Decorating with Flowers

Well, we are moved and mostly settled...it's amazing how much one can accomplish with no internet for over a week! This rental home needs a lot of work, and we spent about 15 hours or so scrubbing the kitchen alone (in terrible heat without any electricity) before we felt comfortable enough putting food or dishes in the cabinets, and a lot of the appliances don't work.. and the bathrooms need work, (one we don't even go in)... but what can I say, it has a spare room for my crafts and it's our first backyard ever, so the boys love that, though we do miss family dearly.

So, this post will be kept short and sweet. I came across this clever flower arranging idea on Country Living. It's so simple, and easy to arrange. I love the idea of categorizing and keeping the flowers loosely arranged as well.

"A bunch of vintage milk bottles gives this arrangement—featured in Decorating with Flowers—its structure. Simply line up nine same-size vessels in three rows of three. Then wrap gardener's twine around the grouping twice and tie the ends. Finish the blooming display by placing two to three stems in each container."

 Our home also has a few rose bushes in front that need some serious work... so I thought this pressed flower idea would be neat to try with the very first roses that greeted us when we arrived. Also, we were given a handpicked widflower bouquet as a greeting to the area, so maybe I can press those, they are so lovely.

In any case, the whole flower segment is beautiful, I especially love the doily vase and the picture vase ideas.

 "Tightly wrap a doily around a vase. Snip away any excess, then hand-stitch the doily securely in place to create a snug fit. A clear glass vase creates an elegant illusion, but experiment with different vases and doilies to find a combination you like"

Homefront: Withered Life

My sons go outside to ride their scooters and play. But they cannot come back inside without bringing me flowers. Sometimes, the stems are so short that I float the blooms, but this morning glory specimen wanted a little bottle of her own. I love using my little vintage apothecary bottles for life baring purposes.

My little jar and crystal window vignette looks so much prettier with a pretty pink wild flower, don't you agree? Some of my glass bottles have sold, but I hope to replace them soon, for my own enjoyment.

This flower died. I was *this close* to throwing the flower away.... but I remembered those two green buds and let the crumbled bloom stay around for a few days. Not thinking much about what would happen.

Then soon enough... Two new blooms and one spent one.

 Patience pays off. When one thing withers away, an opportunity is lost, there is always something else in the works. Some say it is fate, others say it is God preparing a way, others say that's just life. What say you?

Glass. Flowers. Doilies. Jazz Hands

so cal farm wedding photo by max wanger (more gorgeous images in the link)

With a little bit of glass, a little bit of light, a little bit of ingenuity, a little bit of floral influence~ you can turn a small space into a magical realm of whimsy and escape. Truly, I use spaghetti jars, old teriyaki bottles... I keep all of that stuff and reuse them as vases, and even drinking glasses. Isn't is amazing to see what can be done with old doilies, lace, bottle caps  and an end table?

lisa congdon's show display via feepeople

  country living lace garland window treatment 

Take just a little bit of time and redefine a small space today with something you already own in your home or office~ a shelf, corner, night stand, windowsill, you will be glad you did. It's relaxing to sometimes set a stressful thing aside for 20 minutes to spend on beautifying something small and serene, without having to leave the house and go shopping. You can do it for free in your jammies. Sounds nice to me!

justinejustine's gorgeous bottle cap earrings (ps i love these and christmas is around the corner)

Autumn Inspired Fashion Tutorials

argyle sock vase tutorial via design*sponge

I'm keeping today's post short due to a surprise craft fair this weekend and all of the crazy that goes into preparing for that! But really, can anything get better than incredibly awesome and easy fall inspired fun and fashion, that is also cheap, easy and pretty? Enjoy these tutorials,  I know I will!! :)

feather flower headband tutorial via still dottie

 

the rag bag tutorial via oh so happy together

 

scrap braided fabric necklace via small magazine

rosette cluster pillow from felt furnishings via etsy storque
just imagine using these cluster flowers on a shirt, bag, headband, garland...

 

tipi tutorial, enjoy that fall weather! via sew mama sew

frayed rosette tutorial via made by the mama monster

Oh, how my fingers are twitching to shred some fabric and get out my glue gun, needle and thread... oh yes, it will happen next week, my dear friends!