Patina White

all's well that {CONTINUES} well...

greetings show&TELL friends! well here we are. summer has transitioned into fall in our neighborhood. and that means i've closed up my seasonal cottage @ shadyHOLLOW. 

 

 

just never know WHOOOO or what you might see out @ the hollow the last BIG {3} day weekend thru laborDAY! it was wonderful seeing you regular visitors & as always a bigWELCOME if you're new to my {CORNER of the WORLD}. so please consider this my little note of thanks...

 

 

you are a KEY to my creative sparks. the excitement you share... it fuels me to {MAKE}. i wired up these pretties (or was is i was wired up when i made them?!). whatever the case may be i was tickled they found their way into good new homes right away. ENJOY, girls!

 

 

so... i sure do love being able to share those "moments that matter" with you. though i could go on (and on and on) ... i must highlight a few favorites for the time being.

one that comes immediately to mind was (us) driving along the highway & spotting a field of sunflowers. that literally stretched as far as the eye could see. it wasn't enough to pull on the side of the road & snap a picture. nope. hubby knew better when he stopped & i flung open the door... i might very well disappear... dreamin' in the field. had to BE in the moment. 

 

 

i would've stayed all day staring + smiling @ this marvel... but i knew my chariot would only wait so long. so i was happy w/ the happySHOT i got. scooted back to the truck & off we went down the path.

did i say path? mention the word happy? well there is one thing that REALLY tops the list of moments. a "HAPPY PATH" indeed! it wasn't planned. wasn't expected. didn't even know i was "looking". til the eve of our wedding anniversary i happened to catch a post on facebook from 4LUV of dogs rescue. a picture of a pup that made my heart stop.

and as such i excitedly show hubby said picture w/ glee exclaiming...

"look at this face... she is "our" dog. the ONE."

 

his response was more cautious.

"we were not going to get a dog right away... remember?"

 

my response was "corrective".

"no... i said i would know when i saw THE dog."

and this dog was "THE" one. it was dejavu all over again. found our LUCY girl nearly the same way. we drove to a shelter 10+ years ago to adopt her. and for a decade loved her with our whole hearts. and our hearts were broken when we lost her this spring. time has a way of softening the sadness. and i left my heart+mind a little bit "open" for that moment again when i would see a dog and "just know". well here we were... and i KNEW!

from that moment on i was on a mission. all i could think of was this sweet face that drew me in. i immediately put a call into 4LUV of dogs. and emails. (ok... there might have been ALOT of calls... and emails.) plus notes to friends in search of help... references... encouragement. and boy did i get it. thankYOU all!

all signs were pointing to us opening our heart & home yet again. and so we did. so i'd love to introduce our ABBY girl.

 

 

she's a boxer. after 20 years of dalmatians this is shift. but she's a WHITE boxer...with underlying spots.  she is a "golden girl" @ 7 years young ...and we couldn't be happier (yes...even that "cautious" hubby... who is still trying to edge me out of "favorite" parent status!)

phew! you think this is long?!? well there is much more to this love story i want to share. so i will save the next bit of it for another day... a post dedicated to this special addition to our family that has made our family circle complete again. 

now if you caught it... the title of this blog is all's well that {CONTNUES} well. and that came about because i don't think any of my stories really have an ending. probably because infamously i'm know to ramble, yammer, talk on when excited to share my passion + stories that come along. 

soooo... the BIG next chapter for patinaWHITE would be that of my studioEVENT! yes indeed! it's that time of the year already. time to mark your calendars... and here's a little "tickler" {below} to get you the basics for now...

 

 

also... asking a little favor. if you'd please help me spread the {LOVE} about the event i would be most grateful. as there are no postcards being sent again. stopped that few years back and rely on the powers of social media & word of mouth. so thanks in advance for your help!

 

 

more info on my event coming up. gee i will have to be back intouch more often! there's so much whirling in my mind to share!

end note for today... ALL'S (indeed) WELL!... infact i did a bracelet the other day for a gal ... and love it so much i may have to create some for the event! for a gentle reminder to share!

 

 

...and now the journey continues! don't forget you can catch frequent bits of beauty of inspirations i share on the facebook side of my world. AND you do not have to have an "account" w/ fb simply to "see". have a gander (bookmark if you like for frequent visits!) at the link below...

https://www.facebook.com/patinaWHITE

thanksMUCH w/ this little (long) note today! SO very very happy to continue sharin' w/ you @ my various little outlets in this big world! and look forward to when the next time... moments... inspirations comes along!

make it GREAT!

a very happyDAY

hiTHERE! well heck. where has the time gone? my last post was going on about the 4th of july. then i blinked. and here we are ...nearing the end of august. and with the end of august... TODAY actually... comes the very special anniversary of my hubby and i. and i thought no day like the present to dust of my bloggin' britches and start yammering a bit.

so... {19} years ago today we TIED the KNOT!

 

 

well that pic above was actually taken today...! thought it would be a fun use of a pile of rope i recently brought home. didn't know what i would do with it... but nothing like yards of sisal rope PLUS the cool old pulleys to warrant it "hanging" out til the right use comes along. and here we are!

so let's peek back now. nineteen years ago... after the ceremony... we were outside for the photo below. just getting ready to take off in our "chariot" and head into the sunset. (well actually it was off to the reception). a dreamy eyed girl + sharped dress boy w/ coy smile. friends forever. 

 

 

it has been a wonderful occasion. i've been blessed to share it w/ my hubby & an army of friends + family. from the phone calls... emails... texts... the out-pour of sweet comments on facebook. handmade cards. an "artful" banana. (yep i said banana). a special lunch w/ the folks... complete w/ beautiful bouquet (see it below). a short road trip together. a relaxing evening. today wasn't about "things". it was about "moments" & i am touched by them all. thankYOU. 

 

 

even got to do some re-purposing. happened on a card i made for our anniversary awhile back. well 8 years ago to be exact. thought as long as it's been saved this long i might as well save it indefinitely and reuse year after year. so i giggled when i "updated" it and handed it to the mr. ...for the 2nd time! he smirked and said i was "getting off easy". i giggled back. "probably". now let's see if i can remember where i tucked it for when the next time comes 'round.

 

 

have to admit. i did take a moment this morning to zip thru the thrift. and talk about re-purposing... look @ the anniversary gift i treated myself too {below}. a GIANT bag of "junkJEWELRY" just begging for a second lease on life. or for the time being to spread across a table ... sifted thru and simply admired. 

 

 

did i mention it's already the end of august?! which means these next days will find me getting things together & ready for what will be the farewell to summer @ shadyHOLLOW. hard to believe we are already there! 

and if you want to catch one last hurrah @ the flea... we will be OPEN for {3} days @ shady hollow. you'll find me @ my cottage SATURDAY, SUNDAY and laborDAY MONDAY. 

 

 

i can't say enough thankYOU for the opportunity to share this passion of mine. i am so honored to be able to share bits of our world for those of you who pop by @ my various creative outlets. so incredibly blessed to have this wonderFULL life. til next our paths cross...

HAPPY to be happily yours...

happy {4th} to you!

happy redWHITE&blue! as we come into a long holiday weekend... just thought i would pop by and say hello w/ some of my favorite patriotic photo snaps. enjoy the pictorial pleasures to follow... w/ some "shadyHOLLOW" info @ the end!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and speaking...i mean NOT speaking since this is a pretty visuallyDRIVEN post... thought i would mention that my cottage... along w/ a wide selection of vendors...

will be OPEN {3} days this 2014 season starting...

::: friday JULY 4th
::: SATURDAY july 5th
::: sunday JULY 6th

patinaWHITE will be OPEN each day by 9am. the days wind down around 3ish (or so). every vendor varies... so this is just a guideline... a good time to visit to catch things in full swing is that 10am-1pm window.

 

 

fleaAWAY w/ me! see you @ the hollow starting THIS friday…running thru SUNDAY! always look forward to seeing my "shady" visitors! and on that note of a big upcoming weekend...i best be off to pull together some last minute goodies and treasures! in which case i shall...

 

 

 

thankYOU for visiting my {corner of the world} here... and wishin' you all a wonder FULL 4th of july holiday weekend! 

never2busy2 {SMILE}

hey there! remember me? i know. might seem like i fell of the edge of the earth! i am still very much here! but i have had my hands in various projects that seem to have me feeling like i am pretty "busy".

for instance...1/2 a globe you see {below}... yep... bigPLANS. oh...and then there's the other half that could use some attention. bottles i found awhile back. {quite awhile actually}. well they were in a need of a bath when i brought them home. and yes. they DID get dirtier sitting in the garage. let's see how a water soak finds them in a few (dozen) days. 

 

 

point is, what you ask? well... life is BUSY. but i saw a saying the other day. and i found it to be oh so very true. simply put. it stated...

"if you are too busy to smile... you are too busy." 

and despite the randomness of my days. i still taking time to SMILE. because i am never THAT busy.  

 

 

so what else has been happening in all my "busy but not too busy" busyness? well gee. i'm four weekends into being OPEN @ my shadyHOLLOW cottage! i even took a moment to snap a current interior picture. something i often want to do... but get...yep you guessed it. TOO busy. not this time. so here i was ready to kickOFF the season below.

 

 

with the opening weekend under my belt... tuesday came & i took a little time to reflect. after pushing forward like a freight-train for days... and running myself low on "steam"... i was inspired by the laid back life of our lucy girl.

while with us on earth...she never seemed to get rattled by a thing. infact it almost seemed like she was sending me a message to rest...just a little. which i did. and in doing so the creativity flowed. as this piece was what came about...

 

 

and you know what happens when you do take some time to "PAUSE"? you see things. things that might otherwise be overlooked. 

case in point. went out for a walk. when out of the corner of my eye i see a flutter of movement in the very busy road. what IS that?! why it's a turtle! a very tiny turtle @ that. i jump in the road and scooped him up. he wasn't heading in a safe direction so i thought i would intervene. 

i walked for over a mile w/ him cupped in my hands. quite certain cars passing by were wondering what exactly it was that i was holding so tightly next to me. when i reached a safe spot...far from traffic...close to a quiet marsh. i bent down and opened my hand. he sat there for a few moments. giving me a chance to snap a fast picture of him you'll see below! then he went into the water. and simply swam away. this whole turn of event had me SMILIN' so very big. nope. not TOO busy.

 

 

earlier this week i thought it might be a good time to address the peeling paint and weathering wood on our porch. the days were beautiful and it just seemed like the thing to do. only been eyeing me for a few years now. 

that being said...what's a little more time right? so i decided instead to go out scavenging for some "desirable" weathered wood. found a fantastic pile of grayed out timbers just perfect for a patinaPROJECT down the way. sorry porch spindles... i will think about you another day! guess this is a great example of wooda coulda shoulda!

 

 

it seems gathering up old wood fragments are nothing new in my world. fueled by the inspiration to {MAKE} a father's day card for my dad... i unearthed a creation tucked away... that i created some 30+ years back! a fragment of wood i painted up especially for him. 

and it was on the same day of the wood scavenge in which i also plucked a piece of oldSCHOOL linoleum from the scrap pile too {you see below}. loved the colors and they were sure a compliment to my handy work of past too!

 

 

i used to make gifts for my dad all the time. then as i emerged into adulthood... yep... got a bit "busy". well i felt like a kid again when i cut up the lino into some heart shapes {on the floor no more!} ...

 

 

i thought my dad would appreciate me pickin' around & making something outta the scraps i found. so i incorporated one into a picture collage using a favorite photo of the two of us...! he has always made me SMILE. and below you will find my creations of present and past side by side!

 

 

and i would also like to send a father'sDAY wish to my special dad-in-law. when i married my hubby i consider myself so very fortunate @ the "package deal" i got. an extended family that means the world to me. here he is in younger years on some smoothSAILING w/ his brother!

 

 

 

so remember to that it's ok to be busy. but not TOO busy. smiles are free. quite contagious. and take less effort than a frown. seems like a win win win to me! thanks for the smiles you provide me! i am constantly inspired by you visitors to all my creative outlets...! 

see you shadyHOLLOW vistors @ my cottage any given SUNDAY thru labor day and look forward to touching base w/ you show&TELL friends always! may not be as frequent these days... but no matter how busy i get... i do love to ramble on here! 

a bigSMILE coming your way! 

*

 

let the FLEA-fun begin!

well here we are! almost at the start of yet another "flea" season! yep. memorialWEEKEND brings out the grillin'GURUS...GIDDYgraduates...SUMMER affairs...PLUS marks the start of the shadyHOLLOW flea market kickOFF. and we are open (3) special days to get the season rolling! {note dates below} hours vary by vendor, but a general rule of thumb is by 9am for the market to be hopping w/ both cabins + fieldVENDORS alike!

 

 

i hope you will come by and be INSPIRED! and remember... memorialWEEKEND only is the start for shadyHOLLOW. my little cottage will be open any give SUNDAY  all summer w/ (3) day openings on 4th of july plus labor day weekends!

 

 

the market is a must see attraction if you are going to be in the neighborhood of detroitLAKES, MN in the beautiful northwest section of minnesota ... please be sure to pop by and say hi!

 

 

i've been bustling about...makin' & gathering up some jewels to plump up my stock of baubles...

 

 

i've added a couple "girls" to my staff...they will be decked out and ready to strut their "stuff"!

 

 

and even though there is much to do...i took some time to stamp "nameTAGS" for a special combo necklace i wove together. because sometimes i do get caught up in the little details. especially when i think they makes a BIG difference. 

 

 

even got my wheatGRASS growing & soon to be ready. lovely little sprouts to inspire... grab a bag of some seed to plant your own cheerful pots. still proves that i can have a lush lawn... even if it's only inside! 

 

 

2014 marks my 10th year @ the flea! WOW...! where does the time go? i still recall vividly taking possesion of my cabin and removing layers of plywood to make it the sweet little cottage i still reside in every summer. see my location on the map below to guide the way! and if you'd like more details on shadyHOLLOW i invite you to CLICK on said map to visit their website!

 

 

here's a throwback... i ran short on business cards. really wanted to update them but... what's a girl to do when time is of the essence {besides doing them weeks back}? well i grabbed a packet of prefab business card sheets i nabbed @ our thrift adding a little coffee staining for some character. then stamped them w/ the VERY 1st stamp i had made when i did my first show...almost 12 years back! simple yes. but i like 'em and they will do the trick for the time being!

 

 

so a big THANKS for making this passion to share bits of beauty + inspiration a continued dream come true! i am SO blessed & reminded daily that i am able to TRULY do //what i LOVE//.

 

 

i hope to see you @ the flea...! whether it's this weekend...next...the following or maybe each and EVERY sunday this summer!

 

 

 

AWAY with me...!

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a {FAMILY} affair...

heyTHERE! so we had double the fun this past weekend. sunday of course was mother's day. and i was able to take in some time w/ both my special ma AND mom-in-law. {my mama and i "back in the day" below}

 

 

love these ladies and having both over to our home was a real treat. i decided to "brown bag it" for their little favors. found some prettyPRETTY keyrings awhile back and "fluffed" 'em up a bit w/ some of my stampings. small potted herbs rounded out the natural theme {see them pulled together below}

 

 

in addiiton to mom's day...it was my hubby's BIRTHDAY too! in the pic {below} the little fella on the very right, under that straw hat...yep...that's my guy hula'ing his heart out. and to think he says he's not a dancer. i think the photo begs to differ.

 

 

my bigKID had a very specific request for his birthday sweet treat. chocolate cupcakes w/ peanut butter frosting. and in the sake of time i thought i'd order them. the bakery i spoke w/ was happy to oblige. but i had to order a dozen minimum. kinda makes me giggle now as those 12 lil cakes didn't stand a fighting chance. and also makes me think i should've got 2 dozen! DEElish!

 

 

so our affair was full of FAMILY...FUN...FOOD! and i think i succeeded in filling everyone up w/ some delectable delights.

another "thing" i finally filled was a custom order. and i say FINALLY as a sweet customer had patiently waited for...oh...a YEAR for her treasures. she wanted a group gift for her + her sisters. we collaborated on a saying & i had a vision for it to incorporate each sis's initial. the outcome tickled us both. some things just take time. and she agreed they were worth the wait. mission accomplished!

 

 

another mission was that of a thoughtful hubby. looking to find a unique mother's day gift for his wife. he thought of my work as she admires the pieces she got from me in the past. i was so honored he touched base and luckily i had the goodies to weave together a customized cluster symbolizing her FAMILY. i received the sweetest note + picture from her proclaiming her delight in her special piece. and i loved how she was holding her "heart" in her hands {as seen below}.

 

 

love making memories for familyAFFAIRS. glad i was able to do so for my own plus some others. sharing my passion thru "whit& whimsy" is what i am all about. i always say i create from what's inspiring me... and i continue to be inspired by you wonderful folks who peek into my corner of the world. 

thanks for the visits @ all my "outlets". so...off i go. nearly time to see you visitors @ shadyHOLLOW flea market. that three day weekend

{SATURDAYmay24, SUNDAYmay25, and MONDAYmay26}

kicks off the summer season. more info to come...and be sure to please LIKE me over on FACEBOOK to see frequent random ramblins. please click the button below to be whisked there!

 

 

thanks always & happilyYOURS...

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//mayDAY// hurray!

hey! HEY! it's MAY! and along with that comes mayDAY! i love the idea of makin' up little treats to pass out. i know in the past it would be common place to hang little baskets on someone's doorknob & scoot away. but...i have adapted a tradition of creating fun little "favors" and just simply handing them out in hopes of providing some random cheer to some folks. 

so...THAT being said. this year i returned to those cuteCUTE bouquets of flower lollyPOPS i've used in the past. they are so darn cheerful&SWEET i couldn't resist. and only seemed appropriate that i show 'em off in a flowerFROG below.

 

 

now...i wanted to use something different than i've done in the past...but also utilize materials onhand. so...it came to me to make "bouquets" out of the...well...bouquets! and nothing like a little LACE wrap for a nosegay effect. and i have PLENTY of these adorable paper lace doilies around to do a "few"...(hundred)!

 

 

needed a little way to share some mayDAY greetings...but rather than do the whole phrase...i thought passing out some simple HAPPY cheer was my answer. so out came some colorFULL cardstock tags i stampedUP!

 

 

i took some "flowerSTEMS"... wrapped in my lacey accent...tied up a tag w/ jute & tahDAH! bouquet of //HAPPYness// ready for sharin'!

 

 

so i've gathered em up in a little tray...and am will be passing them out today. cause it's may. (yes i will always seize the opportunity for a rhyme!)

 

 

so wishin' you a happy mayDAY now...and everyday this month! 

 

 

and to keep the inspiration train chuggin' along... thought i'd give you a peek @ my FAVORITEfavors of past as well! i've used peatPOTS... recycled groceryBAGS...scrap wire + letterBITS to create to carry on this oldWORLD tradition. 

 

 

thanks for popping by... now i'm off. it's only a fewWEEKS til shadyHOLLOW time. the flea season is near. OH DEAR! guess i best get myself in gear....{wink!}

see you soon w/ tidbits on that!

*

 

the // MESSAGE // is clear...

hey there show&TELL friends. been a bit of a tough, dustyTRAIL for hubby & i. it's never easy losing loved ones... and we experienced a loss recently. our girl, lucy... our sweet dal that we rescued from a shelter 9+ years ago ... has found her forever home romping around in the clouds above. it really seems like only yesterday that i wrapped her up in my favorite eiderdown one of the first few days we had her. 

 

 

lucy was a very sensitive + shy dog. nothing like our first dalmatian whom a close friend dubbed - "sadie monster". she bounced around like she had springs in her feet. i still giggle @ her clown like antics.

at a time before digital cameras...i snapped this "film shot" of SADIE {seen below}. perhaps you can see that the pic is a bit tatty. well that comes w/ nearly 20 years of carrying in various wallets. and i continue to do so to this day...

 

 

but lucy. oh lucy. she was quiet. camera shy. a lover of those in her "circle". and a bonafide "daddy's girl". that smile {below} is one i will never soon forget. on BOTH their faces.

 

 

it was never a competition for her love, though. she had plenty to go 'round. infact i had this tiny necklace {seen below} made the first month she joined us as she brought SO much love&LAUGHTER into our home.

 

 

it actually hung on one of my "mannis" up til the day we made the difficult decision to say goodbye to her. then i put it on. and i haven't taken it off since. wearing it night & day... somehow i feel a continued connection w/ her having it dangling around my neck. 

that leads me into another "dangling matter" - her collar w/ a vaccination tag on it. while she wore it...we could hear her coming before we saw her.

 

 

then suddenly our home was filled w/ silence. both at the lack of the singSONGS we sang to her. (yes...sang) and then the absence of the "jingle". hubby mentioned it first. that he missed the jingle. i had been thinking it all along. i wanted to do something special w/ her collar + tag. but also needed some time for my heart to mend (a little to start). 

somethings take time. especially in my world where i create by what inspires me...those moments that matter. so when i came across a poem by e.e. cummings (in it's entirety below)...

 

[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      

i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

 

...i knew i needed to "carry her heart w/ me". in a figurative way that is. so i cut her tag just a bit. to form a "not so perfect" heartSHAPE to get started. 

 

 

that was my first step. and then that heart sat for a couple days. i wasn't forcing the creation on this piece. it had to come naturally as i felt it. i wanted to add the poem to the heart tag...but also didn't want to lose the words originally stamped on it. not that vaccination info is all exciting. but the fact that is was HER tag made it special no matter what content it contained. 

when the time was right to add the "fitting" partial part of the poem... i forged an organic surface on the reverse side & just started stamping away. didn't really have a format. just could visualize that i wanted it random. like the way i tend to be. i ended up with a rustic heart that hung around "as is" for a few days (still healing).

next step was a bracelet crafted from a piece of her leather collar. i've been wanting for a LONG time to get about making some cuffs. so this was a good way to get me tinkering. i studded the holes that once were the "adjustment" for her clasp... and attempted a snap closure that is far from perfect but perfectly good enough for me. 

here's a peek @ everything pulled together ... nearly a week+ in the {MAKIN'}. and despite it's "random" appearance (+ a favorite "blurry" snapshot of our girl)... the message is very clear to me...  

 

 

now completed... i wore it around so happy. happy with the way i felt about the evolution this tag/collar made. happy that i had a piece of lucy to forever treasure ... as i tend to find connection in things that come about the method this did. (moments that matter, like i mentioned). and really tickled that i devised a way... clipping it on a swivel clasp so i could turn her heart over... and carry it w/ me wherever i go. 

finding solace in placing it in the palm of my hand and simply holding it.

 

 

now when it's not being worn... i have it hanging out in the good company of my chalkDOG collection. in a place that i pass by daily & often.

 

 

so even when i am not "carrying" her heart w/ me... i still have the continued joy of knowing i will never be without lucy. she will live on in the very tokens she leaves behind... in our hearts...in our hands... in our fond memories. 

thanks for peeking today. it's these moments that matter that i can't help but share. its a BIG part of my world. and it wouldn't be fulfilling to me to hold all these feelings in. especially when the message is oh so very clear.

so with that... i thank you for letting me [carry MY heart on MY sleeve.]

*

{SPRING} it on!

here we are! SPRING has officially SPRUNG! the calendar tells us that the season has started! the weather, @ least in OUR neighborhood}, tells another tale. but let's go with the calendar shalln't we? {SPRING} it on! 

guess you could say the springy feeling started when i repurposed an "object" to create this little cutie {below}

 

 

GEE! i sprang into the "after" before even yammering on how i got there! guess i need to take a step back. it STARTED when i came across this gizmo you see {below}.

 

 

any guess to what this curious cluster of springs might be? let's just say it would've been handy @ a campfire... when you are hungry. yep. it's a hotDOG warmer! or was. because i took it apart and mounted the (4) separate springs to randomRUSTIC weatheredWOOD. and then added test tubes. making them an INSTANT vessel for some SPRINGY feelin' tulips! {as you will note below}

 

 

now... the clocks recently had us SPRING ahead! below you'll see a an old schoolCLOCK i sprung for. (yes...i am going to wear this theme out...!)

 

 

and in my land...though my posts are random @ best lately...it's not OFFICIALLY the season til i do my "bergenPOST". if you've been taggin' along my blog for awhile... you know that i truly look forward to my visit a local favorite greenhouse to take in a big breath of fresh air... and wander the acres of freshness that awaits us anxious minnesota winter weary souls.

immediately upon entering i shed my coat. now THAT was liberating. actually being "warm" felt pretty darn good. the main greenhouse is brand spakin' new this season. very state of the art! 

 

 

EVERYONE will feel WELCOMED here... 

 

 

and coming soon...EASTER lilies!

 

 

i was lovin' the little miniature accents PLUS the fairyGARDENS they inhabited...not to mention some pops of PINK and a WAVE of cool textured pots...{see a tickler below}

 

 

and checkOUT that brilliant reuse of a vintage metal cashBOX {below} as a vessel for one of those sweet little gardens!

 

 

i happened a cart whose trays were covered in overflow dirt. sounds kinda silly but i found it quite therapeutic letting the soil sift thru my fingers. (remind me of this moment when the weeding & diggin' is required in the flowerBEDS around the homefront.) 

 

 

so...i'd like to extend always a BIG thankYOU to the team @ bergen's. for letting me wander in warmth... in an inviting, happy place. i look forward to returning when i need some bedding plants & even the occasional pickME up! i'll be looking for that cart of dirt again! heck...i even like the industrial quality of the personalized plates on those carts! {as seen below}...!

 

 

you know what else comes with SPRING!? you got it! fleaMARKET season! i am very excited to be ushering in a DECADE @ shadyHOLLOW! i will be updating here + facebook w/ details so stay tuned! til

til then... here's a little peeksie @ some goodies that i have been busy collecting especially for the flea! love the simplicity of these charms i wove together...this particular piece {below} was part of a local fundraising effort but you will find the likes of this INSPIRINGcluster @ my cottage. and i thought this one was deserving of a name...PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.

 

 

thse rings {below} make me smile. love them and their rusticORGANIC texture + look. WOOF! 

 

  

in addition to funFINDS...i am also scouring for some uniquePIECES to keep me "company" @ my cottage. meaning they may not be available for sale (right away that is)... but they will be right there with me as "fixtures" any given sunday starting MEMORIAL WEEKEND! 

there's a bit of story to my "lockerLOVE". here goes. so i whisked thru a favorite haunt when my eye was caught by THAT color. a. ...greenish...bluish...rusty...crusty PERFECTION kinda hue. so why the story?? because i DIDN'T spring for them. initially. took a picture to really really think about it and then suffered NONbuyer's remorse later. it was like a piece of dessert. the more you think (obsess) about it the more you want it. NEED it. so yep...i made the trek back there... in the sleeting snow and less than ideal roads to satisy my aching desire. alright. sounds pretty dramatic but take a gander below and you might understand why!

 

  

and because this winter has been quite long... i've been sowing some seeds INDOORS in an effort to bring some springCHEER to our home. feathering the nest w/ happy sprouting pots of grass as you'll see on the table {below}

 

 

in addition to the grassy greens... i did indulge in a bundle of freshFLOWERS. nothing says spring like a cheerful bouquet of tulips! quite quickly placed in a drinking glass i might add! but it worked just fine for a vase!

 

 

this bouquet is on a vintage table...likely used in the medical field as a means of accommodating those folks resting in bed. it has been re-enlisted as a handy surface for our clawFOOT tub {as you'll see below}.

 

 

do you feel it? the renewal of the season soon to be upon us? hope you've taken a deep breath reading this and are thinkin' spring! and one last thought for the day...this proverb that couldn't sum it up better

 

no matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow - proverb

 

let's SPRING it on!

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always in season … {MAKE} your own glassGLITTER!

hi there show&TELL friends! for longer than i can recall...i have been meaning (2) revist a PASTpost that has been one of my all time most "pinned" on pinterest. that would be a revinvention of broken glassCHRISTMAS ornaments turned into your own "glassGLITTER".

glass glitter can be pricey if you buy the real deal. and though this isn't entirely the same as the original...i've found it to be a wonderful reUSE of what might have been a "sad" situation. please read on to learn more! 

 

 

so...the "glitter" you see {above} is, like i said,  the result of quite a few glassCHRISTMAS ornaments tangling w/ the ever pesky force of gravity. but, as i found a few years back... the aftermath can be most useful. and darn pretty!

now...i realize that not many of you are "unintentionally" breaking glass ornaments right now....what the holidays come and gone.  which makes me very late getting to this topic...or very early setting the stage for you for the holiday season THIS year.  but armed w/ the tidbits from today...you'll be ready regardless. 

you might just find yourself digging out a few bulbs and...gasp... crushing them to create your own bits of useful yearlong sparkle. if that's the case...or perhaps you have a little stash of ornies saved that you couldn't bear to discard...continue on to the DIRECTIONS.

 

 

1st STEP... grab yourself {2} ziplock baggies...doubled them up & put the salvage pieces inside. (i find it easier to pulverize without the "neck" portion of the bulbs...they are more ridgid and can be sharp! 

2nd STEP - find an appropriate work surface...counter...cutting board...concrete floor...something solid + sound. out comes a rolling pin {one used for crafts...save your good one for the bread dough}.

inflict a few good intial "blows"...w/ your pin to doubledUP bags... to break down large fragments into small / medium sized pieces. 

3rd STEP - continue using your pin to roll over & over the bag. doing so will pulverize the contents inside. but please do watch your bag...you are working with sharp bits and pieces here. and in the case of plastic vs. glass...glass is ALWAYS going to be the winner. you may need a bag switchout if so.

4th STEP. roll it some more. trust me. you want it to continue to break everything down. do you see where i am going here? you're actually making this glass into "glitter"! 

after many passes w/ the rolling pin...when i was happy w/ the size of the flecks...i cut the corners of the ziplock bags and emptied into a small vial...voila...glassGLITTER as you'll spy below.

 

 

 

now what to do with this freshly created glitter, you ask? well other than look pretty in a clear jar... i took the lid to a little HEARTbox that i recently rescued from the thrift. {see it below} 

 

 

the original velvet lining on said lid was tatty & peeling. after i removed it...i poured in some modPODGE letting the glue flow across the entire surface of the lid and heavily coated that w/ my newly minted glitter! see the after {below}...noting those sweet scallop edges that drew me in intially.

 

 

the lid still fits on the bottom of the box so the function is still there...just a bit more FUN and also usual for "heARTSY" staging should the moment arise! 

of course my mind was still whirling. i wanted to show another use of the glitter. this time i took a heart finding. again i mixed layers of glue + glitter. in the early stages as seen here...

 

 

after the addition of a resin coating...the glassGLITTER is permantely encased in the heart that confines it. safe now to wear & enjoy. safe? you say... well remember... this is GLASS and though it sparkles so... it can be sharp and precaution should be taken with the creation of the "glitter" and your works thereafter.

and since i love to see a dose of turquoise against a pop of RED...i've shown my heart-N-hand creation w/ patinaCROSS friend {below}!

 

 

so ends this tale of my continued "mishaps" of broken glass bulbs. all this mention of christmas, hearts. and red glitter. gee i may come across as a bit seasonal confused! but make no mistake... glitter...hearts...MAKIN'... these things are ALWAYS in season! 

AND just incase you'd like to see the "original" process...the initial {very LARGE} loss of silver glass ornaments years back that got my mind going the 1st time 'round. the before...after & another mended "heart" creation can be seen below!

 

 

are you inspired?! then my "job" for the time being is done! now i wouldn't blame you if you go and dig out a few ornaments that may just lend themselves to a "fall" to the floor or "blow" of the pin. i can only imagine that there will be a time when i am purposely seeing some bulbs find a new lease on life myself~ and i will likely show you! no matter WHAT the season happens to be! 

go forth & create to {MAKE} something great...

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