A little of this 'n that

 Several years ago, I taught a painting class here in Saratoga and a man here made several different birdhouses for the class. This was a sheep wagon and I never could decide how to finish it.  We plan to build a stream and small water landscape area in our back yard, as we have almost always had a water feature.  I have been researching a little and intend to build more birdhouses for the backyard. That is where the castle will reside and I want some various examples of birdhouses there also. Soooo...I came upon some Gypsy Wagons which are so very ornate and beautiful!!!  I am an embellisher and these seemed perfect for this little birdhouse.  Above in the beginning stage, I will have it finished in another post and the castle is getting it's top pieces attached.  The hardware store provides a myriad of adornments and the wheels are going to be the round brightly painted handles on outdoor faucets. (technical name will be addressed).

 Looking at my collection of potential blog photos, I found this one of Coalette....she always helps me blog although her typing ability sucks and misspelled words get deleted.

This also is an earlier photo, but this past two weeks, the sunsets have been beyond description and so this is just an example of what we get to see most evenings.  The antelope have begun to herd up and although the trees haven't yet started to turn, small signs of fall are appearing.  We are taking a trek this weekend as museum members over the "Overland Trail".  An important part of History, especially so close to us, this area has long been on our list of "to do's".  Will update after the weekend.

"Choice, not chance determines destiny." ~ Anonymous

Camping

 We were fortunate to find that our old camp site was unoccupied last week when we ventured finally out with friends and our two gypsy wagons.  Actually we have some nice trailers with most of the comforts of home...even a microwave, fireplace and we have one of those noisy generators to assure us of continued power.  So my buddy and I gathered our construction adhesive, pvc pipe and funnels along with assorted other "junk", to work on more birdhouses.  Although hers is actually a birdhouse, I wanted to work on a castle which I had envisioned for my backyard garden.  Our intent is to build a small stream and I want to set some small examples of abodes to grace the landscape. 

 Not yet finished of course, but on a small hill above the stream and along with some of my other visionaries, I can see it now.  I was looking at birdhouses on line and came upon some Gypsy Wagons.  Wow, my brain was in overdrive with ideas for a birdhouse I have had for some time.  It was built as a sheep wagon by a man here in Saratoga several years ago for my painting class.  I could never quite get an idea for it, but now I know it will also be perched on the hillside beside the stream. I have already started painting it and pictures will follow. 

This collection of beads below were found in two locations at our camp.  Because the area is free range for cattle, the existing fire pit was littered with cow patties and we decided to move it.  (My one little dog loves to perfume himeself with these).  As we sat by the fire the first evening, I spotted a little gold bead and then another.  Upon further inspection, I found several beads and each day thereafter found one or two more beads.  The last evening as I was walking toward the trailer I spotted a larger wooden bead and then several more.  These were at the base of a downed tree and I found the other two gold beads as well as several more wooden beads.  Perhaps a camp robber or chipmunk decided to cash them for later, but what an interesting find!

We found a rake and an old tool of some sort, but the weather was beautiful and the evening sunsets spectacular and the entire 4 days totally relaxing.  More to follow.

Christmas in August

 In a Magazine some time ago, I kept a picture of a Christmas Tree skirt made with hankies.  I  have been buying these as I find them and finally have enough.  There are several examples of quilts made with special family keepsake hankies and this seemed like a do-able project.  I fused a lightweight interfacing to each and then machine stitched them to white cotton.  Not sure how I will proceed, but they are waiting for a snowy winter day!!!  Below are the glitter and glue projects we completed at our retreat.  This only is my contribution, as for some reason, I forgot to take a picture of the others.

 This was a downloadable Martha Stewart pattern and we used her glue and glitter products for glass which can be purchased at Michaels.  It was fun and easy and they can hold candles, or candy and would make great gifts at the holidays.  The one below was a plastic container purchased at a big box store. Let your imagination go wild!! Halloween, Valentines, Easter, 4th of July...Birthdays.  Very affordable!

More crafts

 Above, 3 banners completed by one of the gals, and we are anxious to see what the winter project will be.  These were painted with acrylics on a product used for drapery lining.  It was a great surface for this type of craft.  All we did was cut it to size, hem it top and bottom and start painting after transferring a pattern.  I looked at the originals and drew the patterns without an actual pattern to use and I think they came out great!!

 Each of us painted a birdhouse with original designs as can be seen in the previous post.  We put copper on the roofs, but actually the Mr. did that for us.  I had some old pieces from a stairs and using existing scraps, ( a piece from a T-post and an old re-purposed piece of re-bar I found),

 it now graces my flower bed.  The totem along side is from a previous recycling project.  I have one more project to post so stay tuned.

Craft retreat

 My friends met here last week for our annual craft retreat.  From Monday thru midday Thursday, we worked and played at new projects.  The Mr. helped me assemble the above mini birdhouses and these will be mounted on posts and placed in our flower gardens.  Below, with 4 bags of leftover mortar from last year, we hand molded stones for the gardens. By placing bits of glass and sculpting them, a plant can actually be placed in the center.  How about a black petunia.  This one is the other "Pat''s.

 We also placed glass pieces onto purchased stones, embedding them in a thin layer of mortar and I will post more of these later in addition to the other two projects that we completed.

The most important part of last week was the company of these long-time friends.  We laughed and argued and ate....oh, maybe that was the most important part.  No, I really am blessed with these true friends and can never thank them enough for their loyalty and support.  This year, we were missing one of our co-harts as she has moved and had family visiting, but next year hopefully she will be able to join us again.  The Mr. was a big help also and gave up the garage for a week so that we could play.  Stay tuned for more!!!!

back in the saddle again

 I have been enjoying the great out of doors so the computer is sporting cobwebs.  With the celebration of our nation's independence, I began a whirlwind of activities too numerous to mention.  However, this past week we had family here and although it was short, the visit was wonderful.  The Mr. and I finished our fence and with family gone, our calendar continues to stay full.  I delivered 12 quilts to the museum today to be displayed this weekend, a couple of luncheons this week and preparation for the "crafty girls retreat" next week all demand time.  The critters are bringing the new babies out into the world and above are new baby hummingbirds teasing Coalette and below an adult resident eagle has coaxed a young feller to the favorite perch just south of the above patio.

We have also seen baby antelope finally as Mom takes them down to the river for their first venture that far.  I will be posting pictures of our retreat projects which will be taking place here this year rather than the cabin at Elk Mountain.  Scheduling becomes a greater problem each year...guess I am not the only busy one!!!

"All my life through, the new sights of Nature made me rejoice like a child. ~ Marie Curie

Summer!

 My absence from the blog is a result of summer!  We here in windy Wyo (and it has been so windy!!), have to take advantage of our very short summer and we have been building a fence to keep the critters in and out.  The ground squirrels have been raising havoc with all of my flowers as they emerge from the long winter and I have been fighting them with everything I have, but the traps have been eliminated as the magpies are drawn to the peanut butter used as bait.  The critters also carry lice, fleas, and ticks so I have been busy!!  Roger is oblivious to it all and truly knows how to spend summer.

 In addition, when I am not at war with the wind and the squirrels and the feeble attempt to garden, I have been cutting and grinding glass.  This year, our craft retreat will be here rather than Elk Mt. and I am getting projects for that.  One of our projects is a series of stepping stones with glass images embedded. So far  have twenty pieces almost ready.  So after using a few patterns I had, I decided that I could do a better job. (ha ha...I lack no self confidence).  Maybe I am just too ignorant to think otherwise.  This is a series of the steps I have taken with my version of an Iris.

This has yet to be ground in order to get the edges smooth, but although it is time consuming, I have 2 lighthouses, 2 butterflies, 2 dragonflies, 3 pansies, 1 pear, 1 tulip, 2 lillys, 2 lady bugs, 1 daisy, 2 iris, and a couple of other flowers....20 in all I think.  So as this project progresses, I will update when the actual time comes the first full week of August. We will have at least 4 different crafts and intend to spend 4 days with these projects.  Don't give up on me, I just get a little busy in summer.