The Elusive Snuffleupagus...

Have you met Snuffy? You know, Big Bird's friend, rarely seen by adults or anyone, really?

We have dubbed the contractor hired by our cottage buyers, as 'The Snuff', rarely seen by adults, especially those with plans to build a new cottage...hehehe.

We are all certain, however, that he DOES exisit and will one day soon, show his rusty, fuzzy face...I'll let you know.

New in The Garden Shed ~ w h i s p e r

'None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.'

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

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A cloud of soft pink filipendula whispers in the light summer breeze ... w h i s p e r is a short photographic series of these gorgeous, delicate flowers and the first two are now available in my photography shop,

The Garden Shed.

w h i s p e r, 5 x 7 Photograph

Wednesday Wonders ~ Etsy Project Embrace

wonder - a remarkable phenomenon; to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; to marvel

Something that I think is truly 'wonder'ful has happened in the last several weeks, something that raises a person out of themselves and inspires reaching out ~ let me tell you about it.

Fellow Esty shop owner and friend, Laura Slocum of lauraslocumpainted.etsy.com / creativelytangled.etsy.com has recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Laura is sharing her journey with spirit, more courage than I can grasp and great good humour...you can read more about it on her blog .

In support of Laura, and others facing the same walk, Esty Project Embrace has been launched by Etsy sellers and friends, to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Shop owners are donating part or all of the proceeds from their items. You can participate by selecting one or more of your items and tagging with etsyprojectembrace or purchasing an item found by typing etsyprojectembrace as your search term.

This week's items are offered by some of these wonder-ful artists ~ please, have a look. And please click here for all the rest!

I love you SO much typewiter card ~ Maclancy

Mini Frame Pouch Mod Dots on Espresso ~ Oktak

A Bright Brooch for Summer ~ Ginny Huber

Bee Earrings ~ The Peach Tree

Can you say silk cravaaaaaat? ~ 5gardenias

Little Charcoal Grey Eggcup Mosaic ~ Sigmosaics

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Etsy Fresh Shop Voter

Wooooohooooooo! My new shop, The Garden Shed, is in this week's Etsy Voter!!!!!! Please drop by and check out all these fabulous new shops http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=60. I'd LOVE your vote!

karon

What's Blooming Today? Lilies

"If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a lily."

~ Chinese Proverb

I'm a bit of a garden 'slug' by this point in the summer. After a spring of colorful blooms and careful attention to the weeds, by mid-July, I mostly want to sit on the beach! There is a definite lull in the sequence of blossoms and the plants are so large, I feel overwhelmed by what will be required to bring them back under control (the beach is sounding more inviting with every passing moment!).

The lilies are showstoppers this week, however, and here are a few of my favorites...this soft pink just makes me blissful! Last summer, the deer sauntered down the path into what they considered their personal salad bar and ate EVERY delicious one. Outsmarted this season, these lilies are in full glorious bloom and are simply gorgeous!

A pretty spotted Asiatic Lily in bright pink and yellow lanquishes in the light of the setting sun.

simply white with rusty freckles

Wednesday Wonders ~ Six Spectacular Bags!

I'll admit it (and anyone who knows me will attest to it!), I have an absolute love of bags...totes, purses, clutches, book bags, computer bags, grocery bags...it's a sickness, really. I attribute it partly to my love of color and texture and partly to my urge to organize things. And why not slip all your bits in the perfect pocket in a pretty bag?

While we were in Bar Harbor, I came across this wonderful tote made from recycled boat sails by Sea Bags in Portland, Maine. The crisp, nautical blue and white is a classic ~ this one found its way home with me!

In celebration of summer beach days, market shopping and everyday 'lugging', this week's Wednesday Wonders features some of my favorite totebag finds on Etsy...please toss in your 'carry alongs', sling one over your shoulders and enjoy these beautiful totes!

Sailor tote XLarge..... in red by bayanhippo

Big City Linen Bag by tortillagirl

The Everyday Tote by fray

Large Hobo Slouch Bag with adjustable Strap by fromnancy

X-Large Orange and Red Retro Pattern Cotton Fabric Tote by jenniferburkin

Bar Harbor, Maine

One of our most anticipated summer pleasures is our holiday along the coast of Maine. Bar Harbor is a charming seaside town chock full of nautical history, delightful shops and an array of restaurants offering everything from the expected seafood to an authentic Cuban menu (delicious, by the way!). Our favorite hotel, The Bar Harbor Inn, is situated on Frenchman's Bay and offers amazing panoramic sunset and seaviews. There is a ton of activity in the harbor itself~ lobster boats, whale watching tours, sunset sails...we love to wander and enjoy the sights and sounds of this busy little town!

One of my favorite shops, window panes offers a selection of unique items for your home and garden and some beautiful fine crafts! There is a vintage inspired antique white wicker loveseat, chair and tables on their second floor that I've been drooling over for two years...it may be required for our new cottage!

This charming antique shop is one of my 'must visits' ! The porch is a cacophony of color, dishes and garden 'junk' that just make my little heart go pitter-pat! I always find some little treasure to add to my collection :)

Colorful yellow and green cups and saucers reminded me of my vintage seller friends on Esty ~ so adorable! (the friends too!)

I took several shots of this pretty blue bench tucked among the flower pots and boxes ~ it's such a cheery blue!

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The weather was a bit gray and wet but we had a lovely time! Til next summer!

There's no place like home...Etsy Project Embrace

"There's no place like home...there's no place like home..."
~ Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

Well, it's good to be home ~ in every way. A few things have happened in the last few days that make this a very heartfelt statement. Home is a word that can fill us with the peaceful certainty we belong somewhere, the joyful understanding that there are people who care about us no matter what, and the freeing gift that we can be ourselves and experience our lives with the support and acceptance of those who accompany us on the journey. Home can make us just plain grateful.

Laura Slocum, of lauraslocumpainted on Etsy, has recently been diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Her amazing strength and attitude have inspired Etsy Project Embrace, the brainchild of Kim (slinkymalinkicat) and Amy (ThePeachTree), to raise money for cancer research through The American Cancer Society. An ever increasing number of sellers have signed up to donate the proceeds of the sales from some of their listings in support of Laura and this cause. People who have come to know each other, celebrate each other's successes, create treasuries to showcase each other's talents and creations, encourage each other and send beautiful, simple and happy notes to each other and who, like this phenomenal group of Esty sellers, step up to help each other when someone needs it ... have come together ~ hmmm, sounds like home to me.

The following are Laura's words, written to be shared with us all:

I believe that you must play the hand you’re dealt. Six weeks ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. My mom died from the same. I am a huge believer in eating right, exercising, and getting regular checkups. I’ve done all those things, yet, I have cancer. WOW. That’s a life-changing situation, for sure. I just turned 46 …. (a very very young 46!) Strangely, I feel blessed. Most everyday of these 6 weeks, I’ve had a smile on my face. I’m going to play the hand I’ve been dealt in the best and most positive way I know how. I’m so fortunate my boys are older, they drive, they can do laundry and help around the house. There will always be some people in this world who have it better and some who have it worse. That’s just life.

I’ve been an Etsy addict since around this time last year, when I started doing treasuries. My sister Jenn, of jennreese7 and my niece Kelly, of SweetnessJewelry, are also crazy about Etsy. The one thing I’ve learned in the past year is that Etsy has made it a point to have their competing sellers be friends through promoting each other in the treasuries. That sounds kind of funny, but, on the quest to have the “coveted” FP, we create treasuries, we comment on other treasuries, we “convo” people all over the world to congratulate them on their successes, and we make friends. Aren’t we supposed to be competing for sales?? Well, maybe some things are just more important than sales. From the moment I had a diagnosis, while still in the hospital, my Etsy friends were first on the scene – building treasuries just for me, wishing me well, offering advice, sending gifts, and a few have gone so far as to donate proceeds to the American Cancer Society in my honor!! Just to remind you………these are people ....I’VE NEVER MET! They have completely gone out of their way to be a friend or try to put a smile on my face. I now even talk to some of them on the phone! Now, I’m not talking 2 or 3 friends, I’m talking like 30 or 40! Some people just have checked my profile and offer words of encouragement!

The first day that we learned about my chemo and all the ‘ins and outs’, the ‘goods and bads’, etc., my husband went online to search for support groups. He said to me that night, “I will never do that again, I was so depressed that I had to get off the computer” I said, in reply, “I don’t need support groups, I all need are my friends on Etsy”! They lift me up on a daily basis. It is Sunday. Tomorrow morning, I will leave my house at 7:30 am for my first round of chemo. I will have an IV drip for about 6 hours and be home around 5:00 pm. I will do that again on Tuesday, then again on Wednesday. then again on the following Monday. I look forward to 8 months of that chemo schedule, followed by another year of some form of maintenance chemo.

There are 4 things I know for sure:
1. I am a Christian and I believe God has a plan for me.
2. I believe in myself to do the very best I can do and try to help others in the process by getting my story out there.
3. I have the most wonderful and supportive husband, family and friends.
4. Logging onto Etsy everyday and hearing from my friends will keep this smile on my face, not matter what I am going through.

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Thank you Laura, for your example of heart, strength and courage.

Thank you Kim and Amy for your leadership and willingness to step up.

For more information on Etsy Project Embrace, or if you would like to participate, please contact Kim or Amy.

a bit of a vacation...

We are off to Maine for a few days this week...I'm so happy to be taking a short break! I'm also really hoping we see a bit of sun! It's been a long grey TWO WEEKS!

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We are still waiting to have our old cottage moved...with all the rain, there's been a risk that the building will slip off the wet beams, so needless to say, it's not been moved anywhere! Perhaps this week...

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I'll be back!

Wednesday Wonders ~ Cat Ludwig Studios

Wandering through Cat Ludwig's photo studio on Etsy feels like a stroll through the streets and gardens of her hometown...warm and friendly and full of beautiful architecture, flowers and and distinctive visual delights! She captures light and pattern in a uniquely creative way, helping her audience believe they are with her, seeing what her intuitive eye also sees.

Cat describes her search for her subjects as a treasure hunt...and treasures she has found!

Cat is not only a talented photographer, as a person she is encouraging and generous...I am inspired by her and happy to name her among my etsy friends!

Annapolis Door, 8 x 10 Photograph
...the blue of the door and the old latch make this one of my favorites

Plaza Scrolls too, 5 x 7 Photograph

Cat's garden photographs are simply beautiful and fill me with flower-love!

Please visit her lovely shop today!