Garden Seeds // Hello Cantaloupe!

I always think hopeful thoughts when I make the first cut into a melon.  Over the years, I still can't tell with consistent accuracy when a melon is ripe in the store.  Shake it, smell it, squeeze it - whatever your method, there is no guarantee.

Last year, my friend Allyce gave me cantaloupe seeds she saved from a fantastic tasting melon she bought at the store.  I planted them and, wow! this was great stuff.  I saved the seeds from the ones I grew and am planting them today. 

Cantaloupe need rich soil, heavy water, 6-8 hours of sunlight and lots of room to grow.  The ideal time to plant these seeds is March 1 - April 15th so find a spot and gets seeds in soon. 

Here is my chosen area for cantaloupe.  The vine will encroach into the asparagus fern but do no harm.  With a few trellises, the vine will climb as well.

You can plant cantaloupe in a pot too.  Just make sure it is a big pot and you water it well.  Pots dry out faster than a raised bed so be diligent in your watering.  I had a vine in a pot last spring that was a volunteer from my compost.  It produced very well.

Cantaloupe take 80-120 days to harvest so be patient and label your plant.  Note: this is a 40-day range so labelling will eliminate some, but not all, of the guessing game of when to harvest.  

Once harvested, be sure to save the rind for your compost.  Cut it into 1x1" pieces for ideal decomposition size.  Compost the seeds as well and you're likely to get volunteers in the future.

Handmade Brilliance { local } // The Lonely Heart

I am touched by Brandee's story of how her amazing business, The Lonley Heart, came to be. What an inspiration! I am so happy for the success she has been blessed with but I am not surprised at all! Check out her beautiful items centered around love.

1. Tell us your story. What brought you to now?

I love business, I love stress & I love keeping busy. I have worked for a corporation, I have worked for my husband in his business & I have owned a few businesses myself over the years, but my true passion is being a stay home mom who home schools.

When the recession hit, it went through like a tornado in our home. Everything was in crumbles & turned upside down. My husband was laid off from his trade and the market became non-existent in our quad-city area. Facing the realities of the possibility of losing our home and all the dreams we had built over the past twenty plus years was truly scary! So I said a huge prayer to God and opened a shop on Etsy.

I started “The Lonely Heart” with nothing but a few hearts, salvaged wood, and some barbed wire. God has been so faithful to us! The Lonely Heart took off. I had so much business coming in that I had to have my daughter, Aumber, start helping me. We are now looking at ways to expand our line to support the both of us.

2. Outside of creating, what do you do?

I am a full time wife, mommy of five girls, I love gardening and living a country lifestyle.

Aumber is finishing up her last year of high school. She has an incredible eye for photography & is a wonderful horse artist. My hope is she will pursue these two incredible gifts.

3. What’s your secret in life? Any words to live by? 

Secret to life...love your family & make the most of your time. Both Aumber & I are homebodies and are always looking to find some zany fun in the everyday things. We truly enjoy each other's company, so it makes for a great day pretty much everyday!

4. Where do you sell your items? 

Our items are only available on Etsy. We discovered Etsy a few years back & just love it! It has a wonderful community & just so many talented artists. Etsy is perfect for my lifestyle as I am a homeschooling mom of four. I can teach school & work the hours I choose, which is a huge blessing.

5. Give a shout-out to a fellow handmade artist like yourself!

TheFunkiLittleFrog  // Her hand painted signs are gorgeous, I covet her steady hand!

LukeLampCo  // Luke's lamps are awesome & his storytelling skills are to die for!

TheHealthyNut  // Ashley's granola is second to none, she takes granola to a whole new level!

pattycakeprimitives  // I love Cheryl's work, her dolls & animals each have their own personality!

estatesaletreasures  // Vikki has the best stash, at the best price for the collage artist & she is such an amazing person!

crimsonclover  // Two amazing gifted women in their art.

Organize Your Life // Sew Organized

If you love to sew odds are you have a storage problem. Truth be told, I had a fabric storage problem before I took on sewing. I love fabric. Guilty. Sometimes we need to see some inspiration and good ideas to motivate us to get organized! Here are some keepers.

I am in love with this. I currently have all my fabric in a closet hanging up with clothes hangers. However, if I really have a fabric in bulk then those little hangers can't hold the weight. Perfect solution! And pretty!

via danielle thompson

Follow the link below the picture to get her downloadable labels shown here! Perfect for remnants.

via just something i made

Hanging fabric is genious.

via grosgrain

Love the color organization.

via little green notebook

Just right for small spaces! Love this.

via whipstitch sewing

Keep fabric for a project together using clasp hangers and chalkboard paint for labeling!

via craftzine

This sewing space is amazing. Love the crates turned into sewing shelves.

via ucreate

Pull out drawers! Yes, please.

via bhg

What a fun way to store your laces and trims!

via funky junk interiors

Darling! I really need to do this. Follow the link for a tutorial!

via grey luster girl

Fabric on mini-bolts! Great way to recycle old boxes and makes storing fabric so easy.

via smashed peas and carrots

Organize! Make it pretty! You can do it!!

Kitchen Revival // Guest Post from The Hip Hurrah

My best friend Stacy of The Hip Hurrah was so kind as to contribute to Kitchen Revival today! Stacy moved from AZ to the east coast a couple of years ago and currently resides in a hip little place called Brooklyn. While there she is living it up and diving head first into the eating scene by both dining at all the best hidden gems Brooklyn has to offer, and cooking all sorts of fun recipes she creates. Here is a peek at her Thyme Herbed Pizza Crust topped with shaved parmesan, kale, and sliced blue potatoes with a fried egg thrown in for a Grand Finale!

"One of my favorite things about pizza is that it is literally a blank canvas that offers endless possibilities. Change up the crust flavoring, the sauce, and the toppings; and you could honestly eat a different pizza every day. I love coming up with unexpected combinations that offer the eater a variety of tastes and textures."

I honestly want to make one of these for breakfast tomorrow morning. Too weird? To make your own just add fresh thyme to your favorite pizza dough recipe {mine is Chris Bianco's}, roll out and drizzle with Olive Oil and crushed fresh garlic. layer the thinly sliced blue potatoes on top, followed by the parmesan and fresh kale. Salt & pepper and pop in a 475 oven until cheese is nicely melted and crust is cooked through. Once our top with your pan fried egg and it's Bon Appettit!

D.I.Y. Tutorials // Glittered Mason Jars

via sweet occasion

When I saw these mason jars covered in glitter it blew my mind. It's the perfect blend of old world charm and glam! And this is basic craft time here. Apply glue either with a sponge brush and immerse in glitter! These were used for a Gold Rush New Years Party (follow the link below the pic to see the whole party) but you could use these for so many different things! Flower vase, pencil holder, utensil holder, etc! So pretty.

Garden Seeds // The Inexpensive Garden

As with any other home feature, gardening can get expensive.  If it is your passion like mine, it can be downright deadly for the wallet.  Here are some tips on how to build an inexpensive garden:

Plant from Seed

Orchid Vine from

Grow annual flowers, herbs and vegetables from seed to save money.  This requires additional planning as seeds should be planted earlier in a season than a transplant or mature plant from a nursery.  Seed packets range in price from $1-3 per packet.   For larger quantities and greater savings, buy from a seed catalog.  Seeds will last longer than one year (despite the expiration date on your packet), so buy in bulk with friends and split the cost.  Harvest seeds off your plants for the following year to save as well.  

Host a Plant/Seed Swap 
Each year, I host a neighborhood plant/seed swap.  This is a great way to network with your friends and neighbors and get new plants for your garden.  Here is how it works:  Everyone brings some seeds, citrus, plants or vegetables from their garden.  Lay it all out on a table.  Discuss or label what each item is and then begin swapping!  If you don't have anything to bring, then just come and learn how to get started in the garden.  Invite your friends with gardens and tell them to tell someone.  Invite neighbors you may or may not know who have gardens you admire.  Gardeners love to share their plants!  Last week at my swap I came home with some red hollyhock seeds, a bag of tangelos (I now want a tree), two agave pups and loofah seeds.  I also met a new gardener/neighbor who was riding by on her bike.  She introduced herself, went home to get a plant and came back to participate.  All for free.

Look for Bargains at the Nursery
Some nurseries discount plants once a week when they receive a new shipment.  Ask a garden employee what day their shipment usually arrives and shop the sales rack on this day.  For example, the Lowes around the corner from me discounts their plants on Wednesdays.  They often put perfectly healthy plants on the 50% off rack just to make room for new ones.  

Cereus Cacti from a friend

Propagate, Propagate, Propagate
The best example I can give for this is cacti.  Cacti are very expensive in the nurseries - the retail mark up on all plants is over 300% (according to my sources)!  Most cacti are easy to propagate.  If you have a friend or neighbor with beautiful cacti, ask for their pups or cut off an arm for your own garden.  I have acquired many of my desert plants in this manner.










Compost
Compost not only makes great sense, but is a savings in the long run.  Your compost set-up need not be fancy.  A couple piles in a corner of your yard works just as well as an expensive drum from a catalog.  Compost results in both good soil and excellent fertilizer.  I haven't bought any fertilizer for my vegetable garden in years!


Who doesn't love saving money?

Color Your Fancy // Mint

via madden photography

via agent bauer

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via a catalogue of sorts

via chuy villarreal

via bhg

via mojo spa style

via free people

 

via the pioneer woman

via frolic