Meeting Rachel Ashwell

Last week I attended a Rachel Ashwell book signing, she has been traveling around the country representing her latest book and doing book signings in wonderful shops. Her latest book in my opinion is by far her best. It is full of heart and soul and her usual design ideas. She is a soft spoken, inspirational women, it was a pleasure meeting her and I was very impressed with how she gave each visitor her undivided attention. There was close to 200 people and she gave each as much time as they wanted to chat and have all their books signed. I have never been one to adhere to any one style but I love the influence Rachel has had on home decor , the soft colors and "not so perfect" look of her trademark style Shabby Chic.   

Welcome Sparkle Season!

Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle! The season has begun and I love it! Everywhere you go things sparkle and say celebration. I over hear people grumbling about the upcoming holidays and I think how sad for them. Everyday should be celebrated and when we add sparkle it is that much better! I like to see everyday objects transformed as though they are dressed for a fancy party. Just about any item in your home or garden can be transformed into a part of the celebration. Little touches here and there that will remind and inspire you to stop and celebrate just because the day "is". I wish you all to have JOY in all you do and that you and your homes and gardens sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!~Jacque

Vintage Trees

These vintage bottle brush trees inspire me to begin enjoying all the little things that make winter and the holidays a JOY!

Catherine's Garden

Today James installed the iron art sculpture that our friend Catherine requested for her garden. She had a very special tree that held a lot of fond memories for her die in her garden. Instead of having the entire tree removed she had it trimmed down leaving a large trunk. She and James designed this wonderful large iron sculpture to bring the tree back to life so she could continue to enjoy it and all her memories. It was difficult to photograph the project when complete because the sun was right in the direct spot above it. I thought this picture with the sun was beautiful. Catherine's garden is full of memories and she has areas decorated with art to dedicate those who she loves that have passed on. We are honored that she has many pieces of our art in her garden and hope she will enjoy this new tree sculpture for a very long time. Thank you dear Catherine and Peace to You~Jacque

HOPE YOUR WEEKEND IS SWEET!

Autumn Bliss!

I am enjoying the new fall season. It comes with a crisp coolness to the air, all the garden is changing before my eyes. I notice change in the behaviors of the creatures that share my garden. The squirrels and birds are very busy working and playing, and the frogs are singing more then usual. We have been spending extra time in the garden doing all the necessary chores to prepare for the winter. We planted winter vegetables, trimmed the smaller trees, raked leaves, which will need to be done over and over for the next three months, and prepared the green house for winter weather. Spending time with nature keeps me balanced, as humans we can learn a lot about ourselves by paying attention to how we feel while doing certain activities and while in certain environments. For me I feel "right" while interacting with nature and at the oceans edge. Pay attention to where you feel "right" and that is where you should focus your attention and time. May your transition into this new season give you inspiration to find where you feel "right".~Jacque 

Autumn Bliss!

I enjoy the simple things... I see beauty in the simple things... I appreciate the simple things... I desire the simple things... have a simply fabulous week~Jacque

Halloween Fun

I have very few items that I display for Halloween, but I do enjoy putting out these fun paper meche' guys. 

Rusty Crusty World

Welcome to my rusty crusty world up close! The above pictures were taken by my good friend Lani during one of her many visits to my house. She shares her pictures with me and I really enjoy how she captures certain things around my house I would have probably not noticed other wise. Lani is our "Rust Queen" and I love the way she appreciates the beauty in rough, crusty, tattered things. For more of Lani's view stop by her blog at  creeksiderummager.blogspot.com. Thanks Lani!

Old Dogs & Guitars

Our friend Antsy McClain wrote and recorded a song called Old Dogs & Guitars. As fans we had the opportunity to adopt one of Antsys' songs, a once in a life time opportunity to share in this man's talent. We chose this song not only because of how we in our life style relate so much to its' story and not only because of how it makes us feel, but because of how it makes everyone feel. This is an all around feel good song, though it could bring a tear to your eye, not only because it may remind you of a past canine friend but also of a time when people had their priorities in order, like the Good Ol' Days, But that's another song.... Anyway what I wanted to share was the very special gift Antsy gave us as part of adopting this song. When the song was released on his latest CD "The Beige Album" he included a very special dedication to each adoptee. Ours reads: This is dedicated to my friends James and Jacque Ferreira, whose ever-present, front row smiles have been remarkable to me over the last few years. This song (and in particular, my own dog Charlie's presence in it), is done in memory of Jacque's beloved Molly, who has gone ahead to pick out a nice soft grassy spot for a big family picnic somewhere in the distant future. Now don't you love the song even more? This man writes music from the soul, for the soul, from his funny lyrics to his heart felt story telling, if you haven't already checked out Antsys' music give yourself a gift today and drop by his web site at www.unhitched.com. His band the Trailer Park Troubadours will get your toes tappin!

the picture is of some of my old dogs, I have almost 200 old dog antiques

What can they tell us?

Welcome to October! I love the changing of the seasons and all the freshness that comes with them. I become inspired, energized, and aware. I reposted the picture above of the Screech Owl from my yard. They nested here last Spring, they are back! This morning I can hear them outside my window calling from the big cottonwood tree. It got me thinking about all the activity I witnessed in my back yard the past few days. Birds of many kinds everywhere, many more then my yard normally attracts and squirrels everywhere, very busy tearing up all my flower beds and the lawn to hide their acorns and other finds. At night there is something coming around that digs everywhere looking for worms perhaps. I like to read about how the Native Americans watch the animals to learn all they need to know about their environment and what was to come. They were able to tell many things about their world by watching nature. I believe we could still benefit from this knowledge, or at least be intrigued by it. My mother lives a little further up north from us and she recently asked me to research why the geese were already flying south, much earlier then they have observed living their over the past 40 years. She said they are flying very high and in very large groups. I will spend some time today trying to discover what that may tell us. I love this world and respecting a caring about it is a priority in my life, I suggest we all take the time to notice it and be aware of what a gift it is! Happy Autumn~Jacque 

Very calm for Pacifica....     @Beach.Calm

A Moment

I like this picture. James took this picture of me when I was walking a labyrinth created along the shore at the beach. I was lost in my own thoughts, or maybe no thoughts at all. I love the way this creation, made from rocks of the area has been left undisturbed for quiet some time. Each time we pass this trail to the beach we get to see others enjoying this creation. Do you happen to know where this is? Have you walked it yourself? Just a hint, it is located in Northern California in a popular coastal community.

A Little Dark...

This past weekend we participated in the Tattered House Antique Market. This time of year I can't resist putting a little Halloween in our space. I like to gather black items, sprinkle with a little orange and add a touch of whimsy! Halloween decorating has gained in popularity over the years. Do you do anything fun and unusual to decorate your home for this time of year? We sold a lot of the items pictured above but if you see something you like contact us, it just might still be around~Jacque

Spoon Tags

I love creating and creating something new that allows for self expression is really fun. We have over 100 words that we are putting on our new silver spoon tags and we are adding more everyday. These tags can be used in a number of different ways and they have a beautiful jewelry quality about them because they are silver plate. For information on stores that carry our tags e-mail us at beachjunquie@gmail.com

I'm A Great Aunt!

My niece Nicole and nephew in-law Dustin just had a baby boy at 5:28 this morning! This new baby is very exciting for my family, we are a small family and it has been a long time since there were any babies.... His name is Ryder Andrew and mom and baby are doing great! I am anxiously waiting for pictures, but I understand the new grandma and grandpa are very busy and exhausted... you would have thought they had the baby, hee hee! Why are babies so much fun? Especially, for me, all I have to do is love him and play with him. I didn't have children so I just enjoyed my nieces and now I get to enjoy the next generation.... this is going to be fun! I am busy getting ready for a show right now, but next week I'll be at "Babies R Us" being the "great aunt" that I am... Can you tell I am smiling!

Left Behind

Yesterday the job of removing every last piece of James's belongings from the house he sold was completed. I walked around the entire place, checking to make sure there was nothing forgotten and left behind. I had never seen this cute work of art he and his daughter (who was nine at the time) had created. It was located in a small slab of concrete at the back of the house. I would have liked to dig it up and take it with us and then I thought about how we each leave a little bit of ourselves every where we go. We can move from place to place as life takes us on our journey but somehow I believe we leave a little imprint from our spirit every where we have been .... and sometimes it is in concrete. 

Jurrasic Park!

Actually it was Patrick's Point State Park! We love the way the camp sites are so secluded, you feel like you are in the jungle. I have been going there since I was a child, I know all the trails and beaches like I know my own home. When I was young and with my family we would camp with a tent, now James and I have a motor home, both ways are fun, though I have to say I like the conveniences of the motor home, and you don't have to protect your camp from the raccoons and bears! Where do you like to camp? 

Shells

Things made out of shells..... a shelf full of my collection of tacky things made out of shells.... a few of my vintage shell boxes. I have been collecting these things since I was a young child. My love for the ocean goes way back since the first time I saw it.~Jacque

Vintage

My sister showed up to our camping trip in this awesome vintage motor home! It was so cute! Every little detail is fun. It is a Palm Beach GMC. The inside is as cute as the outside, all original upholstery and details. I think the only thing that could have made it better was an old wood surf board strapped to the top. 

Special Gift

Today is my birthday and I was given a very special gift. You see we are part of a group of people, people with big hearts, and great views on life. Antsy McClain is a musician that we follow and the friends we have made along the way have enriched our lives. One of these friends along with the help of my sweetie produced a video to my favorite song that was written by Antsy. My fur babies are very special to me and anyone that knows me knows that right away. My dear Dalmatian Mollie has passed on but she touched many lives while she was here and she still does. Thank you to our dear friend Troy for his kind heart and video album talent. I will cherish this gift. He posted it on YouTube so if you would like to see my gift go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0PDDOqmc7U ... It is very personal and I know there are things about it only I would get, but I hope you enjoy it too. ~Jacque

Jacque Blue

When I was 12 years old the local radio station was having a call in contest. If you answered their question correctly you would win a prize. I don't remember the question or many of the details other then I called, I won, I won a free can of paint at the local paint store. So my dad let me go down pick out a paint color and we were going to paint my bedroom. Any color I wanted! (which was a big deal, because you see my dad was a painter and he would always choose the colors) So I chose this wonderful color, a very very beautiful Aqua Marine, I have always had a love affaire with the ocean and my bedroom was going to reflect that. The man at the paint store wrote Jacque Blue on the cans of paint and I was so excited. My room glowed from under the door. The rest of the house was painted in soft neutrals and greens, needless to say my room was special. I still find myself attracted to that color,as in my garden furniture and collection of glass sea floats. I would like to think somewhere in a dark dusty cupboard in my dad's garage sits an old (slightly old) can of paint with the name Jacque Blue on it.~Jacque

Are you moving?

We have been asked "are you moving"? "what is all that for"? my favorite "are you taking that to the dump"? This is our truck loaded for a show. James is an expert at loading, we have never lost a piece and we are able to bring an amazing amount of inventory with us because of his skills of using every last bit of space. If we continue to do as many shows as we have been we will probably invest in a trailer, but for now it is fun to see his face when I bring out just one more thing....  

It's Time

An idea thats time has come can not be stopped. More details to follow.

Some Of Our Art In Black & White

Contrast in the Garden

Our hard rusty yard art softened by the twirl of the skirts of these pretty flowers.

Flowers In My Garden

Was he talking to me?

For some reason today of all days it stuck, like a pin I mean, I was shopping in a store, had to put on my reading glasses to make sure that the money I was giving the clerk was a 20 and not a million dollar bill or something, ha ha. I proceeded to put my glasses back in their safe little case and somehow set them down on the counter when putting my change away. I gathered my bags and headed toward the door... that is when it happened, the "young" man who was in line behind me clearly and very loudly informs me and anyone within 2 miles that "Mam, you forgot your glasses"! I froze, was he talking to me? Am I a Mam? Did he think I was hard of hearing? Funny thing was I have been called Mam before and it never fazed me, I consider it to be a polite word. Somehow the fact the he was probably over 25 and had that "I just got off my surf board" kind of look about him, I heard "Hey old lady, you left your bi-focals laying here". I was very grateful to get my glasses back, I really like my glasses, they make me look sophisticated, right? So I went home slathered on some face cream with spf 400 and focused on how wise I am, did I mention I am going to my 30 year high school reunion in September, that will make me feel better!~Jacque  

Maintenance

I was thinking today about some things in my life that haven't been getting all the attention they require and deserve. Then I saw him, the neighbors pet rabbit likes to come into my back yard and hang out in the shady cool spot right under the bird feeder and eat the seed that has been dropped. I watched him and thought about his life in comparison to mine. Other then basic needs of food and water his life is without maintenance. My life is all about maintenance! Everything I have needs maintenance, my home, my body, my cars, my pets, my many things,my many relationships, my business and so on and on and on.....

The more we choose to have in our lives, the more maintenance there is required. So my big question for myself is, how do I feel about all this maintenance and can the amount that I believe is required be changed while still enjoying the things I choose to have in my life?

This can not be addressed in one day so as I work through these thoughts, discuss it with my very wise older sisters, and share my feelings with James I will be back to share what I have discovered about my current "High Maintenance Life". I would be very interested in how some of you do it all, how you find the time and energy to maintain all the aspects of your lives..... please do share~Jacque

Road Side Beauty

This past weekend while we were along the coast I was very aware of how quickly things change. Each season moves through the landscape so rapidly, bringing different things of beauty in and out. We have spent enough time on the coast to have experienced all the different changes that occur throughout a year as well as the changes that occur forever. Very slowly the ocean whittles away at the earth forever changing it. Each time we visit "our" beaches they are different, each wave, they are different. The thistle is in bloom right now as well as the vibrant ice plant that covers many of the cliffs over looking the shore line. I believe God's garden is one of my favorites.~Jacque

Concrete Garden Art

I found this concrete statue recently and was aware that part of her was missing, specifically the feet or what would be the bottom, I was pretty sure she was intended to be standing on her head. I like that her feet/bottom are missing it makes the statue more interesting to me. Why would something broken be more appealing? I sold a rabbit missing an ear, a goose with a broken nose and an angel who was cracked up pretty bad! I am not the only one who finds broken appealing, granted they were also old and very charming. I saw a copy of my statue on a blog the other day, it still had its bottom and was standing on its feet. I can not stand mine on its feet and I am glad because she is much more interesting standing on her head!~Jacque

I did that?

I was going through my photos and came across this picture from a display I had created for Halloween a couple years ago, and thought how funny it was. I must have sold it because I no longer have any of it, I don't remember who bought it. I see the old doll heads in stores and on blogs often now and realize that something I was doing as a joke has become a decorating trend! I don't think I have found a doll head (for cheap) to purchase since then. I really don't remember getting this one, it is all a blur! Any way, I thought it was funny and maybe you would too! ~Jacque 

Assemblage Beauty

This beautiful cross sculpture is a wonderful example of assemblage art. To be able to take a bunch of found objects and put them together to create something so beautiful is pure creative talent. I so respect that kind of talent and wish it for myself. The artist of this piece is Phill Glashoff and you can read more about him on my other blog.

My Sisters

This "old" picture is of me (little one) and my two sisters when I was 11 months old. There are very few pictures available like this so I treasure it. My sisters have always been a very big part of my life, they sort of paved the path along the way so as not to be rocky for me. Yesterday I had the rare pleasure of talking to both of them on the same day, this doesn't happen very often and even more rare is the three of us being together at the same time! We spoke yesterday to share details about a very rare adventure... we are going to go on a trip together, back to a place we have all been when we were kids, just not all at the same time! I see both of my sisters, I talk with both of my sisters, just never at the same time! You see, my mom was taught "never put all your eggs in the same basket" and she applied that with us girls, we rarely were away from home together. As adults we live far apart so that has kept us apart, but now we are going to reenact this picture and I plan once again to be spoiled at the same time by my two adoring older sisters! Thanks Pam and Sandy, you have been the best teachers and friends in my life, Love you!~Jacque

A Smaller Heart

I have always had a big heart.... but by request our customers have asked if we could produce a smaller heart and James has done it again! We have a good supply of these wonderful metal strap hearts, all waiting to be loved.... These hearts are great for decorating anywhere and anything! Very cute attached to a gate, small enough to use everywhere, yet big enough to make an impact. We will have our new hearts at the next Sacramento Antique Faire, June 14th or you can contact us for more information right here: jacquecdesigns@sbcglobal.net  

Perch!

While visiting one of our favorite nurseries today I spotted this little guy perched up high on an old rusty pole. The pole looks as though it was intended for just that purpose! He sat up there singing his heart out. I was waiting so decided it was a perfect time to pull out the camera and see if I could catch this guy on his perch. It was about 20 feet up, and up into the sun. He waited and stayed in place just long enough for me to get this picture. For some he may just be a common bird doing what birds do, for me it was a gift, one that once again taught me to live in the moment and enjoy the little things that life and nature have to offer. Come to think of it I wasn't waiting at all, I was living! May you all notice many singing birds throughout the day.~Jacque

Partners

To have the support of another individual on all your adventures is priceless! I love what I do and I loving sharing it all with James. To have him there to help me with all the little repairs, heavy lifting, spider relocating and mechanical things is wonderful. We have become partners, this is no longer my business, it is ours! His contribution with all the beautiful iron garden art and expert ability to pack the truck for a show have made a big impact on what we can accomplish. Thank you James! I just wanted to acknowledge you for all that you have brought to my life and I am excited to continue this adventure with you as my partner.~Jacque

A lotsa going ons...

There is a lot going on around my back yard. The birds have been very busy teaching their babies to fly. Several birds have had their nest mature at the same time so I have been seeing a lot of activity. There are several baby squirrels running around, they have matured to the point that they are pretty confident and have left the trees. They learn fast, there were two of them hanging from a bird feeder! The praying mantis have hatched! We wait every year for the mass hatching... they are every where.... today I had several climbing on my arms. They are so tiny, I have to be careful not to harm them by accident. My garden has a lot of good bugs, lace wings and lady beetles included. Butterflies are fluttering through on a regular basis, I spotted five different types today, I feel special when they choose my yard to visit. That is just a few of the many critters playing in my yard, I feel honored to have them and love that they trust me enough to share my space. What do you have living in your garden?

Full Circle

James and I have been dating for several years. I had made him a succulent garden with this cute little sign as a gift for one of our many celebrations. Funny thing is all the things I gave him have made there way back to me and now they are in our home and garden. He used to shop in my store (That is how we meet) And he would buy things, I think just to make it look like he came there to shop. Anyway some of my favorite things I had ever made he purchased, so now I am getting them back! And then the other side of the store.... there were things I no longer wanted he would sometimes get those too, well they are also coming back! So the moral of the store is... don't let the person you are dating have your trash, because it may possibly come back to you! We laugh about it most of the time.... or at least he does. Have a good one~Jacque

Each Day

This little nest sits in an old dough bowl in the center of my table. I make and place little things around my home to remind me of how I want to focus on each day. There are chalk boards with quotes and sayings, flash cards with words of direction and areas displaying items that at a glance remind me of what I find to be important. My home would never be the type to show up in a designer magazine, but from the front door to the back door it holds my text book pages for a good life. I like to honor the things that inspire me and create a visual journal of my life within the little walls that I call home.~Jacque 

Sacred Spaces

Noticing and experiencing tranquility throughout my garden is easy.

Last year as part of my Creative Gardener business I spoke on the subject of creating sacred spaces in one's home and garden. There are many things we can do, such as add benches to sit upon, water features to create soothing sounds, add fragrant blooming flowers, etc... I have added many of these things throughout my gardens, but what I realized during one of my recent tours of my garden is that most of the tranquility just happens!

NATURE IS A SACRED PLACE....  wishing you peace~Jacque

bliss!

the sign in the back of my photo says one word "bliss"! as i walked past this today i realize how easy it is to have bliss. you just have to choose it! i encounter so many people choosing drama, distress, and dwelling on the negative. no matter the circumstances i choose bliss! stop and ask your self "if this were your last moment would you be happy with how you are spending it"?

Little Elegant Gardens

We plant in just about anything and everything. To add a touch of elegance to this rusty vintage violet cart I displayed our silver succulent gardens. The bird nest and vintage duck trio add a touch of whimsy to the look. We grow a lot of different, some rare, succulents so there are always a lot of choices for creating a container garden. I top each off with interesting mosses. The mosses I collect in jars in the green house until needed. They are all mosses that are dried and that I have rescued from discarded or inexpensive arrangements at thrift stores. Sea glass and other small beach combings make good soil toppers also. We have had these items at our shows and will continue to offer them. The duck trio is gone to a good home, and the nests I will continue to create. Happy creating and gardening~Jacque  

Concrete Angel

This sweet little concrete angel has found her way into my inventory of garden art. I love rustic primitive decorations that have been married with the sweet and pretty. We work with so many hard, old, rusty materials that now and then to add a sweet pretty little thing makes everything seem in balance. 

Time for Change

There is a room in my house that is very ready for change. The room is decorated in American Country primitives. It is very dark, yet colorful ,very cluttered, and very mustard and Americana. There was a time in my life when all this was comfortable to me... not any more! I have been wanting to change this room for some time but kept telling myself I am going to move soon so I would just wait on it, actually I have been waiting on a lot of things. The past two years I have practiced living in the Now and have found this to work well for my well being. I am no longer going to wait, I am painting and changing this room to be what will look good and be comfortable to me right Now. It is not my house by the ocean, but it is where I am right Now and that is what matters. Besides I like to paint, there is something very therapeutic about it to me. To change something so dramatically, so easily,(remind me I said that when I try to cover the mustard) and we all know how color can change everything, even our mood! I am going to paint with a light, creamy, color that will compliment my collections of shells and ocean treasures. I would like to create a room that feels like you could walk out the door and smell the ocean breeze and have sand between your toes. Until my dream of living on the coast is found I will create what I am wanting right here, right Now... because Now is all I have.~Jacque

Mother Nature Changed My Plans...

After scurrying around at sun rise this morning  bringing in all my yard furniture pillows and other items left out in the garden, I realized the slight chance of rain we ignored had  become a very much true chance of rain! It is coming down and I was not prepared. Usually I look at a Spring shower as a blessing, it cleans everything off gently and of course being a gardener we are always grateful for the water. Today is a busy day of getting ready for another show (details on my other blog)  and that can be a little difficult when it is raining! It is an outdoor show and most of our merchandise is outdoor worthy, it is the price tags that create an issue for us, tags get wet and the ink runs and well tagging is a lot of work so I really don't want them ruined. We have tried many different types of tags, like ones I have seen in nurseries etc... so far no luck, and of course aesthetics are important to me, this is a creative business... any suggestions feel free to share! The flowers? well those are flowers from our Earth Day celebration and they need to be planted, so while it is raining I will plant them, I have gardened in the Spring rain many times and this will keep me busy while we wait for the rain to pass so we can price and load up our stuff for the show. Have a beautiful day where ever you are and whatever the weather! ~Jacque

Back Porch Herbs

To step out onto the back porch and pick fresh herbs while I am cooking is one of the many good things in my life. There is something about herbs that feels nurturing to me. We all know the benefits of herbs are almost without limit. As well as providing delightful color and fragrance in our gardens, they offer a wealth of different flavors for cooking, and a variety of material for decorating our homes. I have a small vintage drying rack on my counter in the kitchen that always has herbs from the garden hanging on it. They are a great natural air freshener and just look pretty hanging there, just change them out often to keep it looking and smelling sweet. For centuries herbs have been used for their medicinal and therapeutic qualities. There are also a lot of ways to use them in natural beauty treatments and spirit lifting. Just brushing by the thyme or lavender can lift my spirits and invigorate me after working hard in the garden. Whether you have a large yard or a very small window box you can reap the benefits of growing herbs for your enjoyment and use! ~Jacque

A repurposed sink!

I tore the sink out of a little old farm house that was being demolitioned, I actually begged the bulldozer guy to wait and give me 10 minutes, it was amazing what I was able to do in 10 minutes, I also flagged down a friend I saw driving by, ended up a few years later being James' cousin. So anyway I have had this sink stored for awhile and James has a good creative vision and built this wonderful garden sink out of it. I love the old recycled paint that has touches of blue and cream paint. The stopper is still hanging from the chain and just adds that tiny touch of charm! We will be showing this piece tonight at our Creative Gardener Gathering, hope someone loves it as much as I do, if I look at it much longer it will end up being a keeper! Happy Earth Day!~Jacque

Gardening!

James and I are spending the entire day today Gardening! 

Upcoming Show!

I have been in the business of selling creative and vintage items for over 21 years. I am known for my garden themes of rustic garden decor and cottage type items. Over the years I have ventured into many different directions usually out of the love for the items and collections of my own, and ultimately you begin to sell what you collect and love for your own home. At the Roseville Antique Market this Sunday April 19th I will be presenting a variety of different things including items like in the picture. I love the old desk look, with ledgers, old typewriters, journals and fun vintage pictures and paper. My studio has a large collection of these items, kind of resembling an old mercantile crossed with an old fashion hardware store. If you skip on over to my other blog you can see some of the other looks we are bringing to this show and of course we will have a nice selection of garden items to keep our loyal customers happy. The show is put on by a local store called The Tattered House, stop by their web site and check them out, the ladies are talented ,high spirited and inspirational. Hope to see you there!~Jacque

Yard Art Spheres

One of our latest creations are these yard art spheres. Anything interesting and recycled makes for a great creation. The spheres come in galvanized or rusty depending on the age of the rings we use and vary in size. They can be hung, set on the ground and we also make a iron tower to place them up on. Some of our customers have used them for topiaries and even as indoor decor. They create an interesting addition to just about any style and can be added to any decor. The bird bath found a new home, hope you are enjoying it Laurie and these spheres are now in Trinadad's landscape, thank you guys! Just wanted to share what we are creating, for more on our creations and up coming events where items can be purchased jump on over to my other blog "The Creative Gardener" there is an easy link at the top of this page. Thanks everybody for visiting.~Jacque

What a Weekend!

What a great weekend! We had a lot of fun doing all the things we love. All day Saturday we hit garage sales, and went to the local flea market, I could not believe all the great stuff out there. Every turn I was finding great stuff! Sunday we went to the Sacramento Antique Faire, it was great! we were able to fill our two carts and then some and also had the pleasure of running into several friends, all ooohing and aaahing over our finds. We then went to James' sister's house for a family Easter dinner. It was lovely, good food, and I especially enjoyed watching the egg hunt. His niece Elizabeth Rose started the hunt with her basket on her head! So Cute! We had a great time visiting with family and enjoying a sunny beautiful day in the country. I hope you all had a great weekend, heres to enjoying Spring~Jacque

More Nature Collections

Another nature collection I have is of vintage framed butterflies. I prefer to enjoy the ones fluttering by in the back yard, enjoying the fruits of all my flowers, but I like to honor these butterflies of the past and allow their beauty to still be admired. I have found several of these framed groupings over the years, I do not know much about the history but at one time they must have been a popular form of art. I picked up a new one this past weekend at a local flea market. I have also collected several vintage books on butterflies. Each year I have many different specimens come through my garden and even though I have all these books I have rarely took the time to look up their names. I just enjoy them! May you all have many butterflies cross your path~Jacque

Passionate about Nature

I have always been passionate about nature. I grew up in the country with deer, jack rabbits, and really every other critter you can think of. My mother was nicknamed "Mother Nature" by friends and family because she was always and still is nursing something back to health. I have a room in my house that displays many of the collections I have that inspire my passion for nature. I call it my bird room because many of the things in there have to do with birds. I collect vintage art prints of birds, have a very nice collection of bird nest, the picture is of a cabinet that houses a few of my vintage binoculars and a couple of my vintage field books. These are the ones I really don't use, the others are in places where they can be grabbed as to not miss an opportunity to see a new visitor to the yard. I thank my parents for my exposure to nature as a young child and the teaching of respect for all living things. This is one of the things I like the best about myself.  I am no "Mother Nature" but I honor the love my own mother has for these gifts by continuing the path I was taught.~Jacque

Sometimes I just need my Angel