Ashley Hackshaw / Lil Blue Boo - Page 78 of 663 - Living a simple, creative life in small town USA. Bryson City. A Lifestyle Blog.

Recent Found Objects

September 20, 2016 by Ashley Hackshaw

Found objects. I’m always collecting, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to stuff my pockets with items people have left behind. I try to go through what I’ve found and arrange the items at least once a month. Here’s what I found in September:

Here’s what I found in August:

One day in August I found all of these feathers. It felt like I’d won the lottery when I found the blue one:

People always ask what I do with all of this stuff. I have a big treasure box that put it all in after I’ve taken a photo. I was looking through the box today…its become quite a collection of odds and ends. McGyver would appreciate the utility of it all. Scout and Jem too. I’ll find a better way to display all my junk one day, maybe a large curiosity cabinet.

Here’s what I’ve found and written about in the past.

Beginner Bonsai

September 19, 2016 by Ashley Hackshaw

My sister and I went to a beginning bonsai class this weekend at Wild Fern Studios & Gallery here in Bryson City. The class instructor, Karen Taylor of Taylor’s Greenhouse, provided all the trees, tools and pots we needed. All we had to do was show up. The first thing we did was select a tree. Perry and I sat at a table and made a new friend named Carol. Carol used to raise llamas:

I’ve written about bonsai trees before and why I have such a love for them (it all started with a neighbor’s magical bonsai garden when I was a little girl). We trekked to DC recently to see the 400-year-old bonsai that survived Hiroshima. Basically: I will brake for bonsai. Perry snapped a photo of me after the class finishing up a few trees:

So far I have five bonsai trees in training. They are just regular trees that are trimmed and formed over and over to keep them small. I’m over simplifying it I know…

I’ll keep you updated on the bonsai progress. I have a lot to learn…and it takes a lot of patience and time. That part will be very good for me. I’ve been trying to grow my own Japanese Maples…so far not much success but I have hope!

Here’s a beautiful short film on Bonsai:

American Shokunin from Ryan Bush on Vimeo.

Painted Rock Cactus Plants

September 18, 2016 by Ashley Hackshaw

My friend Ashley (we share the same name) recently asked me if she thought I could teach her to be crafty, for a column she’s working on for our local newspaper. Of course I said yes…I think everyone can be crafty if they just take the time to sit down and make something. I picked a craft that has been around for a while and has very few steps. I’ve even seen them for sale in desert touristy shops…and yes I was tempted to buy one. Two weeks ago Ashley and I sat down to make these beauties: hand painted rock cactus plants.

First you’ll need some rocks. I could have gone looking for some outside but I got all of our rocks from Michaels because they have these great pre-sorted bundles of smooth river stones and smaller rock fill. The only other materials we needed was paint and I have a wide variety of green shades that resemble cactus plants:

The first step is to paint the rocks varying shades of green that compliment each other as a group, lights and darks that will contrast:

There are many ways to paint a cactus. I like to practice different patterns on scrap paper before painting the actual rock:

The painting doesn’t have to be perfect! Just find a small brush and start:

When all the rocks are dry you can spray them with a clear coat to keep the paint from chipping off. Set the rocks into a bowl or pot and add small gravel to hold them in place:

A finished cactus garden that never needs to be watered or maintained:

So how did my friend Ashley’s turn out? Amazing. I loved how she took this super tiny pebble and made a teeny, tiny little cactus for the front:

I never had any doubt that she would make an epic craft…she does run a newspaper. It was fun crafting with another person for once…having someone to chat with, because I’m usually talking to the dog or listening to a podcast. Ashley wrote about the experience in our local newspaper last week…it was interesting to see what tips she picked up.

She took a great behind-the-scene of where I photograph most of my finished projects: on a small table outside our back door. The best light is there…I just have to squat to get it!

It was fun. I can’t wait until our next craft…I just have to figure out what it is first. And here’s a challenge for you: Try and pair up with a self-proclaimed “non-crafty” person sometime soon. See if you can change their mind. I’m convinced that making stuff is good for the soul…that’s why I started this blog in the first place. So keep on making you making peoples!