04 November 2015

A Winter's Tale

It has been a stunning autumn, one of the best in a while and my favourite time of year.  With mild days and cooler nights, the greens are being harvested, the moss gathered, the cones dried.  The workshop is awash in those most familiar scents that arrive but once a year in preparation for that most glorious of seasons.

Details, and it is all in the details, are being fine tuned ~ ready to deliver.  Are you ready?  Stay with us for just a few more days and I'm absolutely sure you will be as excited as I am.



In the meantime, my husband Brad has been throwing the most stunning pieces in preparation for the Thunder Bay Potter's Guild Christmas Show.  I'd like to keep them all but apparently that's not a go!  

You can visit the TBPG Christmas Show, Saturday, November 14th and Sunday, November 15th at the Valhalla Inn.  


22 September 2015

Harvest Tea Towel Class


The gardens are easing their way into autumn.  It has been an amazing summer with the flower cutting gardens producing far more than any other year, and while we still have much work to do in and around the cutting gardens, the bee yard and just life in general before the weather changes, I'm ready for a relaxing evening spent making and creating.  I'm hoping you'll join me. 

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, these pretty tea towels will make a lovely host's gift (if you're able to part).  The great thing . . .  you will leave class having printed three flour sack tea towels and enough print medium to make more (or an entirely different printed project) at home.  Yay!


Tuesday, October 6th  or  Thursday, October 8th
6:30 - 8ish

$40 (plus hst)

To register click HERE



31 August 2015

PART II

Of the "it's what you might call a Renovation" sale

 SUNDAY

 SEPTEMBER 13th

10-3. 



As promised, I've been sorting, scouting and purging since you last visited in January and you will not be disappointed. Those of you looking for good junk to up-cycle then this is your day! We've been cleaning out the loft of the barn, the back of the barn, the garage and gardens, leaving no stone unturned.  But, in the spirit of my favourite season, it's not just about all the good junk and the day has officially become . . .


"The Flower, Soap and Good Junk (festival)" 

I was originally aiming for "The Flower, Soap and Honey Harvest (festival) but that begins and ends with the honeybees!  
To do a little catching up, winter 2014 was a tough one on the bees.  I lost all five of my hives after a long, persistently cold February.  I was, of course, devastated.  I love my bees and didn't realize just how much I missed their presence in and around the gardens until they were gone.  Spring and no bees.  Total bummer.  I re-hived in June just as soon as the new hives (called nucs) were ready to be picked up from two fellow beekeepers.  The gardens and yard were awash with the familiar buzzing of the honey bee once again.  Unfortunately, new hives spend their first season building up in population, foraging for pollen and nectar and making honey for their use.  It rarely results in extra honey for the beekeeper!

The new girls worked hard.  One hive in particular proved to be very strong early in the season and some extra honey they did offer up.  But not in sufficient quantity to allow me to have my Honey Harvest festival!  

So, we'll just celebrate in other ways.  

On the much, much brighter side, it has been an amazingly productive growing season.  The flowers are stunning and very ready for harvest.  We have been harvesting flowers for fresh and dried market bunches for a few weeks and are now in full harvest mode.  





In the spirit of the season we love so much, you will also find lots of lovely autumn goodness.  Fresh (live) Autumn planters of the unique Moss Cottage kind, bunches and bunches of flowers (fresh if mother nature continues to bless us with frost free nights ~ although there have been a few touch and go in that department), gorgeous drieds, and a stunning but limited selection of wreaths.


Handmade soaps alongside wonderful pottery and other handmade goodness.  

September is the perfect time to be planting and you will find a limited but intriguing selection of perennials for the garden alongside a great selection of garden "junk".

Urban rustic kitchen linens which speak to me of harvest time, knick knacks and doodads and well, I think you get the idea.  So, get the travelling shoes on, we'd love to see you. And, please help spread the word.  The more the merrier!  


Here's to warm autumn days and travelling shoes . . .

You can read all about Part I of our "It's what you might call a Renovation Sale" https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Urban-Farmchick/103573643060291?fref=nf
Just scroll down to January 2015 for the fb post

Photos:  1 & 2 taken by the incredibly talented Ashley Kibzey of Maria Maria Photo https://www.facebook.com/photographymariamaria?fref=ts




22 April 2015

I know I have . . .

been gone awhile.  Just popping in quickly to say hello, hope all is well.  I have a whole bunch of posts coming your way including some "how to's".  Thanks for hanging in there with me. 


Planning and dreaming of warmer days ahead . . .



In the meantime, I thought you may just enjoy this perfectly lovely tumblr blog.  It calms my soul when I'm in need ~



12 January 2015

RENOVATION . . .

S.A.L.E!

As I turn the shop space into a workshop studio space, the shop is undergoing a serious, but cosmetic, renovation.  More on that to come but for now, you'll find some display pieces, french doors, old windows, chairs, an old cast iron sink, knick knacks, doo dads and while I'm at it, some left over shop stock.  And, the best part, it's going cheap!

FRIDAY,  JANUARY 16th  4-7
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17th  1-3


DON'T MISS THIS ONE AND SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

08 November 2014

I'm being . . .

. . . enveloped in the most magical, all natural, scents of the season.


It never fails to amaze me just how much I still love the scent of fresh cut greens.  That first clip of the branch sends me into seasonally creative overdrive.  The workshop has been awash with their fragrance for a few weeks now.  But, this season, the all natural, engaging fragrance of our simmering spice blend is running a very close second.  Mmmm!



06 November 2014

WINTER 2014

For all of the lovely details click on