blooming chamomile and green beans!

We spent most of the morning today in our garden; it was in need of some love since I've been at my sewing machine lately and really only out in the garden to water. I was happy to find that our chamomile plant is blooming and our green beans are ready to start picking! There's nothing better than eating fresh green beans right off the plant. These plants are very hard to hurt, since they can thrive in almost any garden soil. And they are a good source of Vitamin A, calcium and iron. I wish I would've planted more chamomile; my inspiration came from an organic farm my sister and I took our kids to in Carmel Valley. They had a large chamomile garden that you walk through barefoot. It was one of the best days hanging out in that farm with the girls.

For any of my local friends and neighbors...I dare you to come by our house and pick some of our vegetables! Elle and I are out there every morning or just call me. It's one of the nicest parts about having a garden...sharing! We have an abundance of kale, spinach, lettuce, nopales and cauliflower right now. Someone just dropped off a huge bucket of oranges to us yesterday and I'm still trying to figure out who it was. I love gifts of fresh produce, thank you!

Facebook | tea with iris's Photos - Destination Palm Springs runway show

Facebook tea with iris's Photos - Destination Palm Springs runway show

LOVE BUG!

As the weather has become warmer, ladybugs have infiltrated our garden. This is a good thing! So I read up on them. Here is some information I found in the Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening by J.I. Rodale: "When entomologists made serious study of the beetle, they came up with a startling economic fact: it lives on scale, soft-bodied insects and their eggs and larvae, but it never damages plants, truly one of nature's gift for man's benefit. Fortunately the ladybug is no vegetarian, her diet being strictly confined to soft-bodied insects such as aphids, mealy bugs and their kin which are destructive to crops in many localities. Biggest enemy of the ladybug is the poisonous insecticide. Like all other forms of wildlife beneficial to man ladybugs ask only for protection and food."

Destination Palm Springs

My first runway show with my upcycled children's clothing line at ...

Destination Palm Springs

corn!

Last weekend we planted our first row of corn. It was so nice to do this as a family. It's really amazing what comes out of a 2 year old's mouth, especially when gardening, She's learning so much about plants and it mellows her out when that sudden condition called the terrible 2's tries to break loose. I think our garden relaxes all three of us; it's my favorite hour of the day.

Our garden...loving today's rain

My inspiration in the garden comes from my grandparents, Carmen and Louis Martinez. My fondest childhood memories are of the days spent in their orchard and garden. My next goal is to learn to can like my grandma did. As kids, we found her can-filled basement exciting and spooky at the same time!

MY FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE!

I've been invited to show my product line at a local festival tomorrow. I'm very excited since this is my first event I'm involved in with my new company. "Things are going to start happening to me now!"...quoting Steve Martin when he found his name in the phonebook in 'The Jerk', one of my favorite movies.

Here's the info on the event:

Wildflower Festival
at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center
51-500 Highway 74
Palm Desert, CA 92260

Saturday, March 6 2010
8am - 4pm
free admission
(760) 862-9084
http://www.desertmountains.org

IRIS WOKE UP!

Our tortoise and namesake of my company, Iris, came out of hibernation yesterday! I think the warm weather this week and the presence of my niece Maya did it. She has a special affinity towards Maya; Iris would nap next to Maya under our mesquite tree when Maya was 2 years old. So Elle, Maya and I gave her a day to adjust to being out of her den and had a picnic with her today...pizza and a big juicy apple for Iris (she is behind Maya in the blue pants). I'm so happy to see that she is alive and well; she is after all my living reminder to SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!!!

BE ORIGINAL!

I have to brag about my cousin Jackie Sepulveda's shop, Voz Clothing & Art. She takes vintage bags and makes them into works of art. I bought this from her at the L.A. Roller Derby last year to hold my laptop in. With artists like this, there's no need to store your valuables in boring, unoriginal brand name goods made from virgin materials. (In the background of the photo shows our work in progress- Elle's 3rd birthday present, a playhouse made from scrap wood).

To check out her shop go to...http://vozclothingandart.etsy.com

HAPPY POWER DRESSES!

A preview of the first batch of dresses made from sheets, pillowcases, and doilies. I stole the name from my daughter, this is her new favorite saying. It was a fun weekend designing them and I can't wait to search for more unwanted pillowcases and doilies to make more.