I'm all tucked away...

...for the season that is...
I probably won't be posting on this blog until Spring,
as I compile stuff for an open house
and figure out which direction to go with
A Secret Garden...
I have much to do still,
many plantings and paths to be created
in my world,
paths that will lead in all directions
like the four winds,
I'll explore them all
and pray for an early Spring...

So my rabbit hole is quiet as the snow,
only used for storage for the coming Spring...
so take a break and keep up with Sweet Repose,
as my heart never strays far from there.

See ya next year Alice(s)...

It is light that I seek...

And it is light that I got, thanks to my bestest buds
Theresa and Craigsmith...
I love it and I played in the shop all day...

Theresa also helped me move my heavy statue from the
back gardens to what will be the new gardens
at the entrance to the shop. She needs a little repair work,
but she's a beauty as is too!

Rearranging again, after taking loads of goodies to Sisters'
for her open house, then come Spring,
my shop will officially open and the fun will begin...

Sweet Annie will fill the fields behind the shop
and intrepid shoppers will be able to harvest at will.
I hope to get rows of lavender planted too for pick your own
lavender bouquets...mmmm...
can you smell it...

Another project in the works,
two end tables with drawers...hmmmm...
what shall I do???

Victorian Salvage...

As much as I love the crisp look of white,
I'm so drawn to dark fabrics and woods.
It's so romantic and Victorian, I feel like I'm in a
Merchant Ivory movie, perhaps listening to Jane Austen
recite words of an era of past elegance and
proper delicate beauty...

Makes me wonder what beautiful home this elegant piece came from,
was there an entire set, how many others survived...
well, this little jewel now has a home in my shop
at my secret garden, it will await the Spring
and the reopening of the season...
unless some intrepid wanderer
bids me to open my doors...
I shall...
you see, this is what it's all about...
the sharing of the prize!

Uh oh...

Isn't this just the cutest foyer table...Sandy from Amazing Grace in Amana
traded me a couple of batches of soap for a couple of tables,
don't ya just love to barter...

Great lil' drawer too...

Isn't it just the cutest in my parlor...did I say uh oh...
Well isn't this the name of the game, one comes in,
one goes out, right!
So, for now this is a keeper, perfect for my dictionary
that I use all the time.
I'm forming a new attraction for this dark weathered finish,
it goes so well with the rest of my salvaged junk.

Some day it''ll probably be sold, but for now...
MINE ALL MINE!!!

A project du France...

First you take a cute lil' smoking stand,
who doesn't love them...

Then you take your favorite stencil
and slather on the joint compound with a wide plastic trowel...

Then remove stencil and let dry for 30 minutes...

First coat of paint...

Second coat of paint...

Then sand and distress. I don't go over the stenciled part
with sander, I just leave it alone.
You can put a poly finish on or leave as is,
which is what I do, 'cause I like the fingerprints and
grime of the ages...instant antiquity!!!

Add a little ironstone bowl of whatever
and your piece is good to go!

I walk in light...

I'm sad when the summer sun fades
it's warmth taken away by crystal jewels
and windy whirling clouds of cold
Winter
you steal my soul

IS IT SPRING YET!!!

Regardless, I'll be playing in the studio all day Sunday,
projects to work on and maybe a little rearranging...
TOT's comin' you know...
can't wait sista!!!

To say goodbye with a smile...Autumn...

As I close up shop, 'cept for the brave,

I still have stars in my eyes for my lil' studio...
my lil' rocker will come inside out of the cold
and I'll be sittin' in it trying to think of economical
ways to heat it in the Winter.

Projects will move into the house, as nimble fingers
won't move in the cold.

But always an Autumnal smile will fill my seasons
with art and imaginings as I say...

Goodbye summer...it was a blast!

Hidden...

Creatures of the summer begin to blend into the landscape,
as the blanketing begins and a season ends.

Soon snows will cover all who dwell in this secret island garden...

An ol' timey country garden harbors relics of a
Grandmother's day in the past, when tractor tires
were a thing called yard art and recycling wasn't...

I can't resist old portraits of the past,
they nestle so well anywhere in a vignette...

Another new portrait and a sweet lil' stand
whattaya think, white or black...

Check out this lamp, sweet huh...
painted leather stretched over a frame...
me likey!!!

All new stuff at my Secret Garden, squirreled away
for only the brave to venture out in the winds...

Autumn descends...a view from my kitchen...

I'll wrap things up for this season, as far as the
retail part of the shop goes, however, I'll be working out of the shop,
till it's just too cold or I find a heater that works,
but painting will again be done inside my house...
that is until Spring brings the signs of warmer climes
to our neck o the woods...
but that's many moons away...sigh...!

My secret garden rests under a blanket of Autumn,
sad to see it end!

From the beginning...

Completed and ready to move...

John's Sheds, where my dream will be completed...

My doors and windows awaiting construction...

Delivered... and the first coats of primer to seal my deal...

Totally painted white on the inside, with the floors a battleship gray...

The view from my kitchen window...ahhh...!

My work space, slowly being filled with the tools of my craft
and space configured for retail and studio still in the works...

Playing with window box designs...

Love this old door, she and I have history, she was the front door
to the first house I ever bought by myself...
the old house was torn down, as were all the homes on the block
for progress...sad...

Soaps that will be displayed in the Spring in the shop...

Every shop must have antlers...right!

and sunlit vignettes...

The completion of the arbor, which in the spring will harbor birdhouse gourds
like green drapery blowing in the breeze...

Interior magic...

Trellis and yard art toward the end of a season...

The blue skies of Autumn declare an end to my fantasy...
but perhaps Indian Summer will linger on...