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Eklectic

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1809 posts in 948 days

Location: South East Ontario, 5a
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Website: http://www.robinkers.com/myeklecticplace.html

A few years ago my husband and I built a home on a small wooded acreage. Using his trusty chainsaw, my husband cleared the trees for the construction site and salvaged all of the timber for use either in the fireplace or in a variety of rustic landscaping projects.

We cut and trimmed small cedar logs to frame and roof the pergola which you see in the background. We defined the boundaries of our flower beds and vegetable garden with either cedar logs or cedar pieces. We created pathways through and around the garden made of pie sized slices of cedar. The three tiered criss-cross fence that stretches 400 feet along the property's front border is made of small cedar logs painstakingly tied together with baling wire.

As one of my passions is recycling and I am always looking for ways of re-using wood rather than buying new wood, I had collected a number of old doors and windows and we used some of them in the pergola. We placed a variety of worn or little used household items such as cast iron pots and lids, broken garden implements, large reed encased wine bottles, broken pottery, etc amongst the flower beds.

One day I realized how different and how eklectic our property looked in comparison to other homes and so I began calling it "my eklectic place" and my eklectic nature is reflected in the different ways that I express my creativity: mediums such as pottery, a variety of textile creations, plastic jewelry, enamel on copper, glass painting, mosaic tiling, pyrographic (wood burning) images, handcrafted paper greeting cards, and my current favorite, concrete garden sculpture.

My leaf castings, stepping stones, tree trunk and other concrete works have a very "rustic" look and are based on the plant life found in Eastern Ontario.

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

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31 comments so far

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

8102 posts in 1148 days
hardiness zone 5b

posted 948 days ago

welcome to GT
I can’t wait to see photos of your land!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 948 days ago

If you visit my web album, http://picasaweb.google.ca/Eklecticplace,
you will see some as well of pictures of all that make me “Eklectic”
Have fun!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 948 days ago

Welcome to GT …

Loved your art work , really nice!

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 948 days ago

Thanks!
I have a lot of fun doing it!
And I love to share!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

8102 posts in 1148 days
hardiness zone 5b

posted 948 days ago

aren’t you quite the artist!!! into a variety of media :) .. very eclectic! haha

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

View bncprez's profile

bncprez

60 posts in 972 days

posted 948 days ago

Welcome and looks like a ton of work. Awesome.

-- Living on the level... Central Ontario...1.25 hrs from TO.......Zone 5a

View Jason's profile

Jason

840 posts in 1002 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 948 days ago

Welcome to GT, Eklectic!!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 944 days ago

Good Morning! I just went out to your site … I LOVE your all your concrete leaves and they look great turned into bird baths. Is it heavy work? Do you use molds? Guess I am asking what is involved in this and how did you get started. Hope you don’t mind sharing a bit …

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 944 days ago

thanks a lot!
Heavy work: yes
Molds: no.
For the leaves, I use real leaves as base but then build on to give the shape I want.
For the rest, I use hardware cloth, rebar, and all the good stuff for concrete.

How did I get started?

Well, moved in the country, missed the kids, needed to do something different, saw a book and started dreaming, then the rest is “concrete”!!!!

I really enjoy it! Learning new things about it all the time and dreaming about it!

Lots of plan for this summer!
If you are interested, I will post a few pics on how I started some projects!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 944 days ago

Yes, I would really like to see your pics on how you start a project. I thought it might be something I could look into. But I can’t do heavy work. Although please share those pics, if it’s not too much trouble, when you have time.

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 944 days ago

Well, I will star a blog on it: just for you!!

I know it is fun to learn about something new even if you never do it!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 944 days ago

That would be GREAT!! ... yah, I do like to learn new things … still looking for that “one” thing (besides gardening) that I can really get into. So far the things I have tried just aren’t doing it … if you know what I mean.

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 944 days ago

Sure do!
What have you tried…..

My mother in law (81 years young) has stated painting this last fall and she is having a ball!

She is also `house bound` and sometime, `couch bound`, so it is something she can do anytime!!

Have a good day!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 944 days ago

Well it has only been the last year or so that I have begun to search for another “love” besides gardening. I finally have an understanding of my limitations and am learning to listen to my body and the pain and not fight with it.

Like I said tried knitting … boring (sorry don’t mean to offend knitters)
Tried my hand at painting … (my daughter laughed – what can I say) ... I think I was the only person to flunk “elementary art” (no I’m not exaggerating here.)

I ‘ve been told that I have an eye for arrangements and colors and before the accident I had gotten into a bit of basic graphic design. Thinking about all those things, I thought maybe stained glass would fit me. Also quilting might be fun …

I just need to get off my “butt” and begin. Have you dabbled with any of those?

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 944 days ago

Knitting…definitely boring for me!!
Painting: check on my Web Album: you do not have to do like everyone else, as long as you enjoy yourself that is the important thing!
Graphic design is something l would like to explore sometime in the future!
Stained glass as well!!

You know for me, I decided last year that when I do something, if I am happy with what I do, childish``, `primitive`, naive`, `great `, whatever they say, I am going to keep on enjoying myself!

I decided that I was not going to do things (art-craft wise) for others but for myself. Not being selfish just trying to be true to `me`. (Deep hein!!!!0

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 944 days ago

Good thought and definitely worth pondering … when you think of it (art-craft-wise) the reason we do “it” is to get enjoyment. What you said makes sense.

I’ll keep you posted on my “journey” ... :-)

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 944 days ago

The main thing is “HAVE FUN!”
And please keep me “up to date”

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View Dahlitsa's profile

Dahlitsa

203 posts in 946 days

posted 942 days ago

The bed is about 3-31/2” wide. I made the bed by first laying down cardboard then piling up dried leaves, horse manure, left over compost (unfinished…emptied big composter bin) and oh yes cut grass. When professional grass cutters came to the neighbours, I saw them loading the clippings and asked if I could have them. It is better though to start this whole process in the fall but it still did well.

-- Dahlitsa

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

214 posts in 948 days

posted 934 days ago

Welcome to the flower show! We hope you enjoy the time spent on your GardenTenders website.

-- One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade; Chinese Proverb - Zone 5B

View puce's profile

puce

8 posts in 830 days

posted 829 days ago

Thanks for the hello!

-- puce, zone 5a

View Bon's profile

Bon

5154 posts in 928 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 788 days ago

Hi Eklectic.Love your new buddy icon. She’s a cutie. :-)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 788 days ago

Thanks Bon,
Just got her this weekend!! 11 weeks old!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 787 days ago

LOVE your new Buddy Icon!!!!!!! :-)

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View Jason's profile

Jason

840 posts in 1002 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 784 days ago

Hey, E, what kind of pup is that?? Almost looks like a maltese…

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 784 days ago

Good guess D.,
Her name is D’Jollee, a real charmer and, in part, responsible for my not being on GT as much.
But, at the same time, it was while looking for her that I found GT!
Took me a year to find her and now I am looking for a male friend for her for next year, (yes another pup) so D keep your ears and your eyes open for a reputable breeder!!!! :-)

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View Jason's profile

Jason

840 posts in 1002 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 783 days ago

My father bred and raised maltese when I was little…they were lots of fun! If I remember correctly, we found some of our best stock out of southern Ontario, but I’m guessing in 25-30 years, the breeders may have changed…

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

View Eklectic's profile

Eklectic

1809 posts in 948 days
hardiness zone 5a

posted 783 days ago

There are goods breeders in Southwest Ontario, few are CKC and/or AKC registered and the few that I found, that I liked, did not sell breeding rights!

If I can get a male that is half as good as this one as a puppy, I will be in seven heaven!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

View GrandmaT's profile

GrandmaT

5305 posts in 1026 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 767 days ago

I like your newly changed Avatar … that area of your garden looks just lovely … very inviting. Nice selection.

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

View cranbrook2's profile

cranbrook2

156 posts in 994 days

posted 753 days ago

Good morning Eklectic . I got a call a week ago from Birds and Blooms and they gave me a number to call them back but they gave me the wrong number so i sat around here all last week waiting for them to call back . Finally they called me on friday and they gave me the proper number .The editor is going to call me today or tomorrow so i should know something in the next few days .

-- John in Cranbrook , http://www.extremebirdhouse.com http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

View plantbuddy's profile

plantbuddy

17 posts in 550 days
hardiness zone 5

posted 525 days ago

Greetings Eklectic…you must open up your garden this summer for a garden tour so all your neighbours can see all the wonderful projects. I’m adding your site to my Blogroll.
Check out my slideshow which is currently showing on my site.
Cheers,
PlantBuddy.

-- PlantBuddy

View Profenceworks's profile

Profenceworks

15 posts in 250 days

posted 250 days ago

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