Nana’s Cottage Garden Sign

Good Morning.  I am back to share more garden photos.  I know I am going to enjoy looking back at these posts come winter time so I am trying to get in as many flower photo posts as I can.

I wanted to share first a sign ordered by a lady who wished to surprise her mother-in-law. Being that I love to paint flowers nearly as much as grow them it was pure pleasure to paint.



Nana’s garden is a popular one, I really need to paint up a bunch in varying types of flowers and designs so I can post them on the website for instant purchase. One day I may get ahead of the game but not today.

Now to the show…

This is another favorite daisy of mine because it is very short and I can tuck it in spots that need shorter flowers, this one is under 18 inches tall.  I have not successfully gotten the seedlings of this to stay short, they tend to grow taller so to propagate this particular one I take root cuttings in Fall and transplant where I wish to have another.

 

Another David Austin rose, this one is Ambridge.  It is planted beside my studio cottage.



This is Mesa Gaillardia, it is all yellow. I had forgotten I had it until it bloomed.  It is in a crowded spot so this Fall I will thin out this area.  The pure yellow next to the lavender Rozanne cranesbill geranium just pops.



This is the same bed, you can see what I mean about being crowded.  Most of the black eyed susies will be dug up and relocated.



More colors of hollyhocks are blooming too.  I had a white one but so far there has been no sign of it. I have one in the greenhouse I need to find spots for, it is called Chamois rose and it is the loveliest pink and white double.  I should hurry and get it out or the season to do it will be gone. 



I found another larkspur that is a cross.  At first I thought if pure white but upon closer examination I noted the soft lavender edging.



An over head shot of the side yard.  The Trombolina squash (aka: Audrey) is taking off in leaps and bounds and it is loaded with little squash. I need to take a photo of one of the squashes for you.



My ladies lined up to greet me each morning, they see I have the goodie bucket in my hand.



And my reward, fresh eggs.  The Americauna’s have started to lay.  So far the eggs are more blue than green. Another thing on my list is to build another laying box, with so many hens the 3 I have is not enough.



I put my Dreamweaver climbing rose into a wine barrel between and it seems to like its new home. It has begun blooming again.  I need to build it an obelisk to climb.



Time is getting away from me, I need to fix my breakfast and get ready to go to work.  I have more to share, believe it or not.  My trumpet lilies are blooming and so are my Monarda.  Pictures to come…

Feel free to come see what I have been up to in the studio.

A Whirlwind Week.

TGIF!

A fun packed week indeed.  The highlight was the arrival of Baby Benjamin Evan..the latest addition to my collection of nephews.  Here he is with his big brothers, at least 2 of them anyways..



I guess you could say they are happy with their new baby brother.  You can see the “help me” plea in Benjamin’s eyes.
 


These boys kept me hopping both Monday and Tuesday, we had fun, they are endlessly entertaining.

Another event was I had chicks hatch, here they are, these are the loudest little chicks.  We had to stick them in another room so we could shut the door when they chirp.  They are very healthy and active, I will keep them inside probably another week then put them out into the brooder we made that is in the chicken pen.



 I am still painting up a storm, here are a few more signs I have been working on.



It has been awhile since I did geraniums and it took me awhile to get the leaves right.  I am still not 100% pleased with them. 



A new Welcome sign.



I am not sure what wording to put on this, should I leave it for a customer to customize?



This one too, leave it as is and let a customer tell me what they want on it or do it myself?



Come back soon, I will show you what I will make with this handy little ladder..



It will be fun, I promise.



Until then..

She’s Coming Along

I had hoped to have her fully painted by today and ready to share complete with fluffy pink pillows or something frilly and pretty to set off her girly lines.

 

So far all we have to share is this.

My next bench will be built with the Kreg Jig system thus no screws showing at all but for this prototype speed was more important than aesthetics.

If you missed the original post on this fabulous piece of seating here is the inspiration piece.

As much as I wished to be painting on the bench and sewing up some plump pillows I have been keeping busy painting signs.

Purple signs…

Doing something other than roses is a healthy stretch for my paintbrushes. Hydrangeas and pansies prevail.

My website has been getting inquiries for Open/Closed signs and since I aim to please I have been working on some every chance I get.

My jigsaw has been kept busy..

I was in the mood for frou frou lines, just feelin girly, I guess.

This tired old board begged for something fun so it got bugs.

Dragonflies and bees to be exact along with a ladybug or two.

That is what I have been up to this week. More bench fun to come, complete with some of the steps of building her!