HIGH SUMMER HYPERTUFA!

 You make 4 projects sort of simultaneously in our Hypertufa Studio; a hand-sculpted stepping stone, a leaf water basin for the birds, a sculpted garden gnome and a box container for plants. 

 Sculpted Mosaic Stepping Stones

 Sue fashioned a miner's light on the head of her garden gnome.  First time for everything!

There's just one more Hypertufa Studio for the season on Spetmeber 7 & 8.  Join us for some messy fun!

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TOMATOES HERE, TOMATOES THERE, TOMATOES, TOMATOES EVERYWHERE!

 Oh what a beautiful abundance of tomatoes this season. 

   Laurie is busy slicing and drying these beauties for our dried tomato dip.  She cuts them just under 1/4" thick and lays them out in a single layer on the drying racks.  

 These go into the food dryer for 18 hours.  The water is evaporated leaving intensely flavored tomatoes perfect for the dip mix.  We'll have plenty available at our Holdiay sales event, PEACE TO YOU, in November and December.

 Ends and odd pieces go into the crock pot for slow-cooking to a rich tomato paste.  A crock pot is the best thing for this and you NEVER end up with that burned tomato taste.

This season has also allowed for abundant basil growth which goes hand-in-hand with tomatoes. Adding dried tomatoes to pesto adds a whole new dimension of richness.

WHAT A GREAT BUNCH!

High summer brings ripening fruits, veggies and bunches of flowers and herbs to dry for wreath-making, a busy, wonderful time of year.  It is also a time of transition as kids head back to school in what seems like the middle of summer!  Today we said goodbye to Emily and Nathan, our senior studio assistants. We wish them great adventures as they begin their college careers.

 Nathan, Sue

Matt, Emily, Joe

Nothing like homemade ice cream with hot fudge sauce to ease the pain of saying goodbye...

goes down real easy!

TUFA STUDIO STEPPING STONES

One of the four projects made in our Hypertufa Studio is a hand-sculpted stepping stone.  Besides the concept and the shape, decoration is a key element to making and interesting an stepping stone. Marilyn loves her Volkswagon Beetle and it served as inspiration for her stepping stone.  Besides the clever concept, the shape is interesting and has with holes for planting!

What gives it a special twist is using broken china from the same piece to decorate it.

The makers of these stones used a combination of broken china and flat marbles.

To make her stone "bare-footable", (smooth enough to walk on with bare feet), Barbara spread natural gray grout around each of the mosaic pieces in her stone.  This filled cracks and sharp edges sticking up, resulting in a silky smooth surface.

 Some folks just dance to the tune of a different drummer.  These "stones" are guaranteed to shred your bare feet to bits.  Better to be placed in the garden as sculpture!

DON'T CRY FOR ME.....

From the Summer's Garden always has Missouri and Kansas state stepping stones on hand.  Maria  wanted  something even more unique as a birthday gift for her gardening husband. He is from a city named Formosa in Argentina. On top of that, he is a soccer fan.  

We designed this stepping stone featuring the country of Argentina.  A soccer ball is soaring from the city of Formosa. Chile, directly to the west, cuts into Argentina at the bottom of the country. That's why there is the little accessory stone at the bottom which is also part of Argnetina!