Friday 6 May 2016

Sun Is Shining, Weather Is Sweet


Makes me want to drink pear cider by the gallon, cover myself in sequins and dance in a field...but I'm at work in the morning so I'll have to make do with wearing glittery trainers and pottering around the garden in the sunshine.


I haven't been to a single charity shop all week but with the weather being so gorgeous managed to get out to three car boot sales and be back early enough to spend the best part of the day trawling through the never ending pile of paperwork.


This sweet post-war wooden canister was £1 and is the ideal container for the wild bird food our feathered friends eat by the ton.


The severed arm from an unloved shop mannequin serves as a weird and wonderful lantern holder.  The fennel is going berserk already.


Visitors keep complimenting me on our Ranunculus. I'd never heard of them until I saw them on the clearance shelf at B&Q a few weeks ago. The bees love 'em. 


These broken vintage Thermos flasks make for great planters, 


As do chimney pots,


 and cracked enamel tea pots. 


One of the outbuildings at the parental home is stuffed with terracotta plant pots and bamboo canes, abandoned since the 1950s. I've braved the dead spiders and used them to plant some bulbs I bought from Poundland.


Look, Emma!  I took your advice and bought a hydrangea from the car boot and we're feeding it tea leaves.


Here's the torso belonging to the arm I used as a lantern holder. Hopefully she'll be shrouded in ivy by the end of Summer.



I couldn't resist the 1960s inflatable lilo for 50p. I cut it into triangles, stapled it to some bias binding and - perfect for the great British Summer - whipped up some waterproof bunting.



I rescued this frame from another vintage seller, it had housed a 1950s mirror but got broken and was destined for the bin. I spray painted it green thinking that it would be perfect for a trailing plant.



The disco ball was another car boot find as was the vintage garden parasol which I pimped up with some super sparkly Indian tinsel braid, a right old bargain at 50p for 10 yards.

Wearing: Vintage 1970s beach dress (Bloggers' day out in Nottingham, 2014), glittery trainers (£1, charity shop)
Have a fabulous weekend!
See you on the other side


107 comments:

  1. You done such a great job with your garden! So colorful and funky:)

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  2. Brilliant. I am loving your blog. Caz x

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  3. Brilliant. I am loving your blog. Caz x

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  4. Looking lovely. Where are all the kitties tho'?
    Have a great couple of trading days.
    Zxx

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    1. Hiding! never there when I get the camera out, little buggers! xxx

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  5. You have given me some great ideas for a kitschy garden. Can't wait until our greenhouse is up - might try festooning it with waterproof bunting.

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    1. If anyone can create a kitschy space then its you, Tami! xxx

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  6. How great your garden looks, Vix, and what a wonderful array of containers. I love how you used the mannequin's arm as a lantern holder. I never knew you should feed tea to a Hydrangea! Maybe I should try it with ours, as there's no sign of any budding blooms yet. Hope you will do well this weekend. xxx

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    1. Thanks, Ann! The hydrangea seems to be enjoying its tea - must be English! xxx

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  7. I am so glad to know you have the sun, because guess what? It is raining here, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, and about time. We have virus the size of flamingos. The sun is very well, but all the year round is a little too much and feeling the calming rain outside is heaven.
    I love the trip in your garden and how you make it into an alive part of your home. Victor and Rebecca are the gardeners, I just like looking at plants and pretty flowers, hahhahaha.
    We are planning a trip to England in August ( Victor hasn´t been home for over 3 years)so I suppose we will shoot to the mountains but keep to the flat .
    Besos from Málaga
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. I'll try and arrange for a bit of not-too-hot sunshine for you all on your return, dear Sacramento! xxx

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  8. Isn't a bit of sun fab? I want to be outside all the time. I feel like I did when I was a kid and my gran had to keep calling me to come in, except I want to stay in the garden instead of over the park!
    Love your garden so much and that torso is going to look awesome smothered in ivy. I have a pair of mannequin hands that are going in a pot with the geraniums soon! Roll on summer.
    Have a great weekend.
    Loves ya.
    xxxxxx

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    1. I asked Jon if I could take my work outside on Monday - just like we used to when we had sunny days at school! Creepy hands - can't wait to see them! xxx

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  9. wouuu, love your garden, it looks like a fabulous place to stay, relaxing, funky and original!, love all those revamped pots and how you've created a delightful corner, colorful and comfortable!
    And love your glittery sneakers!, and your dress!, fabulousness!
    besos

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    1. I can pretend I'm at a festival all year round now. xxxx

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  10. I love your garden. And there you are a 1960's flower child tending to your blooms and mannequins and disco balls. Oh Vix! You are sunshine!

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  11. beautiful garden. I hope this not too hot this weekend so I can be out in mine

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    1. Send us some of that heat, our spring sunshine has vanished! xxx

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  12. Your garden looks like an amazing place. It's like an art installation. Xx

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  13. You prove that you don't need lots of money, only imagination and work and love, to make a garden a magical place. Right on. And the glitter shoes are great power boosters.

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    1. Thanks, Melanie! I told myself the same when I was tempted by all the fancy expensive plants at the car boot last week. xxx

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  14. Isn't it nice to spend some time in the garden?

    I adore how much shade and privacy your garden seems to have. We are still waiting for the leaves to come in on our trees to provide some shade and privacy.

    I love all the quirky items you've added to your garden.

    I spent a couple hours yesterday working in the garden, it is always so much work at the beginning of the season but today it was so gorgeous outside I just had to put up the hammock and take a wonderful siesta in the sun with my pug instead. Priorities! Yes...the pug also loves the hammock.

    Have a great weekend!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. Swinging in a hammock with a pug sounds like my idea of bliss! xxx

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  15. What a lovely garden. I love how you've decorated it with repurposed items. That waterproof bunting is such a great idea. The disco ball instead of a gazing ball is too fab. The surreal arm arm holding a lantern is very Dali-esque.
    I love the divine hot pink paisley maxi with the glittery trainers.
    Ranunculus are so gorgeous, they look like they've been made of crepe & tissue. Purple & gold violas are so sweet.
    Such a beautiful post!

    Bibi xox
    https://calmlycookingcurry.blogspot.com/2016/05/mexican-polvorones-anise-cinnamon.html

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    1. Thanks, Bibi! I love showy blooms! xxx

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  16. The Puritan-types where I live would be scandalised by the unclothed mannequin in your garden and try to cover it up.

    The terracotta pots all lined up are very pretty-worth braving spiders for. You have such a beautiful garden, and I'm glad you finally got some decent weather to enjoy.

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  17. The Puritan-types where I live would be scandalised by the unclothed mannequin in your garden and try to cover it up.

    The terracotta pots all lined up are very pretty-worth braving spiders for. You have such a beautiful garden, and I'm glad you finally got some decent weather to enjoy.

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    1. Hopefully it'll deter the Jehovah's Witness from their incessant visits! xxx

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  18. I love your garden, great recycling

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  19. Ranunculus sounds like a spell from Harry Potter. Point your wand at it and yell "Ranunculus!" and you'll never forget what it is called.

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    1. Ha! You're right! Its a strange word, Vicky! xxx

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  20. I am in love with your dress AND your garden.What a lovely way to reuse all those unwanted objects. The flowers are gorgeous. I love Ranunculus. I think that they are from Turkey originally. The pansies look fabulous and all your plants are going crazy. My daffs have just come out. Mum always says that we are about 6 weeks behind you down there. What a brilliant idea to jazz up your parasol. You can never have too many sparkles. Xx

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    1. From Turkey? That's interesting! I bet they loved those few days of Summer! xxx

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  21. You have a wonderfully thrifty garden. I love kettles and terracotta for plants, and the mannequin arm lantern holder is such a brilliantly quirky idea, I love it. Can't wait to see the torso covered in ivy. Looking gorgeous, as always xx

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    1. I'm hoping the last 48 hours of rain will encourage some ivy growth! xxx

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  22. I love love love your garden! I love terra cotta planters - and that lantern holder is brilliant. Beautiful - looks like a magical place to read or be drinking a rum and coke or a cider

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  23. What lovely ways to reuse unloved or otherwise redundant items! I love your parasol, brilliant pimping!!! Plus, the use of the mannequin is super as is the frame!!!!Xx

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    1. Nothing is wasted around here, no matter how useless! xxx

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  24. P.s. chimney pots are brilliant for growing potatoes in!!!

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    1. Are they? I'm sure I have more stashed away! x

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  25. Hello Vix , good Saturday night! You are radiant, and your garden reflects your unique style, fantastic! Beautiful flowers and strong accessories, instead my terrace is currently a disaster, I console myself with the garden of my parents .. at least that! The festoons are really cute!

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    1. A plastic festoon is all your terrace needs, Serena! xxx

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  26. Your garden is looking great and I love all your different things you use to pot plants. You know me I love colourful things in the garden. Hope you get a lovely hot summer, we were still bathed in sunshine yesterday. May and still wearing summery things, its wicked.

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  27. You have my Monday night sorted. I'm going to scour my garage for abandoned pots, containers, anything that might hold dirt and create an eclectic container garden for my deck. So clever! Love the arm!Lovley to see you sporting the glitzy sneakers.

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    1. Good luck, Sam! I love re-purposing unexpected stuff. Saw a fab blog post the other day where the writer had used metal muffin trays as succulent planters, they looks amazing. xxx

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  28. I would love to sit in your garden and drink pear cider with you! The bunting, disco ball, mannequin torso, and all the other cool stuff you've added have Vixified it perfectly.

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  29. Loving the disco ball in the garden!!!

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    1. Its sparkling in the rain right now! xxx

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  30. So fun to have a visit with you. I think we would get on well!
    I love your skin exposure. My skin is too sensitive and our sun too hot to traipse about in shoestring tops. It must be lovely!
    Glad you are having sun for your lovely flowers. We have long awaited rain today, and I'm enjoying a lazy Mother's Day being served lolling about in bed. Yeah!
    xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. I'd love to meet you, JJ!
      My skin is as tough as old boots! xxx

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  31. Your garden looks lovely! I love the repurposed containers all potted up. We haven't got a mannequin's arm, but I do have a (very weathered) wooden hand seat. I think the torso will look great covered in ivy. You've inspired me to go tackle some of our pots. They really need some tlc...

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    1. Our neighbours have one of those hand seats, I love them! xxx

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  32. Ranunculas are lovely, they just keep going and going. I bet you're enjoying the heatwave - I certainly am. I don't often like bunting, but yours is fab - it's not at all twee or cupcakey, more festival-feeling.

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    1. I'm hoping the weekend's lovely weather reappears soon. Yes, nothing "twee or cupcakey" for me, I had my fill of it this weekend! xxx

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  33. Oh god, I'm so looking forward to the end of finals so I can have languorous catch ups with the backlog of posts for all my most favourite blogs - yours being among the tippetty top ones. Love your garden ornamentation and inventive planters. The parts of the mannequin remind me of photos I've seen of my my parents first home together - complete with ivy-covered mannequin in the back yard.

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  34. The garden sprite is a wonderful addition to your refuge by the pool. Didn't you once share photos of a eerie but beautiful "artfully adorned" woodland at a festival venue?

    The glittery trainers are perfect gardening boots for you, Vix. Although I did spot some otherworldly purple clogs at a garden center that might do better in the mud -- or rooting about in the ancestral garden shed. I do like ye olde terra cotta pots (even if I have to spray them with plant food to encourage that ancient mossy patina).

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    1. Well remembered, Beth! The End of the Road festival was my inspiration!
      That plant food tip is a great one, I love a mossy patina! xxx

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  35. Ahhh, Spring and the blooming of every living thing. You look smashing in the garden, tending to your beautiful plants and accessories! xox

    Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. We've waited so long for a hint of Spring - its gone today, sadly! xxx

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  36. Gorgeous!! Your garden is a triumph - I love how you've used an array of weird and wonderful planters and ornaments, it makes every corner so interesting to peek at. Ranunculus is amongst my favourite of blooms, they are so beautiful and it seems not all that popular, which is such a shame! I'm not surprised they've been wowing your visitors! XXX

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    1. Isn't it strange that they aren't so popular? Big, bold and showy, my favourite type of flower! xxx

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  37. Love the garden and all the reimagined objects as plant holders! The bunting is a great idea and I love your parasol trim. Hydrangeas are wonderful flowers. I dry mine when they've finished blooming. I've never heard of the tea leaf tip so I will be nicking that - thank you Vix and Emma!

    Have a great week!

    Veronica
    vronni60s.blogspot.com

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    1. The tea leaves seem to be working like magic on the hydrangea (unless it's the torrential rain!) xxxx

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  38. I wanna hang out in your yard! I LOVE the bunting and the severed arm is right up my ally!

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  39. I love your array of plant holders and garden decorations. That's what a garden should be about: individuality! xxx

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  40. i´ll come over and bring some cider!!!
    your garden looks very inviting - esp. with you, wearing that gorgeous sundress, in it :-) since the weekend i live outside again, under the ivy-overgrown tin roof, with a long electricity kable for the laptop. i think about bringing the sewing machine outside - but she is HEAVY!
    xxxxx

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    1. p.s.: do you know what? your headline made me dig out my old bob marley CDs.......
      xxxx

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    2. I love reggae on a sunny day, wish Ii could pop over and sit in your garden listening to it with you. xxxx

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  41. Hasn't the weather been glorious! We've been enjoying the sunshine down here in the sunny South :)

    How cute are your trainers! If you're going to wear trainers, make them glittery! Your garden looks fabulous xxx

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    1. A bit of sunshine makes the world much better, doesn't it? Hope it comes back soon! xxx

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  42. Never thought I'd see bunting in your garden Vix. But your waterproof 'flower power' lilo job is perfection and doesn't it jolly up and give it a bit of a festival vibe. Also liking very much, your chiminea (haven't seen a metal one before) and your candytuft in the chimney pot. Great to repurpose pots and pans for planters. I can't bear it....the last Indian Summers next week and no more series I hear. x

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    1. Giant psychedelic bunting, yes - twee Cath Kidston flowers, never!!!
      How can she leave Aafrin? I can't stand it. xxxx

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  43. This lovely weather certainly makes you want to be outside pimping up the garden that's for sure :-) Yours is looking gorgeous I to found 100's of vintage terracotta here at the cottage in fact I noticed some early on to stuck on the last log shed that needs to be pulled down covered in moss I have never seen so many in my life :-) Loving the bunting to what a great idea might have to nick that one. Hope you had a lovely weekend, dee xx

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    1. The print on the bunting reminds me of your beloved Taunton Vale, Dee! xxx

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  44. Dear Vix! I admire your and Jon's house. It seems like a paradise on Earth! ! You're being surrounded by such a beautiful garden with all the glorious greenery. :)

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    1. Thank you, A-M! Its a labour of love. xxx

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  45. I've always loved chimney pots in gardens - and now I want a disco ball too! Your severed arm is inspired and loving the idea of waterproof bunting. x

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    1. I'm loving the disco ball - it's sparkling in the torrential rain this morning! xxx

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  46. Hi Vix, I always enjoy your outdoor garden, its interesting but so is your home. Looks so cozy. I'm surprised no cats photo bombed your pics. There's usually one. :-)

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    1. Thanks, Cherre! We tried to snap the cats but they wouldn't behave and sit nicely - typical! xxx

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  47. And now o have garden envy in a big way! You're home is as enchanting as you are. Love the trainers. xo

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    1. Your garden is pretty special, too Lou! xxx

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  48. Pear cider and field dancing, you say? Count me in, pretty please! :) I'm in such a jubilant mood this spring. Even when something gets me down for a moment, I seem to be bouncing back at the speed of light and am convinced the season itself is playing a major roll there.

    Your outfit rocks - very much including your stellar array of cuffs and bangles. Talk about an awesome arm party!


    Big hugs & happy mid-May wishes,
    ♥ Jessica

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    1. I love a bit of Spring positivity - sunshine does us all the world of good! xxx

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  49. Everything in the garden is looking rosie missus and so do you and you have given me an idea for wearing a long denim skirt I passed to my Mum but she has given it me back as it trails on the floor on her. I'm going to try it with my pumps. I've had it a while but not worn it much and its to good for the charity shop yet. The white jumper I got off you should look good with it. I wear it all the time, the welder says its a classic. xxxx

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    1. Oh yes, a denim skirt is the holy grail of clothing if you can find the right one. That jumper looks incredible on you, if it had been my size I'd have kept it! xxx

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  50. As soon as I saw that dress I thought, 'yeah that's from Nottingham'. Isn't this summer weather lovely? We're apparently due some more of summer tomorrow. The garden is looking lovely. I love all the unusual planting. Waterproof bunting!! Perfect for the British summer. I have never seen a disco ball in the garden before, but now I've seen it, I think that's perfect. We have fairy lights everywhere. Come dusk, it looks like Las Vegas! Xxxx

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  51. Your garden is lovely. I especially love the glitter ball! I am definitely inspired by your vintage plant pot ideas.

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  52. OH MY!! How did I miss this??? Your garden wins at being a garden Vix!! I LOVE EVERYTHING!! Disco Ball!! Mannequin! It's the best - I'd love to sip tea in that garden. I really love your idea for bunting too - maybe I need to make some for our courtyard.

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    1. Shower curtains and broken roller blinds would also be great for waterproof bunting, wouldn't they? xxx

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  53. Replies
    1. Thanks, Emma! It's getting there. I've spotted some irises this morning, no idea where they came from! xx

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  54. Your garden looks great - so many interesting things to look at! x

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  55. Your garden is colourful and fab just like you x

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix