Eclectic Studio - Tammy Morrison-Koenig

I dont know how many of you are in the situation of sending your little one off to kindergarten but we have just sent our baby girl off to face the big unknown world. :( We were so worried about separation anxiety and the only anxiety has come from me pacing the floors not know what to do with myself. :o lol So after doing all of those "ill get to it projects" like playing name that food from the freezer and reorganizing the boxes in the basement - which btw was more like Christmas ;) I made a list of projects that have been put on the back burner for the past few years, like the kids scrapbooks. If you have done any scrapbooking or journaling in the past you know how expensive stamps can be, so this is my cost effective versions using just some cut up paint sticks for the backing and the kids fun foam sheets for the designs. The possibilities are endless :) Hope you enjoy

We have been busy in the yard this year planting, moving, and always adding. I find most of my inspiration and calming in our gardens so why not make it all that it can be. This is another simple reclaimed wood project that we put together in a weekend. The box was an after thought and still needs to be painted but until the "monsoon" season is over, it just wont be happening. lol Hope you enjoy

This has been on my to do list since last fall. My Wonderful husband rescued 2 of these beauties from the trash at work and thought I could do something with them. Well of course I can :D I was just looking at the industrial tables on the Restoration Hardware site. So as they say one persons trash is another ones treasure. Nothing a little elbow grease and a fresh coat of paint couldn't cure. Until next time Happy Creating everyone :)

It has a long month away from doing anything creative. I lost my grandpa :( , my baby boy turned 3,  went in for my first surgery, kids started soccer and gardening season has started :D  Well after getting all of that sorted out and my gardens off and planted I was looking out at the Moai statue I did last year, I figured he needed someone to hang out with after the lights go out at night.  So I whipped this guy up. Now off to the garden center while this guy dries. :D Hope you enjoy First grab your supplies Wrap with Chicken wire Attach armature Start slathering on the concrete, keep adding until it has covered all wire and plugged all bare spots Ta Da!!! Now let him cure for the reccommended time, Pull out your paints and go a little crazy. Plant it up with what ever you want. Add water and sunshine and see what happens. :)

Love was definatly in the air yesterday. The kids and I spent the day putting together cards the lovely little framed project for our end table. There is nothing better then spending the Day of Love with the People you Love. We put this together using an old phone book, Cardstock and a few chip board letters Oh and of course my handy dandy Glue gun. Love Pure and Simple.. Hope you enjoy

So I have been redecorating the little kids rooms into bigger kids room and for the little man in my life I decided to go with a "Sail Away with Me" theme. We have had this icky side tabel in out possession for a long time and everytime I look at it all I saw was fish. So with a little elbow grease it was transformed from this to this I think it is just the perfect addition to his room. And the more it gets banged around - because you know it will being almost 3 - ;) the better it will look. Hope you enjoy Tammy

What little - or big girl for that matter doesn't want a set of pearls to wear with their fancy outfits? So in order to keep all 6 girlies happy they range from 3 to 11 and staying in our handmade pledge i made these pearl pendant necklaces for all of them. So simple and so classic. Hope you enjoy. :)

Inspired by some twine ornaments that I made up last week. 6 of these in 3 differant sizes for under $3 Gotta love that :) So I thought I would carry that rustic whimsy tree theme we have going this year and make up some wee-folk inspired mushroom ornaments. These are so very simple to make. What you need: styrofoam balls twigs or dowels cut to 1.5 inch long twine beads - any color small scrap of ribbon glue gun Step 1: Cut aprox 1/3 off the bottom of the ball Step 2: Fold ribbon in 1/2 and insert into a small hole in the top for hanging, glue the twig into the bottom. Step 3: Starting at the top, glue a starting point with your twine. and start wrapping glueing as you go. Keep wrapping all the way under the cap. Once you get to the bottom just cut, tuck and glue. Step 4: Add your embellishments. I simply glued some med sized beads for a little color, But you could go in with some acrylic paint and also add color that way. I found these cute ladybug thumbtacks and thought

With snow on the ground and the temps dipping it's beginning to look alot like Christmas. :) :) :) I thought it was a little too quiet for this time of year and I guess I was right. lol A last minute commission has come in and I have to design and paint up some custom made treasure chests for 3 little princesses. Just sent off the draft off for approval and hopefully I can begin final layout tomorrow. So until then I thought I would get some new additions for the tree whipped up while I still have all the stuff pulled out. These are made up of some simple supplies: wire, seed beads, pearls and a plucked feather boa. Hope you enjoy.

Part of my Handmade Holidays pledge..  They are all aprox 2.5 to 3 inch embellished with glass and acrylic beads and handwrapped wire These colors can be customized for your tree $2.50 each plus shipping Hope you enjoy Tammy

This angel is finally done and I am so pleased with the way she has turned out. :) This Christmas decoration measures approximately 11inches tall and features glass beaded eyes, burlap wings and a variety of lace and trims throughout. Hope this helps to set the tone for the season. :)

My to-do lists use to go about a week in advance - since I have went on the open market with my work I now have a 3 month in advance planner. :O And I am still running behind. LOL Company is coming in 3 days, Halloween in 2 and a Birthday party tomorrow I thought I would try and get some of my Christmas projects out of the way while I still had a chance. These are a few of my softies I have whipped up this week that are going to be part of our Holiday decor. Hope you enjoy. First Prim doll 6 in tall Hand Embroidered 2 versions Saftey Pin and Bead Dolls 2-3 in tall Santa Ornie - I love the way he turned out 11 inches tall Hand stiched Quick Doll pin - My baby Girl Loves this and is now on her jacket :)

We have all seen these 1970's hanging lamps or we even have one stuck in the very back corners of our basements. Well this is a product of my husbands creative brain at work of turning what was once an eye sore into something useful and lovely. :) I cant take any credit for this at all, and when he first told me what he was doing I thought he was going to the birds.. hahaha But our little woodland creatures LOVE it. It also seems to be hail, squirrel, and big bird proof (jays, black birds, magpies etc...) He took out all the electrical, plugged the holes left by that and stuck rubber stoppers under the glass to lift it enough for the seed to be gravity fed. We decided not to paint it as it blends nicely into its surroundings, but did seal it with 3 coats of outdoor sealer. Hope you enjoy. Tammy Backyard Projects For Today's Homestead "Maximize Your Outdoor Living Space Through Creative Woodworking"

Its finally starting to green up around here. I have 1/2 of the greenhouse permanently planted the other half are in cold frames and almost ready to go to their outdoor location. I have radishes, spinach and lettuce that have popped through to say hello and my annuals are up and waving to the world. :D So now I have been on a search for interesting containers to put all these extra pretty ornamentals. HMMMM Have you actually checked out the prices of some of the big pots and outdoor decor. It is crazy! So off to Google I go for inspiration and this is what I came up with. This Moai planter is 3 ft tall and made of concrete, Styrofoam and reinforcing wire The inner pot can be removed for easy planting or changing out plants as the year goes by. I'm thinking of putting some big bushy purple verbena in for hair. Happy Creating :D For a more detailed step by step and another crazy head planter idea visit here:   http://tampster1.blogspot.ca/2012/05/new-concrete-planter-head-for-ga

This is probably the absolutely best outdoor project we have taken on. We have an enormous yard for being in the city and for years it has been neglected. The gardens have grown over and the perennials were being chocked out by the thistles. So last year we tackled the main veggie gardens and 1 small circular perennial bed to add some interest. All veggies are started from seed and all the perennials have been graciously donated from friends that have been dividing up what they have. This year I really wanted to add some extra seating and maybe some extra pretty things - because you can't have enough pretty flowers. So few weeks ago BHG sent out their weekly newsletter - a pergola special, and after explaining to my DH that the word pergola actually exists LOL we came up with some VERY rough sketches and I sent him to work. Hahaha K is really enjoying this woodworking thing and as long as he enjoys it I will keep coming up with projects. :D This year we also tackled the

I have never been a big shopper - especially in high end boutiques. But when I was thumbing through a decorating magazine I came across this massive fake clock from restoration hardware. 2 reasons why I would never buy this product - 1. it doesnt work - lol - not very practical 2. It cost $1495.00 Can you imagine paying that for something that doesn't work ... Oh my! I was going to ask my DH to cut me out a big cirle from some of our left over wood projects, but my neighbours beat me to it. They had this stone tabletop (use to be a sundial) with a broken plaster pedistal and asked if I could use it before it went into the trash. **** You betcha***** And low and behold I came up with my own version. 4ft round marble. It will be sitting in my yard for the summer and I "will" find a place for it in my house this winter. I LOVE it!! And the best part is that it cost me NOTHING. I have bins and bins of paint and outdoor sealer so all it took was a little geometry and so

Its been busy around here, Ive managed to finish 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 1 shirt for my little girl and pj pants and a hat for my little boy and a skirt, top, 2 hats and an 50's inspired apron for myself.(ill post those when my model is not so ill. Plus Ive started a new watercolor painting. - ill post that tomorrow. But the best"est" ;) project we have taken on is my prized Greenhouse. Measurements are 7 * 7 *3.5 feet :D This will save ALOT of post hail tears - hopefully. My husband works for a lumber yard which has come in handy for the summer project wish list. The lumber used was fall down (stuff they cant use because of estetics and would have been cut up and tossed away, (which is no bother to me ;)) and the poly are the sheets that cover the wood as it comes into the plant. So total cost of the project was my husbands' love and much appreciated help from our neighbour. :D I can't wait for everything to start blooming and producing.

So the past 2 weeks have all been about SPRING. Dont you just Love that word. :D I have got my seeds that I can get started now up and growing. Yesterday I planted a bunch more herbs and bedding out plants. The greenhouse (more of a lean-to) design has been finalized by the man of the house. ;) Working for a lumber yard has its privlages. :) My wonderful husband has also started on my new raised garden bed boxes and 2 planters made from recycled pallets. Ill post pics when they are planted up. On top of the smell of dirt in the house I also have bits and pieces of fabric laying around. My BFF is expecting again and being a mom of 4, I think I have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesnt. So when I came across this pattern for a baby swaddler from Craft Gossip I just couldnt resist. There is Nothing better than being able to have 2 minutes to breathe when the babies are little. So can you imagine not having to burrito wrap every 2 minutes because the little one has kicked its