Feasting on Nature

 Visitors on the front lawn just a day ago. 

 I had seen this doe quietly walking around the border of the property for several days. She was all alone. I recognized her by her black nose.

 Now I know she was all alone because she was looking for a place to bed down and have her little fawn.

 She spent quite a while licking the little thing while it nursed.

 She is leading her baby to some tall grass nearby, prob. to hide in while she goes about her day.

 Enjoying the burst of colour and life all around us...

from dandelions 

 to drifts of Forget me Nots

 to bursts of Lilacs and their intoxicating scent

 Jack in the Pulpit

 So exotic for here... I just love coming across them..

 usually in the under growth of the hedgerow trees, where the light is dappled and the soil is humus.

 Earlier in the spring, these  Daffodils gave so much joy.

 It almost felt like they were singing hallelujah, spring has arrived...

 although still chilly then, the colour almost made you forget about the temperature.

Then the african Violet took up the  signal and burst into bloom. 

 and not to forget the little Daphne, that we found growing in a rockpile... we moved a few pieces of it over by the house so we could enjoy its beauty up close.

 In between being enamoured with the beauty of nature.. work must go on ... here are a few more of our designs ready to go.

Fishbone Earrings hanging on shells we brought with us from the ocean at St. Martins on the Bay of Fundy.

 The Book and Mug

 Dragonflys

 Ladybugs

and "Spring Blossoms" a new design inspired by the much awaited spring colour that is bursting forth in so many gardens. 4 1/8" long with lots of movement... silver and copper beads, czech glass in aqua and garnet, african painted bead, amethyst, leopardskin Jasper, peridot and sterling silver wrapped crystal.. Only made one pair of these.

Be Happy and enjoy your life! 

Desideratum

Activities at the Old Place

 Last month we were still having some cool weather so the wood stove was humming. No sense wasting all that heat... up near the ceiling is a great spot to dry heavy wool socks. 

John cut some shelving for a skinny closet we  made and here I'm varnishing them a few times. Luckily the floors are still unfinished so no worries of any drips.

Below are a few pair of earrings that were sent out to customers during the last while.

 Fresh Water Pearl and Sterling textured dome

 Balls of Yarn earrings in Copper

 Sterling Wrapped forged Copper

Sterling Wrapped Amethyst on handmade spiral earwires

 Cat and Kitten

 When we moved last fall... I purged much... gave away a Kenmore machine, exactly this 1968 model, to my daughter ... gave away 9 others too... but somehow, as fate would have it... someone posted this on Kijiji and now it's sitting on my desk

She just needed some cleaning and oiling... She weighs a ton and sews a very fine seam.

All the snow has finally gone and popping up in an area of grass that is all but ignored is a cheery patch of Crocus. What a happy surprise... Just love them.. Now just waiting for the grass to green up..

Happy Days All

At Work at our New Very Old Place

 We are spending every day at our in-progress Desideratum Art Studio... building up our stock for the coming season... bringing back many of our favourite designs as well as a few new ones.
 Above are Three new designs we will be adding to our collection this year. 

the Peridot and Silver, a bit closer, $25 pair

 Throughout the fall and winter we have been making our old house more livable. Here John is trimming and squaring up the very old doors .

 We were recently informed by an auctionereer that these two old panel doors appear to be of the Victorian period mid 19th century circa 1850... 

...so love to find out information about architecture and historical artifacts!!

These are a few of the old square nails we removed from the antique doors. I find them beautiful!

 Copper  Goldstone and Sterling Silver Bracelet

 Sterling Silver and Jasper Bracelet

 Black pottery glass, jasper, amethyst and Sterling Silver Bracelet

Zebra Jasper, amethyst, and Sterling Silver Bracelet

Abstractly fused copper and silver rectangles combined with handmade African Bauxite beads... with copper... light and earthy... lots of movement... unusual how the silver formed a "T" in the fusing process completely by happy accident. 2 1/2" total length... one of a kind and only pair like this available... $25.00 pr.

.... background ink drawing of crows from my sketchbook, 

Been a long winter in the middle of New Brunswick... We are ready for Spring. Won't be long now!! 

Cheers everyone!!

Jewels by Desideratum Art Jewelry

 Fresh Water Pearls on Handmade Sterling Silver wires

 Sterling and Copper link with Amethyst drops

 Textured Sterling Silver Triangles with Amethyst stones

Textured Sterling Silver  with long Copper Triangles

 Large Sterling Textured dome

 Silver Men on Textured Copper dome

 Textured Sterling Silver Wirework Birds  ~ Sold~

Faceted Czech Glass with Antiqued Steel and Hematite Heart

A few designs that have come to light after our move...  seems many of our designs had been tucked away... nice to find them..  if interested in purchasing contact me here

Cortlands Make the Best Apple Pie

 We have been living at the "new" old homestead for 8 weeks now.  Can't believe the last year has gone so fast.  When will it slow down. 

 I remember when I was a kid, how long the days were... they seemed to drag on forever.

 Not anymore!

So if that's the way it's gonna be, we have to do as much as possible in these new very short days!!

...and one thing I wanted to do was to go picking apples.. 

yes I know we should have been working on house projects, finishing up outside things before winter ...but when Apple time is calling, I am going to answer.

Beautiful big box of Cortlands.. My favourite kind! 

We went down to the nearest Orchard, the one that I pass every time I go to the Post Office to mail a jewelry order out. The fellow who owns it is Mr. Doucette.  He's a super nice older gentleman, tall and lean.. with big glasses and a floppy hat.

He has the most beautiful orchard you ever saw. It is up a very long, very steep, very narrow, winding driveway... almost an adventure just heading up the hill to his farm... but when you are there, you're surrounded with all the bounty of Nature. His orchard is huge... rows upon rows... they were loaded down with fruit... and so well cared for, it was a pleasure to  gather apples there.  He had Pears and Plums earlier in the season, too.

So some peeling, some slicing,, some cinnamon, brown sugar, dabs of butter, sprinkles of lemon juice, good stir and the filling was ready. Smelled so good!

 Mixed up the pie crust... love the old pastry blender I found at a flea market.

Found my favourite long round rolling pin.. Such a cool wooden tool. last forever, it will.

 Finally rolling out the crust time.  I use Lard in my crust

...made enough for 3 pies ...tops and bottoms.

Popped them in the oven and cooked them about 35+ minutes at 350 deg..  but always test for the temperature of your own oven. 

I might have scorched them a bit on the bottom as I'm not quite used to this oven yet

but they tasted great!! 

The fragrance that filled the room was well worth it..

 I wish I could bottle it!!