Texas Wall Hanging

This wall hanging has been shuffled around my craft cottage for several months half finished. Yes, a UFO!!!!! I was struggling with it, you know what I mean? I knew it needed something special, but what? Then I remembered that rusty star I had it hanging in the window of my craft cottage, It was covered up by a lacy valance. The perfect thing! So I finished it yesterday. Still not sure I really like the outcome, I may changed it still. But I can cross it off my to-do list for now and that is always a good feeling!!

Where Bloggers Create:Blog Party

Welcome to my craft cottage!! When I read that Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage was going to have her "Where Blogger Create" Party again this year I knew I wanted to be part of it!! My little craft cottage is a dream come true! It was my 25th wedding anniversary present from my husband, even though it took several years to complete. He and my sons worked on it during the slow time of year, but it was worth the wait. They did most of the work themselves.

This is where I create, inspire and sometimes just come to relax, I like to just sit, look out the window and watch the birds at the bird bath and at the feeder. Sometimes I just sit on the little porch and drink a glass of ice tea. My husband will join me and we will share the happenings of the day. It's not uncommon for someone to drop by for a visit. I've had lot of nice chats in my craft cottage, I've had more than one tell me it's a very peaceful place.

In my craft cottage I teach art and craft classes to home schoolers and I have friends over to create with me. Most of the time it's just me. I pop in a CD (usually worship music)and just enjoy what I love to do the most....create. I love to dapple in many medias, but my favorite crafts are mixed media, card making and fabric collages.

Outside My Craft Cottage

Morning Glories, but I have no blooms yet.

My work areas.
This is where I do most of my creating, but I did clean it up for the picture. Most of the time it's piled up with on going projects.

This is a overall view of my work spaces

This is my table where most of young students work at, I cover it with a plastic tablecloth when they are using it.

On my shelves, well at least some of the items, I have too many items to show!

These are only a few of my rubber stamps!!

My sister made me this wall hanging.

These are a few of my favorite supplies

All this was just recently given to me.

Thank you for visiting my craft cottage!! Please stop by anytime and see what I've been up to!!!

Going To Peru

It's been crazy crazy busy around my house this summer. I had all these plans and so far I've not had any time to do them. But the last two weeks, my busyness has been for a good cause. We had a garage sale to help our middle son Patrick. He is raising money to go to Peru the end of this month on a missionary trip with our church. We had so much stuff donated to sell that we had the garage sale two weekends in a row. It was such a blessing to see people give extra when they found out what the proceeds were going for!! I have to say I'm very proud of my son, he is my shy one. To see him step up and do this has been such a blessing for his dad and I. Through this I have already seen his faith grow, because he has seen how God is providing for this trip. I ask that you keep him and the whole team in your prayers as they travel and do the work God has put before them. Thanks!!!

Garden Art Day

Garden Art Day

Today I participated in one of the events at The Calendar Garden. This is my first time at this cute garden center. It's just outside of Magnolia, Texas. Today was Garden Art Day. We planted red, white and blue flowers just in time for the 4th Of July. I had lots of fun with the other ladies. I plan to go the the next one in July.

This is the blue glazed pot that I planted red, white and blue flowers in. It will look very nice on my craft cottage porch. I think I am going to stick some American flags into it.

Red, White and Blue Flowers Fellow Gardeners

Lemon Cucumbers

Lemon Cucumbers
I wanted to post this picture of my heirloom Lemon Cucumbers that I have been growing in my garden. My hubby said he thinks these are the best cucumber he has ever eaten, they are very good. They are called Lemon Cucumber because of their shape and size. They don't have a lemon taste though. I plan to use them for Bread and Butter pickles, if I can enough before they are eaten.

I had been waiting and watching for my butterfly, checking everyday. However last week was very busy for me. I was helping every evening with Vacation Bible School at my church. Started working out at Curves. So one morning last week I went out to check and my butterfly had come out of it's Chrysalis, only I had missed it!!! I have to say I was a bit disappointed!!

Today I went out to the craft cottage to make some greeting cards, but I ended up doing some cleaning instead. Which it really needed. I'm not finished, but I can now see my work table. My sweet husband came out and said " I don't think you could get another thing in here", Hmmmm is that a challenge?

Between my garden and everything else going on I haven't had much time to work on my crafts, but I hope to get back to my crafting very soon!!! I have several projects I would like to finish before the summer is over.

In My Herb Garden #4

Just a quick update on my Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar. Yesterday evening I went out to check on my caterpillar, In just a few hours had already gone from the pre-pula stage into the Chrysalis stage!! I wish I had checked back just a little earlier, I may had seen it happening. Oh well, I guess I can't stand over it like a mother hen!! Next the Chrysalis should become transparent, then I will know the time is near for a beautiful butterfly to emerge. I am enjoying watching this metamorphosis process!!!! I do hope I get a picture of the butterfly before it flies away!

In My Herb Garden #3

This morning I went out to check on the Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar. I noticed that he had attached himself to a stem on my dill plant. This is the pre-pupa stage. From what I read it will stay this way for 1-2 days and then the chrysalis begins forming. And it should emerge as an adult butterfly in 8-14 days. I hope I am around when that happens!!