Debbie's Doings: September 2013

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Where's the Time?

Phew...I finally have a break and can take a few minutes to sit and write as the rice cooks (brown rice takes FOREVER to cook). Remember how I was going to post pictures of a project two weeks ago? Remember how I had decided to get back into blogging and explore some options with that?

Chirp, chirp, chirp... image via: Crickets

Yeah, I feel like I'm a lot of hot air sometimes. But it's been insanely busy around here. Spring has sprung and J and I decided to get serious about a time schedule around the house in the evenings. I finished planting out onions today, the second bag of potatoes has been planted and I've been slowly tackling the last flower bed that has run wild. Oh yeah, and working more hours than previous, exercising daily (this takes out of my much-loved TV viewing time) and hustling on making kids clothes and starting Christmas projects for sale purposes.

See? I've been busy.

But seriously, I do want to do this. I just can't seem to find extra time. So it looks like I have to make this a designated thing as well.

One project I do want to share right now is a whimsical one I did a couple days ago (ignoring the laundry, dishes and sewing I should have been doing).

Oh, look at the fairy cottage!

I've been wanting to make some fun sections of my garden for awhile now. I've got enough garden, I should be allowed to do something completely impractical and frivolous in part of it. So I took an old wheelbarrow (minus the wheels) and got it sorted in a corner of my garden.

I dug up the ferns I had planted in this area and put them in the barrow that J filled with compost for me. Once that was settled I got to business with organizing my fairy house, pathway and ladder (not all fairies have wings, you know).

My supplies for the house. Hot glue gun not pictured.

I glued it all together and found a nice piece to make a door.

Rocks from J's collection jar worked nicely as an accent.

Twigs make the windows and the round piece? Front door step.

A ladder to help the fairies get up.

Nestled in the ferns, just waiting to be discovered.

This cost me nearly nothing. The hot glue I had, but I did have to use 4 sticks to get this done. We'll see how it holds up in the weather and maybe we'll have to get some different glue and re-do it later. The rock path is made from glow-in-the-dark plastic stones I got from The Warehouse last year and hadn't used yet. Everything else came from my garden and the junk pile outside J's work shed. Win!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Inspiration Monday

With the weather changing and the days getting longer, I find inspiration all around me and pushing me to try different things. While I mostly limit the change to my crafts or my garden, I find the exercise in inspiration to be refreshing. So here's what is inspiring me today:

I have a collection of glass bottles I have saved from our wedding. I am thinking I need to paint them up, but first I need to buy glass paint.

I decided, when I moved in with Jeff, that I really want a proper cottage garden. Did you know how much work it takes to make a cottage garden? Two years on and I'm still nowhere near it. But at least I get to order new flower seeds soon, right?

I recently did start my own fern/fairy garden out back. I used an old wheelbarrow (minus the wheels) to set up and plant in my ferns I got from the farm last year. Next up is using my glow in the dark rocks to make a pathway or patterns in the soil as I build up my own awesome fairy garden to amuse children someday. My own piece of whimsy.

With the fact that I have half days off work nearly every day, I am spending more time outside and am dedicating more time to craftiness and creativity. Tomorrow I'll get the pictures off my camera of what I've been working on. It involves a lot of glitter and glue.

Is it weird that I'm looking forward to Christmas already?

Friday, September 6, 2013

Winter Hiatus

Hello readers and random guests! I am sad to say that it's been nearly 3 months since I posted here. Yikes! I hope you have been busy and enjoying your lives while I've been away. So here's a brief catch-up on what's been happening since mid-June.

1- I turned 30 and celebrated with my lovely friends at home with a 50s inspired cocktail party.

2- I finished planning and went on our big trip to the USA with my husband.

3- I started a new class for my job.

4- I've just opening my new online shop for whimsical children's clothing and accessories.

My online shop is now up and running! Doodlebug Designs

5- We had insulation put in at our house and I did a lot of gardening to catch up before we went away.

But most of all, I've been fighting a serious bout of the winter blues. Everything was really overwhelming and stressful. Planning a major trip overseas was financially and emotionally difficult as it seemed like everyday something would pop up to try and wreck it for us. I was overwhelmed, exhausted and needed a serious break from the everyday business. Thankfully, our trip to the US was just that. It was a blessing for us to get away and see my family while showing my darling husband where I am from. It may not have been a traditional honeymoon, but it was exactly what we needed for us to rest, rejuvenate and refocus on what was important.

We've been home for a week now and have settled back into our home life. I have been gardening and getting out in the sunshine as much as possible, we've both gone back to work, I've started a new work venture and we are staying positive and working towards our goals again. I don't know how long it'll last, but I'm so glad right now that we had our trip to refocus and take a break from the daily grind. I am going to make it a priority for us to break up our week occasionally and get out and do things so we don't slip into the same rut of sameness. Fingers crossed on that!