Crafted With Love

Let me just express how grateful I am that January's mental storms have passed. I'm doing much better and have ramped up my creative productivity again. Plus February just seems to be flying by. We will celebrate Valentines night going to a movie, then enjoying homemade cupcakes when we get home. I want to share with you some of the humble offerings for home I've been working on, just in times for Valentines Day !

    

~  GYPSY ROSE  DREAMCATCHER  ~

I'm one who saves old candle stubs and wax from the scented melts used in warmers. My cabinet was getting pretty full from this collecting. Wicks are expensive in store, and this year I'm on a mission to use what I have at home instead of consumerism, when possible. Miscellaneous string was dredged through wax and then dried to make wicks. Tin and tuna cans make great candle containers.

  

 MELT   &   POUR

and now for the creations.....

 

 ~  COTTON CANDY ~

 

~  RISE  &  SHINE  ~

 ~  MYSTIQUE  ~

~  SEASHORE  ~

 and one more project...

I found these wine corks in the back of the cabinet. Pieces of a former life if you will.  Still rocking that sobriety! I glued milagros from jewelry making onto the cork. Now I'm putting them to use as wax seal stamps. Just a little press test below during candle making.  I officially seal this post with love for your Valentines and weekend.

A Garden Update

Originally I had planted four tomatoes plants and the one on the end near the sprinkler is still producing, while the others have dried up. I think it's prime location next to water had something to do with it. This is one plant with it's limbs creeping.

 Here I upcycled and old bunk bed latter into a plant triage. Hopefully the sun to shade ratio while help them recuperate. Current patients are butterfly sage, jalapenos, aloe vera, artisan lettuce, and key lime plant.

 The tomatillos in the striped pot and strawberry plant in the hanging planter were moved from the tire garden because the heat produced in the rubber was not good for the plants.

 I planted my aloes in the tub garden and have plans to make a desert-scape with succulents and cactus. The brick border holds english lavender, and the boy fountain has a kitchen grown onion in it. 

 So now I have two empty garden sections, Some research needs to be done to see what can withstand heat in rubber tires. I'm thinking of growing a magical herb garden to add to my boticario.

 These barrels will need a canopy or maybe decorative umbrellas to provide some shade. This morning I imagined being in Italy and stomping grapes.

 The Park Bench area is finally done, and mostly enjoyed from the golden hour to sunset after dinner. I'm glad I got out early this morning and went to work in the yard. Butterflies, birds, and an array of insects joined me in a euphoric celebration of August & Lammas.

Playing In The Dirt

Sometimes routines need to be thrown to the wind or out of doors. This is how Monday morning found me. The early watering of the plants started off as usual and then the crispness of fresh air and orchestra of birds kept me from walking back to dishes, sweeping, etc. 

 I have three main garden beds which I attempt to grow in. The old tub has corn.....one baby ear is sprouting. I sown in two rows of beet seeds to accompany them.

{M} no longer plays with the sandbox so I converted into a pumpkin/ broccoli grow zone. Unfortunately after peeking under the pumpkin blossom skirts they are all male.

Amended soil was mixed into the turned soil and I dropped seeds for more beets, carrots, spinach and squash. The kale is still producing as well as the tomatoes.

 All in an early mornings work, I'm definitely not a gal who minds getting her hands dirty, I love connecting with the earth in this way. This connection actually made the beginning of the week less hectic. I should just go with the flow more often.

The craft project of the day was making markers so I remember what I planted where. Popsicle's over the weekend was a must.

 Because Fall and all its rustic, glorious charms that come with reds and gold has not quite yet made a visit to my homestead "Mums the word" l.o.l. Seed packets were put into a book so I know what and when to expect sprouts breaking through the earth and time maturity is reached for harvesting. Shall I do a rain dance while I'm out enjoying the earths energy? Oh how we need some rain! How does your garden grow?