The looking garden...inspiration for our indoor days

We should make space not only in our garden{s} for plants. Living greenery inside our homes has been known for decades to aid in cleaning our air, which we all know during winter with the house all shut up, the air can get rather stale.

 "The good news is that a classic NASA study found that common house plants could improve air quality. In fact, they reported that houseplants were able to remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours. The recommendation? Use 15 to 18 "good-sized" house plants in 6- to 8-inch diameter containers for an 1,800 square-foot house.

Plants can remove a variety of toxic air emissions including ammonia, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene, xylene and trichloroethytene.  Remember-the healthier the plant, the more purifying it will be." sourced from sixwise.

Spice up the average house plant look with a recent added interest of mine. SUCCULENTS! Their not just for "green roofs". Oh yes, the Earthy upcoming wedding has spurred this all on. Imagine, one of those moss planters from my last post with a few added succulents of purple tinge Rosettes, coordinating with the color scheme she has chosen. They would POP against the moss & odd Sedums. 

This succulent bowl, arranged with candles, is a look I may very well incorporate to the outdoor decor. Very possibly, in my home before & after the big day:

Now lets hop away from the average containers used for our house plants and check out the
Living Walls! or more like Framed living art!

The best part of this version is that by using a picture frame and chicken wire over the moss, you drastically reduce the Modern art look by giving it more of a "Country Living" influence. PLUS by spreading out the low amount of succulents you may have {they do average just over $3 each online}, you spend less when combined with a Thrift store Frame. Just allow time to provide babies for filling it out. An ever changing piece visual.

 YOU can make this Living indoor art by clicking over to Ready Made* for all the How to. 

{ http://www.readymade.com/projects/framed_vertical_succulent_garden/next_step#steps }

Psst. This would be the time to start begging and passing word you are on the hunt for some succulents. Tell all your friends, your mom, your brother. The Post lady and your/their coworkers. There is bound to be someone willingly to bear these little gems into your hands. They are easy to care for & there is always someone thinning out the babies they produce. Oh! & if you come across an extra amount,especially purple ones, .... Feel free to send them my way! I promise to share their final locations in planned projects. sigh..the downfalls of being a semi hermit Lady... So few to beg succulents from!

  Want something a little easier that even those who claim a black thumb can enjoy? Air plant living wall art!! 

This style is far too modern for me but the idea & concept is rather Impressive by Flora Grubb Gardens.

 How about combining the two in a Living wreath? 

"So your getting a Wreath & a little Garden, all in one".

The how to for this Holiday Everlasting wreath from Flora Grubb gardens " The Cutting Garden ": 

{ http://floragrubb.com/cutting/?p=400 }

I especially like the very detailed, {cough. cough ...lots of pictures} tutorial for an all out succulent wreath over at Sparrow Post for this one :

http://www.sparrowpost.net/oldschool/wreath.html

Be sure to check out the proper zone & needs before ordering succulents online.Explore away and get creative! Let the pieces above inspire you to experiment with things around you. Like the bowl idea? Why not try making a light weight Hypertufa bowl or make the trough shape to fit along that odd corner of a room? Fine Gardening has a very nice how to with visuals {did you really think I would have it any other way?}. The possibilities are endless.

The Holidays are fast upon us and I find I am not as productive in projects as I would like. My goal is to get some bowls & troughs made up this week as well as Help little Man BEGIN his present for Panda in the wood shop. He is making Bedside "Dog steps" for use by Ming the Peke being Panda's Bed is set very high up. He is using cedar shingles for the stepping portion with sides a solid wood, painted in the color of her theme. Now Ming the Peke can hop from bed to bed throughout the night without waking anyone up with her falling and whining. Maybe I can put an order in for my bedside as well...

Sweetest Dreams,

~Tammie

Making and Loving Moss recipe {plus a sneak of wedding plans}

The love affair with woodlands has no known beginning for me. I have always been drawn to Ferns, forests, Moss and creek beds. Something of recent has brought me to step into a direction of incorporating them into our home. I have tried to raise ferns which seem to not favor our interior environment of old homes. In winter, they always die off. I will try again soon but my topic today is MOSS! Soft luxurious green moss with their irresistible earthy appeal.

The love of moss is everywhere! Once I began looking for it, I noticed it is almost everywhere I go. Why, just check out this link for Wow adoration on Green Graffiti. Moss is amazing and rather GREEN for so many uses.

So what has brought this on of late? I am planning a wedding! Not mine but a dearest friends. We are so similar in our likes and ways plus she has asked I be a bridesmaid as well as help plan this wedding. So of course I jumped feet first and loving every minute of it. The feel is so very hard to describe being most hear "hippie" and it's just not the same as her vision. Semi casual, earthy, outdoor and intimate are just a few words I would use. With a twist of Bohemian romance & woodland feel.

Now the moss comes into play where decor is needed. I have it in my head to whip up some troughs of various wood and cement structures to grow and fill out for setting around the outdoor reception. centerpieces as well. Like this one:

 and this one:

 Moss is easy to whip up with a decent backyard source like mine and plenty of time {a year and a half} to tend to their growth. I have found 2 ways to grow it. {Share Courtesy of About.com in gardening by Marie Iannotti}

............................................................ 

1. The easiest way to get a patch of moss started is to take a piece from somewhere else and move it. Rake and scratch the surface of the soil you’re going to be putting it on, so that the filaments make good contacts. Wet the are and lay the moss on top of it. Press is well into the soil. It even helps if you pin it in place or put some light rocks on it to anchor it. Newly transplanted moss will need to be kept moist for the first few weeks. You can tell you moss as taken when it doesn’t lift with a light tug.

It’s probably wise to take your transplant moss from a similar surface to minimize transplant problems. 

How to Get Moss to Grow on Rocks, Bricks or Pots

It’s a little harder to start moss on a rock by simply lifting it and moving it. To grow moss on rocks, bricks or pots, many people have luck cultivating moss by mixing it with buttermilk and painting it on the new surface.

Moss Making Recipe:

• 2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt
• 1 - 1 1/2 cups of chopped-up moss (Fresh or Dried)

Mix until creamy and spreadable. If the mixture is too thick, add a small amount of water. If it’s too thin, add more moss.

Paint the mixture onto the new surface. You can allow the mixture to sit for a day or two, to start the process. You may get mold first, but by about week 6 you should see signs of moss.

**To keep your moss growing well, you need to maintain ideal moss conditions: shade, moisture and a low soil pH. You’ll also need to keep the weeds out. Moss can’t compete for moisture with the roots of weeds.

 ....................................................

The love for Ferns and woodlands come into play with this easy idea of slicing a log for the cake stand! Perfect even after a wedding. Fern fronds laid about to pull it together. Wonder what cake she will decide on...

 

 What is a Natural setting event without some Homemade favors! Wild Blackberries are abundant {and free} around me & her Mum. Perfect to go with the dark purple flowers she has her heart set on. I must keep my eye out for sales on decorative canning jars. Really do not want to use the everyday kind for such a special piece. I do believe she will adore the label with this idea as well.

 The other piece of decor I have set my eyes on long ago when we first discussed her getting married...Chandeliers! Grapevines with moss tidbits and wild grasses. Votives in glass holders secured between the hanging apparatus {not sure if we would use heavy duty rustic rope or rusted chains} for hanging in the canopy dining tents.

So be prepared for much more woodland love coming from this chick. Oh, and I have yet to mention I am planting that back garden I gave up on/downsized from, outside the picket fence, in cutting flowers. Beyond Frogs little strip of flowers I had mentioned previously. Nope. We are going to Market this next summer! Looks like long stem Sweet peas will be one of my main growers. White Willow, the Bride, may be using the DARK purple Sweet peas in her wedding too. This year is the trial garden and I have been devouring so much beauty on this endeavor.... Reneesgarden.com has been seeing A LOT of traffic from this house.

I am succumbing to a sore throat and must hop off to the herb store for lozenge ingredients. This time I am adding lemon extract...and hiding them from the kids. They are THAT good.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

ECO Wedding

 Ideas for conscious wedding

  

Photo Float Away Studios

DIY decoration, banners...

                                               

Lang Photographers (colours modified)

  ...and signs



 

Photo Ewie of Scandinavia

  Buy used dress, have it upcycled to your size&style. Use the flowers in season.

Photo Parolan Asema

  Make a bouquet and table decoration from wild flowers.



Photo Grazier Photography (colour modified)

Ecological wedding transportation.

Photo Float Away Studios

  ...with small footprint...

Guest Project -- Throw a Rustic Wedding & make a DIY Tree Cupcake Stand {tutorial}

Happy Friday Tatertots and Jello readers!

I'm Andrea, your guest blogger today from *Keepin it Thrifty*

*Keepin it Thrifty* is my collection of DIY, thrifty fashions, Goodwill finds, & anything thrifty

Stop by and take a look, I love meeting new thrifty people. :)

Today, I'm so excited to share with you my DIY Rustic Cupcake Stand. Tatertots & Jello

is my favorite blog when it comes to inspiration.

Thereis always so many wonderful things linked up to the Weekend Wrap Up Party, you guys are amazing and very inspiring!!

I hope this tutorial inspires you! 

DIY Rustic Cupcake Stand Tutorial

  Step 1. Cut three stair step size logs to your desired size.
Mine was 10, 12, & 15"

Step 2. Cut two smaller size logs.

{these will go in the middle}

Mine was 6"

Step 3. Take your drill & screw and drill into the above tier

make sure you go in at a angle.

{like shown in pic below}

Step 4. Repeat step three to the opposite side. You want to make sure your smaller log is securely screwed to the top tier and to the bottom.
Note: you will use four screws for each tier

 



Step 5. Take one screw and drill it into the top. Once again, making sure it is secure.

Step 6.  Repeat steps 3 -5 for each tier 

{this is what your stand should look like so far}

It's really simple and just think of it as a "stacking method"
Step 7. Your FINISHED

This is what your rustic cupcake stand should look like finished.

And here is my cupcake stand at my wedding.

{5-22-11}

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial! 

Jen, thank you so much again for allowing me to share with your readers my tutorial. It's a honor to be on your blog!

Here are a few more DIY wedding crafts I made for my wedding.

 {inspiration}

Birchwood Centerpieces

 Real Wood Coasters

DIY Rustic Ring Bearer

And to see a sneak peek at my wedding in pictures

click here

 Wow - what a beautiful wedding Andrea!! 

Thank you for sharing it with us!!!

I love the birch tree arbor that you were married under! 

Be sure to check out Keeping it Thrifty for more great ideas, like: 

 {Lover's Wreath}

{and I love Andreas What I Wore posts, where she shows how us how she takes thrift store finds and turns them into fabulous outfits!}

{Aren't Andrea and her new hubby adorable? Congratulations to them!!}

Be sure to head over to Keeping it Thrifty to find out what's next for Andrea! 

xoxo

I love that Rustic Wedding/Party theme idea! 

 Here are a few more pretty Rustic links: 

 

 {Rustic table Numbers @ Le Fru Fru}

{The Knot}

{Shop Ruche}

{Kayce's Blog} PS -- It's Fri-day!!! Time for the Weekend Wrap Up Party!!! 
I am SO excited to see what YOU have been working on this week! I'd love to have you link up tonight. The party starts at 6 pm MST.  

A pretty wedding gift idea -- Etched Chevron Glasses and Pitcher {Tutorial}

You may have noticed that I have a new obsession lately -- Chevron or Zig Zag Patterns.

{my painted Chevron Rug}

{Chevron Pennants} 

 {Chevron Summertime Subway Art project}

And since it’s Spring, with weddings in the air. I thought a really cool wedding or engagement gift would be a set of Etched Chevron Glasses with a matching Pitcher.



 

I took a Chevron I had downloaded from the Silhouette Online Store and I measured around the outside of each glass. And I also measured around the widest point in the pitcher. Now let me say that I don’t recommend trying to make this with a pitcher that is rounded. A flat, cylinder pitcher would be much easier. I didn’t realize this when I started the project – lol!

I created a Silhouette document with the Chevron pattern. I decided to make two Chevron stripes on each glass, so I needed to print out three chevrons for each glass. But if you want to make more stripes, you need one more vinyl stripe than the number of stripes you want to make.

Then print off the vinyl and apply each of the Chevron stripes to the glasses. Once you get the bottom stripe on the glass, you can match up the zig zags pretty easily.

Now the pitcher is a different story. I ended up only being able to use two of the stripes on the pitcher because the way the pitcher is shaped made it impossible to match up the zig zags. But if you bought a straight pitcher shaped more like the glasses, you can do the same thing that you did with the glasses.

Once the vinyl is applied to the glasses and pitcher, use the smoothing tool to make sure that there are no gaps in the vinyl that the etching cream can get under. And make sure to protect your work surface. The Silhouette Etching Cream directions says to not use a paint brush to apply the cream, only use the smoothing tool. I found it was very difficult to get the cream smooth without using a paint brush. So this is what I did --- I used a foam craft brush to brush on the etching cream on the glasses and then smoothed the cream over the whole surface with the smoothing tool.

Then leave the cream on for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, rinse off the cream with water. if there are streaks or areas that didn’t take the cream that well, you can apply another layer of the cream. I did this with the pitcher. I had to apply the cream twice to get an even coverage.

And there you have it – a unique wedding gift or addition to your place setting for a party or get-together this Spring!!

Try the etching cream --- you will love all of the fun gifts and home décor ideas that you can make using it.



**Now - you could totally make this without a Silhouette machine too. Simply take tape and tape off the chevron pattern and then apply the cream the same as above. And voila -- you have a pretty wedding gift! 

xoxo

Have a Wonderful Day!!!