Thursday, August 5, 2010

My Camellias are back!

Hello my friends,
I hope that you are all having a wonderful week.

Yesterday was pouring with rain here and I was so happy when I went outdoors and was greeted by this pure and perfect white camellia, on the bush. I have been watching the buds forming over the past couple of weeks so was delighted to see they have finally arrived.
I love Camellias and this also was the favourite flower of Coco Chanel.

The camellia, an exotic, forbidden flower comes from a family of native Asian shrubs with shiny evergreen oval shaped leaves and luxuriantly blooming flowers. There are thought to be about 120 different varieties of camellia, known in Asia as the 'Japanese rose'. It is mainly cultivated as an ornamental plant.
This is the lovely cloth that Sares from ~ loveleightreasures.blogspot.com
gave me in her giveaway, a beautiful vintage drawn thread work cloth, she also gave me the DVD of The Young Victoria and some lovely butterfly magnets.
Thank you very much and it was exciting to win these lovely gifts.
I am just listening to the radio and heard that Selfridges in London, have opened up their Christmas shop.
It seems like insanity to me, as it is only August. What do you think ... are you ready for Christmas trees and baubles now?
Don't get me wrong ... I love shopping and in London, even better!

I hope Summer/Winter is treating you all well and that you are finding some time to have fun.
Happy weekend

Hugs
Carolyn

41 comments:

  1. Hi Carolyn!

    What a beautiful camellia - such a vivid whiteness! I always think they're a harbinger of Spring.

    And yes, I saw the Selfridges campaign in the press. Totally stupid!

    Have a great weekend,

    XOXO LOLA & Nora:)

    i

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  2. Carolyn-Camellia are one of my favorite flowers--I instantly think of my grandmother when I see them. She loved them too. I am not even ready to think of fall--definitely not Christmas!!! Hope all is well with you!

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  3. What a beautiful Camellia and your bears are dressed so refinely (is that a word?!)

    You always have such lovely posts, Carolyn!!

    xxoo
    Marsha

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  4. SO the Christmas stuff is always exciting but really August!! Wonder if they get loads of vacationers? Love your flowers!! Enjoy♥
    Hugs, Lisa

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  5. Hello Carolyn! It looks like you were definitely greeted with something special looking at that camilla. You are more than welcome for the giveaway. I hope you enjoy it to the hilt!

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  6. Hi, dear Carolyn, The carmelia is very pretty and such an elegant flower!
    Your teddy bear couple is so sweet and the two are lovely dressed! Hopefully they get sold together. They are just made for eachother.
    Christmas in August? I might be able to buy some ornaments but I couldn't work on a Christmas project now. I never like to work so many months ahead of a season. Right now I have fall projects on my mind but I haven't started yet.
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Hugs to you,
    Julia

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  7. i love camellias too! i am loving those teddies in the pics too! they're so sweet...

    Persis.

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  8. it's exquisite - almost like a pearl.I am unable to grow camellias here because our weather is too hot - but they grow beautifully in the hills around Adelaide.
    Far too early for Christmas - the excitement is gone by the time Christmas arrives.
    Have a lovely week-end !
    ~Dianne~

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  9. I love your Camellias, how wonderful to have such a gorgeous flower in your garden. I didn't know that about Coco Channel. I can just see one of these on one of her dresses or hats.

    I would love to shop for Christmas today at Selfridges in London. I jut love the way that sounds. Everything seems lovelier in London.

    Karen

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  10. oh what a beautiful flower, darling Carolyn! you must have a wonderful garden.
    have a gorgeous weekend, much love, susan
    xxx

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  11. I love camellias!
    Lucky you!!
    Have a wonderful weekend Carolyn!!
    Chat soon,
    xo,
    Rosemary

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  12. Oh my ...I love white flowers and your camellia is amazing.
    Hugs for a great weekend my friend...fill it with Joy! xoxo

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  13. They're beautiful sweetie! Just gorgeous. What a lovely surprise!


    And how crazy about Selfridges! xmas is coming earlier & earlier it seems....

    Have a great weekend!

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  14. Dear Carolyn,

    It is allways sooo nice to visit on your blog!! I`m sorry that I haven`t visit a while, but time goes so fast by, so many things to do in the evenings after work, life is life...:) I hope you understand!!

    Your photos of camelia are so fantastics, so sensitive, so beautiful flower!! I don`t wonder that you are so happy for that flower!:) It IS so beautiful!! It needs just ONE really beautiful flower, which you can enjoy!:)

    My dear friend, thank you for your allways friendly words on my blog!! It means a lot to me!!:)

    Happy winter to you, my friend!!:))

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  15. Ps. I really love Beatrix Potter stories, too!!;)) Pictures of stories are so sweet!!!
    I watched at the movie about Potter, too. I liked it!!:)

    Your images are allways so wonderful to watch!!!:)

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  16. I can't grow those beauties here but they are a favorite of mine.. I remember their sweet fragrance when we lived in Florida across the street from a botanical garden- they are heaven.


    Have a wonderful weekend Carolyn :-)

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  17. I think I ran a book at The Hedge last year on who would be the first to mention the dreaded Christmas word. It was around Sept. so you've truly beaten that this year Carolyn. Off to the naughty corner for you my girl! You know my dramas every year with MOTH the Christmas Grinch.
    Millie ^_^

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  18. Hello Carolyn
    I'm back to strolling through the blogs. Yes, my camelias are flowering again and I can't wait to see the tui's in them when it's a bit drier!! I wish they were white like yours though. Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

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  19. Carolyn

    I love this sensual and post and also your beautiful blog.

    Thank's for your nice comment on my Wabi Sabi blog, it made me happy!

    Agneta, Sweden

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  20. breathtaking! do your camellias have a scent? the ones in the south don't, but they are so perfect they don't look real!

    sweet, sweet bears!

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  21. Just discovered your lovely blog.
    I just planted camellias in our new yard... can't wait for them to bloom... probably next year! LOVE your pictures!

    Have a lovely saturday..

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  22. Many thanks all for visiting, always great to hear from you.
    To your question Janean, my camellias do have a perfume which is very subtle and delicate.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  23. HI Carolyn - perfect! I love this time of year. With the sun shining it almost feels like Spring - it is almost here - only a few more weeks. xx
    The images of little pieces around your home are delightful. x Suzi

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  24. Hi Carolyn: Your camellia is beautiful. I always have trouble growing them at my house. Love the table cloth that Saras gave you. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Martha

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  25. Hi Carolyn...
    Oh, I just love your camellia...so beautiful and silky looking.
    Your cloth is very lovely...and your bears are so sweet. Love their outfits. So lovely and Victorian.

    Enjoy your week!
    Hugs, Nancy

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  26. Camelia is a beautiful flower...but the weather here don´t let grow them
    Also I love your bears they are lovely...about Christmas I don´t like when shops began to sell christmas ornaments too soon as
    really when Chrismas arrive you already are bored about it
    Hugs

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  27. Hi Carolyn,

    Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog. I enjoyed it very much! I have been scrolling through several of your posts. They look very pretty! Love your bears. Although they are new, they look like they are from a long time ago. They have a sweet look about them as well. Which I think is necessary for a bear :-)!

    Wish you a happy new week!

    Lieve groet, Madelief

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  28. Beautiful flower. Its too hot here to think of Christmas..I'm afraid.

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  29. OMG, Not ready for christmas snow ice or anything like that!!! not even ready for pumpkins or things that go bump in the night!!! LOL!! I think I will enjoy the last vestiges of summer!!

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  30. Oh I love the name "Japanese rose" and this flower is insanely gorgeous...congrats on the pretty gifts!

    Have a wonderful summer dear Carolyn.

    Much love: Evi

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  31. Hi Carolyn :)

    Camellias are one of my very favorite flowers! We can't grow them in Ohio, but my grandmother had them everywhere in California and the smell was intoxicating!

    xo,
    rue

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  32. oh my heavens Carolyn!!! these flowers look so beautiful and I imagine they smell amazing!!! and so neat that they were the favorite blooms of Coco!!!

    I need to get some of these!!!

    Hugs
    Diana

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  33. Dear Carolyn,
    Your Camelia is pure beauty, love it, we can only have them indoors here in Denmark,outside is far too cold in winter-time.
    ****
    Could`nt believe reading about Selfridge- they brings it too far out now, -no thanks -no christmas in august!!!!!
    Hugs, Dorthe

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  34. Such elegance in black and white. Your camellias are just beautiful ~ if only they like my area.

    Jo

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  35. Dear Carolyn, we are having white camelias at the same time!!! aren´t they just beautiful!!!??
    cariños

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  36. Dear Carolyn, I'm playing catch up with your posts- I've been a horrible blog friend lately, please my apologies. I am going to make an announcement soon, so you'll understand ;))
    Oh I love your bears to pieces! And Christmas shopping right now?? Hmmm. I'm not even ready for Fall!
    Big hugs,
    Monicaxo.

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  37. Amazing how such a simple flower can create such beauty. No wonder Coco Chanel adored the Camellia! :) :)

    How are you, Carolyn? I hope well and happy! :) Cheers! <3 <3

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Thank you so much for visiting Draffin Bears.
It always makes me happy to read your comments
and I look forward to visiting you.


Carolyn xx