Cleaning the Greenhouse....

Seems like it has  been a very busy spring.  

I knew it would be so I decided to tackle one project at a time.  

The first was my green house.

A couple years ago I shared my clean up with you. 

Well, a lot of stuff got piled in here last summer and fall.

Watch out!

Scary!

So the first weekend I carried everything in the middle out.

Sadly, I did not get done.

A storm was coming with 50 mile an hour wind gusts and rain so I covered the pile and hoped for the best.

I did not want to have to carry it all back in and back out again...

I had piled some pots to donate behind my shed.

The winds tossed them about a bit...

Round 2!

I had put some things back in that I did not to get wet.

So I started by carrying them out again....

I did make a couple dents in organization last weekend.

My husband always suggests going vertical when you need more space or storage.

Those little chairs were made by my great grandfather and I used them as a child.

My sweet husband helped to organize and move our tools.

My goal is to keep it neat but just in case....

The tools will be ready to grab right inside the door.

The space on the floor in front of them will be kept clear except for my little rolling cart.

Work continues...

Now that is a welcome site!

These shelves have not been clean in forever....

They are ready for some plants to be started...

I am thinking herbs this year...

I cleaned off my display shelves...again.

Pared down a few things.

It could use another go around for cleaning out but it is getting better.

We save pitchers and bottles for flower arrangements for the fair.

Again, to maximize storage, go UP....

The plant shelves look better.

Underneath I got rid of a bunch of stuff. 

 Now my extra glass scraps are there along with some pots.

This wall is much better. 

 I sorted through my books and kept my favorites.

There is a great mix of informational and some fun junking books.

My hat collection from high school is in here on the wall.

I also have my flower frogs on the shelves.

The green laundry bags up high hold light botanicals that I collect: pine cones, gourds, pieces of bark....

I gathered most of my clay pots in one spot.

Now they are handy and lovely under the potting bench my husband made me about 20+ years ago.

This is the cleanest the top has been forever.

Room to plant.

Or dream...

Or ponder...

Here are the display shelves from the other side.

I don't waste any space...

Above the door there are a few glass bottles.

I ended up putting one of the chairs I showed you before back here.

When I hung up some more bags of pine cones, the chair did not fit.

My chicken wire dress forms will sit here until I get them out into the garden.  

I have to start cleaning out the flower beds next.

Later I will show you a few of the collections that get stored in my green house.

Thanks for stopping by...

Workbench Wednesday: Silicone Molds and Polymer Flower Pieces

A couple weeks ago, I showed you my workbench with some silicone molds I made using fresh flowers and plants from the yard.

You can see it here if you like.

I wanted to share today how I have started to use them.

I tried to show you the mold with the polymer pieces made from each mold.

The funny thing about the process is that sometimes I think the mold turned out great or not so great.

Then when the clay is molded in them, I may completely change my mind.

For example, the one below has more detail than I originally thought.

This first batch of pieces has a variety of purposes.

The double-holed pieces are intended to be bracelet disks.

This next mold was made from clover...weeds.

But I love the way they turned out.

I made pendants and little clover beads...

More weeds....

Aren't they lovely?

The next mold I was meh about.

Once I saw the molded pieces, I was in love.

How cool are these?

It is fun to see how you can change the design by changing where you push your clay on the mold.

I like to add bails to some.

The next mold I made with lavender...a favorite of mine.

I love the way the mold turned out.

Once I actually molded the clay, it did not have as much definition as I originally thought.

I made some lavender chips or petals.

I also rolled some to make beads.

They look completely different depending on how thick you roll out the clay before molding.

These are going to be so much fun to paint and color and finish.

I also made some lavender pendants.

This mold looks promising...

What a delightful little meadow of wildflowers.

I love disks with holes in the centers for bracelets.

I varied the size of some of the holes.

I used yarrow for this mold.

The detail in the molded pieces is remarkable.

I love deep definition...

Lots of variety just from one mold.

I made some more of those chips/petals...

Even just the foliage from plants can be lacy and lovely.

More thin petals...

Last but not least, these pendants.

Next steps: color and finishes.

I'll show you how they look when they are done.

Until then, thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.