ANNOUNCING: THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS...ONE DAY AT A TIME

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS-ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: PHYLLIS CARLYLE

A little bit Steampunk, a little bit vintage, describes Phyllis Carlyle’s Watch Whimsies jewelry. Made from authentic 30-70 year old watch dials and parts found in a local watch parts supply house, Phyllis combines them with jewelry findings, beads, ICE resin and more to create unique necklaces, earrings and pins.

Using improvisational piecing and quilting, Phyllis Carlyle’s Mega Coasters/Mini-Placemats are perfect for desks and small tables. They hold a beverage AND a snack! They are perfect for bringing hot dishes from the microwave to table. Add to a mug or bowl for a great gift—each one is unique!

Mosaic-decorated containers & trays, coaster to serving sizes

-Use small pots to hold pens, candy, floral arrangements

-Use small trays for candles, coasters, keys, coins, etc.

-Use large trays to serve or to organize in the kitchen,

bath or just display these one-of-a-kinds by Phyllis Carlyle.

DESIGN TREND FOR FALL 2018: CIRCLES

Circles, overlapping and concentric are trending as popular design icons moving into fall of 2018. Circles are a pleasing shape and can be found everywhere both in nature and in our people-made world. Our newest stepping stones feature both overlapping and concentric circles. For fun and interest, they dance on two triangular shapes that will pave an inviting pathway in any garden.  
You'll find a whole lotta circles on the cool stuff at
our 2018 Holiday Sale: The 12 days of Christmas...one day at a time. 

Opening Wednesday, November 7, we'll be open from 10:00 am -8:00 pm running 12 consecutve days until Sunday, November 18.  
Save the dates and join us!

MUDCOAT

Planting containers are available to us in many different materials, sizes and designs.  No matter what, it's nice to follow the rule that the container should play second fiddle to what is planted within.  There are times when bright color and pattern are appropriate on the surface of a container and there is nothing like good old exterior latex paint for this purpose.  

Most times however, I prefer a muted, natural finish.  Time and weather usually create a nice natural looking surface but it takes a long time to get there.  I usually am working with brand new containers, specifically concrete and/or hypertufa. These are both natural finishes, but they are too clean and too gray and need something to integrate them into the garden setting.  These surfaces can be changed with all sorts of finish solutions from the craft or hardware store but usually with a hefty price tag.  There is a very simple, natural technique for giving ceramic, concrete or hypertufa  a wonderful natural finish we’ll call "Mudcoat".   It uses materials you already have at home in your garden…dark garden soil and water...and with all this rain we have been having lately, you should have plenty around.

Look around for a spot with dark soil, even dense clay will work for this , in fact it is what you want versus composty loam- no mulch, potting soil or sand---just good dark soil. Cover about 4 cups of soil with water and stir vigorously to make a thick brown creamy goo!  Use an old window screen to strain the mixture into another plastic container and you are ready to go.

Wearing mudgloves, use an old brush to apply the mudcoat to the surface of your container, making sure to cover everything with a thick coating. Every surface should be covered and every hole filled, inside and out.  Eventually I found myself using just my gloved hands to apply the coating because it was easier to rub the mud into the surface of the container.

Allow the coated container to dry in the sun and then you can plant it. Because the container is dry when you apply the mudocat, it really soaks it in deeply and will stay on the pot even through rain and weather.  Over time, it will slowly wash away but the deep color remains as a natural stain on the surface of your container.  You can’t get more natural than that! 

PLANT "GOURDIES" FOR FUN IN THE GARDEN NEXT SPRING

We call these little volunteers "gourdies". They sprout up around the garden and we allow them to grow and crawl because of their charm, delightful coloration and interesting shapes. They are almost like a pet, poking their noses here and there and show up in places that are least expected. Add these plants to your garden next spring by picking up a packet of Mixed Decorative Gourd seeds. Plant them in nooks and crannies that often tend to go bare and unattended. They will surprise and delight you and will reseed where you least expect it the next year.

FOLK ART BOTTLE ANGEL CREATIVE WORKSHOP

FOLK ART BOTTLE ANGEL WORKSHOP

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 9:30 - 12:00

Work with handmade paper and paper caly to fashion a uinique folk art angel and repurpose a water bottle in the process. You'll start with a prepared body, decide what type of "wingage" you'd like and sculpt the feature with the paper clay. Then it's time for bling- bells, whistles, beads, the sky's the limit.
More info and to enroll: 

https://peaceinmygarden.com/products/folk-at-bottle-angel

COLEUS ARE GREAT FOR FALL COLOR

Coleus cuttings root in less than a week. Use them to fill in where your annuals have pooped out. They'll fill a pot quickly and look great with hardly any attention. They will contribute nicely to your fall color palette and naturalize beautifully into your landscape and do not stand out as obvious new additions as do the "pop in" mums!