Cottage Wishes

Friday, May 8, 2020

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Paintings

Two of my favorite bloggers have free painting classes. Staying at home, I have no excuses not to practice “arting” , as my daughter calls it.

Marian @ Miss Mustard Seed, was the first blog I started following. I have been on a journey with her. I love ironstone, blue and white and antiques. I am sure we could be best friends!

Marian has a Friday class. Here are some paintings I have completed. Now, these were done with watercolors, but I have ordered oils.

We have so much fun because it is live. I feel like we are connected as a group.

I love the sea and beach. I will watch the videos many more times to get cloud techniques.

We laugh, giggle and swear (under our breath).

My next class is from the fabulous Jeanne Oliver @ Jeanneoliver.com Online Art Classes. Yes, she is offering classes free on Wednesday. I started following Jeanne right before we moved to Asheville. She got me thru the move, unpacking and missing of my mom who passed away a few months prior. I have taken online classes and live (the best) from Jeanne.

This class was on my courses that I had not taken list, so before I start on the free classes I had to do this - Shelters: Painting Places that House our Hearts taught by Mary Gregory

Mary (click to visit her facebook) is so delightful, funny and encouraging.

I love barns, farms, churches and old homesteads. She had it all. I did have arylic paints. But not all the right colors, but I kept up.

I loved all these painting classes. Now, I am on to the next class, join me.

Stitching and Creating

I love stitching, embroidery and sewing. I have been making prayer flags for many years. I took those stitches and created snippets and up cycled clothes.

Sail On

This is created on ticking and the back is from a vintage chenille quilt. I call this one “Sail On”. The waves are painted vintage linen lace.

This is the outfit I upcycled for Lorri Scott’s upcycled clothing contest, Wayward Threads @ lasfibers. The jacket is a sweet coat. The shirt is a baby dress.

This sweet baby dress has a quilted heart pocket.

These strips of linen are filled with images of faith, joy and fun

This old jacket was upcycled with vintage linens. I made a grain sack purse with ticking to complete the ensemble

Vintage linens and ticking!

I included a heart on the skirt surrounded by pieces of a 1800’s quilt

What have you been working on during this eventful time?

Joy from Cottage-Wishes

Di,

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Garden thoughts

The feel of the earth is comforting and grounding. With staying at home I want the comfort I had as a child. My dad always planted a garden in the early spring. So, I got myself motivated to tackle the yard.

My childhood favorite flower is Lantana. My nana always had them in her yard.

Lantana for butterflies

Thankfully, before all shops closed I was able to order some vegetable and herbs at my favorite local nursery’s . They put my order together, along with my daughters order, and hubby picked it up. All he had to do was call when he was there and they loaded into the back of his truck.

https://reemscreek.com/fruits-vegetables-herbs/

Most herbs prefer full sun at least 6 hours of full sun

Companion Planting: basil with tomatoes and peppers

dill with broccoli and cababe

Rosemary with cabbage

dill grows tall

French Tarragon aids digestion and is guld be a good groundcover reat for sauces

Thyme needs room to spread and wo

Rosemary symbol of friendship, love and fidelity, a tonic for anxiety! Dew of the Sea.

Tarragon acts as a sentinel in the garden, keeping away insects.

Thyme is good protection as well as Sage. Mints are effective against moths, ants, and fleas.

We planted in these porch containers, hubby put a gate around them. Our yorkie decided she would eat the leaves!

And in the front bed

Click on picture to go to Taste of Home article on How to Dry Herbs

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-dry-herbs

Drying Tip: Make cuttin on a warm, sunny day. Cut the upper half to third of the plant, this will allow the plant to rebound quicker. Put the cuttings in brown paper bags to keep out the light. Make each bags and hang the bags in a cool, dry

place for several weeks.

This is how the lettuce, collards, kale and chard are growing.

I can’t wait to taste these veggies and herbs.

I am joining Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

https://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-me-monday-23/

And All about home

https://www.commonground-do.com/2020/04/all-about-home-37.html?utm_source=bloglovin.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FbCGJMl+%28Common+Ground%29

Friday, April 24, 2020

Spring Wandering

As I collect myself from inactivity. I find myself in a state of wandering. I go from one project to another. We bought a travel trailer at the end of last year and haven’t had the chance to use it. So now that we can’t go anywhere, it is time to dig into the home lists!

I am sorting my collectibles and getting ready to when I can stock my booth at The Garage on 25.

Painting is a fun way to spend time as well. I have taken free class from Miss Mustard Seed, Miriam and Jeanne Oliver.

I am journaling and painting in my books.

Organizing my creative area, aka “The Craft Room”. We had downsized 8 years ago and moved to our new house 5 years ago. My craft room is also a guest room. I will show the results on my next post.

Hubby and I are getting outside as much as possible to enjoy our yard. We started a small porch garden.

We pruned the fruit trees

And are in the process of weeding and mulching the front yard.

The key is to take it easy on yourself, there are moments I don’t want to do anything but watch TV and that’s okay.

I give myself permission not to constantly do a project.

Going through pictures, fabrics, collections of “stuff” is a good reminder that I am blessed. I find that this sorting process leads me down a journey of memories.

I am joining

https://www.commonground-do.com/

https://thecottagemarket.com/a-morning-cup-of-joe-with-features-and-linky-party-28/

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Katie Rose

Wardrobe for Katie Rose started with her bloomers! There were stains and tiny holes that mama stiched patches on. Sometimes she emblished a pretty piece of fabric into a flower.

Since she was traveling to the coast, she wanted to shine. Being from the Smokey Mountains, money was tight and new clothes would not be in her sight. Her mother's best was brought out of the chest for them to view. Lace, velvets, cotton, white embrodery, quilt fabrics were pulled for repairs and sewing.