New Jewelry Making Supplies in Shop

Monday, August 17, 2009

Garden Gate Designs is now selling jewelry making supplies only. There have been several new chains added and lots of new components. These are just an example:

For unique jewelry making supplies in smaller quantities check out my shop at: www.Gardengatedesigns.etsy.com.

Stan Hywet Tour - Barkitecture

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Last Thursday my Daughter-in-Law Janet and I took my three Grandchildren, twins Bryce and Cutler and her daughter Kylee on a really neat outing in Akron, Ohio. We went to Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens to see the Barkitecture Display. Eleven oversized custom designed dog houses were designed and built by area builders and donated to Stan Hywet for the display. They are to be auctioned off in October. The houses are all as big as a child's playhouse and are displayed all over the property there.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens was the home of the Seiberlings and was built about 1910. A lot of the interior wood came from castles in England and the architecture and interior are very Tudorish. I have been on the home tour several times and always get a different tour with a different perspectus from its many volunteer guides.

I would like to share with you some of the dog houses on the tour. A pampered pooch would certainly find any one of these an ideal abode. Of course, a child would love having any one of these as a playhouse. All in the way you look at it I guess.

The pink house is called the American Gothic (the perfect canine get-away. The inside was decorated complete with a leopard print fur bedspread on the metal framed bed and matching window treatments.

Kylee is inside the Lincolndog House.

The kids had a blast playing on the Poochie Play Pavillion.

Janet and the kids at the Frank Lloyd "Bite" house. It has a vegetable garden roof, a living wall with trellis and straw insulation.

Looking inside the Oops...bottoms Up! house. This wacky residence is one that only a dog could love, complete with fire hydrant.

The FireDog House was really neat. Inside was a two story house with loft that the kids could climb up into. Dioramas on the inside walls of firefighters equipment and clothing, and what firehouse would be complete without a fire pole to slide down. Totally great fun for the kids!

Last, but not least, An American Dog in Paris resembling the Eiffel tower. What French poodle would not want to live in this little palace! Paris Hilton's dogs would be jealous!

We all had a great time and ended the day with an ice cream inside the carriage house before going home.

If you live in the Cleveland or Akron, Ohio area, this trip is well worth your time to treat your kids to a great summer outing. There are beautiful gardens surrounding the Hall and a Conservatory complete with a pond adventure for the kids.

www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com

Lots of New Jewelry Making Supplies

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Just to let you know that Garden Gate Designs has lots and lots of jewelry making supplies in its shop. I list almost everyday. You never know what you might find. Come take a look. Prices are very reasonable, too.

www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com

Hummingbird Feeders

Friday, June 12, 2009

Just wanted to share with you my hummingbird feeder post. It is in my back shade garden off the back deck area. The post originally was a left over center beam post from when the house was built. My younger son decided to place it in my back garden and I had him put hooks on it for hanging planters, etc. This year, it is just a hummerbird feeder post. I bought the glass feeder that hangs from it this Spring. The other one is on a shepard hook in my garden. The hanging baskets I have along the deck rail are for the hummers. Flowers that attrack them. They also love my garden arc with the honeysuckle and clematis when it is in bloom.

www.gardengatedeisgns.etsy.com

JUNE SPECIAL SALE

Through the end of June, purchase a piece of jewelry in my shop (everything is already 50% off) and choose a second piece of same or lessor value at half the sales price. Paypal refund to be given. The above pictures are just an example. There are necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings on sale.

www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com

Red Dragon Japanese Maple Tree

Sunday, May 25, 2009

I am so thrilled with this little Red Dragon Japanese Maple Tree that I planted in my shade garden last Fall. I purchased it from a local discount retailer for $20.00. Normally, a Japanese Maple starts at around $150.00 and up. I have been wanting one of these forever in my side shade garden to give it some height. This little Japanese Maple can be contained at 4-6 feet. It is so slow growing, it would take years for it to become that tall. The picture at the left shows it this Spring after it leafed out. It survived our cruel winter up here in Northeastern Ohio.

Here is a picture of my iron garden bench after it was repainted and installed in the step up side area of my side shade garden. There are hostas planted in back and trellises with several kinds of clematis as a backdrop. I surrounded the hostas with my Mother's collection of smooth river rocks she collected years ago on a vacation to Arizona.

Solomon's Seal

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Just thought you might like to see a picture of my Solomon's Seal in my back shade garden. I started with a small pot of it from a local nursery several years back and it has grown and spread every year since. It always blooms in the early Spring with small white bell shaped flowers going up the underside of the plant. Expect it to grow slowly and get about 1 1/2 feet tall. It is really a "choice" plant for a shady garden. It prefers rich organic amended soil that is slightly moist all the time. Mine is surrounded by Lamium or Dead Nettle. I have several varieties of Lamium throughout my shade gardens. This year they are creeping everywhere and spreading really nice. This variety has pink blossoms. They usually bloom all season. It makes a nice contrast for the Solomon's Seal. If you don't have this plant in your shade garden, hope you will try it.

www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com