Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the farm. I hope your day is filled with laughter and love.

Blue Sky and Sunshine

It is amazing what blue sky and sunshine can do for one's mood. I have been living in a world filled with rain and gray for almost two weeks. I should not complain since people on the east coast are dealing with far worse things but when you learn you have a leak in your roof, sunshine and blue skies are a wonderful thing. I wandered around my gardens this morning, snapping pictures. I try to take pictures of the gardens during the various seasons to help me during the winter when I plan what I am going to do in the spring. It is a wonderful way to see what needs changed, moved or spots that need gardens. My husband refers to it as his work list. Here are some pictures to show you how things look around the farm.

The view of my kitchen garden. I want to expand this and add raised beds for vegetables.

A view of the perennial bed behind the house. Things have gotten huge in there so I think it is time for a new garden bed so things can be divided.

I was tickled to find a rose bud this morning. It is now sitting is a sweet vase on my kitchen window sill. I best hit my workroom. I have lots of things to work on before my annual holiday open house next week. Thanks for visiting. Cynthia

October at the Farm

The leaves are beginning to put on quite the show. The colors have been inspiring my work of late.

Here are some new items that were inspired by my magnificent view.

I hope the day treats you kindly. Cynthia

MIA

I cannot believe autumn is almost here. Where did summer go? I have been MIA thanks to too much going on. I decided it was time to revisit the blog since life is a little less hectic. I have been busy in the workroom trying to get ready for the holiday season. My gardens are still providing me with lots of inspiration. I picked this bouquet this morning.

The bouquet then inspired this charm style necklace.

I like the way it turned out and just might have to make myself one. Enjoy your weekend!

Custom Orders

I have been busy these last few days. It seems there are lots of brides out there.

I have always enjoyed working with brides to make jewelry for their bridesmaids and themselves. It is a wonderful feeling to be a part of their special day. I especially love it when the brides send me pictures from the weddings so I can see what they look like. The one downside to having an online business, I often don't know what my customers look like. So it is a treat to get pictures.

The necklace in the picture was a special project. The bride had lost her grandmother months before her wedding. She wanted a way to have her grandmother play a role in her big day. The bride showed up at my home with containers filled with her grandmother's button collection. The bride had fond memories of playing with the buttons when she was little. She asked me, "What can you do with these?" The bride also had pearls that had belonged to her mother and several other relatives. I thought treating the buttons like the base of flowers would be a great way to use them. The pearls would become the center of the flowers. When I showed the bride the completed necklace. She remarked, "That is exactly what I wanted." I love it when it works out that way.

Spring Comes to the Farm

After two weeks of temperatures in the 70s and 80s, spring has come to the farm. There are things blooming that are usually out in late April. I wonder what July will be like?

I walked the woods the other day to find bluebells and spring beauties in bloom. I am sure the morels will be popping up soon, too. Hopefully I can get to them before the deer discover them.

With this incredible stretch of weather, I have been MIA from the workroom. I am going to force myself this week to get back into the routine. I have lots of ideas I want to work on.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the view out the window and put together my to-do list. Have a wonderful weekend!

Pretty in Pink

Life has finally calmed down. Thank heavens! I have wandered back into the workroom. It has felt good to play with wire and beads again. I am hoping to spend the next few weeks making my ideas into real jewelry.

For some reason, the color pink has been something I have been drawn to lately. I find that funny since I do not own a piece of pink clothing and living with three males, there is definitely not any pink in my home. Pink does make an appearance in the summer thanks to the gardens. I have gorgeous pink David Austin roses and hot pink phlox that make me smile when I see them. Maybe missing the gardens is what has prompted this fascination with pink, but it has been fun to create these newest pieces.

The workroom is calling. Back to work for me.

Happy 2012

I for one am glad to bid 2011 goodbye. It was a cruel year for my family. We endured a rough winter with too much snow and then a spring and summer with too much rain. We watched our 19 year old son battle cancer during the summer and fall, and then said goodbye to my father after a sudden and brief illness.

Here is hoping 2012 is a kinder year...for all of us. Happy New Year!