Friday Faves 20 - Gardening

No matter who you are you probably enjoy a garden, whether it's your own or part of a park or even a neighbor's or church's. Gardens are all around us. Gardening can sometimes have a powerful call to us that we cannot resist. Maybe it goes back to the Garden of Eden, but there's just something in our DNA that tells us to get out there and grow something! Even if it's just a couple of potted plants by the front door.

Gardens are good for the body and the soul.

So with all of that in mind this week we're going to explore some Etsy shops with the right stuff to properly outfit a garden.

But first, a little mood music. This piece by Chopin (Prelude in D Flat Major Op. 28 No. 15, also known as the Raindrop Prelude) was inspired by Chopin's and George Sand's stay at the gardens at Valldemossa Monastery. The legend goes that Chopin wrote the Prelude while George and her two children were on a shopping trip and Chopin was alone at the Monastery where the wind and the rain had easy access into the monks' cells where they stayed. It is said that the constant dripping is what inspired him to create this particular Prelude. He wrote 24 Preludes while he was at Valldemossa, but this one is probably one of the most easily recognized. It was even used in Halo 3!

I hope you enjoy this version performed by Yiruma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Kt0VRJPB8

Now, let's, like George Sand and her children, do some shopping!

Gardening Shop Number 1

Shop name: PoFu (Pottery by Kersten Fuith)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoFu?ref=seller_info

I don't know about you, but I love toads! They are excellent garden guards keeping your garden's insect problems down in a natural way that does not require harsh chemicals or poisons. Kersten Fuith creates some lovely little toad houses which you will find in the following link. In this particular package you also get a few hand made plant markers -- all made with her uber-fabulous pottery skills!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71328810/witchs-house-gardeners-gift-a-toad-house

Gardening Shop Number 2

Shop name: Davita: Recycled Goddess

http://www.etsy.com/shop/davita?ref=seller_info

Perhaps you don't have time to garden, but you'd like to add a splash of natural color to your world. Here's just the thing from Davita: Recycled Goddess --

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67709241/rainbow-assortment-of-seed-bombs

I love seed bombs!

Gardening Shop Number 3

Shop name: Miss Missa Handcrafts

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MissMissaHandcrafts?ref=seller_info

Here's a great little apron for gardening (or anything else you could use an apron for). It's pretty and it has lots of pockets, too. You can't beat that!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79246457/crafter-vendor-cooking-gardening-apron

Gardening Shop Number 4

Shop name: Quailady

http://www.etsy.com/shop/quailady?ref=seller_info

This next shop has pretty much everything you could want in a potting table -- it even has a secret birdhouse. Ultra charming and definitely all gardeny and very green by way of recycled redwood. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79440631/garden-potting-table

Gardening Shop Number 5

Shop name: Raggy Read

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RaggyRead?ref=seller_info

Now, we definitely need some tools to work with in our garden, so how about this beautiful set of hand-forged gardening tools? I love the twist in the handles! (Look through the photos to see the weeding tool.)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74351252/hand-forged-pair-of-gardening-tools

Gardens are amazing and so are gardeners! I hope browsing these shops has helped to give you some great gardening ideas and shown you some things that you would like to fill out your gardening supplies with.

What are some of your favorite plants, gardening techniques or gardens? I'd love to read all about it in the comments!

Until next Friday when our theme will be Books, Journals and Writing Implements, have a great weekend and take care out there!