Tuesday, November 25, 2014

CYBOR MONDAY SALES

 CYBOR  MONDAY  SALES

Saturday, November 29, 2014

When you purchase an item from my Etsy shop at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com you will not only save 40% over regular price on each item, but, 20% of that amount will be given to: Rescued Rescuers: Dachshunds and Friends of the Emerald Isle. They can be found on Facebook.

I am inviting you to come and look around my Etsy shop, read all my wonderful reviews from customers, and hopefully decided on an item or items to purchase.  Handmade jewelry makes a wonderful Christmas, Birthday, or special occasion gift.  The gift of handmade is something that the creator took a lot of time and love to make.  So, please come and look around my shop, because you never know what you might find.

The sale is on through December 5, 2014. 

My little Grandog Douglas the Dachshund would love if you took the time, also. After all, he once was a rescue, foster Dachshund.

 
Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
 
Rosemary, Garden Gate Designs

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Sunday, April 27, 2014

WARTHER MUSEUM TRIP

This past week we took our three Grandchildren on a trip to Dover, Ohio to tour the Warther Museum.  Spring break from school was still on.  All three of them, including their Grandfather, had their doubts.  The enthusiasm was not running high for this Grandmother planned trip.  Fortunately, by the time the tour was only into it's first five minutes, a change of heart was had by all.

Everyone agreed, IT WAS AWESOME!

Just to give you some background, the Warther Museum is dedicated to Ernest "Mooney" Warther, the world's master carver.  Mr. Warther's life work is displayed at this museum.  Beautiful replica's of railway trains of the past handcarved out of wood and embellished with real elephant ivory. The detail is truly amazing as you can see from the picture below.


His rendition of the Lincoln Funeral Train that carried President Abraham Lincoln's casket is truly astonishing.  The car that held his open casket is duplicated down to the last little detail.  You can look inside the windows and see his hand carved face laying in the casket, the tables and chairs, even the coffee pot and cups on the table.  A tiny, miniscul ivory carved key that exactly fits into the hand carved lock on the funeral car door is and extra surprise.

Mr. Warther started his craft when he was five years old, having found a carving knife in the fields where he helped to herd cows.  Fascinated with it, he self taught himself the art of carving. Throughout his life he never sold one piece of his wonderful railway carvings.  He gave about 17 of them away as gifts 

Mr. Warther was born in 1855 in Dover, Ohio to Swiss immigrants.  Having only a second grade education, it is truly amazing to see the duplication of the steel company he worked for to earn a living for his wife Frieda and their five children.  Here are pictures of the display.  Everything is still working and runs on pulleys.  His inventions made the mechanisms on the steel company floor run much more smoothly.



He used real elephant and rhino tusks, and the original ivory pool balls, of which where so dimensionally perfect that he cut them and used them for the wheels on the railway trains.

In all, he handcarved 64 intricate in detail, early steam engines, railroad locomotives and entire trains ending with the Union Pacific Big Boy of 1941.

Mr. Warther never seemed to waste a minute of his day in all the years of his life, ending at the age of  87. He would begin each day at 2 a.m. and carved for 5 hours until breakfast time, then off to work at the steel company, and found time after work to play with his children.  He loved children and children were attracted to him.

His wife Frieda collected buttons and amassed a collection of over 73,000 buttons.  They are all displayed in a small structure on the property in back of the original 1920's house where she and Ernest raised their five children. The buttons are artfully displayed according to  material and color in patterns much like quilt patterns. All are framed in beautiful walnut frames.  I was intrigued with the collection, especially the brass buttons.  Being a jewelry artist, I wanted them all to make beautiful jewelry out of.  Below are pictures of just some of her wonderful collection and the structure that they are housed in.



She even has a brass button that was taken from Mrs. Lincoln's Inaugural Ball Gown. I it in the center of the brass button display.

We toured their home on the property and I managed to take a great picture of the dining room where Frieda worked on her button collection.

Mr. Warther kept carving until the age of 85 when he had a stroke and could not use one side of his body. He passed away at the age of 87.

Carving was just a hobby for Mr. Warther, and in 1902 he started carving kitchen knives and selling them. They are still made today and sold in the gift shop, online and through a catalogue. Fifth generation Warthers carry on the tradition and their workshop is inside the museum. The knives are beautiful and carry a lifetime guarantee.  I took a catalogue home and envision some Christmas and Birthday Gifts for a certain member of my family.

Frieda Warther also had beautiful Swiss raised bed gardens on the property which are fully maintained year round with Spring bulbs and Summer Annuals.  She was a very knowledgable gardener.

The beautiful grapevine gazebo dining area is at the back of the gardens and is a true delight.

Down below are two real railway cars that visitors are welcome to explore.  My Grandchildren had a blast.


Before we left, we all had lunch at a 50's Diner called Blazin Burgers, just a block away from the Warther Museum.  Yummy handmade hamburgers, hand cut French fries, onion rings and hand made from real ice cream milk shakes in metal containers were scrarfed down by three very hungry Grandchildren and two happy Grandparents.  Everything was served in baskets and a large order of fries was shared by the five of us. 

All in all, a very wonderful trip and my Grandchildren are still talking about it.  I would certainly love to return their someday and spend more time viewing the collection.  The tickets are good for all day and include a guided tour with informative movie and all the buildings on the eight acre parcel.

Douglas the Dachshund would have loved to have been included in this adventure. 

He wants everyone to know that his Grandmother's Etsy Jewelry shop donates 20% of its sales to Rescued Rescuers:Dachshunds and Friends of the Emerald Isle.  Having been a rescue foster Dachshund himself, he knows how important that is.

See Garden Gate Designs at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com.  The rescue group can be found on Facebook.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Friday, April 18, 2014

LUSCIOUS RADIANT ORCHID

I finally had time to finish this yummy radiant (or vibrant) orchid two strand necklace. I love working with acrylic beads.  They are so lightweight and versatile.  There are matching earrings to go with the necklace. These are hombre beads.  Hombre beads are the different shades of the same color in graduated form.  I have taken this strand apart and created my own color combination from them.

I have finished the necklace and extended it with silver cable chain and added a matching dangle and lobster clasp to fasten it.

Matching earrings go with the beautiful necklace.

For more picture of this luscious creation see www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com.

My Etsy shop donates 20% of it's sales to Rescued Rescuers: Dachshund and Friends of the Emerald Isle.  They can be found on Facebook.

Douglas the Dachshund would surely approve.


Saturday, April 12, 2014

Saturday, April 12, 2014

RADIANT ORCHID

Radiant Orchid is the new color for this year.  It comes in many shades and is similar to what we used to call purple.  I have a few pieces of radiant orchid jewelry in my Etsy shop at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com.

Here is a simple necklace made of radiant orchid colored acrylic graduated beads and chain:


Matching earrings for the radiant orchid necklace.
 
 
 
Here is a bracelet made with shades of radiant orchid, turquoise, hematite gray and crystal. I  have strung it together with black waxed linen cord for extra security. Guaranteed not to come apart. 
 
You can see all these lovely creations and more at:  www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com
 
And, just so you know,20% of all my sales go to the Rescued Rescuers:Dachshunds and Friends of the Emerald Isle.  You can reach them on Facebook.
 
Douglas the Dachshund would highly approve
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

WHAT IS SPRING WITHOUT DAFFODILS

Springtime is one of my favorite seasons of the year, along with Fall.  I always have a pot or two of Daffodils to decorate the inside of my home.  They are so cheery!  I also cannot wait until my outdoor daffodils are in bloom.  They are planted  in clumps all along the one side of my home. I have about ten different varieties and each year the clumps get larger and larger.  I also have miniature daffodils like the ones pictured above in my shade garden.  They bloom their in the Spring before the leaf canopy fills in from the trees in our ravine.

The nice thing about planting daffodil bulbs is that they multiply every year and rarely need replanting, unlike tulips.  Also, the rodents, such as chipmunks won't touch the bulbs, as they are poisonous to them.   They are about one of the only Spring bulbs that are not affected by rodents.

As for Spring colors, I have some new and colorful jewelry in my Etsy shop that has been listed this past week.  Below is just a sample.




The above graduated green necklace is available in several colors in my Etsy shop as well as the two above that. See them at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com.

My Etsy shop donates 20% of it's sales to the Rescued Rescuers: Dachshund and Friends of the Emerald Isle which can be found on Faceboo

Speaking of Dachshunds, my little Grandog Douglas paid me a visit last night to help his Grandpa celebrate his birthday.  Douglas had so many ice cream licks that he will be turning into a Bratwurst Sausage if this keeps up! He is such a little begger!

Douglas is happy promoting my Etsy shop because he knows that 20% of the sales go to his favorite Dachshund Rescue Group.  Being a Rescue/Foster Dachshund himself before finding his forever home with my twin Grandchildren, Douglas would just love for you to visit my Etsy shop at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

DAILY MUSINGS ABOUT THE WEATHER,  OHIO VINEYARDS, DOUGLAS THE DACHSHUND AND NEW ITEMS IN MY ETSY SHOP

Good Wednesday morning my fellow bloggers and followers.  Well, I woke up to 3 inches of new snow this morning.  Yesterday, everything was devoid of any snow, so this is just frustrating.  I want to get out in my shade garden and clean it up for Spring (if it ever gets here). 

This has been a particularly harsh winter this year.  Even the Vineyards in Ohio are having a hard time.  It was just reported that they have lost almost all of their European vines that produce such wines as Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon, and Riesling, just to name of few.  It could take 4 years just to grow them back to producing stage. Ohio Vintners produce some great wines, but this coming year will be hard for them financially. 

Last week I was able to get some pretty good pictures of my little Grandog Douglas the Dachshund.  He does not cooperated very well with picture taking, but I finally got to take a few good pictures of his cute little face.  Of course, the doughnuts for St. Patrick's day (green shamrocks with green sprinkles) that I brought for my three Grandchildren helped quite a bit.  He was thinking something would fall on the floor and he could scarf it up. But, no such luck.  Douglas is on a strict diet lest he gain all kinds of weight which is bad for Dachshunds because of their long back.  At any rate, here are a few pictures of my favorite little dog.

 Awe fella's, saving a doughnut for me?  I am watching you!
 Please, please, please, just a crum of doughnut!
 Awe, so disappointed, not even a crum!  Good thing Grandma brought me a doggie treat!  I love my Grandma!


My Etsy shop has some new items in.  Have to fill it up again because I had a particularly large order from one person over the weekend.  I love the look of brass.  It is so warm and lends itself well to lots of different jewelry applications.  Here are just a few new items.  You can check them out at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com



 These are "Inspiration" bracelets and are made to fit everyone. Fully adjustable by placing lobster clasp on any double link of the chain.  All have large Swarovski Faceted Crystals capped with Vintaj Brass flower bead caps as dangles.

Hoping you can check out my shop because 20% of all sales go to Rescued Rescuers: Dachshunds and Friends of the Emerald Isle.  You can catch them on Facebook and they are putting together another on line auction to benefit this wonderful Rescue Group.

Douglas the Dachshund would highly approve.
Until next time.
 
Rosemary, Garden Gate Designs

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sunday, March 26, 2014

HISTORY OF THE DACHSHUND

Being a Dachshund lover because my Grandog Douglas happens to be one and I really love the little guy, I have decided to blog about their history.

Did you know that these little guys have been around since the 15th Century in Europe. In the 15th, 16th, and 17th Centuries, Dachshunds have been used to hunt badgers?  That certainly was very long time ago.  They also had the temperament of a terrier and the tracking ability of a hound.

The word "Dachshund" means "Badger Dog.  Early in the 17th Century there were both smooth and longhaired Dachshunds.  By the early 18th Century, the Wire Haired Dachshund emerged.  German breeders early on decided that inbreeding of the different types was not a good thing.

Dachshunds weighing between 30 and 35 lbs. were often used to hunt both badger and wild boars. But, the smaller variety weighing between 18 and 22 lbs. were good for hunting foxes and hares.

The Dachshund Club of American has been promoting the breed since 1895, and in 1935 was added to the American Kennel Clubs Field Trials.

Can you guess which type Doughlas is by looking at this picture of him?
 
 
My Etsy shop donates 20% of it's sales to a wonderful Dachshund Rescue group called Rescued Rescuers: Dachshunds and Friends of the Emerald Isle.  They can be found on Facebook and you can check in at my shop at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com for some beautiful jewelry designs.

Here is just a sample of what you might find in my Etsy shop.



You can find my shop on Etsy at: www.gardengatedesigns.etsy.com
 
Thanks a million, Rosemary, Garden Gate Designs