tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68135122592600743422024-03-14T06:09:01.356-07:00Judy Adamson's Art & Design BlogWide-ranging Art and Design blog by Judy Adamson, Posh and Painterly Patterns and Prints, especially Surface Pattern, Fabric, Homeware, Fashion Accessories and Greeting Card design. Tips for craft and sewing projects as well as shopping guides, art inspiration, musings on art, design and illustration and seasonal gift and greeting card ideas from my Posh and Painterly stores. Occasional tips on online marketing, work in progress and guest posts.Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.comBlogger592125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-47070233696196314612016-06-30T07:38:00.002-07:002016-06-30T07:38:32.032-07:00Welsh Tapestry Patterns for Home and Fashion Accessories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDns7AibNqvyVvJOWQtqfPhByoTY5HDy_NdF5vo000-q2qfoFLHcFcE8KBceeofUV__73CRbr_BgB8DL6R3EcNAJzGy-9_xmqKiZbFkoIWz6JpoCZep59K6Vo4OOOugmg3KoR2h3cUX4pM/s1600/Sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDns7AibNqvyVvJOWQtqfPhByoTY5HDy_NdF5vo000-q2qfoFLHcFcE8KBceeofUV__73CRbr_BgB8DL6R3EcNAJzGy-9_xmqKiZbFkoIWz6JpoCZep59K6Vo4OOOugmg3KoR2h3cUX4pM/s640/Sheep.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyone visiting Wales
can hardly avoid noticing that there are a lot of sheep - about four
sheep for every person living in Wales!
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And where there are
sheep, there's a woollen industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today, most Welsh wool
is used in the carpet industry but in earlier centuries, almost every
cottage had a loom for weaving blankets and clothing, often
in the traditional Welsh Tapestry patterns. And some of the original
Welsh Woollen Mills survive today, some as museums, others as working
mills using patterns found in the Public Records Office and dating
back to the 1700s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>In earlier times, Welsh
Tapestry blankets were given as wedding gifts and dowries and were
kept as family heirlooms. More recently a Welsh Tapestry blanket was
presented to President Obama when he visited Wales.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone knows about
Scottish tartans but Welsh Tapestry is less well-known, despite its
long history and its 'revivals' at various times since the 1960s.
Blankets and other textile gifts with these patterns, such as
cushions and coats, are as likely to be found in Welsh Craft and Gift
Shops as wooden 'Love Spoons' and Little Welsh Red Dragons.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But Welsh Tapestry
blankets are expensive. Of course, they are not really 'tapestries'
but a unique type of 'double-weave' cloth, sometimes known as
double-cloth, and the weaving process involves, as the name implies,
a complicated interlocking of two layers of cloth. So, while they are
warm and hard-wearing as well as attractive, they are not cheap to
produce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As someone who lives in
Wales and who is also addicted to pattern-making - and especially
drawn to those with some kind of traditional or ethnic origin - it
was only a matter of time before I turned my attention to Welsh
Tapestry patterns. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gSINQ0Qdjmp9fMpiRnO4bWiHMNWthRIXBOR_-pdcExps5hGqshkbiDZaeZrsXSIfranN1_L4L1-IoorbB_-OAIbI7yy_xWT8zhkXTkf3uhL02ActuHlzTgEL08G7BAlgDiS7xlap2eHc/s1600/ipad_mini_sleeve_welsh_tapestry_pattern_black_ipad_mini_sleeve-r15af5108e9334c71946017e2892e66d5_i9cxo_8byvr_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gSINQ0Qdjmp9fMpiRnO4bWiHMNWthRIXBOR_-pdcExps5hGqshkbiDZaeZrsXSIfranN1_L4L1-IoorbB_-OAIbI7yy_xWT8zhkXTkf3uhL02ActuHlzTgEL08G7BAlgDiS7xlap2eHc/s200/ipad_mini_sleeve_welsh_tapestry_pattern_black_ipad_mini_sleeve-r15af5108e9334c71946017e2892e66d5_i9cxo_8byvr_512.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kDkz1Ev4ygODfOYa8bLO-ZLs3VvkIuTMXClGoRt1Z-k0eKeUxwWFcX6T1pHp98HhR_3sCLGMZ7z46VDeUaR0D5IBfik94UaKQMmEGZXl4-c3bC9lecF9m_k1CDB034fzPWWPfOk28iua/s1600/coffee_mug_welsh_tapestry_pattern_bright_blue_ringer_mug-r3a0955a29711494eb9bb33bd07c8e84f_x7jlz_8byvr_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kDkz1Ev4ygODfOYa8bLO-ZLs3VvkIuTMXClGoRt1Z-k0eKeUxwWFcX6T1pHp98HhR_3sCLGMZ7z46VDeUaR0D5IBfik94UaKQMmEGZXl4-c3bC9lecF9m_k1CDB034fzPWWPfOk28iua/s200/coffee_mug_welsh_tapestry_pattern_bright_blue_ringer_mug-r3a0955a29711494eb9bb33bd07c8e84f_x7jlz_8byvr_512.jpg" width="183" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And I have chosen a few of them to use as patterns
on non-textile gifts, such as coffee mugs and serving trays as well
as cases and sleeves to protect your electronic devices!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kDkz1Ev4ygODfOYa8bLO-ZLs3VvkIuTMXClGoRt1Z-k0eKeUxwWFcX6T1pHp98HhR_3sCLGMZ7z46VDeUaR0D5IBfik94UaKQMmEGZXl4-c3bC9lecF9m_k1CDB034fzPWWPfOk28iua/s1600/coffee_mug_welsh_tapestry_pattern_bright_blue_ringer_mug-r3a0955a29711494eb9bb33bd07c8e84f_x7jlz_8byvr_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of them -</span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Click on the image below to see the full collection - </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/pink_welsh_tapestry_gifts-119629509262232969?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pink Welsh Tapestry Gifts" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/pink_welsh_tapestry_gifts_119629509262232969-r_zruem_jeebm_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/pink_welsh_tapestry_gifts-119629509262232969?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Pink Welsh Tapestry Gifts</a> </span></div>
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<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Click on the image below to see the full collection - </i></div>
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<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/monogrammed_faux_welsh_tapestry_gifts-119709788949153951?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Monogrammed Faux Welsh Tapestry Gifts" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/monogrammed_faux_welsh_tapestry_gifts_119709788949153951-r_zruem_jdlp7_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/monogrammed_faux_welsh_tapestry_gifts-119709788949153951?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Monogrammed Faux Welsh Tapestry Gifts</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image below to see the full collection - </i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/blue_welsh_tapestry_patterns-119270516475868285?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Blue Welsh Tapestry Patterns" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/blue_welsh_tapestry_patterns_119270516475868285-r_zruem_jeebd_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/blue_welsh_tapestry_patterns-119270516475868285?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Blue Welsh Tapestry Patterns</a> </span></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image below to see the full collection - </i></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/black_and_white_welsh_tapestry_patterns-119461666113549705?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Black and White Welsh Tapestry Patterns" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/black_and_white_welsh_tapestry_patterns_119461666113549705-r_zruem_jkz6v_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/black_and_white_welsh_tapestry_patterns-119461666113549705?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Black and White Welsh Tapestry Patterns</a> </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image below to see the full collection - </i></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_tapestry_sleeves-119729714319836237?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Welsh Tapestry Sleeves" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/welsh_tapestry_sleeves_119729714319836237-r_zruem_j1eiu_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_tapestry_sleeves-119729714319836237?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Welsh Tapestry Sleeves</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fabrics in 'faux' Welsh Tapestry, in seven types, suitable for anything from crafts and dressmaking to home furnishings </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">are also available in my </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*/products?dp=252285611358564502&qs=">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a> store. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here are just a few of them -</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz9vo4YQ_pxoqQlabXeTTJV94hocNm1tn9Ji9X7NzxfMbzm1I5jhppwcagEQgxC8cgXqyujCc4EnE44kvZESPW-NNl6-f9hmqJZSv8LqpjBBCmEI9BabUB7KOeggUNCvDuOKDxTQkJMS4/s1600/welsh_faux_tapestry_white_ondark_blue_fabric-reb4e6dda789645a0b282db40f15d76f9_zl6q2_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz9vo4YQ_pxoqQlabXeTTJV94hocNm1tn9Ji9X7NzxfMbzm1I5jhppwcagEQgxC8cgXqyujCc4EnE44kvZESPW-NNl6-f9hmqJZSv8LqpjBBCmEI9BabUB7KOeggUNCvDuOKDxTQkJMS4/s200/welsh_faux_tapestry_white_ondark_blue_fabric-reb4e6dda789645a0b282db40f15d76f9_zl6q2_512.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzTgVAheyiQOeFHv0PyNxAbXPUr6isY-8LX4fWJPcOFj6YY9ImUFWlSM_TP5U0Si7tgUA9hkPG4Ki8gkqUvNMQZ8GLzQPDdDgEeZ6lhW42SYWrYVjStgQa9ve4p2VdqUKe4k9GrsgCHbg/s1600/welsh_faux_tapestry_purple_on_bright_pink_pattern_fabric-r2aa49c3e3f9942bb9b83f828ef4b91bd_zl6q2_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzTgVAheyiQOeFHv0PyNxAbXPUr6isY-8LX4fWJPcOFj6YY9ImUFWlSM_TP5U0Si7tgUA9hkPG4Ki8gkqUvNMQZ8GLzQPDdDgEeZ6lhW42SYWrYVjStgQa9ve4p2VdqUKe4k9GrsgCHbg/s200/welsh_faux_tapestry_purple_on_bright_pink_pattern_fabric-r2aa49c3e3f9942bb9b83f828ef4b91bd_zl6q2_512.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And if you'd like a 'Welsh Tapestry' fabric or gift in a different colour combination, just contact me through my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a> store</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and I will quickly create it for you at no extra cost. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PS If you are interested in learning more about Welsh Tapestry, </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.welshblankets.co.uk/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=4">HERE'S</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">a website to get you started -</span></b></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-80123313229339923932016-06-02T06:08:00.001-07:002016-06-02T06:08:33.691-07:00Traditional Islamic Patterns in a Modern Setting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRsC1_jmRxNg_jUAVRFLdctamDAoD2SdrPUEhMMhYAo11eSxQw1ijHQfmt5h6NtmP8EhBwXWaO6UDdx7C8R5b30SaRhgWIZAMyY0t7s0MBe7XO76kIpASumWuz53H0AFzCxPs1dmjIFW9/s1600/BannerIslamicCases6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRsC1_jmRxNg_jUAVRFLdctamDAoD2SdrPUEhMMhYAo11eSxQw1ijHQfmt5h6NtmP8EhBwXWaO6UDdx7C8R5b30SaRhgWIZAMyY0t7s0MBe7XO76kIpASumWuz53H0AFzCxPs1dmjIFW9/s640/BannerIslamicCases6.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We don't necessarily
need to know anything about Islamic Art and Design to gaze in
wonderment at the patterned walls and screens of the Alhambra, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the Blue Mosque, or the typically tiled floors and walls of Morocco!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Feast your eyes on them here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=alhambra&tbm=isch&imgil=QlaD2B534tg8IM%253A%253Blu3pzfL7n8ITGM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.alhambradegranada.org%25252Fen%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=QlaD2B534tg8IM%253A%252Clu3pzfL7n8ITGM%252C_&usg=__Ljv4nM36bmRsqOZI3qTR33nceJ0%3D&biw=1366&bih=643&ved=0ahUKEwiDuOO9tYLNAhUqD8AKHRIcD9UQyjcIPw&ei=9IRMV4PuEqqegAaSuLyoDQ#tbm=isch&q=alhambra+art">Google Image Search of the Alhambra</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=alhambra&tbm=isch&imgil=QlaD2B534tg8IM%253A%253Blu3pzfL7n8ITGM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.alhambradegranada.org%25252Fen%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=QlaD2B534tg8IM%253A%252Clu3pzfL7n8ITGM%252C_&usg=__Ljv4nM36bmRsqOZI3qTR33nceJ0%3D&biw=1366&bih=643&ved=0ahUKEwiDuOO9tYLNAhUqD8AKHRIcD9UQyjcIPw&ei=9IRMV4PuEqqegAaSuLyoDQ#tbm=isch&q=blue+mosque+art">Google Image Search of the Blue Mosque</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=alhambra&tbm=isch&imgil=QlaD2B534tg8IM%253A%253Blu3pzfL7n8ITGM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.alhambradegranada.org%25252Fen%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=QlaD2B534tg8IM%253A%252Clu3pzfL7n8ITGM%252C_&usg=__Ljv4nM36bmRsqOZI3qTR33nceJ0%3D&biw=1366&bih=643&ved=0ahUKEwiDuOO9tYLNAhUqD8AKHRIcD9UQyjcIPw&ei=9IRMV4PuEqqegAaSuLyoDQ#tbm=isch&q=moroccan+art+patterns">Google Image Search of Moroccan Patterns</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>You will probably have
noticed that the patterns are all based on a geometric grid and some
of these grids can be extremely complex.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you read my last
month's blog post about <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/learning-about-surface-pattern-design.html">William Morris</a>, you may remember that
many of his contemporaries also created abstract patterns based on
grids. But William Morris took that one step further, using a
geometric grid to provide the structure on which to build his floral
patterns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Islamic pattern design
does make use of some floral motifs and motifs taken from Nature but it generally depicts them in a much more formalised way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And whereas you would
expect to see images of saints and holy figures in many Christian
churches, this is highly unlikely in a Muslim mosque. There are
differences of opinion amongst Islamic scholars about whether depicting human beings in art
and design is idolatrous and therefore contrary to the teachings of
Islam, and you can read about them in detail <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30814555">HERE</a>.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">But the beautiful
patterns that decorate Muslim places of worship are no less related
to the religious doctrines of Islam than the statues and paintings in
a Christian cathedral.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX48ord2p0YYolq0mKrdpBZqXS6jT4m7Dmbt7Yb46YeIbfbfJu7NAWm0frX8ZixDYQ4TT-4p5PFNxQxhFQjmFvCavOvQN3DvqBkSMG8ZGx_R2ljU8xTPLyvyBG7jhWQBvbfWD4CcCqUwX/s1600/yellowstar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX48ord2p0YYolq0mKrdpBZqXS6jT4m7Dmbt7Yb46YeIbfbfJu7NAWm0frX8ZixDYQ4TT-4p5PFNxQxhFQjmFvCavOvQN3DvqBkSMG8ZGx_R2ljU8xTPLyvyBG7jhWQBvbfWD4CcCqUwX/s320/yellowstar.jpg" width="177" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For instance, the geometric shape we call a 'circle' is linked to the concept of 'Infinity', which in itself is a property of Allah. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/art/art_1.shtml">This article</a> on the BBC website goes into these fascinating connections in more detail than I have time for here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And in the Islamic
cultural traditions, crafts and decorative arts are regarded as being
of equal status to painting and sculpture. So it's not surprising
that these have been developed to such an awe-inspiring degree!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(On the left is one of my original screenprints, from the 1980s, of a very complex Islamic pattern.)</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I love to create flowing, painterly floral patterns and mini-prints that are often based on the flowers and other plants - even
weeds! - in my garden, I am also drawn to the apparent simplicity of
geometric grids. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mkMqO_8_I57en47XPl_urJwJqUq05Nh640UP7MGGT9kK5e_qhTaadEEBoYJLePmm7rcTm2m6l-L21pMtzd7eD1QHOLIoLRT3eAGB5jMPWf5_9pNd317kaDOm_tcZs40n1THxJYq893lf/s1600/IslamicPattern+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mkMqO_8_I57en47XPl_urJwJqUq05Nh640UP7MGGT9kK5e_qhTaadEEBoYJLePmm7rcTm2m6l-L21pMtzd7eD1QHOLIoLRT3eAGB5jMPWf5_9pNd317kaDOm_tcZs40n1THxJYq893lf/s320/IslamicPattern+001.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I stress that the word 'simplicity' must be
qualified by <b>'apparent'</b> because many of the traditional Islamic
'mosaic' patterns, while appearing straightforward, are in fact based
on a complex system of geometric grids, placed on top of one another
to create a harmonious whole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The
patterns are often constructed by overlaying circles, squares, rectangles and
other geometric shapes and I find it fascinating that just these few 'building
blocks' can result in such a variety of different patterns! On the right is an example from David Wade's book (see below) and I'm sure you can find his explanation of how the grid pattern was built up, if you visit his website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I first
learnt a bit about Islamic Art when I was designing patterns for
cushions in a screen-printing class nearly thirty years ago. Coming
from a background of landscape painting, almost always using a
rectangular canvas, I was finding it hard to adapt to designing on a
square. So my teacher lent me a very helpful book by </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">David Wade - "Pattern
in Islamic Art".</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I've recently discovered his
wonderful website which you can explore <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://patterninislamicart.com/">HERE</a></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You'll find inspiring slide-shows to enjoy as well as
detailed drawings, diagrams and analyses to learn from if you are so inclined! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>As we approach the Holy
Month of Ramadan that culminates in the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr in
early July, I think it's appropriate to show some of the Greeting
Cards, Gift Bag and Wrapping Paper that I've created using, in many
cases, Islamic Patterns:</b></span></div>
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<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/eid_greeting_cards-119171011101180528?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Eid Greeting Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/eid_greeting_cards_119171011101180528-r_zruem_z54x6_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" />
</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/eid_greeting_cards-119171011101180528?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Eid Greeting Cards</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And here are some
really chic and girly Fashion Accessories, based on a geometric
Islamic pattern -</b></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click on the image
below to see the full collection -</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/candy_pink_fashion_accessories-119501913569894688?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Candy Pink Fashion Accessories" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/candy_pink_fashion_accessories_119501913569894688-r_zruem_6302d_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/candy_pink_fashion_accessories-119501913569894688?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Candy Pink Fashion Accessories</a>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>With Father's Day
approaching fast, here are some classy 'Gifts for Men' with an
Islamic Geometric Pattern outlined in gold-effect on a black
background:</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click on the image
below to see the full collection -
</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_black_islamic_pattern-119061440461600238?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts for Men - Black Islamic Pattern" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_for_men_black_islamic_pattern_119061440461600238-r_zruem_jlg7w_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_black_islamic_pattern-119061440461600238?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Gifts for Men - Black Islamic
Pattern</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But it's partly the use
of rich colour in Islamic Patterns that draws the eye. So I've used
some modern colour combinations to create some very chic Bathroom
Accessories -</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/islamic_patterns_in_the_bathroom-119188693597246443?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Islamic Patterns in the Bathroom" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/islamic_patterns_in_the_bathroom_119188693597246443-r_zruem_jsyz2_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/islamic_patterns_in_the_bathroom-119188693597246443?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Islamic Patterns in the Bathroom</a>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Here are some
device cases - iPhone 6 cases are shown but other Case-Mate cases are
available in the drop-down menu under 'Device Type' -</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/iphone_6_cases_with_islamic_patterns-119076740960042368?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="iPhone 6 Cases with Islamic Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/iphone_6_cases_with_islamic_patterns_119076740960042368-r_zruem_js9wa_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/iphone_6_cases_with_islamic_patterns-119076740960042368?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">iPhone 6 Cases with Islamic
Patterns</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And finally, a
collection of chic and modern Beachwear with traditional Islamic
patterns that all coordinate so that you can mix'n'match the
accessories to your heart's content -</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"> </span><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/beachwear_with_islamic_mosaic_patterns-119977800643363344?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Beachwear with Islamic Mosaic Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/beachwear_with_islamic_mosaic_patterns_119977800643363344-r_zruem_636oh_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/beachwear_with_islamic_mosaic_patterns-119977800643363344?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Beachwear with Islamic Mosaic Patterns</a> </div>
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I hope you've enjoyed
this brief look into the traditions of Pattern in Islamic Art and the
ways in which we can draw inspiration from the geometric pattern
grids that it's based on to create beautiful Greeting Cards and
modern Home and Fashion Accessories for everyone.</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdWcYtp8pnQ5BMxRWyx50poS36EZqUyGXl0bHAkTSkS31WnsdEcJk5-f3TCqUta2Vs8u5L4Deu51cn9l3HhOkgpwUVv9bqO5eON5TyJeivn8P9IPqphF2eq2cEvtUszWPA_hHb3yd4NVA/s1600/BannerIslamicBeachwear.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdWcYtp8pnQ5BMxRWyx50poS36EZqUyGXl0bHAkTSkS31WnsdEcJk5-f3TCqUta2Vs8u5L4Deu51cn9l3HhOkgpwUVv9bqO5eON5TyJeivn8P9IPqphF2eq2cEvtUszWPA_hHb3yd4NVA/s640/BannerIslamicBeachwear.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-81312990425462968222016-05-05T05:25:00.002-07:002016-05-05T05:25:11.923-07:00Learning about Surface Pattern Design from William Morris?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYedclNa26PETVLVjTBf9UG9vzzg1qo7RovYxgk3_msGlE4fLVmjnsG_19zL4RhTJp3Bctw6OKkebeQX9zlQCPoE_ETeoqxoQo-njH7u3r8CM-YxBGuE3Ckyo7ljFKKDh52dSEMcdhn9gH/s1600/download.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYedclNa26PETVLVjTBf9UG9vzzg1qo7RovYxgk3_msGlE4fLVmjnsG_19zL4RhTJp3Bctw6OKkebeQX9zlQCPoE_ETeoqxoQo-njH7u3r8CM-YxBGuE3Ckyo7ljFKKDh52dSEMcdhn9gH/s320/download.jpe" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Morris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">William Morris was not
only the 'leading light' of the Arts and Craft movement, that sought to
promote a return to handicrafts, as opposed to machine-made goods, in
the late 19th Century. </span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was probably one of the greatest surface
pattern designers (amongst other things!) of all time! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And those of us who
make patterns for home furnishings and wallpaper can learn a lot from the study of his
work!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>William Morris is
probably best known for his wallpaper and household fabric designs. </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But he was skilled in many crafts, such as weaving, embroidery and
stained glass. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read a full account of his life and
accomplishments -</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.william-morris.co.uk/a-full-history/?act=ssocomplete">HERE</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">and </span><a href="http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/graphic_designers/william_morris.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">HERE</a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unlike <a href="https://www.blogger.com/(http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/laura-ashley-and-pretty-floral-home.html)">Laura Ashley</a>,
William Morris was a skilled draughtsman, as you can see from these detailed working drawings for his 'Bluebell' design. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWStgM3D5LmmPNQP1NR7mPYY18JcEUC3lozXeXEegXQ4tyfRNutOlhVdJ1B2wXIQDugX6G0cRcM0Kfz4lIWirOIsI7FvcCXI019WFLEhFY3w9nEgQK_HSILTbamtHdKs_vPjXN0ZYE_gt/s1600/WMWorkingDrawings+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWStgM3D5LmmPNQP1NR7mPYY18JcEUC3lozXeXEegXQ4tyfRNutOlhVdJ1B2wXIQDugX6G0cRcM0Kfz4lIWirOIsI7FvcCXI019WFLEhFY3w9nEgQK_HSILTbamtHdKs_vPjXN0ZYE_gt/s400/WMWorkingDrawings+001.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Morris working drawings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, unlike Laura Ashley,
Morris's pattern designs were intended for use in the home, rather
than for fashion textiles.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But there is a similarity! Like Laura Ashley's, William Morris's design theories were firmly rooted in his beliefs and attitudes
to life.</b> </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was horrified by the poor quality and design of the products of mass
industrialisation. And his ardently socialist views led him to want
to make 'art' for everyone, not just for those born into wealth, like
himself.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>"I do
not want art for a few, any more than education for a few, or freedom
for a few." </b>William Morris.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/why-greeting-cards.html">This earlier blog post</a>, by the
way, explains a large part of the reason that I still like to create Greeting
Cards! </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Morris had
some very strong views about design and because he wrote about his
views as well as giving lectures, it's not too difficult to gain some
insights into his guiding principles and the way he worked. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I'm sure
that most of us, hearing or reading the words, 'William Morris'
will immediately think of his floral patterns for wallpapers and
curtains, many of which are still available and popular today. </b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the 1970s I decorated a bay-windowed bedroom in our
Victorian house in Sevenoaks with William Morris wallpaper and
matching curtains, available at that time from Sandersons. The room was not as big as I would have liked and
the matching curtains and walls made it appear quite a bit larger.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix04aMtIsFsOC34hPyXcCEEGMSJ56M-UjPXV8xIyi8liNpi4OnQAh2HH-3uIaKb4nXUv7n43r6SP-hF5x6WxldKtFN0vP6gR9ELzOo93HhIVwc4zjAfx4PDKXOgh0Pdj5tUhZmhsSAQepq/s1600/WMCloakroom+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix04aMtIsFsOC34hPyXcCEEGMSJ56M-UjPXV8xIyi8liNpi4OnQAh2HH-3uIaKb4nXUv7n43r6SP-hF5x6WxldKtFN0vP6gR9ELzOo93HhIVwc4zjAfx4PDKXOgh0Pdj5tUhZmhsSAQepq/s320/WMCloakroom+001.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then, in the
late 1980s, our Edwardian Norwich home had William Morris wallpaper in the
hall, stairs, landing and cloakroom - by this time, bought from habitat, as far as I remember! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And a different Morris pattern for the
curtains of a small and cosy living room. Wisely, the new owners of
the house asked to keep the curtains when we moved out! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I took the beautiful Laura Ashley lace curtains (on the left) with me and finally had to replace them with something much inferior a couple of years ago because, having provided nearly 25 years good service, they were about to fall to pieces!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now I just
have a couple of cushions and a tablecloth with William Morris
designs that have been re-coloured at a later date - and a set of Garden Hand Tools from the V & A! (Far too pretty to use!)</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">What
these all have in common is that they are floral patterns.</b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't
think I've ever seen a William Morris design that isn't about
flowers or fruit! I think it's very strange that we tend to shy away from
using floral patterns or designs for men, as I pointed out in an earlier blog post - <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/can-you-give-man-greeting-card-with.html">HERE!</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>William Morris loved
Nature and saw it as the antidote to the effects of industrialisation.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have an old
book about William Morris, written by Ray Watkinson in the 1960s and
it contains some Morris quotes about Nature, such as:</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The
fields are all butter-cuppy. The elms are mostly green up to their
tops; the hawthorn not out, but the crabs beautiful, and also that
white-beam (I think they call it) with the umbelliferous flowers. In
the garden we have lots of tulips out looking beautiful; the white
bluebells and some blue ones; some of the anemones are in blossom and
they all soon will be; they are very lovely. Apple blossom for the
most part only in bud, but that cherry tree near that arbour opposite
my window is a mass of bloom. The heartseases are beautiful; a few of
the Iceland poppies are out; the raspberries are showing for
blossom." William Morris</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think he
must have written this at about this time of year, early May!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Interestingly,
the author of my book, describes William Morris's intentions when it
comes to his home furnishings in a way that certainly resonates with me.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Although
for him repose is an essential quality which the designer should
pursue, this does not mean that designs should be blank and static;
rather that they should give us something of the relaxed pleasure of
a garden. A wallpaper should be able to turn a room into a bower, a
refuge, without insisting on its presence in a room with us." Ray Watkinon</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Later, the
American architect/designer, Frank Lloyd Wright, also believed it was
important for our well-being to 'bring nature inside', though his
methods were very different. Here's <a href="http://littlegreenshedblog.co.uk/2015/10/nature-in-the-home-bringing-the-outdoors-in/">another blog post</a> I came across about the therapeutic properties of
'bringing the outside in'!
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I can
wholeheartedly agree with this. You may have noticed that when in
doubt, I design florals for the home!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But at the
same time, William Morris didn't believe in letting Nature run riot
in his designs.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another passage from my book:</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Entirely
at one with his contemporaries in his recognition of the part played
by geometric order, Morris required a design to play on the
imagination for him, therefore there must always be some image." Ray Watkinson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So -
Morris's patterns are representations of Nature but they are also
based on some kind of geometric grid or structure, and I think it is largely
this which has made his surface patterns so successful and timeless. Here, in this pattern, named 'Lodden', you can clearly see the traditional 'ogee-shaped' grid on which the pattern is constructed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7zgN-o6dCFAbIH6C30JvU5lpVm_qgpAHIzL9HvdruD6nYzYVWehW83pg1YS74NkNT8N5M5QZlPXbgGRTTJU_nu6IXV_3uhf_1uaVJgGf1Trw4hDimem0euYjg_9ACAf_R6ipB2q2NGif/s1600/Lodden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7zgN-o6dCFAbIH6C30JvU5lpVm_qgpAHIzL9HvdruD6nYzYVWehW83pg1YS74NkNT8N5M5QZlPXbgGRTTJU_nu6IXV_3uhf_1uaVJgGf1Trw4hDimem0euYjg_9ACAf_R6ipB2q2NGif/s320/Lodden.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lodden by William Morris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Nature,
Geometry and one more 'ingredient' is ever-present in William Morris
designs - Depth.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eJZI1nKsgo3eIo9UqyWBBI8YdQ00jMKBUnOd8yxR5jLqOSCBzZza-IZyP2kscEkWBagIc9QCt2jzoq4v4hb-eI0_xeBk4K5nDy6_R-QvPhyphenhyphenvhdx4Bk1oIQXQnJ1bziJKOg80NQL4hwkN/s1600/WMWallpaper+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eJZI1nKsgo3eIo9UqyWBBI8YdQ00jMKBUnOd8yxR5jLqOSCBzZza-IZyP2kscEkWBagIc9QCt2jzoq4v4hb-eI0_xeBk4K5nDy6_R-QvPhyphenhyphenvhdx4Bk1oIQXQnJ1bziJKOg80NQL4hwkN/s200/WMWallpaper+001.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arbutus by William Morris</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Wallpapers,
he says in his lecture on Pattern Designing, must operate within a
little depth. There must be a slight illusion - not as to the forms
of the motif, but as to relative depth. And quite consistently we
find in his patterns that one element is developed and spread like a
net over another, with differences of scale and weight as to parts,
so that we are always aware of a major pattern playing over a minor
one." Ray Watkinson.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cC-4xJ4re16OUO9Cb9-Tc4ozPmFblvqSuim24Lagik5LPCUhBxPXcRq83CsEtwbju_vAe5zIIT3-dV8Dj3tywW1pCs5dK4UlToOZnXok7rpp5hDcjCHhMYrlsTDbmLlWuBKMEZjuKtR3/s1600/Daisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cC-4xJ4re16OUO9Cb9-Tc4ozPmFblvqSuim24Lagik5LPCUhBxPXcRq83CsEtwbju_vAe5zIIT3-dV8Dj3tywW1pCs5dK4UlToOZnXok7rpp5hDcjCHhMYrlsTDbmLlWuBKMEZjuKtR3/s200/Daisy.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy by William Morris</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This third
point is something that Morris developed over time but even in his
earliest known wallpaper design, Daisy, he did not leave the
background plain but added texture that immediately gives depth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It looks to me as if he was influenced by his work in textiles - weaving and embroidery - but that's just my theory.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So there we
have three important points to bear in mind when designing for home
furnishing fabrics and wallpapers:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Bring
Nature inside in a way that is restful to the eye.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Organise
your patterns on a geometric grid.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Add depth
by overlaying your main pattern on a secondary pattern.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I wish I had
been taught these things on the Surface Pattern course I did three
years ago, instead of having to do my own research more recently.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not
that I would have wanted to try to imitate William Morris, of course! But these are
three worthwhile principles to bear in mind when designing patterns
for the home, even though we are bound to interpret them to fit our
own style. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Quite by
chance, I think my 'Morning Glory' pattern has incorporated these
three 'rules' to some extent, at least in the main pattern, which is based on an 'ogee' layout. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Here are
the fabrics I've designed for the collection, each of them
coordinating with the main pattern, as you can see from the Faux
Patchwork!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_blue_morning_glory_on_taupe_floral_fabric-256816683206903035?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pretty Blue Morning Glory on Taupe Floral Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pretty_blue_morning_glory_on_taupe_floral_fabric-r1b632078d185438b92c667994830c732_z191r_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_blue_morning_glory_on_taupe_floral_fabric-256816683206903035?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Pretty Blue Morning Glory on Taupe
Floral Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_blue_morning_glory_floral_fabric-256535350250523816?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pretty Blue Morning Glory Floral Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pretty_blue_morning_glory_floral_fabric-rcc3f580f8f384285a1fa8e63b3e17b95_z191r_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_blue_morning_glory_floral_fabric-256535350250523816?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Pretty Blue Morning Glory Floral
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">e</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_blue_morning_glory_floral_polka_dot_fabric-256155476281436384?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Blue Morning Glory Floral Polka Dot Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_blue_morning_glory_floral_polka_dot_fabric-r1906525e04b7410e91ee707239adf930_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_blue_morning_glory_floral_polka_dot_fabric-256155476281436384?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Blue Morning Glory Floral Polka
Dot Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/blue_and_green_morning_glory_plaid_pattern_fabric-256871019024219399?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Blue and Green Morning Glory Plaid Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/blue_and_green_morning_glory_plaid_pattern_fabric-rd3085dc609094111a8143ccf7bfed04e_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/blue_and_green_morning_glory_plaid_pattern_fabric-256871019024219399?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Blue and Green Morning Glory Plaid
Pattern Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/blue_green_morning_glory_deckchair_stripes_fabric-256541229231826648?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Blue, Green Morning Glory Deckchair Stripes Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/blue_green_morning_glory_deckchair_stripes_fabric-r8a63e3abb9e3401db150eee4444851a1_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/blue_green_morning_glory_deckchair_stripes_fabric-256541229231826648?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Blue, Green Morning Glory Deckchair
Stripes Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_blue_morning_glory_pattern_on_golden_yellow_fabric-256675249581735179?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Blue Morning Glory Pattern on Golden Yellow Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_blue_morning_glory_pattern_on_golden_yellow_fabric-rd2f8ed6160de4aceb0574e10e7351b21_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_blue_morning_glory_pattern_on_golden_yellow_fabric-256675249581735179?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Blue Morning Glory Pattern on
Golden Yellow Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/blue_morning_glory_faux_patchwork_pattern_fabric-256526159622970339?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Blue Morning Glory Faux Patchwork Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/blue_morning_glory_faux_patchwork_pattern_fabric-r1ad6a5627db74723bd2cd45df295039c_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/blue_morning_glory_faux_patchwork_pattern_fabric-256526159622970339?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Blue Morning Glory Faux Patchwork
Pattern Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find
more Morning Glory fabrics </span><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*/gifts?cg=196756366865228037" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Morning
Glory is the September Birth Month flower. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So you might like to make
someone's September birthday that little bit extra-special by choosing a
greeting card or gift with Morning Glories!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click on the
image below to see the full collection -</i></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/september_birthday_gifts_and_cards-119230914484886041?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="September Birthday Gifts and Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/september_birthday_gifts_and_cards_119230914484886041-r_zruem_6uuy6_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/september_birthday_gifts_and_cards-119230914484886041?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">September Birthday Gifts and Cards</a>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>I very much hope that any pattern designers reading this will have learnt something helpful. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">But I'm sure that anyone, designer or not, will have found something to interest them in this brief look at some of the theories behind the pattern designs of one of world's greatest surface pattern designers!</span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-15664555524005406612016-04-21T06:47:00.000-07:002016-04-21T06:47:50.513-07:00Laura Ashley and Pretty Floral Home Accessories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Or3vhyphenhyphens_IoWPsk5WDG2G0QCt9aW2wijqY5w5hgs7d9oJvkhCCf1FF0ZGjz6mIwwyKj8lds5JcjyQj9yrIv8RdAi3rl1D51eajS-BtgTZFNFfhpzGEXzl4pOLSNKFXkvzITdKCsyoEsZo/s1600/LauraAshleyBook+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Or3vhyphenhyphens_IoWPsk5WDG2G0QCt9aW2wijqY5w5hgs7d9oJvkhCCf1FF0ZGjz6mIwwyKj8lds5JcjyQj9yrIv8RdAi3rl1D51eajS-BtgTZFNFfhpzGEXzl4pOLSNKFXkvzITdKCsyoEsZo/s320/LauraAshleyBook+001.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've just finished
reading 'A Life by Design', a biography of Laura Ashley, written soon
after her tragic fall, from which she never regained consciousness, at
the age of 60. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7uSV9vBj46DPd-laInUFTHVk2KkANWee9QmrpjOsULFpYqvVx1PBv5e74Xlr72YyTMhbnvclUAPEAwdfgf-3yf4DFUBxpFILnzpXE3NKeAQxnCgReAe2h2i4fmBEooEEQNekCaMNsadm/s1600/LauraAshleyPaint+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7uSV9vBj46DPd-laInUFTHVk2KkANWee9QmrpjOsULFpYqvVx1PBv5e74Xlr72YyTMhbnvclUAPEAwdfgf-3yf4DFUBxpFILnzpXE3NKeAQxnCgReAe2h2i4fmBEooEEQNekCaMNsadm/s200/LauraAshleyPaint+001.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I read the book when it was first published in 1990 but at
that time, I read it from the point of view of a Laura Ashley Home
Furnishings customer, having used gallons of Laura Ashley Navy paint
in the refurbishment of my Edwardian home in Norwich. I even painted the outside
of the re-sprayed, genuine ball-and-claw-footed bath that we found in an outhouse when we bought the house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And here's the 'Laura Ashley Navy' front door of my next (Victorian) home!</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But this time around, I
read it as a designer, more specifically a surface pattern designer
with a strong interest in designing textiles for fashion and home
furnishings.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it was as if I was
reading it for the first time. So many things jumped out at me that
hadn't really interested me back in 1990.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>First and foremost, I
was quite shocked to read that Laura Ashley wasn't exactly a designer!
Neither she nor her husband, Bernard, could draw and of course, they started their business well before the days of computers!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The legendary
little 'sweater scarves', table mats and tea-towels that they printed on the kitchen table of their Pimlico flat in the 1950s, ('fixing' the colour by baking in the oven, where some fell down and burnt!), these small items had bold geometric
shapes a patterns, which was all that their rather primitive printing equipment
could cope with.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdlo7whyphenhyphenY-IVK81jCNEDjjZyHp9c311ZKSyOpviL5qXUcuSOoQF0-1VEY86LT9KGnGjpXNf0EHHhzJuPHYanM54Ikz4N2qH2KwclCZWVnYvIv89E1iCPwpm5-xFfojFLpfdbCovieL8zb/s1600/GAC_RomanHoliday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdlo7whyphenhyphenY-IVK81jCNEDjjZyHp9c311ZKSyOpviL5qXUcuSOoQF0-1VEY86LT9KGnGjpXNf0EHHhzJuPHYanM54Ikz4N2qH2KwclCZWVnYvIv89E1iCPwpm5-xFfojFLpfdbCovieL8zb/s200/GAC_RomanHoliday.jpg" width="176" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But they sold well,
because Audrey Hepburn had popularised the 'sweater scarf' in the
popular film, <a href="http://ourgoldenage.com.au/film/roman-holiday/">'Roman Holiday'</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdlo7whyphenhyphenY-IVK81jCNEDjjZyHp9c311ZKSyOpviL5qXUcuSOoQF0-1VEY86LT9KGnGjpXNf0EHHhzJuPHYanM54Ikz4N2qH2KwclCZWVnYvIv89E1iCPwpm5-xFfojFLpfdbCovieL8zb/s1600/GAC_RomanHoliday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>However, Laura was already intensely interested in tiny floral printed and striped fabrics.</b> She had worked as a secretary at the National Federation of Women's Institutes and when she visited one of their handicraft exhibitions at the Victoria & Albert museum, she realised that women were capable of working at home to produce textiles that were of museum standard. She was particularly struck by the patchwork and scoured the shops to find suitable fabrics so that she could make her own while awaiting the birth of her first child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>As we moved through the
1960s, fashion trends changed dramatically.</b> Out went the full skirts
with hooped petticoats and in came the mini-skirt and sharply cut
dresses and coats with geometric patterns. In case that was before
your time, you can get a flavour of the era <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-swinging-sixties-in-uk-did-they.html">HERE</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it was in 1968 that
Laura Ashley - or rather, Bernard, her husband, opened their first
dress shop, selling dresses that were almost shockingly different!
Bernard oversaw the printing, dealt with the marketing and business
side of things - so, given that she was not a designer, in the usual
sense of the word, what part did Laura play?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, she did supervise
the making up of the garments in Wales and researched patterns to use,
spending a great deal of time in libraries and museums, pouring over antique pattern
books and so on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But Laura's essential contribution to
what was becoming a successful business venture, was her 'unique idea'!</b></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzk-XpPc78z9ZRGn4Zrq6AEO5Zwxp9G4XPkxJZxfYaUqA2t2J3bEpiCPlDrENIkSD64zpm2FCHF_TJmhDYM0TQ3F8i-HoqhxTKjV2dWo_l0gwrCUzksSCEY9bQkRrSVBVp_975Tf8Y4P6/s1600/LauraAshley+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzk-XpPc78z9ZRGn4Zrq6AEO5Zwxp9G4XPkxJZxfYaUqA2t2J3bEpiCPlDrENIkSD64zpm2FCHF_TJmhDYM0TQ3F8i-HoqhxTKjV2dWo_l0gwrCUzksSCEY9bQkRrSVBVp_975Tf8Y4P6/s200/LauraAshley+001.jpg" width="166" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Coming from a Welsh non-conformist background,</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Laura Ashley had her
'puritanical' side. But
she was also a romantic, she loved the countryside and nature and she
was more drawn to the fashions of bye-gone ages than to the current
trends. She may have had some rather naive ideas about how a working
farmer's wife would have dressed in days of yore, but her dresses
were based on earlier styles and the fabric patterns were, at least to
begin with, mainly historical.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzk-XpPc78z9ZRGn4Zrq6AEO5Zwxp9G4XPkxJZxfYaUqA2t2J3bEpiCPlDrENIkSD64zpm2FCHF_TJmhDYM0TQ3F8i-HoqhxTKjV2dWo_l0gwrCUzksSCEY9bQkRrSVBVp_975Tf8Y4P6/s1600/LauraAshley+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>She firmly believed
that women were more interested in dressing to look beautiful than in
following the latest fashions. And she also took the view that the
more you cover up - long skirts, long sleeves etc - the more alluring
you will be! </b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Put those two beliefs together and you have the classic Laura Ashley dress of the late-Sixties and Seventies. </b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'Pretty but Prim' would
be how I would describe those early dresses that turned the Laura
Ashley brand into household name. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz-7VMEknNf99VmOW_fG6-T9eDcYphEXI9bBkiG-OwjbTvTmHUygj-an_v_Xs5vE2EHY4LChdjUbtiHxzPSF-ufJtEOgIoEnzkK2jLOCLXzOn6oNJj8faaDGUvsz7i4IVwMZyAxZ3btiM/s1600/LauraAshleyNightie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz-7VMEknNf99VmOW_fG6-T9eDcYphEXI9bBkiG-OwjbTvTmHUygj-an_v_Xs5vE2EHY4LChdjUbtiHxzPSF-ufJtEOgIoEnzkK2jLOCLXzOn6oNJj8faaDGUvsz7i4IVwMZyAxZ3btiM/s200/LauraAshleyNightie.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember my first visit to a Laura
Ashley dress shop, when I was staying with my sister-in-law in Oxford
- to me it was heaven on earth! In fact I never bought a Laura Ashley
dress because I loved dressmaking and made my own in similar styles.
But I do still have a full-length Laura Ashley nightdress, complete
with pin tucks, tiny, concealed, pearl buttons, and lace-trimmed high collar and
long sleeves. It's somewhat the worse for wear now but somehow I
don't want to turn it into a cleaning cloth so it stays at the bottom of my
drawer!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking back, it seems
strange now that the only fashion choices at that time were limited to
'bold geometric' or 'romantic with frills'! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today's fashion trends
are far more eclectic so that you could almost believe that 'anything
goes'. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But even so, I think those two main, sharply contrasting,
trends are still around.</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alongside the 'funky', 'quirky', sometimes
bordering on 'outrageous' fashions, you only need to delve into
Pinterest or visit an online store such as Etsy to see that
nostalgic, romantic and downright 'pretty' is still as popular as
ever.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHg23AerU4EnSgvv1bfXV004Y4rAmatWt1Rmnkc48xjycTYw3Aem81s4hg5NNrHblsnx52eY2tVNDTaRTqs6ooFhk2b18XI1RJysgLtX5XRAH_Xjf7rZzD3enFiHAHO9eSDLTTclkT83As/s1600/LauraAshleyWallpaper+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHg23AerU4EnSgvv1bfXV004Y4rAmatWt1Rmnkc48xjycTYw3Aem81s4hg5NNrHblsnx52eY2tVNDTaRTqs6ooFhk2b18XI1RJysgLtX5XRAH_Xjf7rZzD3enFiHAHO9eSDLTTclkT83As/s200/LauraAshleyWallpaper+001.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Of the two design
strands, the nostalgic, vintage 'look' is easier to live with in the
long-term. Eventually, in the 1980s, Laura Ashley branched out into
Home Furnishings. I'm only surprised she left it so long.</b> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I used
Laura Ashley Brick Red wallpaper on the staircase, above the dado
rail, in my Victorian home in Hereford. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the colour was the
perfect backdrop for the pictures I hung on that wall.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhv31gmdAbqaBW2ozyEh1l-8za9TMkbaLv2RMLE5fTeoLtLbSAEf5cmbEGX1sG96VQvtGVk6wN9p9rdf64epWvnQ25I8GJ8Wux2OEel4qFuio3O7VogbYVrmihi_PWKm2bPkAScn938jv/s1600/LauraAshleyTeaCosy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhv31gmdAbqaBW2ozyEh1l-8za9TMkbaLv2RMLE5fTeoLtLbSAEf5cmbEGX1sG96VQvtGVk6wN9p9rdf64epWvnQ25I8GJ8Wux2OEel4qFuio3O7VogbYVrmihi_PWKm2bPkAScn938jv/s200/LauraAshleyTeaCosy.jpg" width="165" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
I also still
use a Laura Ashley tea-cosy! Like all of her products, the quality is head and shoulders above most others.<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sadly, I've never found
a good replacement for my Laura Ashley heavy cotton lace curtains, that looked
fabulous, hung over slimline, navy blue Venetian Blinds, in three different
homes, from 1987 - 2013, when they finally started to fall apart, as you can see by the hole down near the hem!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3wucZTM0WJM9Yamz_6TW9My3Tl-VOQrqV35Z7jmPiy_DWUYCJjjV_2ywfuKU9P9nyjr0qdVP_eLFJRWJpg0A_quYDh5SDnaKiUqZ35Qx72qpuxKkT27-dT7Ow_GBTb0YPy_3r2X5Bzre/s1600/LauraAshleyCurtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3wucZTM0WJM9Yamz_6TW9My3Tl-VOQrqV35Z7jmPiy_DWUYCJjjV_2ywfuKU9P9nyjr0qdVP_eLFJRWJpg0A_quYDh5SDnaKiUqZ35Qx72qpuxKkT27-dT7Ow_GBTb0YPy_3r2X5Bzre/s320/LauraAshleyCurtain.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bright, bold and
minimalist is exciting, but perhaps more suitable for clothing than
for home furnishings, which we expect to last somewhat longer than a
dress, bought and worn today, possibly discarded a few months later! That is
not to say that the more 'modern' style doesn't look great in an
office building or a city apartment.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But for a home,
especially a period home, the vintage, 'shabby chic' is much more
comfortable to live with, day in day out, for a number of years.
</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm far from suggesting
that we decorate and furnish our homes as faithful replicas of times
gone by. But our surroundings do affect our mood and some of the more
outlandish patterns currently available seem to have an almost
'aggressive' feel to them. Whereas a few 'pretty things' can soften
the edges of our daily existence.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So here are a couple of
my Home Furnishings Collections - not exactly 'Laura Ashley' but also based on floral designs and patterns -</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>100+ Floral Coffee Mugs
- some ready to personalize:</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Click on the image
below to see the full Coffee Mug collection -</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/floral_coffee_mugs-119241650994715037?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Floral Coffee Mugs" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/floral_coffee_mugs_119241650994715037-r_zruem_60fiu_700.jpg" style="border: 0px;" />
</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/floral_coffee_mugs-119241650994715037?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Floral Coffee Mugs</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>100+ Floral Pillows or
Cushions - arranged by colour:</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Click on the image
below to see the full Pillow collection -</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/one_hundred_floral_pillows-119772018939507580?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="One Hundred Floral Pillows" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/one_hundred_floral_pillows_119772018939507580-r_zruem_j1eow_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/one_hundred_floral_pillows-119772018939507580?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">One Hundred Floral Pillows</a>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And just by the way, a
floral mug or throw pillow or cushion, would make a wonderful
Mother's Day gift or a birthday present for your mother!
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-60085303985081891452016-04-07T06:09:00.003-07:002016-04-07T06:12:20.440-07:00Indigo Bedroom and Bathroom Ideas for Gifts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF58IUTC8Sl_xOSL2S7TIlrIoL5GLNPjoeN5f3fqsgpRjKrz5WiEKjn7mOKssoYxEyvkhT-njyeQWAyc3kXaVjQebEfkNmA1ZrYn-_UHY9vF03kOZISkImoQto2Bbt24loESWADLt3Nxzy/s1600/Indigobanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF58IUTC8Sl_xOSL2S7TIlrIoL5GLNPjoeN5f3fqsgpRjKrz5WiEKjn7mOKssoYxEyvkhT-njyeQWAyc3kXaVjQebEfkNmA1ZrYn-_UHY9vF03kOZISkImoQto2Bbt24loESWADLt3Nxzy/s640/Indigobanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blue and white is a
perennial favourite when it comes to home accessories and fashion.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHmG7F76NZMG9zkCttHh6La03Cxyfsg7Y6YZ95fJMqfTQuMMYXCaYFlf63c8eY0NEfPPwP-ie440VxwQvLPynUUWvckagrbMFBfRq0bTM3AhWtoF5T49ikQZkThFL4ngBpGiz5sjTiXmT/s1600/Cornish.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHmG7F76NZMG9zkCttHh6La03Cxyfsg7Y6YZ95fJMqfTQuMMYXCaYFlf63c8eY0NEfPPwP-ie440VxwQvLPynUUWvckagrbMFBfRq0bTM3AhWtoF5T49ikQZkThFL4ngBpGiz5sjTiXmT/s200/Cornish.jpe" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whether it's the
bright, light blue and white stripes of the famous 'Cornishware', a
softer light blue that paints a 'coastal' atmosphere, the royal blue
and white of 'Willow Pattern' china . . . or the darker blues found
in so many ethnic patterns, blue and white is always popular!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHmG7F76NZMG9zkCttHh6La03Cxyfsg7Y6YZ95fJMqfTQuMMYXCaYFlf63c8eY0NEfPPwP-ie440VxwQvLPynUUWvckagrbMFBfRq0bTM3AhWtoF5T49ikQZkThFL4ngBpGiz5sjTiXmT/s1600/Cornish.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Just at the moment it's
the deep, rich Indigo Blue that is particularly trending.</b> I wrote a
blog post all about <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-colour-indigo.html">'The colour Indigo'</a> a while back so I won't repeat myself
here.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b2oPz0uNtjqrydoID74BoeOb18YMbgIZ_I3QyLhr-JB8Au7kJ0aX97IoXoNJbzD91Ct6vHd7RLZQwZYlsrnsPdh0GcFVG8yySoxFa68dYm4vIMMVitQojPn5nfIsfdEEjUBovR1zFF-A/s1600/IndigoExtreme.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b2oPz0uNtjqrydoID74BoeOb18YMbgIZ_I3QyLhr-JB8Au7kJ0aX97IoXoNJbzD91Ct6vHd7RLZQwZYlsrnsPdh0GcFVG8yySoxFa68dYm4vIMMVitQojPn5nfIsfdEEjUBovR1zFF-A/s320/IndigoExtreme.JPG" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Patternbank website</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Indigo and White
combination will suit almost any type of home decorating
environment, adding an intriguing hint of the exotic - and there are very few people who don't look good in blue! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm currently working
on a new Indigo pattern to submit to Patternbank but I'm already well ahead of the curve with this pattern that I created last year!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>This is how it started! </b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just some doodles on scrap paper while I watched television . . .</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmf6gMIYeXDGjp6M1Qb9748I_IurjgFCoxrBf3jKy_ZjPFoc1tz70j-ANaF_oij6njTq5Vmb6YVr7m54Sn14-9rXTfZXEDeqJWZcKZJXn5qmN4H8FscUlHO6AofTW9ZdUKdVNRPt88AUE/s1600/indigoscan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmf6gMIYeXDGjp6M1Qb9748I_IurjgFCoxrBf3jKy_ZjPFoc1tz70j-ANaF_oij6njTq5Vmb6YVr7m54Sn14-9rXTfZXEDeqJWZcKZJXn5qmN4H8FscUlHO6AofTW9ZdUKdVNRPt88AUE/s200/indigoscan.png" width="137" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31A0J_L1LFac6NXajCy2iFJXyLzvu46tlsNUdsT91vcWFduRdPey8QzjVLEVtgwUSlgxv4FqRLgFp2DsD16i07JquZeZyXhoXj2DZMMq-B8BMcpIGmLdayBGvNdCvWZGCgX7vpc9kFKYM/s1600/indigoscanblue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31A0J_L1LFac6NXajCy2iFJXyLzvu46tlsNUdsT91vcWFduRdPey8QzjVLEVtgwUSlgxv4FqRLgFp2DsD16i07JquZeZyXhoXj2DZMMq-B8BMcpIGmLdayBGvNdCvWZGCgX7vpc9kFKYM/s200/indigoscanblue.png" width="137" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But that was the easy
part - developing those doodles into a collection of coordinating
patterns took a bit more time and thought!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Here's the original,
"main" pattern -</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-256832181865635953?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pretty Indigo Blue Ethnic Floral Print Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pretty_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-rb169289ad72840cc9ba56525d40e7f89_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-256832181865635953?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Pretty Indigo Blue Ethnic Floral Print
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Next I took
two of the motifs and made a new pattern from them -</i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-256987185802149613?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pretty Indigo Blue Ethnic Floral Print Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pretty_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-r5e413a6649ba46648b99e74dd4deeef1_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-256987185802149613?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Pretty Indigo Blue Ethnic Floral Print
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> - and then
reversed the colours, and set them on a soft denim blue background:</i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/chic_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-256028137475338483?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Chic Indigo Blue Ethnic Floral Print Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/chic_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-r45437eb6f699479ea1109347ff20216f_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/chic_indigo_blue_ethnic_floral_print_fabric-256028137475338483?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Chic Indigo Blue Ethnic Floral Print
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>As usual I
made a stripe and a check to coordinate with the main patterns -</i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Ticking
Stripe</i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/indigo_blue_and_white_ticking_striped_fabric-256296337462773078?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Indigo Blue and White Ticking Striped Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/indigo_blue_and_white_ticking_striped_fabric-r8d18fdea0d25470ca4812694d6425afb_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/indigo_blue_and_white_ticking_striped_fabric-256296337462773078?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Indigo Blue and White Ticking Striped
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Preppy
Check</i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/chic_indigo_blue_white_preppy_check_fabric-256224391197075540?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Chic Indigo Blue White Preppy Check Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/chic_indigo_blue_white_preppy_check_fabric-r1f3e69cbdf624d6cb22ba90cbf73f9f4_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/chic_indigo_blue_white_preppy_check_fabric-256224391197075540?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Chic Indigo Blue White Preppy Check
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>And finally,
a Faux Patchwork that included a little pattern that I didn't much
like on its own but which seemed to fit well into the patchwork -</i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/nostalgic_indigo_blue_faux_patchwork_fabric-256258749518630717?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Nostalgic Indigo Blue Faux Patchwork Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/nostalgic_indigo_blue_faux_patchwork_fabric-rd84dbc82fa1a4bf89b66fbe694647d65_zl6qf_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/nostalgic_indigo_blue_faux_patchwork_fabric-256258749518630717?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Nostalgic Indigo Blue Faux Patchwork
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Last year I
set myself the goal of learning to create border patterns in
Photoshop, complete with 'corners' because I love patterned borders!</b>
And with a bit of trial and error, I finally found a way to do it
that was not too complicated -</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_jewelry_box_premium_gift_box-135786662562567574?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Jewelry Box Premium Gift
Box" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_jewelry_box_premium_gift_box-r34160f99961242a0a15f4b83de2d28f7_agn16_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_jewelry_box_premium_gift_box-135786662562567574?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Jewelry
Box Premium Gift Box</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_bone_china_mug_tea_cup-183956531846883304?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Bone China Mug Tea Cup" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_bone_china_mug_tea_cup-rf4409a47700d4d4482969f1513a644aa_2wnl2_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_bone_china_mug_tea_cup-183956531846883304?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Bone
China Mug Tea Cup</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_cutting_board-256997323810422973?view=113998037700530083&rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Cutting Board" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_cutting_board-r05365e7d99c74cbba07656c885d2dcb5_i98jn_8byvr_325.jpg?bg=0xffffff" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_cutting_board-256997323810422973?view=113998037700530083&rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Cutting
Board</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So then I
moved on to the next challenge - a circular border! A little more
tricky but I got there in the end and I hope you'll agree it was
worth the effort!</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_on_white_floral_border_wall_clock-256325006011387429?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Indigo on White Floral Border Wall Clock" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_indigo_on_white_floral_border_wall_clock-r5868bd1f8fde45c58cd9f310465d532b_fup13_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_on_white_floral_border_wall_clock-256325006011387429?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Indigo on White Floral Border
Wall Clock</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_round_pouf-256497694393515458?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Round Pouf" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_round_pouf-ra9d4b3033d244dec97519238b554183e_z6dh6_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_indigo_blue_floral_border_round_pouf-256497694393515458?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Indigo Blue Floral Border Round
Pouf</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altogether,
I created more than 500 'Indigo' products for my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*/Indigo">Posh and Painterly</a> Zazzle
store - everything
from cases to cushions, many of them ready to customize. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So here's a
Collection of just a handful of them that I think would make great gifts -</b></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/indigo-119187411242007379?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Indigo" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/indigo_119187411242007379-r_zruem_j0jl7_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/indigo-119187411242007379?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Indigo</a> </span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I've also
collected together some Bedroom and Bathroom 'Indigo' products
because blue and white is so fresh and clean for a bathroom, while
blue is said to have a calming effect, making it the an excellent
choice for a bedroom:</b></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/indigo_bathrooms_and_bedrooms-119003771555733258?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Indigo Bathrooms and Bedrooms" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/indigo_bathrooms_and_bedrooms_119003771555733258-r_zruem_6j3ua_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/indigo_bathrooms_and_bedrooms-119003771555733258?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Indigo Bathrooms and Bedrooms</a>
</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As ever, I
have not been able to include every available product with each
and every pattern. But if you see a pattern you like but it's on the
wrong product, I'd be happy to create a new product for you with the
pattern of your choice, at no extra cost. Just contact me through my
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly/gifts?st=popularity&sr=250007025222280895&cg=196043802507444828&pg=1&sd=desc">Posh & Painterly</a> Zazzle store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Indigo may
be forecast to trend next Autumn and Winter and it's always good to
be ahead of the fashion. But Indigo and White never really goes out
of style! I'm sure you will know someone who would love an 'Indigo'
gift - maybe for a birthday or Christmas present or even as a Wedding
Gift! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Or you could just treat yourself to 'a little bit of what you
fancy'?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF58IUTC8Sl_xOSL2S7TIlrIoL5GLNPjoeN5f3fqsgpRjKrz5WiEKjn7mOKssoYxEyvkhT-njyeQWAyc3kXaVjQebEfkNmA1ZrYn-_UHY9vF03kOZISkImoQto2Bbt24loESWADLt3Nxzy/s1600/Indigobanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF58IUTC8Sl_xOSL2S7TIlrIoL5GLNPjoeN5f3fqsgpRjKrz5WiEKjn7mOKssoYxEyvkhT-njyeQWAyc3kXaVjQebEfkNmA1ZrYn-_UHY9vF03kOZISkImoQto2Bbt24loESWADLt3Nxzy/s400/Indigobanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may also
be interested to read this blog post: </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/something-borrowed-something-monaco-blue.html">'Something Blue'</a></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-401634603620691512016-03-24T07:35:00.001-07:002016-03-24T07:35:36.601-07:00Tips for a Budget Spring Home Decor Makeover <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemSbh_R1CVMde_QHiZyUcb2ZkyYjmVSm_s7y8Q5uYQteWChIPteJ6CJO0rAtWISqZpuSo-HQ_z78FB8aIrrzs8ra3xRMyD9OT7kI6NBWthAXyZjrCldhfRHhLHb-S-PQydzMF_rC5_ULi/s1600/BannerRosyPosyFabrics.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemSbh_R1CVMde_QHiZyUcb2ZkyYjmVSm_s7y8Q5uYQteWChIPteJ6CJO0rAtWISqZpuSo-HQ_z78FB8aIrrzs8ra3xRMyD9OT7kI6NBWthAXyZjrCldhfRHhLHb-S-PQydzMF_rC5_ULi/s640/BannerRosyPosyFabrics.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now that we're beginning to see signs of spring and the days become, hopefully, lighter and
longer, the bright sunshine can make our homes begin to look a little 'tired' and in need of
refreshment. So, because our surroundings are so important to our
mood, I'm going to suggest some ways we can revive and refresh them
without breaking the bank!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we're lucky enough
to get a sunny springtime, the downside is that the sunlight can show up
all sorts of little defects that we didn't notice in the winter. It's with good
reason that we talk about 'Spring-cleaning' and not 'Summer-, Winter-
or Autumn-Cleaning'.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several world religions
traditionally incorporate a good, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_cleaning">thorough house-clean</a> into their New
Year celebrations. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read about the
traditional Spring-clean that is part of the Persian New Year or
Nowruz <a href="http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2015/mar/16/nowruz-traditions-persian-new-year">HERE</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(It's also traditional
to spring-clean the home in readiness for the Hindu festival of
Diwali - though that falls in the Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But suppose we decide
that our home needs something more than just an extra-good clean?</b> What if the change of year has instilled in us a wish for a more
fundamental change - some redecorating, maybe, some new soft
furnishings? An exciting, but possibly also a daunting thought,
especially if we don't have a lot of money to spend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope to be able to
show you that with careful planning, you can achieve a fresh new look
for any room, even if your bank balance is still reeling from your Christmas expenses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>First of all, a couple
of very general tips about planning your home decor.</b> (If you already
know exactly how you want your room to look, you can skip this
section!)</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Generally speaking,
horizontal lines and shapes give a more restful ambience. You can use
this to good effect in furniture, patterned wallpaper, rugs and
carpets and even in the art that you hang on your walls.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Diagonal lines, such as
in chevrons, can have the opposite effect - ie stimulating. So, for
instance, you could achieve a calming, restful bedroom or bathroom
with the accent on horizontal lines and use diagonals or chevrons for
a shower room where you may feel you need an enlivening effect. (I've
read that the seaside is the best place to be if you are anxious
because the lines of the beach and sea are horizontal, while the
zigzag effect of mountains is better for depression!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2.There are plenty of
websites that explain the use of colour for psychological effect in
our homes. Here is just one with a useful diagram - though I would
disagree about the bedroom. Blue is generally thought to be the most
restful colour for a bedroom. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fR-qZHOf6IwjqgEwSXlBVXCyf5l1-PKDgCNqsRkNp9QjJaoNPel4WXN6IKJPLDAVh_h7L6BXbLILjBoL8nFeHqDzxl4_oe85M2Jel5kvBUlOkB6r5PJ5jQOapwslJ5ga-Oseu4dfkqtn/s1600/room-color-psychology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fR-qZHOf6IwjqgEwSXlBVXCyf5l1-PKDgCNqsRkNp9QjJaoNPel4WXN6IKJPLDAVh_h7L6BXbLILjBoL8nFeHqDzxl4_oe85M2Jel5kvBUlOkB6r5PJ5jQOapwslJ5ga-Oseu4dfkqtn/s400/room-color-psychology.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Image from the <a href="http://freshome.com/room-color-and-how-it-affects-your-mood/">'Freshome'</a> website</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>When I was studying
Interior Design, we spent months on the Colour Theory module.</b> I
learned about all the various special names for the different colour
combinations - triadic, split complementary and so on. Here they are on this excellent blog: <a href="https://coloursandmaterials.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/colour-system/">'Colours and Materials'</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I proudly showed some of my colour schemes for
rooms that I had based on these theories, to an experienced Interior Designer,
he winced and asked me whether I'd actually like to live with any of
them - and of course, the answer was a resounding 'no'! So much for colour theory!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But in the course of
gutting and refurbishing the several large Victorian and Edwardian homes that I've lived in, I've developed a
'colour theory' that works for me and you might be </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">interested to try it.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So here's my top secret colour scheming tip!</b> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I
make a 'mood board' for each area of the house, with snippets of
wallpaper, fabric, photos cut out of magazines etc,
I try to make sure that, one way or another, I include some Red,
Blue, Green and Yellow. That way I achieve a harmonious, balanced
effect.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before you raise your
eyebrows in horror, I don't end up with horribly garish rooms and
this is why:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>- I don't
include equal amounts of each colour in any room.</b> I choose a main
colour, according to the room's function. And then I add in smaller amounts or maybe just accents of the other colours.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>- Also, I rarely use the
fully saturated primary or secondary colour.</b> What does that mean in
practical terms? Here are some examples from my home -</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Red</b> can be terracotta
floor tiles or any shade of pink or red/orange spice colours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Yellow</b> can be light
'yellowish' woodwork, or, as in my kitchen, maple-effect worktops. Or
the various shades of cream, 'natural' colours like 'wheat' or
'oatmeal' or 'sandy' yellows for walls or flooring. The 'sandy' colour pictured here is by Laura Ashley but you can find similar colours in most paint charts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Brass ornaments
and accessories such as coal buckets also count as 'yellow'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm7pNxYs82PmirvGHxwqNWMM1l-xPp57eSu5j8iF1cyERJLGRhnY77A8wAsmOZZ0fC-aKbOsPesy9lo2uqCU8IStL2SihfUTLea96enxiAtVLXHYTL37AP4xHTsb5W0yWdCDdYnLEVOlA/s1600/SndPaint.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Green</b> is most often
provided by houseplants or landscape paintings.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Blue</b> can often provided by collections of blue and white china, either on
shelves or hung on the walls.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFeB9yVap6yT4dIK0ws929KsYgx0iuCmKqQABKFtZPZ1H7kx9V7RDcHvA3-rwV2sXK5SoD8NquUgmwjFkqB2YRzuP50kvEPOoTRZ0s0bQWAe02E9yFdyeLtW5mPl9XGPwu8dtgLNz-Qhx/s1600/showerroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFeB9yVap6yT4dIK0ws929KsYgx0iuCmKqQABKFtZPZ1H7kx9V7RDcHvA3-rwV2sXK5SoD8NquUgmwjFkqB2YRzuP50kvEPOoTRZ0s0bQWAe02E9yFdyeLtW5mPl9XGPwu8dtgLNz-Qhx/s200/showerroom.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In my shower room, for
example, the walls are an Edwardian shade of green, the floor tiles
are light blue, the stool and the loo-seat are a yellowish pine
colour and the towels are burnt orange (red) as are the candles. The
Paul Klee print hung on the wall brings all these colours together. And
it's all set off by white tiles and paintwork- but that's just me, I
love white, but too much of it leaves a house of the age of mine
looking rather 'undressed', except in the bathrooms!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFeB9yVap6yT4dIK0ws929KsYgx0iuCmKqQABKFtZPZ1H7kx9V7RDcHvA3-rwV2sXK5SoD8NquUgmwjFkqB2YRzuP50kvEPOoTRZ0s0bQWAe02E9yFdyeLtW5mPl9XGPwu8dtgLNz-Qhx/s1600/showerroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So how can we apply all
this 'theory' to planning our home makeover? </b>Well, it rather depends
on how much of a change you want. Do you need to completely
redecorate? Really? You might well be able to achieve a fresh new look
by just changing some of the accessories. It's up to you. But in any
case, I suggest you make a mood board. You can either do it the
old-fashioned way with a physical clipboard and paper; or digitally, collecting together items for consideration on a site such as Pinterest
or Polyvore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Decide on the the
main colour in your scheme - red, blue, green or yellow? </b>Spend some time looking through 'home decor' magazines and searching the internet and you'll soon come to recognize the colours you are drawn to. But</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> if you still need inspiration, and you're looking to follow the latest trends, why not check the
Pantone colours for the coming year? This year, there are two Pantone
'colours of the year' - Quartz Pink and Serenity (Blue). Read all
about them here - <a href="http://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2016">Pantone Colour of the Year, 2016</a></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>You may have noticed
that my 'Rosy Posy' Fabric Collection at the top of this post,
features some pinks and blues.</b> And this could be a
starting point for your makeover, especially if you're looking to achieve a pretty 'country' look. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But wait, if you look closely, the
main 'Rosy Posy' pattern contains not only pink (the 'red' element)
and light blue in some of the backgrounds and coordinates, but there are also hints of yellow in
the dog rose centres and green in the leaves - making up a nicely
balanced colour composition!</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5FkhtZAfsM9MW3CDvYGo5j1HoLjxaXumIepVTrYYYsgN8VPificwmmdWJtBfJUJOqg7URH5VXOCixw59E74QDkSexatiEsei9tLZf70f1SGBHzXd4XwTYIKStfn875gSv74xzfST6EZH/s1600/DogRoseCuttingBoardBorder.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5FkhtZAfsM9MW3CDvYGo5j1HoLjxaXumIepVTrYYYsgN8VPificwmmdWJtBfJUJOqg7URH5VXOCixw59E74QDkSexatiEsei9tLZf70f1SGBHzXd4XwTYIKStfn875gSv74xzfST6EZH/s400/DogRoseCuttingBoardBorder.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are planning a complete makeover, including walls and flooring, the background colours
to the four main patterns - white, deep blue, pale sky blue and taupe
may suggest ideas for your walls, carpets or main furniture
coverings. And if you choose one or more 'Rosy Posy' items, you can rest
assured that any accessories or fabrics you choose from the
collections below, will harmonize with the overall scheme. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So here are my four 'Rosy Posy' collections - </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>1. A very pretty and feminine collection of coordinating fabrics based on a Dog Rose theme, named 'Rosy Posy'.</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Available in seven different types of fabric, these floral patterns are suitable for home decor, dress-making and craft projects as well as being the perfect starting point for a patchwork quilt. As well as ordering by the yard, fat quarters and swatches are also available. The original Dog Rose design was created from a hand-painted paper collage and many products with the dainty 'Rosy Posy' patterns are available in my Posh and Painterly store.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_dog_rose_fabrics-119319356389828677?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="'Rosy Posy' Dog Rose Fabrics" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/rosy_posy_dog_rose_fabrics_119319356389828677-r_zruem_jnqox_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_dog_rose_fabrics-119319356389828677?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">'Rosy Posy' Dog Rose Fabrics</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>2. A pretty collection of coordinating accessories for the Bedroom or Bathroom in a vintage, shabby chic style.</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Excellent as gifts, the pattern of pink and white Dog Roses on white, taupe, deep blue and sky blue backgrounds is from a hand-painted paper collage by Judy Adamson and you can see the full range of 'Rosy Posy' gifts and greeting cards in my Posh and Painterly Zazzle store.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></div>
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<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_bedroom_and_bathroom-119248033869653917?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Rosy Posy Bedroom and Bathroom" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/rosy_posy_bedroom_and_bathroom_119248033869653917-r_zruem_jqv14_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_bedroom_and_bathroom-119248033869653917?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Rosy Posy Bedroom and Bathroom</a> </span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Create a nostalgic, shabby chic look</b> with this pretty and feminine collection of coordinating kitchen and dining products, with Dog Rose patterns in pastel shades. Just a small selection of delightful products from the Posh & Painterly 'Rosy Posy' collection by Judy Adamson. Visit my Posh and Painterly Store and select Floral Mini-prints to see the full collection of 'Rosy Posy' Greeting Cards and Products.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></div>
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<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_kitchen_and_dining_collection-119763054080441671?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Rosy Posy Kitchen and Dining Collection" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/rosy_posy_kitchen_and_dining_collection_119763054080441671-r_zruem_jncdc_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_kitchen_and_dining_collection-119763054080441671?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Rosy Posy Kitchen and Dining Collection</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Here's another collection of pretty and feminine, coordinating home decor products with Dog Rose patterns in pastel shades.</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just a sample of charming products to mix and match, from the Posh and Painterly 'Rosy Posy' collection by Judy Adamson. Be sure to check out my Posh & Painterly Store and select Floral Mini-prints to see the full collection of 'Rosy Posy' Greeting Cards and Products.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></div>
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<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_home_decor-119292540496402265?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Rosy Posy Home Decor" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/rosy_posy_home_decor_119292540496402265-r_zruem_jqci0_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_home_decor-119292540496402265?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Rosy Posy Home Decor</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I very much hope that
you have found these home decorating tips useful!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And if you're interested in reading
about the chance in a million that brought my 'Rosy Posy' pattern
into being, you can read all about it in my earlier <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014_07_01_archive.html">b</a>log post,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/from-traffic-hazard-to-mini-print-my.html">From Traffic Hazard to Mini-Print -</a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/from-traffic-hazard-to-mini-print-my.html">My 'Rosy Posy' Collection</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysV6KmB7mlGuZ3FGUC1rnWl-zEsDFxtv-XBW4yN5FFkBa3j6yRV0XtAKM9bSY2PR3-gyfu5oi_GvgzHezal4OZAsc11xMGbES3GJWZ1tdy_vUWvutDsm6icOOqgolruVb4rPaLZ5Szkvs/s1600/BannerRosyPosyFabrics.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysV6KmB7mlGuZ3FGUC1rnWl-zEsDFxtv-XBW4yN5FFkBa3j6yRV0XtAKM9bSY2PR3-gyfu5oi_GvgzHezal4OZAsc11xMGbES3GJWZ1tdy_vUWvutDsm6icOOqgolruVb4rPaLZ5Szkvs/s400/BannerRosyPosyFabrics.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-68796420304894788812016-03-10T06:30:00.000-08:002016-03-10T06:30:57.725-08:00How to Make a Quick and Easy Quilted Patchwork<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFsWvqVyP-AtziZtDjtphYBsoo6JkMwDx04_tt9887fCdC63AnzVBSU5bv8BNRiaQWuxYfAzMSoep0yGAWWIIcpOzXsIOqY6kcZMM6b29s98fG44ojNKFKWMHQAYrDNI7YXkCArBDQ2pI/s1600/Bannerbluemoonschevrons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Periwinkle Blue Faux Patchwork Pattern" border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFsWvqVyP-AtziZtDjtphYBsoo6JkMwDx04_tt9887fCdC63AnzVBSU5bv8BNRiaQWuxYfAzMSoep0yGAWWIIcpOzXsIOqY6kcZMM6b29s98fG44ojNKFKWMHQAYrDNI7YXkCArBDQ2pI/s640/Bannerbluemoonschevrons.jpg" title="Periwinkle Faux Patchwork Pattern" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Periwinkle Patch Faux Patchwork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sewing patchwork by
hand is known to be a great stress-reliever.</span> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And, although I've never
joined a patchwork/quilting group myself, I can well imagine that
getting together to work on a communal quilt would be both relaxing
and convivial!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>However, there may be
times when we would like to create something in patchwork, for a gift
maybe, but we don't have hours and hours available to sit and sew. So
I'm going to show you a way around that, using Faux Patchwork!</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmneyZ6xlMsbDWeHeUG_Qj4rU30spazLKxNI4A631n9L4csZx3c4Nztmxd4syviZPfHhyfOeHKdCpKN6FKgPdojFqmqFMr6n0S9jHL23Nw9jQ_EtY6ias6fV0KRfJET1T3cFAzt7zCyV78/s1600/newduvetetc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmneyZ6xlMsbDWeHeUG_Qj4rU30spazLKxNI4A631n9L4csZx3c4Nztmxd4syviZPfHhyfOeHKdCpKN6FKgPdojFqmqFMr6n0S9jHL23Nw9jQ_EtY6ias6fV0KRfJET1T3cFAzt7zCyV78/s200/newduvetetc.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BHS Duvet Set</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Faux Patchwork is
enjoying something of a revival at the moment, though it never really
goes out of fashion. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a duvet set I bought for myself not long
ago -</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And there are plenty more on the <a href="http://www.bhs.co.uk/en/bhuk/category/home-lighting-furniture-2565866/bedding-sets-4087560">British Home Stores</a> website!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aren't they gorgeous!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmneyZ6xlMsbDWeHeUG_Qj4rU30spazLKxNI4A631n9L4csZx3c4Nztmxd4syviZPfHhyfOeHKdCpKN6FKgPdojFqmqFMr6n0S9jHL23Nw9jQ_EtY6ias6fV0KRfJET1T3cFAzt7zCyV78/s1600/newduvetetc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>My love of patchwork
often leads me to create a faux patchwork pattern when I make a new pattern collection. </b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnyMt0k2SuGBUyMCXMoi__mMRCF3faWAuct_xjgXu85o2EJBkYBgdJcUT0hSKYqYv48P8RzR4B7p1ZYsp30MFh1ldjlziKHo2LepgGdLYfNqTM_fRh0nzi1mTr_D7YpkvHAPTnIUbDHZ1/s1600/faux_patchwork_pink_blue_apple_blossom_patterns_tablecloth-r75f3671c6e284247ade3d86baada2b90_zprn6_325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Apple Blossom Faux Patchwork Tablecloth from Zazzle" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnyMt0k2SuGBUyMCXMoi__mMRCF3faWAuct_xjgXu85o2EJBkYBgdJcUT0hSKYqYv48P8RzR4B7p1ZYsp30MFh1ldjlziKHo2LepgGdLYfNqTM_fRh0nzi1mTr_D7YpkvHAPTnIUbDHZ1/s200/faux_patchwork_pink_blue_apple_blossom_patterns_tablecloth-r75f3671c6e284247ade3d86baada2b90_zprn6_325.jpg" title="Apple Blossom Faux Patchwork Tablecloth" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/faux_patchwork_pink_blue_apple_blossom_patterns_tablecloth-256401823977429758?rf=238041988035411422">Apple Blossom Faux Patchwork<br />Tablecloth from Zazzle</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I use them to create pillows/cushions for sale on Zazzle
and other similar print-on-demand stores - and also table linen,
shower curtains, all sorts of homeware and fashion accessories such
as Messenger Bags - and more recently, fabrics, by the yard, swatch
or fat quarter.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In fact I recently sold
a smartphone case with one of my faux patchwork designs:
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/green_shamrocks_faux_patchwork_samsung_galaxy_s5_galaxy_s5_case-179219701328090492?rf=238041988035411422"> <img alt="Green Shamrocks Faux Patchwork Samsung Galaxy S5 Galaxy S5
Case" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/green_shamrocks_faux_patchwork_samsung_galaxy_s5_galaxy_s5_case-r36c4a76714c34d5ca9a83f2a1327c4b3_z7op9_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/green_shamrocks_faux_patchwork_samsung_galaxy_s5_galaxy_s5_case-179219701328090492?rf=238041988035411422">Green Shamrocks Faux Patchwork Samsung Galaxy S5 Galaxy S5
Case</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And here are the
pillows or cushions I've made so far -
</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click on the image to see the whole Collection of Faux Patchwork Pillows</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/pillows_with_faux_patchwork_patterns-119368677185501204?rf=238041988035411422"> <img alt="Pillows with Faux Patchwork Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pillows_with_faux_patchwork_patterns_119368677185501204-r_zruem_6x9ba_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/pillows_with_faux_patchwork_patterns-119368677185501204?rf=238041988035411422"> </a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...<span style="font-size: large;">...</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span><span style="font-size: large;">...</span>...</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcSW6D-GCCl_fd7jZcw9YkeVTd_iWFOO-zptxljYXgNoDt_LJHS-1kfJxL8ol82wfvIiwhAm3Q591d1_CGCf1C6c5MBWD7WY6jCy5hQ3NNPypTa5dB-t61Tds1PZ84QLI2Gnu324s3WeT/s1600/egyptian_tribal_faux_patchwork_pillow_or_cushion-r2140ff0e951447dc9e310ec1dda94905_i5fqz_8byvr_325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Egyptian Faux Patchwork Pillow or Cushion from Zazzle" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcSW6D-GCCl_fd7jZcw9YkeVTd_iWFOO-zptxljYXgNoDt_LJHS-1kfJxL8ol82wfvIiwhAm3Q591d1_CGCf1C6c5MBWD7WY6jCy5hQ3NNPypTa5dB-t61Tds1PZ84QLI2Gnu324s3WeT/s200/egyptian_tribal_faux_patchwork_pillow_or_cushion-r2140ff0e951447dc9e310ec1dda94905_i5fqz_8byvr_325.jpg" title="Egyptian Faux Patchwork Pillow or Cushion" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/egyptian_tribal_faux_patchwork_pillow_or_cushion-189310545262068018?rf=238041988035411422">Egyptian Faux Patchwork Pillow<br />from Zazzle</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I sent my daughter one
of these Faux Patchwork pillows recently, as part of her birthday
present. </b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And while we were talking about it, the idea came up that it
wouldn't be too difficult to quilt the fabric by adding some batting
and stitching along the lines in the pattern. With all the awkward
angles, it might be easier to do it by hand than by machine, I think.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcSW6D-GCCl_fd7jZcw9YkeVTd_iWFOO-zptxljYXgNoDt_LJHS-1kfJxL8ol82wfvIiwhAm3Q591d1_CGCf1C6c5MBWD7WY6jCy5hQ3NNPypTa5dB-t61Tds1PZ84QLI2Gnu324s3WeT/s1600/egyptian_tribal_faux_patchwork_pillow_or_cushion-r2140ff0e951447dc9e310ec1dda94905_i5fqz_8byvr_325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then, the internet
being an incredible source of 'how to' information, I came across
a very useful blog post. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The article below gives you
all you need to know about making a faux 'Faux Patchwork' using a
sewing machine!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://craftsnob.com/2013/08/bite-sized-sewing-how-to-make-a-faux-patchwork-quilt/">Faux Patchwork Cheat Sheet</a></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">from
Craftsnob.com</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, in case I've sparked your interest in making a quick and easy Faux Patchwork, I've created a <a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/judyadamson/faux-patchwork-fabrics/">Pinterest board with all of my faux patchwork fabrics</a> that are available from
my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly/faux%20patchwork%20fabrics?dp=252285611358564502">Posh and Painterly</a> Zazzle store - so far! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm sure I'll be adding
more from time to time - everything from pretty pastel florals to
bold ethnic patterns.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVIb0eGJ00SG7da30vASZJLXH_EBY2ypNHxmYM-IFm9PR7-Te40dZeDktZqXkuYoOpSUriCzr88E4EFoWqyr8fLYYlNPZ6-GIS_o_0p3yzdcjLo0F95dnIHIrPysKIx1RWF3pp99SVyKA/s1600/Pinterestfauxpatchwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Faux Patchwork Fabrics on Pinterest" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVIb0eGJ00SG7da30vASZJLXH_EBY2ypNHxmYM-IFm9PR7-Te40dZeDktZqXkuYoOpSUriCzr88E4EFoWqyr8fLYYlNPZ6-GIS_o_0p3yzdcjLo0F95dnIHIrPysKIx1RWF3pp99SVyKA/s400/Pinterestfauxpatchwork.JPG" title="Faux Patchwork Fabrics on Pinterest" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I've worked out that a
yard of 54" wide fabric is enough to make three 16" pillows
or cushions, allowing for generous seams. But here, too, is a very useful article about the
standard sizes of other common quilts -</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://bcquilter.wordpress.com/quilting-information/common-quilt-sizes/">Common Quilt Sizes</a></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So now you know how to
cheat at patchwork quilting!</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">...</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can purchase my
faux patchwork fabrics, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as well as many other fabrics, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">from my </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*/faux%20patchwork%20fabrics">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Zazzle store</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of them are also
available</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> from</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wovenmonkey.com/designers/poshandpainterly/">Woven Monkey</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and I'm adding more whenever I get time!</span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-58538124512199154372016-02-25T06:36:00.001-08:002016-02-25T06:36:27.117-08:00How to Mix and Match Fabrics for Crafts and Girls' Dresses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4ROuuJ2JvR37SkUS240dU7AnVl6RwD9BRBSIV8ZEDaW0tQFdk6z0SnnKUcSJ0I63bzTpIdCmvk70ev6kXrmay4MBXTspXTqb-HMxtuOyDNCywxi3kscfKnhgjmiPArXviJw62bbC5J1V/s1600/fruittrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4ROuuJ2JvR37SkUS240dU7AnVl6RwD9BRBSIV8ZEDaW0tQFdk6z0SnnKUcSJ0I63bzTpIdCmvk70ev6kXrmay4MBXTspXTqb-HMxtuOyDNCywxi3kscfKnhgjmiPArXviJw62bbC5J1V/s640/fruittrees.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH9mHXWpL96YgjDIWDhkKQ6lBBnSaETY3JJtRTVlA85qqV42Z97MDtKA7u0nKTKaENECvdTb4mYN6CWcvKGegWB3aZmG_-2n7b5t0C4RXZj8mM2a51mRZL-vwsYGJaV86ferbhXphvbf_/s1600/appleblossom3+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH9mHXWpL96YgjDIWDhkKQ6lBBnSaETY3JJtRTVlA85qqV42Z97MDtKA7u0nKTKaENECvdTb4mYN6CWcvKGegWB3aZmG_-2n7b5t0C4RXZj8mM2a51mRZL-vwsYGJaV86ferbhXphvbf_/s200/appleblossom3+copy.png" width="131" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sadly I don't think I
shall see much blossom on my fruit trees this spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">As you can probably see from the photo above, they've just been subjected to a much overdue pruning this week!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2VHAEgqGu_JZQJKbvsHrhFzHLK1o-SHEjY7kAUepucDnoqA4gS6XFOW3gdbH2XYEr5tFs7dRT3Wh5yScyykQncYv6_1fEwgbLIbJs-GVgipYwtJqElyPh7WSc_ep7WWjnl74z0bnaBMr/s1600/appleblossom1+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2VHAEgqGu_JZQJKbvsHrhFzHLK1o-SHEjY7kAUepucDnoqA4gS6XFOW3gdbH2XYEr5tFs7dRT3Wh5yScyykQncYv6_1fEwgbLIbJs-GVgipYwtJqElyPh7WSc_ep7WWjnl74z0bnaBMr/s200/appleblossom1+copy.png" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But luckily I've taken lots of photos of the lovely, sweet-scented blossoms in years gone by, so I
was able to use some of those photos to paint the motifs for my 'Apple Blossom'
pattern collection in watercolour.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As usual, I've created
a main pattern with three different background colours, plus three
related 'leafy maze', hand-drawn patterns, a 'floral' Polka Dot, a colour-coordinated Check Gingham and two Faux Patchwork patterns -</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBxV1pY5Eecwx4mP0pNqfWzZ1Yct6Ac1gI5fYE40BnE_J6Q-2qbVkr9BI2BIa_RJvYQ9erdAgb3ctMleNreG18pPBMzYkFvCFCgV7LL6rmN4lbD98ZHcg_oFlTGO9TSGeZ6sKCZ9WcbfW/s1600/AppleBlossomPatterns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBxV1pY5Eecwx4mP0pNqfWzZ1Yct6Ac1gI5fYE40BnE_J6Q-2qbVkr9BI2BIa_RJvYQ9erdAgb3ctMleNreG18pPBMzYkFvCFCgV7LL6rmN4lbD98ZHcg_oFlTGO9TSGeZ6sKCZ9WcbfW/s400/AppleBlossomPatterns.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can see them all in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*/gifts?cg=196895338465695881">Posh & Painterly</a> store.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTy95se1s2XrWnvYlp7YTFlYdiUe28Q6KhVZwbtLfGGtAndyJkljGCElAthjpmtuAP8ujxREk2fv0hsXeMVwl6q2zvkHHaZNjSVXpGj4JzLdk3UEmDWliO86ADZzYas8BPsd6iTjbBSH-/s1600/AppleBlossomColours.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTy95se1s2XrWnvYlp7YTFlYdiUe28Q6KhVZwbtLfGGtAndyJkljGCElAthjpmtuAP8ujxREk2fv0hsXeMVwl6q2zvkHHaZNjSVXpGj4JzLdk3UEmDWliO86ADZzYas8BPsd6iTjbBSH-/s400/AppleBlossomColours.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>There is always an essential practical element in designing, as opposed to creating Fine Art. And, as I work on a collection of pattern designs, part of my mind is always mulling over what my patterns can best be used for.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And last week, when I was shopping in town, I spotted a new shop, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/achildsboutique/">'A Child's Boutique'</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/achildsboutique/"> </a>(facebook page) and I immediately made the connection with the collection of patterns I was working on!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUZUyEtHg5ZroQM5RzOA9RdfJnD30HIxPlR_-Qw7K47_dRel8Xsy4CgbIb3NEScwSbRUuoDXUnF1BpdtQPy_hJ9OJfLmMA2qRm7nlUf6sW8MpujxefA1VaUCkBEnzXE_VkW4D-XhYN9sn/s1600/childsboutique1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUZUyEtHg5ZroQM5RzOA9RdfJnD30HIxPlR_-Qw7K47_dRel8Xsy4CgbIb3NEScwSbRUuoDXUnF1BpdtQPy_hJ9OJfLmMA2qRm7nlUf6sW8MpujxefA1VaUCkBEnzXE_VkW4D-XhYN9sn/s400/childsboutique1.jpg" width="248" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was the window display that caught my eye because the little girls' dresses in the window were so similar to the ones I used to make for my daughters when they were little, back in the late '60s and '70s!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbxiIVL4Q0TNuhq4vCBi5UHnnSSP_l1_4vy4luaGPy_NQx1tZFD_7WrsfEIkiPhI74LvWjqDvQC2nwNBSRXtarITD8jvmZF60uUfL38PZ9lwhMvB_btmu52RvagnOnyJJ8O-WSRBkngOP/s1600/childsboutique2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbxiIVL4Q0TNuhq4vCBi5UHnnSSP_l1_4vy4luaGPy_NQx1tZFD_7WrsfEIkiPhI74LvWjqDvQC2nwNBSRXtarITD8jvmZF60uUfL38PZ9lwhMvB_btmu52RvagnOnyJJ8O-WSRBkngOP/s320/childsboutique2.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've always loved the
idea of mixing and matching fabrics and the boho/hippie style of that
era was just right for the dresses I made. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's a style that has
come and gone over the years and although it has never really gone
out of fashion, it seems to be enjoying a resurgence at the moment!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Here's another (online)
store, <a href="http://www.lillyandsid.com/girls/dresses-tunics">Lily and Sid</a>, carrying frocks for little girls and the boys'
outfits tend towards the mix'n'match as well.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYB7ZH3BhHurFrJyOUmJzfbnRx4GK2mn2tle0XK2u8ooVTsNYWzqBwW1sGCxWLBruOhyRbkEGcdQnuC3hV6D-jNqzs37L1jZf_1IPtds_Ypm_5ZCmZZGPhW98rhQhbRrDB_oGI_l5Llkk/s1600/childsboutique3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYB7ZH3BhHurFrJyOUmJzfbnRx4GK2mn2tle0XK2u8ooVTsNYWzqBwW1sGCxWLBruOhyRbkEGcdQnuC3hV6D-jNqzs37L1jZf_1IPtds_Ypm_5ZCmZZGPhW98rhQhbRrDB_oGI_l5Llkk/s320/childsboutique3.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The great thing about
making dresses for little girls is that it can be quick - unless you
go in for hand-smocking, that is! - and because they take so little
fabric, they are not going to break the bank. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The bonus is that you
may have enough left over from one dress to make a frill, a yoke or
at least some patch pockets on another one!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Trim with ric-rac braid and/or broderie anglaise for added cuteness!</b> </span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a cushion I created
for my Posh & Painterly store, just as an example - might give you
some ideas for how to mix and match these 'Apple Blossom' fabrics!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/apple_blossom_floral_blue_check_gingham_and_lace_throw_pillow-189122682378188145?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Apple Blossom Floral, Blue Check Gingham and Lace Throw
Pillow" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/apple_blossom_floral_blue_check_gingham_and_lace_throw_pillow-r0c4ca09a503d430abdcd451d074dff35_2izwx_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/apple_blossom_floral_blue_check_gingham_and_lace_throw_pillow-189122682378188145?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Apple Blossom Floral, Blue Check Gingham
and Lace Throw Pillow</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Faux Patchwork
pattern would also look good with one of the other patterns used for
the yoke or puffed sleeves - or underskirt, knickerbockers or frill!
- for a pretty, nostalgic 'Holly Hobbie' look!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyKM6_lZ-WXp3XEOJ37A0UHs0-vdxzGCap5GhQYGisirVQV40inwjeyCOwA6_lS4KAjjSNKBO4qjnE0mo0p0JZbBRePF7xWl9AfDjVIsjIiJGfyGEtnouw9tAeGWect3caaKjEIhMaMbL/s1600/BlossomFauxPatchwork10inchlow_res.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyKM6_lZ-WXp3XEOJ37A0UHs0-vdxzGCap5GhQYGisirVQV40inwjeyCOwA6_lS4KAjjSNKBO4qjnE0mo0p0JZbBRePF7xWl9AfDjVIsjIiJGfyGEtnouw9tAeGWect3caaKjEIhMaMbL/s320/BlossomFauxPatchwork10inchlow_res.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And here are three
ladies' tank tops I've created to give you an idea of how the main 'Apple Blossom' pattern looks made up into a garment.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-NSY-iLjTtd5NfCOvsmAlXuNXuHX5hCzZNAODdDfBjLghLCmv1_XZaqbljLs7kcsrG1xDHkjsGcgVodYpEKRYqejtemhcIhGpKXsWnHVV6Iav60VvYGK9-wPZIs-RhD8-0wqRWn98_CO/s1600/3AppleBlossomTops.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-NSY-iLjTtd5NfCOvsmAlXuNXuHX5hCzZNAODdDfBjLghLCmv1_XZaqbljLs7kcsrG1xDHkjsGcgVodYpEKRYqejtemhcIhGpKXsWnHVV6Iav60VvYGK9-wPZIs-RhD8-0wqRWn98_CO/s400/3AppleBlossomTops.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm gradually adding
more home and fashion accessories to my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*/gifts?cg=196452482910407240">Posh and Painterly</a> store - I
think some of my 'Apple Blossom' collection of home accessories would
look great in a bedroom, particularly as so many of the patterns are
based on the colour blue, which is restful and some say it makes for
a good night's sleep.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">By
the way</span>, </span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">my
'Apple Blossom' collection of fabrics is now also available for
sale,</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> along
with many of my collections, </span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on
the </span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<a href="http://www.wovenmonkey.com/designers/poshandpainterly/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">WOVENMONKEY </span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(uk) website</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.5cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf07hySAl4Sfixd9O8JIJYEd755AoFSms3cuqG9yQuq9HH4Pnw8AsjQTOFh-wmMLBVgL3DIUkcdfzYDqBhOEAk57vGuwFYuAHxcALL64PcS_zmh1L3sTXgOAeAPt7pCc7Zg7iQ1Q0yO9Z/s1600/AppleBlossomBudsSTRIP.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf07hySAl4Sfixd9O8JIJYEd755AoFSms3cuqG9yQuq9HH4Pnw8AsjQTOFh-wmMLBVgL3DIUkcdfzYDqBhOEAk57vGuwFYuAHxcALL64PcS_zmh1L3sTXgOAeAPt7pCc7Zg7iQ1Q0yO9Z/s640/AppleBlossomBudsSTRIP.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And here are all my
fabric collections so far, on Pinterest!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fabric
Collections</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/judyadamson/quilting-fabric-collections/">PINTEREST</a></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope I've
inspired you who love to sew, to create some pretty little boho-chic
dresses that will delight any little girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd love to see your photos of them if
you do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfNtG2gfNTpLy1oSkHkjgomeUCEJLkxhvDriNHzCYfohijX7h18tdpyH9zzawxUvnKXp7N_4FQEzNctdF7NqzfeNRAvNW1jtvjQ1uXVDiXjhUswA6i37h7ciAYDumeujU1HeR9Hu13YRr/s1600/appleblossom2+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfNtG2gfNTpLy1oSkHkjgomeUCEJLkxhvDriNHzCYfohijX7h18tdpyH9zzawxUvnKXp7N_4FQEzNctdF7NqzfeNRAvNW1jtvjQ1uXVDiXjhUswA6i37h7ciAYDumeujU1HeR9Hu13YRr/s320/appleblossom2+copy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-37694451100059299062016-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:002016-02-18T06:00:08.713-08:00Spring Sunshine Fabrics for all your Craft and Sewing Projects<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkfT5kw8699oujcZRDDkbCVRg9qh6kEAbw65YcqhYjulVnkQ0nZVNS7PkZBh8ymTsmuk0JQJm4peZIY1npQP8NUtBDCYfVP-A1r45kwAbnnhRj1bQUvmurNO5CvECSdessZNnM6F1bkOx/s1600/springsunshineboardlow_res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkfT5kw8699oujcZRDDkbCVRg9qh6kEAbw65YcqhYjulVnkQ0nZVNS7PkZBh8ymTsmuk0JQJm4peZIY1npQP8NUtBDCYfVP-A1r45kwAbnnhRj1bQUvmurNO5CvECSdessZNnM6F1bkOx/s400/springsunshineboardlow_res.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps February is a
little bit early in the year to introduce my 'Spring Sunshine'
collection of coordinating fabrics?</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But after months of winter gloom, with one storm after another, I hope it might spread some much-needed 'sunshine' on grey and
dreary days! And today is a lovely sunny day, at least here in Wales, with daffodils in the gardens and parks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>'Spring Sunshine'? - where did that name come from? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I never decide on a
name for a collection until well after I begin designing - and then,
as often as not, the name just drops into my mind and refuses to
budge. With this 'Spring Sunshine' collection, it was not only the
watercolour daffodil paintings that I used as the main motif but the
coming together of the yellow flowers, the fresh greens of the leaves
and the sky blue background that seemed to speak of sunny days
in early springtime.</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVACFg_PO7sh5NzDRpwTiVlR9_tEnD4bMJ20Lj8sS2wpMvuDsmZO7gLk4e-Kh1MqeLlRcVxgYkMs0OQfXmRPHv7xPHF9qlTJvv3GDKXAeAEgBrlVFZYHnKlnt6H8c9GW_qXKCXRJsLl_3/s1600/SpringSunshineColors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVACFg_PO7sh5NzDRpwTiVlR9_tEnD4bMJ20Lj8sS2wpMvuDsmZO7gLk4e-Kh1MqeLlRcVxgYkMs0OQfXmRPHv7xPHF9qlTJvv3GDKXAeAEgBrlVFZYHnKlnt6H8c9GW_qXKCXRJsLl_3/s320/SpringSunshineColors.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">(Without
the brighter, more 'golden' yellow, the colour palette could have been rather
bland.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The main pattern in the
collection is a floral 'mini-print' pattern of Daffodils on two
background colours - sky blue and teal.</b></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_daffodils_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-256354502100060501?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Spring Daffodils on Sky Blue Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_spring_daffodils_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-r9af99ed232c04c72a4b3754b2c9174d2_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_daffodils_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-256354502100060501?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Custom Spring Daffodils on Sky Blue
Pattern Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_daffodils_on_teal_pattern_fabric-256911747543631941?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Spring Daffodils on Teal Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_spring_daffodils_on_teal_pattern_fabric-r55d56835cbe14a3e8dc7dc973fab8f7a_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_daffodils_on_teal_pattern_fabric-256911747543631941?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Custom Spring Daffodils on Teal Pattern
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are also customizable versions of the 'daffodils' patterned fabric available from my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*">Posh & Painterly</a> Zazzle store
that invite the customer to easily choose their own background
colour -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_yellow_daffodils_fabric_to_customize-256352860962321629?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pretty Yellow Daffodils Fabric to Customize" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pretty_yellow_daffodils_fabric_to_customize-r89681955939540d6bc96a6d565827e91_z191r_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_yellow_daffodils_fabric_to_customize-256352860962321629?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Pretty Yellow Daffodils Fabric to
Customize</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Then there
is the pattern that combines the main 'daffodils' pattern with a
stripe -</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_daffodils_stripes_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-256315735655329821?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Daffodils Stripes on Sky Blue Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_daffodils_stripes_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-r67373d7116024f71beb2b82f7b8c715c_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_daffodils_stripes_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-256315735655329821?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Custom Daffodils Stripes on Sky Blue
Pattern Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>These
fabrics could all sit very comfortably in a pretty, nostalgic setting
- even adding a 'country cottage' look perhaps?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think they would be
perfect for the soft furnishings in a little girl's bedroom too!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They would,
of course, combine perfectly with any of the other fabrics in the
'Spring Sunshine' collection. But for a charmingly 'retro' effect,
you could mix and match them with either or both of these Polka Dots
patterns, secure in the knowledge that the colours will harmonise with the floral patterns -</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_green_and_white_polka_dots_fabric-256993434420405266?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Spring Sunshine Green and White Polka Dots Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/spring_sunshine_green_and_white_polka_dots_fabric-rf91e8267216240939ccc573a0cbc2183_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_green_and_white_polka_dots_fabric-256993434420405266?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Spring Sunshine Green and White Polka
Dots Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_white_on_green_polka_dots_fabric-256624816786316923?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Spring Sunshine White on Green Polka Dots Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/spring_sunshine_white_on_green_polka_dots_fabric-r8ec9358a1ab74cbcb4f871765f374212_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_white_on_green_polka_dots_fabric-256624816786316923?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Spring Sunshine White on Green Polka
Dots Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>These
'pin-striped' patterns continue the light, bright, sunshiny theme of
springtime and as well as combining well with the Floral and Polka
Dot patterns, they could be used alone in a more 'modern' decorating
scheme -</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_green_stripes_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-256206763524497191?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Spring Green Stripes on Sky Blue Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_spring_green_stripes_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-rc66571ecdcb84e84985755be00795d8f_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_green_stripes_on_sky_blue_pattern_fabric-256206763524497191?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Custom Spring Green Stripes on Sky Blue
Pattern Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_green_stripes_on_white_pattern_fabric-256045159718194895?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Spring Green Stripes on White Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_spring_green_stripes_on_white_pattern_fabric-r9f6cc0ce35794132abd3f28a0350fb4d_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_green_stripes_on_white_pattern_fabric-256045159718194895?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Custom Spring Green Stripes on White
Pattern Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_stripes_on_teal_pattern_fabric-256242682408503843?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Spring Stripes on Teal Pattern Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_spring_stripes_on_teal_pattern_fabric-r3e5e90d29fa2450c8c6bc546fa997ff8_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_spring_stripes_on_teal_pattern_fabric-256242682408503843?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Custom Spring Stripes on Teal Pattern
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The final
patterns in this 'Spring Sunshine' collection, the chic chevrons, are altogether more
'modern' and trendy when used by themselves.
</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_chevron_pattern_teal_green_yellow_fabric-256730796206075884?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Spring Sunshine Chevron Pattern Teal Green Yellow Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/spring_sunshine_chevron_pattern_teal_green_yellow_fabric-r5b4c6922421840bea9523980eb09d0ea_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_chevron_pattern_teal_green_yellow_fabric-256730796206075884?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Spring Sunshine Chevron Pattern Teal
Green Yellow Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_chevron_pattern_blue_green_yellow_fabric-256651258014172827?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Spring Sunshine Chevron Pattern Blue Green Yellow Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/spring_sunshine_chevron_pattern_blue_green_yellow_fabric-r891105f7511b4ce388be99334e270cd2_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_chevron_pattern_blue_green_yellow_fabric-256651258014172827?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Spring Sunshine Chevron Pattern Blue
Green Yellow Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But even so,
they combines well with the other patterns in the collection, as you
can see in my 'Faux Patchwork' pattern -</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_faux_patchwork_patterns_fabric-256112199402232833?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Spring Sunshine Faux Patchwork Patterns Fabric" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/spring_sunshine_faux_patchwork_patterns_fabric-rca33384d1de04dd0b108a04740f53d63_zl6q2_325.jpg?rlvnet=1" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_sunshine_faux_patchwork_patterns_fabric-256112199402232833?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Spring Sunshine Faux Patchwork Patterns
Fabric</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I first
started making patchworks more than forty years ago and at about that
time - in the early 1970s, when boho/hippie-style was all the rage -
I had a favourite dress made of a faux patchwork patterned fabric, in red, white and navy blue.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
was a tent-shaped mini-dress and I was able to carry on wearing it as
a maternity dress when my second daughter was on the way. I loved
that dress so much that, even after hemlines dropped and it was no
longer in fashion, I could put it on over my other clothes to wear as
a painting overall! I think it may still be stowed away in a black
sack in my garage . . .</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39nWLV0ZyVZJPE2xXII37NqVvm5l8WboSNnQH8J0Brcl5NwRHJx96lw4imToZ_fpJiWrrbs9lDyG4GbslVj9lLwGb9wellhryA7xpaeRtJ1e7lH-QSuI8tU6aM2qLicmbNo1HlYCL2E02/s1600/newduvetetc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39nWLV0ZyVZJPE2xXII37NqVvm5l8WboSNnQH8J0Brcl5NwRHJx96lw4imToZ_fpJiWrrbs9lDyG4GbslVj9lLwGb9wellhryA7xpaeRtJ1e7lH-QSuI8tU6aM2qLicmbNo1HlYCL2E02/s200/newduvetetc.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So it's
hardly surprising that, when shopping online for some new
bedlinen more recently, I was immediately attracted to a
faux patchwork duvet set!</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39nWLV0ZyVZJPE2xXII37NqVvm5l8WboSNnQH8J0Brcl5NwRHJx96lw4imToZ_fpJiWrrbs9lDyG4GbslVj9lLwGb9wellhryA7xpaeRtJ1e7lH-QSuI8tU6aM2qLicmbNo1HlYCL2E02/s1600/newduvetetc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And that started me thinking about the
possibility of making faux-patchwork patterns on my computer . . . </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/daffodils_pillow_or_cushion_faux_patchwork-189479840889416076?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Daffodils Pillow or Cushion: Faux-patchwork" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/daffodils_pillow_or_cushion_faux_patchwork-r6552e5428fb04011826c4ea950d9c066_i5f2k_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/daffodils_pillow_or_cushion_faux_patchwork-189479840889416076?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Daffodils Pillow or Cushion:
Faux-patchwork</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I do this
now with almost all of my pattern collections.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And in my
photo-editing program, it's very easy to make sure that the colours
and 'lights and darks' are evenly distributed for the gentle, almost
'shabby chic' look that I love!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You could
use this lay-out of the fabric pieces as a pattern for your own
patchwork project. Or, if time is at a premium, you could even just
quilt along the lines between the fabric shapes!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Here are all
my 'Spring Sunshine' fabrics, together in one place, in my Posh and Painterly store on Zazzle -</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHJq9SNDGuBLeJ5RUdXCltcR-c_O7nAVzAn79cde8ZMD5xrjYgdrpSWdhbH_A2JGsEvBOT1XMdXwldGPQsqxvFuapfltD_CFCcV1XC_rpHb_T8ln9MDAiCRWvqQNGQaJClgHA5WDbDDOX/s1600/BannerSpringSunshine.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHJq9SNDGuBLeJ5RUdXCltcR-c_O7nAVzAn79cde8ZMD5xrjYgdrpSWdhbH_A2JGsEvBOT1XMdXwldGPQsqxvFuapfltD_CFCcV1XC_rpHb_T8ln9MDAiCRWvqQNGQaJClgHA5WDbDDOX/s400/BannerSpringSunshine.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click on the image below to see the full Spring Sunshine collection.</span>
</span></div>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/spring_sunshine_fabrics-119292955597360915?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Spring Sunshine Fabrics" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/spring_sunshine_fabrics_119292955597360915-r_zruem_6256g_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/spring_sunshine_fabrics-119292955597360915?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Spring Sunshine Fabrics</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you like
my 'Spring Sunshine' collection, you may also like to visit my Posh &
Painterly store to see my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly/gifts?cg=196781283398059120">Home and Fashion Accessories</a> featuring
these patterns, as well as some very pretty matching border patterns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_daffodils_border_and_polka_dots_pillow-189034868115660963?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Spring Daffodils Border and Polka Dots Pillow" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/spring_daffodils_border_and_polka_dots_pillow-r43016cf4b22d4c74abc133953d592dc8_i5fqz_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/spring_daffodils_border_and_polka_dots_pillow-189034868115660963?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Spring Daffodils Border and Polka Dots
Pillow</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*" rel="nofollow">poshandpainterly</a> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the way</span>, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my 'Spring Sunshine' collection of fabrics is now also available for sale,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> along with many of my collections, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on the<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wovenmonkey.com/designers/poshandpainterly/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">WOVEN MONKEY</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">website</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The days are finally starting to lengthen and spring is not too far off.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">The birds are singing, reminding me that there's work to do out in the garden . . .</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I'll wish you 'Happy Sewing' - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and see you next time!</span><br />
<br /></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-85807003363642886592016-02-11T06:23:00.001-08:002016-02-11T08:39:28.871-08:00Hearts and Roses Fabrics and Tips for Patchwork Quilters <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKAGYGD7Gni0pbcdn68s3zLHR7QX5XWHUVzyInCJ_KHDNiqeMsTWKgTlhCIt1H4NXmKWyhxlzlnaR-DMx1c-VOoTC2OEUhW305nP1L7i5Q1Y8HyOuWpEJ3Vtw2Vm30mcvneTpBFAonnII/s1600/heartsandrosesboardlow_res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKAGYGD7Gni0pbcdn68s3zLHR7QX5XWHUVzyInCJ_KHDNiqeMsTWKgTlhCIt1H4NXmKWyhxlzlnaR-DMx1c-VOoTC2OEUhW305nP1L7i5Q1Y8HyOuWpEJ3Vtw2Vm30mcvneTpBFAonnII/s320/heartsandrosesboardlow_res.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Much as I love painting
and illustrating and various crafts, in the past few years, I've
discovered that I'm practically <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-highly-addictive-joy-of-pattern.html">addicted</a> to pattern-making!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>So,
as I've also done a fair amount of patchwork and quilting over the
years, I suppose it's almost inevitable that when I create a pattern
collection, the idea of designing sets of coordinating fabrics that
could be used for patchwork and quilts is somewhere at the back of my mind. </b></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Today I'd like to present one of my collections, with the aim of
demonstrating how easy it is to mix and match the fabrics successfully, if they all
come from the same collection. </span>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we're coming up to Valentine's Day, it seemed appropriate to begin with my romantic 'Hearts and Roses' collection.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The red roses were originally painted by hand but the collection as a whole involved considerable digital input.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><i>Please click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/hearts_and_roses_fabrics-119683276789184883?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Hearts and Roses Fabrics" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/hearts_and_roses_fabrics_119683276789184883-r_zruem_624cy_750.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/hearts_and_roses_fabrics-119683276789184883?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Hearts and Roses Fabrics</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">TIP!</span> </span><i>If you would prefer to buy your fabric from a UK company, my Hearts and Roses collection is also available from <a href="http://www.wovenmonkey.com/designers/poshandpainterly">Woven Monkey</a>, based in Derbyshire.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>It's
a while since I did any 'real' patchwork or quilting, due mostly to
lack of time. </b>But I've found an outlet for my love of patchwork by
creating 'faux patchwork' for soft furnishings in my photo-editing program - and these may
provide you with some ideas for your own patchwork products, whether
you are a beginner or an experienced quilter looking for fresh
inspiration.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patchwork" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Patchwork</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - sewing
pieces of fabric together to make a cloth with a larger design - is
an ancient art, going back 5,000 years in China and fragments of
patchwork have even been found in Egyptian tombs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And patchwork is
practised all over the world, though nowadays there are probably more
people making patchwork and quilting in the USA than anywhere else.
Having visited the <a href="http://americanmuseum.org/about-the-museum/collections/quilts-textiles/">American Museum in Bath</a>, I was entranced by the
Quilts and Textiles I saw there! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But I should imagine
that in the past, the art of patchwork often arose out of necessity -
finding a use for scraps of fabric, rather than throwing them away. A
kind of 'recycling' that really appeals to me!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's how I went about
my first ever attempt at patchwork; I cut up old summer dresses and skirts,
both mine and my daughters', and made a cushion cover in my favourite
colour - blue. It consisted of pieces of plain denim blue, lots of floral mini-prints in blue and white and the occasional 'putty-coloured' hexagon for balance.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhT7r6zKMeElYTRgt13vQF959ixeQQ9i6wSozEjAyeKkclEqYBH1b-w0QsRKg4xcybPpbVUEQp87nhzeznivx_t9YaaM__34d65mfBBQnHhs6MSh7A2jjgs4bTf6Js9VmvDcpJa5tJWbI/s1600/PatchworkBooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhT7r6zKMeElYTRgt13vQF959ixeQQ9i6wSozEjAyeKkclEqYBH1b-w0QsRKg4xcybPpbVUEQp87nhzeznivx_t9YaaM__34d65mfBBQnHhs6MSh7A2jjgs4bTf6Js9VmvDcpJa5tJWbI/s200/PatchworkBooks.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the time, I didn't
have as many books on patchwork as I have today and it was well
before the days of the internet. So I thought I'd take an 'easy'
route and make a random design, just deciding on each hexagonal piece
as I went along. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Big mistake!!! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've since discovered
that choosing the pieces one at a time as I went along was probably one of the hardest things to do and that it would
all have gone much more smoothly if I'd worked to a plan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Soon after
I started, I heard that I'd missed a series of tv programmes about patchwork as an antidote to stress.</b> But that first venture of mine was anything but
stress-free. However I eventually finished it and I was genuinely pleased with the result. Sadly, one of our cats took a liking to it too and it ended up
rather shredded by his claws as he kneaded it - as they do! -
before settling down for sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But how on earth can you plan a 'random' patchwork pattern? Surely it's a contradiction in terms? Not quite. Here's a <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/one-way-to-randomize-patchwork.html">blog post</a> from
an experienced patchwork quilter that shows one good, stress-free way
to plan a 'random' patchwork. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Much as I admire the
intricate block patterns I saw in the American Museum, for use in my home, I actually prefer a
quilt with a more evenly spread choice of fabrics, with no one colour
or pattern dominating.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And that's easy for me
to plan as a 'faux-patchwork' on my computer, in my photo-editing
program! I can easily move the patches around and get a good view of
the overall effect without having to lay out all the pieces on a flat
surface where they could easily blow away.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF40OhXPXgfRZSL6YWPsJ0fKYmibJABcvnl6Bd6fpVfyFmVf-tmYXxc7sXlSELB5mZ7PEwu0gbbQkRNq1LfaXRNNmMZbMpUzhiSlpHwHvfAQ3HQscvfjbRzDbkA9G55VrhOPPeN-A8WJKu/s1600/HeartsRosesColors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF40OhXPXgfRZSL6YWPsJ0fKYmibJABcvnl6Bd6fpVfyFmVf-tmYXxc7sXlSELB5mZ7PEwu0gbbQkRNq1LfaXRNNmMZbMpUzhiSlpHwHvfAQ3HQscvfjbRzDbkA9G55VrhOPPeN-A8WJKu/s200/HeartsRosesColors.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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Here are the colours I've used, together with white - quite a limited palette. But it seems more varied because I've used the colours in different ways, as checks and polka dots that appear to 'dilute' the colours whilst still making sure they all coordinate well.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So here's a very simple
but effective lay-out of squares of related fabric pieces, suitable
for a beginner.</b> You don't need to follow it exactly - it's always
good to add your own, individual touch to your work. But it'll give
you an idea from which to develop your own lay-out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Idea!</span> For a relatively quick and easy project, you could simply quilt this fabric, following the lines of the squares!</span></div>
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<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And </span><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly/gifts?cg=196322388102360603&tc=bl" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> are some of my 'Hearts and Roses' patterns on home and fashion accessories in my Posh & Painterly store at Zazzle - </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>- they might even give you some ideas for craft projects using these 'Hearts and Roses' fabrics!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I shall be showing you more of my coordinated Fabric Collections in future blog posts, as well as Home Decor tips - so please keep popping by to check what's new.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And your comments are always very welcome!</i></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-90327517463537939142016-02-04T06:32:00.002-08:002016-02-04T06:32:22.703-08:00Mother's Day Greeting Cards and Gifts Ideas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mother's Day - or
Mothering Sunday, as it is traditionally known here in the UK - falls on different dates in
different countries.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here in the UK,
Mothering Sunday is always celebrated on the third Sunday before
Easter and as Easter is a 'movable feast' - and very early this year!
- there is no fixed date for Mother's Day. (This year Mother's Day is on March 6th in the UK.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But I realise that
elsewhere Mother's Day is celebrated much later in the year, towards
summer, so I hope I've included enough suitable floral designs for
early summer as well as early spring!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read about the
origins of 'Mothering Sunday' in this <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/mothering-sunday">article</a>, which also
describes the kind of gifts that are often given to mothers in the
UK, along with special greeting cards and flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The article doesn't,
however, mention that tradition has it that when girls were 'in
service' walked home to visit their mothers, on their day off, often
across fields and down lanes, they would pick a posy of wild flowers
on the way, as a gift.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you'll probably see
from my collections below, I love flowers, even though I've become
sensitive to many of the more highly scented blossoms in recent
years. Nevertheless, I treasure my little garden and take photos or
paint the flowers whenever I can.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yi-vNTmxpmBXc69D-LawbEe-vhilH3w0jJuP3cUdSlcLcJbcyxGluHN-J6_BD3jXjMwjanpxK2YAIvHubbqnuwv7l7vAL1RmGihewZZNL-cUAKKYlZxslaHuLU5P_2xYSig3I6uHgJnB/s1600/motheresdaysurprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yi-vNTmxpmBXc69D-LawbEe-vhilH3w0jJuP3cUdSlcLcJbcyxGluHN-J6_BD3jXjMwjanpxK2YAIvHubbqnuwv7l7vAL1RmGihewZZNL-cUAKKYlZxslaHuLU5P_2xYSig3I6uHgJnB/s200/motheresdaysurprise.jpg" width="165" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Almost any mother will
appreciate a bouquet of flowers on Mother's Day or even a pretty
little posy of garden flowers! And breakfast in bed, a meal at a
favourite restaurant or you might even like to bake her a cake
yourself! (Simnel Cake is traditional for Mother's Day as well as Easter - recipe <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/simnel_cake">here</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yi-vNTmxpmBXc69D-LawbEe-vhilH3w0jJuP3cUdSlcLcJbcyxGluHN-J6_BD3jXjMwjanpxK2YAIvHubbqnuwv7l7vAL1RmGihewZZNL-cUAKKYlZxslaHuLU5P_2xYSig3I6uHgJnB/s1600/motheresdaysurprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But it gets a little
more difficult if you no longer live close to your mother, too far
away to visit in person - and that's becoming a lot more common as
time goes on.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In any case, however
much they're appreciated at the time, flowers will fade and die and
edible treats, well, once they're eaten, all that remains is the fond
memory of them! So with that in mind, I've created quite a wide
selection of more lasting gifts for Mother's Day - most of them as
inexpensive as a special Coffee Mug to personalize for your mother,
and a few more expensive gifts, such as the pillows or cushions, some
of which are also ready for you to personalize.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And of course, for that
extra-special finishing touch, I've provided gift bags and wrapping
paper to match many of the Mother's Day greeting cards and gifts!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mother's Day Greeting Cards and Gifts with Photos -</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are some very pretty Mother's Day Cards and matching Gifts - with photos of Bluebells, Tulips and brilliant pink Wild Roses. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So take your pick and have fun personalizing them for Mother!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just click on the image below to see the full photographic collection -</span> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_cards_and_gifts_with_photos-119796310275122718?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Mother's Day Cards and Gifts with Photos" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/mothers_day_cards_and_gifts_with_photos_119796310275122718-r_zruem_jr5yk_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_cards_and_gifts_with_photos-119796310275122718?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Mother's Day Cards and Gifts with Photos</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Collage Mother's Day Gifts and Greeting Cards -</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Such a pretty collection of Mother's Day Greeting Cards and matching gifts for your mother! There are Coffee Mugs - some of them to personalize and Pendant Necklaces, as well as Pillows/Cushions and even some matching Wrapping Paper to add the finishing touch! The charming floral designs are all made from hand-painted paper collage and are sure to be favourites!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just click on the image below to see the full 'Collage' collection -</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_cards_and_gifts_collage-119111351962401231?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Mother's Day Cards and Gifts - Collage" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/mothers_day_cards_and_gifts_collage_119111351962401231-r_zruem_6aka2_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_cards_and_gifts_collage-119111351962401231?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Mother's Day Cards and Gifts - Collage</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mother's Day in Watercolours!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Watercolour is probably my favourite medium for capturing the essence of the more fragile-looking flowers, such as Sweet Peas, Poppies and Roses, with their almost translucent petals. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These Mother's Day greeting cards could make a wonderful accompaniment to a bouquet or posy of flowers. And in this collection, there are flowers that will be in bloom from March onwards through into summer, so you'll probably be able to find them no matter what date Mother's Day is celebrated in your country. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But if not, there are gifts here with many of the same flowers that you can be sure your mother will treasure!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just click on the image below to see the full 'Watercolour' collection -</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_watercolours-119824867129286149?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Mother's Day Watercolours" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/mothers_day_watercolours_119824867129286149-r_zruem_6a074_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_watercolours-119824867129286149?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Mother's Day Watercolours</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Patterns for Mother's Day -</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One hundred gifts and greeting cards for Mother's Day - all with floral patterns, some painted in watercolours, others from hand-painted paper collage motifs!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of the cards and many of the coffee mugs and pillows are ready for you to easily personalize. And there's even matching gift-wrapping paper and gift bags for many of the designs. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">What could better demonstrate your care and thoughtfulness on Mother's Day!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Just click on the image below to see the full 'Pattern' collection -</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_patterns-119801088207416284?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Mother's Day Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/mothers_day_patterns_119801088207416284-r_zruem_6axwg_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_patterns-119801088207416284?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Mother's Day Patterns</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mother's Day Greeting Cards and Gifts with Floral Oil Pastels</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you're looking for something a bit different for Mother's Day, you've come to the right place! These Mother's Day greeting cards and coffee mugs feature my original oil pastel paintings of garden flowers. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mother's Day is celebrated on different dates in different countries but they are all in spring and early summer. So here are flowers that bloom in spring - daffodils and tulips - and early summer - wallflowers and poppies. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All are ready for you to personalize with your own greeting.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just click on the image below to see the full 'Oil Pastels'collection -</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_cards_and_mugs_in_oil_pastels-119508767850088875?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Mother's Day Cards and Mugs in Oil Pastels" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/mothers_day_cards_and_mugs_in_oil_pastels_119508767850088875-r_zruem_6av55_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/mothers_day_cards_and_mugs_in_oil_pastels-119508767850088875?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Mother's Day Cards and Mugs in Oil Pastels</a></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Just for fun - Mother's Day Medals!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Strike a special medal for a Very Special Mother! The medals on these brightly coloured Mother's Day greeting cards and gifts are all individually made from hand-painted paper collage and any mother would be proud to receive them. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">So go on, reward her for being the best mother in the world and see the smile on her face when she opens it! </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">(Don't forget that you can choose from a wide range of Case-mate cases by clicking on the menu below Style Options - Device Type)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just click on the image below to see the full 'Mother's Day Medals' collection -</span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/fun_mothers_day_medals-119529275381740978?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Fun Mother's Day Medals" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/fun_mothers_day_medals_119529275381740978-r_zruem_6a6my_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/fun_mothers_day_medals-119529275381740978?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Fun Mother's Day Medals</a> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Mother's Day Cards with Welsh Language Greetings</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Here's a collection of pretty, floral Mother's Day Cards with the greeting in the Welsh Language. Sure to be a hit with any mother who speaks Welsh, they all feature the same attractive floral designs as English Language cards. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">You can personalize the inside message and the front cover greeting of some of them as well. Make Mother's Day special with one of these charming Welsh Language greeting cards for your mother!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Just click on the image below to see the full 'Welsh Language Greeting' collection -</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_greeting_mothers_day_cards-119946831485627427?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Welsh Greeting Mother's Day Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/welsh_greeting_mothers_day_cards_119946831485627427-r_zruem_6auzh_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_greeting_mothers_day_cards-119946831485627427?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Welsh Greeting Mother's Day Cards</a> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
</span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although the
celebration of Mother's Day has some common features around the world
- showing love and, particularly, gratitude to our mothers, or
mother-figures in some cases - there are, as you would expect, a few
small variations in the customs that are observed, which you can read
about <a href="http://www.mothersdaycelebration.com/mothers-day-around-world.html">HERE</a>.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Whereas at one time
Mothering Sunday was celebrated by making the journey to visit one's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/motheringsunday_1.shtml">'Mother Church'</a>, rather than one's actual human mother, in many
countries Mother's Day has become entirely secularised and heavily
commercialised.</b> Greeting Card stores and florists reap the financial
benefits of children, young and old, wishing to show their gratitude
for all that their mothers have done for them, raising them and
caring for them with the kind of enduring love that, for the most
part, only mothers (or mother-figures) know how to give.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But short of every
child, of whatever age, making their own Mother's Day greeting card
and picking a posy of wild flowers from the wayside for their
mothers, this is probably inevitable! But as long as we all remember
that it's not how much money we have to spend that counts, but rather, the care and thought that goes into our choice of
Mother's Day Greeting Card and Gift.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember scraping
together my pocket money, as a child, to buy my mother a tiny bottle
of perfume that she liked. It wasn't a classy, expensive perfume but
it did smell nice and the bottle was a very pretty colour and shape -
and she was thrilled that I had noticed what she particularly liked
so it gave pleasure to both of us when I saw the look of surprise and
pleasure on her face.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So be sure to take some
trouble with your choice of Mother's Day Card and gifts this year.</b> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">It
really is 'the thought that counts' - as long as the 'thought' is
translated into action! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; orphans: 1;">A
phonecall, a visit, a Mother's Day Greeting Card, flowers, a cake or
gift - whatever seems most appropriate to you.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; orphans: 1;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; orphans: 1;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; orphans: 1;">Just don't let this special day go past unremembered!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-5332162529430557072016-01-28T07:07:00.001-08:002016-01-28T07:07:04.256-08:00St David's Day Greeting Cards and Gifts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabuw5WSpZr5XSGKE__RmjhNuAY34I4ZiYgmqv61rTh7h6s42LvQoMx1QuqYxPtgRnFDbDAZvURrjLrCVHb4J8TRJ49XlgGYL2MIlIjrPL_Ld_KHrzvbk5GmMU_dm6ITrnzVZgqEXlSxLr/s1600/busker2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabuw5WSpZr5XSGKE__RmjhNuAY34I4ZiYgmqv61rTh7h6s42LvQoMx1QuqYxPtgRnFDbDAZvURrjLrCVHb4J8TRJ49XlgGYL2MIlIjrPL_Ld_KHrzvbk5GmMU_dm6ITrnzVZgqEXlSxLr/s200/busker2.jpg" width="109" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">St David's Day (March
1st) is less widely celebrated than St Patrick's Day, but even so, it is celebrated by the Welsh community in Patagonia as well as in </span><a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/welsh-nursery-rhyme-book-illustration.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Los Angeles</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">amongst others, some of them listed </span><a href="http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/st-davids-day-2015-events-8671587" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFTDw2Yodxrp5p-hYr0P1wd9P_bS-vEopiKIJplhkP6WR0nxe85QMudFmncVpKd7Q0eiUIoyP-gyZGFgxBHxTAejPl8RoBIdofz4jSgSt_zPSJmA1ohv979Au0tMEszzHR8vliV0_1zGq/s1600/welshgirltrans.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFTDw2Yodxrp5p-hYr0P1wd9P_bS-vEopiKIJplhkP6WR0nxe85QMudFmncVpKd7Q0eiUIoyP-gyZGFgxBHxTAejPl8RoBIdofz4jSgSt_zPSJmA1ohv979Au0tMEszzHR8vliV0_1zGq/s200/welshgirltrans.png" width="78" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, although
the devolved Welsh Assembly in Cardiff wants to respond to the
wishes of the people of Wales, who would like their national Saint's
Day to be a public holiday, the Westminster government refuses to
agree to it. Nevertheless, a great many Welsh people find ways to
celebrate St David's Day with eisteddfod's, male voice choral
concerts, flying the Welsh Flag, wearing Daffodil or Leek hats or
parades in </span><a href="http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Traditional-Welsh-Costume/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welsh traditional costume</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFTDw2Yodxrp5p-hYr0P1wd9P_bS-vEopiKIJplhkP6WR0nxe85QMudFmncVpKd7Q0eiUIoyP-gyZGFgxBHxTAejPl8RoBIdofz4jSgSt_zPSJmA1ohv979Au0tMEszzHR8vliV0_1zGq/s1600/welshgirltrans.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 0.64cm;">What
could be more typical of Wales than a girl in the traditional Welsh
costume, with its tall black hat, red cape, black skirt and lots of
white lace? This is just a small selection of the St David's Day
greeting cards and Welsh Girl gifts in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a>
Zazzle store, many of them ready for you to customize.</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Welsh Girl' collection - </i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/cute_welsh_girl_st_davids_day_gifts_and_cards-119503594796158230?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Cute Welsh Girl St David's Day Gifts and Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/cute_welsh_girl_st_davids_day_gifts_and_cards_119503594796158230-r_zruem_6hl90_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/cute_welsh_girl_st_davids_day_gifts_and_cards-119503594796158230?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Cute Welsh Girl St David's Day Gifts and Cards</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So who was St David,
the Patron Saint of Wales?</b> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read what little is known about
him <a href="http://www.visitwales.com/explore/traditions-history/st-davids-day%20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_David%27s_Day">here</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But in spite of knowing so little about him, the people of Wales are very enthusiastic about
celebrating St David's Day - Wales is, after all, a Celtic nation and
they have a tendency to be pretty passionate about everything they
do. It seems to be in the DNA - and, by the way, that's probably why
I wholeheartedly support the Welsh Rugby team, in spite of being
English - even when Wales play against England. It's infectious!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few years ago, I
designed and printed St David's Day greeting cards with collage <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/red-dragons-for-sale.html">Red Dragons</a> and they flew off the display stand in local shops!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wZ0c3sm2INP_AVe_HpbTdYL-wwT-nXsL6kg-4w8-NW8F-97XhmDvRQJMLiu0W6Ht6IPT5_OenPFmSenlEJz1hA5aUO2qlJLuevVgYqzT8FesDBlYzN2PtLRyh08G04m3xYq-ajMt22_t/s1600/cards2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wZ0c3sm2INP_AVe_HpbTdYL-wwT-nXsL6kg-4w8-NW8F-97XhmDvRQJMLiu0W6Ht6IPT5_OenPFmSenlEJz1hA5aUO2qlJLuevVgYqzT8FesDBlYzN2PtLRyh08G04m3xYq-ajMt22_t/s320/cards2.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div>
</div>
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</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More recently, I've
designed more <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/doodling-dragon.html">Red Dragons</a> - like many artists, I find them irresistible to draw! Curious about
how the Dragon comes to be a symbol of Wales - a sheep might be more
appropriate, as there are more sheep than people in Wales! - I did a
bit of internet searching. This is what I found - Red Dragon - <a href="http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/The-Red-Dragon-of-Wales/">The Red Dragon of Wale</a>s. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa9IQz6O7_nBucZrJxoVXLdKluiHmYzNlw_y1Def7pko3Q_zDnwCc4xmjeSltiN5F6lmbuom3GCTZnxMEv3DjY06OqUCM_qewIl1jFMYDwyo1tRVm4MA5b8DFB28Nw_O4SwepKiGip6aU/s1600/stcarannog3low_res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa9IQz6O7_nBucZrJxoVXLdKluiHmYzNlw_y1Def7pko3Q_zDnwCc4xmjeSltiN5F6lmbuom3GCTZnxMEv3DjY06OqUCM_qewIl1jFMYDwyo1tRVm4MA5b8DFB28Nw_O4SwepKiGip6aU/s200/stcarannog3low_res.jpg" width="123" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, picturesque though the dragon is, I think the choice of a
dragon for the main Welsh national emblem is purely symbolic. When I
was researching <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/surprised-by-wales.html">St Carannog</a> for another of my illustrations for the
Lost Angeles celebrations, I discovered that in many myths and
legends it was customary to represent any wicked, bloodthirsty warlord
as a dragon</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: left;">Not that my most recent
dragons are in any way wicked or even fierce-looking!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM2Gd8klGCeCzIrTP6iqo_GBFRNCigLse4GmwLZz2pcjP14oqDXq5kQ9p2yFj_l_RwQDFY4WXjjIpeRz2tTOeqrjj25ADYsBOTswyt39FVpUC-y0o_Kz0rGQkP5O64VsD2jT_JY5DNqIp/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM2Gd8klGCeCzIrTP6iqo_GBFRNCigLse4GmwLZz2pcjP14oqDXq5kQ9p2yFj_l_RwQDFY4WXjjIpeRz2tTOeqrjj25ADYsBOTswyt39FVpUC-y0o_Kz0rGQkP5O64VsD2jT_JY5DNqIp/s320/dragon.png" width="231" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 0.64cm;">Here
are just a few of my Greeting Cards and Gifts with a Red Dragon, one
of the best-known symbols of Wales. You can find many more greeting
cards and gifts with a Welsh flavour in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a>
store.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 0.64cm;"> </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Red Dragon' Collection -</i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/red_dragons-119100302029574198?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Red Dragons" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/red_dragons_119100302029574198-r_zruem_6hos8_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/red_dragons-119100302029574198?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Red Dragons</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92PUrVrZIj50XlzTmLgl-L1rKmdGRvLmILasOZJVMbWHmETUdAHne2viWIHYeJct81X_7ukDWInub5VXKzUOcsxqgb8BEX2oH8zGcBAp5Rg6XGfWKnXHC1_WevkeOgl2yqNIBDZdjkHzk/s1600/leeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92PUrVrZIj50XlzTmLgl-L1rKmdGRvLmILasOZJVMbWHmETUdAHne2viWIHYeJct81X_7ukDWInub5VXKzUOcsxqgb8BEX2oH8zGcBAp5Rg6XGfWKnXHC1_WevkeOgl2yqNIBDZdjkHzk/s200/leeks.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I mentioned that some
Welsh people wear 'daffodil' hats, not only on St David's Day, but
there are many to be seen in the crowds at the famous 'Six Nations'
rugby tournament in the springtime, whenever Wales are playing. There
are often giant leeks to be seen as well, another of the traditional
Welsh emblems! Why daffodils? And even more puzzling, why leeks? </span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I was intrigued by this - Wales seems to have so many special
symbols, surely the humble leek isn't necessary? So I did some
googling and what I discovered is included in this <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/some-welsh-saints-and-symbols.html">earlier blog post</a>
- it's quite a tale!!!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3NyXUkCH7Q6aBJET7W1yWublvF6WljCvlfhyMJYi_vhKOYtw9ZxZtkZAMFPp0hN5frzR7xFAL95eeJK34R17at1gq1S1SkH9CeFx8ulTafnCSpMW2h3gD9WDEIjB0r5Zs9GipzQzLKqq/s1600/2014-03-18+11.26.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3NyXUkCH7Q6aBJET7W1yWublvF6WljCvlfhyMJYi_vhKOYtw9ZxZtkZAMFPp0hN5frzR7xFAL95eeJK34R17at1gq1S1SkH9CeFx8ulTafnCSpMW2h3gD9WDEIjB0r5Zs9GipzQzLKqq/s400/2014-03-18+11.26.48.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 0.64cm;">Daffodils
are one of the national emblems of Wales, along with the Leek, the
Harp and the Red Dragon. So one of these 'Daffodils' St David's Day
cards might make a welcome change from the usual Red Dragons! Also
the 'Daffodils' gifts would be welcome at any time of year and there
are plenty more to choose from in my </span><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 0.64cm;">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 0.64cm;"> store on
Zazzle.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Daffodils' collection -</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/daffodils_for_st_davids_day-119289921538499057?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Daffodils for St David's Day" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/daffodils_for_st_davids_day_119289921538499057-r_zruem_6hyz9_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/daffodils_for_st_davids_day-119289921538499057?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Daffodils for St David's Day</a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A couple of years ago,
I decided to open a specifically 'Welsh' store, <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a>, on the Zazzle platform.</b> </span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the wide choice of Welsh symbols
set me off designing more greeting cards and gifts that incorporated
them, including this one that features them all - </span></span>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKlEXyz3HNxY_vBnr1N7ndNEiEMC5zL7UySkebDn0nxwKCJFTW7rNMuUZt1DLXbjJNN5ZZ07M_9lq5pWqk0gumbs9NEy_yXN2jhr0qyAC3ZZ8NHfk7VCdxrC-f9e_UCYeIoCC1ezGTxlK/s1600/rowofwelshmotifstrans.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKlEXyz3HNxY_vBnr1N7ndNEiEMC5zL7UySkebDn0nxwKCJFTW7rNMuUZt1DLXbjJNN5ZZ07M_9lq5pWqk0gumbs9NEy_yXN2jhr0qyAC3ZZ8NHfk7VCdxrC-f9e_UCYeIoCC1ezGTxlK/s320/rowofwelshmotifstrans.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/dragons-and-daffodils-for-st-davids-day.html">blog post</a> in
which I launched them and you might be interested to read some of my
observations about Wales, having only moved here from England quite
late in life. </span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">So here
are just some of the many Greeting Cards and Gifts with the
traditional Welsh Symbols in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a> store:</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Welsh Emblems' Collection -</i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_emblems-119082834898886788?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Welsh Emblems" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/welsh_emblems_119082834898886788-r_zruem_jto03_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_emblems-119082834898886788?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Welsh Emblems</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Living in Wales seems to provide me with a multitude of inspirational images that I can draw on for my greeting card and gift designs!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>There are, of course, the traditional Welsh Tapestry designs - </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Click on the image to see the full Black and White Welsh Tapestry collection -</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/black_and_white_welsh_tapestry_patterns-119461666113549705?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Black and White Welsh Tapestry Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/black_and_white_welsh_tapestry_patterns_119461666113549705-r_zruem_jkz6v_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/black_and_white_welsh_tapestry_patterns-119461666113549705?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Black and White Welsh Tapestry Patterns</a> </span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lots more, in different colours, in my Posh'n'Painterly Cymru store!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And then there are my Silly Sheep!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Silly Sheep' collection -</i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>One of these cosy Throw Blankets would make a wonderful winter gift!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Throw Blanket' collection -</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/throw_blankets_with_a_welsh_flavour-119216951967749911?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Throw Blankets with a Welsh Flavour" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/throw_blankets_with_a_welsh_flavour_119216951967749911-r_zruem_jcc81_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><b>And then, of course, there are the Coffee Mugs, some with the text in Welsh!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><i>Click on the image to see the full Welsh Coffee Mugs collection -</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_coffee_mugs-119112589023509343?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Welsh Coffee Mugs" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/welsh_coffee_mugs_119112589023509343-r_zruem_ju8hk_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_coffee_mugs-119112589023509343?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Welsh Coffee Mugs</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><b>Not forgetting my special collection of Welsh 'Gifts for Him'!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Welsh Gifts for Him' collection -</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_gifts_for_him-119840763376957566?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Welsh Gifts for Him" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/welsh_gifts_for_him_119840763376957566-r_zruem_z5798_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_gifts_for_him-119840763376957566?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Welsh Gifts for Him</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><b>And taking off my 'Designer's' hat in favour of my 'Painter's' hat, here are some prints and posters from my original soft pastel paintings of Wales -</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><i>Click on the image to see the full collection of 'Fine Art Images of Wales' -</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/fine_art_images_of_wales-119968027303361573?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Fine Art Images of Wales" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/fine_art_images_of_wales_119968027303361573-r_zruem_jk2ks_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/fine_art_images_of_wales-119968027303361573?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Fine Art Images of Wales</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope you've enjoyed this 'taster' from my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshnpainterlycymru*">Posh'n'Painterly Cymru</a> store. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I wish you a very Happy St David's Day, wherever you are and however you spend it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24.189px;"><a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/st-davids-day-feast-of-st-david-cards/other-st-davids-day-feast-of-st-david/bilingual-st-davids-day-greeting-1252132?gcu=43752923941"><img src="http://images.greetingcarduniverse.com/images/csphoto/1107/00/00/13/92/70//1252132-1_3d.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-49307928675451261632016-01-21T05:51:00.001-08:002016-01-21T05:51:05.504-08:00Primroses and Violets for a February Birthday <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYrvKs-4pBgKFomX-SfKt6mX74fqf_-elAsHuny2ZgLnYuyTvsk3m5oIiX1AEvCTy0tx1Ai3oqBrgEEvl65Z5L0n6anZ2Kcu_s5pqlc1VelvWy7wTgZffXO1p1TC1CU5LEJ3CCaNoPqY9/s1600/BannerFebruaryBirthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYrvKs-4pBgKFomX-SfKt6mX74fqf_-elAsHuny2ZgLnYuyTvsk3m5oIiX1AEvCTy0tx1Ai3oqBrgEEvl65Z5L0n6anZ2Kcu_s5pqlc1VelvWy7wTgZffXO1p1TC1CU5LEJ3CCaNoPqY9/s400/BannerFebruaryBirthday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finding a different
birthday card for a friend or relative, year after year, can be a
challenge, especially if we're looking for something that will be
special to that person.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've just been ordering
birthday cards for my friends and trying to remember which ones I
sent them last year! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course it helps that so many of the cards we
can buy online can be personalized. It's not difficult to do and yet
it can make a big difference because the recipient will know that we
didn't just rush out to the nearest store and pick up the first card
we found!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A 'photo card' is
another option - slightly more complicated to create but not too
daunting, especially once you've done it a few times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And here's another idea
- take advantage of the 'Birth Month Flowers'!</b> Each month has at
least one well-known flower designated to it. You can read about them
on <a href="http://www.birthdaygems.org/birth-month-flowers/">this website</a>. Some of the suggested flowers seem completely out of season for me,
here in the UK.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But both of the
February Birth Month Flowers, the Violet and the Primrose, are very
familiar to me and relate to the right time of year - more or less!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWosGLspCwbaB8f15wElAq6zwYAYFWcEGixBvZ-0UJV6LhmxP7ehHwYFcElgKhK2SWhfx-bWaXqDsv8yoCwFX3ubfh4Rg4uPAHn9-LZIrRcKJ95QtTdInlJsX5Me5DigSk4eMuab20q7su/s1600/violetsmotifflippedH.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIPvx38nREIekIpnqhI6LAjgJJJXN6ugUPQxLEJ_7-TCaH0-A-HLImGP-Tz29Zv4tvacGYPo1HqxeA7edWIwDS2yq2UkwIrv5Ra81hTkx-wGWM0G9lNCy9PeLscc1__UepL5SLbhxuhcd/s1600/violetsmotif.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIPvx38nREIekIpnqhI6LAjgJJJXN6ugUPQxLEJ_7-TCaH0-A-HLImGP-Tz29Zv4tvacGYPo1HqxeA7edWIwDS2yq2UkwIrv5Ra81hTkx-wGWM0G9lNCy9PeLscc1__UepL5SLbhxuhcd/s200/violetsmotif.png" width="114" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have plenty of wild
violets in my front garden! When I first moved into my house, I tried
to get rid of them to make room for the flowers I wanted to plant.
But because a quite rapidly growing Magnolia Tree spreads its roots
throughout the garden, it was a losing battle. So I gave up and
allowed my front garden to become a 'woodland' area with the only
plants that enjoy the shade and the poor soil - mainly bulbs, lilies
of the valley and the violets! The lilies of the valley are gradually
spreading from one side and the violets from the other and they
almost meet in the middle and I'm wondering which will win when they
eventually meet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a webpage about
<a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/violet/wild-violets-care.htm">'How to Grow Wild Violets'</a> - not that mine have needed any help from me; they manage pretty well
all by themselves. But I didn't know that they are edible until I
read this article.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWosGLspCwbaB8f15wElAq6zwYAYFWcEGixBvZ-0UJV6LhmxP7ehHwYFcElgKhK2SWhfx-bWaXqDsv8yoCwFX3ubfh4Rg4uPAHn9-LZIrRcKJ95QtTdInlJsX5Me5DigSk4eMuab20q7su/s1600/violetsmotifflippedH.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWosGLspCwbaB8f15wElAq6zwYAYFWcEGixBvZ-0UJV6LhmxP7ehHwYFcElgKhK2SWhfx-bWaXqDsv8yoCwFX3ubfh4Rg4uPAHn9-LZIrRcKJ95QtTdInlJsX5Me5DigSk4eMuab20q7su/s200/violetsmotifflippedH.png" width="114" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I wrote in this <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/february-birth-month-flower-violet.html">earlier blog post</a>, these little Wild Violets don't add a lot of colour to a garden, especially where they are often almost hidden amongst the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">fallen leaves. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was only on closer inspection for the purposes of painting them, that I 'got to know them' and began to appreciate them. They certainly </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">live up </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to their description of </span><a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/are-you-shrinking-violet.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'Shrinking Violets'</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, another of my earlier blog </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">posts!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Birthday Card or Gift with a 'Sweet Violets' pattern would certainly be special</span>, <span style="font-size: large;">especially as many of the cards and gifts in my 'Sweet Violets' collection are ready for you to personalize!</span> So go ahead and choose from dozens of 'Sweet Violets' gifts and make it even more personal with your own customization. There's even a choice of 'Sweet Violets' wrapping papers, tissue giftwrap and gift bags to add the finishing touch - and don't forget that if you see a design you'd like on a different product, you can contact me through my store and I'll create what you need, at no extra charge, usually well within a couple of days.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Just click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/sweet_violets_february_birthday-119933661691910990?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Sweet Violets February Birthday" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/sweet_violets_february_birthday_119933661691910990-r_zruem_jq9xu_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/sweet_violets_february_birthday-119933661691910990?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Sweet Violets February Birthday&tc=bl</a> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo7rpefBM-SUWozhVvoLa5qDdWFqVyMfpfSBnc7rcu0ULQIWUQq8dleTKhA2acwpwIjyVOvXP4tAGbpmZ_cFVgpiXCRoUYtmYcHllj6H1URKS4BBMzM6VYGeSAYaUjyMnZwnwvjvHKWR2/s1600/BannerPrimroses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo7rpefBM-SUWozhVvoLa5qDdWFqVyMfpfSBnc7rcu0ULQIWUQq8dleTKhA2acwpwIjyVOvXP4tAGbpmZ_cFVgpiXCRoUYtmYcHllj6H1URKS4BBMzM6VYGeSAYaUjyMnZwnwvjvHKWR2/s400/BannerPrimroses.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">February does seem a
little early to be seeing the other February Birth Month Flower - the
Primrose.</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I associate them with springtime, but here in the UK they
are usually at their best around Easter Time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's my <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/what-does-your-garden-say-about-you.html">earlier blogpost</a> about how I used to enjoy going out to the woods to pick them as
a child. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is some confusion
about whether we are allowed to pick wild flowers - understandably
because some are becoming rare in the wild now. But this article from
the Wild Flower Society - </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm">Wild Flowers and the Law</a> - c</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">larifies the situation
and, although the wholesale digging up of wild flower plants certainly doesn't help our countryside to flourish, it's fine to pick a posy of
primroses, just as it was when I was a child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The 'Primroses' image
I've used to make the repeating pattern below began as a print I made
in a screenprinting class almost 30 years ago!</b> I was living in the
centre of Norwich at the time, with not many opportunities to get out
into the woodland to see the little pale yellow primroses growing in
the wild. But I did - and still do! - often buy the larger cultivated
primroses in a variety of bold colours to brighten up my front porch
in winter. I've even grown them from seed in the past, which works
out a lot cheaper! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes you can plant these cultivated primroses out in the garden once they've finished flowering and if they thrive there, they provide a bright spot when there's very little colour around in the gardens.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-mwfjO_y1vk2mcGKH8gf_fnfNn3tJfs1sr9PnhSNlt3EpcLF5jQl5ityeNvW7iKC6E31fLN2lxE3WOtrdRYCa7jkK9g1XXaoKxFGe-IIKUn5YxK5ES7Ui_v9qIoHj5LSQX84q1g1oVls/s1600/primroses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-mwfjO_y1vk2mcGKH8gf_fnfNn3tJfs1sr9PnhSNlt3EpcLF5jQl5ityeNvW7iKC6E31fLN2lxE3WOtrdRYCa7jkK9g1XXaoKxFGe-IIKUn5YxK5ES7Ui_v9qIoHj5LSQX84q1g1oVls/s320/primroses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it was from a group
like these that I drew my 'Primroses' motifs for the screen print and luckily I kept the original drawing so I was able to paint them in gouache to make the repeating patterns that have become popular!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are just a few ideas to make someone with a February Birthday feel really special! The primrose is one of the earliest flowers to bloom but you may not know that it happens to be one of the February Birth Month Flowers. So why not celebrate a February Birthday with a special 'Primroses' Birthday Card and a gift with this pretty Primrose pattern? There's also a range of 'Primroses' gift-wrapping papers, gift bags and even matching gift tags! And you'll find an even greater selection of 'Primroses' cards and gifts if you visit the 'Painterly Florals' section of my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*">Posh & Painterly</a> Zazzle store.</span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Just click on the image below to see the full collection -</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/primroses_for_a_february_birthday-119554673998574404?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Primroses for a February Birthday" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/primroses_for_a_february_birthday_119554673998574404-r_zruem_6hi3z_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/primroses_for_a_february_birthday-119554673998574404?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Primroses for a February Birthday</a> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfWwsA6lLAtvAvM2zUck6CsFJsy12n9kbUMeX-XrRJdNLvy7chncJbXrQlWQTpofAgkDiDilUj_3i90nuu_wEcK_96uGdnjDt9NkxLJRyd7-I5qnXRwPISzdfVq-d-ml2p7FIxCdKf_od/s1600/primroserepeatx8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfWwsA6lLAtvAvM2zUck6CsFJsy12n9kbUMeX-XrRJdNLvy7chncJbXrQlWQTpofAgkDiDilUj_3i90nuu_wEcK_96uGdnjDt9NkxLJRyd7-I5qnXRwPISzdfVq-d-ml2p7FIxCdKf_od/s200/primroserepeatx8.png" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, whether you choose Violets or Primroses you can be sure that the Birthday Girl, whatever her age, will appreciate your Birthday Card and Gift choice!</span></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-28572327458672684822016-01-14T06:26:00.001-08:002016-01-14T06:26:31.536-08:00Valentine's Greeting Cards and Gifts <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Love it or hate it,
it's hard to escape the fact that Valentine's Day follows quite
quickly on the heels of the Christmas and New Year holidays!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the Welsh version -
St Dwynwen's Day - arrives even sooner, on January 25th, as even
Derek Brockway, the well-known BBC Wales weather forecaster,
never fails to remind us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">St Dwynwen is the Welsh Patron Saint of Lovers</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and her feast day is celebrated on 25 January. So here's a selection of Greeting Cards for St Dwynwen's Day, all of them ready for you to personalize. (You can find out more about her in this <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/dwin-dy-garu-di.html" style="font-size: 16px;">archived blog post</a>.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection -</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/st_dwynwens_day_gifts_and_cards-119103626566558264?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="St Dwynwen's Day Gifts and Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/st_dwynwens_day_gifts_and_cards_119103626566558264-r_zruem_jnef0_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/st_dwynwens_day_gifts_and_cards-119103626566558264?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">St Dwynwen's Day Gifts and Cards</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But back to St Valentine's Day</b> - I've written several <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/romance-alive-and-kicking-in-12th.html">blog posts</a>
about this somewhat controversial 'holiday' in years gone by so
there's no need for me to go into detail the origins of St
Valentine's Day. But i</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f you want to read one of the most likely-sounding theories about St Valentine and why he has been adopted
worldwide as the Patron Saint of Lovers (except, maybe, in Wales),
<a href="http://www1.cbn.com/st-valentine-real-story">here's an article</a> that claims to be the real story.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever the truth of
the origin of this special season, it's true that, on February 14th
each year, millions of girlfriends, wives and miscellaneous
sweethearts hope to receive some special token of their lover's
undying affections. And they are likely to be extremely displeased if
nothing suitable is forthcoming!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This can even cause a
major hiccup in a relationship! And if young girls - or older ones,
for that matter! - foolishly measure their worth by the quantity and
quality of the Valentine's cards and gifts they receive, it can
become a major problem.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>In truth, though, St
Valentine's Day is more of a challenge for the men and the boys</b>,
unless they happen to be one of the more romantically inclined males,
who are rather few and far between.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a start, a great
many men do not even like going into greeting cards stores at the
best of times. So venturing into a card store at a time of year when
it's particularly full of red hearts and roses and 'mushy' verses,
takes a lot of nerve!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as for coming up
with an original idea for a Valentine's gift, year after year, that,
surely, is too much to ask!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course there are
always the traditional bouquets of red roses - that's a pretty safe
bet. And a romantic dinner for two in a favourite restaurant will
probably always be well received. Cute, cuddly teddy bears may be the
answer for some, but they're certainly not every woman's dream!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So what if you want to
do something different, something a little bit more original? Where
do you go for ideas?</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, here are a few to
start you off! And they don't even involve you in that dreaded business of going into a store because you can shop online. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's more, many of
them are ready for you to personalize and that's sure to make a
really good impression.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All ready for St Valentine's Day! </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A collection of Valentines cards and gifts with bright pink and blue hearts, made from a hand-painted paper collage, ready to personalize. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">The same hearts, together with paper collage pink flowers on a magenta background make for a chic pattern on romantic gifts for the one you love!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection - </span></i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/magenta_hearts-119294241689549212?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Magenta Hearts" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/magenta_hearts_119294241689549212-r_zruem_joy4y_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/magenta_hearts-119294241689549212?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Magenta Hearts</a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Valentine's Day Cards and Treats! </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Red Roses and Chocolates. Nothing can express your Valentine's Day sentiments better than these - unless, of course, it's a very specially Personalized Box of Chocolates! </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So choose a gift for your loved one from these pretty Valentine's Day designs, all with matching Valentine's Day Cards and Chocolate-dipped Oreo Cookies to customize - and now there are even matching Gift Bags and Favor Boxes to present them in! </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can guarantee she'll be impressed!</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection -</span></i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/valentines_day_cards_and_treats-119904050432326625?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Valentine's Day Cards and Treats" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/valentines_day_cards_and_treats_119904050432326625-r_zruem_j11hy_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/valentines_day_cards_and_treats-119904050432326625?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Valentine's Day Cards and Treats</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everything you need for St Valentine's Day! </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chic Greeting Cards, Wrapping Paper, Ribbon and Gift Tags and Lovers' Mugs - all with country-style 'Hearts and Roses'. Plenty more 'Hearts and Roses' Gifts in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*">Posh & Painterly</a> store -</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection -</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/valentines_day_greeting_cards_and_gifts-119132180672741542?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Valentine's Day Greeting Cards and Gifts" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/valentines_day_greeting_cards_and_gifts_119132180672741542-r_zruem_jypna_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/valentines_day_greeting_cards_and_gifts-119132180672741542?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Valentine's Day Greeting Cards and Gifts</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love Pillows or Cushions!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A collection of romantic pillows or cushions for someone you love, your girlfriend, wife, partner or your mother or grandmother! </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pillows come in various shapes and sizes, some have hearts or roses while others have the word 'Love' in faux applique. Sure to be a welcome gift for many occasions as well as St Valentine's Day!</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection -</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/love_pillows-119450125481097019?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Love Pillows" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/love_pillows_119450125481097019-r_zruem_jguq6_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/love_pillows-119450125481097019?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Love Pillows</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Romantic smartphone cases with hearts and flowers</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> - the perfect gift for a girlfriend or partner. All Case-Mate cases are available with these designs - choose the one you need from the drop-down menu under <b>Device Type</b> on the product page.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection -</span></i><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/phone_cases_with_hearts-119501505105478995?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Phone-cases with Hearts" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/phone_cases_with_hearts_119501505105478995-r_zruem_j1lza_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/phone_cases_with_hearts-119501505105478995?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Phone-cases with Hearts</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love-themed Postage Stamps -</span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to add the finishing touch to many occasions: Weddings, Anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and many more! (sadly, for use in the USA only.)</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection -</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/postage_with_love-119379089544613219?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Postage with Love" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/postage_with_love_119379089544613219-r_zruem_j1izg_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/postage_with_love-119379089544613219?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Postage with Love</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a selection of Valentine's Day Cards with the greeting in Welsh, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">along with all sorts of romantic gifts and treats for your loved one, even if they're not Welsh!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">And there's even matching Gift-wrapping Paper and Gift Bags to add the finishing touch! (Some silly Welsh Sheep have also found their way into this Collection!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click on the image to see the whole collection -</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_valentines_day_cards_and_gifts-119613040538568948?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Welsh Valentines Day Cards and Gifts" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/welsh_valentines_day_cards_and_gifts_119613040538568948-r_zruem_jdbzv_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/welsh_valentines_day_cards_and_gifts-119613040538568948?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Welsh Valentines Day Cards and Gifts</a> </span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>And finally - </b>if you are at all confident in the kitchen, you might want to cook a special meal for your beloved, whether that's a 'him' or a 'her'! What could be a clearer sign of your devotion - as long as you clear up after yourself!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a blog post from a while ago with one of my favourite Valentine's Day recipes - <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/recipe-for-st-valentines-feast.html">Recipe for a Valentine's Feast!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alternatively, there are some pretty imaginative <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/valentines-day">Romantic Recipes</a> here, on the BBC website. Good luck with those if you decide to try them - you might want to do a practice run first!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It just remains for me to wish you all a Very Happy (and stress-free!) St Valentine's Day and hope that you won't need this <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/card-for-absent-valentine.html">'Missing You'</a> card for an Absent Valentine!</span></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-80244739710048629032016-01-07T06:11:00.001-08:002016-01-07T06:11:47.477-08:00Shopping for Gifts and Greeting Cards for Men<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFvlNZPsQviFV88BEXjhRow9FSVhxqoHtpB4OJupqQ3tsP50X4jzQY2VW542881xovS9k5M7guGUO5g2miXKod-1883EG8axm9e-9sDJugmUp47v8zWUBABHOyhpHWOrKHqxbp-hh7c3d/s1600/BannerGiftsforMen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFvlNZPsQviFV88BEXjhRow9FSVhxqoHtpB4OJupqQ3tsP50X4jzQY2VW542881xovS9k5M7guGUO5g2miXKod-1883EG8axm9e-9sDJugmUp47v8zWUBABHOyhpHWOrKHqxbp-hh7c3d/s640/BannerGiftsforMen.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last month I touched on
the difficulties of buying gifts for men and promised to go into it
in a bit more detail this month, hopefully offering some helpful
advice as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it's a husband or partner, a father, a son, a
grandson or a friend or colleague, choosing the right gift can be quite a
headache!
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So first we need to
understand why it can be so difficult.</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realise I am about to
generalise dreadfully but there do seem to be some common threads
running through the reasons that it's harder to choose a present for
a man than for a woman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whereas women tend
to be thrilled to receive all sorts of totally unnecessary
'accessories' and ornamental bits and pieces, as long as they suit
their style, <b>men are more inclined to think in terms of practical,
useful gifts.</b> (This, by the way, can lead to some friction when men
buy us household items, such as vacuum cleaners - and in my own case,
for my first married Christmas gift, a very functional stainless steel ladel!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Related to the
above, while most women can go into a gift shop or craft shop and
pick out a dozen frivolous little items they'd love to own, <b>men tend
to think much bigger.</b> The things they aspire to are more likely to be
cars, boats, houses etc - probably not within our budget for birthday
gifts but things to be saved up for.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike women and
girls, <b>men and boys are unlikely to tell us either directly or
through dropping hints, what they'd like for their birthday or Christmas.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because the things
men would like to own are likely to be useful, easily justified
items, <b>they tend to just buy them when they need them</b> - I have this
on good authority from my son.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So all these factors
together can leave us with a problem but here are a few ways we may
be able to make the gift-buying a bit easier:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you tried asking
him outright what he'd like for his birthday or Christmas present?
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He's unlikely to drop
hints so that may well be the best course of action. But do choose a
time when he won't feel harassed about something that is supposed to be a
source of pleasure - don't try to talk about it when he's preoccupied
with something else, such as work, a tv programme or a project he's
wanting to plan.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If asking him a
straight question doesn't provide you with a useful answer - and
often it won't! - try approaching it from a different angle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Does he
have a hobby that could be enhanced by a gift related to it?</span> Even if
it's not a strictly practical hobby-related gift, maybe a coffee mug
or t-shirt that acknowledges the importance of his hobby in his life
would go down well?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It may even be that
it's up to us women to know best what a man needs before he knows it
himself! After all, we're supposed to be good at putting ourselves in
someone else's shoes, aren't we! <span style="color: blue;">So maybe you can visualise how pleased he
would be to receive something with his monogram or name on?</span> A Travel
Accessories Bag, for instance, or maybe a sleeve for his tablet or
laptop?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may need to do some
detective work - notice if there are particular book reviews in the
newspapers that seem to interest him; where does he linger in the DIY
store? <span style="color: blue;">Does he buy a specific magazine or journal regularly? Maybe a
subscription to that magazine would go down well?</span> Is he a wine buff?
There are plenty of wine-related accessories on offer, though his
preference will probably a bottle of really good wine! If you have
serious money to spend, maybe an 'experience', such as a hot air
balloon trip, would be a gift he'd remember with pleasure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If all else fails - and
I'm resorting to this increasingly with my teenage grandsons - there
are plenty of gift vouchers on offer, either for hobby-related gifts,
such as gaming, for treats such as a therapeutic massage or for more general stores. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Still stuck?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some of my Zazzle Collections where you might find inspiration. I realize that <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422">my Zazzle stores</a> may well seem to be full of floral designs - I love my garden! - but I try to make sure that I balance the pretty and feminine with designs more suitable for gifts for men. So take a few minutes to browse - you might find exactly what you need!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Looking for a smartphone case as a gift for a man?</b> Look no further - here you will find a selection of Case-Mate and Savvy cases for the iPhone 5 and 6 as well as Samsung Galaxy smartphones. The ethnic and tribal patterns in subtle colours are from my 'Jungle Drums' collection and many of them are ready for you to personalize. All can be easily customized by changing the scale or direction of the pattern for a truly personal touch. (Don't forget that these designs can be adjusted to fit any of the Case-mate cases - just choose your model from the drop-down menu immediately below 'Device Type' on the product page.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/jungle_drums_smartphone_cases-119984423270055348?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Jungle Drums Smartphone Cases" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/jungle_drums_smartphone_cases_119984423270055348-r_zruem_jl1m7_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/jungle_drums_smartphone_cases-119984423270055348?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Jungle Drums Smartphone Cases</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Great gift for the fashion-conscious younger man</b>, trending plaid patterns on canvas High-top Shoes and Panel-front T-shirts - great choice of colorways!</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_high_top_shoes_and_t_shirts_for_men-119457023939596737?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Plaid High-top Shoes and T-shirts for Men" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/plaid_high_top_shoes_and_t_shirts_for_men_119457023939596737-r_zruem_j11hf_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_high_top_shoes_and_t_shirts_for_men-119457023939596737?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Plaid High-top Shoes and T-shirts for Men</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Here's a selection of gifts and greeting cards for anyone who loves the sea, the seaside and sailing! </b>All these coastal designs are from hand-painted paper collages and include a lighthouse, beach huts, a fishing port and a seaside vista. Although this selection of greeting cards and gifts are for anyone at all, some of them might well solve the difficulty of finding something suitable for a man!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/seaside_and_sailing_gifts_and_cards-119944436953471178?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Seaside and Sailing Gifts and Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/seaside_and_sailing_gifts_and_cards_119944436953471178-r_zruem_j9dd0_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Here's a wonderful selection of Gifts and Birthday Cards for anyone born in the Chinese Year of the Horse! </b>But these 'Horse' gifts would be just as popular with anyone who loves horses - there are 'Horse' Fashion Accessories, 'Horse' Device Cases and Sleeves and 'Horse' Gifts for the Home. Have fun scrolling down to see the whole collection of 'Golden Horses'!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/horse_gifts_and_birthday_cards-119790523286801213?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Horse Gifts and Birthday Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/horse_gifts_and_birthday_cards_119790523286801213-r_zruem_j1emb_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Love stripes? Then add a splash of color your home with some of these modern Striped Pillows or Cushions!</b> There's something here to complement any colour scheme and the Pillows come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and you can choose either cotton or polyester fabrics. Excellent as a gift or treat your own home to an instant makeover!</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/pillows_with_colorful_stripes-119446194944264383?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pillows with Colorful Stripes" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pillows_with_colorful_stripes_119446194944264383-r_zruem_jgpkr_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><b>Run out of ideas for a gift for a man who plays golf?</b> Here are some useful gifts with a fun golfing cartoon, from a hand-drawn, whimsical illustration! And some of them are ready for you to personalize. Just one Birthday Card is shown but many more are available in my Zazzle store! Also, this design can easily be transferred to any Case-Mate case by clicking on 'Device Type', just below 'Style Options'.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/golf_gifts_and_cards-119998933142689091?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Golf Gifts and Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/golf_gifts_and_cards_119998933142689091-r_zruem_j9poj_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/golf_gifts_and_cards-119998933142689091?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Golf Gifts and Cards</a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A collection of distinctive Gifts for Men with a Chocolate Brown and Silvery Grey Faux Snakeskin pattern.</b> Most of these stylish gifts are ready for you to personalize with a Monogram, Initials or Name. The collection includes Fashion Accessories and Drinkware as well as Cases, Pouches and Sleeves for Electronic Devices.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/snakeskin_effect_gifts_for_men-119765394719991544?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Snakeskin Effect Gifts for Men" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/snakeskin_effect_gifts_for_men_119765394719991544-r_zruem_j1no1_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/snakeskin_effect_gifts_for_men-119765394719991544?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Snakeskin Effect Gifts for Men</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Finding suitable birthday cards for men can be a challenge but my popular, fun illustrations of older men will often bring a smile to the face of the recipient. </b>Just a few examples are shown here, along with matching gifts, but cards and mugs for different ages are available in my Flutterby Designs store. If you can't find the age you're looking for, please contact me through my store and I'll be happy to create the one you want at no extra charge.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_and_cards_for_older_men-119693766488440863?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts and Cards for Older Men" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_and_cards_for_older_men_119693766488440863-r_zruem_jdeou_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_and_cards_for_older_men-119693766488440863?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Gifts and Cards for Older Men</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Here you'll find more than eighty trendy coffee mugs, specially designed to appeal to men. </b>Coffee mugs with stripes, chevrons and plaid patterns (amongst others!), many of them ready to personalize with your name. Excellent, modestly priced gift for the man who has everything - except his own, personalized coffee mug!</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_coffee_mugs-119969727632314244?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts for Men - Coffee Mugs" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_for_men_coffee_mugs_119969727632314244-r_zruem_jlqc7_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_coffee_mugs-119969727632314244?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Gifts for Men - Coffee Mugs</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A selection of brightly coloured iPhone 6 cases, with chevrons, stripes, polka dots and Islamic geometric patterns.</b> Please contact me through my Posh and Painterly store if you would like one of these patterns on a different case.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/iphone_6_cases_with_geometric_patterns-119827634717521130?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="iPhone 6 cases with Geometric Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/iphone_6_cases_with_geometric_patterns_119827634717521130-r_zruem_j9nzz_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A selection of Neck-ties, unisex Tank Tops and panel-front T-shirts with trending plaid patterns.</b></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_ties_tees_and_tank_tops-119951032492510516?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Plaid Ties, Tees and Tank Tops" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/plaid_ties_tees_and_tank_tops_119951032492510516-r_zruem_jubtd_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A collection of Gifts with Paisley Elephants and coordinating Plaid patterns offers plenty of ideas for Gifts for Him.</b> For more of my Elephant gifts and greeting cards, see my 'Heffalumps' Collection in my Posh and Painterly Zazzle store.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_elephants-119544914824428430?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts for Men - Elephants" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_for_men_elephants_119544914824428430-r_zruem_jtabj_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A selection of gifts for anyone, men included, with trendy black and white chevrons.</b> Some are ready to be personalized with a name or monogram and many others can be adjusted to be ready for personalization by contacting me through my store.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/chevrons_black_white-119750998982827357?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Chevrons - Black & White" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/chevrons_black_white_119750998982827357-r_zruem_jgwpq_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/chevrons_black_white-119750998982827357?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Chevrons - Black & White</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A collection of gifts with Egyptian patterns,</b> featuring lotus flowers, papyrus, tribal shields, arrows and traditional egyptian basket-weave patterns. The colour palette is rusty red, golden yellow, soft green and black. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/egyptian_patterns-119629172736482747?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Egyptian Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/egyptian_patterns_119629172736482747-r_zruem_j06ov_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Check Ginghams, Madras Checks, Plaids and Tartans never really go out of style but at the moment they are particularly popular! </b>There are Pillows or Cushions here to complement any colour scheme and the Pillows come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and you can choose either cotton or polyester fabrics. Most welcome as a gift or to brighten up your own home - and don't forget that you can customize many of them by changing the scale and direction of the pattern!</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_and_check_pillows-119900824499500880?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Plaid and Check Pillows" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/plaid_and_check_pillows_119900824499500880-r_zruem_jgyet_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_and_check_pillows-119900824499500880?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Plaid and Check Pillows</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>It can be tricky to find the right gift for a man. But these stylish black and gold-effect traditional Islamic mosaic patterns have an understated touch of class that will appeal to men of all ages.</b> If you would like the design on a different product, please contact me through my store and I will create it for you, usually in a couple of days at most, free of charge.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_black_islamic_pattern-119061440461600238?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts for Men - Black Islamic Pattern" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_for_men_black_islamic_pattern_119061440461600238-r_zruem_jlg7w_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_black_islamic_pattern-119061440461600238?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Gifts for Men - Black Islamic Pattern</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>This collection offers a choice of ways to protect your iPad, from Folio cases to Rickshaw Sleeves.</b> All are shown with a choice of four different 'tribal' patterns from my 'Jungle Drums' collection, making them equally suitable as a gift for a man or for anyone. You can easily add your personal touch by customizing the patterns - rotate the pattern or change the scale to create a totally different look!</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/jungle_drums_ipad_cases_and_sleeves-119162754700050723?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Jungle Drums iPad Cases and Sleeves" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/jungle_drums_ipad_cases_and_sleeves_119162754700050723-r_zruem_jd2lc_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/jungle_drums_ipad_cases_and_sleeves-119162754700050723?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Jungle Drums iPad Cases and Sleeves</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A selection of stylish gifts, mostly for men, with traditional Welsh Tapestry patterns in Black on White.</b> These gifts are all ready for you to personalize with your Monogram - alternatively, you can remove the Monogram if you prefer the just the pattern. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">The faux Welsh Tapestry itself is ready for you to customize by changing the background colour or re-sizing or rotating the pattern for a totally different look! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Choose from the matching Gift-wrapping Paper, Tissue Paper or Gift Bags to give your gift the finishing touch! If you don't see the product you'd like in this collection, just contact me through my Posh'n'Painterly Cymru store and I will be pleased to create the product you want, entirely free of charge.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/monogrammed_faux_welsh_tapestry_gifts-119709788949153951?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Monogrammed Faux Welsh Tapestry Gifts" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/monogrammed_faux_welsh_tapestry_gifts_119709788949153951-r_zruem_jdlp7_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/monogrammed_faux_welsh_tapestry_gifts-119709788949153951?rf=238041988035411422&tc=bl" rel="nofollow">Monogrammed Faux Welsh Tapestry Gifts</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Greeting cards for gardeners, coffee mugs for gardeners, gardening notebooks, gardening aprons, fridge magnets and bookmarks with gardening quotes and much, much more!</b> And it's not just about flower gardens - there are gifts with tomatoes and cards with a vegetable patch. You're sure to find something here for someone who enjoys their garden!</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_gardeners-119772870176995213?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts for Gardeners" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_for_gardeners_119772870176995213-r_zruem_j9nee_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>A Collection of colourful iPad cases with bright and bold chevron patterns in a variety of colour combinations to suit all tastes -</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">Click on the image</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;"> below to see the full collection</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/chevron_ipad_cases-119493546880150536?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Chevron iPad Cases" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/chevron_ipad_cases_119493546880150536-r_zruem_jqn7d_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I very much hope that you've found some useful ideas amongst my Collections of Gifts and Greeting Cards with men in mind. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But do remember that, although I haven't featured floral designs, it's simply not true that you can't give a man a floral Greeting Card, as I pointed out in this earlier <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/can-you-give-man-greeting-card-with.html">BLOG POST</a> - and it's not just Greeting Cards! Men's ties and shirts are often floral, as I pointed out in last week's blog post - <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2015_12_01_archive.html">Shopping for January Birthday Gifts - Snowdrops!</a> - where I featured my collection of Floral Ties. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can also find plenty of ties with stripes, polka dots, checks etc in my Zazzle stores and I shall hope to have made them into collections to add to future blog posts, along with more Gifts for Men!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-81819189048381081652015-12-30T09:58:00.001-08:002015-12-30T09:58:25.873-08:00Shopping for January Birthday Gifts - Snowdrops!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvEvdKIZSfRI52FjlqqUh_R5-0YkA25PDmwmB31Z4W6Nap4fHpDSxeCdQvHerqmlxS7tvJpXJ9g-Q7lKzskd9vUrTIM9fWRonTf-NLpb43FDQRH0r11bJF4k1JBBHlBWe5CH9x9Bj22A9/s1600/BannerSnowdrops.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvEvdKIZSfRI52FjlqqUh_R5-0YkA25PDmwmB31Z4W6Nap4fHpDSxeCdQvHerqmlxS7tvJpXJ9g-Q7lKzskd9vUrTIM9fWRonTf-NLpb43FDQRH0r11bJF4k1JBBHlBWe5CH9x9Bj22A9/s400/BannerSnowdrops.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It can be tough having
your birthday in January! And tough, too, for those who are racking
their brains to think of a birthday present so soon after Christmas.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not only is it the time
when the credit card bills from our Christmas shopping start arriving
but often a kind of 'gift-shopping fatigue' has set in, a reaction to
all the frantic hunt for Christmas gifts. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's too easy to resort to
rolling the Christmas and January Birthday gifts into one - sometimes
a sensible solution but often disappointing for the person on the
receiving end! Whatever we may say about not wanting a fuss on our
birthdays, deep down most of us want to feel that our birthday is
important, that our birthday is our special day.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So here are some ideas for
making a January Birthday Girl - of any age! - feel very special!</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did you know that each
month has a couple of flowers assigned to it - the Birth Month
Flowers? You can read all about the Birth Month Flowers here:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.birthdaygems.org/birth-month-flowers/">The Birth Month Flowers</a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those of us who
live in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16789834">Snowdrop</a>
is probably the more familiar of the January Birth Month flowers - in winter and early spring, the only Carnations available would be hot-house grown. ('<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2674652.htm">Snowflakes</a>' grow better in the Southern Hemisphere - eg in Australia)</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The tiny, pure white
Snowdrop bells with their spiky green leaves are usually the first of
the spring flowers to push their way up through the soil and open to
let us know that winter is on its way out, even though there may well
still be some freezing weather to follow. I have sometimes even
spotted the first Snowdrops in my little garden while the snow is
still on the ground! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes Snowdrops
don't even put in an appearance until February and certainly the poet
who named them 'February Fair Maid' associated them with February. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/snowdrop-quotation-to-inspire-you.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Snowdrop Quotation to Inspire You</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(an earlier blog post about Snowdrops)</i></div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>But, officially, the Snowdrop is the January Birth Month Flower - so
I have created a collection of January Birthday Cards and Gifts that
will show anyone with a January birthday that you have taken the
trouble to find something really special for their birthday.</b></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNEJZ3x1qPnXcyCsnE_ea5Iw4pV0N8guHf8yy2FSH1xpWUS6KmO-PgmIyfOgEXN6NXDf4IBJUiuZAOVvu98ui4v7jA8Jz3gJ0VqO7-dehWW5x0b4D57yFste116V7dc_V1zLKCUUmEDSs/s1600/snowdrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNEJZ3x1qPnXcyCsnE_ea5Iw4pV0N8guHf8yy2FSH1xpWUS6KmO-PgmIyfOgEXN6NXDf4IBJUiuZAOVvu98ui4v7jA8Jz3gJ0VqO7-dehWW5x0b4D57yFste116V7dc_V1zLKCUUmEDSs/s200/snowdrops.jpg" width="142" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 'Snowdrops' in my collection were originally silkscreen-printed, based on a drawing of a bunch of
Snowdrops from my garden. Years later, I painted them again in
watercolour and used the motif to make a repeating pattern as well as
keeping the 'bunch' intact so that there's plenty of variety in my
'Snowdrops' collection.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNEJZ3x1qPnXcyCsnE_ea5Iw4pV0N8guHf8yy2FSH1xpWUS6KmO-PgmIyfOgEXN6NXDf4IBJUiuZAOVvu98ui4v7jA8Jz3gJ0VqO7-dehWW5x0b4D57yFste116V7dc_V1zLKCUUmEDSs/s1600/snowdrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Birthday Cards in
this collection are ready for you to personalize with your own
message. And because the elements of some of them are presented as
templates, they can easily be customized, as can most of the gifts.</b> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In many cases you can change the background colour and re-size the pattern or even rotate if for a totally different look! And the monograms and the 'shields' that enclose them, can all be removed if you prefer to leave the gift with just the pattern or floral motif. Playing around with the design elements is all part of the fun and is the way to make sure that your gift is truly unique!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click on the image to see the full 'Snowdrops' collection</i> </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/snowdrops_january_birthday_cards_and_gifts-119409098496623131?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Snowdrops January Birthday Cards and Gifts" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/snowdrops_january_birthday_cards_and_gifts_119409098496623131-r_zruem_jmfy2_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/snowdrops_january_birthday_cards_and_gifts-119409098496623131?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Snowdrops January Birthday Cards and Gifts</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>If you've ever shopped
at <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*">Zazzle</a>, you'll be aware that the number of products on offer is
constantly growing!</b> Due to lack of space, I've only presented you
with eighty "Snowdrop" products in this collection but if you'd like me
to create a different "Snowdrop" gift, please contact me through my
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*">Posh & Painterly store</a> and I'll normally have it ready for you in
a couple of days, at no extra charge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuvD6sfVn54vCOpVJBHwudYALpOMREbG-EQlRUD4UpuwpWbF8e3GsUx1r-jORVXaFffgGqeasPtMNp3xg8JvTVqWNiypxv_7CCLrqKdknvMlFvkzwe9y5etvZC_bAz97Oj0VePBhjxOlM/s1600/DDFloralTie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuvD6sfVn54vCOpVJBHwudYALpOMREbG-EQlRUD4UpuwpWbF8e3GsUx1r-jORVXaFffgGqeasPtMNp3xg8JvTVqWNiypxv_7CCLrqKdknvMlFvkzwe9y5etvZC_bAz97Oj0VePBhjxOlM/s200/DDFloralTie.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Dimbleby, <br />chairman on BBC Question Time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuvD6sfVn54vCOpVJBHwudYALpOMREbG-EQlRUD4UpuwpWbF8e3GsUx1r-jORVXaFffgGqeasPtMNp3xg8JvTVqWNiypxv_7CCLrqKdknvMlFvkzwe9y5etvZC_bAz97Oj0VePBhjxOlM/s1600/DDFloralTie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuvD6sfVn54vCOpVJBHwudYALpOMREbG-EQlRUD4UpuwpWbF8e3GsUx1r-jORVXaFffgGqeasPtMNp3xg8JvTVqWNiypxv_7CCLrqKdknvMlFvkzwe9y5etvZC_bAz97Oj0VePBhjxOlM/s1600/DDFloralTie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because my 'Snowdrops' collection features flowers, it is unashamedly focused on 'Gifts for Girls' (of all ages!). </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what about the boys and men whose birthdays fall in January?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's definitely more
tricky, though I think we probably make false assumptions about
flowery patterns when it comes to men - I've noticed that TV presenters and newsreaders often wear beautifully floral neck-ties and
in the past, I've blogged about 'men and floral greeting cards' <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/can-you-give-man-greeting-card-with.html">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuvD6sfVn54vCOpVJBHwudYALpOMREbG-EQlRUD4UpuwpWbF8e3GsUx1r-jORVXaFffgGqeasPtMNp3xg8JvTVqWNiypxv_7CCLrqKdknvMlFvkzwe9y5etvZC_bAz97Oj0VePBhjxOlM/s1600/DDFloralTie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd_T6CZTJ36TR5mhfB-i7W8IpxC4ZG-Ae6I92Aqxs4EKotoyvqZYcLT79JHcT9IuII6jrSBl7ySxjshkm8qTs6_tTu3YRqj0iDQdzJWw1b-5EN79sLaN8S0lhlAtn0Nb6K8LVGI9za_lj/s1600/white_snowdrop_flowers_on_deep_blue_background_tie-re378151a879d401cbea9453bffeef711_z5nrg_325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd_T6CZTJ36TR5mhfB-i7W8IpxC4ZG-Ae6I92Aqxs4EKotoyvqZYcLT79JHcT9IuII6jrSBl7ySxjshkm8qTs6_tTu3YRqj0iDQdzJWw1b-5EN79sLaN8S0lhlAtn0Nb6K8LVGI9za_lj/s200/white_snowdrop_flowers_on_deep_blue_background_tie-re378151a879d401cbea9453bffeef711_z5nrg_325.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'Snowdrops' Tie</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So
I've used my ever-growing stash of floral patterns to put together a
collection of Floral Neckties - some may even appeal to the 'gals' as
well as the 'guys'!</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FXRiBu7a0_590GAGqb2HwurGqwcw9iXY-WOaBm_m2-zVW5F2nVfVUiAVYbxe3SH1bUzmmLLW5pAJ7ZiINFqikhJEI1v1Xnpg6IvWX4bmDKhNKDLbHJdVqgfAj-FLJAvc-cO3s3BkuweP/s1600/white_snowdrop_flowers_on_deep_blue_background_tie-re378151a879d401cbea9453bffeef711_z5nrg_325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></b></div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Click on the image to see the full 'Floral Ties' collection</b></i></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/floral_patterned_neckties-119322788107302004?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Floral Patterned Neckties" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/floral_patterned_neckties_119322788107302004-r_zruem_jr00n_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/floral_patterned_neckties-119322788107302004?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Floral Patterned Neckties</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And here's an article I came across with some useful tips on different ways to tie a tie -</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.thegloss.com/2014/06/09/fashion/how-women-wear-ties-examples-pictures/">Ways of tying a Neck-tie</a></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>However,
gifts for the men and the boys can cause us females headaches for a
variety of reasons and deserve a blog post all to themselves.</b> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So next
time, I'll be focusing on some of the reasons that buying gifts for
men, whether they're friends, relatives or colleagues, can be so
perplexing - and offering some tips that I hope will make it easier.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'll
also be including a collection of <b>Gifts or Cards for Men</b> in nearly every
subsequent blog post - so make sure you pop back often!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And
in the meantime, if you have any particular gift-buying questions or
tips - or even stories of a gift that went wrong, or a surprise gift that went down especially well! - we'd love to hear
about them in the comments.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So till next time, good luck with your January Birthday gift-buying!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6mUsw809ym8FT4o2S87o7FurNj1g54yjBBJhatUJ3QpLf3h_l0sqdamqcH2sM-_qxL4DHbvp-5DdWov2fUiQgBREvvC71jEW7HO7SwLszadSqCTzNhO0po1olQMdvt5o78F-axTYhplq/s1600/BannerSnowdrops.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6mUsw809ym8FT4o2S87o7FurNj1g54yjBBJhatUJ3QpLf3h_l0sqdamqcH2sM-_qxL4DHbvp-5DdWov2fUiQgBREvvC71jEW7HO7SwLszadSqCTzNhO0po1olQMdvt5o78F-axTYhplq/s400/BannerSnowdrops.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-66689431411446007322015-11-28T05:43:00.000-08:002015-11-28T05:43:33.735-08:00Shopping for the Perfect Christmas Gift<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now that Thanksgiving
is behind us, the next major gift-giving holiday is Christmas, less
than a month away.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtr7nFaNj5zxZeYmVVagjkrcV0iLIziOVWFFqzdiavJfrKxx5Vj1m348qL1tF0z_AJxHtcEA_mGz-r1Ileh3JN-CT6VjyvffFXSy1H9GUAbIknFmGBM9EL55-dheARCeGGPBKM1MQFzb6/s1600/christmasshoppingREADY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtr7nFaNj5zxZeYmVVagjkrcV0iLIziOVWFFqzdiavJfrKxx5Vj1m348qL1tF0z_AJxHtcEA_mGz-r1Ileh3JN-CT6VjyvffFXSy1H9GUAbIknFmGBM9EL55-dheARCeGGPBKM1MQFzb6/s320/christmasshoppingREADY.jpg" width="227" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's often said, by Christians and non-Christians alike, </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">that Christmas is a time for giving</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. It is usually thought to be following the tradition of the Three Wise Men (or <a href="http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/">Three Kings</a>) who brought gifts of Gold, Frankincence and Myrrh to the infant Jesus </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - a kind of Christening Present or even a forerunner of the Baby Shower!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it seems to be true
that we all like to give - and receive! - gifts to celebrate any kind
of High Day or Holiday; birthdays, of course, Valentine's Day,
Mother's Day and all the other feasts and festivals celebrated by
religious and non-religious folk alike.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtr7nFaNj5zxZeYmVVagjkrcV0iLIziOVWFFqzdiavJfrKxx5Vj1m348qL1tF0z_AJxHtcEA_mGz-r1Ileh3JN-CT6VjyvffFXSy1H9GUAbIknFmGBM9EL55-dheARCeGGPBKM1MQFzb6/s1600/christmasshoppingREADY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>For instance, the
Jewish festival, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/judaism/hanukkah.shtml">Hanukkah</a>, comes
before Christmas, in early December. </b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, as I've been so busy,
making Collections for my Zazzle stores that I haven't had time for any new artwork, here are just a few ideas for
Hanukkah Gifts and Greeting Cards:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Click on the image below to see the full Collection</i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/hanukkah_gifts_and_greeting_cards-119470291240605653?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Hanukkah Gifts and Greeting Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/hanukkah_gifts_and_greeting_cards_119470291240605653-r_zruem_j12ej_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/hanukkah_gifts_and_greeting_cards-119470291240605653?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Hanukkah Gifts and Greeting Cards</a>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Flutterby Designs</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>As you get
older,</b></i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Your
Christmas List gets shorter.</b></i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Not
because you want less,</b></i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>But
because the things you want</b></i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Can't be
bought.</b></i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At my time
of life, I'm in a position to confirm that!
</span></div>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My perfect
Christmas List would start with 'more time with my family' and
continue with things like: a more equal society, where everyone's
voice is heard, politicians who behave like grown-ups, an end to
global poverty and pollution, a cure for cancer, a world free of the
fear of terrorist attacks and the ravages of war . . . I could go on
and on!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cvTgWG-tkupwGw_-RGx4zNs9ZUAYUtaqA9iTvXFqn04INPrynz5oapVLRhgGwJu42X7RWijrERLSLFbNTmpBVQ2ZpC1S8URdrJ4jVYTbL2GB3FRQEiiY1sMjKjU4OSyRPZEG8UZNqqSx/s1600/auntenidsgiftREADY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cvTgWG-tkupwGw_-RGx4zNs9ZUAYUtaqA9iTvXFqn04INPrynz5oapVLRhgGwJu42X7RWijrERLSLFbNTmpBVQ2ZpC1S8URdrJ4jVYTbL2GB3FRQEiiY1sMjKjU4OSyRPZEG8UZNqqSx/s320/auntenidsgiftREADY.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But while
none of those things can be expected in my Christmas stocking, I
continue to try to assemble a little list of material things I'd like
to receive. My aim is to make the Christmas present-buying decisions
a little easier for my nearest and dearest and to avoid a situation
where unwanted gifts are either returned to the store or donated to a
charity shop!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Looked at
from a purely logical point of view, maybe we should all give one
another gift vouchers or money to choose our own gifts - and
sometimes that is the best solution.</b> </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But imagine how our Christmas
Trees would look, without their intriguingly-shaped,
festively-wrapped packages and parcels! And if we've all stuck
faithfully to the 'Christmas List', there's far less temptation to
prod and poke the parcels, to try and guess what's inside -
surely part of the excited anticipation of Christmas for children of
all ages!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So while the
Christmas List may have its advantages, it's always nice to add some
little unexpected gift, as long as you choose it carefully - it
doesn't need to cost a lot of money as long as it's something to make
the recipient's face light up as they unwrap it, something to show
you really know what will make them smile.
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>With that in
mind, I've put together some Collections of gift ideas in a wide
range of prices and to suit all ages, gifts that you won't find in
the High Street!</b> </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many of them can be personalized with a name,
initials or monogram. Some of them are ready for you to choose your
own background colour and customize by changing the scale of the
pattern or rotating it for a completely different 'look'.
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go ahead,
experiment with the 'Customize' button and create a truly unique and
personalized Christmas gift!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="font-size: medium;">Click on the images below to see the full Collections.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Gifts for Kids -</b></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Skating Penguins' Gifts </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/penguins-119868879537535903?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Penguins" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/penguins_119868879537535903-r_zruem_jueie_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/penguins-119868879537535903?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Penguins</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Flutterby Designs</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Fish in the Sea' Gifts</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/fish_in_the_sea_gifts_and_greeting_cards-119854602725934113?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Fish in the Sea GiftS and Greeting Cards" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/fish_in_the_sea_gifts_and_greeting_cards_119854602725934113-r_zruem_j1bh4_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/fish_in_the_sea_gifts_and_greeting_cards-119854602725934113?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Fish in the Sea GiftS and Greeting Cards</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><i><b>Gifts for the 'girliest' Girl -</b></i></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Candy Floss' Fashion and Accessories</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/candy_pink_fashion_accessories-119501913569894688?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Candy Pink Fashion Accessories" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/candy_pink_fashion_accessories_119501913569894688-r_zruem_ju1e0_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/candy_pink_fashion_accessories-119501913569894688?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Candy Pink Fashion Accessories</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><i><b>Gifts for Lads - </b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Faux Snakeskin' Fashion and Accessories </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/snakeskin_effect_gifts_for_men-119765394719991544?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Snakeskin Effect Gifts for Men" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/snakeskin_effect_gifts_for_men_119765394719991544-r_zruem_j1no1_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/snakeskin_effect_gifts_for_men-119765394719991544?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Snakeskin Effect Gifts for Men</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><i><b>Gifts for the Home -</b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Indigo' Gifts for the Bedroom and Bathroom</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/indigo_bathrooms_and_bedrooms-119003771555733258?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Indigo Bathrooms and Bedrooms" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/indigo_bathrooms_and_bedrooms_119003771555733258-r_zruem_j0xgf_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/indigo_bathrooms_and_bedrooms-119003771555733258?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Indigo Bathrooms and Bedrooms</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b><i>Fashion Gifts 'for Her' - Accessories and Apparel</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">'For the Love of Lilies' Fashion and Accessories</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/lily_of_the_valley_fashion-119329776025787359?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Lily-of-the-Valley Fashion" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/lily_of_the_valley_fashion_119329776025787359-r_zruem_jylwr_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/lily_of_the_valley_fashion-119329776025787359?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Lily-of-the-Valley Fashion</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">POsh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Gifts 'for Him'</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plaid and Check T-shirts and Footwear for Men</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_high_top_shoes_and_t_shirts_for_men-119457023939596737?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Plaid High-top Shoes and T-shirts for Men" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/plaid_high_top_shoes_and_t_shirts_for_men_119457023939596737-r_zruem_j11hf_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_high_top_shoes_and_t_shirts_for_men-119457023939596737?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Plaid High-top Shoes and T-shirts for Men</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Heffalumps' Gifts for Men</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_elephants-119544914824428430?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts for Men - Elephants" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_for_men_elephants_119544914824428430-r_zruem_jtabj_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_elephants-119544914824428430?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Gifts for Men - Elephants</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b><i>Gifts for Grandma -</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Rosy Posy' Home Decor Gifts</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_home_decor-119292540496402265?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Rosy Posy Home Decor" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/rosy_posy_home_decor_119292540496402265-r_zruem_jqci0_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/rosy_posy_home_decor-119292540496402265?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Rosy Posy Home Decor</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Gifts for Grandpa -</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coffee Mugs for Men</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_coffee_mugs-119969727632314244?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Gifts for Men - Coffee Mugs" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/gifts_for_men_coffee_mugs_119969727632314244-r_zruem_jlqc7_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/gifts_for_men_coffee_mugs-119969727632314244?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Gifts for Men - Coffee Mugs</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Posh & Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">In my experience, buying gifts for men of all ages - once they get into double figures - is the most challenging of all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I very much hope you found something here to fit the bill! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And next month, I shall be looking at some of the reasons why it's so hard to choose a gift for a man - and offering tips and suggestions to make it a little easier!</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So be sure to pop back after Christmas - and in the meantime, why not pay a visit to my other <a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/">Posh & Painterly</a> blog, where I post a brand new Collection every day of the week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Till then -</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzPpOBTUvz0Sp4zVa4jID9WkCjnQzDplLcv18OS3m7XuhljAePM7UJPlpSKiIOP98svdScB_IKznsMrIcT643zJZZ7BQw2JnEfKBdpp1T1jJJxX7OKBFMVGU3td1ExXnbXTZUCoU0ZHyP/s1600/carolsingersREADYb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzPpOBTUvz0Sp4zVa4jID9WkCjnQzDplLcv18OS3m7XuhljAePM7UJPlpSKiIOP98svdScB_IKznsMrIcT643zJZZ7BQw2JnEfKBdpp1T1jJJxX7OKBFMVGU3td1ExXnbXTZUCoU0ZHyP/s400/carolsingersREADYb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">- and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> New Year!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/coffee_mugs_for_men-119537714309550547?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Coffee Mugs for Men" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/coffee_mugs_for_men_119537714309550547-r_zruem_jlj6d_700.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-38608594174715482362015-10-31T07:24:00.002-07:002015-10-31T07:24:43.787-07:00October Work in Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvWQWbIdLHe2eqOoyayfhWUJnx6N5GrWaElSblII4bNEc7o7IzI3CcluXHY2oH1-iD0I0rnKXYiGE0Sj-kOyARlcNTm2y8mXU57732ZBxnbqsdKc6NnCaNqsrbO4ySfn8EDOBQbHyPI1O/s1600/OctBlogPostTop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvWQWbIdLHe2eqOoyayfhWUJnx6N5GrWaElSblII4bNEc7o7IzI3CcluXHY2oH1-iD0I0rnKXYiGE0Sj-kOyARlcNTm2y8mXU57732ZBxnbqsdKc6NnCaNqsrbO4ySfn8EDOBQbHyPI1O/s400/OctBlogPostTop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only real signs of Autumn in my little back garden!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I started selling
my greeting cards online, a 'marketing guru' friend warned
me that I would spend 80% of my time promoting and only 20% creating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was just about right, except
for the fact that the 20% has turned out to necessarily include a lot
of other tedious tasks in order to get my designs on products for
sale! In recent months, this has been particularly true of Zazzle,
where my sales are greatest. There have been changes to the
'rules' and changes to the website that all entail hours of work for the designers. All part and parcel of selling online but
it means that time in my attic studio has been very limited again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Thankfully though,
there is some creative work that I can carry on with in spite of
spending so much of my time on my laptop doing necessary
'house-keeping' jobs!
</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWnC95DyYTl5MilVPvIBDyABG2ebOzepNTwBLaZNXz6y8n8mlp_LFGD_SciXtJZKd4mcQ-g1BELatH5fQvFLaOCbInETgoJ6TZfrP_wbg-L4Pl1XDEPdW9SWM5jmw8zP4-lS64n2LJhCI/s1600/AndrewMarrBook_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWnC95DyYTl5MilVPvIBDyABG2ebOzepNTwBLaZNXz6y8n8mlp_LFGD_SciXtJZKd4mcQ-g1BELatH5fQvFLaOCbInETgoJ6TZfrP_wbg-L4Pl1XDEPdW9SWM5jmw8zP4-lS64n2LJhCI/s200/AndrewMarrBook_.jpg" width="145" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've just finished
reading Andrew Marr's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Short-Book-About-Drawing/dp/1849493340">'A Short Book About Drawing'</a>. In
fact, although it certainly is a 'short' book, it covers a lot more
than drawing. I suppose that's inevitable because of the blurred line
between drawing and painting.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWnC95DyYTl5MilVPvIBDyABG2ebOzepNTwBLaZNXz6y8n8mlp_LFGD_SciXtJZKd4mcQ-g1BELatH5fQvFLaOCbInETgoJ6TZfrP_wbg-L4Pl1XDEPdW9SWM5jmw8zP4-lS64n2LJhCI/s1600/AndrewMarrBook_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For instance, even in a 'painterly'
soft pastel like this one of Hereford Cathedral in the Autumn, I feel I am drawing rather than painting
throughout the whole process:</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaT1WwwpgDn3KmHRXd52yVkPhfPr76cFh5Y2dHDZ0IxJQCz3BDH1R3d0MCsUEVrseqySeJL86nrbxKZNcfdHTB7kTIJuPDKqchJ7p7Wu0u9wQXs-32qrnz5jPBqJmr6ulmxfpGb7n0Jf2/s320/HerefordCathedral.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The most important thing I took from this very interesting book was the reminder
to draw something every day! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because my drawing doesn't always consist of
trying to make an accurate representation, but often it's something more like
doodling, as long as I have plenty of paper and pencils to hand, that
is something I can happily catch up with while I'm watching tv -
especially if it's the World Cup Rugby as it helps to relieve the
tension!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's one of my recent 'doodles'! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wpkvtNVlwI5p5KrxHCL92Vn9mHNbKeDLj8qBrj54Z_Fzv0Em1QqYMjeJ2rygLbgarhJ1R3auCXilRXf5HugoOTBhIsgE5UnfGbvxEcLR6IGunuvh-5FJg86aCfZXB-hg1cPWwxH4HIVY/s1600/VillageScan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wpkvtNVlwI5p5KrxHCL92Vn9mHNbKeDLj8qBrj54Z_Fzv0Em1QqYMjeJ2rygLbgarhJ1R3auCXilRXf5HugoOTBhIsgE5UnfGbvxEcLR6IGunuvh-5FJg86aCfZXB-hg1cPWwxH4HIVY/s400/VillageScan.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Of course, if I'd set out to draw a village, I'd have gone about it totally differently. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For one thing, I wouldn't have started with the church. I'd have begun with the school in the foreground and built up everything else behind it. That would at least have helped me get the perspective right and avoid paths and roads that go nowhere! And what on earth is that bush doing, growing out over the pavement (top right) and into the road?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it's in the nature of a 'doodle' that it isn't planned, it kind of grows organically and takes on a life of its own, ignoring constraints of things like perspective and practicalities. That bush - or is it a pile of manure? - could become the starting point for a story about village life! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 'village' will get filed away with all my other doodles and maybe one day it'll be the starting point for a design - maybe not! The main thing is that I enjoyed it - and it lowered my stress levels during a nail-biting rugby match on tv!</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, it's still incredibly mild for the time of year and the trees are late changing their colours.</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDEE1S7sYneqls1rSVjOYqao8omY6yFIHe85i__B33ewGgQtewNB_xcJWCl0JvY3OC18OtZ-bEHhUfaUcKFAsaKskP0Z7DB2zM0CzAbZgTwY_NHkxcPE-cel4As8VdC5yQ9uGmL6Vg_Ji/s1600/OctBlogPost1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDEE1S7sYneqls1rSVjOYqao8omY6yFIHe85i__B33ewGgQtewNB_xcJWCl0JvY3OC18OtZ-bEHhUfaUcKFAsaKskP0Z7DB2zM0CzAbZgTwY_NHkxcPE-cel4As8VdC5yQ9uGmL6Vg_Ji/s320/OctBlogPost1.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trees across the road from my house changing colour at last</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a very wet August and September and now, in October, there's hardly been any frost so I expect that has something to do with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My walk to the shops through Bailey Park is lined with beech and oak trees and in other years, the oaks have begun to change in late August, the magnificent beeches in September. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year they've only just got going!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDEE1S7sYneqls1rSVjOYqao8omY6yFIHe85i__B33ewGgQtewNB_xcJWCl0JvY3OC18OtZ-bEHhUfaUcKFAsaKskP0Z7DB2zM0CzAbZgTwY_NHkxcPE-cel4As8VdC5yQ9uGmL6Vg_Ji/s1600/OctBlogPost1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></b></span></div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you click on the 'Thanksgiving' collection below, you'll see some of the cards and invitations I made from photos of those trees in previous years -</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/thanksgiving-119330939226962477?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Thanksgiving" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/thanksgiving_119330939226962477-r_zruem_jqi29_425.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/thanksgiving-119330939226962477?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Thanksgiving</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422%20rel=%22nofollow%22">Posh and Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>One of the
very positive changes this year has been Zazzle's introduction of
'Collections'.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tend to design patterns in 'collections' in any case. But it's great to be able to break down my collections even further, grouping them according to products or occasions! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still
haven't finished my 'Periwinkles' collection - greeting cards still
to be added - but here are all the coordinating periwinkle patterns on 'Periwinkle Gifts for a Bathroom and Bedroom' -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/periwinkles_bedroom_and_bathroom_collection-119658231221277430?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Periwinkles Bedroom and Bathroom Collection" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/periwinkles_bedroom_and_bathroom_collection_119658231221277430-r_zruem_js5ay_425.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/periwinkles_bedroom_and_bathroom_collection-119658231221277430?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Periwinkles Bedroom and Bathroom
Collection</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422rel=%22nofollow%22">Posh and Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It's
impossible to walk through the shopping areas of Abergavenny this Autumn without
noticing that plaids and checks are still filling the windows of the
clothing shops and boutiques.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a sunny day, it's hard to get a photo of a shop
window without reflections but here are a couple that didn't do too
badly -</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS_IRrVyn9ND-OwIlk1X8aGaPYdtc0n8fQ_wg0___DhY8O0eBKSoctQJVCCpuB4m4AZj8A1Sjfnzj-2hPCLPGSuXz5lwh2oySoKV3PNP_6yyx0q2tqm8ajsQQhA4ig8dClXS1Pn19C5eQ/s1600/OctBlogPost2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS_IRrVyn9ND-OwIlk1X8aGaPYdtc0n8fQ_wg0___DhY8O0eBKSoctQJVCCpuB4m4AZj8A1Sjfnzj-2hPCLPGSuXz5lwh2oySoKV3PNP_6yyx0q2tqm8ajsQQhA4ig8dClXS1Pn19C5eQ/s200/OctBlogPost2.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcH-vuWDtbFTbIUoNQHxk5pBJibM_otVwM4R9JHuijxP39-0pzmEaMdTICvK_Cuo3ywQxLjQuIRa5h0bMxlAfG0HUjcIbaiJ9ipz0K5bH1gaTsO_PcfFl3jn267QL94qrYg_SVdhrT77C/s1600/OctBlogPost3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcH-vuWDtbFTbIUoNQHxk5pBJibM_otVwM4R9JHuijxP39-0pzmEaMdTICvK_Cuo3ywQxLjQuIRa5h0bMxlAfG0HUjcIbaiJ9ipz0K5bH1gaTsO_PcfFl3jn267QL94qrYg_SVdhrT77C/s200/OctBlogPost3.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Inspired by
this continuing trend, I've gathered together all my fashion products
with plaids and checks in this 'collection'.</b> (Zazzle have just
introduced canvas shoes for us to decorate with our designs so I hope
to add some of them - as soon as I find the time!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_ties_tees_and_tank_tops-119951032492510516?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Plaid Ties, Tees and Tank Tops" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/plaid_ties_tees_and_tank_tops_119951032492510516-r_zruem_jubtd_425.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/plaid_ties_tees_and_tank_tops-119951032492510516?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Plaid Ties, Tees and Tank Tops</a>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422rel=%22nofollow%22">Posh and Painterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Although I haven't had time to create much new art this month, I have been busy creating 'Collections' and building up my other blog, now called 'Posh & Painterly' to avoid any confusion.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each day,
I'm posting a new Zazzle Collection in the hope that the blog can become a useful shopping resource for anyone who likes my style of Art and Design. S</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ix days a week I'm hoping to provice a new 'Collection' to browse!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/">Posh & Painterly</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">blog </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>- it's all about style!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So please pop
over and take a look - you might even find some ideas for Christmas
presents amongst them (even though the flowers in my back garden make it seem as if Christmas is still a long way off!). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaED9qt3H18ktb3lGBtNyseHezCxs_Ikj8X-AzibxgjQFw8u_-pWJDgO1N_okPATgdBGHiZKbiYwg89gwW_tFTdrdHz25nhQP2QrTvpSNWvoWRnv9ouzlYy7Y28yG8BGKoOUBjez0qu2F5/s1600/Godetias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaED9qt3H18ktb3lGBtNyseHezCxs_Ikj8X-AzibxgjQFw8u_-pWJDgO1N_okPATgdBGHiZKbiYwg89gwW_tFTdrdHz25nhQP2QrTvpSNWvoWRnv9ouzlYy7Y28yG8BGKoOUBjez0qu2F5/s400/Godetias.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annual Godetias and Pot Marigolds, grown from seed <br />- nearly November and still in bloom!</span></td></tr>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-32804011153760694742015-10-13T08:31:00.000-07:002015-10-13T08:31:07.103-07:00Poppy Fields Kitchen and Dining Gifts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See my</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Poppy Fields</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Home Decor Collection</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Kitchen and Dining)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on my</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/poppy-fields-kitchen-and-dining-gifts.html">Posh & Painterly</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">blog</span></div>
</h3>
</div>
Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-8013488159366039122015-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:002015-10-06T13:35:17.083-07:00Home Decor Collection - 'Granny Print'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can see the full </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Collection of my 'Granny Print' gifts for the home</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">over on my</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/granny-print-home-decor-accessories.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">POSH & PAINTERLY</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">blog</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_floral_polkas_faux_lace_pillow_or_cushion-189950647517293879?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Custom Floral, Polkas, Faux Lace Pillow or Cushion" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/custom_floral_polkas_faux_lace_pillow_or_cushion-r686d2c3ecff54018820aff018028c661_i5f0b_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom_floral_polkas_faux_lace_pillow_or_cushion-189950647517293879?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Custom Floral, Polkas, Faux Lace Pillow or Cushion</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*%20rel=%22nofollow%22">poshandpainterly</a> <br /> <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/floral+pillows?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"></a> </div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-2357676085300701602015-10-01T07:13:00.001-07:002015-10-01T07:13:10.390-07:00September Work in Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB0JfQmBTsibCKdiwaGjsQHZk3QQ6bjO24cyK4x4Ioq98ow9aK4YRuUlhWSKdV-G9a6O875LJoQ8KjGCEYQk4PhPARuwagT-mjJm7abRaPx-hyJb34W4ygBAa6_rHSU0Xscgh0XVUqat_/s1600/Anemones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB0JfQmBTsibCKdiwaGjsQHZk3QQ6bjO24cyK4x4Ioq98ow9aK4YRuUlhWSKdV-G9a6O875LJoQ8KjGCEYQk4PhPARuwagT-mjJm7abRaPx-hyJb34W4ygBAa6_rHSU0Xscgh0XVUqat_/s400/Anemones.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September Anemones and Montbretia in my garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">August was wet and
decidedly chilly and most of September has been wet and even
chillier! But finally, we have the warm, sunny days we expect in
September and no sign of rain all week - though the nights have
become decidedly autumnal.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZZHBfjSWRUQ4UqMbg8LPy7g8XXU5DBWp87oXyJ7d7ZJ4PzsXoF2tNtf1elOCaM1_Z9erxM_OyaVElE8qySLOuFOv71CJ0K0pnsdpM4ShM73Q4_xPCkD7VbiL12bMmb_dwJKvhL_ouD7b/s1600/firsttomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZZHBfjSWRUQ4UqMbg8LPy7g8XXU5DBWp87oXyJ7d7ZJ4PzsXoF2tNtf1elOCaM1_Z9erxM_OyaVElE8qySLOuFOv71CJ0K0pnsdpM4ShM73Q4_xPCkD7VbiL12bMmb_dwJKvhL_ouD7b/s320/firsttomatoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At last my little tomatoes are ripening and the flavour is worth the wait!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And finally, too,
Zazzle have agreed to refund the tax that they withheld incorrectly,
so life is gradually returning to something approaching normal. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, in the meantime, Zazzle have completely reorganised their website and this has involved us all in mountains of extra work, getting our online Zazzle stores up to scratch and simply finding our way around the site, when I really wanted to get
back to some designing.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But I have managed to
get my new 'Little Mice' Christmas Card finished and uploaded to
Greeting Card Universe and Zazzle. </b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the custom front version -</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/christmas-cards/name-specific-for-/other-custom-personalized/custom-front-christmas-stockings-mice-1397426?gcu=43752923941"><img src="http://images.greetingcarduniverse.com/images/csphoto/1107/00/00/13/92/70//1397426-1_3d.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(It's also
available with the greeting in Non-English languages)</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What with
the Rugby World Cup and spring bulbs and home-grown wallflowers
urgently needing planting, time has been at a premium. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So I decided
to use the <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/periwinkle-patch-ogee-shaped-repeating.html">Periwinkle</a> design I made a while back to create a new collection on
Zazzle.</b> I still need to find time to work on a border pattern and
phone case templates for personalization, but here are the fifteen coordinating patterns I've worked with so far - on the new all-over
print Tank Tops that Zazzle have recently introduced.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Click on the
image to see them all -
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/periwinkles_tank_tops-119557387942308696?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Periwinkles Tank Tops" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/periwinkles_tank_tops_119557387942308696-r_zruem_jq3yh_425.jpg" style="border: 0;" />
</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/periwinkles_tank_tops-119557387942308696?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Periwinkles Tank Tops</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422rel=%22nofollow%22">helikettle</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But what
about the new pattern I wanted to make from the photos of the pretty
little Phlox plants in the photo I shared last month? </b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SZUDF7Z__eg4LRaIv3bGvYneZzc6UoUCwd3X_WJ3cFWK88aeHWROpCgNZ073vGjuZpSJt-hLyDzOIvCuRPB8lBUd4UWDD8L1aWGDB9hsnIZtvzmzUruYwEWCbEmjK4svbWThUIPhtwMR/s1600/AugBlogPhlox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SZUDF7Z__eg4LRaIv3bGvYneZzc6UoUCwd3X_WJ3cFWK88aeHWROpCgNZ073vGjuZpSJt-hLyDzOIvCuRPB8lBUd4UWDD8L1aWGDB9hsnIZtvzmzUruYwEWCbEmjK4svbWThUIPhtwMR/s320/AugBlogPhlox1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have actually
made a start!
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I find it
really helpful to make a lot of little drawings of plants and flowers
I'm going to use for a pattern - I need to draw them over and over to
get to know them. It feels almost like getting to know a new friend!
And I almost always find that drawing throws up some surprises. At
first glance, the petals of all these pretty little flowers appear
to be the same shape.
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But once I
start to draw them, I realise there are several different petal
shapes.</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6-Fy36Ev47dJC3h85IlEinHJQl_84gRY4LWAIZ5SEIfSOVFd5oxDrbQFfe4FYf_9AaXKLM4kkOJGNgOvKVf91zSWVNsNj954c99CmWWfiU63UuKHnSjZfPxuuXnqsOcl-sv7laXgper8/s1600/phloxlow_res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6-Fy36Ev47dJC3h85IlEinHJQl_84gRY4LWAIZ5SEIfSOVFd5oxDrbQFfe4FYf_9AaXKLM4kkOJGNgOvKVf91zSWVNsNj954c99CmWWfiU63UuKHnSjZfPxuuXnqsOcl-sv7laXgper8/s640/phloxlow_res.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>As the
plants have matured, more of them have started to 'trail'.</b> And the
curve of their stems has made me wonder whether they would be a
suitable candidate for an 'ogee' pattern, like the periwinkle pattern
that I used to illustrate how to make an <a href="http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/repeating-patterns-for-painters-4-ogee.html">Ogee Repeat</a> pattern. Not
sure yet and I'll probably try out several arrangements before I
decide.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Planting out
the 160+ seedlings in the spring was a bit of a chore but they've
been worth it. They've flowered for months and they are still going
strong when most of the other flowers in my garden are well past
their best. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>And now the Marigolds and Godetias I sowed in pots are really
coming into their own now and brightening up the shadowy corners of
the garden.</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFpnvGcj1ivqzlxoPA5N_MSv0JW6QFn25HqXrn2SOzmvAO3c17nFW4wzDAo7h-9Ek58RbBzDTF3fdG-_XSzAas0jBxUZRe69cVfwYnbkmAH4eE5kU8ge1lD456lIBHfxh_xDvsOVwnFfM/s1600/MarigoldsGodetia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFpnvGcj1ivqzlxoPA5N_MSv0JW6QFn25HqXrn2SOzmvAO3c17nFW4wzDAo7h-9Ek58RbBzDTF3fdG-_XSzAas0jBxUZRe69cVfwYnbkmAH4eE5kU8ge1lD456lIBHfxh_xDvsOVwnFfM/s400/MarigoldsGodetia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pot Marigold and Godetias</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not a very
good photo - a quick snap with my phone camera - but perfectly
adequate as inspiration for a future pattern. I love the combination
of pink and orange and I made a pattern of Pot Marigolds
and bright pink Busy Lizzies a couple of years ago.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QV5UOTPH2aV7Nz5PHs9lyenWN1BJ6TZD7tkqB4cZUPjEs5uzjmagPtQMgmGQkhhLdo0ITA72xunGTLN7Xq4tCt37k21N_O9UyFZhrzWxbre991twE-rq-6ezmcPtHnE7kYvArl9f4ACq/s1600/1marigoldsbusylizzies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QV5UOTPH2aV7Nz5PHs9lyenWN1BJ6TZD7tkqB4cZUPjEs5uzjmagPtQMgmGQkhhLdo0ITA72xunGTLN7Xq4tCt37k21N_O9UyFZhrzWxbre991twE-rq-6ezmcPtHnE7kYvArl9f4ACq/s320/1marigoldsbusylizzies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The humble Marigold is one of the birth month
flowers for October so I've put together a collection of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">October
Birthday Cards and Gifts</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> -</span></b></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/october_birthday_marigolds-119186290132816430?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="October Birthday Marigolds" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/october_birthday_marigolds_119186290132816430-r_zruem_jeqje_425.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/october_birthday_marigolds-119186290132816430?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">October Birthday Marigolds</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422rel=%22nofollow%22">helikettle</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>With so much
going on these past few months, a lot of things have had to be put on
hold!</b> </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My decorating ground to a halt in July, I'm having to tie my
hair back because I haven't had time to get it cut and as for
cleaning the house, it's had to be reduced to the bare essentials!
But it's a question of priorities and if there has to be a choice,
housework will always give way to making patterns!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And anyway,
I don't know whether this is true or not but I choose to believe it
is!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fun_dry_erase_board_with_quote_dull_women-256235669629265413?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Fun Dry Erase Board with Quote: 'Dull Women . .
.'" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/fun_dry_erase_board_with_quote_dull_women-ra9357fb9938a46398140bead054e8925_fumjx_8byvr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fun_dry_erase_board_with_quote_dull_women-256235669629265413?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Fun Dry Erase Board with Quote:
'Dull Women . . .'</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/helikettle*rel=%22nofollow%22">helikettle</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/dryeraseboards?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"></a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Also available as a Fridge Magnet and a T-Shirt)</span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-82824543369382049822015-09-29T08:05:00.001-07:002015-09-29T08:05:19.049-07:00Rosy Posy Bedroom and Bathroom Collection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A pretty collection of coordinating accessories for the Bedroom and Bathroom in a vintage, shabby chic style. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can browse the full Collection on my</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/rosy-posy-bedroom-and-bathroom.html">Posh and Painterly</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">blog </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_pink_dogroses_on_deep_blue_table_lamp-256799042233543682?style=tripodlamp&basefinish=silver&view=113055373757547900&rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pretty Pink Dogroses on Deep Blue Table Lamp" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/pretty_pink_dogroses_on_deep_blue_table_lamp-rb0f02ad5bd3f4210a9f560a949eeb3ec_jb9yn_8byvr_325.jpg?bg=0xffffff" style="border: 0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/pretty_pink_dogroses_on_deep_blue_table_lamp-256799042233543682?style=tripodlamp&basefinish=silver&view=113055373757547900&rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow">Pretty Pink Dogroses on Deep Blue Table Lamp</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/poshandpainterly*%20rel=%22nofollow%22">poshandpainterly</a> <br /> <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/lamps?rf=238041988035411422" rel="nofollow"></a> </div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-84759631425686671672015-09-22T15:54:00.003-07:002015-09-22T15:54:52.635-07:00Rangoli Gifts for the Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.2px;">My 'RANGOLI' COLLECTION OF HOME ACCESSORIES is based on highly decorative, traditional ethnic patterns but includes coordinating patterns with a chic modern twist. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.2px;">So you're sure to find something to suit all tastes on my . . .</span><br />
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<a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/rangoli-home-accessories.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Posh & Painterly</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/rangoli-home-accessories.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">blog</span></a></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-80889192078135446162015-09-17T11:43:00.001-07:002015-09-17T11:43:15.022-07:00Summer Days Collection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Create a nostalgic, shabby chic look with this pretty and feminine collection of coordinating home decor products with PINK ROSES AND BUTTERFLIES patterns in bright pink, sky blue and white shades. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a small selection of delightful products from my Posh & Painterly 'Summer Days' collection. .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. . . on my </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://poshandpainterly.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/summer-days-gifts-for-home.html">BLOG</a></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813512259260074342.post-89544073223806560812015-08-25T06:11:00.001-07:002015-08-25T06:11:38.087-07:00August Work in Progress - on various fronts!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like last weekend's thunderstorm that crashed and banged overhead then faded away into </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the distance, only to return hours later, the IRS tax withholding issue at Zazzle </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rumbles on!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the third month that I've had very little art work in progress to show </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">because so much of my time has been taken up with trying to make sense of the legalese </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of tax treaties and IRS instructions, writing emails to Zazzle and generally trying to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">persuade them to drop the 'burdensome' ITIN (International Tax Identification </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Number) requirement which they have told us throughout comes from the IRS. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Of </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>course, I haven't by any means been working alone on this.</b> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpiMHF3qtLbGFKo0uyvzF5Ml24l5sMYQDGH8PjcEdgbwnTuc4VkV0vWpNvmFu6B4YFPamJHd9H4ZTq1JVI3k4Fx8k9CjFl4-s20jjRajsz70GMl4IO4RhdeW60GgU6gcBm5QAiFdERJ0F/s1600/IRS-letter-14Aug2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpiMHF3qtLbGFKo0uyvzF5Ml24l5sMYQDGH8PjcEdgbwnTuc4VkV0vWpNvmFu6B4YFPamJHd9H4ZTq1JVI3k4Fx8k9CjFl4-s20jjRajsz70GMl4IO4RhdeW60GgU6gcBm5QAiFdERJ0F/s320/IRS-letter-14Aug2015.png" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
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We have more than 200 members in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/456252351220004/">International Zazzlers United</a> facebook group and by putting our heads together, we have the HMRC Tax Treaty team taking this issue up with their US counterparts and have recently obtained a letter on IRS headed notepaper that states clearly that the IRS do not insist on us getting an ITIN.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are currently waiting for Zazzle to respond to this, having sent them a copy of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the letter last week. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(see update below)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpiMHF3qtLbGFKo0uyvzF5Ml24l5sMYQDGH8PjcEdgbwnTuc4VkV0vWpNvmFu6B4YFPamJHd9H4ZTq1JVI3k4Fx8k9CjFl4-s20jjRajsz70GMl4IO4RhdeW60GgU6gcBm5QAiFdERJ0F/s1600/IRS-letter-14Aug2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime the group has been helping members get </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">their updated W-BEN forms approved - no simple matter! - so that they can get paid at all! And now we are trying to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">spread the word to all the international designers/artists who had 30% tax </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">incorrectly withheld from their August earnings, that <i>they can reclaim the money </i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>from Zazzle directly and do not have to get it back from the IRS</i>, a process that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">would require them to get the dreaded ITIN! (Scroll down to <a href="http://www.irs.gov/publications/p515/ar02.html#en_US_2015_publink1000225043">Adjustment for Overwithholding.</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But I haven't been totally idle on the art and design front.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have added a new pattern to my 'Egyptian' collection, the rusty red 'Tribal Shields' pattern on the clock -</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/egyptian_patterns-119629172736482747?rf=238041988035411422"> <img alt="Egyptian Patterns" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/egyptian_patterns_119629172736482747-r_zrue5_jjlsq_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /> </a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/egyptian_patterns-119629172736482747?rf=238041988035411422">Egyptian Patterns</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238041988035411422">poshandpainterly</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I've made a start on my <b>2015 Christmas Card</b>, better late than never -</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMPHU7LcGbeSbkUPU49qNYu41-IuGctyRzy0c2cTv3et1qHRv7TkhgFr7vABTy0Q2ZEZjsJ4rftmh-2WXE2vKKFvVgXdQSRSrqE-cEYjY_gtD0rPDLuruyiLmUZArO7cLI_8HQVqIKEwi/s1600/ChristmasMice1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMPHU7LcGbeSbkUPU49qNYu41-IuGctyRzy0c2cTv3et1qHRv7TkhgFr7vABTy0Q2ZEZjsJ4rftmh-2WXE2vKKFvVgXdQSRSrqE-cEYjY_gtD0rPDLuruyiLmUZArO7cLI_8HQVqIKEwi/s400/ChristmasMice1.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And finally, the <b>Annual Phlox</b> I grew from seed, that tried my patience when I was faced </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with about 160 tiny seedlings to transplant, is flowering and is begging me to make it into</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a new floral, cottage-style 'mini-print' pattern that I hope to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">have at least started by the time I write next month's blog post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's definitely feeling as if summer is all but over here; I was tempted to put the heating on first thing this morning. Not that I've had much time to enjoy my little garden this summer - the Great Tax Debacle began in early June!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will it be all over by the time I write my next Work in Progress blog post? </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The jury's still out on that one but I very much hope so!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Edited at the last minute to say that we've just had this announcement from Zazzle: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">We wanted to let everyone know that Zazzle has reached a temporary resolution with the IRS on the US TIN requirement for non-US resident Designers. Based on this new information, a US TIN will not be required on your appropriate W-8 form for the moment. The requirements may change in the future, in the IRS’s sole discretion, as Zazzle is a US-based company that must abide by the requirements of our governing tax authority, the IRS.</span><span style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span></div>
<br style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">Zazzle will continue to accept W-8 forms that are correctly-filled-out, and which do not have a US TIN but do provide a foreign TIN, in order to minimize your withholding tax deductions. We are continuing to ask all non-US resident Designers to submit an updated W-8 form as soon as possible in order to avoid the IRS’s default withholding rate of thirty percent (30%). Please submit your updated W-8 form to </span><a href="mailto:Zazzle-w8@zazzle.com" style="background-color: #d4e5fa; color: #3366cc; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">Zazzle-w8@zazzle.com</a><span style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: start;"> as soon as possible.</span><br style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: #d4e5fa; font-family: arial, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">It’s possible that the requirements may change in the future, so we appreciate your flexibility. Zazzle will continue to support and advocate for our international Designers. We are currently working under the assumption that this temporary resolution will remain valid through 2/28/2017 when the current law is set to expire; however, tax requirements may change at any time due to new or updated tax laws and/or IRS requirements. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">There's still the issue of the Refunds to deal with but even so, this is <span style="font-size: large;">VERY GOOD NEWS!</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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Judy Adamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02986456665704994228noreply@blogger.com0