Craft Show Success!

BIG Thanks to Everyone who came out to the Mindful Mothers of Choctaw Lake Spring Craft Show last Saturday!!   There was a great turn-out and Shabby Garden Creations had a most-successful day!

Here's some peeks at my booth before it got started.



(PS:  The Garden Plate Sign SOLD!)

(About half the teacups SOLD!)



(All the Plantstands/Birdbaths SOLD but one!)

It was a lot of fun, meeting so many different people and talking about, what else?  Garden stuff!   Everyone is so anxious to get out in the flowerbeds.

Now to get my inventory back up for the next sale in a few weeks!   I know I already have lots of glassware and supplies but I still need pieces!  Can you believe that?!   (OK: maybe it's just an excuse to go thrift-shopping! ha!)

Thanks again to everyone who came to the sale, whether you bought something from me or not!   (But a BIG thanks if you did!!)




Nowhere To Go But Up!

Trying to design your craft booth at a show and have lots of product to offer has its challenges, especially when the space is limited and tiny.   Where else are you going to go with your display but UP!

I've had this cute little nightstand for a couple of years now, always intending on putting it on the porch with cute flowers spilling out of the drawers but my daughter snagged it for her room for awhile and then it went to the basement when she tired of it.

I attached a really long wooden shutter to the back of it with some 1x4's (because the back of the nightstand is really thin and probably wouldn't hold a screw) and the last thing I need is for it to tumble down on someone!

I added some cup hooks to it and it's perfect for displaying my garden memo boards!

These will all be for sale this weekend at the first craft show of the season near London, Ohio!    See my sidebar for details and there is a website for the Choctaw Lake Lodge where the show is being held.

Here's a sneak peek of other items I've got piled up and ready to go in the van!

Hope to see you there!   The weather's been terrific, so no excuses!  :)

2nd Flea Market Gardens Mag!

Boy was I excited when I heard there was a 2nd Flea Market Gardens magazine out this year!   (Good thing my initial excitement won-out over the ho-hum cover picture.)

It is chalk-full of colorful pictures and some not-so-original ideas.   I was a little disappointed to see a lot of the same ole' ideas but then again, I suppose if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Edging ideas that we've all seen before but still look great. 

I was really drawn to these pictures and cute little article;  I love the combination of garden-junk and more-of-a country look; a cottage charmer for sure!

and I'm in love with all this chippy white stuff!!

Super-cute old chicken coop!   I've always wanted to move an old dilapidated little building to my property and make it all cute!   (did you hear that brother-in-law?  Keep the flat-bed handy!!)

Did anyone else notice the broken tree limb in the background?   I would have hoped editing would have caught that!

Also came across this not-so-original idea:   a planted chair.

The same night, I also bought the new Birds & Blooms magazine.   Imagine my surprise when I noticed a familiar site!

The exact same planted chair!!   Makes you wonder where they get their material!  

That was definitely a disappointment! 

But then all was well in the world again when I came across the potting potential article.   Again, not very original ideas but fun to look at just the same!



So overall I was a little disappointed that there weren't more new and unique ideas but I suppose it's hard to keep up with us creative people!  ha!  

Fun Bird Treats

Feeding the birds during winter is not only essential for the birds but entertaining for you!   What else are you going to do on a cold, snowy day?   OK, I suppose you could watch a movie or too but why not enjoy watching all the hungry birds at your feeders? 

Today was a beautiful day; sunny and close to 50 degrees!   We have really had a mild winter so far!  It was a great day to fill-up the bird feeders.  (and maybe take down some Christmas lights that were still on the bushes??? shh!)  

A couple weeks ago, I did a small presentation on birdfeeder crafts for the Gardenwood Garden Club in Circleville, Ohio.   Below are some of the crafts I displayed:

A heart-shaped birdseed wreath; perfect for Valentine's Day!



A small wreath of dried cranberries and pineapple; packaged in a pretty floral tin with moss.

Super-cute mini heart-shaped birdseed wreaths!



Look how cute they can be in a pretty floral heart-shape box!



Or packaged up in cellophane bags with raffia!  So Cute!



Look how cute they look, all hanging on my little 'Filbert' tree by the front porch!   And I can see these from the kitchen window too!



Here's the recipe; it's super-easy!!   (And I found some egg-shaped molds for Easter!)

Bird Seed Wreath

Dissolve 1 pkg. unflavored gelatin with 1/2 cup warm water; whisk in 3 tablespoons light corn syrup and 3/4 cup flour and stir well. (will get thick and sticky). Mix in 4 cups birdseed; mix well until all seeds are coated.
Spray pan with nonstick cooking spray and firmly press-in seed mixture until well packed and even. Let set overnight. Remove when hardened. Tie with ribbon and hang for birds to enjoy!   (Note:  If your mold doesn't have an open center, be sure to use a straw to make a hole about 15 minutes after you've pressed into the mold.)

Enjoy!


PS:   Breaker Breaker 1 9 for the M-Jo in Michigan.....  what's your 20?   Over.

Do You Need a License for that Garden?!

Check out my latest and greatest garden accent:  

License plates for your Garden!!  

I just love how they have turned out!   They were so much fun to make.

I've got about 20 of these bad boys to make; got 6 of them done tonight.   The idea came to me while sitting in traffic one morning and the person in front of me had a vanity plate and I started thinking of garden sayings you could put on a license plate and voila!  

These are going to be super-cute in the flowerbeds this spring!!

The yellow connectors are shower curtain hooks of all things!! ha!  (mental note: must look for more shower-curtain hooks at the thrift store tomorrow.)

Check out my sidebar for the first craft show of the spring!  Save the Date!  (OK, technically it will still be winter but who cares?!)

Merry Belated Christmas!

So at our family Christmas get-together, my brother-in-law feels the need to remind me how long it's been since I updated my blog.   Says they are getting tired of taking the Spring Yard Tour and what's up with that? ha!  (We also had a good laugh reminiscing about the "gag-gift backfire" post from last December.) 

Honestly, time just got the best of me and I could go on and on with excuses (the move, my job, .......) but I suppose it's time to jump back on the bandwagon and make my big comeback!

Here are some really cute garden ornaments I made and displayed on my "garden-nature" tree in our sunroom.   (I had planned on making lots of them and doing some craft shows but that didn't happen either.)




(tea-stained gloves, stuffed with moss with small clay pot and flowers hot-glued)

My mom gave me these little stained-glass candle holders.  (She also moved last year and you should see my basement now!) 

I think they look terrific on top of our entertainment center; I've already found two more at flea markets and thrift stores.

We had so much fun decorating our new home.   Here's my "snowman" village:

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is all psyched for the new year!   I certainly am!   Got me a new job and I'm really looking forward to the reduced stress!

I promise to keep in touch better and already have lots of ideas for future crafts I can't wait to show you and you'll get a peek of my basement workshop!  (Look out! Might give the show "hoarders" a run for its money!!)

Happy New Year!!

Spring Yard Tour!

Hi all!   Saturday was finally a day without rain!   We set a record for rainfall here in Ohio and let me tell you; it's been a ton of rain!  Talk about your April showers!   Now that May is here, we are really hoping for some 'normal' spring weather before it gets too hot!

I wanted to share with you some pics around my new yard; we are loving our new home and all the space!   Here is a bed by the front porch; I just love all the perennials the previous owner put in; it's so pretty!   I need to get some mulch down before the weeds come in.

Here's a bed on the side of the garage.   I'm really anxious for the iris's to bloom!   They are going to be gorgeous!

We have a pretty long driveway and there is a nice turnaround in the front; inside the turnaround are lots of lily-of-the-valleys, vinca and hostas are in the center area.

Out back there is a nice strawberry patch; can't wait for those!!  Yum, yum!

There are also three raised beds that I planted with sunflowers (the big ones!!), other sunflowers and pumpkins.    I've always wanted to grow those mammoth sunflowers and I hope these do well!

How about some asparagus gone wild??!!   We have a nice asparagus field but with all the rain, I wasn't able to harvest it.   Now I have 2-3 foot tall spikes! ha!   (and yes, please ignore all the dried brush from last-years crop;  I'll blame that on the rain too!)

Also out back is a little barn with a covered porch area.   Very nice to sit on the swing and watch the grass grow.  I'm hoping to also enjoy a few sunsets from this point.  And of course you know I'll fill it up with all kinds of garden-junk-stuff.   Hubby has already warned me not to "junk-up" the front of the house.  (ggrrrrrr! it's NOT junk!)

Here's my view from the swing.   Can't wait to see those big sunflowers kissing the sun!

Hope you enjoyed the little tour!   I need to get into the workshop (that's my basement; remember? ha!) and put together my giveaway prize!   I've passed the 50-followers mark and want to celebrate that and the fact that we are moved! yeah!!  So stay-tuned!  

Happy May!