The Best Blues are at the Whitesbog Annual Blueberry Festival

The Blueberry is the state fruit of New Jersey. With good reason - the domesticated blueberry that we all enjoy and cherish as a super fruit was born right here. In fact, it was born in Whitesbog, by Browns Mills. To celebrate this magnificent little dynamo, join us at

This event is so much fun, with lots of crafters, artists, music, food and of course - blueberries. We'll have some extra blueberry treats, including Blueberry Blossom Linen Spray and Blueberry Lip Balm. We'll even have a few extra surprises.

So stop by for a wonderful family outing in celebration of the blues!

Reveling in Rugosa's during National Rose Month

I've always thought roses were pretty flowers and had a lovely scent. But I couldn't understand the great fussing over them. Relatives who had gardens of beautiful and fragrant hybrid roses clipped, snipped, sprayed, spritzed, dusted and coddled them endlessly to get the delicate blooms. I certainly appreciated the result. I still do give great credit to those who grow these fragile flowers. However, I am a less patient gardener. And that is why I have several fabulous Rugosa Rose bushes growing in my yard.

I first fell in love with these wild beauties along the shores of Normandy Beach - New Jersey that is. They grace many of the beach entrances and bay parks in the area and grow in abundance in Island Beach State Park. The air was filled with roses and

sea spray and magic.

These bushes can grow to be very tall (like mine) or remain squat and sturdy. They are very tolerant of salt and storms and can be cut and pruned back heavily and still keep going. Most tend to be rust and disease resistant (although Japanese beetles love them - maybe because these roses originally came form the orient?) They provide fragrant - and easy - beauty.

Rugosa's have many nicknames, including beach tomato or sea tomato, saltspray rose, Japanese rose and beach rose.

My bushes have been blooming like crazy, and I've been busy gathering as many petals as I can. I use the petals to make wonderful rose hydrosol and rose honey. I also dry batches of petals for teas and to use in our Rose N Dew Sugar Scrub.

I can certainly understand why it's National Rose Month. The roses have been growing and blossoming and just as happy as they can be. And that makes us happy!

Let's Celebrate the Bay at the 14th Annual Barnegat Bay Festival

Memorial Day is wonderful preparation for the summer, and this year we certainly had spectacular weather. But for me - the real pre-summer kick off is the Annual Barnegat Bay Festival.

14th Annual Barnegat Bay Festival
Sunday, June 5 - 10 am to 4 pm
Free Admission
Wanamaker Complex, Island Heights NJ

Celtic Chairde Creations has been a part of this festival for many years now. It's always a terrific day filled with laughter, fun, learning ... and shopping!

The Barnegat Bay is not just the place to water ski and fish in the summer, it is an important part of the ecosystem of the shore area - and it's been in trouble for a while now. The folks at the Barnegat Bay Partnership have put together a terrific selection of speakers and displays to help everyone learn about the bay and how we are all responsible for keeping it healthy.

There are workshops and lectures on Saturday, and full on festival fun on Sunday. Please see the website of the 14th Annual Barnegat Bay Festival for more details.

Stop by our booth and mention this blog post - and we'll give you a free gift!

Get Jazzed for the Summer at the Jazz and Blues Fest

Don't wait for summer - get the shore fun started this weekend. Join us at

The 3rd Annual Pt. Pleasant
Jazz & Blues Festival
May 21 - 2 pm to 10 pm
May 22 - 2 pm to 8 pm
Corner of Arnold Ave. & Route 35 So
Point Pleasant Beach

This is a jam packed event with something for everyone - day long musical celebration, children's activities, lots of food, and wine tasting from 8 of New Jersey's premier vineyards. And of, of course, wonderful crafts from folks like us at Celtic Chairde Creations!

The event is free. If you want to participate in the wine tasting, it's $12. That gets you a sampling glass usable at any of the vineyards.

Get jazzed about the coming summer! We are! Mention this post when you come to our booth and receive 10% off your order.

Amazing Under the Sea

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of being at the Ocean County Artist Guilds Artisan Marketplace. First, it was an honor to be included. Second, it was fun to be in lovely Island Heights. And third - I was floored by the beautiful and amazing exhibit Feathers and Fins by Beverly Golembeski and Florence McLaughlin.

My sad photography doesn't do the artwork justice. When you walk through the exhibit, it's like walking through a tropical fish tank without getting wet!

Individually, these two women are wonderful artists, but their combined creativity makes for a delightful and playful experience.

The exhibit runs through the end of the month. If you find yourself in the area, it really is worth stopping by to see. Most of the exhibit pieces are available for purchase or even leasing.

If you don't want to get wet, but want to journey under the sea, stop by and be amazed.