Zen Cacti Rock Garden

This was my first bloom

We have rock landscaping in both front and back yards.  We have a lot of plants as well and a few months ago I changed out our front planter.  I wanted something a little different this time - a simple blooming cactus.

So Mark and I headed to the local nursery garden and after looking at several cacti, the Echinopsis Oxygona was the one.  The common name is Easter Lily Cactus.  It is a small clump of cacti that shoots out several blooms at once and one at a time.  It blooms constantly during the spring, but this one doesn't know that because we are still getting blooms in the middle of our 100+ degree summer.

After planting the cacti, I added some 1/4" minus rock from our side yard and thought it looked pretty good.  I stepped back and looked at it for a moment and realized it needed a little more.  I went into the back yard and brought out some river rocks and one of my Sedona rocks.  Another look and then I realized I had created my own little zen cacti rock garden.

I love my little garden.  I love rocks too.  In fact I still collect them, you know those special shaped rocks. What can I say.  Maybe it's all the name.

Peace,
Rocki

Handmade Jewelry Findings



Handmade Silver Filled Ear Wire Sample Pack

My artisan handmade jewelry findings and supplies are growing by the day!  By customer requests, I've added several packages that include a variety of ear wires in Silver Filled, Copper, Sterling Silver and 14k Gold Filled - like my Silver Filled Large Ear Wire package above that includes one of my original design Signature Kite ear wires.

Handmade Copper Jewelry Findings

I also offer my handmade jewelry finding sample packs in different metals that contain a variety of headpins, twist n wraps, eye links and jump rings.


Interchangeable Ear Wires, Silver Filled Spiral French

If you like interchangeable style earring wires, I have several designs in Copper, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold Filled and Silver Filled - like my Spiral French above.



Handmade Swirl Headpins

And to make your handmade ear wires a little more creative, try my Silver Filled Swirl Headpins - which I also make in other metals and finishes.

I create a large variety of my handmade to order jewelry findings in my Etsy shop and also on Artfire.
http://www.RockisMetalwork.etsy.com
http://www.RockisArtisanFindings.artfire.com

My handmade metalwork jewelry can be found in these shops:
http://www.RockisArtisanMetal.etsy.com
http://www.RockisArtisanMetalwork.artfire.com  

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer - I sure am!  Speaking of...time for me to jump in the pool.
Peace,
Rocki

DIY Flagstone Walk Path - Recycled

Here's is my DIY project that I did on Saturday morning. I've wanted to do this for some time now and when I told Mark that I wanted to put in a walk path from the sidewalk up to our front door walk way he said, and I quote: "go for it!" Well, I did!  I knew I would need his muscles for some things, but I wanted to do most of it myself... and I did!  For those of you who do not know me personally, this was a HUGE accomplishment and I'm ever so grateful to be this healthy again!

I forgot to take a before pic, so just imagine the above without the path dug.  Yep, I dug the path way all by myself...well, all but the last 1/4 section as I needed to save my strength for the rest of the work.  Mark came out to dig the remaining little section - he's such a good guy!

Not that I'm a weakling, but I'm not able to lift heavy of things.  Mark was sweet enough again to come outside and pour the sand for me.  He also carried out the Flagstone from the side yard - which we've had for years.  We took up part of our side yard walk way last year and kept the Flagstone for future use. 

Because I wanted to do as much of this project as possible, Mark simply put the tile on top of the mound of sand so that I could adjust and finish from there.  I just love this guy!

Almost done!  I fixed the sand under each tile to make sure it sat flat and didn't rock.  To adjust the level I simply added or removed sand as needed.  This took a bit of time, but at least I was entertained by the Black Eyed Peas (so were our neighbors) and the weather was perfect!

Ta'da!  Once the tiles were all in place I filled up the vacant areas with the surrounding granite.  The left over granite was raked into the yard (thank you honey!) 

I can't tell you enough of how excited I was to have been able to do this!  I swear, I probably looked out the front door at it a zillion times - so far!  Oh yes, the cost of the project...are you ready?  $5.00 - actually a tad under.  Since we recycled our Flagstone, all we had to purchase was two bags of sand.

Have rock'n good day!
Rocki

Organization

Came across a cool idea (probably not new, but new to me) while on Pinterest and just had to try it.  I've wanted to extend my kitchen pantry for some time now, but there simply is no extra room to do that.  Well, as you can see above I purchased an over-the-door shoe organizer that I taped to the outside door of my pantry just to show what it is.  I should have taken a before pic of inside, but didn't think about it.  My pantry wasn't a mess (I'm one of those 'labels to the front' people), but just very full and had to stack packages on top of packages.

I can NOT believe the results:   

Ta'da!  I was (and still) so freakin' excited about my 'new' pantry that I keep opening the door to look at it (yes, I amuse easily)!  Seriously though, for less than $15 dollars I extended my kitchen pantry and it is more organized than it was before.  I just love it!

I think I'm going to buy some more shoe organizers... I just know there are more things to organize around here.

Happy Organized Monday!
Rocki

Smile Jar

Smile Jar. Many uses for this cool idea: Throughout the year jot down memories that make you smile, laugh or touches your heart. If you’re having a bad day, reach into the jar, pull out a note and smile!  It would also make a fun gift for your spouse, loved one, kids...

Happy Smiling Friday!
Rocki

(Found the jar on Pinterest, but here’s the direct link to where it originated inchmark)