Art Challenge...what I made...

It has been a while since I entered the art challenge over at http://www.mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/ but this month I decided to join in the fun again.

We are given an image each month to create whatever our little hearts desire, but we MUST use the image provided somewhere in our creation.

This month's creative challenge prompt was the word "Daughter" and this image.

To create my project I used the backing cardboard from a package of gourmet jelly beans I had received back around Easter time..yes I saved the cardboard backing as it was already cut into this scalloped type edging along 3 sides..creating a "perfect" framing.

I then found some patterned paper with a repeating crown design, a larger crown image that I cut out very carefully, then I cut the image of the little girl out of paper, found a architectural image of an old urn, and a vintage botanical rose image..cut both of those out very carefully from paper....and had fun combining all of these elements. Then I edged the entire image with a pretty lace and ribbon edging in a pale beige color, then up in the top corners of the lace edging I applied two very tiny aqua colored pom poms.

I think the crown theme is very fitting..as those of us that have daughters enjoy having our "little princesses" around.:0)

I made this image for my youngest daughter. It will be displayed on her dresser at a new home.She loves it!!

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Now...if you like this creation..or any of the other creations that will be posted on September 9th over at http://www.mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/

don't forget to vote for your favorite artist/creation. Winners of each month's challenge receive a $20 gift certificate towards the purchase of some nice art supplies....and maybe next month you'll join in the fun art challenge too.:0)

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~The Garden Goose!~

A little bit of Sewing...and more..

So sorry that I am a few days late on finally posting my latest sewing project. These little pincushions are so fun to make. I did depart a little from the usual in the design of mine..as the 2nd "round" in the stack on my pincushion isn't actually "round" I created a small square and then tucked each corner inward as an added bit of interest. But when gathered with the threads it still winds up looking "round" even when it started out as a square...still cute..and still fun none the less.

And don't you just love the contrast with the little aqua polka dot ribbon? I do!

Anyhow..there you have it..my latest little sewing project. I'll be creating more of these for sure.

And...I am going to be creating a little scotty dog pillow too..I'll have to share photos of course.:0)

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I also found this rose growing in what remains of the cottage garden..I'll have to pot the rose plant up, as I love these roses and want to carry it with us to a new home.

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The bean seeds that my youngest daughter and I planted over a week ago have finally sprouted up..so I expect in about a month or so we will be harvesting beans..yay..I'll need to get photos of the plants too.

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Thanks for stopping by. I hope that you are having a lovely day!

~The Garden Goose!~

Designing a Princess Style Room

I have a little "princess" that will soon have her own bedroom... So I've been looking around and planning out a few cute ideas for a room fit for a princess(once we get moved that is).

Here is some of what I have found that would create a gorgeous , yet whimsical room for a little girl.

Shoot..I even like the canopy myself... and may have one custom made for the master bedroom too. The canopies are available at very reasonable prices...and custom made at that!...by etsy seller http://www.sozoeyboutique.etsy.com/

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And for the little artist...fancy chalkboard vinyl decal available at http://www.wilsongraphics.etsy.com/

These are also terrifific for use in a kitchen area..I intend to have one of these inside my pantry door or in the kitchen itself.

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And to add a bit of that Cinderella fairytale feel to the room..what about some darling little birds flitting about near a window?

Decals available at http://www.wilsongraphics.etsy.com/

Maybe you'd like more of a garden theme to the princess room?

Aren't these cheery flowers just the ticket? Also available at http://www.wilsongraphics.etsy.com/

Oh!....and we cannot forget the most important feature of a Princess themed room...the castle!!!Wouldn't this be absolutely adorable centered in the middle of that canopy?? Right above a bed?? oh my Yes!!! (again available at www.wilsongraphics.etsy.com )

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed my Princess theme room design.

~The Garden Goose!~

Fun, Fun, Fun!

So.. I did some errand running this afternoon..not too much fun, but needful things that had to be attended to. The fun came along after all of the errand running this afternoon, when dear daughter requested a trip to Joann's Fabric Store...so there I was in Joann's when....what should I spy but a shelf full of sewing machines and all on sale at that!!

Now, I had been wanting a sewing machine for a little while, and had told my husband a few days ago that for my upcoming birthday (which is on the 17th of Sept.) that I would like to have a sewing machine...so...what was a gal to do...but hastily get on the cell phone and in a sweet voice say..."umm honey..hey there..umm I'm here at Joann's and they have their sewing machines on sale today...can I go ahead and get one for my birthday while I'm here?"...and that sweet man of mine..well...he said Yes!...so...wooohooo! I am now the proud owner of a little Singer sewing machine..now nothing super fancy smancy about it....but I'm a gal here that has not used a sewing machine in 10 years...and this is going to be totally new territory to me again. I am both nervous and excited.:0)
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I had no idea last night when I found some darling notions to sew with, that I would soon have a sewing machine to create with too...but..I went ahead and bought myself some awesomely sweet trims. Look at this CUUUUTE eye candy..aren't these trims just luscious??!

And yep..they are now mine..couldn't resist..and they are vintage trims too. Whoot! Whooot!

Now the aqua tassle and aqua square trimmings I intend to use to edge valances at my new home, and you can bet that if I tire of what the trim is attached to..ha..I am going to use a seam ripper to save the trim to use over again..yep..I like it "That much"..hee hee. But..anyhow let's take a look at the fun eye candy now shall we? I still have no idea what I will be creating with all of these gorgeous trims... but I'm sure the inspiration will hit me soon.:0)

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And..since I'm on the topic of "Vintage" I thought I'd share a few more of my Vintage treasures with you all..Items that are tucked away awaiting the new home.
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but first..take a look at this sweet, sweet, sweet "Bicycle Built For Two" that I will be using as a photo prop to create little images with?

It is a small bike only about 4 inches tall, but I intend to create images that can be converted to darling note cards...using flowers and such to create vintage looking scenes..fun!-fun!
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O.k.....now on to the Vintage Treasures.....
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I fell in love with this lamp shade..isn't it just awesome? I think it has the coolest design on it..and I'm going to use it on a lamp that my daughter and her grandfather made using a large gourd..I intend to paint the gourd base in a complementary color that will go with the lamp shade.But isn't this the neatest lamp shade? The lamp will most likely be included in my master bedroom decor.As the master bedroom will be a yellow color.---------
I have a few of these little enamelware European tea pots that will grace my 1950's themed kitchen..I have a collection of 1950's era chickens and roosters in bright reds and whites and yellows and blacks..and the little teapots complement the theme perfectly.
The kitchen will also have a red and white vintage potholder collection ..but anyhow..isn't the little teapot adorable? Such a cheery color!
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And..one cannot forget about decorating a laundry room now, can one? I found these darling chalkware placques a while back and they are perfect for decorating a laundry room ...I think. Aren't they just so sweet?

Now..only to sell the current house..so that I can bring out all of my fun treasures and get to decorating.:0)

--------We did have a house showing this past Saturday..but have not heard word back yet on how that went....sometimes the realtors are a bit slow to let us know the feedback whether good or bad on things..wish that wasn't the case..but such as it is in this process.

I hope that you have enjoyed your visit to my blog..and come back again real soon.

~The Garden Goose!~

My first art doll attempt..and more..

Well, things on the house selling front are going rather slow..drat it...sigh..we had a showing this past Thursday, but apparently the realtor that showed the house was NOT in touch with her clients needs/wants or either said client did not reveal his needs/wants adequately enough..needless to say it was another case of a waste of time on every one's part..the yard according to this person was "too big"..like umm... duhh..if you or your agent had actually taken the time to have read the listing you would have known that the yard was a little more than .33 of an acre..duhhh.

Anyhow..yeah..a bit of sarcasm and frustration in my writing there folks.O.k. rant over...but sigh...

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Well..I decided to give a bit of crafting a try..albeit all of about an hour and a half of crafting,but crafting none the less.

I wanted to see if I could create a small art doll of sorts. Of course I do not have much in the way of any craft supplies on hand, so I created with what I could. A leftover scrap of canvas, a tiny bit of stuffing, and some Prismacolor markers and...wallah!..this is what I came up with. My 5 year old really likes it, so that is what matters. A professional doll making career I'm afraid is NOT in my future..but it was fun none the less.:0) and funner still to see my little 5 year old happy to carry around this wee little "pocket pal",and to take it to bed with her at bed time.:0).

I must admit it turned out better than I expected.

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On the gardening front..I haven't done much at all in the way of gardening this year...most of everything that I am growing is in pots awaiting transfer to a new home. And I gave away a fair amount of plants recently to our lawn service folks.

I did receive 39 variety of bearded iris the other day, which I potted up in batches of 5 into 8 large pots..they were small rhizomes so they worked out well being planted into large pots . I expect that they won't produce anything until next year in the way of flowers.

I do have 2 totally cleared out 4 ft by 8 ft raised beds in my backyard, which I was not planning on putting anything in them , but have decided that since things are going a bit slowly on the house...that I might as well try to grow some beans that are the fast growing bush bean type...and if the house doesn't sell within the next 60 days...at least I will have some beans to freeze...if it does sell during that time then someone else can enjoy some fresh beans...either way...I'll be planting some beans in those raised beds...and getting a chance at least once more this year to do a little "playing in the dirt"

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Have you started your Fall garden?..or planned a Fall garden this year?There is still time to get some items in the ground. Things like greens (turnips, mustards, collards). And lettuces, radishes, endive,chard.This is also the time to plant garlic.

I have some of the items mentioned above available in my little garden shop online. Feel free to check it out. http://www.myvictorygarden.etsy.com/
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Wishing you all a lovely week, and thanks for stopping by. :0)

~The Garden Goose!~

In love With Irises

So there I was last night sitting on the floor of my kitchen area with 11 big plastic pots surrounding me that had been filled with potting soil. Nearby was a large box I had received a few days earlier from Stoney Creek Iris (http://www.stoneycreekiris.com/) 39 varieties of beautiful iris rhizomes to get potted up.

What fun!

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I found the plastic pots at my local Kmart yesterday at 70 % off! Pots that were normally $9.99 were marked down to $3..I saved myself a whopping $77 on plant pots. Yay! I think every gal likes a nice bargain every now and again.

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But..back to the Irises. I am smitten..and my Irises haven't even bloomed yet..but..I know what they will look like when they do, and that is what excites me!

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Look at some of the varieties that I will be growing.What an amazing array of colors!

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If you love Irises I highly recommend dealing with "Stoney Creek Iris" next year . Get your order in early next year though(around the end of March/First of April, as lovely Irises like these ones sell out quickly.
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~The Garden Goose~

August/September 2009 Issue of "Small Town Living"

The August/September 2009 Issue of "Small Town Living" has now been posted to the website at:

http://www.stliving.net/

Highlights:
*Fox Hill Farm Celebrates 90 Years
of Farm and Family
* Attracting Humming Birds
*Easy as Pie:
In the Kitchen with "Not Quite June Cleaver"
*The Stuff of Dreams: By Dean Abbott
*Growing Plums
*The American Artisans Guide

......and more

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Please also join us at our forums at www.smalltownliving.ning.com

Where we share with each other our knowledge about gardening,crafting,back yard chickens and a whole lot more. A community of sharing and caring. We also have a "live chatroom" over at the forum every Friday evening at 8 p.m. CST...Come join the fun!