Tending My Garden

My tiny backyard greenhouse is still a work in progress, but since I did promise you a day visit, come on in and I'll show you what I've been working on.  I wanted the floor to be covered in mussel shells, so I continue to collect and lug bucketfuls back here from the shore.

I still have lots more trips to make.  And yes, that is a tiny watermelon you see growing right there in that tray.  

Notice my toolbox (that I've been using for a cordial caddy for now) that got a little French makeover.  I found the free vintage clip art for this project from Karen over at the The Graphics Fairy and have been a little addicted to her site ever since.  I used Mod Podge to apply it as a transfer onto the toolbox.  Karen shows you how to do this, plus tons of other crafts over there. 

Here's an old galvanized ash bucket I am using to hold my potting soil.  I decided a little bee mascot would jazz it up a bit. 

Karen over at The Graphics Fairy had posted this beautiful vintage golden bee image that I knew would be perfect as soon as I first saw it.  I tell you, her site is addictive. 

Outside my greenhouse, most all of my herbs that I planted from seeds are now flowering.  That's my dill you see in the foreground. 

My cilantro and swiss chard are in a state of beautiful chaos too. 

Time to bring some inside for a cool bath before enjoying.  

I figure if we're going to have a salad, I might as well make a pie for us to eat.  (Feel free to use my logic on this.)

The blackberries I used to make this pie were courtesy of a backyard harvest gathered by Henri. I just hope Irene doesn't harvest the next batch.  To all my friends in the path of Irene, I pray she passes quickly and goes a little easy on us all! 

A Nest of Driftwood and Mussel Shells

Tonight the wind is howling outside, which means tomorrow may be a good day for beach combing. Taken on a summer day, this picture shows the type of driftwood we often find washed up on shore here.

Here's something Henri and I made a couple years ago. Using a crudely constructed bird house that I picked up at a thrift store for a couple bucks, virtually everything else used on this bird's nest came from the shore. Henri cut and assembled the driftwood to a platform he made out of wooden planks also found on the shore.

It is still is one of my favorites, so that's why you get to see lots of pictures.

Still with me? Or are you bored yet?

Okay, on to the details. These are mussel shells that I layered up for the roof, using my glue gun.

I really love the triangle shape entrance.

This is a sliver from a lobster buoy that once belonged to a lobster man. I found it just like this on the shore. The number on there identifies who it once belonged to. I decided the bird's nest needed an address.

A tiny bit of driftwood for a perch and some unraveled rope strands in an aqua color serve as nesting material.

More shore finds for display on the platform.

And finally, you've reached the last picture.

The wind is still blowing hard outside, and so now I'm off to dream about what I may find on the shore tomorrow!

Gift Wrapping With Shells and a Sharpie

Who needs gift tags when you have shells?

Or special wrapping paper for kids? I just used grown up paper and recycled ribbons from my stash to liven up these packages that Santa will deliver to the grandkids.

I just used what I already had on hand.

Like a strand of clear beads. And a mussel shell to match with a thin strand of plaid ribbon.

If I know Ava, she will delight in these little gem-like baubles!

So who needs traditional gift tags?

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention!

SEASIDE SHOPPING

A couple treasures from today.
More gifts from the sea.

The ocean's mark is lovely on these found objects.

The distressed finish of this board needed only a few wooden letters.

The colors are often brilliant and the supply is plentiful.

Nature's little luxuries that were meant to be freely enjoyed by all.