Creating a Haven

After being stuck inside for the winter and early spring I'm ready to move outdoors.  Dinners are enjoyed on the patio or in mosquito weather in the gazebo.  Instead of cleaning my house, I'll take weeding the garden any ole day.   It's work I enjoy, a time to de-stress and think.

Right now I can harvest asparagus, rhubarb and a mix of greens from my garden and soon strawberries.   In the heat of summer it's where I "shop" for food every single day.  Whatever my garden offers gives me the challenge of "What's for dinner."  It's my safe haven for organic food.  It might not look like a lot of garden, but I use my raised beds to the max.  Pack them full of great soil from the compost pile and do a 3 year rotation on my crops.  This years crop includes,  Yukon gold potatoes, tomatoes (10 plants), peppers, zucchini,  winter squash,  broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, mustard greens, leaf lettuce, bok choy, okra, onions, basil, peas, and cucumbers.

We eat mainly vegetarian style but don't limit ourselves.  We just bought some organic beef from our friends farm so we know exactly what's going into our bodies.  Once in a while I crave meat for the protein and there is nothing better than steaks and burgers on the grill.

Whether you have a tiny plot or a big one it's easy to turn it into an outdoor living space.  Our front porch has comfy vintage ivy terrace furniture for an afternoon book read in the shade.  If I had a shed I would probably turn it into a summer guest house or bedroom!  Space you can escape to without ever leaving home.

What does your Haven look like?  

There are lots more beds behind the flower garden that you can't see from here.
Even on a rainy day it's beautiful.

My fire pit is ready for a campfire with friends.

Everyday is a new adventure when you garden.

Storage Idea's for Accessories

It seems my newly decorated guest room has turned into my easy shop staging area for photo's, and some storage.  Like this lamp below.  This room has a whole wall of windows for great lighting for photographs.  After it lists on Etsy it goes here.

This is how I roll.  Everything has to be visible and easy to grab so I can play around when assembling an outfit, (then put it back where it belongs). As simple as nails in a board in a small closet (my husband labels Char's boutique).  It houses everything but my clothes.

Pins on a small frame covered in fabric,  turns the jewelry into art!

I keep bracelets in a basket on a dresser.

Pendants that I can add to a chain are kept on a tiered aluminum server.
 A jar for buttons that come with clothing so I can find it if needed.

These are usually found in work rooms to hold nails and screws but the
see through boxes make one great jewelry box.  (ewe I need to dust!)

I find these a necessity. ..

A silver cloth for polishing, 

pliers  because I'm always reinventing pieces I already own,

 and scissors for tags and strings.

Scarfs displayed on a vintage hanger my friends gave me,
and a vintage plastic one found at a thrift shop. 

LIfe Before UMT

Before this endeavor I started a business with some friends called junk Evolution.  We have a brick and mortar historical building in South Bend, Indian in the East Bank Village Arts district.   I've always had a passion for finding new life in things that others would have thought to be beyond repair.  

I've had this special project since July waiting until I had time.  That didn't happen until I left!  A mother with 5 kids (and a husband who spills coffee on everything) wanted their favorite desk chair done in oil cloth for durability.  The back of the chair used to be caned but as you can see it's gone, replaced with a comfortable foam cushion.   It takes a little imagination and some hard work but I do love the challenge of giving something a new life or purpose. 

My friends Linda and Bernie Sherck are still in the business but I left to pursue new dreams of working with my kids and on my own home.  If you get to South Bend please check them out.  There's a whole corner of fun shops and a great cafe in the Purple Porch.