Giveaway!

I have been thinking of doing a giveaway for a while and what better time to do it than in my birthday week! 

The prize is a copy of Sew Pretty Homestyle by Tilda and a copy of Stitch! by Cath Kidston. I love both of these books! There are gorgeous photographs in each and just the most adorable projects to try. 

I have both books myself in my craft book collection so I am thrilled to be able to offer two brand new copies  to the winner of this giveaway. 

Sew Pretty Homestyle contains over 35 irresistible projects to fall in love with. There are projects for each room  including the kitchen, bathroom, children's bedrooms and the garden. This book also covers all the basic skills that you will need to complete the projects and the instructions are easy to follow. 

Some of the projects are;

slippers

table mats

pin cushions

fabric boxes

make-up bag

sleeping masks

teddy bears

and many more!

Stitch! contains 30 exclusive Cath Kidston designs for simple needlepoint and cross stitch projects. The photographs are lovely - really bright and cheery. The projects have clear instructions and are so sweet and instantly recognisable as Cath Kidston. 

Projects include;

a tea cosy 

a stripe rug

a spot door stop

various cushion designs

various bag designs

and other interesting projects!

Both books are filled with inspiration and there really is something for everyone among all the projects included.

Ways to enter the giveaway

1, Become a follower and leave a comment. (Existing followers just leave a comment!)

2, Blog about this giveaway

3, Tweet about this giveaway

This means that each person can enter 3 times! Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  This blog is open to people worldwide. I will draw the winner on 12th June 2011 and will put up a post stating the winner's name.

This giveaway is open from 30th May 2011 to 11th June 2011!

Blessings, 

Jenny

p.s. Good Luck!

Any Questions?

I have had a few questions sent to me so I thought I would do a post of my answers. So, before I write the post, does anyone have any questions you want me to answer? As random as you like! I know that the blog is pretty random anyway!

If you do have any questions please email them to

home_keeping_hearts@yahoo.co.uk 

and I will try to answer all of them!

Blessings, 

Jenny

Today in the Garden - 27.05.11

I love taking photographs! Today I (finally!) finished my coursework so I actually had enough time to just wander around the garden and take photographs. Everywhere I go I see opportunities for pretty photographs.    It really has changed how I look at the world around me. I seem to notice more details now. 

Today's sky - a little cloudy and grey! It has been quite cool and drizzly but I am hoping for good weather for the Bank Holiday weekend as I want to get out and garden. 

Even if it does decide to rain all weekend I will still have plenty to do.  I have a cushion to cross stitch as a gift as well as quite a few cards to make and I want to spend some time on the Beautiful in God's Eyes book study. 

When daisies pied, and violets blue, 

And lady-smocks all silver-white,

And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue, 

Do paint the meadows with delight. 

Shakespeare.

I love this rose! This is one of the three new roses that were planted in the garden this year. We had an awful time with snow and frost so I was so delighted to see that the roses survived and have such beautiful blooms.  

I like to experiment with angles and perspectives when I take photographs. In this one I was kneeling and it felt like I was a tiny person in a forest of flowers! I like the mix of colours in the photograph. There are granny's bonnets, fox gloves and a rose in this one. I think the fox gloves are so pretty with their pink hue and dappled insides. Love the English country garden style even though my garden is .... well .... a little wilder than that!

Again the merry month o' May

Has made our hills and valleys gay;

The birds rejoice in leafy bowers,

The bees hum round the breathing flowers. 

Burns

Blessings,

Jenny

Proverbs 3 : 5 - 6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3 : 5 - 6

Blessings, 

Jenny

Little Moments of Peace.

The sun is slowly setting here and there is just the slightest chill to the air. I can here the breeze in the trees, birds singing and the distant sound of church bells. It is one of those moments when everything is still. It is like the whole world has slowed down! I love to just sit and enjoy the peace and the feeling that my mind is settled rather than thinking of a hundred things at once.

I keep running in and out as the clouds change. I love to photograph the sky! The clouds are scurrying across the sky and changing colour. Growing darker and darker with their edges tinged with gold.

It is like the world has sighed and peacefulness reigns.

Blessings,

Jenny

Corinthians 2 : 9

No eye has seen nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those that love Him. 

Corinthians 2 : 9

Blessings, 

Jenny

Righteous.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 

Proverbs 4 : 18

Blessings, 

Jenny

Sun and Shower.

I read this today and it really spoke to me.

A little flower delayed it's petals to unfold;

It feared the rain, the cold.

In vain the sun came to caress the rose,

It longed, yet did not dare, its petals to unclose.

"The other flowers," it sighs, "are all so fresh, so cool,
Rich-hued and beautiful;
Their breaths are fragrant, their sweet faces glad,
And I, as is my life, am perfumeless and sad."

An angel came one night to whisper to the rose,
"My child, thy heart unclose,
Lift thy bowed head, smile on thy sister flowers;
God who the sunshine sends, He sends as well the showers."

When next the sun appears the flowers to embrace,
The rose lifts it's tear-dewed face;
Unfolds it's petals to His ardent kiss,
And blushing, smiles to find how fair a world is this.

The angel comes again to smile upon the rose,
Whose cheek now redly glows;
"Good-night, my child, blow bravely little flower,
Who would the sunshine share, must share as well the shower."

L Deas

Blessings, 

Jenny

Varieties - One

True Friendship - True friendship is like sound health: the value of it is seldom known till it is lost. 

In Faith - Sow good seed even on an unworthy soil, for it will not be lost wherever it is sown. 

Prudent Silence - When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defence strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply. 

Hope and Despair - Hope thinks nothing difficult; despair tells us that every difficulty is insurmountable - Watts.

Reading and Reflecting - She who loves to read, and knows how to reflect, has laid by a perpetual feast for her old age. 

A Good Character - A good character, when established, should not be rested in as an end, but only employed as a means of doing still farther good - Atterbury. 

Light in Darkness - There is in every woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity - Iriving. 

Humility - Humility is a flower that prospers most when planted on the rich soil of a noble and great mind. 

Love Works Wonders - Love changes itself into what it loves - Morin. 

This little phrases are taken from the Girl's Own Annual from 1885 - I just love these short, sweet pieces of wisdom!

Blessings,


Jenny 

Delight.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. 

Psalm 34 : 4 - 7

Blessings, 

Jenny

Little Projects.

I always like to have a plan - something I am working towards - at all times! I have been busy these past few months with a work course as I am in the middle of my final assignment. The deadline is fast approaching and, while that is a really scary thought, I am excited about life beyond this course! I have missed having time to read books and to keep up with all the lovely blogs that I follow. All the time I will have! I don't want to waste it - I want to learn new skills, improve myself and, most importantly, develop my relationship with God. 

One step towards this is a book study that I am excited to be a part of. Good Morning Girls is running a Summer reading programme. It sounds wonderful - plus I think the accountability of being in a group will be a really good thing. I am so grateful for the opportunity given by Good Morning Girls. The group that I am in will be reading Beautiful in God's Eyes by Elizabeth George. I have read a lot of positive things about this book! Sign ups continue until 15th May and I would truly recommend it to anyone!

I believe that every thing happens for a reason - that sometimes when I read something in a book or on a blog that I so need to hear right that moment it is meant to happen! There are no accidents but I have a choice whether I listen or not. 

I am still practising with my camera! I really enjoy taking photographs and having a record of things that I have seen and being creative with colours and angles. So much fun even though I don't really have any skill! 

Blessings, 

Jenny

Clouds.

I love gazing at the sky! Watching the white clouds dance across the bright blue sky forming all sorts of interesting shapes as it does so. The sky is so changeable and beautiful! From the brilliant sunrise and the dark, tempestuous storm clouds to the sight of lightening rolling through the clouds. 

See yonder little cloud, that, borne aloft 

So tenderly by the wind, floats fast away. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

O it is pleasant, with a heart at ease,

Just after sunset, or by moonlight skies, 

To make the shifting clouds be what you please. 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

It is always a good thing to look up rather than down! I remember laying and watching clouds sometimes for hours and seeing rabbits and angels form and then merge into another shape. It was so calming! Sometimes it feels like life is too busy for such simple pleasures - a sad loss I think. 

Blessings, 

Jenny

Springtime.

The lilac tree is in full bloom and smells so sweet! The tree doesn't have as many blooms on it as last year but it is still beautiful. The leaves are so glossy and shine in the sun.

First rose of the year! I love roses - there are some new ones in the garden that were only planted last year so I am excited to see if they bloom this year. There are a couple of buds on each of them so I am feeling hopeful. 

An iris surrounded by forget-me-nots. There is an abundance of forget-me-nots this year! Whole swathes of the garden appear to be carpeted in them. 

One of my favourite Springtime poems is Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth. Given how  lovely the weather is, especially viewing the sunshine through white, lacy curtains, I felt it was the ideal day to post it. 

I heard a thousand blended notes

While in a grove I sat reclined;

In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts,

Bring sad thoughts to mind. 

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul that through me ran

And much it grieved my heart to think

What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts in that green bower

The periwinkle trailed it's wreaths,

And tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure,

But the least motion which they made,

It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan

To catch the breezy air

And I must think, do all I can,

That there was pleasure there. 

If this belief from Heaven be sent,

If such be Nature's holy plan

Have I not reason to lament

What man has made of man?

W. Wordsworth

I can just imagine the branches of the silver birch trying to catch the breeze!

Blessings, 

Jenny