You are invited to a Garden Party!

In this last month of Spring it's the perfect time for an outdoor soiree.  The smell of fresh flowers at dusk, drinks over candlelight surrounded by friends and family.  These are the perfect ingredients for a garden party.  I have pulled together some of my favorite finds that I think bring together a perfect outdoor celebration. Happy Spring!

Garden Party:

1. faux bois vase ❁ L & M Studio
2. peony note cards ❁ Giardino
3. 1950's floral dress  ❁ zwzzy
4. Rose Garden 8x10 print ❁ Pure Nature Photos
5. succulent wreath ❁ Eucca
6. stump table ❁ Real Wood Works
7. garden party aromatherapy ❁ Living Earth Botanicals
8. industrial wall sconce ❁ Luke Lamp Co
9. airplant in gold color block pod  ❁ Sea and Asters
10. bird feeder  ❁ The Bird on the Tree
11. bibliophile garland  ❁ Palimpsestic

Garden Prep 101 || Start Planting!

If you are a gardener at heart, then this time of year is probably your favorite. I am lucky enough to live in a climate where we can actually start seeing blooms as early as the last week of February. That means we have about eight good months to get our hands dirty and tend to our gardens.  One of my favorite Spring activities is making the multiple trips to various nurseries.  I love looking for new plants to tuck into spaces, searching for the perfect organic fertilizer and just getting inspired by nature. 

Etsy has so many garden goodies it was hard to choose what I wanted to share with you. I wanted to focus on getting ready to garden, which actually takes a lot of work, but is well worth the results if you prep your beds and get all your supplies before you start digging! 

My Garden Prep 101 choices:
1. Ceramic Garden Markers || Orly Design
2. Ceramic Bird House || L & M Studio
3. Heirloom Seed Kit || Sarah Rainwater Design
4. Garden Melodies Print || Created by Storm
5. Waxed Canvas Garden Tote || Artifact Bags
6. Organic Herbal Salve || Roots Soap Co. 
7. Chalkboard Pots || One December
8. Air Plant Terrarium || Sea and Asters

Get Your Gardens Ready!

top left  Ceramic Herb Markers by Orly Design
top right  Chalkboard Paint Terra Cotta Pots by One December
bottom left  Vintage Toy Gardening Tools by Artma Vintage
bottom right  Organic Chive Seeds by cubits

Here comes the summer gardening season and starting your seeds inside is a great way to jump start the growing season.  Each year I start many of my garden vegetables and herbs in the house because summers here in Maine are so short.  We don't have the luxury with all seeds to just drop one in the ground and let it grow!  Herbs are a great place to start if you've never had a garden before.  You can prepare a small patch of ground outside or if you live in the city, you can even have an indoor garden!  I've picked out 4 items to help get you inspired!

What are you going to be growing this year?

Blossoming Into Spring

1.  Woodland Nature Photography by Pure Nature Photos
2. Pair of Vintage Enamel Containers by Project Sarafan
3.  Custom Tea Dress by soho mode
4.  Floral Vintage Headband by Be Something New

When I saw this beautiful collection by Aki of Etsy shop oktak titled abloom, I immediately fell in love with the soft and dreamy world she created with her 16 selections.  The Etsy treasury system is such a fantastic way to showcase your favorite items together in a mini gallery setting and it's a wonderful tool for creative expression.  Spring has been ever present on my mind as I anxiously await the melting of snow and bursting forth of color.  I have also been giving the word "flowering" a lot of thought lately as it pertains to my own personal blossoming this year.  It's such a lovely metaphor for an inner awakening, a transformation that then organically comes to the surface and "flowers" into a new reality.    Many may not even be aware of all that is getting ready to blossom in the world, but it is already here.  Now we just have to open our hearts and receive.

What's blossoming in your heart this year?

    

Earth Day Celebration | Etsy Gets Earthy

Last week we had an Earth Day Style Guide challenge + Earth Day is

this Sunday April 22nd, so I wanted to share some more of our finds with you.

       Our goal is to find the best items from Etsy and showcase them here for easy shopping. Here is a sampling of some of my favorite Earth Day collections.

Earth Love | curated by Palimpsestic

(from top to bottom)

Organic Rapini Broccoli Seeds | Cubits

Porcelain Woodland Mushroom | Studio By the Forest

Woven Straw Bag | klinker

Butterfly Wings 5x5 | Amanda Rae K

         On Yer Bike | curated by Cloth and Ink

   (from top to bottom)

          Elevate Bike Rack | Elevate Woodworks

         Eco Lunch Sack | Little Lark

          Orange Paris Photography Set | The Paris Print Shop

     Bicycle Built for Two Rubber Stamp | creatiate

Gifts from the Earth | curated by peiffer Studios

(from top to bottom)

Dry Herb Boxes | Mmim

Monoprints Botancial Study Series | 88 editions

Sterling Tree Branch Ring | la chica de los anillos

Air Plant Frame | Sea and Asters

Botanica Watercolor | Francesca Lancisi

Happy Earth Day and if you have time, remember to go outside and enjoy the day!

An Elite16 Welcome: Etsy Shop Cubits

 (from top to bottom)
marjoram seeds
buttercrunch bibb lettuce seeds
colorful carrot heirloom seed mix
organic heirloom seed six pack
german chamomile herb seeds

Have you ever experienced the wonder of planting a small, little seed into the ground?  It's quite magical to watch this tiny seed emerge from the soil + grow into a mature plant.  Etsy shop Cubit's understands the wonders of this cycle as they are seed aficionados!   What does that mean?  It means they are passionate about offering high quality, untreated, organically grown seeds with a focus on rare + heirloom seeds.  Seeds with history, seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation.  Husk or Ground Cherries can be traced back to records from 1837 and now you can grow a little piece of history with Cubit's Organic Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry seeds - an organic variety that originated in Poland.  If you want to taste the most amazing burst of flavor in your mouth, plant these gems + be ready to say... "WOW!"  Based out of Toronto, Cubit's is devoted not only to offering only the best quality seeds, but they are committed to using "...environmentally friendly practices in all aspects of our business operations and general day to day life. We use recycled packaging, non toxic glues, all of our printed matter is on recycled paper and we emphasize local suppliers."  So get your garden clogs out, dust off your garden gloves + get ready to have the best garden yet with the help of Cubit's!  What will you grow this year?


Want to learn more?
Web: http://cubitsorganics.com/
Like: http://www.facebook.com/CubitsOrganicLiving
Follow: http://twitter.com/#!/cubits
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/cubits

   

Spring Critters - Who Do You See in the Backyard?

1. Vintage Spring Bird $21.99 by Anna Lou Vintage
2. 5 x 5 White Rabbit Art Block $29 by Red Tile Studio
3. Ceramic Blue Dragonfly Square Tray $18 by Catherine Reece
4. Hedgehog Stud Earrings $20 by Studio By The Forest
5. Pink Butterfly Pouch $32 by Mama Bleu Designs
6. Amigurumi Bumble Bees $20 by Sabahnur

Do you hear the birds chirping?  See the little white bunny coming out for some fresh air after a long winter?  Granted this year's winter, rather 'winta' as we say it here in Maine, was super mild and we only had to shovel a handful of times - can't complain - it always feels great to say goodbye to one season + transition into the other.  'Sayonara' short days, dark skies at 4pm + cold weather as we dive right into spring.   One of the first things I notice here in Maine, a real sign that spring is here, are the birds.  They're out singing, flying here + there, making new homes and I love how they're just enjoying themselves - we could learn a lot from these wise creatures!  The chickadees are the first birds I notice + it got me thinking about all the wonderful critters who visit each year come spring.


So, I went to some of my favorite Etsy shops to see what critters might pop up - who's ready to help me celebrate spring?  You don't have to be a nature lover to love these cute finds.  From crochet bumble bees to dragonfly trays, hedgehog earrings to rabbit art blocks, butterfly pouches to vintage birds - we've covering a lot of ground!  The studio here in Maine attracts a ton of dragonflies of all different shapes + colors - they're such beautiful little creatures!  What about you?  What critters do you see in your backyard come spring?

  

Get out in the Garden: Part Two Etsy Spring Style

Yesterday was the Spring equinox or what we commonly call the official first day of Spring. When I think Spring my first thought always is gardening. I find gardening to be a very relaxing hobby.   I know not everyone likes getting dirt under their nails or pulling weeds and fertilizing, but the end results can be so rewarding.  I have personally been watching my mountain laurel on a daily basis just to check the bloom count. I know, probably a bit extreme for most of you. Fortunately though, you don't actually have to get out in the garden to enjoy it. Here are some more favorite garden picks you can enjoy inside your home, but hopefully they will get you inspired to plant something and watch it grow.


1. Cherry Blossom 10x10 art print by Amanda Rae K
2. Vintage Terra Cotta Garden Pots 5x7 art print by One December
3. Botanicial Studies, set of Six gelatin monoprints by 88 editions
4. Mini Air Plant Pods- set of Three by Sea and Asters
5. Happy Worm Ceramic Garden Marker by Karo Art

Get Out in the Garden: Etsy Spring Garden Part One

The official first day of Spring starts tomorrow. As a novice gardener I couldn't be more excited. The weather is already so warm here I have already done some planting and the red buds just finished blooming. In honor of the Spring equinox I thought I would put together some garden inspired finds from Etsy.  With so many goodies to pick from I will also be sharing part two with you on Wednesday.
So step away from the computer and go head outside and plant something!


1.  Set of Three Botanical Canisters from LoVintage Finds
2.  Ceramic Garden Chimes by Studio By the Forest
3.  Flower Screen printed Linen Napkins- set of Four by Homesteading Roasters
4.  Ceramic Herb Markers by Orly Design
5.  Gardener's Scrub Soap by Sweet Pine Soaps