Hand Made Flower Seed Paper Plantable Heart Favors

Today I'd like to show you how to make a fun and Eco-friendly way to celebrate love: Plantable flower seed heart favors made from hand made paper.  Sure, Valentine's Day is just around the corner but these recycled paper hearts would make great favors for wedding guests, bridal showers or Mother's day brunch and making hand made paper is a great kids craft too! 

Spring Urn Planter: Tulips, Forsythia...and Bird Houses!

Well, that's going to be a tough act to follow...

I remember those words as if it were yesterday.  Last spring, basking in the unexpected glow of several weeks in the 70's and 80's in March, I'd been inspired to create what was probably my favorite spring arrangement ever in the huge urn that sits on the stone wall in the front of my home.

Spring Tablescape with Flowers in Moss Covered Containers, Ironstone and Glass

I've got a confession to make.  Remember the cute, Pier1 knockoff burlap bunny ear and butterfly napkin rings that I showed you last week? The ones that I was convinced were going to be a part of my Easter tablescape?  Well....they didn't make it into the final design.

PB Moss Basket "Rescue and Rehab"

You've probably figured out by now that I'm a bargain hunter...and a that I love to rehab things that should have probably been thrown away other people may not have the same vision for.

What A Difference A Year Makes... Spring

What a difference a year makes.  As a mother of sons, this became apparent in the spring when "long pants" suddenly weren't and I was reaching up.to give my little boys a hug.

Over the course of twelve quick months, hair styles, and clothing styles (and girlfriends)... change.
My high school Junior is now a Senior getting ready for Prom...and graduation.

My college Junior is getting ready to be a Senior and to move from Illinois to Georgia for a summer internship.

Sometimes, I wish that I could make time stand still...or better yet, turn back the clock...just for a moment...to have time to catch my breath.

So far, I haven't been able to manage to make that happen so, I'm hanging on... with both hands... feet firmly planted in the present...enjoying every second of  the crazy, wild, ride that is spring, 2013 with all of the new adventures that it will bring for my family.

And marveling at the fact that all of the photos above were taken exactly one year ago today....
and that precisely 365 days later, my spring garden looks like THIS.

Maybe turning the time clock ahead a couple of weeks wouldn't be such a bad idea...

Oh wait... that would mean that it would be a couple of weeks closer to graduation...and my son's move to Georgia....

Yeah, on second thought, never mind.  I think that I'll just take life as it comes and enjoy it.....

                                                                                                                          one...day...at...a...time.

Because this  photo was taken in my yard last week...

xo,

Centerpieces for Heather's Wedding Reception- Pinned and Produced

 Several months ago, my friend Ann, from Nellie's Barn Sale  called to ask me if I'd consider helping her to arrange reception flowers for her friend Heather's wedding.  If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you know that Ann and I have been friends since childhood and that I'd do just about anything for her. So, of course, I said Yes.  We both made boards on Pinterest. Mine was called Heather's Wedding and on it was this pin:

Source

A Serendipity View: My Day at The Antique Garden Show at Northwind Perennial Farms

 Today I spent the day at what has become one of my favorite annual events: The Northwind Antique Garden Show.  For me, this show is probably more about the grounds, the gardens, and the collection of antiques that are housed there than about the vendors who actually set up for this fabulous show (although four of my close friends were vendors at this event).

So, today, instead of a post laced with photographs of the wares that were for sale and links to various vendor sites, I thought that I'd share MY view with you: A "Serendipity View" of a beautiful day hosted on grounds that are as inspiring as they are welcoming by three friends and business associates who are as genuine and funny and gracious as they are talented.  If you ever have the chance to visit, even if it's not for this event, it's a trip worth taking.

 Additional notes: You'll notice "ghosts" in many of the above photos. My camera fell this morning, cracking the lens mount ring at the body. I was able to manually remount the lens every few frames, enabling me to capture the images above, prior to dropping it off at the camera store to be shipped back to Nikon for repair. I'd also ask that you not copy or repost any of these images until I have time to watermark them.

 

 Have a glorious weekend!

xo,

S

For Further Information on Northwind, visit their site: http://northwindperennialfarm.com/main.html#

Happy May Day - May Basket Tutorial

Some of my favorite traditions are "leftovers" from France which are still observed in various areas of the U.S. For example, ever since I was a young girl, it has tradition in our area to pick flowers from the garden to share with neighbors on the first day of May.  I remember fashioning crude "May Baskets" from small, wax covered milk cartons, bits of construction paper and chenille stems (pipe cleaners) when I wasn't more than six or seven. Filling them with whatever was blooming in our yard (usually lilacs, violets and often, dandelions) and hanging them on the door knobs of neighboring homes, ring the bell and run. If the person caught you hanging it on the door, they got to give you a kiss! Over the years, I've made May Baskets out of a variety of materials. This year, I decided to try chicken wire and moss.

Here's how you do it

• Make a paper template of a cone and cut the chicken wire in the same shape as  the pattern. 

• Shape the wire into a cone (cutting off any sharp edges) and stuff the inside with moss, leaving a hole in the center.

• Use the template to make a liner from a one gallon plastic bag which  I then place in the center of the cone. Roll the wire cage around the top of it to hold it in place.

• Decorate by gluing  leftover bits of  ribbon and lace to the top and the sides of the basket. I then printed a cute French image from The Graphics Fairy which says: "small flowers speak for me" (appropriate, don't you think?!) to which I added my own note at the bottom. I cut them out with my "fancy scissors" and attached them at the side of the basket. 

• I filled the basket with Lilacs and Heuchera Leaves from my yard, Delphinium, Spray Roses and Wax flowers from the market. You can use whatever you have on hand.

I've decided that I like them so much that I'm going to make a few for Mother's Day and maybe a bridal or baby shower  this summer! 

Happy May Day!!!!

xo,

S

Linking to;
A Stroll Through Life
Coastal Charm
Knick of Time
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Not Just A Housewife
Uncommonly Yours
Someday Crafts
Savvy Southern Style
At The Picket Fence
The Creative Paige
{PRIMP} - Primp your stuff Wednesday
Common Ground
French Country Cottage
Tater Tots and Jello
Funky Junk
Craft-O-Maniac
Under The Table and Dreaming
Homemaker in Heels
A Diamond in the Stuff

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