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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Succulents in Peat Pots

I love planting succulents in flower beds and containers. They are so easy to grow, are very drought tolerant, make beautiful accents in containers, and are excellent ground covers in perennial borders.
 There are so many varieties of succulents; they add wonderful texture.
Variety: "Hens and Chicks" (cute name):
Variety: "Stonecrop"


These crown pots started out as recycled paper seed starters from the Dollar store. They were then cut into the shape of a crown. Click HERE for the crown template
I used the same crown template on scrap fabric for a crown and attached it to the peat pots using mod-podge. After that I applied a coat of gesso over the fabric. It gives a wonderful chalky texture to the fabric. This is my first time working with gesso, and I have to say I'm loving it! Thank you Rosemary at Villabarnes for introducing me to gesso. This product is wonderful and if you want to see more of the wonderful projects created by her, then click HERE. Next, I just hand stamped different Frenchy graphics on the pots:
I used a painter's round brush and craft paint for the black trim at the top of the crown:


Succulents in  cute peat pot crowns make wonderful party favors for my Garden Luncheon:


Basket filled with pruned  dappled willow branches from the front yard:
I love the striking variegated leaf of the Japanese Dapple Willow tree. It makes a beautiful addition in any landscaping:
Its slender branches and unique foliage look so pretty in the basket:

My guests loved these succulents peat pots as gifts:
Since they are biodegradable, these decorated peat pots can be planted directly in the flower beds:
Here's a sneak peek of my Garden Party table, which deserves its own separate post, I think.
It is a pleasure to have you visit me and I always appreciate you taking the time to leave me such wonderfully sweet comments. I hope you enjoyed these succulents in peat pots as much as I. 
And my thanks to Mary @ Very Merry Vintage Style and Jann @ Have a daily cup from Mrs Olson for featuring my French postcard pillow HERE and HERE. Also, my gratitude to dear Maya @ Completely Coastal for sharing my decorated fabric book covers with her readers HERE.
Thank you ladies! Stop by and say hi to them if you get a chance or join their weekly parties if you want to share your creative project of the week:)

Have a beautiful weekend everybody!


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Saturday, May 5, 2012

Merry Merry Month of May!

"Sweet May hath come to love us, flowers, trees, their blossoms don; And through the blue heavens above us The very clouds move on.” 
~Heinrich Heine 


The weather has been so unpredictable in this neck of the woods! Spring came too early for us and winter was very mild, considering we are so used to getting multiple snow storms. We were enjoying wonderful spring weather lately and suddenly last week it started snowing and the weather turned for the worse, with cloudy overcast skies. However, this entire week has been just beautiful with temperature in the 80's, plenty of sunshine, blue skies, and lush greenery all around:) 
“Among the changing months, May stands confest The sweetest, and in fairest colors dressed.” 
~James Thomson  
If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. ~Vincent Van Gogh:
I was pruning the lower branches of our apple trees, the other day and these Red Admiral butterflies were fluttering around everywhere. They seem to like these fragrant apple blossoms as much as I do. I love the colors on this one and how pretty it looks against the leafy greens:
Click the link HERE to identify butterflies species in your yard.
To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment:
~Jane Austen
" Creation Songs"~  Muriel Strode
I know the thrill of the grasses when the rain pours over them
I know the trembling of the leaves when the winds sweep through them
I know what the white clover felt as it held a drop of dew pressed close in its beauteousness
I know the quivering of the fragrant petals at the touch of the pollen-legged bees


I know what the stream said to the dipping willows, and what the moon said to the sweet lavender
Mason jar filled with apple blossoms


I know what the stars said when they came stealthily down and crept fondly into the tops of the trees


 I'm loving this vintage postcard scene of the Eiffel tower. Click HERE for the image and HERE to view the same image used to wrap clay pots.
I like how this little pillow turned out :
I used white linen for the pillow:
I like the image-transfer sheets (I used the one for lighter fabrics) for ink-jet printers, so easy to use:
 I added a tag to the mason jar with an image of a butterfly found HERE:


The burlap square was added to the back of the tag as an extra layering. I love layering tags for different texture:


This oval wire basket is a recent find from my favorite Home Goods and I'm loving it!
I hope you enjoyed visiting my backyard and I enjoyed the pleasure of your company. I love the apple trees in my yard and look forward to their beautiful white fragrant blossoms every year. Click HERE to view my apple blossom tea party from last year:


My thanks to Mary @Boogieboard Cottage and Terri @A Creative Princess for featuring my love of creating  gemstone jewelry HERE and HERE
and to Bunny Jean @ Bunny Jeans Decor and more for my Frenchy pot feature HERE
Thank you ladies, you made my week absolutely wonderful and made me smile:)


Have a nice weekend, everyone!


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