SPRING INTO GARDENING

A break in the weather means warmer temperatures, sunshine, and garden time. This year we wanted to try something new at the farm and plant a garden close to the kitchen. Welcome to our kitchen garden!

We’ve always had a garden here at the farm, but this year we decided to grow pumpkins & flowers in the back garden for my flower stand, while keeping the veggies close to the house. There’s nothing like fresh lettuce and tomatoes for the perfect summer salad, am I right?!

To get started with the garden, a couple months ago I planted my first seedlings in repurposed egg cartons. I filled the cartons with potting soil, mashed-up eggshells, and coffee grounds to provide both organic drainage & essential nutrients for the plants. (Check out the how-to tutorial in my highlights!)

I started a few tomato plants, some buttercrunch and romaine lettuce, larkspur, sunflowers, and lupines. The key, I found, is to keep the seedlings indoors in a sunny spot and water them regularly. As they sprouted and grew, I thinned out the seedlings to one per slot in the egg cartons.

In terms of garden prep, we measured out an area roughly 15x18 feet and removed all the sod. We decided we needed to fence in the area because of deer and other little visitors. As you all know, I love nothing more than a recycled DIY project! I found the perfect solution in the form of a picket fence that needed mending. I also found an old door from the early 1900s in the upper barn. I recruited Mr. Maple to help me cut it in half to transform it into a garden gate. With a garden gate and a fresh coat of paint, the fence was as good as new! We put that along the front side of the garden. For the rest of the border around the garden, we kept it simple with wire fencing.

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That's all for this project! It doesn't matter how big or small a space you have to convert into a garden. You could use pots, make a raised bed, or carve out a little space in your yard, like I did. It's about the growing process! If you've made a spring garden too, I would love to hear about it. (Plus, any tips or tricks you found helpful or learned in the process.) Feel free to send me pictures @maplecreekmarket on Instagram. I will be reposting my favorites on my stories!

Leaving you all with a picture of some of my favorite woolly friends--Clarence and Scamp!

Don't forget to be a light, and shine bright this week!

Blessings,

Ginny

#2020 #springdecor #boutiquerugs #farmhouse #vintagefarmhouse #vintagedecor #garden #planting #sunflowers #maplecreekmarketdesigns

COLOR TRENDS FOR SPRING

When I think of spring here at the farm, I think of opening the windows and letting in the fresh air. I want to evoke the feeling of a light, airy space. Since I've always been drawn to shades of blue to "refresh," I wanted to bring the blues to the farmhouse in a big way – the happy blues.

I also wanted to add other pops of color that would accentuate the blue color palette to create a soft, hospitable atmosphere that evokes the open doors of summer. I started in the farmhouse living room with my barn-wood wall. This project is a few months deep at this point – Mr. Maple Creek helped me hang up salvaged wood from the carriage barn last year. I kept the original whitewashed look for fall, transitioned to black for Christmas, and now, blue for spring. For those curious about the paint, I used Opal Silk Green from Glidden, which I found at Walmart but is also available at Home Depot.

The wall has been a great focal point over the seasons. It is easy to repaint or decorate around, while remaining true to the farmhouse feel. I paired it with a sign from Farmhouse Décor Art. (Shop it here.) You all know that when I love something, I LOVE it. I have absolutely loved my experience with the company. Shipping turnaround was so fast, and the sign I received was lightweight canvas, which was perfect for the project.

The last "blues" I added were the Cranston and True rugs from one of my favorite companies, Boutique Rugs. Layering rugs has been a hot trend this season. I find that it's a great way to add depth and texture to the space. The Cranston rug favors more warm, cozy browns, which I added some "spice" to with the blues.

For the finishing touches, I wanted to incorporate yellow. It – of course – reminds me of sunshine! We don't see that enough up here in NY! I found some daffodils, and a cute little birdhouse from Marshalls that I hung on a vintage shutter. I also re-purposed a chenille bedsheet into a chair cover, because why not? I'm all about making old things new and giving fresh life to items instead of tossing them. There is endless possibility in the reinvention process…

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…which makes me think of spring: the perfect season to refresh and reinvent. When I looked at definitions of the word renew, I found that it called back to resuming, reestablishing, or repeating habits that have been interrupted or lost. This spring, I hope to resume hosting more. One thing I love is hospitality. It's such a joy to me to be able to share my home and create a welcoming space for others. A small daily thing I want to reestablish is a window of time in the morning for reading the Word and prayer. On the health front, my repetitive goal is to walk three miles a day. Mr. Maple Creek and I have been working up our mileage, and focusing on celebrating the little milestones.

Followers, do you have any habits or routines for spring that you're looking to refresh or reestablish? It's easy to get caught in the busyness as the year accelerates forward, but the thing I love most about spring is the aspect of newness; all that has been dead in winter thawing and coming back to life. As the flowers bloom, so to do we emerge from the hiding and hibernation of winter, shake off the trappings of the past season and step into new life. But it doesn't happen by accident – it takes conscious decision on our behalf to step into this growth. I find that as I continue to embrace this process with each new year, I discover more about myself and what I am capable of.

Wishing you a beautiful spring!

Blessings,

Ginny

P.S. Stay tuned for some EXCITING GIVEAWAY NEWS…

Other Products Featured:

Pillows, Piper Classics

Lanterns, Rodworks

#vintagefarmhouse #vintagedecor #countryliving #diyproject #country #farmhouse #boutiquerugs #greenery #spring #springdecor #etsy #maplecreekmarket #maplecreekmarketdesigns

HAPPY JANUARY!

Well, here we are, ready to embark on a new decade! Wow! I really can’t believe that it’s 2020 and we’re in the first full week of a new year.

I want to say first and foremost that I am so grateful for each and every one of you. I appreciate each follow, like and comment that you share with me each day. Maple Creek Market wouldn’t be where it is today without your support, encouragement, and community. I'm so grateful for you!

So, you might be wondering: what's on tap for this year? What's next for Maple Creek? I'm excited to get to work on fresh content, INCLUDING fun collaborations with some very special companies. These new endeavors will give the farmhouse a whole new look in some spaces. Stay tuned, because during the month of January we're working with….*drumroll please*….RUSTICA HARDWARE! (@RusticaHardware) They have sent us some amazing doors that are going in the mudroom! I can't wait to get them installed and share the finished product with you.

But! Up first, I gave the living room a new look for a new decade. I had the privilege of working with Boutique Rugs again to give the space a fresh, clean slate. Ya'll, I LOVE this company! If you don't have one of their rugs, you're missing out! Beautiful quality and so great for indoor/outdoor projects. The rug laid the groundwork for a cozy winter vibe in the farmhouse. I've linked the one in the picture. Make sure you don't miss their 50% OFF winter sale as well!

If you peek at the corner of the photo, you'll also see a floor lamp from Bright Tech. I love the modern vibe it adds to the room. Bonus! It makes for the perfect couch-reading nook. You can check out my pick here and their IG at @BrightTechShop

I know January can be a tough month – it's a time of goal-setting and fresh starts, but also an "in-between" transition coming off of the holidays, kids going back to school, work starting to pick up again. Plus, up here in NY we get the winter weather & grey skies. Jumping into a project and setting fresh intention for the year ahead has really helped me shake off the blues.

Let me know in the comment how YOU are approaching your new year / new decade. Any resolutions? How 'bout a word?

I'd love to hear your upcoming décor plans, or things you'd like to see from Maple Creek Market in the months ahead.

Thanks for reading!

Blessings,

Ginny

#lamp #brighttech #boutiquerugs #floorlamp #arearug #winterdecor #winterdesign #january #newyears #resolutions #deacde #2020 #rusticahardware #diyproject #vintagefarmhouse #farmhouse #maplecreekmarket #livingroom #countryliving