oliveloaf design

creative mojo by stacy

graffiti gardening May 23, 2013

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if you have alliums in your yardscape design & they’ve finished their bloom

regenerate them with paint ~ it’s super-duper easy!

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all you need is a piece of cardboard or paper plate

& your choice of color spray-paint

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spray all sides of the allium by moving around it using the cardboard/plate

as protection from spraying your deck/porch or other plants

Garden Graffiti by OliveLoaf Design

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now your allium will continue to be delightful balls of awesome

for many more weeks!

Painted Allium by OliveLoaf Design

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alas ~ we only had two {of 4} alliums pop up this year

note to self: plant more allium bulbs for more garden graffiti next year!

{thanks to mom who gave me the idea last year!}

 

Voluntary Simplicity May 20, 2013

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I heard a marvelously inspiring piece on NPR this weekend

about Voluntary Simplicity

what life can be about – a less complicated existence animated by inner joy.

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it resonated with me as I clearly have been aspiring

or evolving into this lifestyle – without having a name for it

becoming less encumbered by possessions & consumerism, time for other people and oneself,

caring about the environment,

getting back to nature…

{see/hear more at http://www.humanmedia.org}

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{a little harvest from le gardens}

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“We’re really led away from what we’re here for,

which is to learn how to live sociably with others and soulfully with ourselves.

And consumerism is relatively shallow and life is deep.”

~Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity

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{still life with wild daisies}

Wild Daisies by OliveLoaf Design

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{a walk in the woods}

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{homemade strawberry pie/vegan}

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handmade gifts {from up-cycled materials}

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crafting art {from re-purposed resources}

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observing the wonders of nature

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“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating;

to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter…

to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring

these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”  ~John Burroughs

 

cheekwood April 13, 2013

it was a little early in the season to visit cheekwood botanical gardens in nashville, tennessee

but there were still magical sights to behold…

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{bamboo forest}

bamboo forest by OliveLoaf Design

{japanese garden}

{crawling lady hare by sophie ryder}

{steeple dance by frank morbillo}

SteepleDanceFrankMorbillo by OliveLoaf Design

{untitled(in a dream) by jenny holzer}

InADreamJennyHolzer by OliveLoaf Design

{reflecting at the water garden}

{stately view}

{be unique}

Be Unique by OliveLoaf Design

 

2013::Crafty & Bright January 1, 2013

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“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

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*Welcome to a new year friends!

I fell behind in my postings for most of December

so in an effort to catch-up & and to jump-start the new year

I thought I would post a wrap-up…

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forest findings glitter ornaments

acorns & black walnuts found in le woods

Forest Finding Ornaments

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under construction gold leaf papier mache trinket bowls

IMG_1237

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inspired by artist kelli murray’s diy

paper mache bowls by oliveloaf design

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I loved gold leafing so much I may gold leave everything!

paper mache bowls by oliveloaf design2

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a papier mache whale ornament for my new nephew

paper mache whale ornament by oliveloaf design

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homegrown & harvested seed packets

compostable envelopes, washi tape {a new favorite}, stamped & up-cycled paper bags

seed packs by oliveloaf design

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wildflower seed bombs

made with newspapers & the bags are compostable too!

the picture on the tag is of our 2012 wildflower patch

seed bombs by oliveloaf design

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a blooming hippeastrum

just in time for christmas & new year!

Hippeastrum blooming by OliveLoaf Design

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vegan pho & vietnamese summer rolls

mr. d & I celebrate being 8 months plant-strong!

vegmeal

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may your days be crafty & bright

crafty & bright

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stacysignature1

 

homegrown November 12, 2012

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happy monday friends!
that weekend went by like lightening speed, no?

i’m finishing up a few commissions in the studio

so i just have a few odds & ends today…

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i gathered the last of the wildflowers in the yard & random foliage from le garden

for a bouquet before they succumb to frost…

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“Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out-values all the utilities of the world.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

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my homegrown gourds are curing nicely ~ i can’t wait to starting crafting with them!

it’s kinda fun to grown your own art supplies….

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speaking of things handmade…

buy LOCAL, buy HANDMADE, buy USA

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nature’s splendor October 10, 2012

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hello lovelies!  the family & i had a wonderfully inspiring vacation

in the mountains of colorado {my once-upon-a-time homeland}

i plan on showing you all kinds of amazing sights

as soon as i go through the hundreds of photos

so, for now ~  here are a few other tidbits from le homestead…

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i was taking a walk in the woods this morning {aka the backyard}

& thought i’d do a color study of the pretty leaves

that are starting to appear there…

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i love when you can see all the colors of nature’s splendor…

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in gardening news ~ delicious asian & european greens are being harvested

and several varieties of kale are doing their thing!

i’ve been drying & harvesting the seeds from my thousands of marigolds

{as they are organic – we eat a few from time to time}

to give as gifts & replant next gardening season…

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it was our second anniversary recently.

this year i received from mr. d a lovely hand-picked, sprig of cotton!

{from a real-life cotton field}

that mr. d is clever.

{you may recall my handmade paper anniversary gift}

so sweet ~  i love it.

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i have orders galore ~ i best get back to the studio!

have a great day!

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tuesday whatnots September 25, 2012

happy tuesday! just a quite hello with a couple notes

{i’m busy working in the studio on some orders & planning a vacay for next week!}

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i’m loving the deep purple color of these bush beans coming from le garden

{if you’ve never seen them – they turn green when cooked – very cool!}

grown from baker creek heirloom seeds…

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it’s that ‘Stache~On~A~Stick time of year

been working on several orders coming in for halloween & whatnots

see le shoppe for your mustache & lips on stick needs!

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if you’d like to add a little handmade & up~cycled goodness

to your thanksgiving table decor this year

{or to give a treasured holiday gift to your turkey-day host}

why not order an oliveloaf design bespoke paper~mache turkey?

{it’s a good time to queue up now!}

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grown with love September 10, 2012

*mr. d’s aunt & uncle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary recently.

they own the wondrous & magical hidden hill nursery & sculpture garden

{you may recall i’ve mentioned it a million times!}

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that was inspiration enough to create this paper~mache painting…

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grown with love, 16″x20″ oval canvas

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sculpted & traditional paper-mache on cavas & painted with acrylic.

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sort-of related side-note: crafted whilst listening to

christopher moore’s novel, “sacré bleu” 

{“a comedy d’art”très magnifique!}

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as always ~ if you see something on oliveloaf design you are interested in

contact me to discuss commissioned pieces.

 

small pleasures August 6, 2012

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“think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.” ~h. jackson browne, jr.

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in my continuing quest to collect moments and not things, i humbly submit the following inspirationals…

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an intricate mushroom in the woods…

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a delicate swallowtail enjoying purple flowers…

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a stunning cloud formation…

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spectacular sunflowers in a vase…

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a moonflower on its singular bloom…

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a gorgeous listada de gandia eggplant from le garden…

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hello sun July 23, 2012

Filed under: garden,i made it,inspiring...,kentucky,quotables — OliveLoaf Design @ 10:01 am
Tags: , ,

happy monday.

have a great day & inspired week!

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