Swaps and more....

I have been trying to participate in one swap per month. This month I am in the Hometown Swap hosted over at Create a Connection. I sent my little pyramid box and other ditties to Melba and they are now posted on the Create a Connection blog. You'll have to check it out there, as I forgot to take pictures before I sent it off. Yikes!! Thx for posting the pic Melba! I am still awaiting my package from the person sending to me, but I will post about it when it comes.

I do stress about the swaps a bit because this is all so new to me, but my pieces have been well received and it is really fun to share art this way. My first swap was a May basket Swap hosted by Artsy Mama, Kari who is now becoming quite famous as her blog is featured in Stampington's new Artful Blogging magazine.

In June I participated in a Charm Swap. I made 27 little clay birds and attached a hand hammered pewter tag to each, that says SOAR. In the end, Mary, who hosted the swap, recirculated the charms and I received back 17 charms made by people from all over the country (and a few international folks as well).

Speaking of people's work in magazines... I am so thrilled that my blog friend Joanna Pierotti has a piece in the latest Somerset magazine! I'm joyous that Joanna has come thru the other side of chemo and is winning her fight against breast cancer. It's fabulous to hear her spirit and see her creative energy re-surging! Big hugs to you, Joanna!!

Water Garden Update

The stream at Sweetside is essentially all built but alas, it is loosing water from some nook or cranny -- so it is still shut off while I try to trouble shoot in my "spare" time. I hope to get back to figuring it out this weekend. We inaugurated it and had it flowing fabulously on the evening of July 21, 2007 -- now known as Stream Day at Sweetside. Little George even dipped his toes in and Aaron made martini's to celebrate! Ben put in a new front door for us that day as well.

A visitor... and MORE Progress on the Stream

YIKES!!! Four tons of 3" stone is a LOT of stone!


I have spent another 20+ hours on building the stream since my last post.

Below is what it looks like at the end of today. The bio-filter at the top is set except for the large stones that will surround and envelop it. The rocks all along the stream are pretty much in place with essentially no black liner visible, The pond, at the bottom of the stream, is the last piece to be done. I have the liner now but it needs a final digging and clearing out and then I can line it and set all the rocks in place. When all that is done we can set up the pump and christen it. Then I can plant some of the bog and water garden plants. Maybe it will call for champagne??

Today while I was out there working on it a woman came by and asked to come into the garden and take a look. I gladly welcomed her. Turns out she is the co-chair of the Amherst Garden Tours (which benefit the Amherst History Museum) and she invited me to be on the Tour for 2008. Wow! I am willing to do it... but... oh my... will the entire yard and gardens be ready for that? Maybe it will help spur me on??? I am only one year into this new house and yard, tho. I have so any things started and so many things planned. I'll have to see where things are at by late Fall, when they need an answer for the June 2008 Tour.


Here the stream is from the top....
(you will get a better sense of the progress if you compare this picture to the first one in the previous post)
















... and from the bottom
( compared to last picture in previous post)

















...and the pond at the base, yet to be done.

Progress on the Stream!

I have been making some progress on my 30' stream bed and pond. There are 7 little waterfalls along the stream bed and each one is a work of art .... a rock sculpture of sorts. It is taking me a lot longer than I expected. Hiding the black liner and making it look as natural as possible is taking a lot of trial and error not to mention many TONS of rocks (literally!!). I am building my muscle power.