Plants in the Mail

Here's a free image for you to use.. it was for cigarettes but got rid of the script and now just a pretty patriotic gal with a broom! Have fun..

Was a Sunny day and loving those wonderful grasses, 'Firecracker and Fiber Optic' the names really fit these plants.'

Well such a wimp ,needed a umbrella for rain the past week and now to hide from the bright sun!
But sure makes the garden grow!

With sunshine the solar fountains are doing their job.. had butterflies but no birds..and the sound wonderful..

Today received a nice package while I was arranging pots on the deck ..Last week I had a bug to get a Night scented Jasmine so looked online and found a wonderful site from Florida 'Gardino Rareflora Nursery'.. please take a peep they have some really neat plants! http://rareflora.com/ and was intrigued by all their variety and the huge list of Hoya plants! Had a Hoya plant years ago but never bloomed and grew slow..but after seeing the wonderful pictures of the blooms ,well had to try again... Extremely happy with the healthy and robust pots I received and packed up so nicely.. wrapped in paper cones and paper shreds on the top of soil to keep them tidy.Thank you Gardino will give them a good home!

While I did alittle research on these plants was amazed about the intense interest some people have for these Hoya plants, the flowers look like wax stars and some smell like chocolate , or sweet and even a couple are suppose to smell like peanut butter!

Patriotic Dolls for Etsy

Well here she is all done and for sale on Etsy..

Her red collar matches her red stripes perfectly! The crepe paper is vintage 60 year old stuff bought awhile back on ebay..I have been holding onto it for ages saving for a Christmas project but .....

I am pretty happy with the results was going to do her all in pastels but glad I didn't..
this is much better..[see previous post for 'before' picture]

The back view... Vampy painted eyes, red cupid kisser and black spit curls..

Some old doll projects I finally finished

Happy with their faces simple and sweet... Both of these girls are for Sale on Etsy.

Rainy Day Projects

Hiding in the house today doing projects in the basement..

Rain, rain...well ,able to focus on those papier mache projects and not my 'Flowers'!

My Chalkware Projects so far.. can't decide if I should just antique or do a fine crackle finish on them... Then will decorate with glitter on 4th July Girl's base and hat..

Patching with paperclay, sanding and sealing with gesso...the doll in pink is actually paper pulp[like the egg cartoons] and is fragile. Stuffed tissue paper up inside from the bottom to add alittle more stability. She had paper decal eyes..
I have also seen this mold done in plaster as a lamp. But always with a sloppy paint job.. they were Carnival Prizes or Souvenirs in 20's-30's and maybe even the 40's..

Always looking for basket case Kewpies in composition, or chalkware [plaster]
..Have about 14 dolls now..keep adding to the group...

These 2 are almost done.Will repaint the boy, didn't like his face[especially the nose] added too much hair... was playing around but looks best simple and toned down. Bases will be covered in glitter.

Found this half done Doll in my workroom, a papier mache shoulderhead and cloth body... she's about 18" tall. Really don't like her the papier mache was quite coarse but hate to toss out as like her body and eyes..so will force myself to finish her!

A mohair Patriotic Critter..I don't know if he will be a bear, rabbit or goat! [the goat will have tiny horns and a little beard]. Size:15" tall.

A bisque head reproduction doll I started awhile back. Her bow is brass and will have a Striped pleated skirt,paper hat and flag. She is 15''tall.

Rain Rain, Need a Umbrella!?

Normally, I love rainy days... but eager to see my 'solar fountains' working and my containers are getting rather water logged... anyways here are a variety of Umbrella pictures, postcards and photos... have alot more but will save for another rain day... Enjoy..

[Not my fountain, a stock picture found online.]

More Garden Stuff and Remembering Mom

I did some close-ups of some of the garden statues yesterday.. playing with the zoom lense on camera.

This statue had some old paint brushed on it and well a 'Green Angel'' ick..I will get another can of the brown texture paint and do it like my Garden Fairy..

Here's a old cement rabbit, he hides near the 'Annabelle Hydrangea' by the greenhouse.

A lone purple 'Lupine' in the garden..

One of my favorite plants is 'Ladies Mantle' with raindrops, which grows next to a huge clump of white flowered 'Cranesbill,' looks ever prettier in fall when the Cranesbill's leaves turn orange /purple.

One of the Iron butterflies my husband made from a railroad nail.. still looking good!

The tiny ceramic bird was from Cindy [my Easter Basket Swap partner]..Fountain isn't running since the sun was hiding but it did come out for a sec and it works! Sounds nice too.

This fountain is a verigris metal bowl and can be changed to a low dish fountain or moved indoors with a plug-in adapter. This one is a large resin painted in a oiled bronze. Solar only.

Both of the Solar Fountains are made by the company ' Solar Smarts' .I did alot of searching and comparing online, then bought mine from ebay alot cheaper than anywhere else...Made the Sunflower mosaic years ago, it's a small wood ironing board used as a table.

Not happy with arrangement on deck will move stuff around and do pictures a month from now. I just potted up everything a few days ago..the vine you see is a 'Virginia Creeper' and has taken over the house and deck, so always cutting it back! [Does look very pretty in fall when all red and purple.] Started tucking in solar lights in pots etc. think will get some floating led lights for fountains and solar twinkle string lights to put on twig wreath..Grandkids will be here in July/August so will be fun for them!

Pots of red and yellow Tomatoes and red, green and orange Peppers..the only vegetable gardening will do this year. Here's a weary looking gardener in purple..kinda how I feel all the time lately..
That purple Clematis again..

Drinking coffee this morning on the deck and waiting for some sun..

A year ago today my mother passed away.. so been thinking alot about her.. where ever she might be.. She was a Finn and you better throw a pot of coffee on when she came to visit! [and have some good bakery to go with..] So here's to you Mom ...

Me and my Mom in Burlington Iowa..yep I still make that goofy face..When I was a kid we lived for awhile in Iowa in a huge house with my grandparents and aunt and uncles..it was fun..