More Corners of the Cottage Garden and an abundance of BUTTONS

The Cottage Yard Tour: part two

I thought I'd show a few more photos of my yard and the exterior of the cottage.  This is the back door to my studio, I painted this sign to set out when I had my studio set up as an antique shop once a month. Because of the horrid road construction, I had to stop having my sales, but I liked the sign and keep it by the back door.  It is painted on a board I salvaged from the barn we had to take down. I wish I could paint my whole house that pretty blushy pink color!

I bought a stack of these ornate iron pieces at Hobby Lobby's 90% off garden clearance a few years ago.  They make great hose guards, and add interest around the beds.  This one is in a raised bed guarding the thyme.

I built all the shutters on the house myself, out of boards I salvaged from an old garage we tore down.  I'm also big on hanging "wall art" on the outside of the house, like this round iron piece from an old cook stove.

This large terra cotta piece hangs on the back of the house. It has been up there for about 16 years now and is starting to get a patina on it.

A tiny convex mirror in an ornate frame hangs on the outside of the patio fence.

On the inside of the fence, I hung this ceramic fruit basket over the bench.

I like to tuck little odds and ends into flower pots. This one has an angel made from a table leg (garage sale 75 cents) and an onyx ball nestled into the plants.

A friend of mine makes hand blown glass Christmas ornaments, and I buy a lot of irregulars from him at a very reasonable price. I use them all around the yard in planters.

My bird bath is made out of stacked stones around a metal base.  The pots next to it are new and I don't have them planted yet. I am going on vacation for a few days, so will wait till I get home, so I'll be able to baby the new plants.

And here is Kitty Boy, the barn cat. But we no longer have a barn, he was heartbroken when we tore it down. I keep a velvet chair in the chicken coop for him to cozy up on now.

And of course, around here NOTHING goes to waste.  The barn wood was all saved, we used as much as we could to panel my husband's office.

I built this bathroom vanity in my husband's office myself! The frame of it, under the siding looks pretty crooked, but it doesn't show.  I cut the Formica top pretty crooked too, but I covered it with barn wood trim and it doesn't even show.

This is a painting i did of our yard the year we bought the place. The old barn sat where my garden is now.  We left the foundation and put the garden right inside it.  Over 100 years of manure and compost make the best tomatoes!!

The other barn painting in Rich's office is of his grandfather's barn.  I am much more comfortable with a paint brush than I was with the nail gun and power saw while building the vanity!

People ask how my husband can live in my rose strewn home with all the pink everywhere, but he has this man-cave of an office with the barn siding, pool table and gym equipment, so he is pretty happy up there.

I also believe in lots of sitting areas in the yard.  I keep chairs and benches everywhere. They used to be for show, but the older I get the more I sit and rest while working in the yard!

Speaking of sitting, I spent the better part of the evening sitting and sorting all these buttons I bought today.  Some went into this pretty jar I got from Phyllis at http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com/. Others are sorted by color into small lidded dishes.

Why on earth does anyone buy so many buttons that it takes an evening to get just half of the sorted? Who knows??  They were a bargain, and pretty, and I just know I'll use them for something!  I'll add some to my Cottage Collage Kits for Etsy too.

And why did I buy more old books, a stack of postcards and some jewelry?  Well, I paid very little for them and am SURE that I will use them for something pretty, sometime!!!

Look at the colors of these cards, and see the art palette and roses on the one on the top? Had to have it, it was only 50 cents! And look at the font on the sheet music, so delicate.  That will make a gorgeous background to some project, and also was under  a dollar for the book of music.

I got the sweetest, unexpected mail too.  A thank you card from Benny who is 3.  I took him for a boat ride on Sunday and he drew a fish for me as a thanks for the trip. 

Then, I got a post card from Carole of http://scoundrelsandrogues.blogspot.com/ from her Hawaiian vacation! And if that wasn't enough kindness in the mail, I got mail art stuffed with goodies from Karen at http://bluemuf.blogspot.com/.

Every one was so nice, it just reminds me that I need to come up with a giveaway for August! Stay tuned, I'll think of something nice and am open to suggestions.  Leave a comment to enter, there will be some sort of prize at the end of the month!

Now, I need to get back to my simmering tomato sauce. I am cooking sauce to freeze. I'm making it from the garden produce. Lots of fresh herbs, tomatoes, peppers and onions, straight from my backyard!

Comments

[Elaine]

My goodness! You are quite an accomplished
painter. I love the paintings of the barn.

It is so cool that you used the barnwood from the barn. My FIL was a portrait painter of the American Indians and belonged to the Cowboy and Indian Artists Assoc. He often had his frames made out of old barnwood.

I can't think of anything more fun that to sort through a pile of old buttons. I think a bag of old buttons would make a great giveaway.

~elaine~

[Cheryl Sims]

Karla, How on earth do you have so much energy? I love that convex mirror piece. I need to start going to antique stores and yard sales to see what goodies I could find. Sure wish I had your talent for making things look so homey and natural.
Cheryl Sims

[phyllis]

Always so much to comment on!!!
Your yard has lots of interesting spots and inviting places...I'll bet Sugarwings loves that cat...
The jar looks very at home with it's old buttons inside :)
There is a swap at Polka Dot Pixie's you might like.

[mom2fur]

The Cottage Yard sounds like a wonderful place where you see something new everywhere you look...no matter how many times you visit. I love places like that! And I love Kitty Boy. Scratch him behind the ears for me, okay?

Hey, you were first in line on my blog for the Pay It Forward swap (originated from "My Best Friend Calls Me Martha"), so if you'd really like to play, send me an e-mail. My e-mail address is Lufmikidz at AOL dot com (you know the correct way to write it, LOL!)

[Karla]

Wow Karla! Is there anything you don't do?

[Judy]

Wow more neat stuff in your yard. I love the buttons and the jar. You are really talented, I don't think I would tackle some of your projects so I really admire you for doing them.

[Natalea]

I absolutely love that patina-ed face in your yard! Also, don't feel alone, I spent one evening sorting buttons for 2 1/2 hours while watching a movie! Why are buttons so addicting?!!
I am glad to get your giveaway answers- it will be so much fun to make your package up! I will email you sometime next week when it's ready to be sent!! Have a great weekend!! Natalea

[Amy Carver]

uh oh. After seeing all your buttons I dont think your going to like what I stuffed into your "thank you envelope" Did y ou by chance get that yet? I love the yard pictures. That kitty is so sweet! I love cats!

[cd&m]

You are one talented lady, building shutters, vanity units, painting signs etc, amazing. I'm in love with the leggy Angel.

[katie]

Of course you have to buy buttons and stuff when you find it! Because you may never ever find stuff and buttons again -- at least that's my philosophy. And having visited your blog a time or two now, I'm sure you WILL make something wonderful, adorned with buttons and stuff.

Oh, and ditto on the previous suggestions -- buttons are a great give-away!

[Heather ~ Pretty Petals]

Wow Karla.. so many pictures! Everything looks great. I love that convex glass mirror outside. You should check out the painted buttons on my blog I got from Rhea!

Heather

[karla nathan]

Well, no matter what the giveaway for August ends up being, there will certainly be a bag of buttons included!!

I am sending bonus buttons to my July winner, since I have so many.

[Felicia]

I enjoyed the outside tour!

[Sharon M.]

Dropped by to visit your blog--you built a bathroom?!?!?!? Wow!
I am imagining running my fingers through your buttons--oh, how I love buttons! I've gotta build up my button stash...
:)

[Feathers]

Your garden tour was glorious, I enjoyed every picture of it!

[Karen Young]

I enjoyed the second tour as much as the first. I just love your gardens. I also Like the buttons. I always find it so much fun sorting buttons.

Karen
Bluemuf

[Katie B.]

Wow! Everything is so beautiful. I wish I had the talent (and the time) to create such wonderful things! In the meantime, I guess I will have to live vicariously through your blog! Thanks for all the inspiration!

[michelle]

I just love how you decorate the outside of your house too, actually love the inside too. I think the thing I love the most though is that you find the joy in doing it the thrifty-girl way!