Free Ways to Add Plants to Your Winter Home

I tolerate love winter. A chance to draw inward, reflect ... and dream of spring.

No, seriously, I love many parts of winter: the fact that there are no bugs when you do things outside, no heat waves with 90 percent humidity, and the smell of the air. I think it never smells more fresh than when it's below 30 degrees.

It's hard though, when you're a nature lover and outdoorsy type, to embrace winter fully. Getting dressed to go for a simple walk sometimes feels like a Herculean feat.

After the Christmas decorations had been put away, it felt like the front of the house was so bland. It also reminded me how much I want to paint the shutters (black) and the front door (pumpkin, red or yellow).

I took to the backyard and created this swag from miscellaneous branches from pine, cedar and lilac trees. It took about 15 minutes and I used the silver bow from the top of the Christmas tree along with an old necklace and a bird ornament one of my sister's gave me to add a little bling.

If you don't live where you can easily find free branches--maybe you're in the city or an apartment, you might check your local plant nursery or florist. Even though these won't be free, I bet they wouldn't be super expensive.

Or you could go this route and add some green inside:

Not got a lot of space to #garden in the city? Create your own herb garden using old plastic bottles! #green pic.twitter.com/79wsDQnoKP

— Veolia UK (@VeoliaUK) January 11, 2016

How can you add a little nature to your decor this time of the year? Share your ideas and/or links to inspire us!

Dining Room ... Do or Don't?

Do you have a dining room? If so, do you use it often for the purpose it was intended?

In our old house, we had a large room with tons of big windows that was the perfect space for a dining room. We used it for birthdays and occasional parties with friends, dinners with other couples and, later for other purposes.

In our new(er) house, there was a room which was supposed to be a dining room. While I ran my writing business, the space was my office.

I've been dreaming of turning the space into a dining room again. Maybe it would encourage me to invite more friends over for dinners and art nights?

The space is still developing, still opening its petals. I'll post pictures of it as it is now, soon. (The bar cart sits in the corner of this room, and I love that it adds a little glamour.) Here is one wall--this is what you see as you enter the room from the front door.

Old vintage sign, thrifted box and vase, and my little owl friend

Upcycling a Bowl

Do you ever wander the store aisles looking at things and wondering what else they could be?

Take for instance, this lowly fruit bowl. (At least, I think that's what it's meant for.) While I was in the market for a jewelry organizer/necklace hanger thing, I spotted this. I liked the circles and the color was good, so I picked it up for a better look.

I didn't need a fruit bowl. But turn it upside down what do we have here?

With a bit of fishing line, it was easily hung from a ceiling hook. It's been holding my expanding collection of necklaces every since.

What is one of your favorite multi-use items? 

Gorgeous, Nearly Free, Fabric Cabbage Roses

I'm so looking forward to getting the time to make these gorgeous, swoon-worthy cabbage roses and peonies. Have you made anything similar?

Full confession--I haven't watched the tutorial all the way through. I did, however, attempt an abbreviated version of the photo tutorial ... unfortunately, my results would fit right into the Pinterest Fail category. 

I've got high hopes though that once I get to watch this complete video tutorial, all the wrinkles will be smoothed out sort of speak. 

An Upcylced Hat for my Mother-in-Law

It was a few days before Christmas and I still wanted to pick up one more gift for my mother-in-law. She's definitely a "girly girl," and loves all things vintage. I knew she wouldn't be offended in the least if I gave her a second-hand hat.

I found this one:

Note the strange band with buttons on each side--it was just sort of flopping around. 

It wasn't the prettiest hat I've ever seen but the price was right ($5) and I knew I could do something creative with it.

(Side note: I used to hold a yearly tea to raise money for Shared Hope International--an organization which works to end sex trafficking around the world. I re-made lots and lots of hats then ... so much fun!)

I was tempted to run to the local craft store for some supplies. After clearing/de-cluttering a LOT last year, I don't have as much on hand. I decided to see what I did have first though and was pleasantly surprised.

I found:

1. Autumn-colored fake flowers that looked real (not like many of the awful silk ones)
2. A little corsage-type thing I'd made from bits of vintage fabric and lace years ago (and had completely forgotten about)
3. A tiny fake bird
4. A vintage clip on earring that had lost its match

I put all of these together with some sewing and a bit of hot glue and got this: 

Aren't frugal projects the most fun? What have you created lately? Please link to your post so we can see! 

An Afternoon at Downton Abbey

I have been watching Downton Abbey for quite a while. I got started a little late--I think Season 3 was playing when I started watching--but I quickly caught up thanks to binge watching episode after episode via DVD.

Last year I treated myself to a Downton Gala for my birthday. What a fun night! Here's a shot from last January:

The magic of the green screen!

This year, I held a Downton Afternoon. Decorating was half the fun: my budget (as always) was as close to zero as possible.

I found these flowers and ivy at a thrift shop and paired them with a candelabra that I've had for several years.

Snacks and tea ... lots of tea. 

Not only was it fun to play dress up and feel "fancy," but we enjoyed a stimulating conversation and shared a little about what it's like to be a woman in today's society, versus various times in history. It wasn't a chit-chat sort of conversation, it was deep and full and I loved it.

Me, basking in Downton glow.

After everyone had gone, I spent a long time just basking in the glow of the perfect afternoon.

Do you watch Downton Abbey? If so, which was your favorite season?

2016 Hopes, Dreams & Creative Plans

Happy Holidays~Joyeux Noel~Merry Christmas~Happy New Year! 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, filled with light, laughter and the companionship of good friends and family, time to enjoy the special smells, tastes and feelings that happen only this time of the year and a chance to breathe sometime during the busy season. 

We enjoyed a lovely Christmas ... and for the first time in I don't know how long, I didn't even feel tempted to dismantle the tree on December 26th! This is a record for me. In fact, it's still up in all it's silver and blue glory.

I'm glad it's now a new year, though I never make resolutions anymore (too discouraging) and rarely do anything special like go out and party the night before. Who wants to start the next year off hungover? 

I have been working on a mental list of creative projects and home-caring goals though. 

One is to do more sewing, especially upcycling. I have been drooling inspired by so many great pins on Pinterest and once I figure out how my new Instagram account works, I'm sure I'll find even more there. 

I would love to find a local sewing group to take classes, or better yet, just a circle of other women who I could meet with to sew and ask questions of. My skills are still pretty basic. 

Here is a creation I recently finished. I'm happily placing some of these items in the vintage shop in town. A friend and I are sharing a room there which I'm thrilled about. 

Posy made from upholstery fabric from a previous project

Vest--on it's way to Goodwill before I saved it from the bag

I have a bunch of other projects I'd like to try: reworking old hats, making hair accessories (Downton Abbey-style), skirts, tops, maybe making a neck warmer or two out of old suits ... 

In addition, this year we're planning to get chickens once again. We had them at our previous house but relocated them when we moved. This will require a coop and outdoor pen of some kind. 

I'd like to build another raised bed for the garden and a smaller raised bed to transplant some strawberry plants my Mom has been offering me. I'd love to also put hedge or fencing across the backyard for more privacy. (I've been wanting to do this for the past four years--will this year be the magical one where I actually take action?)

I want to learn some garden design. Someday my dream is to have a garden that looks half as good as this beautiful White Garden that Brandy created. I created an herb garden last year and loved it .. even though I forgot to collect herbs out of it most of the summer. (In fact, the little green sprig on the table above is rosemary from that garden. You can tell it's been an unseasonably mild winter here in Vermont for there to be anything green left outside other than pine trees.) 

Lastly, I want to keep saving for my next adventure, whatever that may be. We're planning a big trip this spring out west as a family, but I always have a jar of change that I save for my next solo adventure. Maybe one with Sisters on the Fly? Or maybe buying a vintage camper like I've been dreaming of?