meli-melo designs

Pipcreek Studio & Farm

I came about Pipcreek Farm & Studio at a craft sale last year. Since then, I have been using their products, specifically the spritz, deodorant and soaps. I have been very happy with all of their products.

 

photo by Andrea Gorda

If your skin is taking a kicking with the dry, cold air, the Spritz is the answer. This neroli-based hydrosol refreshes and moisturizes. Jojoba oil moisturizes. Aloe vera gel helps heal. Chamomile and rose waters, along with bergamot essential oil, help calm. Alcohol-free witch hazel distillate helps tone. Spray lightly on your face to wake you up, refresh or use as an after-cleansing toner. Beautiful!

Their products are 100% natural and handcrafted and use ingredients found in nature. Often you'll see limited edition soaps where seasonally wildcrafted ingredients are included. Maple sap, honey from their hives, flowers from their garden and other plants may find their way into their products. In short, they avoid icky ingredients like paragons, phthalates, and petro-based chemicals.

 

Now, don't eat the yummy smelly bar of soaps!

 

magical french cleats

We have a pretty good collection of art, of different sizes and shapes and we needed something that could fit our needs. The staff at Mayberry Art Gallery provided the answer we wanted. It is a system, not a rigide form. I can switch up the hanging art any way to my heart contents in no time and no holes in the wall! It is a French Cleat System.

If there is one small trick you pick up along the way, let it be how to use a French Cleat. It is an amazingly strong, versatile, and easy mounting system for almost anything.

 

The concept is simple. Start with a strip of wood, 1" x 3" works pretty good. Put a 45° angle on your table saw blade and rip the strip of wood down the center. This will give you two roughly equal-sized pieces with a 45° bevel on one edge. This is for those of you with a handy woodworking Dad. Or maybe for you handy ones out there.

Now, for an even simpler means, go to your nearest building supplier and purchase wooden door trim. The good stuff. Last thing you want is for your art to come crashing to the floor!

 

One piece will be attached to the wall, the other gets attached to whatever your hanging up. The piece on the wall is secured using glue and nails. The piece used to hang our art is simply nailed to the frame of the art piece. Then just hook the pieces together as shown in the diagram. That’s about all there is to it. If you’re hanging a very long picture, you may want to mount another block near the bottom of the picture so that it hangs clean and straight.

 

 

 

 

Realizing the versatility of the French Cleat, the possibilities are endless!  Hang little shelves, plants, bikes, cat furniture, nature collections, ...

lettre d'amour

 

for real...

et bonne année!