tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89178069867124651412024-03-13T12:26:51.041-07:00Little Nest StudioFollow my nesting adventures... both big and small!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-65925554120599678482013-08-23T10:23:00.000-07:002013-08-23T10:23:56.103-07:00The Mother Of All Carrot Cakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiBjtMf_3vtnsIc3uXh03yEASBMI9EYTkQVz2XCBPvMi9JPaDxL6uXr-iUZhzLLdI6l7Bp73YStLiKrL2cKK0OfZ0oyl21HPV7KhF1LXjKzcKy0G6afGPfQnS0OqIyMAbuljtLFmKs9hG/s1600/Jim%2527s+Carrot+Cake+072813+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiBjtMf_3vtnsIc3uXh03yEASBMI9EYTkQVz2XCBPvMi9JPaDxL6uXr-iUZhzLLdI6l7Bp73YStLiKrL2cKK0OfZ0oyl21HPV7KhF1LXjKzcKy0G6afGPfQnS0OqIyMAbuljtLFmKs9hG/s400/Jim%2527s+Carrot+Cake+072813+007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Hello Sweet Friends.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I have a hiking buddy who loves carrot cakes. He LOVES them. So, I baked up The-Mother-Of-All-Carrot-Cakes for his birthday. It weighed in at 13.4 lbs. Yep, it did. Four layers of yummy goodness there, friends.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZMajEj01eG3su9nv2yXZ6NAVEZs9uRqm7AaZ8U_7-cr2CzOg59caNOxoPMSy3Ol0IJDONolxeayeoEBDfBveFx5T7zxJhppcCfOyBMUdKkMD5YttiFnlXcv0Ar9psEdOU9E8X7LsVcyh/s1600/Jim's+Carrot+Cake+072813+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZMajEj01eG3su9nv2yXZ6NAVEZs9uRqm7AaZ8U_7-cr2CzOg59caNOxoPMSy3Ol0IJDONolxeayeoEBDfBveFx5T7zxJhppcCfOyBMUdKkMD5YttiFnlXcv0Ar9psEdOU9E8X7LsVcyh/s400/Jim's+Carrot+Cake+072813+002.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">He loved it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The cake recipe can be found <a href="http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2011/01/07/the-best-carrot-cake-recipe-ever/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></a>, and the directions on how to frost a cake like this can be found <a href="http://birdonacake.blogspot.com/2012/08/hummingbird-cake-with-petal-tutorial.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></a>. Enjoy!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>
Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-42834436751693202372013-08-15T23:49:00.001-07:002013-08-15T23:52:46.004-07:00Life is Good...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fjIhndB0q4RskaJHDOhBAyN93rfARzyy-7O_aPrssxQbKNIJeC1Vm-KgFGElK6WXUHONSsGM2aVGbziA5ka4s2aQ1uUyzFAuiS5foiwH5JWD2lKcz2XDHSV_RnrZr3_NPcj5O549CZd0/s1600/Round+Top+and+Winnemucca+Lake+033+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fjIhndB0q4RskaJHDOhBAyN93rfARzyy-7O_aPrssxQbKNIJeC1Vm-KgFGElK6WXUHONSsGM2aVGbziA5ka4s2aQ1uUyzFAuiS5foiwH5JWD2lKcz2XDHSV_RnrZr3_NPcj5O549CZd0/s400/Round+Top+and+Winnemucca+Lake+033+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;">Winnemucca Lake, CA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Hello, Sweet Friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Life is good... and I have been one busy girl this year. One of my New Year's resolutions was to "stretch outside my comfort zone", as opposed to last year's "drink more wine". (Hmmmm... maybe last year prepared me for this year. Haha.) Wow. I had no idea what the last six months or so would have in store for me, but it's been amazing!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">One common theme for me this year seems to be that instead of staying home and attempting to <i>make things</i> (mostly unfinished projects... hee hee), <i>I'm getting out and doing things</i>. I'm lovin' it. Here's some of the ways I've been stretching...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1. I'm being more active... in big ways, and little ways. I take the stairs... I hike the hills... I ride my new bike... I'm even going back to the gym. I have a huge goal to achieve in a couple years, and all this activity will lead up to it. I'll tell you about that on another post. It involves travel, adventure, and some great friends. I can't wait!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2. I've expanded my circle of friends... I've joined a spiritual community that I absolutely adore. They've embraced me with their kindness, positive spirit, love, and support of my healthy lifestyle goals. My life is richer for knowing them. I think I've found my tribe,and it really warms my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">3. Brace yourself... I started dating again. Whoaaaaaa Nelly!! It's been an adventure... full of fun, comedic moments, and yes-- even a little heartbreak. It's all good though. Why did I wait so long?? (FYI: Nothing steady yet... I guess I really shouldn't compare them all to <a href="https://www.google.com/#bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=d750b992d784f8&q=jamie+fraser+outlander" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jamie Fraser</span></a>, eh?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">4. I'm cooking at home more... for myself, and for my friends. Mostly simple stuff. I'm finding that I love to cook for my friends. I love <i>loving them with food</i>. I've been baking a few fun birthday cakes lately too. I'm hoping to share photos and recipes soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">5. I went salsa dancing... refer to #3, comedic moments. Yep, I stepped on his feet all night. He didn't seem to mind though. Oh, and no... I did not wear fringe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">6. I'm allowing myself to be more spontaneous when invited to go do things, instead of "Let me think about that... I'll get back to you." Sometimes over-thinking has kept me from having some great experiences in the past. This has been a big change that has made #1-5 possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Soooo, that's just a bit about what I've been up to. There's more, but I'll save it for another time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Oh-- I came upon a great website...please check it out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bravegirlsclub.com/">www.bravegirlsclub.com</a></span>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I really, really love it. I even bought a pair of my own "Brave Girl Boots", pictured above. Most Brave Girls in the club have cowgirl boots. I went for the hiking boots, since I've been doing so much hiking this year. I love them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It's been so long since I posted a "real post", I have no idea if anyone is even going to read this. If you are still out there, <i>thanks so much</i> for stopping by. I hope to not let too much time go by before my next post. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-54963606258114774462013-05-30T13:46:00.002-07:002013-05-31T07:42:12.530-07:00Finally!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Squeeeeee!!! Berkeley, here I come!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My boys are waiting for me...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>
Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-59956172015589869712013-04-02T17:07:00.000-07:002013-04-02T17:07:49.882-07:00Dliiiing! Dliiiing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DqOq69f_6u3jxDjy52PBVoT_6yr87SiXaNNoX-sRIZkKqjbx2UIrT0xWEmBb1T9m2fP-VlLdWyzjFXltqYA59O20XFZS_HJd3uAIToRJB4m-sbBe5k58ZiMiRZhvnE1Bfp1ltAOd77rb/s1600/bike2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DqOq69f_6u3jxDjy52PBVoT_6yr87SiXaNNoX-sRIZkKqjbx2UIrT0xWEmBb1T9m2fP-VlLdWyzjFXltqYA59O20XFZS_HJd3uAIToRJB4m-sbBe5k58ZiMiRZhvnE1Bfp1ltAOd77rb/s400/bike2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hey Sweet Friends</span>...check out my new wheels!! Yay!! It even has a basket and a bell... dliiiing!! dliiiing!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This girl is ready for spring!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>
Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-55951334480652184962013-03-27T06:44:00.001-07:002013-03-27T06:44:44.814-07:00Fairy Gardening at The Secret Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLCjIGtRH1OApX0FTxaMU4yjV2KYmrW607z1RYfXztqOE0W4dfgF3Afo-wdl-wJCghbx26cCzXxLsEKwgptiiDhlzJxTOcp3D3ZlT7czDKXjgtLuCJ2sUelF2W0pAb5rbTyjqccnwy-ki/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+012wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLCjIGtRH1OApX0FTxaMU4yjV2KYmrW607z1RYfXztqOE0W4dfgF3Afo-wdl-wJCghbx26cCzXxLsEKwgptiiDhlzJxTOcp3D3ZlT7czDKXjgtLuCJ2sUelF2W0pAb5rbTyjqccnwy-ki/s400/SGFairygarden2013+012wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello, Sweet Friends!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The other day I had the unique opportunity to create a fairy garden for a local garden store called<span style="color: #38761d;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://secretgarden-online.com/" target="_blank">The Secret Garden</a></span></span>. Jennifer had seen <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/search/label/Fairy%20Garden" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">my fairy garden</span></a> here on the blog, and asked me to come over to play. How could I possibly turn down an opportunity to create, free of any expense to me, with unlimited use of all the adorable fairy garden accessories that she offers in her beautiful store?? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yep. I jumped at the chance.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaeljWpA0ENpNnxlrf7MgdI68ojx9T1CjHCWkx8U0pekbB1kvWor3H6_ivh1kfC07-xaYTEIL_h8ElXGq2mum4vmnOn-XdK446OxkMvqKEjghbsiXsurWapEMQVpj9nl5yH20KJD4mjrE/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+051wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaeljWpA0ENpNnxlrf7MgdI68ojx9T1CjHCWkx8U0pekbB1kvWor3H6_ivh1kfC07-xaYTEIL_h8ElXGq2mum4vmnOn-XdK446OxkMvqKEjghbsiXsurWapEMQVpj9nl5yH20KJD4mjrE/s400/SGFairygarden2013+051wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We decided to do a three-tiered fairy garden. (Squeeeee!!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">W</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ould you like a little tour?!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP_mRZFs5LPT3xlGQVDU5lds9XmqRoWGNCdBmEAmij02duXn_pgEIpPpHQcoGqGr1yoC4UigaSZ04CCSF1LL15T8TqqpSG-yiVdoLDYBAfPO8tv_kea-QwY_GLQ0KTsF8x5oqp3nk7eC7/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+011wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP_mRZFs5LPT3xlGQVDU5lds9XmqRoWGNCdBmEAmij02duXn_pgEIpPpHQcoGqGr1yoC4UigaSZ04CCSF1LL15T8TqqpSG-yiVdoLDYBAfPO8tv_kea-QwY_GLQ0KTsF8x5oqp3nk7eC7/s400/SGFairygarden2013+011wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Jennifer has so many beautiful succulents at her store, we thought it would be great to make use of them in the fairy garden. I had never used succulents in a fairy garden... I really like how it turned out! Succulents are available in so many hues and shapes. They were so fun to work with, and will be super easy to care for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I love the little cottage-- isn't it sweet?! </span><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> (Please feel free to click on the images to see more detail of everything going on here.)</i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> There's so many sweet details throughout this garden... a tiny lantern, dry creek, pond, clothes line, and...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiar9bqtO6fVXfNAqKdT_Ojn4pESDN5qG7sJIS9d7eivF-OzEsHhHK-8_BaLrKQ1ZuBj4vJsNMiFABzk7jOeH_eamvs07z53No8J1WYwx1GmCOaIWUy3JE4421c51gmVU-rYfNJ_IyxDuJ1/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+019wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiar9bqtO6fVXfNAqKdT_Ojn4pESDN5qG7sJIS9d7eivF-OzEsHhHK-8_BaLrKQ1ZuBj4vJsNMiFABzk7jOeH_eamvs07z53No8J1WYwx1GmCOaIWUy3JE4421c51gmVU-rYfNJ_IyxDuJ1/s400/SGFairygarden2013+019wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">... a little kitchen garden! Every fairy cottage needs a wee garden, don't you think? I think this might just be my favorite "handmade" feature in this little pot! It was so easy to create... I just picked some "babies" from the existing plants. All you need to do is stick them in the soil, and they will eventually take root. How easy is that?!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g9eSCfDXDnyjBq-8xrlb76IvZHgw29_OC9W0zrWL_jyBcI3XQN-jyK0XiV-YhoIPBis0YmmIdo9iknOglUpUFs_yweSFEdbgBW2YzF3pOo0buGUeLBquj8HufGtM8yYlN2Y8jTrwYHN3/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+007wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g9eSCfDXDnyjBq-8xrlb76IvZHgw29_OC9W0zrWL_jyBcI3XQN-jyK0XiV-YhoIPBis0YmmIdo9iknOglUpUFs_yweSFEdbgBW2YzF3pOo0buGUeLBquj8HufGtM8yYlN2Y8jTrwYHN3/s400/SGFairygarden2013+007wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">These fairies like to entertain in the evenings, so an outdoor fireplace was required in the creation of this area of the fairy garden. It was fun to experiment with various sizes of gravel to create different textures. The gravel also helps to keep the soil from drying out so fast.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5jS69BOf-vZykftdgFpIikjzHwjvh_7In4APlf1xD8sQDl1Bzd8nVRlc6waTN34WQ5sBM3_WS6jUQtZG07KpHv5G4n5XrtTdRYHPlg0B3AKvChxKzR7uzgGog2lE3O0RqV1sK1zjQu4M/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+024wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5jS69BOf-vZykftdgFpIikjzHwjvh_7In4APlf1xD8sQDl1Bzd8nVRlc6waTN34WQ5sBM3_WS6jUQtZG07KpHv5G4n5XrtTdRYHPlg0B3AKvChxKzR7uzgGog2lE3O0RqV1sK1zjQu4M/s400/SGFairygarden2013+024wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now, on to the largest pot... this one was soooo fun to create! I've always wanted to install a small fountain in a fairy garden, so when Victor and Jennifer were able to provide the fountain I was absolutely thrilled! This fountain is solar powered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A little helpful hint: to help the fountain remain small, drill the holes in the spout to a larger size. (Thank you, Victor-- you're brilliant!) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpfdbsWxSfxaPH7kwFvPUinrjrkm-LsHRcx7DlnWjzhTuSDgB8n6KBDbz1n1I3jtQxuvaf8MOZ9Jlthcb62v_aANDpwABXo_Oorw0nhIQkR5Lk_DPOpeAn0TBM9H4jLNzJwAnNqHY9bVq/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+023wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpfdbsWxSfxaPH7kwFvPUinrjrkm-LsHRcx7DlnWjzhTuSDgB8n6KBDbz1n1I3jtQxuvaf8MOZ9Jlthcb62v_aANDpwABXo_Oorw0nhIQkR5Lk_DPOpeAn0TBM9H4jLNzJwAnNqHY9bVq/s400/SGFairygarden2013+023wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I couldn't resist creating a bunting for the tree. It's made with washi tape and hemp twine. The tire swing was created with a tire we pulled off of a toy truck purchased at a thrift store. Aren't those dragonfly stepping stones fun? I also love the little bench, wood arbor and the terracotta pots! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Please, please, click on these photos to view more detail. (I apologize for these terrible photos... the light was difficult to work with at the time. The sun was so bright, I couldn't see what I was shooting on the screen of my little point-n-shoot camera! Someday I'll have a nice camera... someday...sigh.) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9OT90EdWIe3rguvh85LvIATNg2ayIwQBqnP99NXZH4MpezBnlgshpiRfwC5yhyphenhyphenQKDdhp5-Z3XmCkn4uXYWXbH7Z48NzLoMrH9RJlLeYSFrnX2c3h_VGZ1TjCOj_Kt1P_M6rfg3UkYzl7/s1600/SGFairygarden2013+058wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9OT90EdWIe3rguvh85LvIATNg2ayIwQBqnP99NXZH4MpezBnlgshpiRfwC5yhyphenhyphenQKDdhp5-Z3XmCkn4uXYWXbH7Z48NzLoMrH9RJlLeYSFrnX2c3h_VGZ1TjCOj_Kt1P_M6rfg3UkYzl7/s400/SGFairygarden2013+058wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I had so much fun creating this fairy garden.</i> As you can see, Jennifer has an amazing variety of fairy garden accessories at her store... the inspiration was endless! The Secret Garden carries everything that you need to build a fairy garden... a <i>huge</i> variety of pots, plants, fountains, gravel, and accessories. If you are ever in the Sacramento area, please do stop by their lovely store. You will be so happy that you did!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The Secret Garden</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(So much more than a garden store!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">8450 W Stockton Blvd Elk Grove, CA 95758</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">(916) 682-6839</span> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Jennifer, Victor, and their girls were so helpful and enthusiastic during the creation of this garden...</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">they </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">made this experience </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">pure playtime</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> for me! (And I returned home with some <i>wonderful</i> gifts too-- thank you sooo much! xox) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>
Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-21963500432097327302013-02-03T14:05:00.000-08:002013-02-03T14:05:27.695-08:00Superbowl Snacky Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_1ve7rhuNjqmGsvi35TSQCLwYnNa_O6aS7yLzGcSLMBN1BChcHNyOEzIBsk2H5WO52WkHZ5s7V4J_1PUwzQfTTIgrA40tzBKLTX6RZorPulac6VbPIOJgJP8PqKmLL5xm0MiRUOQNQKn/s1600/Superbowl+snacks+2013+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_1ve7rhuNjqmGsvi35TSQCLwYnNa_O6aS7yLzGcSLMBN1BChcHNyOEzIBsk2H5WO52WkHZ5s7V4J_1PUwzQfTTIgrA40tzBKLTX6RZorPulac6VbPIOJgJP8PqKmLL5xm0MiRUOQNQKn/s320/Superbowl+snacks+2013+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy Super Sunday! I'm about to run out the door to watch the Super Bowl football game, but I thought that I would show you what I made for the party before I leave. I thought that I would try my hand at royal icing... yikes. I know that there must be a learning curve. This is the only cookie that turned out half decent. The rest just look like turds. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0BcdtI-mgCg4AenwHEkoi4JYP7fJFRXOQErFJJN8vI9i0NGijUrjJ3iH7FiPA9FIXykAhDf10m548ci8Zo6saKLevtM8zehz3y5IfCnP-S-Iyl2sqT2xvlIi6JH8V638jOdMzKXDitZX/s1600/Superbowl+snacks+2013+002edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0BcdtI-mgCg4AenwHEkoi4JYP7fJFRXOQErFJJN8vI9i0NGijUrjJ3iH7FiPA9FIXykAhDf10m548ci8Zo6saKLevtM8zehz3y5IfCnP-S-Iyl2sqT2xvlIi6JH8V638jOdMzKXDitZX/s320/Superbowl+snacks+2013+002edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Soooo... I'm redeeming myself with my yummy guacamole! </div>
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GO FORTY-NINERS!!!</div>
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OXO,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>
Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-2398668917307784532013-01-20T14:01:00.000-08:002013-01-20T20:45:44.510-08:00Hellooooo, Sweet Friends~<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkrqn6hmnSQck4ZMDNAf8zbsbMYPKWUVXggH33pzLwvRG1RbjLPp93c80jCkRuD_FKr5m7wA7MQc7FYXheYdBBhnx9E75erLwKY6tLetMvbPESDMsNW8-SL2zbKw7hvM_rnC9mucgKo-g/s1600/Jan2012+009wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkrqn6hmnSQck4ZMDNAf8zbsbMYPKWUVXggH33pzLwvRG1RbjLPp93c80jCkRuD_FKr5m7wA7MQc7FYXheYdBBhnx9E75erLwKY6tLetMvbPESDMsNW8-SL2zbKw7hvM_rnC9mucgKo-g/s400/Jan2012+009wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I made a card.</span></i> My close friends know what a <i>big deal</i> this is. My paper crafting mojo has been gone for soooo long... but good things are happening in my life now, and this resurgence of creativity is bringing me so much joy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPHVh5d9ALGFW_AcwkywJV3hUGWfm1CdhK1TJAzt_maOQbvr-xpVb_oi2K0pTu7Z2KVV6-Mq6y7z1NwIsYQ06RQq4vSEFYnKOwhZsFm0EQ_Wq9f4hHMVzKYlZazF1eYaWplxB4XVRbThs/s1600/Jan2012+004wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPHVh5d9ALGFW_AcwkywJV3hUGWfm1CdhK1TJAzt_maOQbvr-xpVb_oi2K0pTu7Z2KVV6-Mq6y7z1NwIsYQ06RQq4vSEFYnKOwhZsFm0EQ_Wq9f4hHMVzKYlZazF1eYaWplxB4XVRbThs/s400/Jan2012+004wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My break from blogging has been quite trans-formative. So much has happened in these past six months. So many good things are happening in my life right now. I feel so very blessed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-0LuAxoO3WnpogQ475d9esGO4T4mybMzK5bBM6KB8DhFwkjxpL2fnVv5cL-9OifJFdBPjBByiVHe1EcYfW1dJS9KSsFDaIctxkhLZzvmRbWI7okt3VOSMnI-JGhm97myFqpJk_yY7Ykx/s1600/Jan2012+006wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-0LuAxoO3WnpogQ475d9esGO4T4mybMzK5bBM6KB8DhFwkjxpL2fnVv5cL-9OifJFdBPjBByiVHe1EcYfW1dJS9KSsFDaIctxkhLZzvmRbWI7okt3VOSMnI-JGhm97myFqpJk_yY7Ykx/s400/Jan2012+006wm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Several months ago, I cleaned out my studio-- with the help and encouragement from a dear friend. It has lifted my heart. (I had no idea that absurd amounts of ribbon and <strike>crap</strike> stuff could weigh me down so much.) I've been able to have my friends over several times to play, and it's been so fun! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My studio is my <i>playroom</i> again... <i>and this girl is ready to play.</i></span><br />
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OXO,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">PS: Jami, if you're reading this... this was your Christmas card! It was returned to me because I used your old address. Next year's card will get to you safely... I promise!</span></div>
Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-14799370621983504992012-06-10T16:09:00.000-07:002012-06-10T16:18:23.335-07:00Blooms... And A Garden Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKEvU9sWKsjEXWssoGA-bNJ6OTgbGUg91d19OmdY7O3B3NM5b-cNnt368qCracCiDmENrg8tJOqEB90aEnQ9gq7a_7zURamB3YFO_9GsJpVGIb-esggGCYtz2ARTN-xdN-14SQEJ-Pkgh/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+057wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKEvU9sWKsjEXWssoGA-bNJ6OTgbGUg91d19OmdY7O3B3NM5b-cNnt368qCracCiDmENrg8tJOqEB90aEnQ9gq7a_7zURamB3YFO_9GsJpVGIb-esggGCYtz2ARTN-xdN-14SQEJ-Pkgh/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+057wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello Friends!</span> Thanks so much for stopping by. I know that most of my posts have been garden related lately, but I really love this time of the year. My garden is planted and things are starting to bloom around here! I thought it was time that I took you on a tour of my little wonky-willy-nilly garden.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUZhTo9_IuTnNmYS8zwZprm3OBzEAcesC0JpxIFtml2mQ9UDWch2hGxevZbbBf1xiCy1b5unKzBtIllkzQIFnxjFgvL-LfVu0ZYAxP_0lLSBIFbNO5ZPQ8IIw4ve9QXBKNssbpTUOP9Re/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+046wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUZhTo9_IuTnNmYS8zwZprm3OBzEAcesC0JpxIFtml2mQ9UDWch2hGxevZbbBf1xiCy1b5unKzBtIllkzQIFnxjFgvL-LfVu0ZYAxP_0lLSBIFbNO5ZPQ8IIw4ve9QXBKNssbpTUOP9Re/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+046wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I have been so excited to show off these canterbury bells! I remember the first time I saw canterbury bells-- I was working at a florist shop. (Many, many years ago!) I thought that these flowers looked like something straight out of a fairy tale or a Mary Engelbreit picture! I've missed growing them and decided it was well past time to grow some at this house. I'm so glad I did!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YOck9kdrydQa_IXYd0xXEy6zb_Gh_FkBoYaW2h4W_x_fSlBFNUuGlLcgnHRqIKB5ZgOKc0CiI4NZLhVSIr9Ka2B-4esifgNOG7W-E8T16nUgdT6c376x3zKk-jee1_8Hl2eOde3M8WUr/s1600/Garden+Blossoms+2012+002wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YOck9kdrydQa_IXYd0xXEy6zb_Gh_FkBoYaW2h4W_x_fSlBFNUuGlLcgnHRqIKB5ZgOKc0CiI4NZLhVSIr9Ka2B-4esifgNOG7W-E8T16nUgdT6c376x3zKk-jee1_8Hl2eOde3M8WUr/s320/Garden+Blossoms+2012+002wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">My garden is kind of spread out... some of it's in pots, some of it is in a garden box, and some of it is planted in the side border next to the house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I like a bit of whimsy in my garden, and this year I added these fun skeleton lampshades <span style="color: black;">into</span> the mix. I love them so much! I found them at a vintage fair being sold by my-favorite-garden-art-people-of-all-time, <a href="http://oldsoulstudios.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: lime;">Old Soul Studios</span></a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Many of the plants that I grow are from heirloom seedlings that I purchased from a <a href="http://www.themanicbotanic.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">lady in my neighborhood</span></a>. She sets up her little heirloom plant stand on the sidewalk in front of her house, like a lemonade stand. Don't you love that?!! Her adorable little daughter helps her cultivate and sell the plants. This plant growing on the lampshade is some kind of an heirloom purple/scarlet bean. I can't remember the name, and I've lost the marker. It's just starting to bloom. I've never grown these before, so I'm excited to try them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It's crazy fun how fast things start to grow when they get to a certain point. These are the purple beans, red and yellow peppers, sugar snap peas, herbs, and flowers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7KESqJjKZ5C7CXjKjT_yfEOqmwbmltOcwNOv2kyr1UnUMXKFoUrEA-3fHedlKMDD2KgFpfjaXfnkX-9bNPFIEfBBJ9LwTcGwmoL3DZoUQq7sulpAGz7ygZHbzB5FqlO1nCjieC9CVN2j/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+044wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7KESqJjKZ5C7CXjKjT_yfEOqmwbmltOcwNOv2kyr1UnUMXKFoUrEA-3fHedlKMDD2KgFpfjaXfnkX-9bNPFIEfBBJ9LwTcGwmoL3DZoUQq7sulpAGz7ygZHbzB5FqlO1nCjieC9CVN2j/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+044wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I like to mix flowers in with the veggies. I try to <a href="http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">companion plant</span></a> where I can. (Another link about companion planting <a href="http://www.thevegetablegarden.info/gardening-articles/333-companion-planting-a-love-hate-relationship" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">here</span></a>.) Keeps everything happy and colorful.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk468e7tau-OhqBny8nzkKgmX6CrthTvGrkQKK2rm6RiPyP0DkRqy3L9xfzH2OaV_jHiUikpr7HDlr57EpXUUUgPp-jn_R8n3jXhX9IRmcUr_perqCRrYCaX8hgCtavbmZuRuePj1ZA-1/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+059wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk468e7tau-OhqBny8nzkKgmX6CrthTvGrkQKK2rm6RiPyP0DkRqy3L9xfzH2OaV_jHiUikpr7HDlr57EpXUUUgPp-jn_R8n3jXhX9IRmcUr_perqCRrYCaX8hgCtavbmZuRuePj1ZA-1/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+059wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Lots of herbs... I think that I really take them for granted. I don't use them as much as I should, but when I <em>do</em> use them... yum!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">These peppers were starting to bloom here...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">...and not long after, they looked like this! These bell peppers will grow and turn yellow. I'm not a huge fan of green bell peppers, but I do love the red and yellow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The sugar snap peas are starting to bloom here...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">...and poof! Seems like they turn into pods overnight! These sugar snaps rarely make it into the house-- I love to eat them right off the vine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4QJLxKVUnz4LAsYkaIayEJRKA9vxynuaqwFBdEjaCMH5QwUuOLZSmi2DrbJkUXuYj8DnhbjhPc2XcENOq6LkNfiXuoX7lQNcg-yK1-xo2LPGiaO_OkXLOOPEGzTb_DJZco4ZzJ9NrSG7/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+072wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4QJLxKVUnz4LAsYkaIayEJRKA9vxynuaqwFBdEjaCMH5QwUuOLZSmi2DrbJkUXuYj8DnhbjhPc2XcENOq6LkNfiXuoX7lQNcg-yK1-xo2LPGiaO_OkXLOOPEGzTb_DJZco4ZzJ9NrSG7/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+072wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> Every morning, usually in my pajamas, I go out to water and putz around in the garden. This happy guy follows me everywhere. It's kind of our ritual, and my favorite way to start the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This garden box was already here when I purchased my house. I've got about four heirloom tomatoes, a lemon cucumber, a dragon's egg cucumber, petunias, zinnias, sunflowers, and sweet alyssum growing in here. The nasturtiums are from last year, so I let them stay and hang out with the others. Oh, and there's a <em>mystery plant</em>. I bought it from the plant stand. I know that it's "suppose to be good for the garden", but I cannot-for-the-life-of-me remember what it is. Don't worry, it looks legal. (Ahem.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YfY7LuTsFYJeA0m6i117jnYmyc3J-n2eqZTPAY1e7Xedk-0qkhbsguqZyrqMspXSMHaBxFjNLYbUh1w_WjXX8nqWzaW-uCIjZaCASCW-C3yT6WqVt_Ky6SqZitlpWfuLrFrSS6WJZC60/s1600/Garden+Blossoms+2012+012wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YfY7LuTsFYJeA0m6i117jnYmyc3J-n2eqZTPAY1e7Xedk-0qkhbsguqZyrqMspXSMHaBxFjNLYbUh1w_WjXX8nqWzaW-uCIjZaCASCW-C3yT6WqVt_Ky6SqZitlpWfuLrFrSS6WJZC60/s320/Garden+Blossoms+2012+012wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The larger plant is a "Mortgage Lifter" tomato, and the one next to it is a "Purple Cherokee". Do you see the chicken wire to the right? I put it there so Hagrid wouldn't get in there and play "rototiller" like he did the day after I planted the garden last year. Yep, he did. The soil looked gorgeous-- <em>so</em> gorgeous-- but he dug up the <em>entire</em> box. Seriously, the <em>entire</em> box. Why couldn't he have done that <em>before</em> I planted?! Silly boy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrT8sXlCJTdBI_mHLazjLv6lYEZh7JeAcBnNRFPKGCLXSld8kL3Px6vMvdfA3M26HIh0socVQmKmSQvP2RnRsJxVVR-jSSGoYAswfSegDJjQPGhEY5v_SgfzbhrTZ-xdCTMWTfSvmnIYO/s1600/Garden+Blossoms+2012+011wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrT8sXlCJTdBI_mHLazjLv6lYEZh7JeAcBnNRFPKGCLXSld8kL3Px6vMvdfA3M26HIh0socVQmKmSQvP2RnRsJxVVR-jSSGoYAswfSegDJjQPGhEY5v_SgfzbhrTZ-xdCTMWTfSvmnIYO/s320/Garden+Blossoms+2012+011wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">These two tomato plants are "Green Grape" and "Hawaiian Pineapple Stripe". They're growing sooooo slow, and not doing as well. I amended the soil before planting them, but some thing's off. The nasturtiums are blooming like crazy and that's a sign. Nasturtiums bloom well in bad soil. I might also be over watering the plant on the right. Any pointers, friends? Although I've been gardening for a while, I'm still always learning. I hope that I <em>never</em> stop learning. I think that's part of the fun of gardening! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I know, this ohm chime is kind of random. I've had it for years and I love it. I bought it at a <a href="http://www.utahkrishnas.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&Itemid=193" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Hare Krishna llama festival</span></a>. Yes, I did. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF6UGZ7UARVbj1pzdD-Nrp9VhOcXndKGCR0gzm8Hl2ijaeHFjRltNRX44O6WowdX7sPJKE3VkwJWT_E10rNc1IS23gb6rD6SLvzoJpKEdXtQGVhF1L2IU16AN2922yu6yXArdOGvxbqft/s1600/Garden+Blossoms+2012+008wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF6UGZ7UARVbj1pzdD-Nrp9VhOcXndKGCR0gzm8Hl2ijaeHFjRltNRX44O6WowdX7sPJKE3VkwJWT_E10rNc1IS23gb6rD6SLvzoJpKEdXtQGVhF1L2IU16AN2922yu6yXArdOGvxbqft/s320/Garden+Blossoms+2012+008wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">These are the lemon and dragon's egg cucumbers. The dragon's egg cukes are new for me this year. I'm kind of curious about trying them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Nasturtiums... they're edible and taste kind of spicy, like a radish. I love putting the blossoms and leaves in salad, especially <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/dog-days-of-summer.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">my favorite tomato salad</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I had extra sunflower seeds leftover, so I threw a variety of them in here. I'm so glad the birds didn't eat them before they germinated. (I think they got to some of them in the box.) The small pot has bee balm. It comes back every year and I love the blooms. So do the bees!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq5t0rpzRUGr-7Cyg01fFzPZth9s3Uc1WGMLiEDTXMEpXoQ-w86VU6Qm5EKYrC-L0Guakjw7tm-9-lTmWmTMRnfcH1fFlijLhP2-bhgIwls6SNx1pwL90RccVICc291Z2ojvOP8TITMNf/s1600/Garden+Babies+2012+001wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq5t0rpzRUGr-7Cyg01fFzPZth9s3Uc1WGMLiEDTXMEpXoQ-w86VU6Qm5EKYrC-L0Guakjw7tm-9-lTmWmTMRnfcH1fFlijLhP2-bhgIwls6SNx1pwL90RccVICc291Z2ojvOP8TITMNf/s320/Garden+Babies+2012+001wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This is the first year that I've cultivated this border along the side of the house. Everything looked so small when I took this photo.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-M-S1hypSv_3sdItzsEbTlICOdze1w9Px2XnoDgaxQSRLPjKG_-Mr8fRKGTaFLbSfrCFi5EloSQ5NMxf5zwuEI2dTRRNA_XSquTbqC6zIrgYe3Q8PJ3E58143rajAfd2h9WSpZtNi5uB/s1600/Garden+Blossoms+2012+013wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-M-S1hypSv_3sdItzsEbTlICOdze1w9Px2XnoDgaxQSRLPjKG_-Mr8fRKGTaFLbSfrCFi5EloSQ5NMxf5zwuEI2dTRRNA_XSquTbqC6zIrgYe3Q8PJ3E58143rajAfd2h9WSpZtNi5uB/s320/Garden+Blossoms+2012+013wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This is what it looks like today. That's a "One Ball Summer Squash" there. C'mon, (nudge, nudge) I know you want to laugh at that name.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08pqUDzOd0GdyflQobgSVifQYa82T4LfPPekwK6UjcCvNoxZNKSTWCek_lAWOUWvCY0m8Uz7qbq4FM5rMG8r4pQ-2IwcKdKmXYiXozaruJNJHuAK2oykvCOoEeCzdo0vX3U_yf8J39AsY/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+066wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08pqUDzOd0GdyflQobgSVifQYa82T4LfPPekwK6UjcCvNoxZNKSTWCek_lAWOUWvCY0m8Uz7qbq4FM5rMG8r4pQ-2IwcKdKmXYiXozaruJNJHuAK2oykvCOoEeCzdo0vX3U_yf8J39AsY/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+066wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The shasta daisies have been taking their sweet time. I'm eagerly awaiting the first bloom. Hurry up, shasta daisy! How is it that some things seem to bloom overnight and others take forever? Gardening teaches me patience every year. It's all good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREqxumonWszj8XS_g4NwLNOET0779e-7372BY8W807LGOu7dSgauuC0y1J0pL1q89UJP6NA9IM4gQBmLCo7718fs0Kh_CresW9d1avWFL92tgLpbsHl_r75XO_OwUJtljhL2lpbRY0j2z/s1600/Garden+Blossoms+2012+014wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREqxumonWszj8XS_g4NwLNOET0779e-7372BY8W807LGOu7dSgauuC0y1J0pL1q89UJP6NA9IM4gQBmLCo7718fs0Kh_CresW9d1avWFL92tgLpbsHl_r75XO_OwUJtljhL2lpbRY0j2z/s320/Garden+Blossoms+2012+014wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The summer squash blooms are huge and abundant! (Watch out neighbors... someone could accidentally leave a bag of squash on your porch. I have no idea who...)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEqdsntZ54_X637g54LH34jSRZq6yYl1HsqdR2sxCkPSable_yoXA_7AreAB32Ce5dH4KaJomsvvba35EyHgJknUSJpYp78CEbSBPlrwq8DVbahThl5DMqEZV9oQHFW3kmu3Azw4V8h8b/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+055wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEqdsntZ54_X637g54LH34jSRZq6yYl1HsqdR2sxCkPSable_yoXA_7AreAB32Ce5dH4KaJomsvvba35EyHgJknUSJpYp78CEbSBPlrwq8DVbahThl5DMqEZV9oQHFW3kmu3Azw4V8h8b/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+055wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hello, cosmos.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBL1qVbKHPGUTYdPl8gO1d1YCDYrCoJUm7W7mYQcL_McmXvYJFaNoPzB3S4R3_mOVX6bQ_61tVwqlWJuZ3gtPBt0-iimhsP_AMYMK5qhGs0Q2zcQb4lqhlML9PWjT0JhhNNzxnmXzcsDB/s1600/Garden+Babies+2012+003wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBL1qVbKHPGUTYdPl8gO1d1YCDYrCoJUm7W7mYQcL_McmXvYJFaNoPzB3S4R3_mOVX6bQ_61tVwqlWJuZ3gtPBt0-iimhsP_AMYMK5qhGs0Q2zcQb4lqhlML9PWjT0JhhNNzxnmXzcsDB/s320/Garden+Babies+2012+003wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This "Dinosaur Kale" came from the plant stand. I kept the original marker. The plant lady's daughter drew a tiny dinosaur on it and I love it. It makes me smile everytime I notice it. This plant was teeny, here when I bought it, and has taken it's own sweet time to grow to a whoppin' five inches or so. Right now it's struggling with a hungry pest of some kind.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqGWtGvY61EAo7r4etK1rCuv1pZ8OHnfIKJBYleg7VVKHWIENRIv58mYFwl-qR_w-JGkqVIAxFEXijqHk42jPvTFrfVVAAakZHbqCj84lEGd_YHc_5ARmsNduBTWIfzLbcwA6oAWu_qUC/s1600/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+040wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqGWtGvY61EAo7r4etK1rCuv1pZ8OHnfIKJBYleg7VVKHWIENRIv58mYFwl-qR_w-JGkqVIAxFEXijqHk42jPvTFrfVVAAakZHbqCj84lEGd_YHc_5ARmsNduBTWIfzLbcwA6oAWu_qUC/s320/Garden+Blooms+June+2012+040wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Well, here I am. After hunting for quite a while, I purchased a vintage lounger this year at the <a href="http://sacantiquefaire.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Sacramento Antique Fair</span></a>. At the end of each day I try to spend some time out in the garden lounging and decompressing. Hagrid looks for squirrels, visits (through the fence) with the neighbor dogs, plays with his toys, explores the garden, and lays around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Well, if you're still reading, <span style="font-size: large;">thank you</span> for hanging in there. I hope that you've enjoyed this little tour. It's a funky, wonky garden...but I love it. It's my little piece of this big planet. It's where I work out my stress and anxieties-- and find my calm and happy. <span style="font-size: large;">It's my happy place</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Hugs,</span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-83361136421499751182012-06-08T13:32:00.000-07:002012-06-08T13:32:28.472-07:00Itty Bitty Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhenYzugH9FeSOeueXWYGTYtKKqeaR2IdUbZdef-VSRJiQqmWBFNiOZK5vfzavEWRRskCnarXbzOLkBOxjPfJg9-tUbPQBLiEXCIECvEPSMlz9Din3-4vFKxZK6l7XcHywcwXsyBM-zcx/s1600/Garden+Harvest+June+2012+007wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhenYzugH9FeSOeueXWYGTYtKKqeaR2IdUbZdef-VSRJiQqmWBFNiOZK5vfzavEWRRskCnarXbzOLkBOxjPfJg9-tUbPQBLiEXCIECvEPSMlz9Din3-4vFKxZK6l7XcHywcwXsyBM-zcx/s320/Garden+Harvest+June+2012+007wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mmmm...nom nom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-59679478735447866582012-06-05T06:34:00.000-07:002012-06-08T13:33:39.798-07:00A Visit To Lavender Hollow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I04KhRlO32MRAsFWtUM6FdqVIiJVUx3B49vhv6Dtb56rqUMOBhzwtUthEwbm-XGbX_ekDw7Fs0X40ei7P6TurSyE0h4WisbkNRRshGFc9fKQfCiz9XBcCDAkp3_dFMXHDcRTsgs_u3Jw/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+033wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I04KhRlO32MRAsFWtUM6FdqVIiJVUx3B49vhv6Dtb56rqUMOBhzwtUthEwbm-XGbX_ekDw7Fs0X40ei7P6TurSyE0h4WisbkNRRshGFc9fKQfCiz9XBcCDAkp3_dFMXHDcRTsgs_u3Jw/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+033wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #674ea7;">Hello Sweet Friends!</span> </span> <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This past weekend I had the fun opportunity to travel with some gal pals to visit <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lavenderhollowfarm.com/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Lavender</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"> Hollow</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"> Farm</span></a></span>. This beautiful little farm is located in Escalon- only an hour drive away- and was a perfect, easy day trip.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefzRp1aW-gr7mAD1bttOaHuszoZ80Nbo2SXetpB4JYsB8NS-1U5Zs2N2D4s9zD5HcFHqgpqbYhe5Xub81n7HmJXLz-fsb9-sSitJoR4aUaV8BpkCHJr1USY-FuqiKTdzefZc_jHHNJERX/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+043wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefzRp1aW-gr7mAD1bttOaHuszoZ80Nbo2SXetpB4JYsB8NS-1U5Zs2N2D4s9zD5HcFHqgpqbYhe5Xub81n7HmJXLz-fsb9-sSitJoR4aUaV8BpkCHJr1USY-FuqiKTdzefZc_jHHNJERX/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+043wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">As soon as we opened the doors of the car the lovely fragrance of lavender greeted us. I love the smell of lavender, so the fragrance was like heaven for me!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZoFHn5Wb4F1uQb0jMVN1HPYwcjCaWJgxi2gZx8cTmL7XtR_0B0D0YD1I-532x_Xco0L7xz5JoWrz3U_1JmiRUKlDiLkJtkR_VNcHgPMI006tdULrq5XF0EtEXNkQPtNr9SayjRegIoRF/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+002wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZoFHn5Wb4F1uQb0jMVN1HPYwcjCaWJgxi2gZx8cTmL7XtR_0B0D0YD1I-532x_Xco0L7xz5JoWrz3U_1JmiRUKlDiLkJtkR_VNcHgPMI006tdULrq5XF0EtEXNkQPtNr9SayjRegIoRF/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+002wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"> The gardens surrounding the private residence are so charming.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkpGxPx5s03-XM3MgAPEgJd-Ss8ZTeqVKRm9-5kTRihGl8w39m3NgrHO7aTuG4qNCpOVzJrBCc5JRqEAJu2BQ90is-W-i8H_IWhl7iBtbPb1AW_sPiVIv_xbncuhqu_EtOPG5tYSPheML/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+004wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkpGxPx5s03-XM3MgAPEgJd-Ss8ZTeqVKRm9-5kTRihGl8w39m3NgrHO7aTuG4qNCpOVzJrBCc5JRqEAJu2BQ90is-W-i8H_IWhl7iBtbPb1AW_sPiVIv_xbncuhqu_EtOPG5tYSPheML/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+004wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We enjoyed walking around the grounds. There was plenty to look at... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wbh7oRuEGag_d1MdeS8lxvEHyREMOPhAZl4G_1UIIaRy7f3dO727aS7RvTCjLTRCd4BxivtiVvo7rQAf22kCx22KyVItaq8VxBcVyuf4033BWkugaYHG9wpzgq7OmB525sdxWRDm28c-/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+006wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wbh7oRuEGag_d1MdeS8lxvEHyREMOPhAZl4G_1UIIaRy7f3dO727aS7RvTCjLTRCd4BxivtiVvo7rQAf22kCx22KyVItaq8VxBcVyuf4033BWkugaYHG9wpzgq7OmB525sdxWRDm28c-/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+006wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">... like this beautiful clematis climbing the entry to the private residence. I love how it looks against that pretty used brick wall.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M84nVa4nqFoyqfu06ZifvkGqfzGtQz2r0G6ZsfXw3PIvIh1LkyQXi5YOD3_Fj5yPGS3fI-93i0lG2yASgVqOIaZAxVN-szuuSStq_CGpvQg8Z7s_DtSyGikubmCKkB3KBRHqGNjeyNhq/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+008wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M84nVa4nqFoyqfu06ZifvkGqfzGtQz2r0G6ZsfXw3PIvIh1LkyQXi5YOD3_Fj5yPGS3fI-93i0lG2yASgVqOIaZAxVN-szuuSStq_CGpvQg8Z7s_DtSyGikubmCKkB3KBRHqGNjeyNhq/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+008wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Aren't these beautiful?! I <em>love</em> the vivid violet color. No alterations were done to the color in this photo-- this is really how it looked!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5B0TXwivwsh4Optjmje8tsrPTqinr7qLimvQx1kbILwWSmghWjh72d36m9pXCEKqWpbVL3fU5YWXl1uwG7y_6Q3XOsB-pg1e5s_UFDN6Fpp5S1LGYzt004N-vZ01-k8ObMV_DC7IHaqR/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+011wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5B0TXwivwsh4Optjmje8tsrPTqinr7qLimvQx1kbILwWSmghWjh72d36m9pXCEKqWpbVL3fU5YWXl1uwG7y_6Q3XOsB-pg1e5s_UFDN6Fpp5S1LGYzt004N-vZ01-k8ObMV_DC7IHaqR/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+011wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Lavender Hollow Farm is open for a very short season, only 5 or six weekends. </span>The lavender is in early bloom right now-- and I imagine that the color will intensify throughout the coming weeks. Each weekend the farm offers <a href="http://www.lavenderhollowfarm.com/id70.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">lavender crafting classes</span></a> under the canopy in the photo above. On this day, the guests were creating heart shaped lavender wreaths~ so pretty!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_3r2FCe8dlKfjscavq5jNTlTaPS1kfQ5UA6itYeKZMF6Q2zWybpwtgdsEFD7vL7Gj1Ww7IBNZ_UIVUu95OE_q6nhQi8sCD7q57dLYeeJJQRqmteg2UWlfrNYmvhJj0W0-vU5q9A5WcEZ/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+013wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_3r2FCe8dlKfjscavq5jNTlTaPS1kfQ5UA6itYeKZMF6Q2zWybpwtgdsEFD7vL7Gj1Ww7IBNZ_UIVUu95OE_q6nhQi8sCD7q57dLYeeJJQRqmteg2UWlfrNYmvhJj0W0-vU5q9A5WcEZ/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+013wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Charm and sweetness around every corner...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvlXM2rRdy4GreyXhiNJ7wQ1jZBjWtLQYfwEUNDXbrn2YJQqRbAWk6uAlPAokAOhx4OumcN0Z_ss7giPy6RpOMKKtAm6V-Wx5suNf_WmBHlsNW65vyxzgQEfrNdUd50zdOhWPOMO6NLYa/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+014wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvlXM2rRdy4GreyXhiNJ7wQ1jZBjWtLQYfwEUNDXbrn2YJQqRbAWk6uAlPAokAOhx4OumcN0Z_ss7giPy6RpOMKKtAm6V-Wx5suNf_WmBHlsNW65vyxzgQEfrNdUd50zdOhWPOMO6NLYa/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+014wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
...<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">and a really great variety of lavender plants were available for purchase. I purchased two-- Sachet and Betty's Blue!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsqvc33Th06Cdl84GRTEcIyc7EnI6HzmiJGFmyFNN2uoxAgWrk9FS88UHUN35299lcSfyjmRHiHXzQP2k3XVfjlZ0AEXtVWDEUI44_OY_s-VnOkIlN5j3n-lY48zuVSE05drmw3D_nWvp/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+015wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsqvc33Th06Cdl84GRTEcIyc7EnI6HzmiJGFmyFNN2uoxAgWrk9FS88UHUN35299lcSfyjmRHiHXzQP2k3XVfjlZ0AEXtVWDEUI44_OY_s-VnOkIlN5j3n-lY48zuVSE05drmw3D_nWvp/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+015wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsqvc33Th06Cdl84GRTEcIyc7EnI6HzmiJGFmyFNN2uoxAgWrk9FS88UHUN35299lcSfyjmRHiHXzQP2k3XVfjlZ0AEXtVWDEUI44_OY_s-VnOkIlN5j3n-lY48zuVSE05drmw3D_nWvp/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+015wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCbfeNI6DV2JdePYii0i223cRMR7BZAMrTRBUWa673fEI15hKHdhVfQogmhGDwhA0WbM6gLBIPKNW73v96BIOvOIIRIlKfp5ETwQRL0Afa-JOwYiX2uDKofC2J0Grv_wx2FcTOYPAZgEE/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+017wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCbfeNI6DV2JdePYii0i223cRMR7BZAMrTRBUWa673fEI15hKHdhVfQogmhGDwhA0WbM6gLBIPKNW73v96BIOvOIIRIlKfp5ETwQRL0Afa-JOwYiX2uDKofC2J0Grv_wx2FcTOYPAZgEE/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+017wm.jpg" width="240" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I never knew there were so many varieties of lavender! I love that this variety is named "Alice". That happens to be my favorite auntie's name.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgYooLpWPU1hdDQzvXThMq0CTXjywV30x-wIFAa6baplV509xTzxxrSleMgCLqeEZBzksvIwo7eVPO703I40OL6KU_4591J5o3SvcHAWafOUtVvPixi7ySLAdFfXQ-G3N0Wpap2wv_amh/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+022wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgYooLpWPU1hdDQzvXThMq0CTXjywV30x-wIFAa6baplV509xTzxxrSleMgCLqeEZBzksvIwo7eVPO703I40OL6KU_4591J5o3SvcHAWafOUtVvPixi7ySLAdFfXQ-G3N0Wpap2wv_amh/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+022wm2.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Inside the lavender barn was a fun boutique.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IJxYEEpucKo_Y8Jn9LUuVSRhyphenhyphenkNrH_xdtfdOwjvNcc9DBKY0c50NSgfsQ9bM97RcnVqrq8IR5-VZPjTF9gzSSlerh4RyA71Qc_TUlf3rCzWG6oRJkuZY82_wmPrdYllvQEjz99boKPsW/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+038wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IJxYEEpucKo_Y8Jn9LUuVSRhyphenhyphenkNrH_xdtfdOwjvNcc9DBKY0c50NSgfsQ9bM97RcnVqrq8IR5-VZPjTF9gzSSlerh4RyA71Qc_TUlf3rCzWG6oRJkuZY82_wmPrdYllvQEjz99boKPsW/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+038wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I love the hardware on the door to the barn-- so pretty!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeIjoijZXUmUbA0bdAunka-OLq-T1WRBIz9WqQgtC4TKCbmA_Z8QwWQmchK1LiisXZ6anGF5zJoi8dW1U_l_p6-mLgjjZbeePI7wEoXWoDx-wdHVrtpNvAmTSZzBRLzvVSxpIeGRa4RY2/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+042wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeIjoijZXUmUbA0bdAunka-OLq-T1WRBIz9WqQgtC4TKCbmA_Z8QwWQmchK1LiisXZ6anGF5zJoi8dW1U_l_p6-mLgjjZbeePI7wEoXWoDx-wdHVrtpNvAmTSZzBRLzvVSxpIeGRa4RY2/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+042wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1h2AA8_8oSikok17OcJCGVf915RD4D0f52cH4Y2pX3cB5xUwausg5Bkp4nacgi5hyphenhyphenTZfCIpI2Nb973jZc8JajGbBJSeSMRMPK1Io_2cSkLOHhzCCIjUJOZhQi7l-ibGJFJ0ZRpC6LmaV/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+040wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1h2AA8_8oSikok17OcJCGVf915RD4D0f52cH4Y2pX3cB5xUwausg5Bkp4nacgi5hyphenhyphenTZfCIpI2Nb973jZc8JajGbBJSeSMRMPK1Io_2cSkLOHhzCCIjUJOZhQi7l-ibGJFJ0ZRpC6LmaV/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+040wm2.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We found a great variety of lavender goodness-- lots of bath, culinary, and gift <a href="http://www.lavenderhollowfarm.com/id67.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">products</span></a>. I ended up purchasing some ground culinary lavender for baking, and can't wait to try it out in a batch of shortbread cookies!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8cyjMJo6meJNWC_0Ygeoqdimtd2awU77c5I5yJ49BgcuWscmPwXbdEJEMm7O9u_JcetygS9lbfH4EyYNw5l3VrH1lYOcC8P73kbIRNyuGLD9LI2SD-A3Ao6AdUWWpGqgY2AqbUL0qKQo/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+041wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8cyjMJo6meJNWC_0Ygeoqdimtd2awU77c5I5yJ49BgcuWscmPwXbdEJEMm7O9u_JcetygS9lbfH4EyYNw5l3VrH1lYOcC8P73kbIRNyuGLD9LI2SD-A3Ao6AdUWWpGqgY2AqbUL0qKQo/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+041wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It was refreshing to find items at such reasonable prices. Sometimes prices of items in tourist locations can be so inflated, but that wasn't the case here at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We wandered around the grounds, taking photos and enjoying the sunshine. Lavender grows well here because of the Mediterranean climate in this valley.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtpPA7vswWv9OYpgZfL1vU_IeWCKQhHzjLd4CaRaoI_oSDi7Q-_hR01zcnvbi_ltHvXkKYru51PT2psBHvAjhDAklvhlHXJDGBJeNbEvEgSayKL0-IxuqJ4DQ7PhYNqgpV2fFJgw9MRgv/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+031wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtpPA7vswWv9OYpgZfL1vU_IeWCKQhHzjLd4CaRaoI_oSDi7Q-_hR01zcnvbi_ltHvXkKYru51PT2psBHvAjhDAklvhlHXJDGBJeNbEvEgSayKL0-IxuqJ4DQ7PhYNqgpV2fFJgw9MRgv/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+031wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We enjoyed a really great box lunch catered by Leonardo's Cafe. Every item was infused with lavender. It was so good-- not overpowering at all. Click <a href="http://www.lavenderhollowfarm.com/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a> to see the yummy menu!</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlX6Fmggt3S38pf66E1CGyT_1mSpu9m7IvJAKfxzLyrJG4a0wFYunK6Efr6C4efzATd28bdgQmGBW4RiScfeZt9ASEFFZp0kvf5s-Ra7ENOIsKzR28nD4Huli5ZQDIFty30jqT4-htUZZ/s1600/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+044wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlX6Fmggt3S38pf66E1CGyT_1mSpu9m7IvJAKfxzLyrJG4a0wFYunK6Efr6C4efzATd28bdgQmGBW4RiScfeZt9ASEFFZp0kvf5s-Ra7ENOIsKzR28nD4Huli5ZQDIFty30jqT4-htUZZ/s320/Lavender+Hollow+Farms+060212+044wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Oh, and I couldn't leave without treating myself to a lavender infused pink lemonade for the road. The perfect ending to a perfect visit to Lavender Hollow Farms! (Now, off to shop the antique/vintage stores!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
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</div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-76076251197328988592012-05-24T08:43:00.003-07:002012-06-08T13:35:55.013-07:00The Fairy Garden Tour... Finally!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGD4rrA_06UKhwF-Wo6iGZ1OBM6cBonkyRmS-EiHZbRhHnS2U-iAP69xjGWJN0o5Ln5a6DSGrffr_31Z_e0_5Au1PcqPrXV2XcPK5irNNoEaammi_CPy7w9ofBRxqDKYcnt5ccIZ__twE/s1600/Fairy+Garden+South+051312+073wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGD4rrA_06UKhwF-Wo6iGZ1OBM6cBonkyRmS-EiHZbRhHnS2U-iAP69xjGWJN0o5Ln5a6DSGrffr_31Z_e0_5Au1PcqPrXV2XcPK5irNNoEaammi_CPy7w9ofBRxqDKYcnt5ccIZ__twE/s320/Fairy+Garden+South+051312+073wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Welcome</span> to my fairy garden! The fairy garden <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2012/05/fairy-garden-housewarming-party.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">housewarming</span> <span style="color: lime;">party</span></a> was a success, despite the local gnomes <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2012/05/fairy-garden-party-crashers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">crashing</span></a> the party. I'm <em>finally</em> ready to take you on a little tour and tell you more about the inspiration and resources that contributed to this fun little magical place. I've been so excited!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiPNhqHPx7a7VVZd6Ifn-2zuX83wIs3E37seiIDv2UvDw7bvLLlG9B3t9Uy1HIT0JBb0ZblR81XZluFhAE8MhXXuWvOA4okGicIzAV7m_nWvaQDF-5DUHTjjYzLeGT1auR8neLg3VIP6b/s1600/Fairy+Garden+South+051312+061wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiPNhqHPx7a7VVZd6Ifn-2zuX83wIs3E37seiIDv2UvDw7bvLLlG9B3t9Uy1HIT0JBb0ZblR81XZluFhAE8MhXXuWvOA4okGicIzAV7m_nWvaQDF-5DUHTjjYzLeGT1auR8neLg3VIP6b/s320/Fairy+Garden+South+051312+061wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This fairy garden is a combination of my two loves... miniatures and gardening. I'm no pro, but this is the fourth fairy garden I've created. My original fairy garden took a beating this past winter, so I decided to replace it with this one. The other two were starter gardens that were gifts for my mom and my auntie. Maybe I will eventually share photos of those, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">*WARNING* <strong>Today's post is <em>very</em> photo and text heavy</strong>, so if you like lots of photos-- fabulous! You're in the right place. If not-- well, please try to endure. I hope you won't be disappointed! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Well, let's start at the beginning. The sweet mushroom house above is actually a birdhouse that's been sitting in my playroom/studio since last summer. The terra cotta flower pots were from my miniature collection. I shopped my garage and studio for things to use in this project. You would be surprised at what I could dig up around here. Well, if you know me in "real life", maybe it's no surprise. (Did I hear someone whisper "hoarder"? Yeah, I won't deny it.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbPZt5esJDJb9NNZ28jwalZLdJr4PyA3T4yflxMSz3KKwOkLkhVs3egyfvLoFl_lvv-AT0mXzkNwz8DaUvkfw0EnqpPw8z8Fky-zvtLEOcW8520wvy4cz7L4vMrTY0k4fpsJlw-70Is66/s1600/Fairy+Garden+South+051312+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbPZt5esJDJb9NNZ28jwalZLdJr4PyA3T4yflxMSz3KKwOkLkhVs3egyfvLoFl_lvv-AT0mXzkNwz8DaUvkfw0EnqpPw8z8Fky-zvtLEOcW8520wvy4cz7L4vMrTY0k4fpsJlw-70Is66/s320/Fairy+Garden+South+051312+063.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This garden arch is the first thing I purchased for my fairy garden. I've planted a wire vine next to it, and it seems to be training up the lattice quite well. I purchased this arch and the two little planters at <a href="http://theantiquegardener.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">The Antique Gardener</span></a> in Sutter Creek about four or five years ago and they've held up quite well. It's fun to have a structure or two in the garden. This time I built some stone steps climbing up to the arch and sprinkled and packed some small gravel between them. I hope to grow some moss between the stepping stones in the garden someday. Wouldn't that be pretty?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I just wanted to show you a close up of the little table of goodies that the fairies put under the arch for the party. Do you like the little sage leaf table runner? I love little natural touches like that. The fairies took the inspiration for their goodies from <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/search/label/Meg" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Meg</span></a>. (They went right back into the dollhouse after the party. I didn't want to leave these out permanently because they would probably deteriorate outside!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This little clothesline is one of my <em>favorite</em> things about this little garden. It was so easy to build. I just found two sticks in my yard and strung them together with embroidery floss. The little clothespins came from Michaels.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Yes, this photo was taken on a different laundry day. (Note: a different "skirt" on the clothesline.) I felt like a little girl playing with dolls when I, uh, helped the fairies hang the laundry. After the laundry was done, the fairies used those garden tools to clean up the mess that the gnomes left. They just waved the tools around and twirled about and... POOF! The mess was gone, and every leaf was in place again. I wish that trick would work for me, here around the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">When the fairies aren't working, they're playing. They love to catch teeny tiny butterflies with their net. They always let them go after a few minutes though. They're kind of sensitive about anything with wings. You can read about that adorable tiny butterfly jar <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/little-bits-of-goodness.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">here</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">When the fairies need to sit for a bit they either lounge around on the lawn by the clothes line, or they sit on this little vine twig chair. I found this little chair and clay pillow at <a href="http://www.secretgarden-online.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">The Secret Garden</span></a> in Elk Grove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Here's a view of this corner... there's actually a lot going on here. This tiny path was created from chips off of my own garden path, and the wire edging is from my favorite garden center of all time, <a href="http://www.fairoaksblvdnursery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery</span></a>. I.love.that.place. If you are ever in the Sacramento area, take the opportunity to go there. I <em>always</em> leave there feeling inspired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This photo has a great variety of textures in it... the rocks, the three different types of foliage, and the metal pieces. It's so fun to place cute little accessories around the garden. I think little details add so much charm and character to these little gardens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I love this sweet little birdbath. When I water the garden each morning, I always try to put some water in it. Yeah, I get excited about little things like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Doesn't this plant look like some kind of dwarf succulent? Love, love, love it. It may be a small variety of sedum, but I can't remember. I love how the leaves catch the water each morning. I will list some great plants for fairy gardens at the end of this post... hang in there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">From above... so you can really see the layout.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Daytime...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">...and nighttime! I love these little lights I bought last year from <a href="http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.H167281.desc.Bethlehem-Lights-Battery-Op-2-Pack-Ultra-Thin-8Light-Strands" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">QVC</span></a>. They're battery operated and have a built-in timer. The lights are each the size of a piece of rice, and they're strung on a fine wire... perfect for the fairy garden. I wouldn't have thought to put these lights in my fairy garden if it weren't for the inspiration from my friend, <a href="http://lisasteatime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Lisa</span></a>. As far as I've seen, her garden is the only one with lights. Placing lights in a fairy garden is such a brilliant idea!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I love to see the fairy garden aglow in the evenings... it makes me so happy. I find myself peeking through the window and going out to see it each night. (Just another photo of the fairy garden party--prior to being crashed by the gnomes.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I must say, this has been one of the most fun projects I've done in a long time. <span style="font-size: large;">Building this fairy garden took me to a whole different level of happy.</span> That kind of happy you feel as a little girl, totally immersed in playing make-believe. It makes my heart happy every time I look at it. I hope it made your heart happy too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Jill</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">*** But wait-- there's more! You can build some happy too! Here are some resources for plants, accessories, and more pointers on how to build your own miniature fairy garden. Note that I have not been paid to promote these sites. (But I should be.*giggle*) If any of you have more tips, ideas or favorite sources for ideas, please feel free to share! There's so much out there~ </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Plants For Fairy Gardens:</strong> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Look for low growing plants like ground covers and moss. I've incorporated some bonsai plants in this garden and so far they're doing well. When planting, keep in mind that the watering needs may be different for each plant. Succulents won't need to be watered as much as moss. I like to plant where my heart tells me, so I'm just careful when I water the plants. Below are the names of some of the plants that I've used in fairy gardens: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Japanese Snowbell (the flowering bonsai tree on the right side of the mushroom house)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Dwarf Horsetail (I love the texture of this one-- it's shown on the left side of the mushroom house)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Sedum Spathulifolium "Cape Blanco"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Dwarf Blue Toadflax</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Pyracantha "Fiery Cascade" Firethorn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Irish Moss</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Saxifraga "Pearly King" (The flowers look like miniature cherry blossoms!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Corsican Mint (Very low growing, and smells soooo good!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Succulents (Whatever suits your fancy- the younger the plant, the better it fits.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Hardscape Materials For Fairy Gardens:</strong> <span style="font-size: small;">Materials for your paths, etc. Some of this can be found in your own backyard. "Look at things with a mini eye", as my miniaturist friends would say. Consider the scale you are working with and and the textures. (Confession: the scale of my 'shroom house and my arch don't match up. But hey-- it's what I already had around the house! Seriously-- in the end, just do what makes you happy.)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Gravel: </strong>The smaller, the better. You can find smaller gravel in the bonsai department of your local garden center. I actually used the gravel that was layered on top of the soil that my succulents and bonsai plants were in when I bought them. (Recycle, re-use!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Small Pebbles:</strong> Again, the smaller the better. Check your garden center. You can find medium to small pebbles in the florist section at craft stores, like JoAnns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Sand and/or Ground Capiz Shells:</strong> They can be found at JoAnns in the florist section. The capiz shells are great for building a shiny, sparklie path!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Stones: </strong>I found mine in my own yard... keep your eyes to the ground and you'll eventually find some!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Soil: O</strong>kay, this one's a toss up. Basically, you just want to have well-draining soil. Be sure there are drain holes in whatever container you use. I drilled holes in the bottom of my galvanized tub (that I shopped from my garage!), filled it a third of the way with water bottles (so it wouldn't be heavy), then topped it with potting soil. I put a top layer of bonsai soil on my garden, but it probably isn't necessary. You can even plant the succulents/bonsai plants, container and all, in the potting soil according to my friend. I would have never thought of that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>Accessories For Fairy Gardens:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I love this part! Remember, you can build your own furniture, structures, stepping stones, etc.-- but if you would rather purchase them...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.fairywoodland.com/index.php"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://www.fairywoodland.com/index.php</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> More than just shopping~ lots of sweet fairy information. I love this site.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.miniature-gardens.com/"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://www.miniature-gardens.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> I've always loved this site. They have many of the accessories that I found locally, plus lots and lots more. Great shopping-- especially if you're just getting started.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.finefairyhouses.com/index.html"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://www.finefairyhouses.com/index.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> This site also carries a lot of metal accessories.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.twigwizardry.com/index.php"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://www.twigwizardry.com/index.php</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> The furniture-- ahhhh! It's beautiful! Looks like they may be swamped with orders right now, but be sure to stop by for the inspiration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>More Inspiration For Fairy Gardens:</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Fairy Garden Flickr Groups:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Miniature Backyard Fairy Gardens </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/67466181@N00/"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://www.flickr.com/groups/67466181@N00/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Mini Garden </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/minigarden/"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://www.flickr.com/groups/minigarden/</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Pinterest: </strong>(Of course!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">These girls have a great board to springboard ideas from... </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/sabowman/fairyland/"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://pinterest.com/sabowman/fairyland/</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Blogs:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The Magic Onion~ This is such a sweet blog, full of ideas for creating your own little woodland miniature garden. </span><a href="http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/p/fairy-gardens_17.html"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/p/fairy-gardens_17.html</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">There are a lot more ideas out there, but I hope this gives you a good start. Thanks so much for stopping by. It means a lot to me to be able to share the happy with all of you. Okay-- now go have fun! oxo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">(Whew!)</span><br />
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<br /></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-59984271956339124742012-05-22T13:47:00.000-07:002012-05-22T13:52:00.931-07:00Fairy Garden Party Crashers<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1BQpKJc27C6eid233RLddG6MTeKrHqp6xCApWqruTSeLfCG_LoOLkVaeZS_uqfogTcfUnmlbZ1CffioTche1fMGIYKgALrU1UNGNY057GTuOYFcGRDsciCn9fJb6qnceajIkSSzUvFp7/s1600/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+136wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1BQpKJc27C6eid233RLddG6MTeKrHqp6xCApWqruTSeLfCG_LoOLkVaeZS_uqfogTcfUnmlbZ1CffioTche1fMGIYKgALrU1UNGNY057GTuOYFcGRDsciCn9fJb6qnceajIkSSzUvFp7/s320/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+136wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Hello there, friends.</span> Yes, the <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2012/05/fairy-garden-housewarming-party.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">fairy garden housewarming party</span></a> was crashed by the gnomes. Those gnomes can be sneaky little things-- and came in a hootin' and a hollerin', and bouncing all over the place. They tp'd the garden, knocked things around, and left their rubbish all over the place.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdaB-Vkx5YVWWwyHQG3p6Dl6cFi6eomPbqpZmkO_HLksvmZCc6vlTUhm2YcOxkq_oH_SNh_OUbTZ5sy-zrTRrT7HM2SLdCRgLg88GqdUhRqjFGaM2ZTvZZq_jtL3eMbojBDnP5yQyXcJN/s1600/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+128wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdaB-Vkx5YVWWwyHQG3p6Dl6cFi6eomPbqpZmkO_HLksvmZCc6vlTUhm2YcOxkq_oH_SNh_OUbTZ5sy-zrTRrT7HM2SLdCRgLg88GqdUhRqjFGaM2ZTvZZq_jtL3eMbojBDnP5yQyXcJN/s320/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+128wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Surprisingly, the fairies are quite use to this behavior and were able to clean it up quite easily with a little touch of magic. I, however, am quite exasperated-- but I'll be back soon with the fairy garden tour. I promise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-80032133777443581582012-05-18T13:00:00.000-07:002012-05-18T13:03:28.284-07:00Fairy Garden Housewarming Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiSOuyL7MzelCZ46bubR8iNVzB8hd_Vi5iiFFgVk3h-btzfsytlNREfNJbUGR91jXfNKob1P85YlMUg0s_SCHj4-DL55mFyngYY45tbAdg2tGInVPfM-1e25hSjcw9bqMxXwoIoORrXZC/s1600/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+027wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiSOuyL7MzelCZ46bubR8iNVzB8hd_Vi5iiFFgVk3h-btzfsytlNREfNJbUGR91jXfNKob1P85YlMUg0s_SCHj4-DL55mFyngYY45tbAdg2tGInVPfM-1e25hSjcw9bqMxXwoIoORrXZC/s320/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+027wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Welcome~</span> </span>to the Fairy Garden Housewarming Party! The fairies have been busy around here, preparing for their party guests.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU4I0x14hsPzDAULBRuoGTG_ZmjNY1ZVTrh2d3FdaXwJQXobngrCE-mk6wuNcgD5SI1lpLEOqvgOyEUtqYDB4UoiVEzsiLdm7RBFRFpjiPlG4yqdRpTnZs4IOSdDt8Bj6HCuy0girxWYU/s1600/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+012wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU4I0x14hsPzDAULBRuoGTG_ZmjNY1ZVTrh2d3FdaXwJQXobngrCE-mk6wuNcgD5SI1lpLEOqvgOyEUtqYDB4UoiVEzsiLdm7RBFRFpjiPlG4yqdRpTnZs4IOSdDt8Bj6HCuy0girxWYU/s320/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+012wm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">They have been fluttering about-- tidying up, hanging festive paper lanterns, baking fluffy cakes, and making sweet lemonade.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPR0Pra3BTgiWtkzi8MeXPdHTNN-ey6TKaIrgg6jqDHyQhl4KQWeCB40PjVtl9Lr9hyPbalumn5DXR-BaGNwbfTouV3ZmJYLZrBKT_qhzgYcvBYUHuM-iuy3PMQSGEN0ujmLifRKMLJ32/s1600/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+014wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPR0Pra3BTgiWtkzi8MeXPdHTNN-ey6TKaIrgg6jqDHyQhl4KQWeCB40PjVtl9Lr9hyPbalumn5DXR-BaGNwbfTouV3ZmJYLZrBKT_qhzgYcvBYUHuM-iuy3PMQSGEN0ujmLifRKMLJ32/s320/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+014wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The lights are hung and lit, and the fairies are so happy that you are here.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB-R9i_xi_eTYcTMsoAcGoCLM5_xPr6a1lonziUqb84tEQrjEeFszUjVESPWfBTDnbzIi7soqS0oXmS6k0xNm6IGrKWShWCj9xLLIgBvcpi91b4eaTvAfNZMDek5-zTwKirtIAvBtOsjA/s1600/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+032wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB-R9i_xi_eTYcTMsoAcGoCLM5_xPr6a1lonziUqb84tEQrjEeFszUjVESPWfBTDnbzIi7soqS0oXmS6k0xNm6IGrKWShWCj9xLLIgBvcpi91b4eaTvAfNZMDek5-zTwKirtIAvBtOsjA/s320/Fairy+Garden+Housewarming+051312+032wm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Let the housewarming festivities begin!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">PS: Please return soon, and I will give you a daytime tour! Oh~ In case you are wondering, I received those adorable paper lanterns in a <a href="http://www.clublittlehouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Club Little House</span></a> swap a few years ago. Aren't they sweet? </span></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-27061560967818575522012-05-09T20:31:00.000-07:002012-05-09T20:31:05.532-07:00A Fairy's Work Is Never Done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJXleWfKe2ILvi748CSyijyCIJ8SKy6lwIKz9c1-I7brIpvgoKcwZu2i5TLpwXyIukmGUyV2BQNMumtSy1PqB0APmnyNNqkUqgCVFdU9r_bRof59kd6NZJSiU7GkXRJXeTlO3eSDiwyaR/s1600/Fairy+Garden+2012+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJXleWfKe2ILvi748CSyijyCIJ8SKy6lwIKz9c1-I7brIpvgoKcwZu2i5TLpwXyIukmGUyV2BQNMumtSy1PqB0APmnyNNqkUqgCVFdU9r_bRof59kd6NZJSiU7GkXRJXeTlO3eSDiwyaR/s320/Fairy+Garden+2012+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello, Sweet Friends.</span> The garden fairies have been busy setting up house in their new little digs. They're almost ready for their housewarming, so please come back soon. They can't wait to show you around!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-1978504046163235352012-05-04T16:13:00.000-07:002012-05-04T16:14:16.939-07:00Sprout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlovoTg_7ng0Xf6s3obIE1CcRoYXhijDAzerxstFcgtV8LkdsasOsAm1g69KOCbG8g3WFHWhsjbtRWaigotx_SLeIlL4Ycd0niSeItYnyiFLMGnReO3fsZUgC-C5FOKHkZEsmGZ_EGtRr/s1600/Garden+2012+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlovoTg_7ng0Xf6s3obIE1CcRoYXhijDAzerxstFcgtV8LkdsasOsAm1g69KOCbG8g3WFHWhsjbtRWaigotx_SLeIlL4Ycd0niSeItYnyiFLMGnReO3fsZUgC-C5FOKHkZEsmGZ_EGtRr/s320/Garden+2012+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello, Sweet Friends.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">How is it that I still get just as excited to see a little leaf pop up through the earth as I did when I grew my first bean in a milk carton when I was four years old? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The simple joy of it never gets old for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Well, I've been out working in the back garden most of the day... and now I'm beat. But in a good way. Have a wonderful weekend~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Hugs,</span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-53320780631059088572012-04-24T15:09:00.002-07:002012-04-24T21:35:58.954-07:00My Salad Bowl<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Hello, Sweet Friends! </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life has been busy around here, and part of what is keeping me busy is Spring! I've recently been working in the back garden, so I thought I would show you a </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">little bit of the outdoor nesting that's been going on around here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Above, is what I call my "salad bowl". It's full of all kinds of yummy heirloom lettuces. It's nice to be able to pick a fresh salad for dinner. There really is a difference in flavor with fresh lettuce. This lettuce has been really easy to grow, and with it hanging I haven't had to worry much about slugs and snails. Love. That.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid11XKLwqnYhKOUhVzK9uEm9Bxaz9gGwHFz4xNd_GrXd4YyYoGGMpMG0pl10hFLQtNkT_eQW25t-4af4X6-gAY5MC2SJxbtrRbBtH-U1sxp_2GdddGZ1vNWBT2rKSvvZga6jlhMH-MIAw2/s1600/Garden+April+2012+014wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid11XKLwqnYhKOUhVzK9uEm9Bxaz9gGwHFz4xNd_GrXd4YyYoGGMpMG0pl10hFLQtNkT_eQW25t-4af4X6-gAY5MC2SJxbtrRbBtH-U1sxp_2GdddGZ1vNWBT2rKSvvZga6jlhMH-MIAw2/s400/Garden+April+2012+014wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Recently I've been picking up plants here and there to get my vegetables, herbs, and flowers going again. I found a few of my herbs and tomato plants at a garden club plant sale at McKinley Park in East Sacramento. I love going to garden club sales. You never know what you're going to find. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0x2HXoXQyMhB0wJvLJYfmO_GjZO6FzIIw2dj_3epFpBogTV__UmiKwVCoy_aiTvOeCf0XhxHZiEoKEj3qSPb6GDEv3k33nPJgjt-zKPybfrU1F5IXi8Lgp71XLBoJTnq-CxoxiuhS-dh/s1600/Garden+April+2012+008wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0x2HXoXQyMhB0wJvLJYfmO_GjZO6FzIIw2dj_3epFpBogTV__UmiKwVCoy_aiTvOeCf0XhxHZiEoKEj3qSPb6GDEv3k33nPJgjt-zKPybfrU1F5IXi8Lgp71XLBoJTnq-CxoxiuhS-dh/s400/Garden+April+2012+008wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">One of my basil plants is called "Goddess Basil". I got a kick out of the name, so I couldn't resist bringing it home. Apparently it has a fairly spicy flavor and is considered a gourmet basil. I wonder if it's the basil often used for<span style="color: lime;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.barefootcontessa.com/recipes.aspx?RecipeID=420" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">"Green Goddess Dressing"</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> ? I love how there are so many types of basil to choose from. Check out this fun </span><a href="http://ramonasbasilgarden.com/basil-list/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: lime;">basil list</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">-- I was shocked at just how many types there are!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCYepv5Sssca3Cm_mRPC_TP48TFJhKGwkV8ai4-nsOM3c1qASdS3C0Ao9MWnvdvJfs1BQkToSXwK5C5ViPRq-bijGABp2lqzl0G-Lam7eCL6tFsju1gPvD-fLBSyucme9hDUNYIF1xPm5/s1600/Garden+April+2012+009wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCYepv5Sssca3Cm_mRPC_TP48TFJhKGwkV8ai4-nsOM3c1qASdS3C0Ao9MWnvdvJfs1BQkToSXwK5C5ViPRq-bijGABp2lqzl0G-Lam7eCL6tFsju1gPvD-fLBSyucme9hDUNYIF1xPm5/s400/Garden+April+2012+009wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I also picked up some low growing plants to refresh my <a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-fairy-garden.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">fairy garden</span></a>. Winter was not kind to my fairy garden this year, so I'm excited to re-plant and re-fresh my tiny garden. I think the fairies will be very happy with my choices. The gnomes, however...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST_6jbOpdp2z_JgpkFxnOEvwHXQo8wqsOX7KMh2X0NyTuNntGuh4P4FKOOST39PUScEAh4pQ5smOpE-C4pbLf9X1MDvo7Qnn9rzTQuYBad5x0DCpeAeOfGrlmEnSxlZMGxcw_RhZRg9rd/s1600/Garden+April+2012+011wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST_6jbOpdp2z_JgpkFxnOEvwHXQo8wqsOX7KMh2X0NyTuNntGuh4P4FKOOST39PUScEAh4pQ5smOpE-C4pbLf9X1MDvo7Qnn9rzTQuYBad5x0DCpeAeOfGrlmEnSxlZMGxcw_RhZRg9rd/s400/Garden+April+2012+011wm.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This is just a little peek at my potting bench. It's just a teaser because I want to make a new skirt for it before I reveal the whole thing. I've had this potting bench for several years now and although it's very simple, I love it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVPGnmOXh_va1209ZRaMN_cFne6jxu2XFLVRWV0nrbaXwglbjrE_SEDDkc34LdzdoGTNA82gwlx9St4oz04uK7IAEWvWE39MZmBj_ognsaXxoMaYaQvfiYfR8U6ADiefIkXWZbqvA-ccL/s1600/Garden+April+2012+026wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVPGnmOXh_va1209ZRaMN_cFne6jxu2XFLVRWV0nrbaXwglbjrE_SEDDkc34LdzdoGTNA82gwlx9St4oz04uK7IAEWvWE39MZmBj_ognsaXxoMaYaQvfiYfR8U6ADiefIkXWZbqvA-ccL/s400/Garden+April+2012+026wm.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Okay, so I love a good Buddha in a garden. Is this not the sweetest face on this Buddha?! I know, this is not exactly vintage/cottage style decor for my garden, but I adore him. I picked up the little aqua pot with succulents at Trader Joe's last year. I love Trader Joe's for little things like that. They make great gifts. This was, uh, a gift for myself. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SWGPw5vnwE98ghY_CeDO1Vx72OnO3R4mmyIU4MpYZEcQvIjlhJj_3mnD47W_zpc4Vss8-cIwXe7PruYHEwS3PKnKC1YhRJuggSAotrwLTXVfjDw7LFy0oaIj3AE-Q0oY9iTA1W9nRoMV/s1600/Garden+April+2012+033wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SWGPw5vnwE98ghY_CeDO1Vx72OnO3R4mmyIU4MpYZEcQvIjlhJj_3mnD47W_zpc4Vss8-cIwXe7PruYHEwS3PKnKC1YhRJuggSAotrwLTXVfjDw7LFy0oaIj3AE-Q0oY9iTA1W9nRoMV/s400/Garden+April+2012+033wm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Soooo... what do you do with a dead tree? You hang bells and chimes on it!! Can I call this repurposing and recycling?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5l5Z1vkRJ3LFLcy0_9ixZ_bCS38PDFb35wxJzZ5PwKWYqL1E0DI-DoYFfLS-vCGY5OBkL9ZxU2DYQC3Jefkj_sdDzdUexk23Y05WtkyoNHJBzJfbL9km8C0vXjTuz-ua_6cHczL4hqpi/s1600/Garden+April+2012+002wp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5l5Z1vkRJ3LFLcy0_9ixZ_bCS38PDFb35wxJzZ5PwKWYqL1E0DI-DoYFfLS-vCGY5OBkL9ZxU2DYQC3Jefkj_sdDzdUexk23Y05WtkyoNHJBzJfbL9km8C0vXjTuz-ua_6cHczL4hqpi/s400/Garden+April+2012+002wp.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This vintage water tank stand has been repurposed into a plant stand with a galvanized bucket and some flowers. I love repurposing vintage items in the garden.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ff9tyLLOqMt_1t1wI8OIXyuLo0Yx8fU3ZuM21D0ZlW7s_MGs3H0T2nIimDP9G5PO3oYcsansP6F2AGDYpKor7i5fXbxYP_wK7Svl0-HoXaVElzEmaJaQayqyWiGbyrySzV0CWz2btf47/s1600/Garden+April+2012+019wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ff9tyLLOqMt_1t1wI8OIXyuLo0Yx8fU3ZuM21D0ZlW7s_MGs3H0T2nIimDP9G5PO3oYcsansP6F2AGDYpKor7i5fXbxYP_wK7Svl0-HoXaVElzEmaJaQayqyWiGbyrySzV0CWz2btf47/s400/Garden+April+2012+019wm.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I love the columbine and ranunculus flowers. The fluffy white ranunculus flowers remind me of Hagrid's fluffy head. Oh, that <em>is</em> Hagrid's fluffy head!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I hope that you are all enjoying spring. I'll be back soon to share more of the back garden. I've been very busy-- this is just the tip of the iceberg, friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
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</div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-35380561043120722312012-04-11T19:00:00.000-07:002012-04-11T19:08:23.577-07:00Under The Sea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnWv2Hvp6_Z6sVQoV6IGi5YklY2o51W90a8qyM-kTlldh1OIARUESRTj9g7haq-Nmw5ngbc5SJvovEZ3D5_fySVYm6CPrbJYhJxTPEPfXdGlVt1z-JbePGe8vVcuGaeIfHsVSuzG1n7YP/s1600/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715431250333521058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnWv2Hvp6_Z6sVQoV6IGi5YklY2o51W90a8qyM-kTlldh1OIARUESRTj9g7haq-Nmw5ngbc5SJvovEZ3D5_fySVYm6CPrbJYhJxTPEPfXdGlVt1z-JbePGe8vVcuGaeIfHsVSuzG1n7YP/s400/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+001.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> This past month has been a busy one for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">stitchin</span></span>'~ all gifts for special friends and family... and friends that I consider family. These two lovelies are going to make their way to Boise, Idaho to two of my favorite people in the whole wide world-- mother/daughter dynamic duo, Debra and Chelsey. Deb, Chelsey, and I have been lifelong friends.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GXuBK9MMe5WSMh5p48FW-8DVGFEy70YxTRWZejR8INCnYTa1SBJRvnEiNWYqHNrdwx5Ucyqfj0l2dl6M4MXVHc9dlC_cv9KHug0Eb-MWVX3Yo0xs7EDaMkunOlmuYcnIQTubidM_99gw/s1600/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+004.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715431117105345266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GXuBK9MMe5WSMh5p48FW-8DVGFEy70YxTRWZejR8INCnYTa1SBJRvnEiNWYqHNrdwx5Ucyqfj0l2dl6M4MXVHc9dlC_cv9KHug0Eb-MWVX3Yo0xs7EDaMkunOlmuYcnIQTubidM_99gw/s400/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+004.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> When <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chelse</span></span>-Woman was a wee one, she loved Disney's "The Little Mermaid". She would spend hours in the tub singing Ariel's <em>"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ahhhh</span></span>... <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ahhhh</span></span>... <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ahhhh</span></span>...".</em> Those of you who have kids may know that song well, as your little ones probably sang it in the tub too. When Chelsey sang, you could hear her down the hall, and Deb and I would just look at each other and giggle. </span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMZZzM4rJ6BUsQ6IxTNdptZfZJ_y2vs134lGrC260X-d2HMQDnt7Ikgt7LGxFXtuFRGyOubEY2qlIkdqwSkqRzIWcrYM5nX3JsH1tvJ-1de7hOq4vbwupRGYYfGi-JZJkZOEGJgIzGz2D/s1600/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+002.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715431006350542514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMZZzM4rJ6BUsQ6IxTNdptZfZJ_y2vs134lGrC260X-d2HMQDnt7Ikgt7LGxFXtuFRGyOubEY2qlIkdqwSkqRzIWcrYM5nX3JsH1tvJ-1de7hOq4vbwupRGYYfGi-JZJkZOEGJgIzGz2D/s400/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+002.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Chelsey was a fun, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">precocious</span> little girl, with gorgeous red hair and an incredible imagination. Chelsey was often in "Chelsey-World"~ dancing and singing around the house in her tie-die leggings, and her twirly-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">whirly</span></span> red square dancing slip that her grandma found for her. Seriously, (giggle) I don't think I ever saw her without one or the other-- or both. Chelsey could speak from a very early age, and introduced us to vocabulary we didn't even know existed. To this day, we still incorporate "Chelsey-isms" into our conversations. </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><em>("Oh my goodness-- Deb! We need to have a <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">discussment</span></span></strong>!")</em> Just goes to show, close friends have a "language all their own", right?</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcGYpCxfsec54FUbe2tZb3rgAVYK0ilZ9DN24DgWyrWCkRK3oVsefcXfHce__OFTaeRda12kR7dxsjWxH5juqKUes5RPzVIvimq_TSBzn8M5WzCPWNWkdzQ21ISKb14CX6LLe32VEB4mA/s1600/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+003.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715430814757678114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcGYpCxfsec54FUbe2tZb3rgAVYK0ilZ9DN24DgWyrWCkRK3oVsefcXfHce__OFTaeRda12kR7dxsjWxH5juqKUes5RPzVIvimq_TSBzn8M5WzCPWNWkdzQ21ISKb14CX6LLe32VEB4mA/s400/2012+Embroidered+Dishtowels+003.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Well, Chelsey has grown into an incredible, lovely, talented, world-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">travelin</span></span>' young woman. She's an amazing photographer (I love, love, love her photos), a great cook (she can cook Julia's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">boeuf</span></em></span> like none other), and she's got great style (she wears her leggings in solid colors now). And yes, she still has that gorgeous red mane.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">However, no matter how grown up Chelsey is now, whenever I see a great mermaid image--I think of her. Needless to say, this was the inspiration for choosing these vintage mermaid embroidery patterns to stitch for Deb and Chelsey. I hope these images will bring back sweet memories, and that they will love them as much as I loved stitching them!</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Hugs,</span></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></a></div></div></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-38398824045652501962012-03-23T17:41:00.011-07:002012-03-25T09:37:14.326-07:00Clay Play, And Some Sweet Vintage Embroidery<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04brNmLACwGlVeiX4fCF186o7kn83-hkRdA_SxfZkQoKjj3j0voCu6vvE549XUalZXpFyjKNsl9beXABfuoewWuYJ5cuNrUmw1gnYMW1UR41R3J7kpicSbb4R0KoNHTjxiaRlEbCzF_4s/s1600/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723259144261354610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04brNmLACwGlVeiX4fCF186o7kn83-hkRdA_SxfZkQoKjj3j0voCu6vvE549XUalZXpFyjKNsl9beXABfuoewWuYJ5cuNrUmw1gnYMW1UR41R3J7kpicSbb4R0KoNHTjxiaRlEbCzF_4s/s400/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+003.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> <img title="Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische" alt="M" align="left" src="http://dailydropcap.com/images/M-12-cap.png" /><br /><br />ost Fridays, my friend Kathy and I get together for what we call an "Artist Date". It's a fun way to stretch our creative wings, discover creative inspiration, and to simply have fun. Recently, Kathy and I had the opportunity to play with clay! Kathy has access to a kiln, so we have been excited to try our hand at sculpting. Above is my sculpture. Can you tell what it is??<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCQAJ6f2G0bsJXZgOOHtGfeNL8PC1ycKfYkohATScrJUYJZEx8oxlX-X_8QgV64SbNWt1BsHLf94wWQvvuEx0tEGl4pKaIxLN0QWZT9KGN_DbtjBDKb51rCbrDgKBMjMFyqHCvb4rXwRF/s1600/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+013.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723258908980000770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCQAJ6f2G0bsJXZgOOHtGfeNL8PC1ycKfYkohATScrJUYJZEx8oxlX-X_8QgV64SbNWt1BsHLf94wWQvvuEx0tEGl4pKaIxLN0QWZT9KGN_DbtjBDKb51rCbrDgKBMjMFyqHCvb4rXwRF/s400/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+013.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">Is it easier to tell in this photo? It's a pincushion! You know, the classic tomato with a strawberry needle sharpener. I used white clay, and decided to glaze it clear. I thought it would turn out with a more of a matte finish, but it's a bit glossy. I had hoped that the "fabric texture" would show more too. The strings came out okay though. <em>(Okay, okay, okay, I'll stop the critiquing...) </em></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Although I learned so much on just this little project, I have so much more to learn. This little pincushion was so fun to create and I'm really looking forward to the next project!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwxT3pYALPZzPzKlRwFnQacNDY58puFsjX6k0cM-PRl48W2IBuzcI-xwugq_eg1C-HIqRc3UTHRQkrEE6R1tva4cVOwPONnmt3pKpAmrKYRIXuR8x1kEH54FUbZnKQ-bYxiaqvzVo5XKq/s1600/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+016.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723258469958899922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwxT3pYALPZzPzKlRwFnQacNDY58puFsjX6k0cM-PRl48W2IBuzcI-xwugq_eg1C-HIqRc3UTHRQkrEE6R1tva4cVOwPONnmt3pKpAmrKYRIXuR8x1kEH54FUbZnKQ-bYxiaqvzVo5XKq/s400/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+016.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I love this little vintage embroidered dresser scarf thingy-- did you notice it under the pincushion? I collect vintage embroidery pieces here and there, and this is one of my favorites.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGdGkFMfDb9VHSVkgU9SU4dFq71JggGqKdbYWUCEivFmEBCLnZIt63RMwZs2o-svcs2H4Ztf0k4ltDFE125FstqvCsLGrBmksAC7a4JHp5ZnHyjjLHNi_ossoYY4hiuEKeQaftEI58q0s/s1600/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+017.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723258332870068834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGdGkFMfDb9VHSVkgU9SU4dFq71JggGqKdbYWUCEivFmEBCLnZIt63RMwZs2o-svcs2H4Ztf0k4ltDFE125FstqvCsLGrBmksAC7a4JHp5ZnHyjjLHNi_ossoYY4hiuEKeQaftEI58q0s/s400/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+017.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Each stitch is so perfectly stitched, and the images are so sweet. I love this mama duck and her little ducklings. Check out the baby duck butt-- that little duck is diving for something!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DpNnUCakgTTdq4-g2iP-X0CgyGj9U0VHpJnRu7gvupVDhqe5kOTA5qHCRaDBaDaWA3eaUgvhirV_RaSW3U3yq2Af18Hk613Ne4eomnKc5YWwha5OIh2OBWk9e_abpz1XEVaFYVtOM44Y/s1600/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+018.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723258217289133042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DpNnUCakgTTdq4-g2iP-X0CgyGj9U0VHpJnRu7gvupVDhqe5kOTA5qHCRaDBaDaWA3eaUgvhirV_RaSW3U3yq2Af18Hk613Ne4eomnKc5YWwha5OIh2OBWk9e_abpz1XEVaFYVtOM44Y/s400/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+018.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I love the trees on this piece also. They used two shades of green, and they look great.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPNEkgu-4fsZ9gofaQdzwZK9AHco00INPcrXiN7WtOHnUJ1iD6rePIEdmlfraEfCEIQ1uHBcgsrfmNg49h9FgK6qkQJ7dwe2YzPaPCrCAUpQ2bPMhz569k1nymdacPTg_C4TzgvB7u-vy/s1600/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+021.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723257953350302498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPNEkgu-4fsZ9gofaQdzwZK9AHco00INPcrXiN7WtOHnUJ1iD6rePIEdmlfraEfCEIQ1uHBcgsrfmNg49h9FgK6qkQJ7dwe2YzPaPCrCAUpQ2bPMhz569k1nymdacPTg_C4TzgvB7u-vy/s400/Vintage+Embroidery+Collection+021.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Such a sweet stitched scene!</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Hugs,<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-39674303181086464252012-03-02T15:38:00.009-08:002012-03-03T15:27:57.399-08:00Happy Little Cottage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianQB-cHnZQ0yTZJUfkwA-G8mulEkbT0ST2uakFUp970WGFxWwIhDAM70xeQ-w_glbilac9yW9bKyzrxQJYazka6FpvJe2lZFSNerkSL3LMcstJNC3fykF_4cG-p-9Yf857GP5i8Vd10xn/s1600/2012+Etsy+Finds+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715449475911717362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianQB-cHnZQ0yTZJUfkwA-G8mulEkbT0ST2uakFUp970WGFxWwIhDAM70xeQ-w_glbilac9yW9bKyzrxQJYazka6FpvJe2lZFSNerkSL3LMcstJNC3fykF_4cG-p-9Yf857GP5i8Vd10xn/s400/2012+Etsy+Finds+005.jpg" /></a> I love <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Etsy</span>. I love that it's such a great way to shop for fun, unique homemade and handmade items. One of my favorite <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">bloggers</span>, <a href="http://happylittlecottage.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#00cccc;">Debbie</span></a> from <a href="http://happylittlecottage.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Happy</span> <span style="color:#00cccc;">Little </span><span style="color:#33ff33;">Cottage</span></a>, recently opened an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">etsy</span> shop that totally reflects the style of her cheery, happy blog. I love her style, her choices in color and patterns, and now I know I love her craftsmanship!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzWmsTlctnFY-03IK3N-2NkXNYdYKBkpIOxgNa6YuJ4_-hC2_QJqCliQXjnK-smwz-oX4ZEAtzf9uFe4LO5r0Rirpm97pYv_inPPxu7ZzEfhktRI6ZVpAuS4qKmO9riUknWGic-oLg0yZ/s1600/2012+Etsy+Finds+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715449361957761426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzWmsTlctnFY-03IK3N-2NkXNYdYKBkpIOxgNa6YuJ4_-hC2_QJqCliQXjnK-smwz-oX4ZEAtzf9uFe4LO5r0Rirpm97pYv_inPPxu7ZzEfhktRI6ZVpAuS4qKmO9riUknWGic-oLg0yZ/s400/2012+Etsy+Finds+001.jpg" /></a> Will you look at how cute she packages her pincushions!? I love this! She stitched the bag closed! So clever! If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know how I love creative, special packaging. Love. It.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRLg8IaTeGHPJs-9-ior8o_fhODYHs81dtOgH7tP4oSj7VQJWUgilxclldrIXXhe1KkbESghfES2F0vioV_846Nk_wpDFSXpty-beroiTyW4CqoxzdaNaH2xwqp37cxEb_7jLsyzjSBRf/s1600/2012+Etsy+Finds+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715448689426388930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRLg8IaTeGHPJs-9-ior8o_fhODYHs81dtOgH7tP4oSj7VQJWUgilxclldrIXXhe1KkbESghfES2F0vioV_846Nk_wpDFSXpty-beroiTyW4CqoxzdaNaH2xwqp37cxEb_7jLsyzjSBRf/s400/2012+Etsy+Finds+004.jpg" /></a> Debbie's great style is easy to see in all the other charming sewn items in her shop. Please visit her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">etsy</span> shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyLittleCottage?ref=em"><span style="color:#ff0000;">here</span></a>~ you'll be so happy you did!</div><br /><div>Hugs,<br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-86446014647578178692012-02-24T14:35:00.007-08:002012-02-24T22:27:41.339-08:00Time For A Cuppa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sF6avt8fbt-a325raFBBF6zDEJQeg7z5KA_aGw7vr8cX_0tH4Ug1LhAO6-tEsrieQxCUSowi4ix8w4Mg1TDrkTHgCCHGmlgHwHvIZ-TGxbFS3WAvt2XODV17kFG6LVioaGJvWyC2A0lU/s1600/2012+Embroidery+Dishtowels+010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712834972562813474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sF6avt8fbt-a325raFBBF6zDEJQeg7z5KA_aGw7vr8cX_0tH4Ug1LhAO6-tEsrieQxCUSowi4ix8w4Mg1TDrkTHgCCHGmlgHwHvIZ-TGxbFS3WAvt2XODV17kFG6LVioaGJvWyC2A0lU/s400/2012+Embroidery+Dishtowels+010.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"> <span style="color:#ff6666;">Hello, Sweet Friends.</span> I've finished stitching another tea towel and wanted to share it with you before I send it off to my favorite auntie! (Won't it look cute next to her yellow kitchen aid mixer?!) I love these vintage anthropomorphic images. They've got so much <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">whimsy</span>, and they're super easy to stitch.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCM41yZhja3LLDqvBJjYlffg9DSK5ZztaN4fzkGFdydX5qnTzUVESBTgbhFly3tdVgqsJ76xjewiBS1GexJAjFt0xsS4TSuUPuQ65mbz2jf94sqnCDslKOvGmv-XtFRISq2xGcMOSIxfR/s1600/2012+Embroidery+Dishtowels+007.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712834817606907874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCM41yZhja3LLDqvBJjYlffg9DSK5ZztaN4fzkGFdydX5qnTzUVESBTgbhFly3tdVgqsJ76xjewiBS1GexJAjFt0xsS4TSuUPuQ65mbz2jf94sqnCDslKOvGmv-XtFRISq2xGcMOSIxfR/s400/2012+Embroidery+Dishtowels+007.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Oh-- and I love that this silly teapot has a pair of spiffy red shoes! She's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">stylin</span>'.</span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">I hope that you all enjoy the rest of the weekend... I'm spending time with friends tomorrow, and looking forward to doing some more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">stitchin</span>' on Sunday! I've been embroidering a lot of tea towels lately, and will be catching up on posting them soon~ </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Hugs,</span></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></a></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-76770634931265515632012-02-14T06:00:00.001-08:002012-02-24T23:46:07.749-08:00Valentine Swap, Part 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjKqQAYX8ejl2la4tXE4ZAA1mFUP05yK0wT9S7nvgGhhP-MYMJUh3O0TehFTbli1kVjzYA5ydTKD3DtzFV5x-pb40bkrpQTo9Uha1tjbxQsAFWHZhhTBiZKWyGP2c_VNx5AA4sQQYx4XS/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707941809507679394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjKqQAYX8ejl2la4tXE4ZAA1mFUP05yK0wT9S7nvgGhhP-MYMJUh3O0TehFTbli1kVjzYA5ydTKD3DtzFV5x-pb40bkrpQTo9Uha1tjbxQsAFWHZhhTBiZKWyGP2c_VNx5AA4sQQYx4XS/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+002.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Hello, Sweet Friends.</span> I've been so excited to share Part 2 of this <a href="http://www.tatteredchick.net/2012/02/lets-share-our-hearts.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Valentine Heart Swap</span></a>, hosted by the marvelous Marsha of <a href="http://www.tatteredchick.net/2012/02/lets-share-our-hearts.html"><span style="color:#ff6666;">The Tattered Chick</span></a>! </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">**(Please click <a href="http://littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentine-swap-part-1.html"><span style="color:#ff6666;">HERE</span></a> if you missed Part 1~ believe me, you don't want to miss it!)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://crazypurplemom.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#6666cc;">Kate</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">, from the blog <span style="color:#6666cc;"><a href="http://crazypurplemom.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#6666cc;">Crazy Purple Mom</span></a> </span>was the recipient of this little valentine heart that I created. As you can guess, her favorite color is purple, so I decided to stitch a heart in a soft shade of periwinkle/lavender. I <em>love</em> periwinkle. I've always thought of it as the perfect shade of purplie-blue. (Yes, another new vocabulary word for you all!)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsnr_9kjMJcZLAfBQkBy1tWcKVJqz0KJQu21cFbDgFMbQFDiV292mV6s9_-Yp-sTHe4FplKmEMPvKp__baqMTlKsF3vBUVSi1G3nes_pc_ksiMRb2UKcmlvvRzQjx5Mk7H7L_5YoNKs1V/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+010.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707941587427036258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsnr_9kjMJcZLAfBQkBy1tWcKVJqz0KJQu21cFbDgFMbQFDiV292mV6s9_-Yp-sTHe4FplKmEMPvKp__baqMTlKsF3vBUVSi1G3nes_pc_ksiMRb2UKcmlvvRzQjx5Mk7H7L_5YoNKs1V/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+010.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> This was my first real attempt at stitching with felt, and I loved it. I may be hooked. <em>I wish that I could stitch a valentine heart for each of you!</em> I've always been inspired by the beautiful and whimsical stitched felt creations of <a href="http://creativebreathing.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#6666cc;">Elizabeth</span></a> and <a href="http://beedeebabee.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#6666cc;">Paulette</span></a>, and have always wanted to try my hand at it. This heart swap was the perfect opportunity to stretch my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">stitchin</span>' wings! I sent this little heart in the felt envelope above, addressed to Kate...</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ngCU9esV8GE2QNY1yc_yzW0DxGA2he6GaZQcOiLjQFoop9F-6MT175-_o_g-YRafH95znf57snhmAf3Vd62M3lN7zUQl0KlKvBLO6CVnKbHGlcTPyLNzg79j-WRJVWSSTq7mcoTMV8AD/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+006.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707941278366747346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ngCU9esV8GE2QNY1yc_yzW0DxGA2he6GaZQcOiLjQFoop9F-6MT175-_o_g-YRafH95znf57snhmAf3Vd62M3lN7zUQl0KlKvBLO6CVnKbHGlcTPyLNzg79j-WRJVWSSTq7mcoTMV8AD/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+006.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> ... and even sealed the envelope with a tiny stitched "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">xox</span>"! I stitched the back of the heart with a little flower, a "J", and a little stitched heart. As they say, "love is in the details"-- right?</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oLEXj8KwuU1rZ9kLPYYaAaHCzGU-yQwlCnbtN4CE5ugyIAwKkb0OQg7mZI_S-fsUm9Baojqm9TcjE4iXZLcYjkm1FGrQ_OTfDf2yklp-nKL7GvLd3vA1s6QFgqU7WYcRkN9rzt9dP9H6/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+014.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707940838570990658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oLEXj8KwuU1rZ9kLPYYaAaHCzGU-yQwlCnbtN4CE5ugyIAwKkb0OQg7mZI_S-fsUm9Baojqm9TcjE4iXZLcYjkm1FGrQ_OTfDf2yklp-nKL7GvLd3vA1s6QFgqU7WYcRkN9rzt9dP9H6/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+014.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> This was also one of my first attempts at beading. Don't you love these little pearl beads? They're so teeny tiny-- it took a bit of time to get the hang of handling them. I thoroughly enjoyed creating this sweet little valentine, and hope that it makes Kate's heart happy. I know that having the opportunity to stitch it for her made <em>my</em> heart happy!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#6666cc;">Happy</span> <span style="color:#ff6666;">Valentine's</span> <span style="color:#6666cc;">Day,</span> <span style="color:#ff6666;">Sweet</span> <span style="color:#6666cc;">Friends!</span></span></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#000000;">Hugs,</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></span></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">PS: Please visit <a href="http://www.tatteredchick.net/2012/02/lets-share-our-hearts.html"><span style="color:#ff6666;">Marsha's blog</span></a> for links to see a fun variety of hearts from this Valentine's Day Swap!</span></div></div></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-72637935471078251092012-02-13T22:31:00.000-08:002012-02-13T22:37:08.806-08:00Valentine Swap, Part 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGiCK5snB8bdKKb2rad4mygUkTmJ6BD6QQHDjW6MfjCvXPPcYM-X0OBIzTatk5s23KQKREDwqw0VL3dm87uDBLgKQF-JGttd14sQEEUO_x2iBMVj8SovfikCQbCiVKO1V2pXC2LrR-wcq/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+021.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707930500714013090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGiCK5snB8bdKKb2rad4mygUkTmJ6BD6QQHDjW6MfjCvXPPcYM-X0OBIzTatk5s23KQKREDwqw0VL3dm87uDBLgKQF-JGttd14sQEEUO_x2iBMVj8SovfikCQbCiVKO1V2pXC2LrR-wcq/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+021.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> A few weeks ago I took a leap and decided to join </span><a href="http://www.tatteredchick.net/2012/02/lets-share-our-hearts.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#ff6666;">Marsha's Valentine Swap</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. I knew who I was to create a heart for, however I did not know who I was going to receive a heart from. Little did I know that I would receive an envelope all the way from The Netherlands~ from the lovely </span><a href="http://http//liszha.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#00cccc;">Lisette</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> from </span><a href="http://liszha.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#00cccc;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Liszha's</span> Scrappy World</span></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">! She created this adorable polka dot pink stitched heart, and I love it! And as if that wasn't sweet enough, she included even more wonderful goodies:</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsnmzTrr_iU1pKIh8IQ-y56xBglEHZ5KafCKUQA7qliYCbMJNoRceZQ_DrEZr_WLHhymG5lkcb70YeruR6SrQKX5Gegeuwv5G9Myj-L2EOyCYOQmo1wLvEo4qAaBUmE2AfCYKHnUROJAj/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+028.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707930270490980674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsnmzTrr_iU1pKIh8IQ-y56xBglEHZ5KafCKUQA7qliYCbMJNoRceZQ_DrEZr_WLHhymG5lkcb70YeruR6SrQKX5Gegeuwv5G9Myj-L2EOyCYOQmo1wLvEo4qAaBUmE2AfCYKHnUROJAj/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+028.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Isn't this fun??!! Lisette is so generous~ and so creative!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuM7K88Siq-fED7ugS-RdkTctFkiBDLtgooXiRsWudxMZD74V-KCDiTy8nPKA3WiDap9yuQZRjw0acD8GjG_SJHJcLbmWrCZERMwNPtBVWfWsbsqNsg6yXeaii1UoTYfCSinU_0KbaYmy/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+020.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707928614838436754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuM7K88Siq-fED7ugS-RdkTctFkiBDLtgooXiRsWudxMZD74V-KCDiTy8nPKA3WiDap9yuQZRjw0acD8GjG_SJHJcLbmWrCZERMwNPtBVWfWsbsqNsg6yXeaii1UoTYfCSinU_0KbaYmy/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+020.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I instantly fell in love with this adorable <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">dangly</span> heart key fob! She used my current favorite color combination-- pink, red, and turquoise. Looking at all the little details, it's so evident that she made this with me in mind.</span></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJZu7InIKzhjO9JdmFJP0oXL1Uvrz8R9Vl1CSFHQaE5zWXU2xw2MzLx628fNmCX5MhLtsGaj5Q-NGoZf5ezaa-GjtXJU2RjxpZxghIEyDTiMyHotqIOMEj5l2gdS4eSQTZl55ASVyYeHW/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+024.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707927881490346770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJZu7InIKzhjO9JdmFJP0oXL1Uvrz8R9Vl1CSFHQaE5zWXU2xw2MzLx628fNmCX5MhLtsGaj5Q-NGoZf5ezaa-GjtXJU2RjxpZxghIEyDTiMyHotqIOMEj5l2gdS4eSQTZl55ASVyYeHW/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+024.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Lisette is also a very talented paper <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">crafter</span>. She created this absolutely gorgeous tag for me using a variety of materials-- it's so beautiful! I've always admired people that can bring together several elements and materials so perfectly. It's a skill that does not come naturally to me, so I'm always so in awe of people who seem to have a natural knack for it.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazFBV5Kywy8eKUQjRR76-oxvEEqDtaGHMs3sKpVigMS5VR7YBhyphenhyphenKicPWcq9VLG5m8Y5yrduzZTg9sEivs65N9AM_mlL4zxFfeHWfjV_Hs4UeF-CjjdhOQYWSGUu-uDvXOgOkTiOqMy8yg/s1600/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+025.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707927694988662146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazFBV5Kywy8eKUQjRR76-oxvEEqDtaGHMs3sKpVigMS5VR7YBhyphenhyphenKicPWcq9VLG5m8Y5yrduzZTg9sEivs65N9AM_mlL4zxFfeHWfjV_Hs4UeF-CjjdhOQYWSGUu-uDvXOgOkTiOqMy8yg/s400/Swap+Valentine%2527s+022012+025.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Oh-- and she included this rubber stamp and some fun, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">sparklie</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">di</span>-cut tags also! This was such a fun envelope to open, so full of fun surprises! Thank you so much, Lisette, for the beautiful heart and all these wonderful, thoughtful goodies!</span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Hugs,</span><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#00cccc;">PS: Please don't forget to come back tomorrow for Part 2~ I can't wait to share the heart that I created for Kate!</span></span> <br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-72599310994756555022012-02-11T11:53:00.000-08:002012-02-11T12:25:03.357-08:00A Little Magpie Valentine's Cheer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsyJpM3MAebVFgwuGMeCZq8eeoXikoUEQx_b2ruBaAsboM3Yq114SQY6g0fb8Xcb8c4eidtw-aPwEPVO5COGNYPqLppxKFdII4MAUtfi0dTLstAxwVyGuPe_kgq5PUiCQqUH64bdapgu4/s1600/Valentine%2527s+2012+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707969517502089250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsyJpM3MAebVFgwuGMeCZq8eeoXikoUEQx_b2ruBaAsboM3Yq114SQY6g0fb8Xcb8c4eidtw-aPwEPVO5COGNYPqLppxKFdII4MAUtfi0dTLstAxwVyGuPe_kgq5PUiCQqUH64bdapgu4/s400/Valentine%2527s+2012+004.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Hello, Sweet Friends.</span></span> It's Valentine's month, and I decided to treat myself to <em>one</em> new Valentine's Day decoration this year! (Okay, maybe <em>two</em>...) I've long been a fan of <a href="http://magpieethel.typepad.com/my_weblog/"><span style="color:#00cccc;">Laurie's</span></a> whimsical creations over at her blog <a href="http://magpieethel.typepad.com/my_weblog/"><span style="color:#00cccc;">Magpie Ethel</span></a>, and when I spotted this adorable vintage heart jello mold creation, I knew it was meant to be mine!</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I love how Laurie works her magic with her vintage findings, found at various estate sales. She finds the greatest goodies and shares them on her blog each week. I eagerly await her "Estate Sale Friday" posts each week, and am never disappointed with her knack for finding unique and nostalgic vintage goodness!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I love this sweet little cupid heart, Laurie-- it will have a place of honor in my little home!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Hugs,</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">PS: Thanks for the extra little surprise~ that "Wanted" badge is so clever and cute!</span>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-71525193304756051552012-02-04T09:58:00.000-08:002012-02-04T21:21:35.977-08:00Cookie Factory<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DunL82xPTPQgmnhPxsRkOnKzFXq7zctHJvGQ2uCzZmDhznJRYUBkC3uTwMp9q-BvjYpTh4XTOkNoJUG67-rmnZsvFEa-gU5NrqPpuWqy2-xz2cGd7V1UxdtIDuqLN83WZIuxuN1p_FiA/s1600/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705343029481889234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DunL82xPTPQgmnhPxsRkOnKzFXq7zctHJvGQ2uCzZmDhznJRYUBkC3uTwMp9q-BvjYpTh4XTOkNoJUG67-rmnZsvFEa-gU5NrqPpuWqy2-xz2cGd7V1UxdtIDuqLN83WZIuxuN1p_FiA/s400/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+001.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Hello, Sweet Friends.</span> It's been a cookie factory around here! Last weekend I baked one of my favorite cookies-- sugar cookies!! I never was able to get my fix at Christmas, so with Valentine's Day around the corner, I figured I could break out the rolling pin, and have at it.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70Zn0KjE1tUc3qCeURcGwinVvtZKY94cHC3UgYH52p7hQbgAka7K0C2-UZm8eRhux72CtPVFFpEiO4JUv5phlyPLPpO4QUki9rgDgl1E88bWUPoaHLC-UyErFAVJmR3rsMdUTE_uSxEA-/s1600/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+009.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705342693460165730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70Zn0KjE1tUc3qCeURcGwinVvtZKY94cHC3UgYH52p7hQbgAka7K0C2-UZm8eRhux72CtPVFFpEiO4JUv5phlyPLPpO4QUki9rgDgl1E88bWUPoaHLC-UyErFAVJmR3rsMdUTE_uSxEA-/s400/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+009.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Yeah... and it's an excuse to break out the sprinkles too. I love these jimmies-- don't the colors just make you happy? <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#00cccc;">Color</span><span style="color:#ff0000;"> in</span><span style="color:#009900;"> </span><span style="color:#33cc00;">the</span> <span style="color:#ff6666;">winter</span> <span style="color:#00cccc;">makes</span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">me</span> <span style="color:#33cc00;">happy</span>.</span> Making things in the winter makes me happy too, so this was the perfect combination of happy.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAEE76IiWp2zNxEq9kRYF588UKEkaI7tV0ZL3xiwW3DJfuCo23DNwGqNfCuwr0eHNTMAEiuRKIQUogQKs89UzGWxco0DrcKG9hzLYFh_DpxI8QIBNus6na-gmAx21waeelqhi5ZZP7ePD/s1600/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+014.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705342418107103410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAEE76IiWp2zNxEq9kRYF588UKEkaI7tV0ZL3xiwW3DJfuCo23DNwGqNfCuwr0eHNTMAEiuRKIQUogQKs89UzGWxco0DrcKG9hzLYFh_DpxI8QIBNus6na-gmAx21waeelqhi5ZZP7ePD/s400/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+014.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> This recipe has been in the family ever since my sister-in-law, Monica, joined the family and shared it with the rest of us. <em>I'm so glad she joined the family.</em> The girl can bake, and these are the best sugar cookies <em>ever</em>. They are rolled out thick and they're really cake-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ety</span>. (Yes, that's a real word. At least among my friends, it is. It's usually used in a sentence as in <em>"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mmmm</span>... I love <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">chocolatey</span> cake-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ety</span>"</em>.)<br />I don't usually do tutorials or recipes on my blog, but I know that you are going to ask for this fabulous recipe. Therefore, I will share it with you. Yes, I will take the time to type a recipe out. I guess it <em>is</em> less tedious than having to write it out, so I won't complain. Here it is:</span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#00cccc;">Yummy</span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Cake-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ety</span></span> <span style="color:#33cc00;">Sugar</span> <span style="color:#ff6666;">Cookies</span></span></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">(This recipe is easy to roll out and makes wonderful Valentine and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christmas</span> cookies!)</span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">1 Cup Shortening<span style="color:#33cc00;">*</span></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">2 Cups Sugar</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">2 Eggs</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">1 teaspoon Vanilla</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">1 Cup Sour Cream</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">4 teaspoons Baking Powder</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">1 teaspoon salt</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">4 to 5 cups flour</span><br /></div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#33cc00;">*</span> In some countries shortening is called "white vegetable fat", in case the word "shortening" sounds foreign to you. Yes, it's that ingredient that I try to avoid thinking about when I'm eating one of these yummy cookies! (Thanks Susan, for asking! I wondered if anything in the recipe would be "lost in translation" for my friends abroad!)</span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs one at a time. Add sour cream and vanilla. Add in dry ingredients. Refrigerate for about one hour. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut in desired shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until slightly brown around the edges. Bake on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ungreased</span> baking sheet. (I bake them on parchment paper.) Let cookies cool, then frost and decorate!</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh9gSyM7VTbAuCdPus_o0lOiE621I1mQLaW6Q-Xq2eR9ns89vo-oSQAnGueX0BSmFp09ATgdg1FKYSb79OcPBUHTCZqV8vslod63wrQQiyjMfrHleMFc6vxpwhIEzitfhoWNnY9_FrrjK/s1600/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+016.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705342258170661074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh9gSyM7VTbAuCdPus_o0lOiE621I1mQLaW6Q-Xq2eR9ns89vo-oSQAnGueX0BSmFp09ATgdg1FKYSb79OcPBUHTCZqV8vslod63wrQQiyjMfrHleMFc6vxpwhIEzitfhoWNnY9_FrrjK/s400/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+016.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> These are a fun cookie to decorate~ the possibilities are limitless! I made this batch of cookies to bring to <span style="color:#00cccc;">Lisa's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Creativi</span>-Tea</span>, so I decided to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">back stitch</span> them! Yes, those are jimmies. No, it was not as tedious as it looks, but I would only go to the trouble for something special. It helps to have a friend come over and help. <em>Beverages</em> help. My friend Kathy and I often get together on Friday nights for an "Artist Date". We try to do something or go somewhere creatively inspiring to kick-off the weekend. Sometimes we go to an art gallery. Sometimes we play with clay. Sometimes we go vintage shopping. Sometimes we get pedicures. We try to go to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">restaurants</span> we haven't been to-- or sometimes we just "picnic". We love our "picnics". Our picnics are simple and usually consist of yummy cheeses, fruit, olives, a good crusty bread, and <em>beverages</em>. Our picnics involve no cooking, and we can get right to playing.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZJY-dA-wM7YewBXsXL10MZiM5G7Ohgii2h7M5OgXHjR9Or1cGotEovlVTCyB6js695yOiKQnqcVSDdBFFSE71cXQF0WgJ5B6Y3k2-S9b3v3wuDUp3KOY3_rs8aOc-34WqWO3A1WbG8ij/s1600/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+018.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705342048558004290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZJY-dA-wM7YewBXsXL10MZiM5G7Ohgii2h7M5OgXHjR9Or1cGotEovlVTCyB6js695yOiKQnqcVSDdBFFSE71cXQF0WgJ5B6Y3k2-S9b3v3wuDUp3KOY3_rs8aOc-34WqWO3A1WbG8ij/s400/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+018.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Since I made part of this batch as a hostess gift for </span><a href="http://www.lisasteatime.blogspot.com/2012/01/buntings-make-me-happy.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#00cccc;">Lisa</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> (and Sean, her hubby who loves sugar cookies), I made a little tag for the container. I made a "belly wrap" for the container using shelf liner that I bought to line my dresser drawers and shelves. It worked out great because I could just slice a strip to the length I needed. Then I just used a simple <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">di</span>-cut, and some of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cath</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kidston</span> labels to embellish. Viola! Ready to gift.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvx3j1vI1Zwy_1LfPLHYkTUCpWy7GDy0MdLGJs0sBPNnhigysAIkza_screV1jSWqB_OFT4g6DH9zE4pbVz3z7IhulDNdGn6D1_E7xbpzCIbeUjEjR_IP5OlXHCy-IBFixAFP8HwMoef2/s1600/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+015.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705341787516661010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvx3j1vI1Zwy_1LfPLHYkTUCpWy7GDy0MdLGJs0sBPNnhigysAIkza_screV1jSWqB_OFT4g6DH9zE4pbVz3z7IhulDNdGn6D1_E7xbpzCIbeUjEjR_IP5OlXHCy-IBFixAFP8HwMoef2/s400/Backstitched+Cookies+022012+015.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I also used part of the batch of cookies to give to my sweet next door neighbors to thank them for </span><a href="http://www.littleneststudio.blogspot.com/2012/01/coffee-time.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#00cccc;">helping me out when I locked myself out of the house</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. I used my special valentine sprinkles for these. Damn, I love sprinkles. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lovelovelove</span> them!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Well, I hope this post wasn't too long and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">rambly</span>. (Yes, that is a real word-- in <em>my</em> vocabulary!). I'm trying to be better this year about posting about projects and the crafty shenanigans that I've been up to. I hope that you can try out this cookie recipe sometime, and enjoy it's yummy, cake-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">ety</span> goodness for yourself!<br />Hugs,</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></a></div></div></div></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917806986712465141.post-61370795452177656682012-01-22T21:48:00.000-08:002012-01-22T23:07:03.861-08:00Coffee Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnp2C4Zu-BZUXlyk8inUZEocISgu3bM35MBQrfTVw153ounagKklP5pXJZQJIa56oE5Mwyd8BDslIAcLX3IZH5Q27q2MeG9KTDpWod6Fo8IucUCfrYXMkAdbTF-TM4kVzJ2-gRRDh5QkZ/s1600/Stitching012012+008.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700701709174960290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnp2C4Zu-BZUXlyk8inUZEocISgu3bM35MBQrfTVw153ounagKklP5pXJZQJIa56oE5Mwyd8BDslIAcLX3IZH5Q27q2MeG9KTDpWod6Fo8IucUCfrYXMkAdbTF-TM4kVzJ2-gRRDh5QkZ/s400/Stitching012012+008.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Hello, Sweet Friends. I've been doing a lot of stitching these past couple of weeks and thought I'd show you what I've been up to. This is a dishtowel that I stitched up for my friend's 88<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Th</span> birthday! (Yes-- 88 years old and amazing!) Jeanette's favorite color is blue and she loves her coffee, so this is what I came up with. I used a whimsical vintage pattern and added the words "coffee time".<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnugkdiJ_I_AneoHorb6gjujhFeXejepJuf6WzCHV6i-Zy51Vo6z4HNzeIAp1M01y9dT262lAd5niV2S5w2yBANKICauzSChVcSOJ_B-rtuFjbYlGHNhulQXfg5vnsxH_zgNBxezUXw-T/s1600/Stitching012012+007.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700701493201187154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnugkdiJ_I_AneoHorb6gjujhFeXejepJuf6WzCHV6i-Zy51Vo6z4HNzeIAp1M01y9dT262lAd5niV2S5w2yBANKICauzSChVcSOJ_B-rtuFjbYlGHNhulQXfg5vnsxH_zgNBxezUXw-T/s400/Stitching012012+007.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> My friend Jeanette is very dear to me. We were next door neighbors when I lived in my little apartment, and we became really great friends. Now that I think of it, I bet she was quite entertained by my shenanigans. I always had something crazy going on out on the front patio... outrageous multi-dimentional pumpkin carving for contests at work, silly outdoor decorations for every holiday, growing sunflowers and building gnome gardens with the neighbor kids. Oh, and the baby possums that use to come up on the porch to eat the cat food! Yeah, never a dull moment.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDybByqe9rwhgjq6i4mGSSpqeL-s_SR3IS0WBq4WBxG_ozAz286VuFHIN-WqRBZ1EQ0ckI0SDNp4UWh_XWPPYrCyn-zDRhZ-kfgy73g5ECeC-niIXT3ivFD9wQ_kDa8hmONnYBcz1TUGWG/s1600/Stitching012012+014.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700701330638255682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDybByqe9rwhgjq6i4mGSSpqeL-s_SR3IS0WBq4WBxG_ozAz286VuFHIN-WqRBZ1EQ0ckI0SDNp4UWh_XWPPYrCyn-zDRhZ-kfgy73g5ECeC-niIXT3ivFD9wQ_kDa8hmONnYBcz1TUGWG/s400/Stitching012012+014.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Anyway, when her birthday rolled around I wanted to stitch something up for her that she could use, so I stitched this up for her. Don't you love the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">rick</span> rack trim? I love <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">rick</span> rack. I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">lovelovelove</span> it. It makes me happy. So does dingle-berry trim. (That's what I've always called pom pom trim.) I now wish that I had stitched "Rosie The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Riveter"</span> on the towel. Jeanette was a "Rosie" back in the day. She worked on airplanes, and she looked just like "Rosie The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Riveter"</span>-- absolutely adorable!<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TKqgPRuw3Shp7BAGX8BuHyYxhlAfqgs_SwUdemJFEmLi9Y_KdOJZpa8j5cEhkqW1nFxjg-UgO5yUMeMuy4MNSO8f8O5FM7tPLsUxNtW7Hi7qcaIEXAvwpP4XCOI8NEYboWIeunM1wdIN/s1600/Stitching012012+017.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700701076242085522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TKqgPRuw3Shp7BAGX8BuHyYxhlAfqgs_SwUdemJFEmLi9Y_KdOJZpa8j5cEhkqW1nFxjg-UgO5yUMeMuy4MNSO8f8O5FM7tPLsUxNtW7Hi7qcaIEXAvwpP4XCOI8NEYboWIeunM1wdIN/s400/Stitching012012+017.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> This is just a quick snapshot of how I wrapped her dishtowel. It was a quickie-- as always-- right before I ran out the door. I even managed to make a little gift tag to coordinate with the polka dot tissue. I love making tags. They're usually quick, easy, and not as overwhelming to create vs a card.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />I've been busy all weekend cleaning, purging, and organizing my studio. I've never completely moved into this house. I still have boxes full of <em>stuff</em>. Boxes in the studio, boxes in the guest room, boxes in the garage-- so many boxes! Well, I've had it with boxes. I'm so ready to be done with boxes.<br />Well, in the midst of working in my studio-- which is also a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sun room</span>-- I locked myself out of my house. In my pajamas. In my socks. In the dark. In the rain.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Good times. Thank goodness I was wearing a bra.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Oh, and thank goodness I was able to get my gate open, as opposed to climbing the fence. That would not have been pretty. Seriously. It would not have been pretty. I walked through the muddy yard over to the house next door. My sweet neighbors helped me find a locksmith and saved the day.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Long story short, the locksmith and I were greeted by a happy, shaggy, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hagrid</span> about one hour later, when the door was opened. He was oblivious to the adventure that I had been on, but seemed happy to see me. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Haggie</span> can sit, shake, high-five, and stay-- but somehow I forgot to teach him how to unlock a door.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">Hugs,</span></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/176/A6F4940DBD227C248B1B22D48A550AA8.png" /></a></div></div></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931046492933818054noreply@blogger.com8