Freshly Picked//Flower Crown Friday

happy friday friends

as most of you are beginning your weekend

i am heartbroken to say that mine is ending

and tomorrow begins my work week

so in order to forget about my weekend ending blues

i grabbed my clippers

wire and wire cutters

and some freshly cut blooms

my hands went to work

and this is what came about

a flower crown

naturally

fresh picks

dahlias

gomphrena

russian sage

jasmine

wax flower

dusty miller

seeded cone flower

if i could i would probably wear a flower crown every day

but that might be a bit excessive

so for now we will stick to friday's

happy flower crown friday

and have a great weekend!

DIY flower crown tutorial-straight from the garden

i don't know exactly what it is

but there is something so wonderful about wearing flowers in my hair

it brings me back to being a little girl

carefree

running around barefoot in the yard

picking flowers

making mud pies

it stirs up something in my soul

it makes me long for adventure and wonder

it's romantic

it's magical

it's beautiful

so naturally 

i love the idea of flower crowns for weddings

i can't think of a better occasion for a woman

to adorn her hair with bunches of gorgeous blooms

if i ever get married

you bet i'll be wearing flowers in my hair

forget jewelry

 i'll be accessorising with florals

but until then

i'll just be making flower crowns for others

but if you ever find yourself wanting to make a flower crown of your own

whether it's for a wedding or just for fun

i've got a little tutorial for you

it's literally easy as 1, 2, 3

and it's a bundle of fun

and you don't have to go very far to get your florals 

or even spend any money on them

just step outside into your yard

i guarantee you will have plenty to work with

be creative
and let your inner wild child run free

bringing you back to those daisy chain days

things you'll need

thin green floral wire

millinery wire 

wire cutters

flower snippers

a few of your favorite florals from the garden

florals i cut

lavender

oregano 

maidenhair fern

agapanthus

crape myrtle flowers

scabiosa

yarrow

privet leaves

step 1. 

use millinery wire. measure where you want your crown to rest on your head. connect the ends of the wire by wrapping them around each other tightly so it stays in place. you now have the base of your crown.

step 2.

 use some small greens to cover the millinery wire. i used herbs from the garden. place your greens around the crown and use your thin floral wire to attach them, wiring as you go.

step 3. 

now attach the rest of your favorite florals

by gathering them and wiring them to the crown just like you wired the greens. you can wire them individually as well as in little bunches, whichever way is easiest for you. 

i chose to do a cluster of flowers just on one side of my crown, but there are no rules. you can place flowers wherever you want on your crown.

once you're done attaching your flowers

you are finished and can enjoy

your very own floral crown.

don't be afraid to be creative

this is your flower crown

let your personality shine through your design

and have fun!

Terrarium Tuesday: the fool proof terrarium tutorial

so

you want to make a terrarium

but you're afraid you're going to kill it

well i've got a confession

i {just like many of you} kill plants

{gasp}

what? the plant loving, terrarium building, floral designer girl kills plants?..

you bet i do

want proof

this used to be the cutest little fern

then i killed it

{my bad}

the thing is

plants have minds of their own

sure there are very specific reasons a plant dies

{i've studied every possible scientific cause of their death}

but in my opinion

plants are going to do what they want to do when they want to do it

regardless of how much we tend to them

if they want to die

they're going to

and sometimes it's the opposite

a completely neglected plant will continue living and living and living

and just not quit

{even if you want it to}

minds of their own i tell you

minds of their own

well here is a tutorial for all you self proclaimed

"plant killers"

it's the easiest terrarium you will ever make

and one that you don't have to worry about dying days after you make it

it is absolutely fool proof

materials

glass container

sand

craft moss bought at michaels

small pebbles

twig cut from our mulberry tree

instructions

pour as much or as little sand as you want into jar

add your moss

add your pebbles

add your twig{s}

enjoy your kill proof 

and absolutely adorably darling terrarium!

Happy Terrarium Tuesday!

DIY Terrarium Tutorial: Reuse, Recycle & Regenerate

its the perfect tuesday
for a little dose of terrariums

i've got a huge thing for terrariums

they're adorable and pretty stinking cool
and they make my heart flutter all over the place

 you can find them just about anywhere now
i found these in a clothing boutique on pier 39 in san francisco for $20
{which is a bit steep if you ask me...}

i also have a mini obsession with glass jars
they're just so nifty

maybe its because you can use them for anything

{drinking, crafting, q-tip holding...literally anything}

and sometimes it's that olive jar, jam jar, or pasta sauce jar sitting in your recycle

that will make the perfect terrarium

 no need to spend your life savings on a crate and barrel apothecary jar

{though i wouldn't mind owning one or two of those...}

when you can just reuse use what you already have

 i also have this soft spot in my heart for reject plants

you know
the ones that sit on the clearance racks in garden sections

waiting for their imminent death
they're just so sad

i always do a quick walk by just in case i can save a plant or two

and bring them back to health
and sometimes a terrarium is the perfect place
for a helpless plant to regenerate and make its comeback
and on occasion there will be a very sweet guy working in the garden department 
who will just give you clearanced plants for free
{a smile may increase your chances}

so here's a little DIY terrarium tutorial for those of you
 that like to reuse, recycle and don't want to break the bank

my materials

olive jar, pasta sauce jar, baby food jar, kerr jar, all from the recycle {$0}
irish moss Sagina subulata purchased with a home depot gift card {$0}
a rescued zebra plant Hawthornia fasciata {$0}
a rescued echeveria hybrid Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' {$0}
soil from a potted plant in yard {$0}
rocks from yard {$0}
bark and twigs collected from yard {$0}

the moss terrarium

1. begin by placing a layer of rocks in your container

2. add a layer of soil

3. remove moss from container and break up rootball

4. place moss in container and press down gently to nest it into the top of the layer of soil

5. add rocks, bark, twigs, or figurines for embellishment

{if desired}

6. water enough so things are moist but do not saturate 

7. place lid on container

{lid will need to be removed occasionally for air flow}

8. enjoy your creation!

the succulent terrarium

1. place layer of rocks then a layer of soil

2. remove succulent from container break up root ball

3. place succulent{s} in soil

4. use a spoon to add soil around the succulent

5. add embellishments 

{i added some moss and bark}

6. water but do not put a lid on the container

{succulents need air circulation}

7. soak up the cuteness!

follow same steps for these smaller plantings

for $0

i recycled 4 glass jars

saved two succulents

 made 4 terrariums

and had an absolute blast doing it

terrariums are perfect for table tops

bookshelves

window sills

and make great gifts

{housewarming, get well, birthday, just because...}

i'm currently keeping these little guys all to myself though

as they've now made their new home on the dresser in my bedroom

DIY Flowers; Use Your Resources

Some people daydream about laying on secluded beaches

with waves of crystal clear water 

flowing ever so softly onto white sands

all while sipping on a pina colada.

{don't get me wrong, I would venture to this place in a heartbeat}

But I,

I spend my days daydreaming about getting lost in 

lush, moss covered, fern filled forests,

groves of aspen and pine trees

and of course running care free through meadows of wildflowers

{picking only the perfect ones to make a bouquet of course}

I'm a sucker for wildflowers.

I melt at the sight of them

and I swoon at the thought of them.

So any opportunity I get to snag some

you bet I will.

I was biking home from work the other day and couldn't help but notice

 large patches of queen anne's lace as I was trucking along.

I didn't have any pruning sheers with me.

Yeah, that didn't stop me.

I picked me some wildflowers,

put them in my backpack and biked a couple more miles home.

As I pulled up to my apartment I couldn't help but notice the 

ballerina indian hawthorne outside our complex,

{in full bloom}

 and of course I snagged myself some.

A few minutes later

and we had wildflower bouquets in the apartment

My heart and soul were oh so happy.

For anyone who is into DIY flowers 

I suggest picking your own.

Don't pay for them.

Use your resources.

They really are everywhere!

Queen Anne's Lace is a great example.

This is big in the wedding circuit right now.

People pay actual money for this stuff

when it's a weed that grows wild on the side of the road.

So grab your garden sheers,

hop out of your car

and grab some wildflowers for yourself.

DIY SucculentTerrarium Tutorial

I love Terrariums.
I love the oohhss and  aahhss I hear when people glance at them.
I love the wide eyes kids get as they inspect
 the tiny, magical, enclosed garden.
I love the smiles they bring people.
I love that they can spruce up a bookshelf, coffee table, desk
or even add that perfect touch to a windowsill.
And I love that I can bring my oh so favorite outdoors indoors.

Another thing I love?
How incredibly easy they are to make.
Here is a little tutorial on how to make your very own succulent terrarium.

Materials:
any glass jar
{found mine in the cupboard}
potting soil and assorted Aloe plants
{great prices and selection at my local Wal Mart}
rocks and twigs
{from around my apartment complex)
moss
paintbrush
big bowl
spoon

{1} place a layer of rocks at the bottom of your glass container,

this helps with drainage.

{2}cover rocks with a layer of your potting soil,

as much or as little as you desire.

{3} remove your succulents from their containers,

break up the root ball and get rid of excess soil.

{I actually split my larger Aloe plant into three}

{4} Use your finger, a spoon, etc. 

to dig and make spaces in the soil for your plants.

{5} place plants in desired locations.

{6} after plants are placed in the container,

add more soil to cover any exposed roots 

and to help secure the plants in place.

{7} When you're plants are planted and you're done adding your soil,

use a small brush to brush of excess soil that may be stuck in the plants crevices. 

{8}now it's time to add those personal touches!

add twigs, moss, rocks or whatever tickles your fancy to give your terrarium some character.

{9} enjoy your new little, bitty garden

{10} enjoy your new little, bitty garden.

Happy terrarium building to you!

DIY Vintage Dresser Makeover

I recently got my hands on a 75 year old dresser

and it was love at first sight.

Everything on it was original.

The paint,

to the adorable key holes,

and even the cute crystal knobs.

This dresser is what I call truly"vintage" 

and it was in need of some serious TLC.

It just so happened at the time that I was itching for a new project to do

and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

A makeover was in order

and all it took was 7 easy peasy steps.

{step 1}

Began by removing all the hardware.

{step 2}

Sanded down the oil based paint.

{step 3}

Used a wet cloth and wiped off excess dust from sanding.

{step 4}

Primed it up!

{step 5}

Picked out and purchased paint at Sherwin Williams.

(my new favorite paint store)

{step 6}

Painted and let dry.

{step 7}

 I gave it a new home.

So it was out with the old hand me down from my college years...

and in with the "new"...

Love Language

This is how I tell someone I love them.....

I make them a mason jar terrarium.

You should try it sometime,

it's so fun!