Hydrangea Urn

Finally, the time arrived that I could plant the Hydrangeas I had bought about a month ago.  I had them in the house until now, bringing them outside on the nicer days and in again at night.

You might remember I shared this picture from Pinterest on some container inspiration.  You can find that post here with sources. This was a window box but the idea is easily transferred over to a pot or urn.

I decided to put the blue hydrangea in the urn by the front door.  It will get some afternoon shade here. 

I picked up some Creeping Jenny, English Ivy, and Sweet Potato Vine to trail or “spill” over the urn rim.  This is early days yet and I’m expecting this to fill in and drape a bit more.

I planted the two purple and white ones in the front bed.  Since they are small, they look a little lost right now.  Once I get some of my other plantings in, I’ll be sure and share the whole look.  These posts are helpful to me, too, because it helps me see what works from year to year.

I’ll have to remember to take some pictures a couple of months from now, too, to see how far things have come along.  Are you trying new plantings this year? 

The Artist Behind The Etsy ~ Timewashed

Happy Mother’s Day!

Being a part of the Etsy community, not only as a seller but as a customer, I have come across many talented individuals.  With this new series, I hope to introduce you to some of these creative people, finding out where they find their creativity, and a little bit more about them.

Today I’d like to introduce you to Becky of Timewashed.  Becky has a blog of the same name.  I have also purchased several items from Becky, most notably her beautiful fabric pumpkins.

What a joy it was to be asked by Kathy to

be a part of this wonderful new weekly feature, The Artist Behind the Etsy!

 

  Hi there...my name is Becky, and I create!

 

 

My Mother and my maternal grandmother

were both so creative, I guess some of that good stuff must have come down through their genes! 

 

One of my favorite ways to create

is to take a vintage item and repurpose it!

Not only does it then become "green design",

but it also preserves part of history,

and I just love that!!

 

I have wanted to own my own shop

since I was in my 30's, and sometimes I

still can't believe I actually did it...

at age 52!!

 

That just shows you it's never to late to chase your dream!!

 

I love being part of the Etsy community, and do my best to purchase as many supplies as I can from other Etsy shop owners.  So often, I find that I can get unique, affordable embellishments delivered to my

door, that usually include pretty packaging and free goodies!  What more could I ask for?

 

The beautiful Paris tag on the goblet above

was created by sweet Rhonda, a blog friend, and a fellow Etsy shop owner, who creates such loveliness!!  Her shop is Paris Gal 56!

 

 

I absolutely love the creative process,

and find it hard to create more than a few

things with the same design.  It's like my

mind just has to do the next thing, so many

of my shop items are 1,2 or 3 of a kind only,

and it will probably always be that way!

 

The things I design come from deep inside me

and really are little pieces of me that I share with whoever loves them.

 

 

 But let me tell you one thing...

 

I was scared...really and truly afraid of opening a shop...putting

myself out there, and risking that people wouldn't respond well to what I create.  After all, they are pieces of me, and that would hurt!

 

So I read a lot, researched similar items to what I love to create to see what was selling,

applied much of what I learned, and

I am so glad I took the risk!

 

 

My shop, and my fabulous customers have

been true blessings, and have filled

my days with joy that I could never

have imagined!

 

I also have learned that not everyone

will love what I create, and that's ok!

They may be waiting for you to open

your shop!!  {wink,wink}

 

 

So put on your big girl panties, like I did, and follow your dream!!

Whatever it is!!

It is NEVER too late, and you will never

know if you don't give it a whirl!

 

Thank you again, Kathy!!

Blessings and Joy to You!

Becky

 

Thank you, Becky!  You can visit Becky’s Etsy shop here and her blog here.

Gluten Free Crepes

I made crepes for the first time on Easter morning.  What with it being just hubby and I this year, I thought we could still make it special {he made one of his specialties for dinner}.  I combined two different recipes I found on Pinterest for the crepes and the filling, so I thought I would put it all together here in one post.

To make it easier, I purchased the fruit to put on top in the canned pie filling {cherries and blueberries}.  If I had been better prepared, I would have cut up strawberries and blueberries the day before, sprinkled them with some sugar, and put them in the refrigerator to do their thing overnight.

Crepes {Gluten Free}

Ingredients: 

2 eggs

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/4 tsp. salt

1-2 tbs. sugar {based on preference ~ I use 2}

1 cup gluten free all-purpose flour

2 tbs. butter, to be melted

Instructions:

Place 2 tablespoons of butter into a small saucepan, and melt over low heat. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, milk, water, salt and sugar until thoroughly combined. Gradually add in the flour with whisk to combine. Remove butter from heat, and pour into batter in a steady stream while slowly whisking to combine. Mix until smooth. Note: Crepe batter is much thinner than pancake batter, so don’t be alarmed if it seems runny. You can always whisk in an extra bit of flour to thicken it up a bit if need be.

Spray pan with Pam and heat over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/3 cup for each crepe. As soon as you’ve poured the batter, tilt and swirl the pan in a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly. Cook the crepe for about 1 1/2 minutes {on our gas stove}, until the bottom is light brown.

Using a rubber spatula, flip the crepe and cook the other side. Repeat this process with remaining batter, spraying Pam between crepes. You can keep your finished crepes warm in the oven (on very low heat) until you are ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Filling:

8 ounce package of cream cheese

1/3 cup whipping cream

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

Combine all ingredients and beat on low to mix together. Then medium speed for a few minutes until mixture starts to thicken.

Additional:

Fruit for topping

Sifted powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

They did taste delicious and this one is a keeper in my book! 

The Plant Container No One Wanted

I had picked up this plant container last year {just before Easter} on clearance, for my booth.  I thought it was cute and a bonus was that it had the plastic insert in it for putting some potted plants inside it.

Easter 2013

I liked it so much that I kept it on our dining table until after Easter and then brought it to my booth.  Last year it also held tulips, but I was lucky enough to find them in pots that fit perfectly inside.

It sat the whole year in my booth without any takers, so I brought it home with me just before Easter this year. 

I put a couple of mason jars filled with water and some tulips and babies breath in it.

And it graced our dining table for another Easter.  I’m sure I will enjoy using it, even if no one else wanted it!

Linking up with:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Swing Into Spring at DIY by Design

Treasure Hunt Thurs. at From My Front Porch To Yours

Be Inspired at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

 

The Artist Behind The Etsy ~ Celestina Marie Design

 

Being a part of the Etsy community, not only as a seller but as a customer, I have come across many talented individuals.  With this new series, I hope to introduce you to some of these creative people, finding out where they find their creativity, and a little bit more about them.

 

This week I’d like to introduce you to Celeste of Celestina Marie Designs.  I can count myself as one of Celeste’s happy customers!

 

Thank you Kathy for asking  me to be apart of your new series,

The Artist Behind the Etsy Seller.

It is an honor to participate.

 

 

 

My name is Celestina Marie after my grandmother but was shortened to Celeste when I started school.

My shoppe  is named  Celestina Marie Design on Etsy.

 

I am married to my best friend and have one grown son.  My decorative design and creative path started way back in the late 70's.

As time went on, I studied interior design and decorative painting along with staging and display, sales and marketing in college.

I love to work in acrylics now but started out with Rembrandt oils, watercolor and ceramics.

Working with textiles and papers are also a joy to add to my collection of offerings.

My specialties range  from folk art to shabby and French Farmhouse.

 

 

 

In the beginning, I created for the home show industry, country shows and fairs offering my home décor accents in many brick and mortar sites and several spaces in antique malls.

In the early 90's I designed and painted a miniature collection for

Sleepy Hollow Productions which was offered throughout the U.S.

 

As a member of The Society of Decorative Painters for 25 years, I have studied with published artists and been invited to the White House to Design ornaments for the Blue Room Christmas tree twice. It was a joy to visit and be invited for dinner in the W.H. Lots of decorative ideas there for sure!

 

When I decided to take my try on line, I started out on ebay for 5 years. During that time, artists like myself, began to try Etsy and it turned out to be a better spot for artists to sell their works. So I became a member of Etsy in 2007 but did not really start to sell full time till 2009 closing my shop on ebay.

 

Finding my inspiration doesn't have to take me far.

I can simply walk outside and see something in my garden to help the creative process along. I can listen to music, read a story, poetry or visit a friend and be inspired.

It is a joy to work from my home studio in Texas.

 

I draw a lot of my inspiration from the past and the teachings from my parents and grandmother who were all very creative people and great encouragers.

 

I also owe so much to my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Hurlbert, who always encouraged my artistic side and entered one of my works in the Country Fair of Yesteryear in Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum where I grew up in Michigan.

To my surprise, I won first place for a mosaic piece I created and that gave me the confidence  at an early age to keep trying.

 

What I love most about the whole creative process is, the ability to touch others through something I might design.  Bringing one of a kind accents to the home, garden or to be given as gifts.

 

Each customer is special and I always want them to know I appreciate their patronage more then I can say.

Quality of work and customer service is my top priority.

God has given me blessings in the designing direction and I am so thankful for any talents HE gave me to share with others.

My Father once told me, "Find What You Love To Do And You Will Never Work A Day Of Your Life"

~~Thanks Dad~~

 

 Thank you so much, Celeste, for sharing your story with us.  You have a wonderful artistic talent!  You can visit Celeste’s Etsy shop here and her blog here.