Autumn Jewels & Tuxedo Collections launching!

Check them out this weekend over on Bramble Boutique's etsy store:

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

New Bramble Boutique Collection!

My excitement at the upcoming change in seasons has extended to my store Bramble Boutique - http://www.etsy.com/shop/brambleboutique I'm very happy to be switching up the color palette I'm working with - and adding lots of deeper, more mysterious hues! The preview to the new collection "Autumn Jewels" is a gorgeous teal velvety open rose with a heavily jeweled center - and I've had lots of positive feedback already!

I'm really looking forward to the launch and hoping for lots of sales to get me through to the Holiday rush.

busy days of Spring

Yesterday saw me doing all the housework in 1 hour flat - so I could spend most of the day planting out all my perennial seedlings into the raised bed near the pond. 

 I placed them in rows - Lilies and Hollyhock at the back, then in front Lupines, then Daisies, then Catmint.  I've put some flashy silvery tape up with twigs to try keep the birds off until they are established.  

Speaking of birds - Liliana and I got to see a Robin take multiple baths in the pond yesterday, up close and personal! Fun days! Today I launched my new hair flower collection on etsyhttp://www.etsy.com/listing/98846034/cream-rose-bridal-hair-flower-clip Maribella Rose - is a smaller 3" version of some of my most popular hair flowers - available in cream, pink, blue, purple and red - for only $18 - I'm sure it'll be popular!

I'm running a competition on Bramble Boutique's Facebook page - submit your best bridal hair style pic and have a chance to win the entire collection! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bramble-Boutique/254860354589104

Off out now to tackle the front garden before the baby wakes up - then it's all over, as I'm sure ya'll know!

a chill in the air

To consider we had temps touching 80f last week brrr not so this week! It's in the 40s today and there was a hard frost last night.  According to the weather forecast tomorrow on is to be back 60s high 50s.. and I'm really hoping that this is the absolute last cold day of Winter - or Spring as it is now! I have racks of plants waiting to be planted outside, and some are starting to get a bit leggy argh. I will be planting more today some lovely Canterbury Bells, Snapdragons and Asters. Tomorrow I'll be out all day sorting out where my raised beds will be going, as I want to get them ready for planting after Easter.  I need to take measurements for edging too, as right now I'm doing it with logs - and with the threat of those nasty termites ever present - don't want to keep that there for long! There are beautiful Hyacinth popping up all over the place, daffodils, tulips, bluebells and the peonies that sprung up last week are now a good 12 inches tall!

Haven't seen a hummingbird yet - but I'm ever hopeful! Spent most of the weekend choosing patio furniture - so hard when they all seem to look the same - but I think I've settled on this Martha Stewart set from the Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202497395&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=202497395&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D28X-_-202497395

I like that all the chairs are swivel, I also like the tabletop very much. Not sure I'm keen on the linen effect chairs but at least I don't need to buy cushions for it! I also want a small bistro or what they call a conversations et for the top deck - basically a sofa, 2 chairs and a low table.  Then there's the BBQ to consider.  We have a gas hookup outside - but there's something about cooking on coals that makes it more authentic - after all I have an amazing 5 ring burner in my kitchen so why would I put one outside too? I'm launching a new hair flower range - Maribella Rose next week.  Really need to step to it picking what colors and themes I'm going with, and I plan to do the first show of the season at Spring-fest in Nyack, so there's that to organize too.. then there's always laundry and cleaning, and unpacking, and making lists for the home side of the renos - back to the grindstone!

Spring is in the air

Beautiful crocus, white, purple and yellow are popping up all over the place.  My Hydrangeas have little bud looking things on them and the twiggy bushes and trees are all covered with tiny leaf buds.  Spring is just about to spring and I can't wait! I made some more progress on clearing what will be the patio area, or courtyard to be fancy! I dug some more of my pond, and have decided to get a solar powered water feature to put on its upper ledge.. that way the water won't be still and hopefully that means no mosquitoes. 

I saw a pair of Robins in the garden yesterday evening, first time - very exciting! And had a tree cutting guy out to price up which ones are going.  He's coming tomorrow or Friday to do it, and will be leaving us with the firewood for next winter.  I'm looking forward to that being done, so we can go ahead and take down the smaller ones ourselves, then my picket can go up around my veg garden! And hopefully my hens can come, raised beds can be built, and the 250+ plants in my guest room can make their way to the great outdoors.  Bramble Boutique launched my Springtime In Paris hair flower range on etsy this morning, already have orders, so it's looking promising - hopefully I can fund all these grand schemes I'm thinking of!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95268901/mauve-peony-bridal-hair-flower-clip