Its all coming up Roses!

I adore Roses, especially old fashioned roses such as Albertine and all the David Austin roses. Next month is the Parnell Rose Festival and I will be heading off with my camera to share their roses with you. I am also excited about showcasing two private Auckland cottage gardens that have previously featured in NZ Magazines. These gardens are crammed in every corner with beautiful old fashioned roses and English flowers such as Hollyhocks, delphiniums, foxgloves and many other English delights. 


My new house unfortunately has the tiniest garden imaginable, hardly bigger than a postage stamp and so the only claim to roses are two standard icebergs that flank my rear patio.  I've been watching my roses closely for their first buds but not close enough it seems.  I noticed that one rose was glossy and healthy with lots of new shoots whereas the other seemed to be sparse and straggly. On closer inspection I discovered all the new shoots had and were being munched on by tiny little "green fly". Its taken a lot of persistence but finally I have managed to get on top of the little critters and  slowly my rose is recovering from its Green fly beating, I am sure though that they will not be a patch on the ones I will see at the Rose Festival next week.


Today It's all about Roses so I have sourced some lovely products fitting for my "Rose" theme to share with readers today.

I couldn't resist this image and can imagine this pretty romantic table setting for a bridal shower - image source via pinterest.

These sweet Rose gift tags US$3.25 for 3, are available from Creative Visions an etsy shop specialising in French and vintage inspired paper goods.




Watercolour Rose Print Prom Dress made by Dig for Victory - 99.00 (UK Pounds) size can be made to order from Folksy

These gorgeous Arabella  antique Rose cushions in duck egg, 38.00 (British Pounds) are available from Peacock Blue,. Also available in cream.

Rosenholm rose pink throw pillow embroidered linen - Designers Guild US165.00.

This gorgeous throw pillow combines embroidered roses and soft vibrant coloured linen edged with beautiful cross stitched detailing. 100% plain linen reverse.

shabby Chic Rose cushion - US$17.90 from Little Joobie Boo

Fabric by Prestigious textiles of Yorkshire - US$34.00 for a pair (16" x 16") from Sally Lucas

 

1. Boxed Roses set of 2 mugs -  NZ$39.99 from Ezi buy on line.

2. Rose Bathroom Set (tumbler, soap pump and soap dish) -  NZ$99.99 also from Ezibuy.

The Rose products above will soon be available at Wallace Cotton. You can visit their website and add as a favourite, and they will email you when they arrive.  They also have a sweet little peg bag in the same delightful rose fabric.

Smell the sweet Roses!

Lee x

My Art and Milly's Flowers''

Milly's Flowers is a gorgeous little florist shop located in Coates Avenue, Orakei, just a few steps down from Bettjemans, NZ Hair Salon of the year, owned by Grant and Phif Bettjeman. Immediately you walk into Milly's little shop your surrounded by the colours and scent of Spring. Vibrant blue, red and purple Anemone's, pink, yellow and orange Poppy's, lime green Orchids, soft pink spotted Lily's (one of my favourites), pink Orchids, apricot Roses and gorgeous ornamental Cabbages. 


Not only does Milly sell flowers, she has some innovative gifts such as her hand made floral pens and gift cards. Milly also has a selection of  glass vases of varying size and design. If your a Expat Kiwi overseas and  have an upcoming family birthday or special occasion back in New Zealand, or you just want to cheer someone up, I'd encourage you to use Milly's direct service to send flowers home. 

A couple of weeks ago Milly kindly offered to display my artwork in her shop, I was thrilled with this chance as normally my work is sold by word of mouth and the public don't get to see it. I saw this opportunity as a wonderful way for my art to be viewed outside my home.  Next month I hope to display my latest work, "Rhapsody in Spring", a large piece 1.5 metres x 1.5 metres. Today I am sharing with my viewers, a glimpse of Milly's shop with my photographs.

Milly's flowers, Shop 3, 78 Coates Avenue, Orakei, Auckland

My painting - Angels of Light, oil on canvas 1.10 x 1.10 metres (This painting has now sold March 2012)

I love these beautiful soft apricot roses, simply gorgeous!

Beautiful Spring colours

Soft Spring pastels

Milly's hand made floral topped writing pens

Hope you had a great weekend

Lee x

Please do not re-use any photographs or content from this website without prior permission as some photos are copyright and prior permission has been obtained where necessary.

Roses, Orchids & Oriental Cabbages - Could this be my next painting?

This week I set off to Bettjemens Hair Salon in Orakei to have my regular colour touch up.  I've always been a natural blonde but sadly the past 5 years if someone was to ask my colour I would have to say, half 8, half 9. and a little 9.3! My "natural blonde" is now attributed not so much to my "Nordic" genes but the amazing technology of  L'oreal. This post however is not about my hair but about my plans for a new painting, which all began with my trip to the hairdresser Thursday, hence getting off track a bit.  

Just along from Bettjemens Salon in Orakei is a really pretty flower shop called "Milly's Flowers".I was attracted by some gorgeous Peonies outside the shop only to find that they were extremely good imitations but they had led me inside the shop where there was a beautiful display of Milly's fresh flowers. Inside I Immediately spotted some gorgeous peach coloured roses that attracted me like a bee to honey! Before I knew it I had Milly putting together what I knew was going to be an expensive but gorgeous bouquet. Large apricot roses, white lilies, pink orchids and some ornamental cabbages made up my bouquet.  Cabbages are not my normal choice for painting but Milly picked them out and they looked perfect with the roses creating a soft romantic look which was perfect.

The past two days I have taken endless shots of my flowers by day light, night light, inside, outside, I have constantly changed them around and still I haven't got that perfect shot that says "paint me!".  I had hoped to have taken more photos today but sadly the sun decided to stay behind the clouds, so praying its out tomorrow for me to take some more shots. Possibly I may have to take them into Milly on Monday to re-arrange for me to get the right balance.  However, meanwhile I have a few shots of these gorgeous flowers to share with you. I will post my deciding photo once I have found it.  

I quite like this shot but wouldn't paint all the orchids showing to the left hand side of the roses. As with all my paintings I depict the backgrounds in very dark moody colours.

This shot unfortunately I have battered the lily a little moving the flowers around :(

I have to add that I have shuffled the flowers around during my photo shoots so they are not the professional arrangement Milly put together.  I might need to go back Monday and get her to re-arrange them as I am using less roses than I originally bought and my deep red ornamental cabbage has disappeared off one side of my photo!