Summer Beauty

One of the things I love most about gardening are the winged friends who come to visit.  The summer wouldn't be complete without a few Swallowtails.

Whether they are basking, puddling, patrolling or perching I just adore watching them.

Here we have a Monarch enjoying a beautiful summer day ...

I have also seen quite a few skippers this year.  This Peck's skipper can be separated from other golden skippers by it's row of tooth-like marks on the ventral hind wing.

So small, but yet so beautiful ...

This little honey bee is exploring the cone of my Echinacea purpurea.

They also love my ornamental oregano ...

Thank you for visiting me today.  I appreciate each and every comment I receive.  This week I am joining the following blog parties:

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos 
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage
Home & Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life 
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
NF Winged on Thursday @ NatureFootstep memes 
Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Flower Art Friday @ Photos by LeAnne
Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday 
Flowers on Saturday @ Blueberry Craft & Hobby

Pond Garden

A Sense of Calm ...

We created the pond garden in 2005 with the sole purpose of having a soothing fish pond.  The sound of moving water lures you and a splashing fountain supplies music to its surroundings.  Water lilies dazzle your eyes and frogs peer at you from under the lily pads.  With water comes a host of living creatures - birds, dragonflies, snakes and water striders. 

Ahhhhh, how I just love sitting here enjoying the sounds, and watching the fish swirl around.

Frogs basking in the sun ...

This one is a little shy ...

The water lily flower stands for perfect beauty ...

even as it starts to close its petals ...

After watching the fish glide through the pond, before you know it you are transfixed.

Echinaceas are in full bloom ...

'Tiki Torch' always stands out from the rest ...

Black-eyed susans are bright and cheery ...

This year I planted a couple 'Serenity Rose Magic' Osteospermums near the pond and I am so happy I did.  When I purchased them I wasn't totally convinced the colors would change, but they really do!  As you can see from the photo the colors change as the flowers fully open.  These annuals will be a must have on my list next year.

Carex elata 'Aurea' is very attractive near the pond.  This ornamental perennial sedge has shimmery yellow leaves with dark green margins.  The golden color casts a reflection on the pond.

Thank you for taking a stroll with me to enjoy all the beauty summer has to offer.  I'm linking with the following blog parties for some garden fun.

Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean

Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage

Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time

Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday

Pansies in Teacup

When I discovered this digital teacup image by Fred She Said, I just had to purchase it.  This is the pre-colored purple pansy stamp and I love it!  The image was cut out using the Spellbinders large standard circles #6.  It was layered to another circle in Almost Amethyst and then mounted onto a white doily.  A ribbon tag was cut from Shimmery White paper and Tea Time was inked first by loading it with VersaMark then Vintage Violet ink.  I embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon was placed through the slots.

Next, I stamped the teaspoon onto Shimmery White paper with VersaMark and embossed it with silver embossing powder.  The inside was colored with a Cool Gray No. 1 Copic marker and a little bow was adhered to the handle - so sweet!

The inside sentiment by Stamping Scrapping called 'Tea Time' was stamped in Vintage Violet and embossed with clear embossing powder.  Sponging was done in Almost Amethyst.  A pansy flower was added to the corner and I was done.

I hope the gals over at Tea Time Tuesday will enjoy this card.  It's the next best thing to a real teacup  :-)  I will be joining Make It Monday as well as the following parties: 

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorties
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Fred She Said Purple Pansy, Stamping Scrapping Tea Time, Papertrey Ink Tea for Two Additions
Paper:  Solar White Linen, Almost Amethyst, Shimmery White, Whisper White
Ink:  Tea Time - Vintage Violet with Clear EP; Spoon - VersaMark with Silver EP; Cool Gray No. 1 Copic Marker; Sponging - Almost Amethyst
Accessories:  Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon, May Arts 1/8" Lavender Silk Ribbon, 4" Lace Doily, Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio, Nesties Small Standard Circles #7 & Large Standard Circles #6, Edge Distresser, Bow-Easy
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Creating Vintage Charm!

In the spring I was very busy working on several things and today I can finally share one of them with you.  My journey card and Paris notebook have been published in the gorgeous and inspirational Magazine, Creating Vintage Charm.  It is such an honor to be included in this beautiful magazine.  Each issue has lots of eye candy!

A big thank you to Sonia Crouse, Senior Editor/Design for featuring Donna's Designs.  Please drop by Creating Vintage Charm for more information or to purchase your copy of the Summer 2012 Issue.

I'm so thrilled to see how everything looks in print.  Here is a sneak peek of the article ...   

My blog and followers have brought me so many wonderful things.  Thank you for your encouragement and sweet comments.

I'm sending you a David Austin 'Mary' Rose from my garden. 

My head is still in the clouds :-)

I am linking with the following parties:

Wow us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

French Inspiration Thursday @ The French Cupboard

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday

Flower Art Friday @ Photos by LeAnne
Friendship Friday @ Create With Joy
Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace

Wildflower or weed ...

I'll let you decide ...

They look wonderful in a meadow with their lacy umbel of tiny, white flowers ensconced in delicate green tendrils.

For me, Queen Anne's Lace will always be a flower - not a weed, but I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Photos processed using the Florabella Collection with Ruth West's Ripple Texture.  Thank you for visiting me today.  I'm linking with the following parties:

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos
NF Inspiring Photography @ NatureFootstep memes 
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Flower Art Friday @ Photos by LeAnne
Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday

Birdcage Mini Book

I have a mini book to share with you today.  This one is 4" x 4" and uses the Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue Pack.  I started with two pieces of craft chipboard as my cover base and adhered a piece of Webster's Pages to the front cover with a piece of Pale Plum inside.  For the back cover I used Pale Plum on the inside and Perfect Plum on the outside.

Next, I used the Marianne Design Creatables Birdcage die with a piece of Shimmery White paper and ran it through the Big Shot.  I sponged the birdcage with Brilliance Pearlescent Beige and added a Kaiser Opaline Pearl in Black to resemble a knob.  The bird was stamped in StazOn Black and sponged with Brilliant Blue and cut out.  I knew I wanted some leaves entwined in the birdcage so I pulled out the Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Set with Mellow Moss paper.

The inside covers and back were decorated using the Memory Box Vintage Peony stamp.  The bird is from SU's Carte Postale set.

I used my Zutter Bind-it-All to bind my little book using a 1/2" antique silver owire.  All the pages are cream and I found in my stash some Tim Holtz Idea-ology metal page corners in antique nickel.  I think they add a nice touch.  A piece of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Orchid was tied to the binder with a vanilla pearl bauble.

So have you used your Zutter Bind-it-All lately?  I just love mine and I'm glad I took the plunge and purchased it a year ago.

The inside cover with the Memory Box Peony stamp.

Back cover in Perfect Plum.

I hope you have a great weekend!  They are delivering my new Tempur-Pedic bed today so if all things go as planned, I may never get out of bed again!

Book Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Vintage Peony, SU Carte Postale
Paper:  Craft Chipboard Covers, Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue Designer Paper, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, Shimmery White
Ink:  Brilliance Pearlescent Beige sponged on birdcage; Peonies & Bird - StazOn Black
Accessories:  Kaiser Opaline Pearl in Black, 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in Orchid, Tim Holtz Vanilla Pearl Bauble, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Metal Page Corners in Antique Nickel, Marianne Design Creatables Birdcage Die (LR0146), Silver Cording, Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Die, Zutter Bind-it-All, 1/2" Antique Silver Owire
Techniques:  Sponging
Book Size:  4" x 4"

Shasta Daisies

Won't you join me for tea and daisies today? 

They are so pure and innocent ...

in a simple galvanized bucket wrapped with tea stained lace.

For the occasion I have brought out my Royal Albert 'Marguerite' teacup & saucer.

I just love a pretty marked bottom.

Dainty blue and white daisies compliment our sea of white.

"There is a flower, a little flower With silver crest and golden eye, That welcomes every changing hour, And weathers every sky."

~ James Montgomery ~

Thank you for sipping tea with me.  I hope your week is off to a fabulous start!  I'm joining the following blog parties:

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean

Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

White Wednesday @ Faded Charm

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time

Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday