Friday, May 14, 2010

Finally!!!


Finally I am back to posting for a day, and finally I am getting a few blooms in the garden!
This has been such a busy time for me and I haven't been keeping up with all I've had to do very
well. I have been painting in the house, painting in the studio, and even painting in the garden.
I have practically been living in these painting clothes of mine and I HATE TO PAINT!!!


This has truly been the coldest Spring that I can remember since I planted this garden.
 Our temps have been downright frigid. For over three weeks our lows have been
 in the twenties and our highs in the forties. This makes for very slow progress in the garden.
Everything is blooming so much later than most years.

 These are pictures that I took this morning.
I can hardly believe that I am taking pictures of forsythia in the middle of May! My lilacs
are all sitting in tight little buds and the trees too.




Some years, we have had warm days in early Spring and things have progressed along only to
be frozen later. I hate losing my lilac blooms to a late frost. I wait all year just for them!
This year however, it has remained cold and windy, and it is as if now Spring has just
arrived here.



Okay...I will now quit complaining and just enjoy what I have been given!






I do have one tree in the garden that is opening to blooms. It is an 'Autumn
Brillance' serviceberry. This tree is the first to bloom in my garden and the first to fruit.
I love it...the birds love it...and it is always a race to see who wins the prize.
Sadly for me, the birds usually win. But, when I win, the fruit is wonderful baked in muffins,
and made into syrup.


Just simple little blooms with no fragrance at all.



But beautiful, none the less.






I have been working on a few projects that have been sitting around for
a long time. I decided it was time to get them painted and put them to use.

I stole got this old dresser mirror from my daughter. It was in very rough shape,
but I'm crazy for mirrors, so I decided to try and salvage it. It was totally coming apart
in every place possible. With a little wood glue, paint, and old sheet music,
I was able to give it a new life in the studio.




I haven't hung it up on the wall yet, but I do like how it came out.






And if you noticed in one of the 'before' pictures of the mirror,
it was sitting on an old settee that I bought at a thrift store last Fall.
I was able to get a coat of paint on it as well, and will be recovering the cushions in this
pale blue-grey fabric sitting on it now.


I had to replace some of the caning on this and wow, what a process it was
taking out the broken caning and adding the new, but it will be worth the effort I put in.
I loved the piece the minute I saw it and knew that I could find a home for it somewhere.
WELL... it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, because this house is crammed full
of stuff that I just knew I could find a place for.
 -big sigh-
Now matter how hard I try to stretch the square footage in this house,
 it just won't do it!

We are finally having a beautiful day outside today, so I am off to work in the garden, but
will be coming by to visit all you dear friends tonight when it is too dark to see out there!
Catch up with you all soon, as I have missed you all in my absence!

84 comments:

Jeannie B. said...

Everything is beautiful. So nice a clean looking. I love your flowers. I like the garden pictures on the side. You have a full life, for sure.

Holly Loves Art said...

Your flowers, your garden is so gorgoeus! You take the most gorgeous photos. I love the mirror too. It's just perfect.
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend (almost).
Cheers,
Holly

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

You have been really busy, June! The mirror looks fabulous and the settee turned out very pretty as well!
The spring had been very cold here also and we have the forsythia and the fruit trees blooming right now. I think that's about 3 or 4 weeks later than normal.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs,
Julia

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

It has been cold here to. I run outside and do what I can and then come back in and do things inside. That is the only way to get things done here. I love what you did with your mirror and the music paper behind it. Such a great idea!!!Hope you are having fun in your studio. I am hoping to get into mine later today:)
~Debra
Blog: Capers of the vintage vixens

Rebecca Nelson said...

Dear JunieGirl...I love your posts. You are my favorite blogger. You are. Did you know that!?

xoRebecca

Sheila said...

Both the settee and the mirror are SiMpLy StUnNiNg.. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Smiles,
Sheila

Victoria said...

Oh so beautiful!!! You did a wonderful job on the falling apart mirror! The flowers are lovely also:)

I think the spring has put us all in project mode, I've been a bit of an absent blogger myself lately but oh well!!! Have a wonderful weekend:)

Rostrose said...

Oh sweet June! This sentence made me laugh: "... because this house is crammed full of stuff that I just knew I could find a place for." Your house must be a twin of mine ;o)
You did such a good job with the mirror (it's a beauty now!!!) and the old settee! Wonderful!!! And if you don't find a place - I will ;o)
Well, spring is really slowly this year - in Austria, too. And it's cold outside. But here the forsythia-blossom has gone some weeks ago, so you spring must have been sleeping! But your garden-photos are stunning, June!
Sending lots of warm spring-hugs to you! And hoping that the birds let you win this year ;o)
Traude

Blondie's Journal said...

When I saw your post I realized it HAS been a long time since we have heard from you...busy lady!!

Spring has been very slow to come here as well. I haven't planted one seed in the ground because it is still going down to 40 at night and not much higher during the day. Soon, I hope.

I love the mirror. The sheet music is a very creative touch...I like that. And I think you somehow will find room for the things you love. I would, too if I just got organized!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, June!

xoxo
Jane

Frances said...

Oh wow. I have just stumbled upon your blog, and everything is so breathtakingly beautiful. My heart is sighing. I don't see an option for "following". Am I missing that, or is that not an opton?

Tara said...

The mirror is gorgeous! If you don't mind me asking, how did you do the sheet music technique? It's a terrific touch!
We actually had a warm Spring here and things popped out early. The lilacs are one of my favorites too, a few neighbors have them and when you walk by you can smell them, heavenly!

Scented Sweetpeas said...

Goodness me you have been busy, no wonder you haven't had time to blog! Love the flowers and the things you have been painting , very nice :-)

Victorian1885 said...

Hello June

You are a very busy Lady! Have you ever thought about publishing a book of your photographics or a Home Decor book perhaps? I am sure you could sell millions of copies.. ;) Your posts are always so interesting and it is my pleasure to follow you! Take care..

Wanda

DustyLu said...

Lovely, Lovely, Lovely all of it! I love visiting your blog! Your photos are to die for! ~lulu

Julie Marie said...

Hello June... your photos are just stunning... I especially love the closeup of your Muscari... we are behind normal with Spring here as well, but some ahead of you... it has been so cold and wet for so long, yesterday was sunny and warm, today is thunder and lightning and rain... my Lilacs are blooming, and so are my Bleeding Hearts... miniature roses just starting to bloom... I planted alot of my annuals and am hoping we don't get another frost! Seems more like March or April here than May... I love seeing all of the projects you have been working on, and I can't wait to see more of your new studio! Love to you... xoxo Julie Marie PS Kisses to TT and all of the animals!

Natalie said...

I was blog hopping and ran across yours...your flowers are absolutely beautiful!! So lucky to have such beautiful flowers and to be able to take such amazing photos of them :)

Robin Thomas said...

Sheet music? Brilliant.

Anonymous said...

Hi June,

Yes, I cannot remember a colder winter than this last one. It has still been snowing this week, and the little alpine flowers that were just about to bloom were eaten by a bunny. Not fair. So you know I'm enjoying seeing your beautiful garden!

Love the settee & mirror. Just gorgeous finds, and so much prettier now that you've given them some special love.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
:)
Zuzu

Debby said...

Hi June, a few blooms??? They are all so gorgeous!!! I love all your photos and your new goodies are beautiful.
Debby

Deb said...

Beautiful! I love the settee & the sheet music along the side of the mirror is absolutely gorgeous!! After many days of rain today has been sunny & warm and no rain in the weekend forecast :-)
Hope you have a wonderful weekend ♥

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pics of your garden blooms! And the mirror with the sheet music is stunning!

Angela said...

Your flowers are so vibrant and pretty! I love to paint, unbelievably! I just hate taking down wallpaper - ick!
I would love to tour your home and garden. Every nook looks lovely! Hugs, Angela

Sandi said...

Oh June I have the perfect solution to you running out of room!! You just schlep that settee over to my house and your dilema will be solved! lol I LOVE IT! It is gorgeous! My mom has caned chairs before and I know how long a process that is...that is why I don't do it! :)

LOVE your mirror too! Have always wanted to try that, but haven't found the right mirror yet. All your pictures are fabulous!!
Hugs~

Unknown said...

welcome back! i've missed your wonderufl posts!

Unknown said...

June, girl ~ I was getting ready to write you today to see WHAT was up? I love to paint, may I come help you! All looks absolutely gorgeous ... your gardens will be abloom fully soon ...

Sure have missed you ... you are a very special lady, June.
Have a beautiful weekend.
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Carolyn said...

I knew you must have been up to something! Everything is going to be beautiful when it's done.
Your photos are always so beautiful! There will be lots of good things to come soon in the garden.Our garden is about the same as last year at this time but we are always late here.It does get cold at night though -just above freezing for tonight.
I laughed at the paint clothes comment because I just went from my old paint clothes to my almost as bad garden clothes!
Don't work too hard,

Carolyn

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi June,
I have been missing you and your blog. So glad that you are back.
Your garden is alive with color and your photos are wonderful.

The mirror is amazingly beautiful.
What a wonderful transformation. Sometime you are going to have to show us how you did the musical note image on the mirror.

Be sure and show us when you hang it so we can see! You know how we bloggers are, we love to look in others homes!

hugs
Sissie

The Feathered Nest said...

Don't you worry about being gone sweet June, we know we'll all have something GORGEOUS to see when you finish all of your projects! I love your taste dear heart and can't wait to see more ~ I know it will be breathtaking!!!!! Have a wonderful Spring weekend ~ hugs and love, Dawn

Diane said...

So glad to hear from you June. It sounds like you've been getting a lot of things done. I love your pictures - always. Your flowers are so beautiful. What a great idea for the mirror. Blessings, my friend, Diane

maría cecilia said...

Oh, I was so hooked to the mirror and now I don`t see it, where is it?? What color did you paint it?
I love everything about your studio!!!!
And your flowers, late but sooooo pretty!!! Here in Santiago, my city, summer is still here, until today that we had the first rainy day, very late water!!
Hugs my darling June,
Maria Cecilia

Caroline said...

June everything looks beautiful...I can't wait to see that settee. I love anything with caning on it. Hubby and I have two chairs with caning on them waiting for us to get to them...one needs the caning repaired on the seat and both still need to be painted. Welcome back...you were missed.

Beth A. @ Songbird Hill said...

June, you have such a beautiful garden! I love how you used the sheet music on the back of your mirror. Very creative!

Lady Pamela said...

June, you have been soooo very busy. Don't forget to take time out for you. We all need to be reminded of that from time to time.
**Peace**

Jenny's Place Online said...

Time can be precious, so it is lovely to hear from you when you can :) The flowers look lovely, by the way!! All the best, Jenny

koralee said...

Everything makes me so so happy over here...your garden is amazing. Have fun in the garden...I hope to get to mine tomorrow. xoxoxo

Yvonne - Frl. Klein said...

Dear June, your garde must be a beautiful place, with many flowers!
And your home is so gorgeous!
Have a nice weekend,
Hugs, Yvonne

Pondside said...

The industry! When you've finished just leave your painting clothes on and head up this way with your paintbrush.
Things have been slow up here too, but I can't complain as we had a very warm winter before this unusually cool spring.

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Dear June,
I have been missing for a while, as I had computer trouble !!
I think that we have been having the same sort of weather as you. It is still very cold here in the U.K. The weather report says that it should warm up a bit, this weekend so, I will look forward to that !!
Although your garden is behind, it still is looking beautiful....just a little late !
I LOVE your mirror. What a great idea. I have lots of old music sheets so, I must find something that I can do that on. Thanks for the inspiration. I also love your settee. I spotted it as I scrolled down, with the mirror. You have done a wonderful job on that, too.
Well June, you might have been absent for a while, but you have certainly been very busy.
Everything looks amazing. It's lovely to have you back. XXXX

Muggensteekjes said...

Hello dear June,
you were very busy painting and I was having a little break, but now we are back and we can visit again. The temperatures here are also very low for the Spring and it looks(and feels) like autumn instead of Spring. But I love your pictures from your garden and love the cozy pictures from inside too.
Hope the temperatures will rise soon and the sun will shine again.
Hugs, Ingrid.

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

Your painting projects turned out beautifully, June. Love that mirror! And your garden flowers are so beautiful too.

Sandy~Romantique Inspirations~ said...

Your mirror turn out great and speaking of which, I just can't seen to get enough of mirrors.... I have them all over the place. You are so lucky to have a beautiful garden to work with June, I wish I was able to have all that! Well I need to be catching up with others as well. See you later.

Have a Wonderful Saturday*

Paula said...

Hi sweet June,
I have missed you! I am sorry to hear you are having such cold weather! I hope it warms up soon and that all your flowers will begin to bloom! I love your beautiful photos! The flowers that are blooming are so pretty! I also love the mirror. You did a wonderful job making it over and the sheet music is a lovely touch! The settee is gorgeous too! How wonderful you were able to replace some of the caning! I love the rose fabric and the soft grey fabric.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your beautiful weather! It has already turned hot and humid here in Louisiana! Ugh! :)

Love, Paula

The Victorian Parlor said...

June,

Your flowers are beautiful! I love what you did with the mirror and the settee-it's all so lovely!

Blessings,

Kim

Anonymous said...

Hi June,
Your mirror and setee turned out fabulous!! Way to repurpose and reuse!! I've enjoyed browsing through your blog. Your home is lovely!! Love all the pics of your animals.:) I have a new blog and would love for you to come visit.:) Bye for now, :) ~ Jo

butiksofie said...

Dear June, I love your pics!!!They are so very bright!!! Everything is beautiful!!Have a nice day, Anja

Rella said...

The flowers are gorgeous and the whole post is truly filled with eye candy. Thank you.

xox Rella

cathleen said...

This has everything I love about your blog. Your garden blooms and your beautiful decorating. Have a lovely and possibly paint free weekend, June!

Lisa said...

June,
Ok, I was begining to worry. Now I know what you've been up to. I should have known it's garden time for you & playing in your new AweSome studio. Oh, the mirror trick, the one with the sheet music, I'll be stealing/borrowing it for myself. Very cool. I love the blooms, also love that you know the latin name for all your plants & trees. LOL I can't even tell a plant from a weed in my garden. Honestly if it looks good I just keep it. One last thing, my dear Mother re-caned a baby rocker when I was little. I remember her soaking those reeds & weaving the darn thing every night, following a pattern. Of course it was brilliant. Hard work tho. Have a wonderful week June. Lisa

Vicki said...

Hi, June,
I am so glad spring has finally arrived for you. Your garden is looking very pretty. I just love forsythia, such a happy flower. You did an amazing transformation on your mirror and settee. I hate to paint, too, but a little paint sure makes a big difference, doesn't it? I hope you have a very happy weekend, sweet friend. Sending lots of love your way~ Vicki

Rose ~Victorian Rose ~ said...

Your garden is a bit late...but none the less beautiful.
IS THERE NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO woman?? You must put in a 18 hour day.
Makes me feel like a SLUG.

Do like the way the mirror turned out.

Rose

Rosie said...

My,My,My...I'm in love... this is amazing...I am constantly painting furniture for the store. One of my dear friends, was blogging about which nail polish color she would use next, and I told her mine was Benjamin Moore "cloud white"...you might smirk, but it is totally true...sending a hug...Rosie

Elizabeth said...

Everything is sooo pretty! That mirror is adorable! Great job!
Elizabeth

Laura said...

Dear June,
You have been so busy and it shows!
You have so many interesting varieties of plants in your garden.
I may need to try them,but it has been in the 90s!
Yikes,
Laura

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Everything is sooooo beautiful June and thankyou for sharing the visions I too feel... that there is beauty in almost everything that has been cast aside. It only takes a little imagination and some hard work to bring it to the forefront.
Susan x

J. Wecker Frisch said...

Hi June - Genius! Sheet music to embellish an old peeling mirror. Effective and dramatic enhancement. What did you use to attach/adhere?

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Okay.
This is IT!
I'm totally making this public AGAIN...

June, you are SO my idol & MY angel of creativity.

I've seen you do some amazing things BUT...the mirror takes the cake, I mean prize.

Sheet music? AWESOME idea to put back there where the "mirror" is missing!!!

{sigh}

I just love you June...you are a girl after my own heart.

So happy to hear you are back in your garden where you belong! ;) I know you love your flowers...it shows beautifully.

I'm sorry to cut this short, but I'm going back to look at that fabulous mirror again...you totally blow my mind :)

and awe...thank you for adding my button on your side bar! Together you and I can conquer the blog-start-up heebie jeebies!!! yay!!!
:)

Unknown said...

you have been busy!! love the pics of your garden.......can't wait to see it unfold again this year.....

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Hi June, I love all your projects and you flowers a beautiful. When are you coming to Utah???????????

Hugs
cindy@stitches

Rebecca said...

Hi June
Glad to have you back and by the looks of your comments so is everyone else... talk about miss popular! Not that I am not your number one fan... oh all right, right under Jodi anyway :)
Sorry you are having crappy weather, it was so nice here early but has been cold and damp lately. Spring is wonderful but I always want it warmer and sunnier!
I hope you have a wonderful Sunday, all your projects are wonderful... that mirror is 2die4.
Many Blessings Miss June!
Rebecca

Anonymous said...

Hi June, we're having the same cold weather here, had snow this past week and had to cover all my tenderest perennials, ugh, so this is the year mother nature is teaching us both patience I guess. Love your mirror and that settee...how in the world did you learn how to replace caning? My desk chair is cane seated and my bottom has broken through it so that it's more like sitting on a toilet seat :(, When I asked at my local flea market for a recommendation for repair place they said "oh it's so expensive you won't want to have it done". So do tell how you learned this difficult craft my dear!

Lori said...

June, it has been that cold here too {except for this weekend which was a little warmer}...and raining quite a bit...i haven't been able to do much of anything in my flower beds yet...it looks like you have some blooming beauties already...love the pics of your studio...the mirror and settee that you remade are gorgeous!!!

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Such beautiful flowers! You certainly have captured the essence of spring!

Enjoy!
Cathy

Anne Lorys said...

Hi June!
Welcome back, sweet friend!

Your mirror is just gorgeous, but then everything you touch is made more beautiful.

Hugs and love,
Anne

paperbird said...

Our buds on our lilacs are tightly closed too, this weekend has been gorgeous I hope you enjoyed the same weather. I love your images- you take lovely photographs.

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Hi June
Beautiful post... love all your photos and that great cane bedhead.. I have a similar one I painted white.. but doesn't have this lovely curvy shape... gorgeous.. love the cushion too... Have a great week xx Julie

Debra@CommonGround said...

I've missed you, girlie! The mirror and caned settee are just gorgeous. Glad your spring has finally sprung! Amazing how even our "extra" spaces get filled up so fast. I can't wait for the tour. Will it be ready for the Where Bloggers Create Party?
Have fun!
hugs,
Debra

Draffin Bears said...

Hi June,

You sound like you have been busy, busy!
Love all your pretty flowers in the garden, your grape hyacinths are gorgeous.
Also what a lovely job you have done with the mirror and the settee.

Have a beautiful week
Hugs
Carolyn

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dearest June,
Thank you for coming to visit and leaving a message. Your world is so lovely, and what makes us all creative and seekers of beauty is the spirit of God in us; yes, kindness is a virtue that is like one of your lovely flowers that you display. It takes cultivation and care, and like you, I just want to be like Christ and focus on what is good. Have a magnificent day dearest, and I like these horses here....SMOKE and SUNNY!!! Are they your equines? Bisous! Anita

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Thank You for stopping by this is a gorgeous blog, the photos should be in a magazine and with 6 kids you should be in the funny farm, but all appears so peaceful here. I am so excited to be your new follower

Carol

Barbara said...

My two favorites: lilacs and forsythia. I miss having them in the spring. Hope you don't lose them!
I love all your hard work, refinishing and painting. Sorry you are not loving the painting, but I bet you are loving the results!
I have never heard of a serviceberry, June. Had to Google it...it sounds like a lovely sweet fruit, ripening in the summer. What do you do with it?

Reading Tea Leaves said...

You have returned with such lovely photos for us June! I especially love the photos of your wonderful garden - always a delight. We have had very cold temps here in the UK too, but today was lovely and the weather is now set fair (for at least a week anyway!).

It sounds like a hive of activity with all that painting - and such a professional finish - the cane settee looks great!

I hope its warming up nicely for you now June!

Jeanne
xx

Ana said...

June I cannot wait to see your whole garden in full bloom! You have so many beautiful flowers already...breathtaking. I do hope you get warmer spring days soon. Love, love, love the mirror. You did an awesome job. Love the music sheet idea. How very clever. Loved it! The settee is gorgeous too. Have a wonderful evening and an awesome new week my dear friend.

Hugs and Kisses,
♥Ana

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Oh your photos are always so....I don;t know dreamy looking,I just love them! That mirror is lovely by the way,talk soon!

GwendolynKay said...

Gorgeous flowers!!! and I love that mirror. I was just wondering how big your chicks are now?
Blessings
Gwen

Mammabellarte Rita Reade said...

mirror mirror on the wall June is the best of all! Love the mirror! Baci Rita

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Sounds like you are being a busy little bee, but isn't it nice to mark things off your "to do list". Being surrounded by beautiful blooms is certainly a boost to any day. Enjoy your garden. Blessings, Tammy

Alaina said...

I love that mirror, and what you did to it very nice. I hope you are joining today for White Wednesday I always look forward to seeing yours. Have a wonderful day.

Unknown said...

WOW, that studio just keeps getting better and better and better!!! Love the mirror and the setee!!! And your garden is looking sooooooo pretty! We had a cold snap right after I planted a bunch of things a few weeks ago and the weather is still pretty crummy, so everything is really struggling...it's such a disappointment. Hopefully things will start to pick up now :)

Hugs ~

:) T

Peonies & Magnolias said...

Love your garden pictures and so glad to hear you are well and busy, busy, busy. The mirror looks great and replacing the caning was well worth the effort. It looks gorgeous. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Sandy

Kim-Fille de Fleur said...

Love, Love, Love the mirror! I want to do one too!
That is a lot of work to get done, I used to have a garden in front and back and I could have spent each and every day out there as there always seemed to be something to do, then to do those other projects also....Whew! You have been busy!
Glad to see you again and we love having you here when you are able to be with us!
Kim

Rose Garden Romantic said...

Hi June! Your garden is so beautiful! Love the mirror you fixed up! It looks so pretty painted white and I really love the way you have used the sheet music!!!
Michelle

Rebecca said...

Hello Sweet June,
What a lovely blog! I keep coming back to see what you are up to. I love what you've done with the mirror. I have one sitting out in our garage just waiting for me to "fix" it. Thank you for the wonderful idea with the sheet music.
With happiness,
Rebecca Gibson

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

Oh i would love to see more of that fabulous settee! I love stopping over to look at your garden...so pretty.

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Hi Junie....

Love, love, love your mirror....but, I ALWAYS love everything you do....

I went to buy a hydrangea today for a spot where my mallo died....I want one that dries to that lovely creamy pink like you have.....they don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Do you remember what it was? I have my eye on a Pee Gee toooooo....wouldn't that be a perfect gift for an expectant mom? :-)

Huggies!!!!!!!!!!
Spence