Art for Heart's Sake

Raining Cats and Dogs, Meow, Woof!

''It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring.  Went to bed and bumped his head and couldn't get up in the morning!''  This is what came to mind when I typed that heading.  It's a rhyme my mum used to recite when I was pretty tiny and for some reason it stuck in my brain, giggle.

Yesterday was a great day.  I managed to get the next extended bit of garden rotary hoed, slightly gnarly temperamental thing that the hoe is, (after opening the surface up with a fork first) and sprinkled sheep manure pellets over it and then... yes, it started to rain, yippee.  It was such a satisfying feeling.  When it stops raining I am going to put a few loads of compost on the area and then I can start planting - my favourite part!

At the moment we have a native duck, her hubby and three ducklings (she had 6 a few days ago) visiting us a few times  a day.  I give them chick crumble and they are such a delight to watch.  The native ducks are just gorgeous and they always bring their ducklings to see us.  Of course it is possible these three might all disappear as we have eels in our pond - eeeeeek.  They tend to gobble them and the hawks get them quite often too.   Here's a photo I took a few days ago.

 
Today I need to sort out the boxes of labels etc I took to the plant stand.  I have been waiting for a rainy day to do it and this is it.  I'm also working on a small booklet, using paint, pretty papers and embellishments.  This is a first for me and I just want to experiment big time!  Will take a few photos as I progress.  Big smiles....

 

A Happy Wednesday

It's Wednesday already, crikey!!  I had a great day at my potting bench in the farmshed yesterday.  I potted on some tuscan black kale and coriander seedlings for Mapua Country Trading and then spent time potting on my two Geranium sinense (mass excitement as I used to have this treasure and now I have it back!) seedlings and I also split up a lovely double geranium plus a couple of others people were asking for over the weekend.  Unfortunately I only managed to buy one bag of the premium potting mix I want to use for my perennials and I finished it when I still wanted to do loads more - aaagggghhhhh.  One of the only stores here that stocks the brand I like have sold out and won't have more until the weekend.  ugh ugh ugh ugh... I hate that!

Today I need to frantically make my mother a gift tag - she'll be 83 on Friday and I need to get her present in the post.  I like to buy her pretty things but this year we decided on a voucher that can be spent at her local bookstore as she loves to read and could also buy a DVD with it.  I started her gift tag last week but 1/2 way through inspiration left me.  I hope I can find it again... groan.....

Here's another photo for you of a blue primula auricula this time.  Oh and I also have one of gorgeous blossom.  Smiles...

 
 

Photos

Hi everyone, here are a few photos as promised!  One of the most exciting things that happened on Saturday, is I managed to get 2 green Primula auricula for only $5NZ each, which is just fantastic.  These are REALLY hard to get hold of and I've wanted one for years.  They are usually a lot more expensive too so I was thrilled.  I've included photos of them here.  Big smiles and off to pot on some herbs and split up more perennials!  Smiles.. (thought there'd been enough words over the last couple of days so the photos are today's highlight!)

 
 
 
 

Phew, I'm Exhausted, but Happy!

Hi there, well it's Monday morning and yes Zumba is calling.  We have just started summer time here (the clocks went forward for us on early Sunday morning) so we are really waking up at 5.30am to exercise!  Good grief..  We need to get up that early so we have time to do daily tasks with chooks etc before we hit the road at 9am. 

The plant stall went well, I didn't sell as much as I did the last time I did it, but that's okay - it's just a sign of the economic times more than anything.  There was lots of interest in my decorative magnets which was lovely.  I didn't sell any, but that's okay too as I love them all.  My large ones will take pride of place back on our fridge in the meantime.  I just wanted to take some botanical-inspired arty things just in case. 

I loved being around like-minded plant lovers, it was so inspiring and now I''m absolutely itching to dive head first into my garden again.  I may not get much done tomorrow but I'm aiming to spend quite a bit of time in my garden this week (weather permitting).  I will post some photographs for you as soon as I can.  Enough words Philippa, giggle!!  Big smiles...

A Quick Update

Hi there, yesterday went pretty well at the show.  I sold quite a few plants, no arty things but that's okay.  It is an alpine show after all!  The ironic thing is, at breakfast yesterday I suddenly sneezed five times and they was it - hey presto - a head cold!  Ugh, great timing huh!  I managed to get through the day with my nose running like a tap!  This morning my head just feels very heavy and I got a slight migraine on waking too.   I think my body is telling me to slow down a bit.  I have been really busy over the past few weeks so after this weekend I will stop and smell the roses a bit!  Right must fly as have to leave soon, quite a long day today 10am till 3.30pm and Sunday is always slower re sales.  Big smiles and sorry this is short..

Hi, Alpine Show

Hi!  It's Saturday morning 7.40am and I'm rushing around like a chook with my head cut off trying to get last minute things together for my plant/art stand this weekend.  We set up most of it except my artwork yesterday and I'm really happy with the way it looks.  We have to leave here in just over an hour to finish setting up as the stalls are being judged, as well as the plants - gulp!  I will take some photographs today and post them as soon as I can, maybe not till Monday.  Sorry this is so short, but needs must.  Big slightly nervous smiles!!...

Set Up Day

Hi, well yes it's Friday and it is plant stand set up day.  I have to admit to being a little nervous as I really want to make my stand look good.  There is also the slightly icky feeling of leaving my babies (plants!) all alone in a hall overnight.  Apart from anything else, I don't like having them inside for 2.5 days as by Sunday they will really be starting to screech to be put back outside.  We are taking 9 crates of plants, plus some signage today oh and a cloth and cellophane to put on the trestle table first.  Wish us luck!

I am also have a separate smaller table for my arty bits and pieces but I won't take them along until tomorrow.  I will make sure we get some photos so I can post them for you.  The show itself doesn't start until midday tomorrow but I will need to get there an hour before that to display my magnets etc and to tweak my plants.

It is wonderful to have John with me to help and keep me company as the last time I did this show (2 years ago) he was overseas.  He has just got back from 2.5 weeks away and luckily for me his company told him to leave New Delhi 2 days earlier than he was supposed to, because he wasn't going to be home until mid-afternoon tomorrow.  The universe is looking after me! 

In the meantime here is a photo of Prunus ''Awanui'' (I think that's the one it is) in full blossom.  Isn't she just gorgeous!  Smiles until tomorrow...

 

Housework Morning... ewwww

Hi everyone, yikes it's Thursday.. tomorrow we set up my plant stand at the hall where the alpine show is being held, so today is a ''breathing'' day!  I always find it takes so much energy to put one's creations, whether it be plants you've grown or art etc, on show and it's even worse having it for sale!  I am excited about it but at the same time I'm exhausted already just thinking about it... get a grip girl!  Laugh out loud.  Yesterday I packed my plants into 9 crates and I'm really glad I did because boy was it windy yesterday and overnight at times.  The crates are open to the air and sun but they do give a bit of protection which is wonderful.

Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a domestic goddess.. hence the ewww at housework!  I try and I honestly do love a clean, tidy house - it's just somehow no matter how hard I try, I'm just not that good at housework!  I really wish I was.  To top it off I ALWAYS hurt myself with the vacuum cleaner - it usually knocks into my ankle bone or something.  Aaaggghhh.  Living in the country also means there is oodles of dust around all the time, so even when I've just dusted it seems to appear within the hour!  Right well I best get started, I can't put it off any longer. 

This pm I am going to the airport and I need to get some sheep manure pellets and velcro dots (for my display labels that I need to stick to plastic stakes).  Have a great, day evening everyone.  Smiles...

Here they are!

Hi there, well I don't know what it is about these decorative magnets, but they just make me happy.  This paper is from Webster's Pages and I simply ADORE it!.  I handmade the flower on the second magnet and then glimmermisted it (Tattered Angels gorgeous product) with irridescent gold.  The lines you can see running across the first photo is just the sealant I've used and it shows up because of the way the light is hitting it on the fridge.  You don't notice this in ''real life''. 

 
Today I'm madly packing my hardy geraniums into crates, ready to transport them to the hall on Friday afternoon.  I'm doing it today instead of tomorrow or Friday morning so I get a chance to 'breathe' in between now and Friday.  Tomorrow I wil do some housework and pick up the display stakes that I need to stick my plant descriptions to, so I guess it's not really a breathing space!  Giggle...I'm hoping that anything I've forgotten to do in prep will hit me in the face tomorrow so I have time to deal with it! 

I made 5 more rolled fabric ''flower'' brooches last night and will take a photo of them later for you.  They don't take long to make and are really effective - the only hassle is the fabric glue I have to use is really hard to squeeze out of the bottle so I have a very sore thumb joint this morning.  Right off to start packing crates with my babies..  Take care and smiles...

Organising my Brain!

Hi there, it's a lovely day here today, though a bit of a blustering chilly SW wind blowing.  I need to pot on some tomatoes today and sow some more tomato seeds (if I have time) for Mapua Country Trading.  The first lot of tomatoes will be ready for sale at the end of this week too, although the weather is slightly too chilly for them I fear! 

I soooo wish I could get my brain more organised!  I tend to have so much rolling around inside it that it is in a complete schamozzle most of the time, giggle.  I am more or less organised for the alpine show this weekend and am going to put everything I need to take with me in one place.  Yes I've also made a list so I don't forget anything.  I am going to crate up my plants tomorrow and that will leave Thursday morning free to do housework - and hopefully give my brain a break before Friday when we will be setting up my stand at the hall.  I promise I'll take photographs for you.  I only have a 3m (9ft or so) trestle table and have asked for a smaller table for my arty things, so  here's hoping!

I finished my two last magnets yesterday and will take photos of them for you today.  Right off to hang the washing out..  Smiles...