OUT OF THE BLUE Aspringtimestrollthrougha bluebellwoodinspiresarangeofpurchasesandprojects

Out ofTHEBLUE

A springtime stroll through a wood ablaze with bluebells inspires a range of decorative purchases and projects

WORDS AND STYLING BY SIAN WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRENT DARBY

Bell

EPOQUE

Turntothenaturalworldforarichsourceof colouranddesign.Oldweatheredchairsand tablesmakearusticbackdropforaccessoriesin cobalt,indigoandotherbrilliantshadesofblue.

Vintage chair, folding table, pottery vase, vintage watering can and green galvanized-metal flower bucket, all from a selection, Norpar. Duralex Picardie green tumblers, £16 (six), Dyke & Dean. Cast-iron heart bird bath, £7.99, Homescapes. Ceramic votives, from a selection, Morgans. Similar vintage-style flask, from a selection, Etsy. Banner made from Hinton plain linen in Chalk, £34.50/m, Ian Mankin. Bluebell image painted in Textile Solid fabric paint, £66.99 (12 x 250ml assorted colours), Rito Hobby. Bamboo garden cane, £3, Wilko. Heritage twine in green, £4.25/110m, Nutscene. Similar medium wicker basket, £24.99, Muldale. Poole stripe braid in Cobalt (W3cm), £12.50/m, Ian Mankin. Raffia in natural, £2.95 (1m); blue jute twirly twine, £2.50/75m; lime green jute twine, £4.25/110cm: all Nutscene. Cushion made from Hinton plain linen in Chalk, £34.50/m, Ian Mankin; printed with Bluebells stamp, £16, and Hero Arts indigo ink, £6.95: both The English Stamp Company. Cushion made from Oxford stripe cotton in navy, £39.50/m, Ian Mankin

O, thatloneflowerrecalledtome My happy childhood’ s hours When bluebells seemedlikefairygifts A prize among the flowers

AnneBrontë

WOODLAND WALKS

Bluebellscovermanydeciduouswoodlandfloors acrosstheUKinlatespring.Forthebestplacesto visit,gotowoodlandtrust.org.uk.

Similar women’s cream turtleneck wool jumper, £29.90; cream cashmere scarf, £39.90: both Uniqlo. Similar medium wicker basket, £24.99, Muldale. Stool, car boot find

CREATIVE CANOPY

Paintastrikingbluebellmotifonaplainpieceof fabricthat’ sbigenoughtohangasacoolingcanopy.

Vintage chair, pottery vase, folding table, vintage watering can and candleholder, all from a selection, Norpar. Duralex Picardie green tumblers, £16 (six), Dyke & Dean. Banner made from Hinton plain linen in Chalk, £34.50/m, Ian Mankin. Bluebell image painted in Textile Solid fabric paint, £66.99 (12 x 250ml assorted colours), Rito Hobby. Bamboo garden cane (hanging banner), £3, Wilko. Heritage twine in green (tying up banner), £4.25/110m, Nutscene

HANGING BASKET

Usefreshgreenleaves,fernsandcountryblooms tomakeajamjararrangementinsideahanging baskettodecorateyourhomeorgarden.

Duralex Picardie green tumbler, £16 (six), Dyke & Dean. Similar vintage-style Thermos flask, from £28, Etsy. Ash wood wall basket, £11, The Danes

Design with TWINE

Re-coveranoldstoolbytaking inspirationfromthecolourand formof bluebells.Sandbackthe frameandaddafreshcoatof boldpaint.Tomaketheseat cover,useapieceof open-weave rattanwebbingcuttothesizeof thetop.Usingastrong,colourful twine,threadthewebbingaround theedgeaboutsixtoeighttimes perholetostrengthenandsecure theseat.Finishbytyinginadouble knotontheundersidefinish. *

Vintage stool, car-boot find. Base painted in Mambo intelligent eggshell, £35/L, Little Greene. Top made from open-weave rattan webbing, £29.99/m (450mm wide), Fred Aldous. Edged in blue jute twirly twine, £2.50/75m, Nutscene. Cushion made from Hinton plain linen in chalk and printed with stamp and ink, all as before

Call it a

DRAWER

Revampavintagedrawerbypaintingthe insideaboldcobaltblueandprintingitwith abluebelldesigntomakeadecorativedisplay shelf thatdoublesasanartwork.

Vintage drawer, car-boot find. Printed with Bluebells stamp, £16, and Hero Arts indigo ink, £6.95: both The English Stamp Company. Painted with Mambo, Turquoise Blue and Wormwood intelligent eggshell, both £33/L: Little Greene. Wooden bobbin, £2.50, Jane Means. Natural rope on a spool (under bobbin), £4, Hobbycraft. Cast-iron heart bird bath, £7.99, Homescapes. Vintage watering can, pottery vase, glass vase and green galvanized-metal bucket, all from a selection, Norpar. Brushes and pens (in glass vase), all from a selection, Paperchase

BLUEBELL CUSHION

Makeaprettyfloral-printcushiontotakeon aspringpicnic.Chooseacrispwhitelinenand tapetheedgestoaworktabletopreventitmoving. Usingabluebellstamp,printyourfirstlineofmotifs. Allowtodrybeforestartinganewlinesothereareno smudgesandrepeattheprocessuntilyou ’ vereached therequiredlength.Backthecushioninasmart stripedcottontohighlighttheprettydesign.

Cushions made from Hinton plain linen in chalk; edged in Oxford stripe cotton in navy (just seen): all as before. Bluebells and Meadow Medley stamps used on cushions, £16 each; Hero Arts indigo and moss ink, £6.95 each: all The English Stamp Company. Vintage folding garden chair, from a selection, Norpar. Similar Bron deep quiche tin, £17.98, Nisbets

SPRING CORSAGE

Createaseasonalcorsagewithappleblossom, primroses,hellebores,narcissusandbrunnera. Groupthemtogetherbyfeedingsmaller flowersinbetweenthelargeronesforan evenarrangementandtieatthebasewith colourfultwineorflorist’ stape.

Workwear cotton utility jacket, £35, Ebay; dyed with navy machine dye, £7.25, Dylon