The playing never ends...

My summer studio is in a constant state of renewal...

plant and play while ye may...

drag it in when ye find...

give it a home and a setting...

and ambiance...

lest a traveler stop by for some trade...

the stores are filled...

and willing...

Time for a Spring dance...

'Cause I'm raking the grounds and restocking the shop,
getting ready for the season ahead.
There are changes going on to my blogs.
Instead of Sweet Repose, my blogs will focus on A Wild Thing...
this will be the new name for my soaps and candles
and my lil' hide-away studio in my secret garden...!

The fountain will be filled and plugged in,
greenery will be planted all around...

This will be in actuality, part of my Etsy store...
my inventory for that online shop will be stored in
my studio/shop at the pink chateau.
You can order anything online or email me if you
see something of interest...
as all will be for sale.

Many soaps will be on display here as well as
my 'Wild Thing' candles...
herbal and fresh floral scents will be my main focus.

Smalls n smalls n more smalls will help fill this magic space...

in hopes of a visit from my friends,
old and new...
A Wild Thing is now open!

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!