Spring Thyme at Nestled Inn

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Okay, this post should be named, "Design on a Dime."

I'm such a cheepskate when it comes to me!

I took every single Joanne's coupon with me, and marched into the Daffodil Days sale at Joanne's Fabrics, with my Spring mantel in mind.

TaDA! Here she is! I spent 20.00!







I used my 50% off coupon on these topiaries, and the clay pots were on sale. I just printed out some wording onto plain paper, and tore them out. Tea stained them up, and viola! I planned to white wash the terra cotta, but I thought they were fine the way they were. They contrast the white wall behind them.


More clay pots, with inexpensive houses. I drilled holes into the bottoms, and stuck them into the pots too. I need to paint them, but don't know what color yet. Any suggestions?



Here's my woodbox, all dolled up. I have my grandfather's carved birdie in front, and some naturals in back. Jean, from Bluejeanprimitives sent me this cute wax basket with flax and eggs. Sharon from Homespunheartprimitives
made it.



This time of day, the sun shoots through the back of the house, and illuminates the rose window...I love it.



Yooo Hoooooo...Frankieeeee





Since I moved my sweet dollie from the woodbox, I had to find a place to put her. And since I moved my crock filled with lavender to the mantel, she had a place that suited her just fine.



I took one of my husband's birthday cards and tacked it to the beam here. The picture looks almost identical to my little dog, and so I put this here for her. Frank is more amused with it than she is.



And the moral of this story is: "It's never too late to live happily ever after."


Happy Day!

The Ecclectic Artisans Webshow!

Opening April 7th!! Click the link for more info!

http://www.whendisbears.com/The-Eclectic-Artisans.html

Welcome Spring!

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Hi friends,

I hope you have more green where you live than we do here in New England! I'm keeping a watchfull eye on the trees, and I do believe I see some signs of budding! Finally!!!!

After taking my first break from my online markets last month, I decided to keep Spring in mind for this month's offerings. All of the following items will be listed on their respective sites on April 1rst.

For Simply Primitives, I took this old, carriage wheel, and made this unique wreath for your Spring entrance.



I've used moss, Tansy and Sweet Annie to make up this cutie. I'm also offering this giclee reproduction of Abigail Rose.




For The Humble Arts, i'm offering this Bunny door hanger. I've painted him up in taupe, with linen colored accents dry-brushed on, and added some faux clover. I just love him.





And this pretty box. It has a raised motif, and i've painted it out in common colors, then antiqued at the end. The rubbed out areas give her age and softness. I really like how this turned out!







For the TDIPTMercantile, I'll be offering this wonderful birdhouse. I bought the birdhouse, unfinished, from an older gentleman. He's carved his name into the back. Painted out in a rusty red/brown, I took the roof off, as I am not a fan of the gambrel roof style, and added this old, Pennsylvania licence plate in its place. I've affixed a nice twig, and some moss for added interest, and a square-head nail for a perch. I really love birdhouses, and will be sad to see this one go...but I've learned to share :).




I'm also offering a reproduction of my Izannah in a frame-shop frame.



Hope you enjoyed the show!

Here's a peek at Frankie...what a little beauty. He'll be a year old in April.



And here's a picture of my front door. I'm ready for Spring...I wonder if Spring is ready for me?!

Fa la la la la....

I'm just getting over one of those nasty bugs that are out there...so I feel like superwoman with my new antibodies!

With my shiny new cape, atop my PJ's, I started painting last night. I get lots of folks asking me when i'll paint again, and I say, "I really don't know."

I have to be inspired to paint. And so I wait. And now i'm more inspired to paint than I have been in a long time.

Here is a sneak peek of Jack Henry. There is lots of work to do on him, but it's fun to see things on the path, dontcha think?

He was inspired by an old portrait I recently saw...he's going to look completely different with an antique over him and all of his shading put in...

Next, I'm most likely going to start a family tree. It will be not so much a reproduction, but an inspired by piece from the 1700s. I'm going to try an ink and water color method on that one...

Meet Jack





Here he is finished! Enjoy him Charleen!

I've been tagged!

By my friend, Miss Blue Jeans, tagged me to say 5 things about myself. She's a fiesty one...and pretty as heck!!! And a very talented artist and soap maker. Okay...

1. I am a loner. I like to stay at home with my animals and listen to soundscapes. In fact, I keep it going for them when I do have to leave the combine to go to the market.

2. I'm a poet and didn't know it.

3. I'm a cryer. I cry over commercials sometimes. Most people don't know that about me, because i'm so tough on the outside.

4. My husband is/was only my second boyfriend in life. I knew after the first one that if I found a good one, I would sink my claws in deep.

5. I am a deep thinker and ponderer. I used to love driving to the local resevoir by myself, listening to Bob Dylan, and sit out in the sun thinking about everything and nothing at the same time...for hours.

Now I do that here, in my little house that i've filled with memories, so I don't have to travel far to reminesce about my grandfather and his crafty hands, and beautiful, blue eyes, or my grandmother who has always given more than she's had...and smiles doing it.

I'm greatful for my blessings AND my heart-aches. That's quite an accomplishment in life...

knock knock knock

Howwwwwwwwwdee!

I'm back from the gloomies, and ready to get working!

It's frustrating to make your living with your heart in your hands, because sometimes big girl life gets in the way, and you just can't create!

Thankfully, I am inspired by the gals who surround me in my cyber world. I can feel my creativity blossoming every minute thanks to them! Thank you all for just being you!

I was gazing at Mr. Bibbles the other day, and decided to make a rendition of him...he's going to be a present for my husband...Whatcha think?






Here is a picture of a project I did for myself. I had some scrap lumber from building the house, actually part of one of my interior doors, so I painted it up. This was 2 years ago. Well some of you know that I was able to purchase my grandparents' door to the home they first built to raise their family in. This is the hardware to that door. It was broken, and so I replaced it, but was adamant about saving it. My husband thinks I'm a pack rat. Well during my latest cleaning frenzy, I found it, and decided to apply it to something so that it would not get misplaced...I think it makes a neat assemblage piece.


And here is my "oldie girl". Ginger was a little pup when we rescued her...now she's 14. She's my buddy.


And Frankie with Nonnie (pretending to be a good boy)


Have a wonderful week all...:)

Happy New Year!!!!

I hope you have a healthy, prosperous, happy-snappy New Year!!!!!

It's snowing here today, and SO pretty outside! Glad I just washed my snowsuit!

Here is one reason I love Chickadees so much...







They are tiny, but fearless!!!



My house is finally clean enough to take a few pictures of the mantel, and new fireplace screen.







Here's our old kitty, Carrot, enjoying the fire last year. We miss him so...



And here is one of my favorite gifts this year. An old clock that came from an old friend who is no longer with us. My mom had it fixed up, and it chimes on the hour. I love it.



Below the clock on the shelf is an antique bottle with my father's sunglasses hanging. My sister gave them to me last year at Christmas. I met my father 10 years ago, and he was very sick. He passed rather quickly, and his glasses were his trademark.



Even though Christmas has turned into a busy and stressful time of year for lots of us, I'm happy to say that there is still some old fashioned sentiment left...

...I think i'll take that with me to the Next Year.

Warmly,
annie ~ la chickadee dee dee