In the Neighborhood - The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program

This is the second year I have taken The Garden Conservancy's Open Days garden tours. Today's program included personal gardens in the Pasadena, Arcadia, San Marino, and Sierra Madre neighborhoods.

I don't have a garden so these tours are particularly thrilling for me. What I have is a small, little patio with three rose bushes, several jasmine and gardenia bushes, a few potted cacti and succulents and that's about it (oh, and a potted lemon tree that didn't make it through the winter!). I guess you would say I'm a dreamer and that one day I'll have a little plot of earth to grow something of my own. Visiting other gardens is an excellent learning experience to gather ideas and information as to what my garden would look like - or should I say will look like?!.

Now, many of these gardens are professionally designed and maintained and exquisite beyond any worthy expression I could give. But, what struck me was the personal touches added or even incorporated by the owners. Whether it be a special flower color, serene seating spaces, ornaments or other touches, it was clear these gardens are where living takes place surrounded by beauty. This would be my list of things to include in my garden (just to name a few!):

• A water element: pond, pool, or fountain
• A sense of humor and surprise
• Color, color, color
• Layering of plant heights
• Stone or brick work
• Trees for shade
• A quiet corner
• An entertaining spot for friends and family
• Many, many containers of a variety of plants
• Plants that climb

Following are a few of my favorites sightings from today....enjoy!

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it!

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Goethe

~ Tina

Junkinology 101 - Steampunk Candlestick

 

Last year I made Tina a totem candlestick of Victorian flair. Nicole's comment was, "I want one". And from that day on I started collecting bits and pieces for Nicole's Steampunk candlestick.

I'm not really sure how one would described Steampunk. Someone once told me it's Victorian design with a twist of punk. I do know that it's design consists of several elements strategically blended together to make a statement. 

So for just about a year at every flea market, estate sale and antique store I went to I rummaged through junk looking for that prefect piece, or in this case, several prefect pieces.

The binoculars were Tina's contribution. She was looking them over, thinking how cool it work in one of her pieces. I was hoping she wouldn't buy it, be she did. Fortunate for me she didn't use them. I  think they make the prefect statement.

D-Day was fast approaching and I had to start assembling, working with what I had, not knowing where to start. I dug deep in to my stash of goodies and worked on what seemed like...FOREVER!

With so many pieces I became overwhelmed, wanting to make sure I picked the prefect piece for this, the prefect piece for that.

After playing around with so many components I figured it would be best to attach them to something instead of stacking. The spindles, along with a few others, were bought at a flea market with no project in mind. I just liked them, especially for a buck and they have been sitting in a vase for months, until now. I think the base was a wall clock in its former life. I had the clock face and trim from a previous shopping trip and was I surprised when it fit perfectly in to the ridge of the base. Originally I was going to use the clock face standing up but I think this worked out splendidly. I thought I took a picture but to stabilize the spindle in to the base I used the large flat gear pictured above as a washer and yes the hole in the base was already there. Just had to enlarge it ever so slightly.

 

Construction begins

 



 

It was difficult to come up with just the right layout. Trail and error, move this, adjust that. I discovered I had to assemble one part or the last part before another such as the pulley. Because the tension had to be prefect I had to

assemble the part that the string is tied to and attach the pulley in order to position the spring at the right angle so the clock gizzards hung just above the compass. Oh brother!!



 

Here are some close ups of the finer elements.

 

'My heart' is always included in my work

Nicole was born in the year of the Dog. Prefect.

...and of course an 'N' for Nicole
This is an old type set

I used a wire earring to suspend the key from the faucet handle

Yup...the pulley works

what do you wrap a steampunk gift in? a brown paper bag and screen as filler

 

I actually had a lot of fun putting this together. I think Nicole was pleased with the results. This project pushed me a little out of my comfort zone and I think that is what creating is all about. You go from thought to complying to conception and POOF...there you have it!

 

 

 

 

Cherish Life *Lisa*

 

 

 



Decorations - Jelly Jar Floral Caddy

This little arrangement came together with an old metal six ring caddy, some jelly jars, lots of different ribbons, some glass dragonflies, and a whole lot of bling!

I used a heavy coat of Extreme Glitter FolkArt acrylic paint on the caddy. Boy, did it add sparkle! I have a new found enthusiasm for all that shines it seems.

The jelly jar rings were wrapped with ribbon and a bauble added to each. Two different size jars were used: three minis so that some of the scrolls below would show, and three just the right height to touch the base of the caddy.

A few short clipped blush pink roses and yellow gold asters filled the jars nicely.

This really is the most bling and sparkle I've put on anything! Ever! (What's happening here??) Also, I love that it's so very portable - no spills will happen in transit!

"Time for a little something." - A.A. Milne

~ Tina

Decorations - Shadow Box Show Offs

It is time to let pieces of my collections go. I can only put so much stuff in boxes (and I have only so much room!). But, really why should they remain in boxes? Aren't they worth showing off? And so it is with these tiny, silk, hand quilted unfinished bits. They deserve more. They deserve homes. 

The piece above I had professionally matted and framed and gave it away as a gift. After many years of putting things together, I have learned who appreciates "old" things and who doesn't. She loved it and told me it is on her living room mantel for all to see when they enter her home. JOY!

These next two I did myself. I purchased the shadow boxes, used some woven, lamented, textured linen for the background and secured them with some brass pins. I love how they still remain incomplete, but their form and colors striking! 

I'm happy now they are out of the box. Happy Birthday, Ladies!

However, I still have some left! What to do, what to do!!??

"Then give to the world the best you have,

And the best will come back to you." - Mary Ainge De Vere

~ Tina

Decorations - Book Rack for "My Books"

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

I found a great book rack that I knew right away I'd like to refinish for Lisa to put in her library. It would be a surprise birthday gift.

The rack was black and rusty and needed a new paint job. A little steel wool buffing prepared the metal for applying the paint. I also removed the old rubber feet as one was missing. 

It helped to know one of the colors Lisa had chosen to use. I liked her choice too. I applied three layers of acrylic Martha Stewart Crafts(tm) paint in Pond High Gloss as the base, Aquarium Pearl as the second layer, and finished it with a coat of Feldspar Glitter. Four new white feet replaced the old ones.

I wove two ribbons through the back grid. One with "My Books" and the other printed with birds and the words "Tweet". Also added were a couple of metal embellishments - for the jewelry lovers in us. 

As a final touch, I asked Lisa to give me four or five of her favorite books. Funny, she didn't even question why! I got a real chuckle when I looked at what she had given me. They were books from her childhood - funny, meaningful and sweet. Lisa is known for her sharp wit and joking nature. These special books got pretty new paper dust covers to keep them safe for many more years to come! Or at least until the grandchildren arrive!

The rack looks pretty good on my side table....hmmm!

A special rack for my friend's very special books! Enjoy and fill it up with more!

"Worthy books are not companions---they are solitudes:

 We lose ourselves in them and all our cares." - Philip James Bailey

~ Tina

Creative DNA - Journal Page

This new category called "Creative DNA" is about what it is that makes us who we are and how certain themes show up in what we create. Yes, all those things we love turn up time and time again! Often when we don't even realize it! Here we will share our individual creative DNA.

I am drawn to collage because as I work the piece takes on a life all its own. I am sure there are rules or guidelines to creating collage, but I don't know them. And I don't think I want to. 

Finding the images to put together is what's fun in doing collage. It is very much like creating a floral arrangement for me, but on paper. What can I dig up out of my stash of paper, magazines, tape, inks, words, etc.?

It's the process that gets my juices going. Add here, smudge there, overlap anywhere I choose. Everything I love ends up somewhere on the page.

"Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It's our goal in life to find it and keep it lit." - Mary Lou Retton

~ Tina

Decorations - Hyacinths to Feed Thy Soul

Hints of Spring are starting to show up. I put together this basket of fragrant hyacinths for a friend. Included is a great poem. Shake the winter blues and bring home flowers for yourself to feed your soul! 

"If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,

And from thy slender store of two loaves alone to thee are left,

Sell one, and with the dole,

Buy hyacinths to Feed Thy Soul"

-  Gulistan of Moslih Eddin Saadi  1184-1291

~ Tina