Summer Yard

Planting and digging in the yard has been a daily joy. When we moved in our house 5 years ago, the yard had no charm. The property had been where the barn was for the farmhouse below. I needed some landscape help and had some professional help in planning and planting.  So glad we did that.

I wanted the privacy with trees but the charm of a cutting garden. We picked our favorites and went from there. With the plantings in place it was up to us to keep it going.  

 

Our weeping plum tree starts out sparse and by summer turns out full. 

 

This vintage cage is perfection as a stand alone our full with cucumbers 

I love working under the trees. It is my patch of a secret garden. I can escape the worries of the unrest or pray regarding the events around us. 

My favorite time is the foggy, hazy start of the day. I love the promise of a new day. 

The plants do require me to come out and ground myself

This is an area I am developing this season. I moved some of the metal I found at a garage sale. The chair was $5 and the metal art was $12. I was thrilled to find those at an artist house that was moving. No one had looked outside!!

I am joining Debra @ Common Ground for All About Home

https://www.commonground-do.com/2020/08/welcome-august-at-all-about-home-51.html#more

How are you keeping sane during theses times?  

Di

 

Inspiration Board

Inspiration comes from many elements. I have been putting my favorite pictures and items on this cute crib spring for many years. 

The desk is messy but usually is when creating. During the past 3 months I have taken part of live broadcasts from Jeanne Oliver and Marian Parks. I took a class from Kate Thompson and have been immersed in the process of art. 

 

Jeanne talked about an inspiration board to help focus your thoughts. I gathered bits and pieces and built my board on Monday. 

  

I collect pictures, papers and fabrics all over the place. Getting them together does focus on the colors and images you may want to achieve. 

Working with Mariam and paint colors, I love blues. With Kate’s process, I was drawn to roses, lavender and greens. 

  

I love Victorian pictures of women and children. 

  

I had some beautiful fabrics to mount my botanical papers on. On one silk I took Kate’s technique and placed a picture and plaster details. I loved it!!

I am happy how my bits and pieces have defined what I am working on. It confirms that in this crazy time, I can create what is in my heart. 

  

Family, friends and these wonderful artist have been my First Aid Kit. What has been yours?

Di   Joining Create, Bake, Grow & Gather Party @ Shabbyartboutique

Fabric emblishments for my botanical papers

I love learning new techniques. As part of my Botanical Class,http://fracturedangelics.indiemade.com/product/botanical-collage-mini-class?tid=5, from Kate Thompson, she taught the steps to take stencils or stamps to create an extra piece of embellishments. 

I took a vintage piece of fabric and applied my materials to create designs. 

These will add a great layer to the botanical papers. 

I also used some ribbons to create butterflies and dragonflies. 

      A little sea, to scatter among the papers

 

I will be adding pictures and dried flowers next. Getting closer to finishing. Joining https://thecottagemarket.com/a-morning-cup-of-joe-filled-with-features-and-linky-party/

Di

Botanical paper dying

It has been raining here in Western  North Carolina. I had promised my nieces I would do natural paper dying. To do this we needed to pick fresh leafs, flowers, whatever strikes our fancy!!

It was drizzling and we headed out to the yard and neighborhood with our scissors. We ventured to the neighbors and even to the roadside. 

I spotted a mushroom in my neighbor’s yard and picked up her dropped pink and red rose petals. 

We took our assortment of papers and picked out weeds, flowers and leafs to make our designs. I had bought some letters from a friend in Michigan. She sent a stack from the 1900’s. My niece read the letter and didn’t want to use it because it was so lovely.   

It start “my Darling girl”. Oh so special. Anyway. As the packets were soaking we shared thoughts of boys, friends and dreams. It was such a special afternoon.   

We pulled our papers out and we’re excited for them to dry and talk about our next project.

We are excited for the next step of adding elements to our pages. Journals, art, cards and embroidery. 

Di

Joining

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Botanical papers

Loving all things botanical.  Over the years, I have collected vintage flower prints and pressed flowers.

 I eeven dried ferns, mounted and framed them for display.

 

I saw that Kate Thompson had a class on Botanical Collage Mini class.  I thought oh How FUN!  I quickly collected my papers, graph, lined, copy paper, watercolor paper...anything I could find.

Fractured Angelics

    

I collected flowers from the house and yard and placed them on the papers.

  

 

 

Now I am hooked on dying papers.  Here is the after effects, I love the colors and variations

     

A added bonus is I get to dry these flowers!  The second viedo will tell me how to use these.  I can't wait.

  

I will continue my class and post the final results!

Joining All About Home Link Party

Di