Landscape Renovation Nearing the End

I am very pleased with the renovations to the front landscaping. We replaced the colonial blue color on the window boxes, shutters and garage door to black. The new blue on the front door made a nice finishing touch. The color is called Raindrop from Sherwin Williams.

As of 5/20/14 we have filled 101 paper yard waste bags with landscape debris. The city has been here numerous times with the chipper shredder to pick up limbs and branches.

We removed the grass under the large Honey Locust  and added a small stone wall to create a Hosta garden. The roots of the tree where getting hit by the lawn mover and there was damage the base of the tree from continued weed whacking. The ivy is gone and grass seed is starting to grow.

July 2013 before renovation

My book is back!

Fairy Furniture you can make - Revised edition
available at Amazon

My book is all about learning to make fairy furniture from natural items found in your own yard. You will learn how twigs, dried flowers, acorns and broken jewelry can become enchanting furniture for the fairies that live in your garden. You will also see many photos of other fairy accessories to inspire your creativity.
(When searching, you have to include "- Revised edition" after the title or you will be taken to the "out of print" version.)

Spring Landscaping Project

The first project we are about to undertake is a total renovation to the front landscape. This is the before picture. The plan is to create a bed around the Honey Locust tree with native stone from the stone wall in the back yard. We are going to add a french drain to help with water the collects.  Removal of all old bushes and replace them with some that remain small. I want a few Hemlocks near the deck for privacy and winter green as well as height on the corner of the house. We will be removing ivy and putting grass seed down.  Large river rock around the foundation. Last will be changing the blue to black on the house and painting the door a sea glass blue. Sounds like a busy weekend or weekends for a while.

Pansy Time

If you have ever lost someone you love, you know what I mean when I say "at times, there are memories." There are certain days that they fill your thoughts. Holidays, Birthdays and other Special Occasions. For me the first Pansy I see each Spring remind me of MOM. She loved them. She grew them and carefully picked and pressed them.  She took a calligraphy class just to make framed works of art with

pressed pansies. Each spring I am out looking for pansies as early as possible. Yesterday I found these. I brought a little bit of Mom home again!

Stone Fairy House

I have made many fairy houses using stone around the doors, windows and as an apron at the bottom of the house. I have been wanting to try to stone all or a bigger portion of a house. I found some adhesive used to attach mosaic pieces. The glue is strong. The stones don't shift as much as other adhesives I have used. It also dries perfectly clear. I am dying to see how well it holds up outdoors on this house.

The house below is the current piece I am working on. I took my usual doors and cut out the top and bottom. I added fine mesh screening I found at a local craft store. I still need to make a handle using copper wire. I added two of the stained glass windows I make. The roof is the goal today in my studio.

Vintage Dolls

I have been doing a bit more research to find out about my dolls. I am just so in love with them. I found out they are referred to as Travel Dolls made by the Duchess Doll Corp in the 1940's and 50's. One vendor at a flea market told me, she was told some were given away at gas stations.

Over the weekend I found my first boy doll (upper right corner) along with other girl dolls of various sizes. I am excited to inspire other gardener/artists to rescue them and create a one of a kind garden fairy.

Waiting for new homes.

Potential Fairies

Ever since I met the Seven Gypsy Fairies I knew that these fairies belonged in my yard. They are not for sale! However, I encourage anyone interested in these fairies to get acquainted with the fairies in your own garden. I am sure the right representation of your fairy or fairies (in my case seven) will appear along your path. It may take some time. Put it out to the Universe and it will happen at the right time.
I am happy to share some of my "make over tips" if you find some vintage dolls. I am no doll repair expert but, I am sure the internet is full of them.

My mantra for creativity : "If you don't feed it, It won't grow!" This is where gardening principals join art.

I got this text with picture from my daughters: Potential Fairies

I adore how my girls wear their fairy wings into adulthood.

New Beginnings

I finally got out and joined a local garden club. Everyone was so friendly! It is a well organized club with much opportunity to volunteer and be among fellow gardeners. I even decided to attend the state garden club convention in April. I sent my registration form out this morning.

Guest Room

I am excited to start the guest room project. I have picked the colors and the paint has been mixed.
This weekend Doug is going to get the walls painted. He painted the ceiling a few weeks ago. I look
forward to painted some of the pieces of furniture and accessories I have been collecting. I plan to
paint the blades to the ceiling fan too. (Doug's idea)

New Blog

I started another blog for the fairies in my garden. It is a tale of building a garden together. I know the seven fairies are going to inspire the changes to the garden. I found my motivation!
sevenfairies.blogspot.com