Country Living Seasons at Seven Gates Farm

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Summary: Fantastic seasonal ideas for decorating your home.
Review: A beautiful fact filled book - decorate your home, inside and out, cost effectively­wonderfully written, excuisite photos, creatively designed.

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Summary: Dense with creative content, visual and written
Review: Requires several readings, first to view the images, then read the accompanying text and realize what inventive ideas have been introduced: hooked rug chickens and corn cobs! But the mesemerizing effect of a story unfolding over the course of a year in the lives of two hand crafters of beauty and aesthetic tranquillity draws you into their lives as the farm moves through the seasons. Satisfying visit to a work in progress, a potpourri garden transformed into a white garden. Wooden scarecrows crafted from twigs and discarded garden implements. Stunning visuals

Rating:
Summary: Warm and inviting
Review: This book contains a warm and inviting look into the home of a Maryland man who creates wonderful decorations for the home from practically nothing. Your eye constantly scans the photographs for all the amazing details, a small tree decorated from simple garden finds to an angel with wings of cast off architectural finials. I would never have thought of some of the ideas this book gave me.It was motivational for me...I love the simple country look and this book has it.It was a joy reading through this book and marveling at what one person can do with "old stuff". Kathleen Wahl [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Crafts, Plants, and Veggies the Whole Year Round
Review: This book details the creative designs of two artistic guys who purchased the nineteenth century Seven Gates Farm in Keedysville, Maryland. If you like country, Americana, and crafts, you will love this book. Hundreds of full color photographs tour the farm during each season of the year. The reader can see how the farm changes when the landscape is covered with different plants and the house is taken over by a new crop of crafts and collectibles. These artists must have incredible cupboard space to house their thousands of knickknacks and antiques as new ones are brought out for the season or holiday. The vintage flags unveiled for the Fourth of July I found to be some of the more interesting displays. The farm is near Antietam, so the Civil War heritage is very important in these parts. One of the flags displayed was used in a Civil War battle.

The book also gives the reader step-by-step instructions and hints for making crafts or collecting antique/vintage items. Some of the things you can learn to create are myrtle topiaries, cold frames for getting a head start on the growing season (also through the use of bell jars), creative table decorations, miniature gardens, herb-covered eggs, rustic twig scarecrows (very cute), scented water, summer vinegar dressings, and angel shoes for Christmas ornaments. You can also learn a little bit about collecting rag dolls, calicoes, miniature log cabins, and blankets. I liked seeing the changes through the seasons, but I think it would have been more effective if the book pictured each of the main features (the greenhouse, wash-house, smokehouse, vegetable garden, etc.) in order for each season so the changes are more evident and the reader can easily flip pages and compare a different area for each season. As it is, some areas are not even covered for each season. The map on the inside front and back covers is helpful for following the landscape of the property. Anyone interested in crafts will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Crafts, Plants, and Veggies the Whole Year Round
Review: This book details the creative designs of two artistic guys who purchased the nineteenth century Seven Gates Farm in Keedysville, Maryland. If you like country, Americana, and crafts, you will love this book. Hundreds of full color photographs tour the farm during each season of the year. The reader can see how the farm changes when the landscape is covered with different plants and the house is taken over by a new crop of crafts and collectibles. These artists must have incredible cupboard space to house their thousands of knickknacks and antiques as new ones are brought out for the season or holiday. The vintage flags unveiled for the Fourth of July I found to be some of the more interesting displays. The farm is near Antietam, so the Civil War heritage is very important in these parts. One of the flags displayed was used in a Civil War battle.

The book also gives the reader step-by-step instructions and hints for making crafts or collecting antique/vintage items. Some of the things you can learn to create are myrtle topiaries, cold frames for getting a head start on the growing season (also through the use of bell jars), creative table decorations, miniature gardens, herb-covered eggs, rustic twig scarecrows (very cute), scented water, summer vinegar dressings, and angel shoes for Christmas ornaments. You can also learn a little bit about collecting rag dolls, calicoes, miniature log cabins, and blankets. I liked seeing the changes through the seasons, but I think it would have been more effective if the book pictured each of the main features (the greenhouse, wash-house, smokehouse, vegetable garden, etc.) in order for each season so the changes are more evident and the reader can easily flip pages and compare a different area for each season. As it is, some areas are not even covered for each season. The map on the inside front and back covers is helpful for following the landscape of the property. Anyone interested in crafts will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: This book is enchanting. I'm amazed at how the two artists/gardeners have fused together their art and lives. The many photos are lovely and full of wonderful, earthy ideas. I only wish I could step through the pages and experience Seven Gates Farm first hand! Instead, I will be content to allow the book to be a life-long inspiration for me. Thank you, James and Dean.