Do you remember the Living Spring Centerpiece and the Fairy Garden projects? Well, I was needing a little “plant time” last week and hopped on over to one of my favorite local nurseries/garden centers (Dickman Farms in Auburn, NY). They have a wonderful greenhouse selection and to my surprise/delight all of their house plants were 50% off! Sa-weet.  I knocked myself out.

Now, before I go further, you must know that I was driving hubby’s car listening to the new Coldplay CD Mylo Xyloto for the first time. I pulled up into the parking lot and was completely overcome listening to #5 – You and Me Against the World. Oh. So. Warm and Beautiful… the acoustic guitar and Gwenth’s Chris Martin’s voice. Love….Love.

Where was I? Shopping. I’m not a shopper typically- much to Farmboy’s delight. Plants, plates and ponies are some of my preferred items- much to Farmboy’s dismay. When I need a little retail therapy I head for the local nursery or Marshall’s rather than a horse sale, thankfully- for all of us.

Enough of my late-night, The Clone Wars is on (they all look the same)- pontificating. Here is the “how to” part.

Take a large container with no hole and fill the bottom third with gravel for drainage unless you plan to use a saucer of some sort to catch the water. Be especially sensitive to moisture when using a container with no drainage. Low and wide is better since it will be displayed on a table indoors.

Fill the remainder of the container with potting soil.

Get together all of your plant goodies…

Arrange low growing, mossy plants in the front and center of your Fairy Garden and add the taller ones to the back. Once your plantings are finished water gently until evenly moist.

* I found some wonderful Fairy furniture to add to my indoor garden at Dickman’s! Here is a link to fairy furniture images.

Be sure to add a stone path, some boulders (small rocks) and whatever you can think of to add ambiance! I wish that I could string lights in my little fairy garden. Wouldn’t that be great?!

This little garden has been inhabited so far by the following: Zoobles, My Little Ponies and Princess Polly Pockets. I think its magic is working. Soon, word will get out and the fairies are bound to come. We have recently put little Santa hats out and decorated the place for Christmas. I’m thinking that it’s enchanting- I think the fairies will agree.

I had to do it! I know… the KEEP CALM and CARRY ON thing is everywhere these days. Have you seen it? It began as a poster produced by the British government in 1939, intended to raise the morale of the British public in the event of invasion. Here is more information.

I thought I was a genius to come up with the “Garden On” part – I have a Topiary Crown design for heavens sake! After a quick google search I discovered people were already using the phrase. Phooey. Nevertheless this one is fun and different and makes a great set of notecards for your favorite gardener. I love the dark magenta text- it pulls out the color of the pink geraniums in the urn. On the back the card is titled “From The Queen”. chuckle…

I would seriously love to get one of these in the mail from a fellow gardener! I may have to mail myself one just to be sure! ; ) Click here for more info or to order!

One of the next dog breeds that I will be featuring in a garden setting will be the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is Brady. Doesn’t he have a sweet little face? Stop back in to see the finished “Cavalier Garden Portrait”.

Oh my poor little lonely blog. I have neglected you so.

Tis that time of year- filling orders (thank you!), shipping, shopping, designing, painting, cooking, decorating. My lists go on and on. Items checked off one day- twice as many added the next.

That being said there is much to write, much to be thankful for this holiday season and my heart is full. I’m hitting a creative burst so be sure to stop by and see what all of the bursting is about. Until then I thought you might enjoy a snapshot from our Thanksgiving morning.

Our family watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade faithfully and here at the Masters’ house the “stands” are filled for the parade as well. All of the cuddlebugs, beanie babies and webkinz are present… lined up in one of my card displays as the parade files by. One day maybe we will go. La-La said that she wanted to be there in person but I have always thought that the best seats were at home where the audio, video and lip-syncing goodness could be heard… not to mention the delicious smells of turkey wafting through the air!

But… there may come a day when I NEED to see that gigantic Super Grover in person. The child inside me would faint from all of that high-flying, blue, super Muppetness. : )

One of my customers from the Allentown Festival in Buffalo, NY sent me some photos of her beautiful dog Sophie. Isn’t she lovely. I have had a great time studying the history of the breed as well as the form of these graceful dogs. Their light colored eyes are so moving and expressive!

I thought a sleek Mies van der Rohe sofa would be a nice nod to the breed’s German origin. The flowers in the pot are actually a purplish form of the Cornflower- considered the flower of Germany… who knew!? I love the sleek lines of the dog and the simple lines of the furniture and pots. Sophie looks like a star. The angle of her head was not easy but I loved the position of the body so I decided to stick with it.

Shown below is a quick oil sketch that I did one evening while I was cooking. I’ve moved my easel into the kitchen recently. Call me crazy… but it seems to be working. : )

The Weimaraner design is now available online at michellemasters.com. Click here for more information.

I’m trying to get  comfortable using oils again. This little guy came out of the garden over the weekend. I think I like it. The roots need to be a little darker… maybe a bit more detail… then it will be done.  Some days are more successful than others in using oils again. It’s hard to find the time outside of regular work/design/production and life.

My solution:

I’ve moved my French easel into the kitchen. My thought is that since I’m usually there for 2 hours anyway getting dinner put together and helping with homework… I may as well add painting into the mix. Why not. Quick, small oil studies. It’s actually given me a startling new idea that I will be sharing soon. : )

The Irish Setter designs will soon be available online at http://michellemasters.com. Until then please call 888.313.0239 for more information or to order.