Sunday 20 March 2011

♥♥♥ My Spring Daughter ♥♥♥

Hello and welcome to the official start of spring, or as it is also known, the vernal equinox. This is so called as the day and night are roughly equal, 12 hours each. It is the beginning of the wonderful increased hours of daylight and continues right up until the longest day in June. After the harshest, longest winter I can remember for many years it is sooooo welcome.

 I do love this time of year as there is a promise of change in nature. Birds start nesting, plants budding and the sun shows real warmth in its rays. I will be able to get out in my beloved little garden again. In Latin vernal=spring, equinox=equal night. (My dear Hb is a fountain of all things Latin, he studied Latin at school and is still really good at translating). It is always amusing on our holidays in Italy as I can speak a little Italian and order food etc and he translates all the inscriptions on the ancient monuments! He would be rubbish though at asking directions unless we bumped into someone 2,000 years old.

This year the exact time of the start of the vernal equinox is today, Sunday, 20th March at 7.21pm. And guess what -  this is almost the exact time of the birth of my darling daughter. She was born on 20th March 1986 at 7.25pm....I really do have a spring daughter this year.

We celebrated her birthday early with us on Thursday evening as she has been whisked off for a surprise birthday weekend by her Fiance to London...she is enjoying a 5* time and having a ball!  We had a lovely evening out with her ...eating of course..joined by her brother and his girlfriend and me and my Hb. I thought your would like to see her card I made which she will open  today.

I commissioned my talented New Yorker artist Vita to paint me one of her  "Teapot Princess" ACEOs. There is a pun here...until a couple of years ago my daughter did not drink tea or coffee. As a doctor she realised this does actually limit her socially, especially when dealing with some situations. There is nothing better that discussing something over a cup of tea. Once she started drinking it she soon became the top tea drinker in the family. I even bought her a teapot for Christmas. I love Vita's painting, it really sums up my daughter and has such a spring feel to it. I was able to match the colours too with the papers I used.


Here is a close up. I asked for an "English" rounded tea pot and a Princess with dark hair.
Also of interest my daughter's middle name is Sarah which means Princess so it is very apt indeed. Her first name, Emily means industrious and she is indeed one very industrious princess, she was born wanting to be busy and has fitted so much into her life already. Once she has finished with her card she can take off the little painting and either frame it or use it as a book mark. I love the little cup with the hearts on too.








 


This  photo shows a little more detail of the card. I used teapot and heart themed backing papers and made some interesting lacy patterns with my trusty punches.
I also bought some Mulberry paper flowers which I made into a little arrangement on the left - you can just see them here and also in the first photo.
So Happy Birthday  Milly ♥♥♥ and welcome spring; you have been missed!

spring in the park - yahoooooo!!


Bye for now,

Jane x

18 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Milly!!!! :)
    Another gorgeous card Jane, it's really, lovely to have the little painting to frame afterwards and the little flowers are so pretty.
    Do your know my children never drank tea either until they went to university!
    It is great to be in Spring and it definitely does now feel like it. There's a special moon tonight too, have to keep an eye out later for it, it's the closest it's been to the earth in almost 20 years.
    Have a brilliant Sunday Jane!
    Vivienne x

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  2. Good morning Vivienne, I think your and my children have lots of similarties don't they! I looked at the super moon last night and took some photos, I shall look again tonight.I so love the man in the moon :0)
    Have a great Sunday too,
    Jane x

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  3. Dear Jane, wow.. what a lucky daughter to have a custom made painting on her card!! And to have you finish it off so lovingly.. very sweet.

    I must ask.. is that your house!? How beautiful!!

    Hugs from Oregon, USA -- Teresa :-)

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  4. Hi Teresa - LOL no the house in the photo is the house in my favourite local park called The Grove. I wish it was though! There are some lovely buildings down there which are now offices but originally were homes for the gentry...very lovely it must have been.
    Sunny greetings from the UK,
    Jane x

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  5. Hello Jane! Happy Birthday to your spring daughter! You have made the most beautiful card and that was great idea to aks that lovely painting for it! I'm happy to see that you have spring there!
    I wish you sunny week and thank you for your sweet words! xxx Teje and Nero

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  6. Thank you Teje, yes it was a glorious 1st day of spring.How lovely for Milly's special day.
    Jane x

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  7. Happy Birthday to Milly! The card is such a sweet idea, with a little painting to keep as well as being beautifully and lovingly handmade. Your blossom pictures look wonderful too, such a gorgeous sight! Have a lovely spring week, Jane!

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  8. Happy happy happy Birthday still once to Milly! And oh what a pretty card, and this must look just like her, as the tea princess looks just like you, too, dear friend! Amazing painting!

    I am almost celebrating the LONGER day today (the difference is huge here you know ;)!) and the official turn to spring! Lovely!

    Have a great week, Jane, and soon it'll be...You know ;)

    Yours,
    Mia

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  9. Hi Helen, thank you...spring is so definately here. It's warming up nicely, enjoy the sunshine,
    Jane x

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  10. Hi Mia, the light has made so much difference, it was still light yesterday at 6.15pm and the clocks go forward next Sunday too...it feels so good.I hope your snow starts to thaw away really soon and yes....the B day cometh-LOL ;0)
    Jane x

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  11. Hi Jane, Happy Birthday to your Milly! The card is amazing. I'm glad you all had a wonderful time. That flowering tree is so pretty! I thought that was your house too. I can't imagine having to clean it!!!! And wouldn't want to. Have a super week. xoRobin❤

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  12. Tee hee Robin,it is a great building. I will take some photos of the other houses some time in and around The Grove, they are lovely and pretty old too.....one is now a wine bar but was a butcher's and dates back to the 1600s!
    Have a lovely week too,
    Jane x

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  13. I hope it was a very happy birthday! I love how you combined your talents with the painting. Lucky daughter :) Lucky you to have blossoms too. I'm just starting to get the green of the daffodils coming up. Your photo makes me feel a little closer to spring myself. Thanks!

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  14. Milly had a very happy birthday Linda and the weather was perfect for a spring birthday. I am glad I could send you some cheery spring thoughts and that you too are seeing the start of the new year in your garden.
    Jane x

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  15. The card is beautiful. We just celebrated my youngest daughter's birthday on the 17th. I love this time of year, too!

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  16. Happy Birthday to Emily! What a beautiful time of the year to be born and celebrate! I'm sure she loved the sweet card as much as we all did, out here on the blogs!
    Hope you're having a great week! :o)

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  17. Hi Bethanie happy birthday to your dear daughter too for the 17th...there are lots of lovely spring birthdays and the sun is shining today..it's due to reach 18oc...yipee!
    Jane x

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  18. Hi Michele, I do love the spring and today is a perfect example....clear blue sky,the sun is warming up,the birds are singing and SO much more daylight. Sending spring joy your way too,
    Jane x

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Jane x