signing back in....

Hi folks!  I've been away from blogging for a bit this month and have really missed it.  I was taking some time to be still and focus on not doing anything if that makes any sense.  It's funny how during my everyday doings my thoughts would drift off to all of you here!

The garden is really full now.  I'm enjoying slowly walking through it and picking weeds here and there.  No planting goes on for me in July except for annuals.  There is always the constant moving of pots to fill in where things have fallen flat and trimming back where things look overgrown.

My old milk crate for the garden gate.

 Our first monarch in the garden enjoying the milkweed!!!  

And now some exciting news to share....I'm one of 5 finalist in the Amateur Small Garden design contest over at Gardenista. 

The winner will be chosen by the public vote.  People can vote once a day until August 15th HERE.  If you click on Amateur Small Garden you can vote for my photo...

Thanks friends!  

I will be around to see you all soon!  Hope the season is treating you well!!!   

a patio before and after

Hey everyone!  I hope your week is ending on a great note!  Our lower patio that caused us so many headaches over the years is done.   All the flooding and drainage issues from this space have been resolved.  To finally be able to sit in this space and not despise it is a great feeling I must say!

the blank slate 

The chair is from Ikea and the little sofa is from World Market.  I got the throw pillows from Target and  everything else we had.  Potted up I have a white geranium, boxwood, lily of the valley, and a mixed pot with oxalis, sweet potato vine and a begonia.

I think I may just have a glass of wine out there later!  

And here is just a pretty photo from our walk in the park today!

Happy Making, Baking, and Growing!

breaking down the garden....garden room/shady stroll garden

When I garden I break down spaces into pocket gardens.  There are so many spaces that exist within the whole which in turn helps me stay focused as I work in the garden.  The shot below is an upper view of our back garden.  The dry stream bed is not in this photo but I feel this gives you an idea of the back yard and what we are working with toys and all.

Moving on to the front garden, these shots don't show my island bed or the other side of the driveway but again it gives you an overview of the main sweeping bed.

Our garden room is essentially our side yard.  Garden room sounds prettier to me and as many gardeners do, I'm in the process of naming the different pocket gardens that exist within our space.  Our garden room was once just an ally between our home and our neighbors' home.

We added a fence and and arbor to create the garden room.  Plantings are still a work in progress in this space but we do enjoy the privacy this addition gives us as our city plots are small.

I created the path out of brick and after laying garden fabric the pea gravel was added.

Along the left side of the fence we get full shade.  In time I hope that my climbing hydrangea will cover that whole fence.  Hydrangeas, hostas, solomon's seal, Japanese forest grass, ferns, lungwort, and hellebores fill the space.

As we move further into the space more of the shade garden comes into play.  Here is what it looked like when we moved in.

As soon as I added the path the beans took to it.  And the shady stroll garden was born!  They skip through this space now and ring the chimes that hang from the tree.  This bed consists of bleeding hearts, foam flowers, hostas, astilbes, lamium, annuals (impatiens and begonias)  wild ginger, ligularia, beauty berry, grasses, goat's beard, weigela, creeping jenny, knotweed, snow on the mountain, golden Japanese spikenard and coral bells.

It's fun to see how far different areas have come over time.  My goal is to make my way around our whole garden as the months go on.

source~cagedcanarynz.blogspot

See you in the garden!  

Girls' Room....DONE!

This has been a long time coming so needless to say I'm excited to finally be at the finish line!  I wanted this space to grow with my girls over time and be flexible and neutral enough for them to change things in and out as they age.

Here is where we started...

And here is the after....

 The antique highboy dresser, small china cabinet, and small dresser in the closet were all from a gal here in my town.  She finds old vintage pieces and refinishes them.  We were so excited to find her as I feel good about reusing what is already out there and her work is amazing!  

Visit her here at SOMETHING FOUND

This china cabinet is perfect for the girls to display all of their special treasures and we even found a note inside dating back to 1955 as this was once someone's wedding gift!

I'm very passionate about putting spaces together and this one was extra special for me!  Thanks for letting me share it with you!   

Happy Creating Friends!  

Repurposed, Thrifted, Vintage, Made

blue rug...repurposed from family room
lamps...repurposed from other rooms
tray on nightstand...thrifted
gold frames above beds ...thrifted
star catching art above beds....gift from aunt
flower art on dresser...thrifted
beds....belonged to my grandparents
chair....vintage piece from great-aunt

art in closet...made

be you art....made
flower art...made (photo taken from the garden)
art in china cabinet...made

Bought
duvet covers....West Elm
quilts,shams, baskets....Home Goods
drapes....Pottery Barn Kids
mirror...Bellacor
removable wallpaper...Amazon
book ledges...Ikea
chandelier....Restoration Hardware Baby and Child

Linking up with.....Cozy Little House...Tweak It Tuesday

designing

When I was a little kid I would spend hours drawing houses and gardens.  Nothing has changed when it comes to this.  If I'm on a walk, I am constantly looking at peoples' yards and thinking about what plants I would add to their space to enhance it.  That is until one of the beans runs off and I am on the chase!  I'm currently working on a few design projects for people that have been keeping me busy at night.  This one is in the works right now....

 

I look for inspiration everywhere.  Colors and textures in interior spaces.....

Magazines when sitting in waiting rooms...

Simple things like messy easter eggs....

And music, there must be music!  Benny Goodman has been playing while I work....

All and all it has been a pretty busy start to spring.

Just wanted to check in and wish you all a creative week with bits of inspiration along the way!   

Happy Making, Baking, and Growing!