Farm Goings On and Such

My sweet boy Angus, photographed by my sweet friend, Stacey on a recent trip to the farm.  She just grabbed my camera and snapped a few quick shots and seemingly with no effort came up with this photo of my best boy - Angus.  He's getting older and I know that this will be one of my eternally favorite photos of Angus that I will always love.  As you know, Angus was a rescue puppy and I have had him with me for the past 10 years.  I've loved every minute of it.

Ha.  This one cracks me up.  Another Stacey shot of Molly checking out a blueberry.

My son Ryan, with "Meaty" as he calls Molly.  She is a chunk and we love her anyway.  Poor Molly is currently on a doggie diet of only dog food and veggies.  We also have to limit her to her daily rations as she is a grazer like her Mom and will munch all day long if allowed.

Occassionally, a lone rider will pass by the farm in this instance one of our Amish neighbors.  See the horse's ears standing straight up?  That's because Angus was sounding the alarm by barking way too loudly.  He just wouldn't stop until the horse and rider had passed the barn.  My neighbor seemed to find this very amusing as Angus is only about a foot tall including his really big ears.  What he lacks in size he more than compensates with his loud doggie voice.  Wow, is that dog loud.

Sweet Dan is putting on the last coat of pain in my future studio space at the farm today.  I am so excited about my future studio space.  I currently work in my finished basement in the city, so I am super excited about all of those windows and bright white walls.  The next step is installing the hardwood floors.

Lots and lots of windows.  I will be able to view my flower garden from these three windows while I work.  Bliss.

I purchased a chandelier for the studio today at one of my favorite antiquing venues.  I love.love.love it!

I cleaned all of the crystals today and Sweet Dan is going to hang for me tomorrow.

This is the light that I found for the space above my kitchen table.  It has the prettiest milky white glass.

Another vintage fixture for the guest bath ceiling.  It was originally a tarnished brass, but with a fresh coat of glossy white paint it becomes perfect.

Some of my other favorite finds for the farm...

Lovely vintage cannister set.

Tiny procelain espresso set from Czechoslavakia.

Vintage aprons hanging from a French Rooster hook on my pantry door.

Green bakelite dominoes in an ironstone bowl.

And one sweet little cast iron bull dog.

I never get tired of designing my perfect sanctuary in the country.  Isn't it fun finding something special to add to your home that just makes you happy whenever you look at them? 

It's sunset and once again the sky is ablaze in hues of vibrant pink that looks so beautiful floating above the blue tones of the snow on the ground...what can I say, I am a country girl through and through. and it's here that I feel most like me.

Blessings - Julie

A Mid Summer's Dream Show

Hi Everyone!  I wanted to share the photos from my booth at the Mid Summer's Dream Show I participated in last Thursday at Seven Acre Farm in Olathe, KS at the lovely home of Tina and Craig Hoover.  It is a lovely venue, with loads of mature shady trees, a lovely old barn and a couple of horses in the corral.

We enjoyed the coolest day of the week and clear sunny skies...it was a beautiful day to be outside.

My favorite mannequin with a great old corset that I found recently that went perfectly with the eyelet skirt with tulle beneath.  Isn't it a great way to show off one of my necklaces with huge blue stones?

This is the invitation for the show, isn't it well done?  I'm not sure who to give credit - but it's fantastic!

A closer view of the necklace and my corseted mannequin.

We set the big pieces the evening before, and arrived bright and early to add all the littles and jewelry.  I loaded my booth to the brim with not only jewelry, but antiques, primitives, silver, glass, and garden goods like tools, hats, bird feeders, garden stakes, mosaics, and more still...

I put together a few bucket lamps using old galvanized nail buckets, and beaded glass dangles wired with a light fixture.  I have one in my screened in porch and I love it!  It's so pretty during the day as the sun hits the glass beads and at night with the light casting soft light.  Very romantic.

Venus is modeling another one of my necklaces that I put together for the show.

Closer view of the necklace.

Sweet little girls provided cold drinks to us from their little red wagon with a cooler inside throughout the day.  They were such good girls.  They received parasols as a thank you for all their hard work.

Tina provided a lunch for all of the vendors - she is a fabulous chef and I had the best chicken salad filled with grapes and mandarin oranges on a croissant.  Delicious.  I wonder if she would share the recipe with us?  I'll have to inquire.

The Seven Acre Farm is located in the middle of the city and has that unique quality of seeming to be secluded in the countryside far away from the bustle of the urban living.  It's really the best of both worlds.  Close to the convenience of shopping, restaurants and activites with plenty of room for horses, vegetable garden and flower gardens.

We listened to the birds sing overhead in the huge shady trees all afternoon.

Of course, my booth had to have a bouquet of thistles...since my jewelry line is called Prairie Thistle.  I loved them in the booth so much that I am drying some for my upcoming show this Fall.  I just love them - always have.   Maybe it's that smidgin of Scottish blood that runs through my veins, maybe it's my love of Joan of Arc, from the Order of the Thistle...

Silver spoon necklace with a tiny nest.

My booth neighbor's were two of my friends, Marcy Lally and Kim Morenz.  Marcy also creates beautiful jewelry and Kim is a potter who makes lovely pottery.  We had a pleasant afternoon sharing snacks under the massive oak trees.  We nibbled on fresh strawberries, humus, mango, sugar snap peas, blueberries and grapes.  Yummy.

Tina and Craig's horses in the corral seemed to enjoy the show.

Seven Acre Farm - For Sale in Olathe, KS

The gorgeous manor house was built in the early 1900s is so beautiful as you approach from the long drive that leads to the house.  It's a lovely setting.

The inside of the house was staged for the show by Kelly Littman of Farmstead.  She did a fabulous job, don't you think?  I love the mix.

It was a long day, full of laughter, commarodery and great people who popped in throughout the day to say hello and to do a bit of shopping.  I saw so many familiar faces from my shoppe days which is the best part seeing old friends and making new ones at the shows.

A wonderful gal from Des Moines, Iowa was so kind to me, her name is Marcia and she volunteered to help us load the truck at the end of the day when it was time to pack up and head for home.  I can't tell you how touched I was at her kindness and generosity.  Good people are everywhere.

This will be my last show for a bit, whew... I did four shows in 45 days.  I am ready for a break and looking forward to getting back to my blog and etsy shop once more.  It's time to start preparing for the Fall Show Season which will be here before you know it.  Is Summer going this quickly for everyone?

Blessings - Julie

Fabulous Finds From the Weekend

Bringing things you love into your home is easier than you might think, if you take a few chances.  What caught my eye about this room is the vintage mirror leaning against a wall that seems to provide a graceful back drop for the marble statue of a woman in a reclined lounging position.  Isn't she magnificient?  The potted bonsai provides a feel of a lovely garden - inside.

On vacation last year we toured Paradise Island which is a part of the island of Nassau in the Bahamas.  On this small island we found a garden filled with marble statues that were so beautiful that I remember thinking that they should be in a museum to preserve them instead of outside in the elements that were beginning to create soft edges on the statues.  The garden was an attempt to duplicate the Gardens of Versailles and it was lovely, and the statues were magnificent. 

Adding them to the inside of your house would be magical...

Another great mirror that architecturally remains interesting no matter the condition, especially when paired with carved horses that were probably children's toys at one point in their lives.  Does this make anyone else want to grab some soft pine and whittle away until a horse emerges?

Jeanne de Arc Living

It's during the last days of Winter that bringing flowers into your home can be so soothing and help drive away the Winter blues.  It's my habit at this time of year to have a bouquet of flowers about while I await the the tulips, narcissis and daffodils in my garden to burst into bloom.  If you have the Winter blues, try it adding some fresh blossoms - I promise it will lift your spirits.

I love this pottery vase and antler inspired candlestick.  I wish I knew who the artist was as I would be purchasing this vase for my home.  It's such a fun organic shape and the prose reminds me of Spring Faeries dancing in the night.

Czech Glass Crystal Necklace - Purchase Here

Don't you love the way this necklace looks draped across these creamy pages?  Maybe it's just me and the bibliophile that lives within my soul....I adore books and must have them around me in my kitchen, living areas, studio and bedroom.  They are my talismans that comfort me and my books continue to give me hours of pleasure each time I hold them in my hands.

Vintage Metal Purse - Purchase Here

This is the largest version of this type of bag that I have found and would make a great evening purse or look great tucked into a table arrangement or used as a prop.  It has the most gorgeous faded silk lining.  I can imagine a vintage photo peeking out from within the purse as it hangs from a peg in a bedroom.

Blue Rhinestone Necklace - Purchase Here

Gorgeous deep blue rhinestone necklace from the late 40's is gorgeous in design and color - this one is hard for me to let go...

Just lovely, don't you think?

Vintage Baby Silver Set - Purchase Here

Beautiful silver plated baby fork and spoon that is so precious.  I love the patina of vintage silver...it has such a soothing warm glow.  This set would be perfect for the new arrival in your family.

Large Silver Salad Server - Purchase Here

Love the simplicity of the silver plated salad server in a great design that allows one handed salad service.

I have added these things to my online store for you along with a few other things I found over the weekend.  I hope you have a lovely week filled with warmer temperatures and sunshine.  This could be the week for blossoms!  What's blooming in your garden?

Blessings - Julie

Rylee and Jake - Girl Meets Pony

In the Midwest, it isn't unusual for little girls to have a pony of their own. When my sister sent this photo to me of her granddaughter, Rylee putting her cheek onto her new ponies soft, velvety nose in bliss I thought it was just about the sweetest photo ever. Rylee is four years old and just smitten with her new pony, Jake.

Rylee has been collecting toy ponies since she was two and has quite a large collection of over 50 tiny toy horses of every shape and size. She names each one and creates families that stay together in her room. I think they were meant for one another, don't you? So sweet... she looks so cute riding Jake with her tiny leather saddle made for tiny horses and tiny little four year old girls.

When Rylee brought Jake home she thought that taking care of a horse also meant that you had to pick up their poop as well, and the first time Jake - well for a better term - pooped in his coral, Rylee looked from Jake to her Papa with big eyes and said that she thought she was definitely going to need his help.

Molly - Hurricane Katrina Survivor

My dear friend Vickie shared this story with me and I wanted to share it with you.


Ya gotta meet Molly...

Meet Molly.She's a grey speckled pony who
was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane
Katrina hit southern Louisiana . She spent weeks
on her own before finally being rescued and taken
to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled.
while there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier
and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became
infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but
LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare
case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he
changed his mind.He saw how the pony was
careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't
seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to
handle her.She protected her injured leg.She
constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload
her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious
survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee,
and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly
walked out of the clinic and her story really
begins there.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,'
Moore insists. Molly happened to be a
one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain.
She made it obvious she understood that she was
in trouble.The other important factor, according
to Moore, is having a truly committed and compliant
owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care
required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in
Post-Katrina Louisiana ....The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life,
Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.

And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out,
and come to you and let you know that she wants
you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take
lt off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from
Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch
a three-legged horse,' she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay,
the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to
shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation
centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed
hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people
her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a
good time doing it.

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to
play in life, Moore said. She survived the hurricane,
she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving
hope to others.'
Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but
she's going to be better.To me, she could be a
symbol for New Orleans itself.'

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom
photo shows the ground surface that she stands on,
which has a smiley face embossed in it.. Wherever
Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.


Forward this and share it with all of the
animal lovers that you know.
God's creatures often reflect the
character we aspire to.

Copper Cuffs and Bracelets

These something mystical about horses - their grace, elegance, and power seem to enchant us. I often rode when I was younger, even riding in our annual parades in the small town where I grew up. But, my driver's license, High School sports (I played volleyball and ran track), my first job and boys put an end to my riding days. Why didn't I date a cowboy instead of that football player?

I have often felt like an ODD DUCK in my life. Living in the city after growing up on a farm can be difficult at times when it comes to relating to my girlfriends that grew up in the city. They haven't worked cattle, rode a horse, swam in a creek, hauled hay in the Summer, or gone on hayrides in the Fall. Being somewhat of a tomboy doesn't help either, they certainly didn't spend an entire day pretending to be on an archeological dig. I don't think digging a large hole in the lawn would have been tolerated, but when you live in the country there's plenty of room to dig outside of the yard around the house. They think my country upbringing sounds pretty awful - like a lot of hard work. It was hard work, but I can't imagine growing up any other way...

One of my favorite things about the Midwest is the wheat on the prairie, miles and miles of it swishing back and forth in the breeze always takes my breath away. I am always sad when I hear that wheat prices are down because that means farmers will be planting more soy beans and corn. No swishing wheat.....sigh.

One of the leather cuff bracelets with a little bird on a branch that is riveted in place that I really loved making with etched copper. I think it has a tuff feminine quality to it that I love. Women aren't all lace and pearls, you know....


Nickel silver buckle gives the bracelet a cowgirl feel that I like and is functional allowing for adjustment to smaller or larger wrist sizes.
I love to hammer and shape metal. Why is that? Is it the physical effort, the sound of the hammer hitting metal or the end result? Whenever you bend metal to your will, you put a bit of yourself into the cuff - forcing the metal into the shape you desire. You take an ordinary copper rod and create a fun piece of jewelry - I love that!

Gears are fun to work with representing the industrial age when gears were used in factories, cars, clocks, tools, and endless other ways. Refining of the wheel into a working gear...human ingenuity. Add the brass micro bolts and nuts and the brass gears are connected to the copper cuff.

This bracelet has good heft to it and feels substantial on the wrist without being too heavy. My love of solid jewelry with a little heft says something about me and my nature. The gears actually turn together on this piece making it a mechanical art piece. My resourceful husband is a CPA by trade, but can handle any project around the farm from roof repairs, to plumbing, repairing the lawn mower, or building a piece of furniture. The kids are always included in the projects around the house and farm. It's a Midwestern thing. Ryan is different from his friends in the city, he uses power tools, builds small furniture pieces, and makes his own skateboard ramps. A chip off the ole block...

Another cuff this time in tooled leather with pink rhinestones to add that little touch of feminity to soften the stamped metal plate and rivets. "There's more here than meets the eye." is stamped onto the copper plate on the front. The woman's mantra...

Here's sweet Molly and Angus, my terriers riding with me in the country with the windows down and noses in the breeze as we crunch along the gravel road to the farm. My little buddies that I can't imagine life without.

It's beginning to feel like Fall with cooler temperatures and the leaves are just beginning to fall to the ground and make a wonderful crunch under my feet....xo Julie