Water feature being created

My dad Owen has been busy this afternoon making a lot of noise and sparks fly, cutting one of the water tanks for the show garden.

Show garden studio making progress

I really feel like we're getting somewhere now , we built the end of the hut this morning and then started cutting out the windows.we also made one of the window boxes from the potato seed trays , I'm loving how the vintage picture frames look with the window box !

Boxes and nic nac's

Founds lots of interesting bits and bobs today at the car boot , horse shoe boxes , embroidery silks of wild flowers , stamps , Virgin Mary statue . And a really cool cast iron star , happy way to spend my birthday pennies and pounds !

A new home for two of my pieces

A lovely couple came yesterday to see my work and bought two pieces , my latest painting "Last night" and a drawing I have been reluctant to part with for a long time. So with the framing done they're off to their new home.

Abstract postcard workshop

I've had a brilliant time at Hampton vale college today, working with a mixed age group creating postcards of Peterborough . Yesterday they went into Peterborough centre and took some incredible shots of Central Park , rubbings and collected leaves and collage materials. Along their travels which we used today to create abstract postcards of Peterborough - so colorful and vibrant !

Car boot goodies

Off we went to our local car boot paradise skylark , and got lots of lovely things -some really cool art and design books a terrarium an antique mini greenhouse love letters from 1954 ,camping tins , perfume bottles and much more! we had aching arms by the time we got back to the car , now time for a cup of tea

Onion box demolition

The artisan studio is going to be built from onion boxes , with a reclaimed stable door Nissan hut roofing sheets and vintage picture frame windows . So first job take the onion boxes apart. At least it's cooler today ! And we got to use a really cool gizmo a nail remover -no idea what it's called though

Brian working hard

It's a good job we live on a farm and can borrow dads forklift for the heavy stuff

Eight weeks until Harrogate autumn flower show opens

With only eight weeks to prepare my most ambitious show garden, Brian and I have got stuck straight in. First job taking apart the onion boxes (a bargain at £1 each) to build the studio at the back of the garden.

Perspective view of artisan retreat garden by Jeni cairns

The artisan retreat garden is a perfect place for an artistic couple to work and spend time creating . The studio at the back is built completely from reclaimed materials -onion boxes , roofing sheets from Nissan hut , vintage picture frames for the windows , old stable door etc. the fire pit is made from a wagon wheel rim and agricultural simbar disc and is perfect for smoke firing clay pots and making natural plant dyes . More to come later

Design the artisan retreat garden by Jeni Cairns