After the Rain...

It has rained a lot here this spring.  I mean a whole lot.  But then you wake up to a day like this and all the soggy days are forgotten.  Headed outdoors to my garden this afternoon.  There were weeds galore waiting to be tugged out of the ground.  That was my focus today.  I hauled 8 buckets of weed remains to the brush pile.  Still have one section to finish, but that will be for next time.  Then the straw mulch will be piled on.  I practice the no-dig method of gardening.  Read about this years ago in an article by Ruth Stout, in Organic Gardening magazine.  Obviously I am not as faithful as I should be about piling on the mulch or I wouldn't have hauled so many weeds to the brush pile today.  I was lax last fall and didn't add anymore mulch before winter set in.  Once the mulching is done in the garden, I will move on to the task of pruning dead canes from the Raspberry patch and then staking the live canes.  I will also toss a little organic fertilizer on them.  In a couple of months I will be picking and eating juicy, tangy raspberries.   Walked around the yard and took a few pics of what's blooming now.  A taste of Heaven, for sure.  

The Crabapple Tree in Full Bloom

More of the Crabapple

A Clump of Violets

The Flowering Quince

Oh, My Bleeding Heart!

Creeping Phlox under the Rhododendron

 

In other news, I am working on a new look for my Etsy shop Bluebell.  A fellow Etsian is creating a new banner and avatar for me, as well as designing new business cards.  Spring is a very busy time of year.  Soon the lazy days of summer will be here and life will slow down a little.  Until then, it's full steam ahead!

Spring at Last!

A Violet in a crevice of our patio.

This is the time the daffodils do their thing.

I love my Hellebore's!

After a long, cold winter spring has decided to make an appearance.  My skin was longing for some sunshine and my lungs were longing for a breath of sweet air.  My fingers were itching to dig in some dirt, and today I had my chance!  The last of the three butterfly bushes was trimmed back today, as was the Crepe Myrtle.  A few unsightly branches were lobbed off of the Rhododendron.  A rose bush that has failed to flourish in spite of years of pampering was, at last, dug up and tossed on the brush pile.  Three new Knockout Rose bushes will be here by the end of the week.  I took the six bags of mulch that were left from last year and dumped them on the front flower beds.  More will be added this weekend, weather permitting.  I also ordered two self watering patio planters, into which I will plant tomatoes this year.  They have wheels which will make it easy to push them into the sun when needed.  I also ordered 200 feet of deer netting.  This is my latest effort to combat the increasingly annoying habit of our local deer munching my garden plants to near oblivion (no more Hosta salad for you!).  So, my skin was warmed by the sun and my body got a good workout.  Not to mention, things are shaping up in my yard and garden.  Now...what to cook for dinner?

The Forsythia hedgerow in bloom.

Some Favorite Etsy Finds

I love to sift through Etsy looking for unique hand crafted and vintage items.  Here are a few of my recent favorite finds.

Funky Owl Coaster set by Funky Chicken Design

Green Metal Buckets by Daily Memorandum

Hello Summer Print by Cathy Nichols

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polka Dot Stationery by Rue Renee

 

 

"Dreams"  print by Art at the Speed of Life

 

Antique Schoolmaster's Desk  by Daily Memorandum

Mini Post Card Pillows by Lisa Wine Studios

This is why I love Etsy!  So many creative people and so many unique items.  The perfect place to shop for the person who has everything.  Including yourself!
But also a place to find creative inspiration.  What will I find next??

Let's Make This Fun!

Decorating needn't be so serious.  Have a little fun!  Try something new!  Explore all the possibilities with color and pattern.  Here are some rooms that will,  hopefully, inspire you.

Hand Printing Anyone?

I enjoy things that are handmade.  Whether I have made them or someone else.  There is something very satisfying about handmade objects.  Creating them is especially rewarding.  I have tried many types of arts and crafts projects over the years.  Some have become part of who I am.  Knitting, for example.  But other things like quilting, cross stitch, embroidery, spinning and so on, have been tried and eventually fell by the wayside.  Not enough time, didn't enjoy the process and other reasons.  I recently came across this book and had to have it.  It is called "Print Workshop"  by Christine Schmidt.  It is a book filled with hand printing techniques and original projects.  I love wood block art and other forms of hand printing and this book looked as though hand-printing might be something I could do.  It is filled with great illustrations and clear, step by step instructions for some tempting projects.  Some of the projects are more complicated than others, but there are plenty of cool ideas for beginners.  Plus the projects in this book can open your eyes to all the possibilities in hand-printed art.  For instance, who would have thought that wrapping string around a wood block and then using it like a stamp would have such pleasing results?  I'm going to give that one a try.  I also want to experiment with using vegetables for stamping.  Ever hear of potato stamping?  We tried it years ago,when my kids were small, as one of our experiments with art.  Lots of cool ideas in this great book.  Now, just finding the time to actually try some of them is something I need to figure out.  Stay tuned!  If anything works out, I'll be sure to post the results here.   
 

Collectibles: Brass

Brass Pig

Brass Quail Figures

Folding Brass Rabbit Bookend

Brass Vase

Hammered Brass Footed Tray

Small Brass Canister

Brass Shell Vase/sculpture

Vintage brass has recently come to my attention as being a great collectible.  It comes in many forms; candlesticks, bookends, paperweights, sculpture, doorknobs, vases and much more.  It will last almost forever and is readily available and very affordable.  Much of the world's finest brass pieces come from India, where the craft of brass and other metal work has been handed down from generation to generation.  With an occasional polish, your brass pieces will look great for years.  So, open your eyes and begin to look at brass in a whole new way.  You'll be surprised at what you find!

Express Yourself With Color

 

 

 

 

 

Are You a Mid Century Modernist?

I love the color combination of this room!

Clean and open.  Very inviting.

Love the chairs!

This looks very modern Italian

Great sofa!

I must admit that the Mid Century look is growing on me more and more.  In fact, modern decor, in general,  is attracting my attention these days.  I still love my antiques, and always will, but modern is starting to look very fresh and young and appealing.  I have been incorporating modern touches into my vintage decor for years, but find myself wanting to add more modern art, more color, more fun to my rooms.  The Mid Century look is very hot right now.  And the cool thing is, our grandparents just may have some great pieces sitting in their basements or attics that they'd love to get rid of!  So, take a look at these pictures and see if there may not be a bit of a modernist in you.

Collectibles

Vintage Cake Tin

Vintage Tea Tin

The saying goes, "If you have more than two of something, then you have a collection".   Needless to say, I have many collections!  Collections do not have to be expensive.  None of mine are.  I collect old postcards, books, and other vintage ephemera, as well as old glass bottles, American art pottery, milk glass and so on.  None of my collections are huge and unmanageable.  And, my house does not look like a jumbled flea market.  I think collections add character to a home, when kept under control.  Vintage tins make great collectibles because, not only are they beautiful, but you can use them for storage.  Tins come in many sizes.  There are tea tins, biscuit tins, lunch tins, cake tins and more.  They can be displayed in groups or scattered about.  Keep you eyes open at antique stores and other second hand stores for colorful old tins.  They are lovely to behold and functional, as well.

Friday Favorites!

Soothing

Ultra Minimalism

Chic

Country

Modern

Urban

Traditional with a Twist

Cottage