I haven't taken any photos of the shower room or dining room yet. The 'heavy work' of the shower room was finished on Thursday morning, so now it needs painting and accessorising. I'd rather show photos once everything has been done, same with the dining room. It must seem like it's taking a long time, but it's just a case of buying things when the money is there. Which unfortunately isn't at the moment! Today I finally got around to doing something that's been on my 'to do' list for a while.
The bench in the back garden is a lovely place to sit during summer. In the middle of the day it's in direct sunlight, so best avoided, but early morning and late afternoon it's the perfect place to sit and enjoy the breeze and dappled sunshine.
I saw this idea somewhere last year, and made up my mind to do the same. Sheer 'curtains' attached to the top of the bench.
I made very basic curtains. The organza that I used as a tablecloth at Christmas has done nothing more than sit in a plastic bag in a cupboard since then. I took it out (looking very scrunched), sliced it down the centre lengthways, then hemmed the sides, and made a simple wide hem at the top, so I could slide it over net curtain wire. The wire is attached to the frame of the bench by eye hooks. The whole thing took about half an hour to do.
This photo is completey rubbish. The sun was shining (it's clouded over now, and rain is due any minute),so it makes the crumpled organza look like plastic! But you get the idea.
It looks better in real life I promise. With rain about to fall, I've had to take it down. At least it's all ready when the sunny weather kicks in properly.When the fabric is hanging up for while, the creases will drop out a bit. I'm even thinking about getting more sheer fabric - maybe something with a pattern - and adding to it, so I have a few layers.
Sheer fabric billowing in the breeze on a hot day makes me feel cooler for some reason.
It looks so pretty when you are sitting on the bench, looking at the garden through a haze of misty fabric.
I always add flowers to the bench in the summer months. I love flower arrangements in the garden, as well as in the house, and I use flowers and foliage from around the garden. The lilacs are gorgeous. I never have them in the house. I've been brought up to think of them as unlucky, and a flower to never have inside. No matter how hard I try to poo poo this superstition, I can't bring myself to ignore it and take them in. So I make do with having them in vases in the garden, on the table and on the bench.
The dark, dark tulips are so beautiful. I thought they looked so pretty against the vibrant purple of the lilac.
This is the second year running that I've treated myself to a new frock from [Joules]. I love their floral dresses. This is my latest one...
.. I haven't worn it yet as it's been absolutely freezing in England lately, we even have frost in the mornings.I can just see myself on a sunny morning, wearing this dress, drinking tea, reading a magazine, sitting on the bench as the light breeze dances with the curtains, and Gorgeous Girl plays happily in the garden. (Though it's far more likely I'll be spilling tea down the front of it, as I try to avoid a wasp, moan about how hot it is, and have Gorgeous Girl bellowing 'MUUUUUUUUMMY, I want my paddling pool', then turn red in the face as I huff and puff to blow it up, only for her to decide she wants to go inside instead!)