A Closer Look at Ottoman

Shop Update Scheduled

I'm planning on a shop update on Saturday, November 19, 2011. I can't reliably give a time because I'm currently nursing a feverish Boo. I'm attempting to keep positive that I will be well on Saturday and will have not caught the bug that Boo has (poor little pumpkin). Items to expect: Abstract Fragment Necklaces, Moss for your Wall, Lichen for your Wall, and some more Special Limited Edition Lichen for your Wall pieces. There may be more and I'll try to post images of what will be posted if I am able.

Speaking of visuals...I hate to have this post lack one. I know how popular Ojo de Dios have become...and I understand why...

Jenny and I tried our hands at making Ojo de Dios (the above is mine) a few weeks ago because I have a huge stash of yarn. I think it turned out nicely for a first try and the colors worked so well with the gourds that Boo picked out for decorating at Halloween. Here's the tutorial I used for the attempt (the sticks are bamboo from Jenny's yard).

sword + fern

The last time I was in Portland (earlier this summer), I dropped off a small package to a wee shop that has the feel somewhere between a natural history museum and the squirreled-away collection (*treasure*) of a creature of the forest (therefore, either we shrink upon entrance, or the contents grow to our size). The shop is sword + fern, and the forest creature whose collection you will discover upon entrance is Emily Baker. Even though it's a small shop (and to it's benefit), one could spend hours pouring over the incredible contents.

What was inside the small package I dropped off is now on display (and for sale!) here...

(image from sword + fern)

(image from sword + fern)

Anything look familiar? If I've whet your appetite for more, here are the latest arrivals...better yet, if you are in the Portland area, or plan to visit soon...stop by and tell Emily "hi" for me.

 

New in the Shop: Vintage Dishes

Serving Bowl

Soup Bowl

Sugar Bowl with Lid

Teacup and Saucer

Set of 8 Fruit/Dessert Bowls

Set of 4 Bread and Butter Plates

Set of 6 Dessert Plates

Set of 8 Dinner Plates

These dishes...perfect on a rustic farm table...the design is St. Cloud. Basically, if you live in St. Cloud and had these on your rustic farm table ('cause they would contrast nicely with the floral and gold)...it would be pretty rad.

Chives from the Garden

I must admit that I'm abandoning my garden. Until I can devote the time to dealing with a compost bin and getting the soil more prepared (it's all clay/rocks now), I'm going to garden in containers inside. The other day, I was inspecting what was left in the fenced in space that was the garden, and noticed that a lemon balm plant was overtaking a chive plant. So, I decided to dig up the chive (and since it was so large, divide it) and pot it in a terracotta pot I had kicking around...then brought it inside.

(Yeah, the reason I haven't posted about house improvements in forever is because it's been slow-going...busy, busy. Case-in-point...the unfinished drywall.)

I often buy green onions at the store for quesadillas, nachos, and the like. I'm thinking that these chives might make a good substitution. Bringing this plant inside will allow me to actually use it. Mmmm...yogurt chive dip!

So, it seems that I have enough chives for all kinds of recipes...do you have a favorite?

 

Just Listed

I just listed a few handmade items in the shop:

2D Paper Wasp Nest

It's a 3 inch version of the one I made for myself...and I might list the large 9 inch one, I think I prefer the small one where I want to hang it. I have enough of the paper nest to make several of these small ones. If I list the big one, there will only be one that size, so keep an eye out.

One BIG Pompom 2

Another festive pompom...really, these have fun written all over them.

Moss Jar 10

Moss Jar 10 is a re-work of this jar because I just haven't kept up with the seasonal curation. So, I decided to pare it down to a simple jar.

So there you have it...some more handmade goodness for the shop!

 

Brass Letter Stencils

I listed several vintage interlocking brass letter stencils today. Here's the line-up....

Letter P Brass Stencil

Letter Z Brass Stencil

Letter Y Brass Stencil

Letter N Brass Stencil

Letter V Brass Stencil

Letter H Brass Stencil

You may notice that I'm pretty excited about spring...what with the basil seedlings and the cheerful spring-like postage stamps as props. Oh, dresses and open toe shoes and bare legs from the knee down and light-weight tops and popsicles and salads and eating out-of-doors and the sun on my face! Soon...please, soon!

Thinking of Plants

I've been very busy with well, the rest of my life lately...apologies for the absence. I've also been thinking about plants (in addition to stacking rings). I suppose it's spring and one can't help but think of such things.

Our local farmers' market opened back up again last month and I decided to get a few herb plants (and plan to get more). It's really difficult to garden where I'm at, the deer devour everything (including the blackberry plants...ouch) and the soil is clay and full of rocks. I've decided to try to keep things simple after what I've deemed to be a couple of unsuccessful years at a garden. Container plants inside, and specifically herbs seem to suit just fine.

Other benefits these herbs offer are that they offer up some green and life in the house, they smell wonderful, they will save money for cooking, they charm Boo, and they have potential for natural dyeing.

This beautiful specimen above is a chocolate mint. I have always wanted a collection of mint plants and here's a start. Containing mint is often a good idea as they will take over one's yard. They also like water and I like that I can just keep that particular plant a bit more moist.

This fellow is a greek oregano (with zinnia seedlings in the background) and has doubled, nay tripled in size since I purchased him a few weeks ago. I decided to use sand and rock when I transplanted these plants. The sand doesn't allow the plants to be watered from above (I just pour water in the saucer and let the water wick up) because it mixes with the potting mix and isn't as aesthetically pleasing...it also may may make the plants again susceptible to fungus gnats, though I'm not sure.

And, I have another plant to update you with....

My Lithops is in it's swollen, almost translucent state. Unlike what I understood previously, the skin does not shrivel around two new split specimens each time...sometimes, it's just one like the previous one. I suppose I'll have to wait a bit to find out what is beneath these parents.

Sigh...well, off that's all for now. I hope to be back soon! Thank you for reading, dear readers.

 

Signs of Spring

A couple of weeks ago, Boo and I received a little package that contained some goodies from my mom and sister. In it were basil, zinnia, and wildflower seeds. Boo and I immediately planted two pots of zinnias and a pot of basil (I wanted only one basil because I plan to get some lemon basil and thai basil at a local plant sale). After a few days, the zinnias popped up.

Then I recalled why I keep succulents and not other plants in the house...fungus gnats. Every time I attempt something other than a succulent, they somehow invade. Then I remembered why my succulents don't get them; not only do the fungus gnats like moist conditions, but they can't get into the soil with the porous rock I put as a soil cover. So, I covered the soil with some sand.

So, my fingers are crossed that no fungus gnats appear and I can, once again, grow all sorts of plants indoors (because I have deer to eat them outside...sigh). Since I layered a bit of sand in the zinnia pots, the basil has *just* sprouted in the last few days...they're barely noticeable. So, when the seedlings show their wee leaves, Boo and I will spread a layer of sand around the stems as well.

I do hope the sand will work...I love simple little tricks that make such a difference!

Happy weekend!

Oh, and PS - terrariums are another good way to keep fungus gnats at bay.

One Big Pompom - 1

Now in the shop: One BIG Pompom - 1

Oh yes, and my Gift Tags were recently mentioned on the Please Note blog...thank you, Elizabeth!

Breakfast on the Brain

Last night I had breakfast for dinner...heuvos rancheros. I'm still thinking about it. Corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, re-fried pintos, cheese, scrambled eggs, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. Seriously.

This morning, I decided to make some whole wheat toast with some peanut butter and honey drizzled on the top. So I went to open the new bottle of honey I purchase and the lid was a bit crooked and the seal opened...damn it.

So, I've got breakfast on the brain today and I've found a couple of items that are breakfast-related recently that I'm again...still thinking about.

Hive Honey Set - Clear Glass

Hive Honey Set - Frosted Glass

I don't have a coffee maker or espresso machine at home because I'm the only one who drinks coffee. So, I make myself tea. If I did have a means to make coffee at home, I would have a french press (Jenny recently got a new one that's stainless steel...her glass one broke...love the idea of a stainless one) or another simple beauty:

Chemex 8 Cup Coffeemaker

Anyway, other than breakfast daydreaming, I'm planning on making a few things for the shop today. I have something else I've made recently as well that I need to get in the shop too...onward!

I hope your weekend is going well, dear readers.