Friday 9 March 2012

March, a month of many weathers

I love books and I have a great fondness for books from my childhood. As a child I was an avid Enid Blyton reader and I enjoyed everything she wrote from fiction to non fiction. I still have a few of my of my old books which I treasure. A few years ago my Hb bought me a wonderful reprint of a book she wrote in 1944. At first I was unsure about having a reprint but then decided that it would be a fantastic way of owning this gorgeous book. It is called Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book.
The illustrations are by Noel Hopking, one of my favourite illustrators of EBs work. It is such a sweet book, quite old fashioned in places but also very informative of what to find in the English countryside throughout the year. There are also two "walks" for each month of the year where 3  children, John, Pat and Janet,  take a walk and describe their adventures. The first walk in March talks about a month of many weathers and how true this is. The stories are such great fun to read.





Our March did not come in "like a lion, roaring and bellowing". We had a warm sunny start and despite the last few days being quite chilly and windy the sunshine is getting some warmth through. We have had some gorgeous sunny days but also some cold, chilly days. Here in the South we have also had some very welcome rain. We are nearly at draught status with our 2 very dry winters.


The illustrations are wonderful. I shall come back to my book during the year and share some more of them with you.







I had a little walk around and found
there are plenty of my dear daffodils unfurling everywhere.















Buds are appearing on my magnolia in the garden.

















  I have even been able to enjoy a cup of tea sitting on my patio. Perfect!








The 2nd "walk in March" from my book is called "Marching into spring".
We are certainly at the cusp of the change into spring here...and it is most welcome. One of the thing I am most looking forward to is getting back to working here
I have not been able to work out in my studio since just before Christmas as it was just too cold and my little heater could not cope with warming it up enough. I can't wait! I have been crafting indoors and it will be so nice not to have to clear everything away, I will be able to leave my projects out in my Studio.

So what is today's card...well I though I wanted something bright and cheerful so I wanted to show you a card I made recently.
I used another of the sweet Penny Black Betsy Bluebell images which I coloured with my Promarkers and highlighted with my Prismacolor pencils.




Here she is in close up. I used some pretty pink backing papers and added a pink polka dot ribbon and some mulberry paper flowers which I add some glitter glue to make them sparkle.










I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
I love Promarkers #107 Ribbons and Bows
Papertake weekly challenge Anything goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink Pink and Girlie
Party Time Tuesdays Riches at the end of the rainbow #58 there are lots of riches on my cards...ribbon, pearls, glittered flowers and even a little "diamond" on top of the parcel.
Dream Valley Mother's Day/Female themed creation #27
Simon Says Stamp Mother's day/Special Girl Card
Divas By Design Favourite things #25 my favourite "thing" I used on my card are the lush mulberry paper roses which I glitzed up with glitter glue.

It's the weekend again and the forecast is looking good for another mild one. Yesterday was glorious but today the dullness is back so it will be great to see the sun peeping through again. Enjoy your March walks (or should I say marches ;0) and seeing everything bursting into life again, just like in my Nature Lover's book.

Bye for now,

Jane x

42 comments:

  1. Hi Jane, such a pretty image and a lovely card.

    Love your flowers and I'm fairly fond of them as well!! Great papers as well.

    Thanks for joining in with us at Divas by Design this week.

    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Sarah, I think flowers real or not are always wonderful. Glad you love them too.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Jane
    That book looks so delightful and a real treasure. I am fond of that style book and illustrations also. Your March walks were such fun to see and the signs of Spring and new birth. Wonderful time of year.
    Love your sweet and bright card, I bet it will be so great to be in your studio again. It looks so welcoming!
    xoRobin❤

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Robin it really is such a sweet book and so old fashioned. March is a great time of year..spring is right around the corner. Enjoy your weekend,
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a lovely little book, the front cover is beautifully illustrated! :)
    Another great card Jane, all the best in the challenge!
    It poured here today but the next few days are looking promising.
    Happy weekend,
    Vivienne x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning Vivienne it looks promising here the sun is trying to peep through. Enjoy your weekend hope you are able to get out in your garden .
      Jane x

      Delete
  6. It looks like a beautiful book, and since it's a reprint, you won't have any fears sharing it with your grandchildren when you get grandchildren. Lovely photos and card as always!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was my thoughts Linda as originals are usually quite fragile. This book is read and enjoyed and hopefully shared with future generations!
      Jane x

      Delete
  7. Hi Jane! I love your book and I was reading Enid Blyton's books as a child! They were so exiting!I happy to hear that you have had nice weather but as you said we had also yesterday glorious day and today back to dullness. Spring is not yet here.
    Enjoy your weekend! Hugs to Billy!
    x Teje

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Her books were always fun weren't they Teje! We really are on the cusp of spring....not quite there. Enjoy your lovely sunshine and hugs to all your sweet pets.
      Jane x

      Delete
  8. very cute card, jane! love all the riches on your card... the pearls and the cute little rhinestone at the top. :) thanks for playing with us this week at party time tuesdays!

    ~cely
    ptt dt member

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are lots of riches to be found on there Ces! Thanks for visiting.
      Jane x

      Delete
  9. Such a cute image which is coloured beautifully. The layers and detail are gorgeous. Love the nestie shape. Thanks for joining us at Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge this fortnight.
    Diane xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Diane, I have had that nestie shape in my stash for ages, I really like it too, I do like a few layers on my cards!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Jane. Lovely card. Thanks for joining us at I ♥ Promarkers.
    Tine :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your card is so sweet and definitely has plenty of riches which are just perfect for our End of the Rainbow Challenge. Thanks so much for joining us at Party Time Tuesdays this week.

    Danie - PTT Design Team

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Jane, we're having the same Spring peeking it's nose out of the bushes.. but my daffs are not in bloom quite yet although there are lots of buds standing tall! I adore that card.. so cute! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awww what a cutie! Looks like you've had a lovely spring day there! Thanks for playing along with us at Dream Valley Challenges.
    Lynne :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello dear Jane,

    It's mine-mine-mine-all-mine! The card! It's mine! (Not that I would want to brag or anything, dear ladies, but it's MINE) and it's the most beautiful b-day card ever! Thank you so much dear!

    And that spring around yours, oh boy! We've had two days of constant snow, and even my Hb says it just makes the older snow to melt quicker I'm a bit devastated... But after seen your garden tea-moment I have my faith again: it'll get here too!

    Have a wonderful new week soon, dear friend!

    Yours,
    Mia

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks Dani I am glad you liked my treasure!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Teresa, it is a really lovely springly day here..I am heading out to the garden. I hope the sun in shining over with you too. Enjoy your Sunday,
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  18. So interesting to see this book, I love the cover illustration with the bird and berries. It's wonderful to find childhood books again,isn't it, so nostalgic. Love the 'month of many weathers' saying too....so true!
    Your little card is very sweet, Jane.
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Lynn, thanks so much for your visit.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi my dear Mia,
    I am so glad you loved you birthday card..it was made with love just for you in all it's pinkness! It's been glorious here today, nearly 17c in the garden and Billy has just loved it. Sending warm sunshine your way to melt that snow.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really love this book Helen, it evokes so many childhood memories for me. The saying about March is so true...and today has been wonderful. Enjoy the week coming, the weather is looking lovely and mild again.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  22. I always love your pictures and narrating Jane...I feel like I'm there with you :-D I would LOVE to be crafting with you in your craft studio that's for sure...it looks a dream :-D Your card a cutey...fab colouring, perfect pp and I love the dusting of glitter on the flowers. Thanks for joining in our Pink & Girly Challenge at LCI this fortnight xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. That's such a kind compliment Kerry thanks so much. My day off this week is Thursday and we are forecast 17c - definitely studio weather. If we had a time transporter you could beam down and join me for a craft session - that would be a hoot ;-) Have a great week
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Really cute card and such a fab image! Thanks for joining us at LCI this fortnight...

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a fabulous post! Thanks for taking me on a little journey! And your card is super cute!! LOOOOVE this image! Thanks so much for joining us at Papertake Weekly and good luck!
    hugs, Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Catherine, thanks for your visit,
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit here Sharon, please come again!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  28. Gorgeous card Jane, so pretty and the image is adorable.
    Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp
    hugs Mandy xx

    ReplyDelete
  29. This is so cute, I love the red touches on your card and the image is a real cutie, love it :D Thank you for joining us at I ♥ Promarkers this week and good luck xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dora she is a sweet stamp to colour up.
      Jane x

      Delete
  30. really sweet card love the image thanks so much for joining us at dream valley this week
    hugs sara x x

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for your visit Sara
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lovely book and pictures from your walk (and of course, the tea on the patio is just wonderful)! Such a delightful card!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks Lori, it was tea on the patio when I got in this afternoon too...bliss!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  34. Our winter was almost snowless and our March has been more like April. Yesterday was perfectly clear and in the 70's. The remainder of the week is also looking quite mild. It's odd weather, but no one seems to be complaining except maybe the ski areas.

    Hopefully you'll be in your studio soon. My summer studio is my screened-in porch that faces the back yard. On this mild day, my daughter was doing an art project out there when I got home from work.

    Thanks for sharing your lovely book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jane the weather seems quite mixed up all around the world. The one thing we desperately need here in SE England is rain. We have a hosepipe ban starting in April as stocks are so low. Enjoy the many weathers of March!
      Jane x

      Delete

Thanks so much for leaving a comment; I really enjoy reading every single one of them.

To comply with the new Data Protection legislation (GDPR) May 2018 I wish to state that any comments left here are with your consent that your name & comment are visible to anyone who visits my blog and that you accept that your personal information is being used for that specific purpose.

Jane x