What is it with Owls?

I usually don't give in to trends. I like what I like and just because something is the "in" thing to have or wear or do, I resist, standing my ground on my own individuality.

Except recently, with all this craze over owls.

I never cared about them before. They are cute and ugly and spooky and have a dark quality to them. I would look at them at the zoo but would run if I saw a live one in the woods.

Leave it to the wide world of arts and crafts to make this creature of the night into something cute and cuddly and irresitible.

They were a popular decorative item in the 1970's. I recently sold this retro pair of wallhangings within hours of listing them.

Anyone remember the macrame owl shaped wall hangings made out of jute or hemp? They were usually hung between two pieces of branch for a natural look and were considered really cool at the time. Here is one from Elegant Seashore on Etsy.

Etsy has a huge variety of owls in any medium you desire....jewelry, crocheted, felted, ceramic......

This  pendant from Rainnua Art Pendants is so real looking and very appealing.......

Who can resist an owl on top of your baby's head? There are 120 pages of owl baby hats on Etsy....this one is from Simply Soft Baby Loft

This little owl family is felted and made my ScratchCraft on Etsy...

I recently found an owl I had to have for my garden. The gentleman who carved it just left it behind when he left the shop I bought it from. I spotted it and was able to buy it from the manager. It had been there, outdoors, for awhile!

I have an owl or two in my NaNa's Things shop on Etsy. One area I will try to follow the trends on is what is selling and the why really doesn't matter! I have to find vintage owls, though, so I have been keeping my eyes alert for them. Here is a vintage ceramic owl bank I found recently.

This one is not listed yet in my shop because I don't know what to make of him! He is very rusty and looks like he is hand cut. He falls into the scary category of owls I think, because all I think of is that he could be hanging in one of those forbidden Indian burial grounds you see in the movies....ya know what I mean?! Very tribal looking...but very appealing. If anyone knows anything about him, please share it with me!

Anyone else taken in by this fascination with Owls?

AnnMarie :)

Decorating my Garden

I have always loved working on my gardens. I am not the best green thumb but I do know what I like to DECORATE my gardens with!

Last year the theme seemed to be frogs....you know how when your friends and family know you like or collect a certain thing, that's all you get for gifts for forever?! I had frogs everywhere.

This year I was a little lax in decorating and even in planting new flowers from spending too much time in my other passion...... hunting for great vintage finds. Until I went on vacation. The landscaping at the cottage we stayed in was so pretty (the above picture), that I was inspired to come home and refresh mine. I "stole" some ideas and started hunting for my garden decor immediately.

With my new perspective, I had a keen eye for just that special item. There, while still on vacation, in the local Amish farm market was my first find. My generous husband let me buy this metal windmill with the silver ball....a style and look I had been eyeing for a long time!

(You'll have to forgive the following pictures of my gardens for their lack of life....we are struggling to keep the flowers and grass alive in Upstate New York with our unusual 90+ degree weather and no rain. Everything is crunchy! Try to just look at the items I am talking about!!)

In a local antique shop there in Penn Yan, I met Paul, an 80 year old sweet gentleman who builds model sailboats on the side. I found this great all brass and completely rusted and weathered floral stand.

One of the ideas I "stole" was to put pots of different colored Impatiens around the gardens. This white one is hanging in there! The deer nestled in the periwinkle was lovingly painted by a woman who had just passed. Her son wanted too much money for it at his yard sale, for sentimental reasons, but then decided to part with it for a lower price for my garden!

 

My new sunflower is about 5' tall and all metal from Mexico. I got it at a shop on Main St. in the town I live. Another potted Impatien peeks out from the white iron chair.

My most favorite additions to my gardens are the next two pictures. I have always loved the free spirit of fairies and the magical fantasy that surrounds them ( I am a fan of Tink). My husband knows that and so for our 16th wedding anniversary last week he gave me a fairy door and windows to put on our huge, old pine tree.

Since our wedding day I have called my husband "My Knight in Shining Armor". For our anniversary he also gave me a castle.....

So, despite the hot, hot weather and the sun poisoning I got on my arms from the hot, hot sun I am enjoying the summer and my new garden decorations. Now we just need some rain to decorate our gardens with and bring everything back to life!

How is your summer going?

AnnMarie :)

NaNa's Bragging Rights

Since it is my right as a NaNa, I get to brag about my grandchildren once in a while.

The youngest, Chloe Ann (after me....more bragging), will be 1 year old exactly one month from today on August 10th.

She is just getting cuter everyday and since she came out looking the spitting image of her father, I told my daughter today that she is losing some of that and is starting to look a little like her!

Here is my trip down memory lane in some of my favorite pictures.....

Don't you just want to bite her little cheeks?

AnnMarie :)

The Master Painter

Did you know that our God is a master painter? He uses beautiful colors and brush strokes......

"The Heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge..."

Psalm 19:1-2

He also likes a little bling.....

"In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming

forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing

to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat."

Psalm 19:4b-6

and some shimmer with his creatures.....

The bible says that Nature praises God -

"Let the heavens rejoice, let

the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and

that is in it;

let the fields be jubilant,

and everything in them.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

they will sing before the

Lord, for he comes,

he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in

righteousness

and the peoples in his

truth"

Psalm 96:11-13

We had a peaceful, relaxing week at Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York, surrounded by God's glorious Nature. He gave us cool breezes, thunderous rains, bright shining sun and clear nights. It gives one perspective on who we are in this great big world and more importantly, who we are to Him.

"When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you are mindful of him?

You made him a little lower

than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over

the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name

in all the earth!"

Psalm 8:3-9

Happy 4th of July!

AnnMarie