My gourd collection is turning from natural fall decoration into works of art. Cutting and cleaning out the dried gourds is the hard part. Staining, sealing and weaving pine needles along the rim and adding beads and baubles is the fun, creative part. 
Category Archives: Collections
Collections: Owls
The barn owls that live and raise their young on our property have inspired the latest collection. 
Gargoyles
Just noticing the gargoyles on the grounds… always watching and protecting us. 
Collections: Flower frogs
Flower frog
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A flower frog is a device used to help arrange flowers.
Some, such as the Japanese Kenzan, are utilitarian metal devices that fit into a vase or bowl and fix the stems by metal needles. Other designs use a number of holes or guides that stems could be fit through for arranging. A flurry of patents followed the metal flower frog popularity, all claiming to save the housewife time and allow her to quickly and creatively arrange flowers. Many types of flower frogs are art pieces with holes for flower stems and a container for holding water.
Collections: Faces in the garden
I didn’t realize how many different faces were on the grounds until I really looked.
Collections: Chickens
Out with the Santas now that the holidays are done… back in with the chickens that inhabit the kitchen for the most of the year.
Collections: Santas and sleds
Decorating for the holidays ~ time to pull the Santas and sleds out of storage.
Collections: Fall Decor
They come out of storage this time of year… lots of pumpkins and gourds. I buy a few gourds every year at my favorite pumpkin patch, Borchard Farms, and let them dry for a year. Then they can be cleaned up, stained, painted and/or sprayed with clear sealer to be displayed every year. The pumpkins are ceramic plates/pitchers/teapots, stuffed pumpkin pillows and everything in between. Bring on the fresh crisp days of fall!
Collections: Bird nests
Bird nests have always held a special place in my heart. I’ve been collecting them for years. Most of them shown here are 20 years old! Amazing how they can hold up when sheltered from the weather. The red winged blackbird use strips of blue plastic tarp to weave their basket shaped nests. I used to have one that had strips of Budweiser label woven into it. I display them during the summertime with glass or painted wood eggs… and always marvel at the craftsmanship.
Collections: Glass Bottles
Love…love…LOVE anything glass! 
Collections: Birdcages with plants
Why is it when I find something that I like, I want to have a lot more just like it?
I love to collect things!I admit it. It started back before I can remember. My collections have changed over the years, but the number of my collections continue to grow along with the number of items in each collection. Mostly decorative, the majority of my collections are packed away until their season (e.g. bird nests, pumpkins, Santas, etc.). Some things are displayed year round like specific types of plants, glass bottles, chicken statues the list goes on and on. Let’s start with plants in birdcages. Usually I like to ‘group’ my collections, but this is an exception because they are big and each needs a spot with plenty of light, I’ve got them in every room (and outside).
