, or as a gift to yourself. The first items added are three bag charms that were inspired by the colours of the beads used.

Folksy Handmade - Practical Valentine Roses



Retro Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath



I had to do a Valentine Folksy Friday collection sometime, so I'm doing it this week so the ideas are there, ready for the January payday (that's been a long time coming, huh).

If I'm honest, I don't really do Valentine's Day. My other half is quite pleased. It means he doesn't have to fork out on inflated priced flowers. I've never really gone in for having bunches of flowers given to me. I'd rather have a plant (which will be cheaper than a bunch of flowers), or even a packet of seeds. Then I can grow the flowers for myself, a load more than a bunch worth too. That's much more practical. Like my Retro Roses Mosaic Bird Bath. You're giving roses, so there's the romantic bit, yet you're also giving a useful wildlife present that'll last for years too, the practical bit.





Retro Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath







So, there's the theme of this week's Folksy Friday. It's Roses for Valentine's Day. But, it's roses with a use, not roses that will wither within a week.

All the items picked you can either use or wear and have a rose design, a rose theme, or are rose coloured. Plus there are a few DIY kits too. A perfect gift for the Valentine that loves crafting. See the other ideas here -

*** Folksy Handmade - Practical Valentine Roses ***

(P.S. This is clearly a list of gifts for females, I will be looking into male gifts next week.)

Retro Roses

Retro Roses Mosaic Bird Bath



Retro Roses Mosaic Bird Bath



This is my latest bird bath design, it's called Retro Roses. It's another one that's been inspired by vintage fabric. This time it's 50's style fabric. Pale pink roses, on a jet black background. The spaces are filled with tiny rosebuds, with apple green leaves. The jet black tiles are slightly shiney so they set off the matt pink roses really well.