To the garden we go…

Lavendar, overwintered from last summer.

“If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal- that is your success.”  -Henry David Thoreau

While there are not a large number of things blooming here yet, I took some shots of those that are putting out their showy petals.  I give you…

Foxgloves, transplant from Todd’s mother’s flower garden.

Closeup; love the insides of these flowers. They stated out lightly colored and deepen with each day.

Blue flag (Iris). Divided and transplanted so many of these due to our patio renovation project last month; this is the only bloom so far…

Yarrow, new transplant purchased at Friendship’s Folk and Flowers from Garfield Community Farm.

Leeks going to seed, can’t wait to see these flowers! Anyone want any leek seeds, let me know!

Sundrops, purchased from Sylvania Natives at the Phipp’s Conservatory Plant Sale. My son picked this plant out and it seems to be thriving. I am hoping to continue to add more and more natives to our garden and beds in years to come.

The garden! Not doing as well as I had hoped but at least some things are growing. Dug out the very urban cement block border ane replaced with stones found in the flower beds of the Estate during our patio and retaining wall renovation project. We also tore out the brick walkway and replaced with old pavers we hammered into pieces; we are trying to grow grass between them, hence the furry grey coating on the path.

Three Sisters bed. Yep, trying it again! Blue corn, green beans, squash, watermelon and cucumbers intermingled with some flowers. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Three Sisters planting closeup

Feenel, started from seed my me and transplanted.

Peas

Just have to do it myself…

Searched through 22, yes 22. pages of toddler sweaters on Ravelry today and could not find anything I want to knit for my wee lass!  That’s it, I’m just gonna have to make it myself.  Go offroad.  If it turns out ok, I will post some pics and maybe share the pattern.  If it doesn’t turn out so well, you might still get a post and pics.  Anyhow, here is the fibre:

Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton, Mustard, 4 skeins

Mother’s Day Recap

Had a fantastic Mother’s Day at the Estate!  Wanted to share a pic of a necklace I made for my own mother:

Minty fresh! Assorted glass and seed beads on wire with silver clasp.

As well as a pic of the handmade card:

Fabric and twine on recycled paper.

Closeup

Hope all the mamas out there had some hugs, laughs and fun too!

Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon: Review

Despite the cold (yes, 35 degrees!) temps and the threat of rain, people came!  They showed up!  They looked at my handmade wares, chatted with me and some folks even bought stuff!  I made the table fee back and then some, so I will call it a success.  Beforehand, I got some great advice from some fellow crafting artists and tried my best to apply it in my own earthy, good-for-the-earth way.  Here are some tips:

1.  Setting up beforehand in your house is a great idea.  Get your table/booth/space to look the way you like it and take a picture of it so if you need to refer to it, you can.

2.  I found people came over more if I stood next to my booth and handed out the free gifts, rather than sit in a chair behind my table.  Obvious, I guess!

3.  Give something away!  Make sure it has your brand/contact info on it.  It got people talking, had them look more at my table, and they walked away with my info.  I gave out marigold seeds in envelopes made from junk mail and old catalogs, each hand-stamped with my logo and contact information.  Completely free to make (used seeds from my garden last year!).  Instead of just a business card that is tucked in a bag or wallet and forgotten, maybe they will pull out the packet to plant the seeds and see the information again?  Or give it to someone else who might see my info?

4.  Bring pictures of your custom work (if you do make custom work).

5.  Bring lots of business cards, some scrap paper, a pen, and TAPE.  I forgot tape.  I didn’t need any but a person at the next booth did and this one seemed so obvious but neither of us had it.  They did find some though!

6.  Do bring something to work on but don’t just sit there and ignore people while you craft.  I brought something in case it was slow and it really wasn’t that slow, so I never picked it up.  If it’s something really cool to watch and would attract people, I would totally do it!  My sewing stuff, not so much!

7.  I found the smaller, less costly items sell the most, so make sure you have some things that are not too pricey.

8.  Have fun!  Talk to your neighbors, check out their tables.  Smile, laugh.   Just let it happen; it will.  You will sell stuff, even if you believe in your head you won’t.

9.  Make a banner or sign.  You can print it out from a computer, or maybe incorporate what you do into your sign, carrying your medium over into it.  You don’t have to pay for this, be creative!

Hope this is helpful to those who are new at this too, and good luck out there!  Thanks also to all the folks who encouraged me to take this leap.  It was daunting, but so worth it in the end.

Sneak Peak!

I’ve been working on some new designs for Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon (April 28th, 10AM-2PM, Mt. Lebanon Park) and here is one of them!

Trio of Lil' Ladies by Brown Bird Green String

I drafted the patterns for the doll and dress by hand and made a doll to celebrate the birthday of my wee lass.  Her first birthday, to be exact!  Here is her dolly:

Dolly for my Wee Lass!

I then went to work making a trio of lil’ ladies for other wee lasses to enjoy!  They have button joints on their shoulders, hand sewn hair and hand embroidered faces.   The fabric for the dresses and hair, as well as the buttons for the shoulders are all upcycled.  If they sell, I plan to represent some other skin tones too.

Closeup shot...smile, ladies!

Ponytail brunette

Blonde with a bob

Back view. I also sewed my logo across their little posteriors, but they did not consent to this type of photograph being splashed across the land...

These really were so much fun to make.  Hope you are having fun making whatever you make, too!  Hey, and what is it that you think is fun to make?  I’d love to hear from you!

Celebrate Earth Day with Brown Bird Green String!

Appearing at…

Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon

Saturday, April 28th

10AM-2PM

Mt. Lebanon Park

http://www.earthdaymtlebanon.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earth-Day-in-Mt-Lebanon/135088833224133

Should be a great time and I hope to see you there! I am busy working on some new designs and will give some “sneak peaks” before the 28th. Be sure to “like” Brown Bird Green String on Facebook to get updates and pics.  Or just because you want to give a gal some (much appreciated) support.  Thanks all!

I found a pen on my porch today!

Is this the most beautiful pen you have ever seen?  The dark walnut wood, the rhodium metal inserts.  The artist, Jennifer Galbraith, made this custom pen for me!  The ink is refillable, so it’s a very eco-friendly choice too.  It’s a true pleasure to write with. Or look at.  Or balance on you new terrarium.

Mini forests…

salsa jar and applesauce jar

sensitive plant seedling(bottom) and Johnny Jump Up seedling with moss

lily of the valley (left), two mini-Sarsen stones capped with a mini-lintel stone, and a succulent of some sort (right)surrounded by common moss and Scotch-Irish moss (in back).

With spring approaching but the soil at the Estate not quite ready to be worked, I have found myself with seedlings aplenty.  Add in a landscaping project just begun and I have plants in need of new digs, and quickly.  So what does one do?

Dig in the recycling bin, get yourself some jars and make mini-forests (terrariums).  Totally free, and for an urban-dwelling forest lover, a tiny forest to look at (instead of your torn-up patio).

In other gardening news, my replacement seeds arrived from SSE (remember THIS sad tale) and more sad news followed.  The Bowles’ Black seeds I ordered are sold out.  Maybe next year.

Vegan Halupki

yum!

I tried out a new recipe for cabbage rolls, found at Vegan Dad.  It’s from 2008, but it was new to me, OK?  I have to say, it was quite tasty, much tastier than I thought it would turn out!  Now, I have to say I’ve never had an actual meat-stuffed cabbage roll because I really didn’t enjoy cabbage much until after I went vegan.  My mom would make them and always make “porcupine balls” for my sisters and me to eat instead.

The sauce is amazing, so very yummy.  I happen to have some leftover and I think I will marinate some tofu in it, grill it, and then serve the rest over the grilled tofu for another meal tomorrow.  Both of my Wee Ones plus my sweet carnivore partner also ate these!  Granted, my Wee One had to be bribed with a bowl of applesauce yesterday and some evening playtime outside to finish his dinner, but he did finish every bit.  Wee Lass just ate it all up, no hesitation.

I made some substitutions (of course).  I used TVP in place of tempeh as I’m not a huge tempeh fan.  I used apple cider vinegar in place of lemon juice, tarragon in place of the ground fennel, Barbeque 3000 spice (from Penzey’s) in place of the chili powder, omitted the HP sauce cause apparently it’s a UK thing and used a long grain and brown rice mixture for the rice.  If WHEN I make them again, I might add some chopped mushrooms, omit the tarragon and use some actual chili powder (got some from Penzey’s today).  It made two baking dishes worth so I will freeze the leftovers and enjoy not cooking some other day.

Desperate Knitting

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Finished this little cardigan for a sweet new niece.  Pattern is by Fawn Pea and you can find it here on Ravelry. I’m excited it got finished (hopefully before she outgrows it) but now I have nothing on the needles…not that I don’t have a ton of stuff to do in the meantime but still, [...]