Jen Bowles Design

Early Summer Garden Glimpses

In keeping with the vintage and garden theme I seem to have going this week, I thought I'd share a few pictures of two of my gardens.  This is year #4 in our house and things are definitely filling in as the seasons progress and the years go by.

First, a peek into the Birdbath Garden--where you can no longer see the birdbath because it's hidden amongst a sea of yellow Evening Primrose.

The lace cap hydrangea is in full bloom:

My favorite garden art fish, Freddy, is watching over the flowers and the birds that come to dine at the feeders here.

Meanwhile, over in the Bloom {junk} garden, a few new additions for this year.

I still have the Bloom letters hung on the fence, although the wisteria vines are doing their best to take over.  I think they may need a haircut...

Also still here, the grow and love planter chairs.

Realizing that the old sink I had in the garden was too deep to use as a birdbath, this year I decided to use it as a planter. 

I keep meaning to spray paint the little dog knick-knack, but that obviously hasn't happened yet.

What did happen was what I like to think of as my version of a dry creek bed in front of the sink planter. 

I had to relocate a bunch of fairly large rocks we brought home from the beach over the last few years and this seemed like the perfect spot for them.

A few more old toys from the dump swap pile converted to planters this year...

This small Radio Flyer wooden wagon:

And this not-so-vintage but still metal and rusty Tonka truck.

I'm hoping the impatiens fill in a bit more in the coming weeks.

And while not a new addition, here's Maisy, lounging on the grass in front of the Bloom garden.

Good dog.

Thanks for stopping by,

 

 

Pettengill Farm: Flowers

While we were at Pettengill Farm enjoying The Vintage Bazaar, I did manage to take a few photos of the lovely  floral offerings.  It is, after all, a flower farm.

The vintage Chevrolet truck was bedecked in blooms, including this potted petunia--great color combo.

Inside one of the greenhouses we came upon several Fairy Gardens, including this one in a child's size wheelbarrow.

I want that trellis!

Such a sweet Fairy Garden sign (an easy d-i-y too...)

Speaking of signs, these signs were nearly more colorful than the flowers they were meant to point out:

My favorite flowers of the day were definitely the foxgloves.  We saw several stunning examples in glorious bloom.

I would love to have window boxes that looked like this:

Alas all my windowboxes are in the shade or else they'd totally look like that...sure they would...

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Vintage Bazaar at Pettengill Farm

On Saturday, my mom (Bubbe) and I ventured north to Salisbury (MA) to check out The Vintage Bazaar at picturesque Pettengill Farm.

Totally. Worth. The. Trip.

The Vintage Bazaar is an upscale outdoor market featuring antiques, architectural salvage, vintage jewelry & clothing, original art, unique artisan crafts and flowers.  Though I've never been, it felt like a small scale Brimfield or slightly less primitive Country Living Fair. 

Imagine my surprise when this was the first thing I saw upon entering the venue:

My nemesis!  It's a long story about why I don't get along with emus, dating back to a visit at the drive-thru portion of the  Lazy 5 Ranch in North Carolina and some aggressive wildlife...

This was more like it:

You know you've found something good when even the Parking sign is creative:

There were so many great booths and vendors, this impossibly cool set-up belonging to Holly Gagne Interior Design was among the first we saw:

Who wouldn't love an interior design consult under this capiz shell chandelier?

This booth was full of rusty, patina-rich lovelies. Love the name and the sign:

More great displays and vintage goodness...

This was intriguing...

I texted Bobby Law a photo, but he replied that we "didn't have a proper hillside" to install one.  Bummer (not really).

Though the odds were against us, both Bubbe and I managed to make a few purchases.  First we had to overcome several obstacles:  very few vendors were accepting credit cards, we didn't bring very much cash ($30 between us), we only brought 1 check (Bubbe's), and the specially brought in on-site ATMs weren't working.  We're resourceful though; we left, went into town to the bank, and returned, cash in hand.

Bubbe's first purchase(s) were these lovely vintage vases:

I was thoroughly enchanted by these painted driftwood signs by Elizabeth Stotz of Washed Ashore. 

I couldn't resist bringing some seaglass home with me.  Fits right in, right?

A few more favorites that didn't get to come home with us...

Amazing assemblage dolls by Carol Mataruso of Tin Hearts:

Unfortunately, I don't have the name of the artist that painted this fun & colorful panel, she didn't have any business cards.  I did put my name of her email list though, hopefully  more information will be forthcoming...

Finally, the treasure I should have spent $6 to get, but left behind:

Good thing there's another Vintage Bazaar in September!

Thanks for stopping by,

Beach Trip

Going to the beach was written on the kitchen chalkboard to-do list last weekend so of course we had to go.

Even if Bobby Law "tweaked his back" and had to stay home.  He was grimacing in pain very convincingly as he helped me pack the car...

Ridin' solo, that's me.  Solo plus 4 kids:  Ebby, Ebby's friend K, Will and Cuyler.

Usually when we go to the beach any foul moods, grumpiness and/or whiny-ness that has surfaced ahead of our departure disipates once we get there.  Usually.

This time we had issues right up until we were packing  to head home.  Then everyone was finally  happy all at the same time. 

No major meltdowns or anything, just a nagging buzz of discontent (texting drama, wanting to read in the car, Mommy crankiness, etc.).  Still, we managed to have a pretty good evening.  And I've got the pictures to prove it...

The sand was extra soft and deep.  Even the Harbormaster on his ATV stayed clear of the deep ruts.

It wasn't too crowded but it was windy so we set up beside the car.

A variety of amusements were unpacked

The boys unearthed a treasure

Cuyler wanted to take it home so I could use it in my junk garden, but alas, it didn't fit too well in Dad's car.  I couldn't imagine how I'd explain that a rusty metal fence post ripped a tear in his leather upholstery...so we left the pole at the beach.

We did bring this rock home.  Cuyler found it and it looks like it's been painted with black watercolor.  Very cool.

After successfully grilling 4 hamburgers and 2 hotdogs, it was time for s'mores. 

I am such a master marshmallow roaster.

I brought along a new addition to the fixins.

The girls approved.

After dinner Cuyler did a scientific demonstration involving rocks inside a sand bucket.

{Spoiler:  The rocks didn't fall out of the bucket}

The beach was very rocky and seaweed abounded, likely due to the nor'easter earlier in the week. That meant there wasn't much swimming, although all 4 of them went down to the water at one point.  

My peace lasted about 3 minutes before they came back.

Soon afterward, E & K went for a walk.  I still can't believe they found and came back with this:

First of all, who leaves a huge bunch of balloons on the beach??  Second of all, what a great photo prop! 

Third of all, we're environmentally responsible so we popped all the balloons and picked up all the debris and put it in our trash.  No birds will choke because of our negligence.

Ok, all but one balloon.  Cuyler took this little one home.

As we packed up and headed out we were treated to the remains of a beautiful sunset.

Until next time DUX,

 

Vintage Coastal Summer Vignette

Now that all of my cherubs are officially out of school for the summer I knew it was time  to swap out the disjointed Spring vignette I had on top of our living room builts-ins.

Of course calling an old Boston Marathon picture of Bobby Law, a pair of dirty socks, the Apple TV remote, a glass bird cloche and assorted plastic speckled eggs a 'vignette' may pushing it...

Last week I gathered several of my favorite Summer pieces from around the house and came up with this, a proper vignette ☺.

I'm never quite sure what to do with that small window.  A wee bunting or banner perhaps?

The shell topped bottle was given to me in a swap a few years ago.  I bought the fish bottle in 2009 in Provincetown.  I've been filling it with small white beach rocks ever since.  I think this might be the summer I finally fill it to the top.  I picked out three Summer themed books from my stash to anchor one end of the display.  I've never actually read any of them but I do have three copies of the Bobbsey Twins At The Seashore so you never know...

Looking from the left:

You can see from this shot that my display shelf is actually the top of one side of the built-in shelves that flank our fireplace.  Ok, you can't see the fireplace or the other set of built-ins, but trust me, they're there.   The 3 container glass canister is from West Elm and was a Christmas gift from my mom.  I plan to fill it with treasures from the beach.

I'm not sure that the Bobbsey Twins actually look like they're at the beach on this book cover, but it does have vintage character so I like it.  On the right side, a beachy photo holder that I love.  I bought it at an art fair a few years ago from Catherine of By The Sea Driftwood.  I pretty much love all of her work.

A few more details from the right side including a huge whelk shell that we found on our first (and so far, only) trip to Kiawah Island. 

I picked up the vintage Zero fan last year at a local flea market.  $5 thankyouverymuch.  The glass jar on the left is a yard sale find that holds several pieces of sea glass.  That's actually probably two summers' worth of sea glass which tells me two things:  1. I need to visit some different beaches and 2. It's going to take a long time to fill that jar.  Fortunately I love the hunt.

Happy Summer and Happy Treasure Hunting!

Thanks for stopping by,

Handmade: Altered Ribbon Lampshade

Every year at the  North River Arts Festival (where this year they yarn bombed a bunch of trees and telephone poles) there is a silent auction fundraiser.  A theme and/or object is assigned and local artists donate their time and talents to create an item for the auction with all proceeds going to the North River Arts Society.

Last year the theme was painted furniture.  My mom painted and donated this awesome buffet:

They contacted her again regarding this year's theme:  lampshades.  The email also encouraged folks to invite any of your artsy/crafty friends to participate as well.  Wouldn't you know it, she invited me.  Go figure ☺.

I've been wanting to alter a lampshade for a while now so I jumped at the chance to get my feet wet.  I picked up my shade, gathered (pinned) ideas and...waited until 2 days before it was "due" to get to work.

Typical me.

I thought I wanted to something with vintage book pages, old photographs and shabby chic junque but that's not at all the direction I ended up taking.

Here's the transformation...

Once I made the decision to rip off the fabric, painting, collaging, and adding handmade flowers were all off the table as decorative options.

It was looking a little ratty so...

When it was dry I brought it down to my studio and started experimenting with my favorite colors of ribbon.

Hmmm, I kind of liked it.  Simple but interesting with a bit of a twist--ok, with a bunch of knots.

After some tweaking...

Oooh, baby ball fringe...

When I visited the Arts Festival on Saturday, of course I had to check out the Lampshade Silent Auction. 

There were lots of fun creations on display.

My favorite was this one though, it was already bid up to $75!

Yes, that's the lampshade my mom donated.  She collaged the shade with scrapbook paper and embellished with paper rosettes, faux pearl strands and glitter tape.  Awesome job once again Bubbe!

Finally, here's my lampshade on display.

I was psyched to see that there were multiple--ok 2-- bids on it.  The first one was from my mom (she had been at the Opening Gala the night before) but the second one was from a stranger for $40...yahoo!  I have no idea what the final price was but I'm just so happy that it sold and that I was able to contribute to a wonderful cause.

Win-win.

Thanks for stopping by,

Beacon Hill Art Walk

On Sunday I treated myself to a day out in Boston.  Alone.

I invited my family to join me, but they all said no.

Bubbe wanted to come, but had other obligations.

No matter, I took Bobby Law's T pass and was on my way.

Frrrrreeeedom!!

My destination:

The Beacon Hill Art Walk is "is an annual event that takes place on the first Sunday in June, throughout the nooks and crannies of Beacon Hill. Residents open up their private gardens, alleyways, and courtyards and allow artists to display and sell their artwork."  

Once upon a time, when I was getting my Master's degree in Education and was pregnant with Ebby, I worked on Beacon Hill at the Beacon Hill Nursery School.  I was there as an assistant teacher for just one school year but it was one of my favorite jobs.  Somehow though, I never did much exploring around Beacon Hill.  The whole grad school/pregnant/commuting thing might have had something to do with it.  At any rate, the Beacon Hill Art Walk sounded like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

And it was...

There was a great variety of work represented

 

Landscape painting on display in a border garden

 

 

Unique photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge

 

{Links:  Rose Bryant, Karen Kemp, Constance Bacon, Maggie Carberry}

If I had to pick favorites, Juleen Jones was definitely one of them.

She had a great variety of work on display but my favorites were definitely these oversized abstract panels.  Very Flora-esque with lots of layering, textures, small details, and bright colors. 

One of my last stops of my Art Walk was to visit Danny O.

I've been an admirer of Danny O's art for many years now.  I'm not sure where I first saw his vintage-vibe, fun collages, but I want to say in a catalog, maybe Land of Nod or Pottery Barn Kids.

 

Pink Car poster by Danny O

 I even (still) have some of his scrapbooking products from K&Company.  When I saw that he was going to be at the BHAW I was excited to finally see some of his collage work up close.

I played around with the focus on this one

 

Surprise!

Yes, he had several collage pieces on display, and they were very cool.  But mostly he had paintings.  I had the good fortune to be able to speak to him at length and he said he was a bit burnt out on collage after 20 years or so.  His wife encouraged him to begin painting again and well, he did.

This one is totally my favorite.

Danny made the scrap wood frame and it looks awesome in person.

This woodcut print of Fenway Park caught my eye as well.  It was reasonably priced at $60 but I'm too upset with the Red Sox to buy it.  If it had been a Bruins Stanley Cup scene on the other hand...

I was so glad to get the chance to chat with him about his process and his art--and a shared affection for the dump swap pile!

Despite the cloudy, cool weather, it was a wonderful, artful afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by,