Smile! it just makes you feel happy.

Hope you all have a most wonderful Sunday!

What a Treat!

I have been patiently ( okay not so "patiently") waiting for my orchid cacti to begin their blooming season. They spent a rough winter in the greenhouse surviving on what I thought was enough attention, only to discover that in reality, the attention they received was just barely enough to keep them going. Since moving them outside however and discovering my mistakes, I have repotted them and begun feeding them on a regular schedule and they are so much happier.
I started doing the " happy dance"

last week when I noticed that a bud was forming. Then yesterday I noticed the bud was turning upward, so I knew it would be opening soon. It stormed off and on all day . Last night I went to check on the bud just to make sure the rain hadn't knocked it off the plant and much to my surprise, this is what I saw:

This gorgeous Epiphyllum Strictum only blooms at night. In fact these pictures were all taken at about  1 AM last night. By 8 AM this morning it was closed up and the show was over.  This particular plant will normally form buds and bloom for me off and on through the summer. Now if I can just get her day blooming friends to do the same. If you are interested in learning more about these wonderful cacti, there are lots of great websites and forums on the web. Check them out. If you are interested in cuttings or starter plants, I will be listing both soon in my etsy shop or on
ebay.

Sunday's Psalm

Friday Night Dinner Ideas?

If you happen to be looking for a nice place for dinner on a Friday night, stop by Restaurant 101 in
Historic Downtown Mocksville, NC

The food and service were both fantastic and if I get a chance to go back thru this little town. I am definitely going back. I enjoyed meeting Susan P. and April and we had a blast explaining the road trip we were on.  If you are looking for a great dinner stop by Restaurant 101 at your earliest opportunity. you won't be disappointed.

Thursday's Thoughts

The Old Silk Route

Tucked away in a corner of downtown Aberdeen, NC is a treasure like none other. I wandered in to a wonderful gallery run by the most delightful lady and had the best time. For a moment, (okay several hours) time didn't exist. This little shop had the most beautiful silk tapestries, silver jewelry, East Asian clothing, Art , Home Decor and so much more. Ann Magee, the delightful lady I told you about, was just such a joy to talk to and she has traveled through Brazil, and India and Pakistan and collected such beautiful things.

I couldn't possibly choose a favorite, although I have tried several times.  I can't wait to go back and spend more time with Ann and in her shop. I feel as though I missed so many things by seeing so much. Kind of like the forest for the trees.
I will be posting more about Ann and her wonderful shop and a project we are planning to collaborate on soon. In the meantime if you want to feast your eyes on some wonderful East Asian art  and silk tapestries check out  The Old Silk Route. You just can't blame me if you go crazy for the gorgeous colors and textures like I did.

No Particular Place to go but so much to see

The road trip was wonderful! I can't wait to tell you about the wonderful people I met and the inspiration I found in the places I have never seen before.  The weather was magnificent  and I could only wonder, "Why did we wait so long to do this?" It really was lots of great fun.

Having spoken many times of my penchant with odd names, I won't bore you with the details again, but I will give you a hint, our first picture was taken at:

 I kid you not! Do you ever look at street signs and wonder who comes up with these names?


The first stop along this path was at a State Park in NC, that I didn't even know existed. It was beautiful. 

 This Park has camping sites and kayaking tours, Hiking trails and looks like some place I definitely need to visit in the fall when the colors are changing!

The trees were so gorgeous! The river birch and bald cypress, oaks and gum trees were just reaching for the heavens with all of their might and the sun streaming through their leaves was breathtaking to behold.
You might want to look for some trees in my designs soon........

In Remembrance of Many, In Honor of All

Happy Memorial Day!

To all those who have served and are serving and will soon be serving in our military, Thank You.
Each and every one of you are Hero's to me.

God Bless You.

Sunday's Psalm

The Lord has certainly done great things for me! I wish for you a wonderful week.

In Search Of.... Inspriation! Yahoo!

ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My honey surprised me this morning with a road trip..... I am so excited, I can't wait. Years ago we would take off with 10 bucks and a tank of gas and the only rules were we took back roads and had to make it home on that same tank of gas. We have been to some places with  really strange sounding names.

 Well this weekend, we are off to do the same thing. Needless to say the tank of gas costs more now than it did then and the 10 bucks has increased exponentially, but the idea has me entranced. I want to leave like now!!!

I am going to be on the look out for succulent plants, anything unusual, beads and stones for jewelry making, anything artsy or creative. Any kind of inspiration I can find in nature from wherever we end up. I'll give you a hint, we are heading west. I' ll share my ideas with you when I get back..........

Sunday's Meditation ... I need this every morning.

May you have a wonderful blessed week.

Sunshine Artist is featuring Barbara Umbel in June! Check this out!

One of my favorite artists has been featured on the cover of Sunshine Artist Magazine for June 2013.

Congratulations! Barbara & Rick. Until recently Barbara and Rick Umbel lived and worked in my neighborhood. I enjoyed times we spent together. They have since moved away, but they are doing great and her work is just as gorgeous as ever! She makes the most beautiful jewelry with shells and stones, silver and gold.  Many times I was fascinated by the designs that Barbara and Rick would make. The colors in the stones and shells were mesmerizing and every piece is a one of a kind!
That is definitely My kind of Art!

You can read a fantastic article about Barbara & Rick here.

I am so happy for you both!
 All the Best!

Steppin' Out? Maybe not.......

I have always been one that is drawn to anything different, or unique. Okay I'll even admit to sometimes even weird stuff. I like a lot of contrast, lots of colors ( especially very bright vibrant colors).  With that said, I have to say making these planters have been so much fun. My hubby has been doing the copper work and as soon as he tells me what he has in mind, I seem to plan the design. They are all one of a kind garden art designs.I  can't wait to see the next planter he designs.

In the meantime let me know what you think of these.

Not Sure I would call this working...

I had no idea how fast time had flown until I saw that my last blog post was over a year ago. It went by so fast. I went to work at a job that I absolutely loved and then walked out over a matter of principal and didn't look back or think twice at least until the next payment was due on my new little car.  After a few weeks,  I decided I knew I had to go to work, but I really just want to plant plants and make pretty containers and crafty things.
My projects this week have been string gardens.

 I have watched tutorials on the web and they are so easy to make, once you start you just can't stop. If this is work, I think I could easily become a workaholic. I found some miniature orchids on sale and mixed those with tricolor sedum and a very fragile looking rosary vine. I mixed some ferns with pink splash polka dot plants and variegated english ivy. Geraniums, petunias, million bells, there are so many varieties to choose from , the possibilities are endless. I found a great tutorial here.

Try one out today. You will be surprised at how fun and easy they can be.