Frozen garden goodies

Here are some pictures I took a few weeks ago after a light dusting of snow, which melted the next day.

St. John's Wort:
Easily becoming a favorite of mine!




Cone Flower Seed Head:
I like this tiny natural ice sculpture sitting nicely (meow anyone?)



Even a seedling St. John's Wort showing it's strength... And shadow.


I'm a frozen plant encased in ice fanatic... I think we're expecting some freezing rain this Christmas day (Friday) but we're under at least 18" of snow from the recent blizzard, so the encased things may be a bit limited...




Guess I will have to wait for my grass frozen in ice crunchy noise fix until things thaw, then we get freezing rain again. It's like being a kid with bubble wrap - who can resist?

Hope your winter garden is enjoyable!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

First Frost and Some News...

Here are some pictures I've taken of the garden after our first official frost...

It was as if the nasturtium had finally given way to a long winter's nap...

They reminded me of cascading waters...

And Chloe ready to help rake up some of the fallen leafs...

Funny how I catch her zoning out sometimes...

Wonder where she has gone in her mind...

Wonder what she thinks about...

I don't think I'll ever get tired of these colors...

They just relax me - maybe a good color palette for my studio?

And what is this??? A cucumber? Hiding beneath all those morning glories?

Ha - A vegetable did make it this year!

And now for some news...

I'm having a Buy 2, Get 1 FREE sale right now through my website and Etsy shop:

MarshaNealStudio.com

MarshaNealStudio.Etsy.com

Yes, you can combine items from these two sites (actually, I will combine them on one invoice after the sale has ended to make sure you've got the best pricing and combined shipping).

Just choose "other" as payment via Etsy, and you can use your cc through my website.

This is because Etsy uses PayPal.

I have to manually process all my website orders myself, and your cc won't be charged unless you want to use it, and that won't be until I send you the updated invoice after the sale...

Visit my blog: MarshaNealStudio.Blogspot.com for details...

And in other news...

I've got another Etsy shop up and running...

(sorry, the items in this shop do not count in the above sale)

It's called My Mom Pattie and all the items in there are made by some really cool artists that have donated their time and materials to make jewelry (and possibly other items) to sell through this shop, where all the monies earned will go to a non-profit organization.

For details on where the collected monies are currently going, check out my other blog:

MyMomPattie.Blogspot.com

November Garden is a Cold One

It's getting cold outside these days...

We are about to get our first frost and will be hitting freezing soon...

So it's time to get bundled up in the mornings with winter coats, hats and mittens...

Chloe felt it was easier to pick a few more flowers after taking off the mittens and throwing them to the ground...

The garden is getting ready to go into winter hibernation...

And I look forward to see what makes it until next year...

Here is my cousin Sarah last year posing for me with one of the extra long scarves I sell through my Marsha Neal Studio Etsy shop. My friend Kim (Aspenwear) prints these for me...

This is the Eggplant color.

It's also available in Olive, Asphalt, Brown, Black, Navy, Lt. Blue, Lt. Purple.

There are a few other colors too, but the length is a bit shorter...

The shorter length colors are Teal, Crimson, Mauve, Tan...

96" long each (the longer ones)

Sheer Jersey material (super soft, comfy t-shirt material)

Made by American Apparel here in the USA

Designed by Marsha Neal Studio

Printed by Aspenwear

Retail price $22 each

Perfect for holiday gift giving or if you just want a little something to wear yourself that isn't too hot and heavy going from outdoors to in.

And yes, if you buy more than one, I would consider a giving you a price break...

Besides, you're helping to support independent artists hard at work, trying to make a living...

Keep toasty this winter - in your garden or from the inside looking out...

...with one of these scarves (and a cup of hot cocoa, coffee or tea in hand)

Blog Open Studio Event...

Sunday, October 25, 2009

1-4pm EST

Marsha Neal Studio Blog

I am taking part of a Blog Open Studio Event with 18 other earth clay artists!

So please stop by to see some of my clay work and have a glimpse into my studio...

My garden and outside in nature is where I find my inspiration for a lot of my work...

These tightly wound, soon to open Morning Glory petals have caught my eye recently...

So into the studio they came...

From a chunk of clay, a small ball was rolled out, then compressed in-between two textured pieces of wood to reveal this little piece...

A little larger than the actual fall blooms, but full of potential use.

And here they are, in a Chocolate Clay and a Porcelain Clay, ready for their first firing...

To see how they look after they are glazed and fired a final time, you will have to stop by my main Marsha Neal Studio Blog on Sunday, Oct. 25th for the reveal...

A full tutorial will also follow later this next week on the Marsha Neal Studio Blog and they will be made available for purchase through my Etsy Shop and Bead Shows via D7 Studio...

Fall Textures and Catbird Photo

Just a quick post with some photos...

Have a little one sick at home and not too much extra time to peer into the garden right now...

And a picture from my Bird Cam last summer...

The Catbird was in a mood to defend the suet feeder.

I like how the Bird Cam caught the wing extended...

...If you are interested, visit my MarshaNealStudio blog this Sunday

October 25, 2009 from 1-4pm EST for some insight as to how I use my inspirations from nature in my clay studio...

There are 16+ artists participating in an open blog studio through

Beads-of-Clay.Blogspot.com

If you want more information, visit the website above...

(lots of insights, studio tours, giveaways, Etsy shop specials from participating artists)

Longwood Gardens (PA) in the Fall...

On Friday my dad and I took Chloe to Longwood Gardens for some Autumn inspiration...

Here are some pictures:

Check out the size of those pumpkins!

Looking into the fountains...

Chloe heard the fountains above all else, and started pointing in their direction saying "water"

Which, around here on the east coast of the US is often "wooder", especially out of a 22 month old's mouth...

Here is Chloe with Pop Pop running in the open area in the fountain garden...

Some of the other fountains, which I never even knew were there...

Shows you to make sure to take time to explore places you visit, just don't stay on the path...

... Also - this wonderful staircase which takes you from the upper level to the "secret" garden fountain area...

The indoor children's garden...

What a wet fun time that was (bring extra change of clothes for little ones that like to splash in the water... they do have towels for you to use - how considerate!)

The outdoor railroad...

Pictures and words can't describe how visually exciting this area was!

I can totally see why my dad has such an interest in outdoor railroad design...

I think he should run his own business designing this kind of stuff for people...

His life long knowledge skill set would make this type of thing the ideal job for him...

If only...

And many, many pictures to be taken from that day...

I feel so very fortunate to have had this day with Dad and Chloe (and Riley in belly).

Makes me want to go back to school to study landscape design and horticulture...

Small steps for now...

Let the colors and textures inspire my artwork...

Twirls of Morning Glories...

These Morning Glories were planted as somewhat an afterthought...

In an area of my garden where they can't take over and spread to choke out other plants...

I just really like the different phases of the blooms...

Especially the tight pre-opened bloom...

And the contrast of the twirling bloom next to the fireplace stucco...

Just a short post to share some small joys...

Animal Fun Inside and Out

Have you ever met one of those cats???

You know, the ones that are just so cool that even people that aren't "cat people" actually like?

They make you think they are part dog or something?

Well, this is our cat Peeves...

She is one of those cats...

She is a dilute calico, adopted through the Humane Society of DE about 8 years ago.

She had been "returned" to the shelter after a weekend being fostered out because she was

"too active". We thought... Um - kittens are supposed to be quite active... She'll be perfect company to our 21 pound "white whale, moby dick, and so on with the large cat nicknames" cat "Stinker" (she was needing a friend to hang out with)...

They get along fine. But Peeves is by far the funniest and friendliest cat we could have ever have wanted. Here she was just lounging at the end of the couch the other night...

And she puts up with our antics. She is also great with Chloe and her constant chasing her around yelling "Hi Meow" or some sort of her name "Peeves". She is a constant joy and really loves to be around people. When you come to our house, she is the first one to run to the door to greet you... Wonderful little hostess... Makes everyone feel right at home by giving them just the right amount of attention, and comic relief in some way...

I bet Peeves would have loved to have met this little Garter Snake.

My dad is up visiting for the week and he and Chloe were out back going for a little walk into the woods, when dad noticed that Chloe was standing on something moving around quite alarmingly...

She had been standing on this little snake's head...

Needless to say it was quite upset to have been stepped on and after dad picked up Chloe they stood and watched it for a while...

Then we picked it up and moved it up closer to the edge of the woods where it could hopefully find a place to hibernate for the winter. Good think Chloe doesn't weigh too much, or that it wasn't a larger snake... And so happy I wasn't with her when she stepped on it, because I probably would have screamed just a bit (more in the jumping kind of scream and not the scared, freaking out one).

Hope you are enjoying your garden a little every day!!!

Thanks for stopping by...

Decay and Growth in the End of Summer Garden

I am amazed at how well my iPhone (Sharp Camera application) takes pictures.

Thank you Dave for convincing me to upgrade (and for the Apple Gift Card)...

Here are some images from my garden as the cooler weather sets in...

Hydrangeas...

Zinneas...

The last of the Zinneas?

Wait - is that a Dahlia I see?

Did you finally decide to make an appearance this year?

Why yes... there are a few...

And this next one...

I've seen foliage all summer, and have wondered what this would be?

If I gardened the way that I do my glaze testing,

I would know what is where in my garden,

And there would be names on everything...

But when it comes to gardening,

I only follow the guidelines somewhat (sun, shade, etc),

And have been planting where there is space and see what makes it...

Maybe in the next few years there will be a little more design thrown into my gardens...

But not at this point in my garden life...

Thanks for stopping by my garden blog!

Seed Heads...

I must admit that these flowers didn't "wow" me like they did last year,

But their seed heads are amazing this year...

So a trade-off?

The curls and the wavy seed head coats...

I know there is a horticultural term for them,

But I'm drawing a pregnancy brain blank at the moment...

To me, they seem like a second blooming of the flower heads...

To show us what delicate treasures they hold inside...

And these treasures, I'm collecting...

Hoping to get some plants next year to give to friends for their garden...

So they can enjoy this in person too...

And I leave you with a picture of my garden steps...

They have been here for about 3 years now and need a little help to make them a bit more secure now that Chloe likes to climb them while we are out in the garden...

About 30 of them going up-hill that need extra support...

A project for me for the spring season when I am no longer carrying Riley inside my belly and can once again bend over and breathe...

Ahhh... can't wait!!!

If you are a local friend and want to help out, shoot me an email and I'd be more than happy to "pay" you for your help with plants - come spring...

And of course, for free:

lots of laughter and really bad jokes and stories...