Life as I know It

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San Luis Obispo, California, and South Bristol, Maine, United States
Author ~ Illustrator ~ Lecturer

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Meet Little Sprig

A playhouse, that is what I always wanted when I was a child. My own little house in which I could hide, dream, draw, and make entire worlds of my own. But, other than hide-outs in a guava tree and an old appliance box, I never had my own little room.
Last year Jeff and I haunted the local thrift stores and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. We were looking for old windows, doors, and anything else we could use in our soon-to-be-built potting shed. I was finally going to have the playhouse of my dreams.
Lucky us. We found two big windows, which Jeff used as bay windows to provide more space in my little playhouse. An old French door, the screen door from my old house in Cambria, recycled chicken feeders for tool storage, an old card display for seed packets, an old porch light from a junk store in Oklahoma, and lots of good gardeny-antiques from all around the country.


I call this little playhouse “My Sprig” because it is so tiny, just 7’ x 12,’ which was all the space we had available. I love “Sprig” and spend time inside her drying herbs, making bouquets, and mixing pot pourris.


Please visit Lowe’s Garden Grow Along blog for my new postings on the garden and also Eileen’s Little Acorn Learning for a wonderful interview about Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars. 
All joys to you, and look for me at Towne Center Books in Pleasanton, California, on March 25, Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon, on March 28, and on Portland’s A.M. Northwest  on ABC's KATU on March 29.

53 comments:

Terra said...

I can see why you love your Little Sprig; it looks a good place to while away many an hour doing crafty garden things.

BeautifulDees said...

Oh I want one too. My hubby is going to build me one some day, after our 64 Chevelle get's restored. I always wanted on as a kid(play house) now it will be my craft/garden nook.
Love it.
Love,Debbie

farmlady said...

I always wanted a little house like this of my own. I still do. You have given me inspiration. At 65 years of age how long am I going to wait for MY little "Sprig"?

Linda Tunnell said...

Oh, it's just darling, yes , what little girls dream of! I love it! You of all people deserve it.

Lori ann said...

Oh Wow! you've given it the perfect name too Sharon, little sprig is adorable.

I wish everyone could have their own little sprig, but i am truly
happy you have the "house" of your dreams, if any one deserves it you surely do, for all the pleasure you've given with all your books!

happy puttering!
love,
lori

a woman who is said...

Okay, agreed we are birds of a feather. I have a garden shed I think of as a play house too. Now mind you mine is made out of new materials, and not nearly funky enough. I am jealous of the bay window idea. I should have thought of that. A great place to put those baby seedlings. Hmmm

Oh and the bin for flinging all your pruners in, one can never have enough pruners. That is my kind of idea for storage.

I can see that my garden shed playhouse needs some more funk and decorative vintage things scattered around.

Oh and the old seed packets. I have them too, but no place to display them.

Here is a post I did on the building of the shed.

http://inagarden1.blogspot.com/2007/07/summertime.html

Now I am completely inspired to get out there and vintage it up...or down?

Zuzana said...

Oh, this is simply lovely! I want one of these too, this is like a fantasy, or a dream.;) Love all the pictures - what a fun post.;)
xo
Zuzana

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Sharon, I am in love with little Sprig! Just as charming as can be! I love it all, from the outside to the wonderful way you have it decorated inside!
I need to get hubby busy!
Ha,ha, he's up to his eyeballs in work, maybe this summer!
Thanks for sharing this,
Cindy

Carol Michel said...

Little Sprig... a gardener's dream!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Your Little Sprig is adorable. I can see why you love it and you have it decorated so nicely. Thanks for sharing it with us.

FlowerLady

Renee said...

I've been following your blog for a little while, but haven't yet commented. But this is just begging me to tell you what a lovely little place you have there! It's just perfect.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

I love it - I have always wanted a little "garden shed". I am almost envious - please forgive me.
My grandmother had something similar where she grew her African Violets.

Brittan said...

I love your hideaway! I always wanted a little place of my own also when I was younger (actually I still do). I used to try and save for a shed that I could buy (we lived next to a big plant nursery), but I never saved enough, ha ha ha!

Claudia said...

Your little Sprig is so charming! I could spend hours there. Now you have your very own little retreat!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Little Sprig is perfect! Everything a girl could ever want in her own little spot - I clicked on all the pictures to see more detail. It's just wonderful!
Happy Monday to you, Sharon!

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Sharon,
How dreamy little Sprig is. She is just so charming and I bet fits perfectly well into your yard. I love the fact that you and your husband built her, it makes little Sprig even more special and childhood dream come true.
Take care and enjoy your day,
Hugs~Elizabeth~

sweetbay said...

What a beautiful little potting shed. It's perfect!

The Artful Parent said...

I LOVE it!

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

OMG! I'm just speechless!

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

PS Speechless in a good way! Lucky you!

Sharon Lovejoy said...

OOPS, I didn't mean to imply that Jeff and I built Little Sprig. We collected all the old windows, hardware, door, screen door, etc. and had them stored in our garage for too long.

Our friends Eddie and Greg labored, and believe me it was beyond a job for them, on the little shed for over a month. They did a lovely job and finished the interior as beautifully as a real home.

Joys!

Sharon

Sharon Lovejoy said...

P.S.

Jeff painted the exterior two coats, and he stained all the interior with Benjamin Moore moss green for the floor and driftwood gray for the walls. It took weeks, but it is a GREAT job.

the wild magnolia said...

Happy, happy, when dreams come true and special for us to peek inside this wonder sprig.

Great blog and pictures.

Noelle Johnson said...

What a dream come true for you....
I think a little playhouse was every little girl's dream. I love how you paired your dream with having a potting shed - perfect!

Alyssa said...

That is just too cute for words! Love it! I once went on a garden tour and a homeowner had a shed just like mine painted inside and out with a garden scene! It was so cute! She used it to read in and just relax. "Us" women need a place like this to work on our crafts!
p.s. our beets are sprouting in our egg cartons!!!!

Erin | Bygone Living said...

I can't express how much I loved this post; your Little Sprig is BEAUTIFUL. It is my dream, as well, to have something like that someday!
You should send the photos to Country Magazine! I'm sure they would love to do an article on it :)♥

jenclair said...

What a lovely place to work and day dream!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

hi...i am so thrilled to meet you! i love maine. i signed on to follow and can't wait to explore your blog. i am about to clean up my garden shed and post picks of it. i love seeing others! look forward to following you!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

oh no...did i mess up my comment? i did not see it appear. maybe it has to await approval. i just love your blog and signed on to follow!

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

That is too cute!

How I would love to sit in your yard with you chatting and sipping iced tea. :)

Kim said...

Sharon, it is so fun to stumble upon you (via your comment @ Jim Long's blog)! I bought a secondhand copy of "Sunflower Houses" a couple of years ago and was absolutely enchanted by it. As a mom of two toddlers, I want to thank you personally for all the inspiration and ideas you've given us for kidfriendly gardening!

I'm looking forward to enjoying your blog as well. (My Sprig is absolutely gorgeous! What a fabulous hideyhole.)

Thea said...

Sharon, I don't need or want too many 'things' anymore, but, oh, I so want a little garden shed playhouse like yours. You are so blessed. A little 'sprig' of my own is on my dream list. thank you for sharing. t

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

What a nice little play house :-)
I have all my garden things in an old out house toilett :-) :-) Works good too, but it sure doesn´t look that nice :-)

I did however have a little playhouse when I grew up. Loved that place. It was big enough for children to be there, but made a bit to small for grown ups because whay should they be there :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.

Kay's flowers said...

Love, love, love. I also have a garden shed and I love to go in there and putter. Well, its not actually a shed, its a room that used to be the berry pickers quarters when our place was a large berry farm. It is only 3/4 of an acre now. Anyway, I painted the inside white and have it all decorated with all kinds of garden stuff. I love it! A room of one's own it so great. Yours is wonderful!

I also have your new book and love it too. I can see why it won that award. It's greatly deserved. Have a great day.

Hindsfeet said...

My husband and I were JUST talking about this....

So fun, Sharon : )

Paul C said...

What a delightful garden retreat. Thanks for giving me a vision for my own.

Unknown said...

Sharon,

Little Sprig is just charming inside and out! We are planning one of our own called " Dandelion Workshop" some day! Every girl needs a " play house" of her own!
Thanks for sharing it with us!
Deb~
ps. Love your new book! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sharon~~ I am very happy to meet Little Sprig although I hope it doesn't think me rude with my lavish, click-to-enlarge-voyeurism. Seriously, Sharon, potting sheds don't come any nicer! I love the adornments lining front and the vintage windows and door...

I won't make it to Hood River but I'll make a note to catch you on AM Northwest!!

Lynn said...

What a lovely place to garden! Hope you'll check out the video : "FAIRY SCIENTIST" on www.stickhorsecowgirls.blogspot.com I think you would love it!

child in harmony said...

Little Sprig is precious and just perfect.

In an effort to use power tools without fear, I want to build a tiny hideaway for myself in our woodlands, with a meandering path through a shade garden and among the fairies :)
It will be a place full of COLOR and favorite things, with quietmess to write and create and be alone with my thoughts.

And I LOVED your interview with Eileen. You INSPIRE me so :)

~marcia

Jacinta said...

What a magical little retreat and a place to tinker and play. Now if only I had a garden, it would be perfect! You have given me something else to dream about.
Beautiful!

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

I want this shed!! I want it, I want it, I want it! (Guess I'd better get busy, heh?). Love seeing the Lamott book at the top of your list. I love it, too, and have commandeered the title--my staff knows that when we are tackling a mountain of work, I'm apt to say we'll do so "bird by bird!" And, when I think my life is going way, way out of whack, I pull out Lamott's "Traveling Mercies," and get some perspective! Thanks for visiting us. I'll be back! C

Appleshoe said...

This is so lovely, it looks like something out of a movie. We will be altering our shed into a greenhouse and I LoVe the French door idea. Thank you for visiting my blog and the kind comment you left. Take care.

Anonymous said...

Oh Sharon...I adore Little Sprig! I looked at every little detail and enjoyed it thoroughly! I can see you planting and sowing and snipping and spritzing in there...with a herbal tea on the side! May you have hours and hours of joy in your dream shed and may you think up many stories while you're planting and sowing...it looks beautiful and just like a play house...never too late to have dreams come true.
Ronelle

jaz@octoberfarm said...

this is just darling! but it reminds me that it is almost time to clean mine.

Beth said...

I love your little sprig! How sweet and cozy it is! We all need a room of our own...love, Beth

Jim Longs Garden said...

What a very cool playhouse. I always wanted one, too. I don't think mine would have been as neat as yours. I love it, good for you, I'm glad you finally have your own playhouse. (For me, it was a red wagon, which I finally bought for myself for my birthday a few years ago). Have fun in your playhouse! Can I come and have tea?

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

I have been lucky enough to meet little Sprig in person...and she is charming, I assure you...

Thanks Sharon for the kind words about Buddy and Teddy...you know me too well...you knew this just about did me in...it really did...I know you knew it did....

Can't wait for you to meet Little Teddy...my pets mean the world to me...as you know...and now a new one to Love at Farmhouse....

Sending Love,
K.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

I am in a swoon here! Not only did I dream of owning a shop Heart's Ease..but of a playhouse as well. :):) This whole experience is sort of unreal.
That little house is just precious! Your dream has come true. I am so happy for you!

Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings said...

Oh, it is darling. I always wanted one as a child too and one day, I'll build one. I love yours. All those little nooks, baskets and cloches. Yum.~~Dee

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I love it! The design and color and your decor inside are all just perfect. I bet you must having your own playhouse :)

Anonymous said...

A fabulous house and I need/want some of those cute boots!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Robin's Nesting Place said...

Thank you for stopping by Robin's Nesting Place and leaving your comment!

Sprig is delightful and I love your "honest" kitchen! One of these days I'll have to share some of the treasures I have in my kitchen from my husband's mom and grandma on my blog. I love old things!