iron craft challenge #19

This week's theme was SPRING!

When I think of spring, I think of working in the garden and the return of ladybugs, birds, bunnies, flowers....and wee folk.

That being said.....here is what I put together.

Spring has sprung in Gerta's wee little gnome home....

a view from the top so you can see the birdbath behind Gerta


I made a teensy bunting and dug around, finding little bits to put it all together.

Then I spent most of an hour jamming my rather small hand into an even smaller (and not exactly smooth) jar opening.

I hope Gerta enjoys her home, I think its perfect.

Mosaic Monday

I made this stepping stone last week to put in front of our gate to the back yard.


But I remembered I had a table base in the garage and noticed it was the same size so painted it.
I think it makes a pretty little table, the perfect size for a plant and a cold drink or two.


a close up of the edge

so here it will stay for awhile...

return of the fairys....

With spring flowers popping up, I couldn't help but notice that my fairy house looked a little sad so I moved it to a new location.

It is MUCH happier...being slowly hidden by oxalis and morning glory.


a teeny bluebird feather made its way into the little nest on top of the house....




here is the sweet fence in front of it so the dogs don't stomp all over their garden.

The morning glory is slowly covering it, making it more lovely with each passing day...


and the little bells and plaque announce their welcome...morning glories have just started climbing up it but not enough to show yet.

"Garden Fairies come at dawn,
kiss the flowers, then they're gone..."
-anonymous

I love to see our yard waking up.

Our roses are going CRAZY!








The bottle brush is attracting bees and butterflys and hummingbirds...


The gardenias scent the whole yard....



The oxalis is happy





The coreopsis had babies

the gladiolas are blooming...

as are the smaller morning glories...


And the lizards are back.....chasing pesky critters off the herbs.

I just love SPRING!

somebunny loves me



My sister knows I love these...she also knows I can't find them in this area.
So, she MAILED a bag to me!

And no, I didn't hork the whole bag down in one sitting.
I still have half a bag left and they arrived on Monday. But....I fear they won't make it through the weekend!


Thank you sweet sis, I love you too!

Ironcraft challenge #18

This week's ironcraft challenge was all about flowers.

I decided to make a mosaic stepping stone out of a 2x2 concrete stepping stone Dean bought but never used. I didn't get it finished 100% so I'll use it for another post.

Instead, I made this flower fairy :


see her cute little flower petal dress?


the best part is that I can use her for May's YOE ornament.....

Bird nests....and such

I made this little nest for April's YOE ornament...

I wanted it to look camouflaged like a real nest would. I crocheted the nest using 2 types of yarn held together.
Then I wove in beads, tinsel, embroidery thread, feathers, scraps of muslin and even tufts of rug fiber.

I whip stitched it around a pretty branch I found covered in lichen.
I really LOVE it. This photo doesn't show how pretty it is! If you click on the photo, it will enlarge




I used some teeny wooden eggs and painted them to go in it.




Since the other nest is in my foyer, I made a teeny one using just something I made's tutorial.

It is small (not quite an 1 inch across) so I can't get a good photo of it with my camera....but here it is...




and here it is on my YOE tree...cute!



Then, I crocheted a nesting material bag and filled it up with dryer lint, yarn and feathers.

I hung it on the fence where birds sit between feeding and taking baths....



I'm pleased to say that the bird's are flocking to our yard this year. .maybe we'll have some real nests soon....keeping my fingers crossed!