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A French-Inspired Garden and Home by Judith Stringham
Showing posts with label create. Show all posts
Showing posts with label create. Show all posts

Easter Basket Made With Love

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Little do we know 
what will remain with us in years to come, 
or how some things will resurface unexpectedly, 
bringing with them memories 
of good times, shared joys, and common interests. 


A basket handmade by my sister over twenty years ago 
held Easter treasures from her to me this year. 
She left it upstairs for me to find. 

The little basket was a gift from her one Christmas 
while she was living in New Hampshire.  
After hearing that she made the basket, 
I got her to teach me how to make baskets, too. 

We soaked natural-colored flat and round reeds 
in water to make them pliable. 
Then using Rit Dye, we dyed them. 
Over the years this basket's colors have faded, 
but retain the muted shades of their original hues... 
Dark pinks, mauves, and purples. 

We spent hours, soaking, dying, and weaving 
to create baskets made with love. 
No patterns, just my sister's memories from 
her basket-making class. 
Together we laughed, tested dye colors, 
pulled apart weaves to redo, and helped 
one another with the difficult twisting and 
holding reeds to get the baskets just right. 
None of the ones I made are still with me; 
all became gifts to friends. 

This little basket from my sister has 
lived all over my house, 
moving from spot to spot, 
last seen, empty, sitting alone. 

Then unexpectedly, it became this year's 
Easter Basket, 
holding chocolates and little treasures, 
made with love, 
and filled with memories of our times 
together years ago. 
Sisters by chance, friends by choice.

❦
~~~~~~~~~~
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Create Botanical Bird's Nests

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Simple homemade 
bird's nests
can be made from 
small purchased grapevine wreaths 
and excelsior. 

Easy to make in less than five minutes...
just in time for Easter. 


Hobby Lobby sold packages of six small three-inch grapevine wreaths 
for $1.50 per set of six at Christmas time. 
When I bought them, I knew I would use them in the spring,
thinking they would be good napkin rings. 

The flat moss and natural-colored excelsior 
also came from Hobby Lobby. 

A friend gave me a set of twelve blue bird eggs 
for my birthday last year. 



Using a small clump of excelsior, twist/swirl it into a circle, and 
stuff the excelsior in the center of the 
grapevine wreath, leaving wild strands hanging 
over the rim of the wreath. 
Use more or less excelsior depending on 
how wild and woolly you want your nests to be. 

That's it. 
All done. 

See the nests above and below for a samples. 



The small bird's nest is just the right size to sit atop a mug. 
I did not use glue so I could take the nest apart and 
use the wreaths as napkin rings as originally planned. 



Since I wanted nests and eggs in grassy meadow designed mugs, 
I decided the eggs should be green, not blue. 
See these mugs in an upcoming post, 
French le Lapin Spring Table.

Easy to change the color... 



This is a box of ColorBox stamping inkpads 
that have the consistency of watercolor paint.
The advantage of using these inkpads instead of
watercolors is no mixing of paints is needed.

I have had the ColorBox inkpads for several years, 
but saw one at Hobby Lobby last year. 
Quick tip: Store stamp pads upside down 
so the ink is always at the top. 

Using a watercolor brush and 
a very small amount of water in a ceramic bowl, 
brush the green stamping ink onto the eggs. 
Since stamping ink/watercolor is fairly transparent, 
the dark spots on the egg show through the paint. 
Do not have to paint on the spots...! 

Couldn't be easier! 

Of course, I need to clean my inkpads  
where I got limey green paint on a couple 
of adjacent colors. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as I finished these little nests, 
I read Lucy at Craftberry Bush's post,

http://www.craftberrybush.com/2014/03/how-to-make-realistic-birds-nest.html
Lucy is truly an incredibly talented artist  
whose watercolor paintings are just beautiful.
A visit to her blog will inspire you with
her creativity and clear instructions.
Even the name of her blog,
Craftberry Bush,
inspires me. 

Immediately, I thought of ways to improve my little nests. 



The first step is to add more excelsior underneath the grapevine wreath
creating three layers: excelsior, grapevine wreath, excelsior. 
Next, add a small bit of moss, on which the egg will rest,
 to the top excelsior.  



There are always dried hydrangeas at my house that 
come from my mother's abundant hydrangea bushes. 
Two or three individual blossoms are all the small nest needs. 



Foraged small tree limbs with lichen came from a friend's house. 
If possible, just pick up an armload of small twigs from the ground. 
Lichen is also often available at craft supply stores. 
Pull one small clump apart and add to the excelsior. 

Place the botanical nest in a small rustic clay pot. 

Voilá



For permanent nests, use hot glue 
to glue the parts together as each is added. 
When placed in the top of mugs and clay pots, 
glue is not needed. 
The pot or mug holds the nest together.



Two botanical bird's nests... 

Easy to make, 
and easy to adapt to different styles. 
❦
~~~~~~~~~~
If you can spend hours reading 
magazines, catalogs, and design books,  
then you are in for a treat.


Ten bloggers are joining the five hostess bloggers 
for a tour of Spring Tablescapes. 
15 blogs over 3 days

Look at the hostesses! 
Everyone of them has 
style with pizzazz! 

I am so excited that 
Botanic Bleu 
is included.
Take a peek on April 22 at 
Spirea Garden Party.
(A change in the previously announced post.
A girl can change her mind, you know.)  
Then hop, hop, hop on over 
to the other four Spring Tablescapes that day. 

Come back on April 23-24 for 
TEN more inspiring Spring tables 
in The Scoop On...Spring Tablescapes.

TUESDAY, APRIL 22
Top This Top That
Setting for Four
Botanic Bleu
Hymns and Verses
Unexpected Elegance
===
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Town and Country Living
Our Southern Home
Chateau Chic
Worthing Court
===
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
StoneGable
Lilacs & Longhorns
The Everyday Home
The Tablescaper
Confessions of a Plate Addict

~~~~~~~~~~
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Angel Ornament Tutorial

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Christmas has always been such
an exciting time for me.


This year is even more exciting because
I am sharing a little handmade Christmas as
one of the 25 bloggers on


Links to all 25 fabulous creative ideas are
at the end of the post.
So, be sure to check out all of them.
Everyday I have been visiting all the others
and am so inspired by such original, beautiful ideas.

Unskinny Boppy is the handmade goodness before me, and
Atta Girl Says is the handmade goodness after me.

See all 25 on the tour.

You will be inspired to hand make
something special for your Christmas.
~~~~~~~~~~

 Each Christmas I have a tree decorated with
angel ornaments,
doll-like angels, and angel wings.

Inspired by an angel ornament
I bought several years ago in Salado, Texas,
I decided to create some of my own design.

This wild-haired beauty is the result.

Materials needed

  1. muslin for the body
  2. wired ribbon for the skirt
  3. ribbon for the bodice
  4. ribbon for the wings and arms
  5. colored pens/pencils to draw eyes, lips, cheek rouge & gold paint pen to draw shoes
  6. yarn for hair
  7. ribbon, cord or thread for hanging loop
  8. metal embellishments for halo and ornament in angel's hands
Items not shown in photos
  1. cotton ball to stuff body
  2. Mod Podge and fabric glue

Refer to the photos below to see what the 
written directions are trying to describe.
TIP: Print the numbered directions and photos.
The fun is in creating an angel somewhat like the one I created. 
Use these directions as a guide...
Then... use your imagination and whatever materials you have to
create your very own unique angel ornament.
  1.  Cut a rectangular piece of muslin for the entire body and head to the size you want your ornament.  I cut my muslin about 4"x 2.5", making my ornament about 3.5" tall x 1.25" wide.
  2. Sew (using a 1/8"-1/4" seam) the rectangular muslin together, and position the long seam in the middle of the back of the angel. You now have a rectangular piece of muslin open at both ends that will be the angel.
  3. To create the feet, sew one end of the angel by sewing at a diagonal from each side to the mid-seam.  Still leave the other end open for now.
  4. Turn the fabric right side out (seams side in).  Fill the muslin with the cotton ball, stretching the cotton so it lies flat and fills the entire angel body/head.
  5. Sew the open end of the fabric together so that the top of the angel's head is slightly rounded.  I did this by hand, not the sewing machine.
  6. Use a double thread to wrap around the cotton-filled rectangle 2-3 times to create a neck and head. Tie the thread to secure it.  Make the head about 1/5 the length of the rectangular cotton-filled muslin.
  7. Sew a seam through the cotton-filled muslin, beginning at the middle of the feet at the bottom and stopping about 1/3 the length from the bottom of the angel. This creates the legs.
  8. Measure around the angel to determine how long a piece of ribbon to cut for the angel's bodice (solid teal ribbon in my angel) that will seen above the angel's skirt and extend below the skirt.  Add about 1/8"-1/4" to angel's circumference to allow for overlapping the ribbon.  Wrap the bodice ribbon around the angel, positioning the top of the bodice just at the neck you created.  Use fabric glue or Mod Podge to attach the bodice ribbon to the angel instead of sewing a seam.  I used fabric glue.
  9. Use wired ribbon (teal and gold patterned in my angel, but did not have anymore for the materials needed photo) for the skirt. Cut a length of ribbon about 2 1/2 times the circumference of the angel so that the skirt is full. Pull the wire on one side of the ribbon to create the gathers and wrap around the angel's waist, pulling the wire until the ribbon just meets at the back of the angel.  See the MATERIALS LIST photo #2 that illustrates gathering the ribbon. Turn each end of the wired ribbon under so that there is no raw seam showing. By hand, stitch the wired ribbon at the back of the angel to secure it to the angel's waist.  You may need to put a stitch underneath where each arm goes to hold the skirt in place at the waist.
  10. Stitch the two ends of the angel's skirt together by hand.  If the ribbon's width hangs below the angel's feet, hem the bottom of the skirt (I had to turn my ribbon up...see the photo).  Sew one stitch in 4-5 places to keep the hem turned up in place.
  11. Cut two lengths of ribbon/cord/thread for the angel's arms.  I used the same sequined ribbon for the arms and the wings.  I was able to fold the ribbon repeatedly until I had the size needed for the arms.  Sew each arm to the top of the bodice ribbon.  Then stitch the two arms together where the angel's hands would be.
  12. Sew an embellishment (I used a gold colored Christmas tree) to the angel's hands. 
  13. Make a bow from ribbon for the wings.  Stitch the bow above the waist through the bodice ribbon attaching the wings to the muslin where the knot of the bow is located.
  14. Now comes the fun!  Create the angel's hair by gluing (I used Mod Podge) yarn to the top and back of the head.  The yarn I used has multi-colored threads going wildly in all directions. 
  15. Use Mod Podge to attach an embellishment (I used a gold colored metal snowflake) as a halo on the angel's head.
  16. Sew a hanging loop on the back of the angel's head.
  17. Use a gold paint pen to paint shoes on the bottom of the angel's legs.  I only painted the shoes on one side, the front.
The wild hair is my favorite part of this angel!
18. Create the angel's face.
  • Use a pen (I used a blue sharpie) to paint eyes.  
  • Use a pen (I used a rosy-colored gel pen) to paint lips.
  • Use a colored pencil (I used a red-colored grading pencil) to create lightly rosy cheeks.
I practiced all of the pen/paint parts on a piece of scrap muslin 
before I painted the face and shoes.
I tried several red pens/pencils before choosing the ones I used.

 Close ups of the angel...




Here she is hanging with another angel that someone gave me several years ago.
Perhaps the angel on the left will be inspiration for another angel project on another day???
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
❧
An idea ... for those who need a craft for girls to do... 
Make the bodies of the angels in advance.
Then let the girls add the ribbon bodices, skirts, wings,
hair,  embellishments, painted shoes, and painted faces.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you need help with following my directions creating the angel ornament,
send me an email to botanicbleu1@gmail.com, and I will
try to answer your questions.
❧
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is the schedule for the entire tour...



Friday December 6

Saturday December 7 Sunday December 8
Monday December 9
Tuesday December 10



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French Script Feathers

Tuesday, November 19, 2013


A little bit of gold and glitter goes a long way to my eyes. 


But, I do like a little gold and glitter...

When combined with a whole lot of French-iness...  

french-script-feathers-DIY



Like in these 

French Script Feathers 


These French script feathers began as plain white feathers. 




diy-french-script-white-feathers-gold-ink

Although beautiful in their original stark white elegance, 

it was time for them to be more than just white feathers. 





Well, they really were more than just white feathers. 

These feathers came from a very special 
ribbon , button, yarn, embellishments 
shop in the heart of Paris, France. 

la droguerie
9 rue Jour 75001, Paris, France






Before going to Paris that year, I researched which 
stores, shops, and flea markets I wanted to visit. 

la droguerie was high on my list because I love ribbons. 
I was not disappointed. 
I came home with yards and yards of ribbon and...

feathers.





Today, I decided to stamp the feathers

with a French script rubber stamp and gold stamping ink.





Only fitting that they wear French words;

they are French.

Now they look French.





The big white ones and several small

pale, pale blue ones went into an old jelly jar

tied with a gold ribbon.

Definitely needs a ribbon... 
No, this one is not from France, 
just Michaels. 
V e r y   français...
mixing expensive items with not-so-expensive items... 

 Well, not that the feathers themselves were all that expensive. 
But, the plane ticket and hotel bill... 
ooh-la-la! 





A couple more pale, pale blue ones went into an old jar 
with several small yellow ones. 





These small feathers fit perfectly inside the jar.





Of course, the old jar needed 
a curling ivory ribbon with gold threads down the middle. 

No, this ribbon is not from France, either. 





The French script feathers are right at home with the 
French script candle and gold-crowned bird. 




diy-french-script-feathers-christmas-ornaments

Now, I'm thinking, "Christmas," and 
seeing gold-stamped French script feathers on the tree. 

BIG feathers sprouting from the tree top, and 
clusters of little feathers bound with thin gold ribbons 
hung from the branches with narrow white silk ribbons. 



Yes, I like a little gold and glitter 
with a whole lot of French-iness.

What do you think?
❦
~~~~~~~~~~

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Vignette Design Series #5~Create

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Have you ever wondered
how stylists create their beautiful 
vignettes?

Welcome to #5
Create 
"bring something into existence"
 in a
Now that we have seen four elements
of a vignette....

How do we improve
 our vignettes?
How do we create?
 Yes, we have homework.

(1) Analyze
 Look for themes in
 vignettes that capture your attention. 
Identify the element(s) that define 
the theme the strongest. 
Determine any elements that are subtle. 
The more you analyze,
 the more ideas come to mind for your vignettes.

(2) Organize
 Gather like-themed objects as you find them at home.
 Place in a basket, on a shelf, or in a large shopping bag, 
anyplace where you can find them, and
 continue to add to the items until you are ready to create the vignette.
 Collecting may take a day or two, or
 it may take place over several days
 if you want to make some items.
  In the planning stages...a Paris tablescape...

I may or may not use these items, but
 I know where to find them if I do.
 What have I gathered so far?

 Two iron Eiffel Towers, Eiffel Tower gift card,
 Paris subway maps, Opéra napkins, grey ceramic heart with raised design...

(3) Practice
 Copy a Pottery Barn vignette 
placement with your items.
 Arrange, photograph. 
Re-arrange, photo again. 
Repeat until satisfied. 
(Don't you just love digital cameras?
 No film, no processing, instant viewing; 
don't like a photo, delete, and reshoot!)

(4) Shop with purpose
 Keep a list of themes that you want to develop in your purse.
 Don't shop for specific items. 
Instead, keep your eyes open to things that
 go with what you already have.
 If you shop for a specific item,
 you may never find it, but
 if you shop for a theme,
 you will find things that work.

(5) Diversify
 (A) Collect items from different eras.
Source: http://www.oldmapsofparis.com
 This website has copyright free old maps.

 (B) Mix paper with other textures.
 
 Cards (1) & (3) with plants  ~~~  Paper (2) & (4) with china plates

 (C) Use a variety of ways to create height.
 Remember height helps create movement 
needed for good composition.
 
Examples...
 (1) Objects' heights  (2) Stack of books  (3) Easels
(4) Boxes  (5) & (6) Cake plates 

(6) Use meaningful objects
 Include items you found on vacation,
 had as a child,
 or inherited from your husband's family, etc...
 The patina of older objects adds visual depth.
 Treasured objects add emotional depth,
 rich with connections.


 So, that's what I've noticed about vignettes that
 "speak to me" and about how to put into practice what I've seen.

 Is there something you've noticed?
 If you have any useful tips to add,
 please write a comment for us all to see.
❧
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Show Us The Vignette!
 Say this in your best Cuba Gooding voice.
 Write a comment on this post and include a
 link back to your blog site
  that has your vignette in it.
 I don't host a linky party, :(
 but would love to see what your 
 vignettes look like.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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