The more it snows, tiddly pom... and more treats

Well, like pretty much everyone else in the UK, we have been snowed upon!  As I write, we are anxiously awaiting the next lot, due to hit us at around 7.00 pm - that will make getting to work on a Monday morning just that little bit harder than usual! I ventured out into the garden yesterday morning, and liked seeing the little hats of snow on the ivy.

 The verbena bonariensis, self-seeded in a pot (so not sure whether it will be back this year), looking a bit like a candelabra.

 A close up of one of the verbena flower heads.

 Even the pots had little hats.  For some reason, this image reminded me of a Beatrix Potter illustration, but having gone through my books and a book on her art, I can't find it.  Perhaps it's one of those things that has created itself in my head.

 So, to my treat (there are more - I seem to have been rather indulgent, buying lots of treats for myself at the moment).  I can't remember where I saw the picture, but I saw a picture on a blog that I follow and was hooked.  I went via a link to a blog and from there, to an etsy shop where the most beautiful, colourful prints were for sale.  Yes, you guessed it, I treated myself to one. It is called 'Backyard with Stars' and is by Australian artist, Loretta Grayson.  It came beautifully and safely packaged, in a sturdy card envelope, then wrapped in a map, with tags, a postcard and an origami bird.  Her blog is called A Shoebox of Photographs and there are links to her shop and to a really interesting tutorial on how she creates her stunning images as well as who provides her inspiration.  So would you like to see the image?

It comes unframed, but I just love it! (it wasn't lying flat when I took the photo as the background paper I had laid it on decided to curl,very unhelpfully, so the print looks a little curled, but is flat in real life).  The stars have been hand painted in on the print, in silver and gold.  I love her use of colours and the background looks just like felt (but is, in fact, oil pastel).  The next plan is to get it framed - that will be one of my next treats!