Seeds...

My Garden Shed and Fresh Inspiration

About 10 or 12 years ago, hubs built me the most delightful garden shed.  I've LOVED it and spent hours there potting, reading, writing and enjoying my garden.  You can see some pics from this post in 2009 ( http://wildwomanjewelry.blogspot.ca/2009/06/garden-shed.html ).

 

 

In the last couple of years, I've kind of let it go, using it mostly to store garden furniture, tools and empty pots for the winter. Hubs says it looks rustic.  I say it looks like one flower box fell off the window. It's been such a mess and needed such a thorough clean up (read LOTS of time!) that I've just given it a lick and a polish in the spring and kept the door closed.

But I've missed it.

 

Fast forward to this past weekend...we took our annual jaunt to Bar Harbor (which was lovely and full of its notable quaint seaside charm!).  Saturday morning we walked down to the pier after breakfast to enjoy the water, boats and watch some local lobster fishermen setting out for the day. At one point I noticed a shingled building I hadn't seen before (we've visited for 24 years in a row and I notice these things :)... anyway, it was lovely and we wandered down to have a closer look. 

 

 

 It was a new section of one of the hotels that included several charming little shingled 'sheds' that were colorfully painted and gorgeous with overflowing window boxes.  Housed within were unique shops selling beautiful art, home décor and linens, and every manner of beautiful seaside decorative items.

I was giddy...

so giddy I forgot to take pictures.

 

And I was excited! Flooded with inspiration and enthusiasm, I thought of my own little neglected shed! I've already been to the paint store for a stack of color samples... and if I wasn't raining today and I didn't have orders I have to fill, I'd be out there right NOW!!!

 

      

                                                        

 

 My head is full of ideas for cleaning, updating, tossing, furniture, decorating, painting...and I'll post all the before and afters if you want to follow along!

Stay tuned!

Inspiration Journal

“Far better to live your own path imperfectly than to live another’s perfectly.”

-Bhagavad Gita

I've been searching for a journal-- a place to sketch ideas, glue photos and bits that inspire me, explore ideas, dream a little... something with great paper, an unusual shape, fairly large, simple and unique. The other day, I was cleaning some junk from our basement and came across three huge sheets of thick white paper - gorgeous soft, handmade paper with cotton fibres in its content. I think I once used it to create a snowbank for a bulletin board in my classroom. I remember loving the texture and weight when I bought it and it suddenly occurred to me that I needed to make this sought after journal myself. I've sewn torn strips of paper together to create a simple binding. A watercolor wash and title completed my little project -- and I've ended up with exactly what I was looking for!

I've begun to use it already-- here are some flower box photos that I've been thinking will inspire a bracelet in shades of orange, white and green, most likely with copper wire. I'm also thinking of autumn creations including some leaf pendants from copper sheeting and precious metal clay - I've gathered some leaves from the garden to study and sketch their shapes and details.

I'm happy! xo

Seeds...

It's amazing to me, the impact a few wonderfully chosen words can have on a person...inspiration, hope, fun, humor, insight. For me, they tickle a truth I already know and shine a little light on the path ahead, pointing me to my next step. I LOVE these cards created by and featuring the artwork of Leigh Standley from Curly Girl Design. Her reverently sassy and fun messages and fabulous mixed media collages are delightful reminders to enjoy and celebrate the moments all along life's creative journey.