Preparing for Yard Work

I am determined to have a super fab paradise in my back yard this summer. Granted, I have to compete with two dobermans, but I will succeed! I am even reading this book I found in the thrift store "From The Ground Up, the story of a first garden". I do have a lot to learn. This book is perfect for that. I just started reading it this weekend and it has got me motivated. In the first few chapters I realized now is the time to start preparing. Battling against weeds, digging, cleaning. Just like you would if you were cleaning out your mental closet. I come to realize that gardening can be very theraputic. Before, I would not even care about my yard, but in the last year with my HGTV obsession and my friends tropical pond paradise in her back yard, I am ready to turn my yard into a island paradise!!!

Off my patio I have a great fire place area. The fireplace was made by my husband. It is one of those open circle ones you see in the stores for $300 or more. Yes, he is quite handy. There is nothing he can't make for fix. I want to tile the top of this in some sort of "tropical" feel. I have flower beds that wrap around my privacy fence. This year I am going to plant my plants and flowers in the ground instead of in pots. I am going to fill the beds in with mulch and maybe expand them out a bid. I want tropical trees and plants and I want it to be my own backyard paradise. I need to pick things that will come back every year and some stuff that will stay all winter long so my yard does not look so barren. When I walk out into my back yard, I want to feel like I left my home and traveled into a vacation get away.

The big challenge is to keep my dogs out of this area. LOL.

Welcome to my gardening journey!! I will post before and after pictures, the ups and downs of a first time gardener and see how it ends!

Helping Haiti

The company I work for is holding a jean and sneaker jean day this week at work. We can wear jeans and sneakers on Tuesday and Friday. The cost is $3 for jeans and $2 for sneakers. All the money that is collected will go to Haiti.

Every little bit helps. If you donate on your own or get together as a group, the money you generate will make a difference, no matter the amount.

There is a guy that my husband works with. He is from Haiti. He reports that 8 of his family members have died. They are still looking for more of his family. When you actually meet someone who is affected, the reality of it hits you harder.

The money I will donate this week, isn't really anything. It is something I can do without and knowing it will help someone is an awsome feeling.

Ciao~

Some of my designs

I will be putting some of this stuff on my Etsy soon http://www.ciaobelladesign.etsy.com/

This necklace below will not be added, the pendant is from my childhood and I love it!




I love these rings!! I have people stopping and asking me about them. They are such an eye catcher. I wear them on my index finger.




This necklace has matching earrings to it. I love this necklace. I found the ceramic pieces. It is a great piece.

Bracelets! Bracelets! Bracelets!

Ciao!

Uses For Wine Corks

I save all my wine corks. I have a drawer full of them. I want to make a wreath with them. I did make a cork board with some. I hot glued corks together and put it in an old picture frame. Very cute. Makes a cute wall hanging also!

Some other uses I stumbled across were cutting them up and using them as mulch, very green. It absorbs water. You probably could put them in the bottom of pots without the holes drilled in.

Searching on the Internet aimlessly for more ideas, I stumbled across this very cute use for corks, Wine Cork Ornaments:

LUV IT!

MATERIALS:

Wine corks Thin ribbon Tassels Decorative beads (with large holes) Long darning needle Scissors Drill Glue

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Carefully drill a hole through the center of the cork lengthwise using a small bit drill.

2. Slide one or more decorative beads over the loop of the tassel.

3. Cut approximately 1 foot of ribbon and slip one end into the tassel loop (above the beads) then bring ends of ribbon together.

4. Thread the ribbon (now attached to the tassel) through the darning needle and bring up through the center of the cork then pull till the beads and tassel are in contact with the cork.

5. Slip one or more decorative beads over the ribbon then knot the ribbon several inches up leaving a loop to hang from Christmas tree branch.

6. Cut excess ribbon above the knot and use Fray Check (available at Joann.com) to prevent ribbon from fraying. You may also carefully use a lighter or match to slightly singe the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying.

7. Glue the beads to the top and bottom of the cork to ensure they remain centered and in place.
NOTE: This craft also makes a lovely decoration to hang on the neck of a bottle of wine. Follow the instructions as above, except use 2 feet of ribbon so the ornament will hang nicely on the bottle of wine.

Kuddos for this person coming up with this design.

Not only will it hand nicely on bottles, but even knobs. Jazz up a hutch or drawer. You could also paint them, use pins that have decorative ends and stick it in the cork, glue a a picture with a design etc on it. This idea has a lot of possibilities.

If you do this, please post your crafty design, would love to see it.

Drink up!

Ciao~

Etsy Site!

I stopped dragging my heals on publishing the Etsy site. Chalk it up to first time jitters who knows. I am an Artist, I design, I need to get over my jitters, lol

I am very excited though. I want to learn to do so much all at once, sometimes I just got remember to do one thing at a time and the rest falls into place! So go grab a glass of wine and check it out!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/CiaoBellaDesign





You like the button?

http://www.mycolorfultreasureswebdesign.com


Her work it fabulous and she is a doll to work with! Check it out.