Fern weeds...to free pot plants

Ferns...

love them or 

hate them.

They really are an interesting plant. 

I recently visited a home

 with some very sad and lonely pots scattered around the house.

The owners also had ferns overgrowing the fish pond at the front of the house. 

They saw these plants as an absolute weed,

but instead of just throwing them out...

I suggested a compromise.

Why not plant the ferns we pull out of the front yard....

and replant them in the vacant potters around the house?

 It was so simple

and it didn't cost a cent.

$ 0

Now at least, there are a few less ferns in the front

and a few less vacant pots in the back.

If I had these at my house 

I would probably be trying all different florist techniques with my never ending supply of ferns.

Stackable Swarovski Crystal Pendants

I have been wearing some of my old gold chains lately and layering them, 

but I wanted a pendant or two to go on the longer one. 

 I went looking for something only to be disappointed.

Gold and gem stones seem to be everywhere on Pinterest at the moment. 

 So I wanted something with a bit of understated bling.  

I stopped by the Swarovski store for the very first time.  I was impressed with some of their designs but  they didn't have a pendant like I wanted for individual sale.

However, they did inspire me to make my own.

I found these beautifully cut crystals that reminded me more of gems stones. 

They were just what I was looking for.

I wanted to make a pendant that was versatile

so I decided to make my own stackable ones.

I made individual pendants

 in different lengths and colours

that could be easily mixed and matched.

They worked so well together

I just kept making different designs.

As usual I got a little carried away.....

I made some in Sterling Silver

Some with tassels

 

And a bunch in gold

They are so fun to mix and match.

Painting Art & Screen Printing Party

 This Painting and Printing Party was an experiment, however I must say I am very impressed with how it turned out.  We had a lovely time, and accomplished some art to be proud of with a story to tell.

As a starting point for the large canvasses I made two mood boards. One featured current pastels and the other focused on Fall and Winter colours for 2013. 

Whilst the paintings were collaborations from everyone present, there were two art works in particular that became our main inspiration:

one by Jen Ramos and another by Ali McNabney-Stevens.

Mood Board for one of the paintings
2013 Colours

In addition to the paintings, we made some beautiful prints as well. 

Tahli of Tahli Shepherd Design created two designs

 for a screen that I had professionally made for the night.

There was lots to do....

so while some were working on the paintings, 

others got started on their screen printing.

 To stick to the mood boards 

I mixed up a pastel coral colour.

It looked lovely on the linen tea towels. 

The mood boards ended up being a bigger influence than I originally thought, however it all seemed to come together just fine.

 I love to get influence from anywhere that makes me take a second look,

like this shop window around the corner from my house.

It is a lovely mix of colours and a great example of what I was thinking of.

A culmination of 11 efforts from the night.

"Pastel Influenced"
(size 150 x 75 cm)

"2013 Colour"
(Size 120 x 90 cm)

The tea towel print was a big hit too.

Perhaps some early Mother's Day gifts.

Terrariums are back

Terrariums are back.....

 and are more expensive than I ever imagined they would be?

I recently walked by the florist at the back of Myer in the City.  The amazing terrariums caught my eye so I went to see how much they were.

$300-$450 each!  

What?

I could buy flowers for a year with that!!!

So I started to search my house for things I could use to make my own.

I managed to make one for only $10!

This was my Easter display last year.

  I bought moss to surround my orchid,

 then I added this cute little Bambi from the kids toy farm.

Unfortunately,

 I have no idea where the Bambi is now

 since I think the kids reclaimed for their farm, and then lost it again.

 But I still have the moss,

even though it has suffered some serious neglect since last Easter.

I have been advised that it can bounce back with proper care?

So I will give it a go.

Fortunately I remembered I had this huge, glass, hurricane type candle vase.

I also found these lovely grey stones the kids and I collected on a recent camping trip to Cape Paterson.  I used them to fill in space

 since I didn't really want to see the dirt.

 All I needed now was a proper terrarium style plant.

I went to an amazing Florist up on Brunswick street

called Flowers Vasette

http://flowersvasette.com.au

They seemed to have everything there,

 so I told them what I was making and they showed my some options.

I chose the vibrant yellow green plant to contrast well with my now...

 brown moss.

The plant cost me 

$10

Now what else can I add????

In my bathroom some magic has been happening.

I always pick branches from my Fica tree in the front yard

and put them in vases of water with fake tulips.

(more about that another time)

But I recently noticed the branches have been growing their own roots.

The same thing happened with some succulents I had in mini vases.

Awesome...

2 more Free plants!

So I decided to plant them in my new

terrarium as an experiment.

So far so good.
It is actually growing in there.
I see some new leaves!!

 I still can't find the little Bambi, which would have looked so cute.

Instead I found these little red mushrooms in my kitchen junk draw.

I have no idea where they came from,

perhaps a cupcake or something?

 I will use them to add a touch of colour and fun to the end result.

So now

 for only $10

I have a lovely new terrarium to enjoy until they go out of fashion again.

;-)

 This one looks great in my bathroom

Oh yeah,

the lid didn't come with the vase,

 but the store where I got the vase closed last year

 and they were giving away bits and pieces they couldn't sell.

This lid was part of something else that must have broken, so I took it home hoping I could use it for something....

so glad I did now because it will be easier to keep this terrarium alive with a lid on top.