mint flowers & mint willow

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Dove Cottage Posy, all from my garden.

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I like my posies a bit wild and rambling like my garden. (By the way – my idea of rambling is on the verge of out of control)

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In the posy is Princess de Monaco Roses, Mt Shasta Roses, Mothers Love Roses, Plumbago, Lime Verbena, Granny Smith Apple Tree, and Mint. The mint in my garden is very special. Not only is it delicious and used often for Mojitos and Smoothies and Flower posies, but it came from a very special place. The original mint plant grew in my Nana’s garden. My Nana is my Mum’s Mum’s Mum. My Grandma gave me a cutting of the mint. My Grandma is my Mum’s Mum (Nana’s daughter – following?). Sadly both these amazing ladies have passed on. So this mint is not only a delight to enjoy but also a lovely connection to the great ladies in my family. And this posy of flowers is for my mum, hence the Mothers Love Rose inclusion too. Have you ever seen a more delicate shade of pink in a rose? It is sublime!

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This posy had a scent to knock your socks off. The mint, the lime verbena and the roses – sweet and fresh. I love the flowering tips of the mint and verbena too – especially the fluffy mint ones, they are quite unusual I think. I must admit, the posy was put together in about 5 minutes flat, sorry mum! Just one of those snap decisions as I saw the roses in the morning and knew the rain of the day would ruin them by the time I got home from work. I also new that one of my favourite blogs Floret, is doing a project called The Seasonal Bouquet Project. This is where the lovely Erin (from Floret) and Jennie (from Love ‘n Fresh, another sweet flower blog) are posting pictures of AMAZING bouquets each week. You can add you own bouquet of flowers to a link and join along, but all the ingredients from your bouquet must be sourced within 25 miles from your home. Well I think all mine were within 25 steps from my front door so I decided to join in.

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And remember these hearts from my last post? Well they were part of a special little order I’ve sent off to a sweetly named shop called ‘Mint Willow Studio‘. I’m super excited about this new part of the adventure for ‘bear loves dove’ and can’t wait to see where it leads me. I only wish I didn’t live so far away from the shop so I could go visit it for real! In the meantime a virtual visit will have to do.

Hope you find some minty fresh goodness and pretty floral beauty in your day today!

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sprinkling hearts

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Aqua Splice Heart Garland
100% Organic Cotton (Aqua), 100% Cotton (White). Crochet.

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Did I mention I can’t stop making hearts?

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Blue Willow Heart Garland
40% Alpaca, 40% Merino Wool, 20% Silk. Crochet.

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I’ve made peace with my heart making… literally… making hearts is a happy, satisfying, low commitment, crafty little project that I can pick up anytime I have a spare moment. The hearts themselves don’t take too long at all… Stringing them together doesn’t take too long either. Blocking them so they sit flat takes a little time and a lot of pins. Photographing them takes a little time… So a garland takes some time… But a Heart? It only takes a moment.

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Did I mention that I made my very first sale in my Etsy Shop? Probably rather uncool to be as excited as I am about it… but I am… very excited! I couldn’t think of a sweeter more deserving first customer too… So I hooked up a Teeny Heart Garland to gift with the blanket… in celebration of this exciting occasion.

The shop has a few little heart garlands in it now… in case you’d like to take a look… or not… ’tis fine… maybe hearts aren’t your thing? They are my thing… Just in case you didn’t know… but I’m sure you do. Hearts are precious, delicate and robust all at once… fragile yet tough… to be treasured… honoured… respected… guided… followed… protected… and strung together on a garland and sprinkled around the home… At least that’s what my heart says!

Hope your heart sprinkles a little happiness in your day today.

feelin’ minty


Spearmint WIP – I thought I would start showing some work in progress – it’s not all finished glory! Currently enjoying my holidays knitting up a little baby blanket in 100% organic cotton – colour spearmint. Most appropriately knitted up whilst enjoying my mint tea in my minty coloured tea cup. This yarn is possibly the softest cotton I’ve ever used. It’s smooth, chunky and feels so soft and luxurious.


Possibly the other reason for my 2nd post in one day – I can stop playing with my new toy. Picked it up yesterday and just want to snap everything. Lucky little white dove hey?

cotton love

lime splice blankie
lime; 100% organic cotton, cream; 100% cotton, knit and crochet

detail of lime splice blankie


granny hugs blankie
100% cotton, crochet


rose blossom cushion
note birdy cameo to the right of the cushion!
100% cotton, crochet


babybells rattle
100% cotton – crochet, brass ring, bells