Think Spring!!!!

I hope you are all having a glorious, beautiful, sunny spring day!! Sadly as I look out my window it is dreary and they are calling for rain and snow. Here in Northern Minnesota we have been hit hard with late snow storms. All I can do is just THINK SPRING!! ~ and know it won't last, so I thought I would share some of my photos of my gardens of years past with you, in hopes of spring. I hope you enjoy!!

This is my sunny wildflower garden. Every year it is a little different and I love to see what each year brings! I got this perfectly rusty corn planter as a centerpiece for my rambling wildflowers.

These lovely flowers are called Angel Trumpets. These were grown by direct seeding and if left to go to seed will spread wildly. They are striking and beautiful, but if not placed right can overcrowd other plants. The beautiful white flowers only last a few days, but are lovely to see when they do.

I love this picture, with the light and shadows and brigh pink cosmos!!

This photo was taken in the morning overlooking our land from the gardens vantage point. We have a beautiful view over looking the beautiful Blueberry River bed.

These two flowering crabs are taken from my parents place. I have a few on my property but they are not this grand yet. One thing about gardening and growing is it teaches you lessons in patience. It is so fulfilling and rewarding to see the miracles of nature God blesses us with!


Wishing you a happy spring day!! Until next time~Nichole

Hello Friends!

Here we go!! This is exciting for me to begin my new blog! I have so many things I want to share with you and I can't wait. I am so passionate about repurposing old vintage decor and architecture. I love the thrill of the hunt and taking it home and bringing beauty to something well worn. The best finds are the free ones that someone tosses away. I will be sharing some photos of before and after.

Below are some photos of my studio that my loving and talented husband built. For years I have been collecting "junk" and was able to use it to build my studio. I especially love the leaded glass window inside. We have reclaimed barn wood and old siding throughout. I have seasonal sale events inside my studio with talented friends and artisans, and people always comment on how old and established the studio looks. They believe it an old building, when in fact it was built under two years ago.

My studio/cottage is 16' by 24'. I am so blessed to have my own space as a large canvas! I painted a faux wood floor in the front and a stone faux floor in the back. I have yet to paint the rugs on the floor, because I haven't figured out a design yet. I will likely paint my roses in oil in a pretty pattern. I have put coats of poly on it for I don't want to do that painting again for a long, long while, LOL!!! It is very labor intensive but has a very striking effect. Even my husband and his friend were impressed!

I also painted a sky up on the ceiling. My friend Tracy and I applied a tissue paper tecnique on the cieling when it was first built, and by painting the sky it brings the vaulted ceiling down and cozies up the room. I also found these old chandeliers on the cheap and painted and embelished them.

This hutch was one of my most expensive purchases, but sometime when you absolutely love something you just have to get it! I actually passed it up and couldn't get it off of my mind. I knew I had to have it, and was able to make payments on it.

I have been very busy revamping the studio for my upcoming sale event in June. I will also be concentrating on the back of my cottage which is where I do my painting. I love painting in oils. I not only love to paint roses on my peices but I love to paint children. I have so much on my plate it is hard to fit everything in, but I try!!

I also look forward to sharing my gardens with you, I am sooo excited to be working in my gardens after this long winter!

Thanks for visiting and I look forward to the next time!!

Blessings!

Nichole