march

This Week’s Vignette

March 16, 2017

this week's vignette

This week’s vignette or shall I say vignettes live atop my piano. I wrote about this piano a few years back and am happy to report I still love it here. I haven’t played as much as I would like to admit but it works beautifully as a place for vignettes. Because the piano is a centerpiece in our home I like to create little scenes on top that change throughout the seasons showcasing some of my favorite things that I have either foraged or collected over the years.

Sitting to the far left is an antique silver ice bucket etched with the letter B for Boston (my mother’s maiden name) that was given to me by my mom. It holds a Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’ plant that I overwintered from my window boxes. Next to the ice bucket sits a stack of books (two of Chris’s favorites) paired with an antique lamb which I found this summer while away at the lake. Next to the lamb sits a thrifted tiny studio pottery bowl which I use as a votive holder.

To the far right sits my handmade ukulele made by Chris. Next to it sits a mercury pedestal holding a foraged bird nest and feathers with blown out quail eggs. In front of it sits an antique pewter handled vessel which I adore. It is adorned with tiny pewter flowers, bull heads and horns and reminds me so much of this favorite story of mine. Inside sits a handmade beeswax candle made by a friend.

A stack of antique dishes and bowls that get used daily at meals also sits on top along with two prints- a pointillism drawing made by my mom in college and a watercolor titled “The Humming River” gifted to me by my mom.

In tomorrow’s post I will talk more about lambs, the month of March and spring inspired decor.

Spring vignettes

March 18, 2015

With spring just around the corner I have begun to tuck little reminders of what’s to come into the vignettes around my home. Nests, blown out dyed eggs, glass rabbits from my childhood and tiny birds have all come out from hiding.

As each new season approaches I pull out the many cards that I have saved throughout the years that correlate. I have quite a collection for each season and holiday and like to scatter them about on my wire card wreath, tucked into mirrors and showcased on the wooden card stands made by Chris.

Branches found on walks and clipped from my yard have been submerged into vases of water and are just beginning to bud out. (Read more about how to here).

It is still a bit chilly here but the light is changing and I have found several things peeking up in my garden.

I may still be wearing my wool coat every day but these little vignettes inside my home encourage me that soon it will be Spring!

Local friends, I will be teaching my Creating Space for Beauty and Simplicity Series at Harvey Oak Mercantile this year. This month I focus on the home and creating vignettes and incorporating the seasons into your decor.

A few new inventions

March 16, 2015

Chris and I make a good team. He likes practical and I like beautiful. Lucky for me everything he makes is beautiful!
I enjoy my home when it is neat and orderly which means I like things put away (or hidden away according to Chris).
I am always switching things up around the house which means where things live sometimes changes.
He is always asking me “So where did you hide it now?” about many of his belongings.

His slippers are one of those things. I may put them in his closet, or by his bedside. Sometimes they make their way by the back door on the shoe rack. Or placed in a basket with all of the other slippers.
I knew he was trying to make a point when he came home last week with his newest invention- Slipper Hooks.
As much as I like things put away out of sight, I had to admit I loved his idea.
He came home the next day with a hook to hang above for his pajamas. And there you have it a new “practical” place for his things with no excuse for me to hide them away.

And while we are on the subject of inventions, check out our affordable version of a new recliner for Chris. To back up a bit, we had been searching for a leather recliner similar to this one for a while. Since they were hard to come by in our price range we settled for an Ikea POANG chair. It was the right size and is actually pretty comfortable. Since the matching ottoman was too bulky for the space Chris decided to make a custom one that slants down at just the right angle that he prefers. Not only is the whole combination beautiful but it is surprisingly ergonomic!

The Beauty of a Basket

March 24, 2014

Can you tell I have a bit of a basket addiction?

I can’t help but bringing just one more home from the thrift.
They are the pockets of my home, bringing order and beauty to the piles of stuff. Messes of toys, laundry and paper look so much prettier in a basket.

I love their texture, their handmade natural, organic feel and that they are both beautiful and useful.

Baskets can be the “jack of all trades” in your home. Think outside of the box and get creative. Give them a job and they will be sure to give a stellar performance.

::Baskets are very inexpensive at the thrift. Collect a variety. Look for different shapes, heights, color and design.
::Hang your baskets. Hang one in the bathroom to hold a hand towel, by your kitchen sink to hold dish brushes or by your desk for pens and pencils.
::Use baskets as artwork. Hang basket lids or trays for texture. Sometimes they can cast beautiful shadows.
::Plants and baskets make a beautiful couple. Hide an ugly plastic pot inside a basket and give your flora a whole new feel.
::Baskets can soften a space. A basket of blankets or books can warm up an empty corner.
::Baskets are beautiful on their own even without a use. Use baskets in your vignettes to become part of a scene.
::Turn a basket into a vase by tucking a glass or ball jar of flowers inside. A basket bouquet!
::Keep a stockpile of baskets stored away. They make the perfect gift full of goodies.

In Honor of St. Patrick

March 17, 2014

We love tradition in my family.
I appreciate our rituals that revolve around the seasons and holidays. But I mostly enjoy how they bring us all together.
On Saturday, my mother had us over for her annual St Patty’s day/Spring Equinox celebration.
It was a chilly, sunny day. We walked in to a warm and cozy house with Irish ballads playing and signs of spring tucked here and there.
There was salmon, brown bread, deviled eggs, potatoes and soda bread.
My grandmother told stories of her days living in Donegal, Ireland and my mother pulled out her tea cozies for us all to wear in honor of St. Patrick.

Quick Knits

March 13, 2014

I love a finished project don’t you?
Freshly painted walls. A hand built rock wall. A whole new room!
It is such a satisfying feeling to complete something.
But sometimes my projects can feel overwhelming. The prep, the materials, the money!

I have my fair share of complicated projects that sit unfinished. And I have a long list of projects I would like to start one day soon. I know I’ll eventually get around to them.
But in the mean time it’s always nice to have a few simple, affordable and attainable ones that can easily be picked up on a whim. That’s why I love to knit.

Both of these patterns are from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts, a Christmas gift from my sister. I love the photographs in this book and the simple yet beautiful projects.

The Spiral Seat Cushion was made for Hannah’s desk chair. It was so fun to make as it’s knit in one piece without having to sew anything together. I used a super soft, bulky merino wool which made for a comfy seat. I love how the yarn pops against the wood.

I had a bit of the white yarn left over so I decided to make the Little Pointy Elf Hat for a special friend who is due soon. It was a quick knit made in just a few hours at craft circle last night.

Now, back to scraping and spackling my kitchen walls.

Inviting Spring Indoors

March 10, 2014

This has been such a fun winter full of snow, sledding, skiing, ice skating and snowmen.
But I won’t lie, I’ve got Spring fever!

Yesterday I was so tempted to put the snow boots and gear away up in the attic but then reminded myself that it’s not quite Spring yet.

Rather than let myself get in to a funk, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to get me through the
end- of- winter blues.

A few weeks ago I bought a few Oxalis plants to brighten things up a bit and began to force some branches.

Forcing is an easy way to invite Spring indoors. A gentle nudge to a blooming tree or shrub can perform quite an amazing display and act as a reminder that soon the warmer weather will arrive. Even before they leaf out and bloom, branches are beautiful on their own, like a sculpture giving height, texture and definition to any room.

Any woody, deciduous shrub or tree that flowers in the early spring is perfect for forcing. Forsythia, flowering quince, cherry, plum, pear, crabapple, dogwood, spirea, witch hazel, magnolia and pussy willow are successful indoor bloomers. Wait until after the flower buds swell in late winter to begin the process.

I bet there are many candidates right in your own backyard. If not ask a friend or neighbor for a clipping. The forsythia pictured above is from my mother’s garden and the fallen dogwood branch I found on my morning walk.

Forcing branches

::Pick a day to cut branches when the temperature is above freezing. A rule of thumb for cutting is mid-January for forsythia, pussy willow and witch hazel. Mid-March for trees like crabapple, cherry, pear and dogwood.

::With pruning shears cut branches that have numerous flower buds.

::After you bring the branches inside, split open the bottom of stems with sharp scissors about 1 inch or if it is too woody of a stem, gently mash the ends with a hammer.
This will help the branches absorb water.

::Make a simple preservative of 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of plain household bleach and 2 teaspoons of lemon or lime juice and a quart of warm water.

::Fill vase with solution and add branches.

::Place in a cool location away from direct sunlight. Remember they need springtime (not summer) conditions to bloom.

::Change water and preservative once a week.

::Forsythia and pussy willow generally take only one to three weeks to force.
Flowering fruits like crabapple and cherry can take up to four weeks.

::Be patient. Sometimes buds can be stubborn and take longer to open and occasionally some buds may not bloom at all. But you can almost be certain you’ll be rewarded with bright green foliage.

::If timed right you can have different blooms adorning your home for many weeks.

::Add store bought spring blooms like tulips and ranunculus for an extra punch.

::Experiment and have fun!

A little more routine

March 28, 2013

i have never been a creature of habit.
maybe it’s the aquarian free spirit in me that doesn’t like boundaries or limits.
it’s amazing that i even started a blog and come back here from time to time!
but the truth is i want more routine in my life.
especially here in this space.

i envy those bloggers that post almost every day and who have come up with such clever titles and topics for specific days of the week.

i have been thinking about what i want to focus on here.
i have some ideas up my sleeve but would love to know what you would like to see and hear more of from me.
i have wanted to ask this question for a while but have been a bit shy.
but seriously i am so curious.
speak up!
xo

Garden inspiration

March 28, 2013

life has been busy.
here we are at near the end of the month and i forgot all about my march goals.
onward and upward to april.
i’ll make my list this week to share.

i am especially ready for warmer weather and working in the garden.
i have been having fun searching for garden inspiration and plan to focus on certain outdoor areas this year including the front of my house.

tend will begin another season starting monday. we have a few new additions that i am excited to share.
stay tuned!

Hannah and Norah

March 20, 2013

hannah
:: you are determined to run the media 5 miler again this year. you started training this week.
:: you have been spending a lot of time drawing and writing in your journal. you drew the most beautiful picture of papa sitting in a tree today

norah
:: you told me the other day you have always wanted to be a dog but the one problem would be you would only get fed once a day. you love to eat.
:: you are such a night owl and you usually stay up later with papa while hannah and i go to sleep. these last few weeks though you have been asking me to sing you to sleep. your favorite is “stay awake”.

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