This Week's Blog Post

Magnolia Necklace Set
I purchased this magnolia pendant on Etsy as an option for the magnolia necklace giveaway. The larger, bolder pendant was chosen for that project. This pendant is sweet and little, made on the backside of a Scrabble game piece.

It called for delicate beads so I used rose quartz and white howlite. I love the pretty, summer-like result! Available at Miss Val’s Creations.

Stevens Coolidge Place
Jim and I stopped at Stevens-Coolidge Place which is located in the town I was raised (North Andover, MA).

This is a historical home I remember visiting during a field trip as a little girl. The inside was open and decorated with period furniture and décor.

Currently the inside is closed. However grounds are open year round.

The architecture is late-Federal period farmhouse circa 1800-1820.

Originally a farm, this yard was transformed into an agricultural estate by Helen Steven Coolidge in the early 1900’s using Colonial Revival aesthetics. Upon her passing she donated the estate to The Trustees of Reservation.

This is the great ash tree which is thought to have brought on the name of the farm, Ashdale Farm.

Some apple trees remain and are guesstimated to be dated back to mid-19^th century.

My favorite part of the visit was all the gorgeous blooms.

This is the upper terrace overlooking the gardens. It would be wonderful to spread a blanket here and lay down.

The walled garden has so much charm.

This well is located on a brick terrace which overlooks the gardens.

 

These beauties are in a perennial garden which I am sure changes throughout the seasons.

We will likely go back during the summer months when the roses and other pretties are in bloom! Picnicking is allowed her so it would make a perfect spot for a beautiful summer afternoon!

We also encountered some creepy old trees! This one would be perfect in a horror film.

I hope you enjoyed our trip through this delightful estate! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live amongst such charm? Have a great week! ~Val



This Week's Blog Post

New Starry Set

I picture a girly girl who loves to dream wearing this set! Available at Miss Val’s Creations.

The Butterfly Place
There is an enchanting place in Westford, MA called The Butterfly Place. Jim and I went to this indoor garden with fluttering butterflies!

I just got a new camera in December and only know how to take pictures of jewelry with it so many of the photos are not as focused as I would have liked! I should have read the manual before going!!!

Well fed, chubby birds also live in here.

This place is opened seasonally and just reopened Valentine’s Day so the garden is very young.
It closes again on Halloween so by then the foliage will be huge!

This photo looks disgusting. The butterflies are provided with rotting veggies to munch on.


It amazes me how insects can be upside down like this!

The orange ones were crazy active so they were very difficult to photograph!


There is a pond with some colorful, mean looking fish in here.

This blue guy fluttering had a death wish. He was egging on the fish by swooping down and touching the water and you could see that the fish wanted him for dinner!



Emmett
Emmett behind the curtain.

Emmett emerging from behind the curtain.

Silly little guy!

Thank you for stopping by! I always love reading all of your comments. :-) ~Val

Gloucester, MA

I just want to show off my latest jewelry set first!

These coin shaped beads are brown lava stone which is really unique with its natural voids! These are complemented with mauve crazy horse stone. The set includes the necklace, bracelet and earrings available at Miss Val's Creations.

Jim and I took a ride along the Massachusetts coast last weekend through Ipswich, Manchester by the Sea, Magnolia and Gloucester. These are towns I never visit but Jim has spent a lot of time in so he was able to show me around! Gloucester is the fishing town where the true story The Perfect Storm is based. That was the intense movie with Mark Walhberg, George Clooney and other great stars! This is also where Gorton's fish sticks come from.

This is the Fisherman’s Memorial Statue sculpted of bronze in 1925 by Leonard Craske. The inscription reads “They that go down to the sea in ships.” 1623 – 1925

The Gloucester Fisherman’s Wives Memorial is a mother with 2 children waiting for their dad to come home from his fishing trip. This was sculpted by Morgan Faulds Pike. Amongst the statue are donated walking stones with inscriptions written to loved ones working as fisherman or who have passed on.

We walked up to late maritime artist Fitz Hugh Lane’s home (1804-1865). This cool statue of him sits by the old home.

We strolled through Rocky Neck Art Colony which is charming with little homes and shops decorated with lots of flowers and plants. Fortunately, some flowers are still blooming in October! There is a bee still pollenating!




This colony is set in a charming cove.

The same beautiful shrubs were here that we also saw in Maine, although with less blooms!

This place Latitude 43 has a really cool restaurant and bar. We just hung in the bar and shared a seriously large plate of nachos!

I love seeing cool things like this solar compactor! The bottles and cans get their own bin too. I do believe if we all make an effort we can improve the environment we live in.

Thank you for stopping by! Have a great week! ~Val