garden trellis

A few weeks ago I mentioned, in my column for The Leaf Chronicle, the fact that I had assembled a pyramid-shaped garden trellis using some inexpensive, pre-made trellises.

Here’s how you can make one, too.

You will need:

Three rose trellises

one 8” terra cotta pot

plastic tie straps

shovel

a good friend, flown in from Norway and her adorable daughter

vine seeds and water

First, ask your friend to hold the first two trellises in position, while she is also attempting to explain to her 3 1/2 year old why she must wait to attach the plastic tie straps.

Quickly mark position for the points of contact  for each of the trellises in order to “plant” the ends in the ground.  This will give the structure additional stability when it “runs into” your 90 lb dog.

 

Once you are sure you’ve got the three pieces positioned correctly (check to ensure it relatively level—I used a brick to level this one), then pack the dirt around the points of contact.

You can then turn the three-year-old loose with the strip ties.

I also used basic “L” shaped stakes to add a little more stability.

Plant seeds and enlist the help of someone interested in topping-off your efforts with a little water.

Add an inverted flower pot to the peak of the pyramid.

I have a finial for the top, but wanted to make sure the contraption would withstand the typical elements of the area before I topped it.  (I think the storms tonight will give me the opportunity to find my answer.)

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for your indulgence,

Last Night When I Got Home

I found myself thinking . . .

 

. . . a house in the suburbs—you know the kind with an attached garage—would be kind of nice.

 

especially when I’ve got a load of these, no kids at home to help and it’s raining.

 

Then I look out the passenger window and see this and I think, so what’s a little rain?

 

Then I thought about what my big plans for the evening included and I relaxed even more.

I have yet to get caught-up in Downton Abbey, but fully intend to do so (thanks to the loan of the first two seasons from my friend, Kimberly).  I thought I’d pop in a DVD and peruse the new issues of Mingle and Somerset Life.

I was able to achieve part of that plan.  I popped-in the DVD and started the first episode (I’m hooked, by-the-by), then remembered I promised Kendall I would get her the information she needs to post some future Artful Origins workshops.  So, I left the magazines on the ottoman and picked-up the laptop instead.

I was able to pull-together two workshops and watch two episodes of Downton Abbey.  Not quite as I planned, but I was able to check something off of the “to do” list, so sleep came a little easier.

Here’s a sampling of what we will be creating:

Two Birds of a Feather plates

This workshop will be on Tuesday, April 2nd at 6:30 a.m.

 

The other one I pulled together is:

flowers for flip flops

This workshop will be on Sunday, April 30th at 2 p.m.  It will be an early Mother’s Day celebration of sorts.  So, sign-up with your daughter, your friend or come by yourself—we will have lots of fun and we make these vintage inspired embellishments for a pair of basic flip flops.

For more information on these and other workshops, please visit our blog at Artful Origins.

Thanks, as always, for your indulgence!

You Can Tell a Book by Its Cover

. . . or lack thereof.
I love decorating with books.  Books are something many of us have—some of us have them in abundance.  Which makes them an easy “go to” for our decorating needs.
I’ve helped a few clients redecorate their home and often the simplest changes I make include repositioning the books on their bookcases or end tables.  I am usually met with comments like, “Now, why didn’t I think of that?”
I am especially fond of using vintage books to add interest and history to your decorating schemes.
Here are a few tips for using vintage books in your décor.
You  can use books elevate something small, like this postcard, to a level of importance.  (The green ribbon draws attention to the greens of the postcard.)
 
This would make a lovely display on a nightstand—a bedside carafe and small bird’s nest set atop a stack of vintage volumes is intriguing.


I also like removing the worn covers of some books.  I usually only do this when the binding has already been torn or become very loose.  I check for indicators of value—such as first editions—but readily admit I don’t know what I’m looking for most times.


I like the neutral appearance of a stack of naked books.  They will compliment a display without taking it over.
I will usually leave the cover or title page, but often it’s worth looking further and removing a few more pages for a more poignant commentary . . . 


I love finding books with handwritten notes in them.  This one simply tells us to whom the book once belonged, but often you will find notes from the giver to the recipient when the book was presented as a special, thoughtful gift.


And then there is the most basic of book displays.  I am not sure why I find these vintage books so fascinating, but I do.  I cannot pass-up a display of books.  Sometimes I buy them by the lot and don’t have the chance to peruse them until they’ve been on display in the shop.



I’ve also been known to use books to create other items, such as this Pages and Ribbons Garland:

(In fact, we’ve got another workshop scheduled so you can make one, too!  Check-out our Artful Origins blog page for details about this class and more.)
Recently, I’ve started altering books in other ways; it’s referred to “page folding.”  Here’s a quick tutorial to get you started:


Find the approximate center of the book (I usually see how many pages are in the book and divide by two—the answer is the approximate center.)  Fold six pages in half—I usually fold in pairs, folding toward each other—create a good crease.  These are your “center folds.”

Leave two flat pages before folding the next group of six pages to the left of your flat pages; then, leaving two flat pages again, fold six pages to the right.   Continue, alternating left then right of the original “center folds.”

Once you’ve folded nine or so sets of six pages—fold the pairs of two flat pages toward each other, WITHOUT creating a crease.  Just leave them kind of “bowed.”

Here is the finished product:

You can use it as an objet d’art or you can display items between the pages—photos, postcards, greeting cards, love notes!

If you need some more inspiration, you might visit You Tube for video instruction. (I would have videoed my tutorial, but that would have taken another month or so . . . I’m so techy!)  When you get to You Tube, type in the search “book page folding;” that will yield good results.
This is a very basic technique, but there are many other ways to fold pages that yield very fanciful results.  This “level” of page folding is a relaxing project that can be done in front of the TV.

Haven't linked with Debra at Common Ground in a while, but I think this one is "link worthy" so . . . be sure to visit!

be inspired

  
Thanks for your indulgence,

Somerset Studio—The Art of Paper and Mixed Media

People are often commenting that they think it would be so much fun to have a shop like mine—especially when it comes to buying the inventory. 
They’re right.
But one of the more difficult decisions we have to make is when to let stuff go.  Sometimes, more often than I care to really consider, I buy stuff that just doesn’t resonate with others they way it did with me.  That is when I have to decide to put it on sale and/or stop re-ordering. 
I thought, in a moment of  “I need to cut-back in a few areas,” that I would look a the sales of my Stampington publications—some, honestly, move slower than others.  So I did what any responsible retailer would do—I looked at what was left on the shelf.
I only took a quick glance at the shelf and my decision was made, I would have to cut Somerset Studio.  I have to admit . . . it’s been months since I’ve even taken one home to peruse.  In fact, the real reason I carry this one is because my sister, Kendall asked me to stock it.
Wait a minute . . . you mean the sister, Kendall, that actually finds inspiration and the desire to create art—trying new techniques and exploring new media—that sister, Kendall???
Oh, alright, I’ll take the last issue home and . . .

. . . seriously?  Who thought it was a good idea to discontinue this fabulous magazine?   well, scratch that idea—we’re keeping it!


I flipped kind-of-right of-center and I was hooked!   The page I flipped to was part of the inspired by faith feature by Mary Beth Shaw.  It was a story about an artist who starts with paint by numbers kits and then proceeds to alter them in her own manner.

 
Then I was drawn to the Mèlange pages in the center; all I can think is “how do they just give this a away?”  They are free for the consumer to use in their own mixed media projects.  You can copy and manipulate it or just use it as you find it.



The Expressions pages were very inspiring.   There were a few to which I personally connected, but the others, I just enjoyed exploring the creativity of fellow readers.

In each issue, they provide information about how you can be included in future publications.  Their upcoming themes for reader submissions include Storybook Magic, Haunted and a Celebration of Winter.  Pick-up a current issue for more details.  Don’t forget to peruse Creative Corner while you’re here—Kimberly keeps it stocked with all of you mixed-media needs.
What will you create?
Thanks for your indulgence,

PS—stay tuned to Artful Origins for our creative workshops—in fact, I will be offering one inspired by one of the articles I just read!

Keeping Children Warm by the Fire

One of my recent project for winter sprucing-up around the house was this garland:

 

I have been collecting pictures of children all wrapped-up in their winter wear ever since Auntie Bliss introduced me to the two snow babies on the sled in the middle.  I have several in frames around the house, but I decided to use photocopies of them to make this festive garland for my dining room mantel.

Here’s what I did:

First, I gathered five of my burlap triangle (yes—I’ve got them pre-cut, ready and waiting, ‘cause you just never know when the urge will strike), then I cut slightly larger triangles out of my light blue card stock.

Then I printed off copies of my favorite snow kids, using a parchment-look card stock, and started cropping them to fit on the pennant triangles.

I then applied a thin smear of Mod Podge® (which you can find in The Creative Corner at Hodgepodge!) using a stiff, short bristled paintbrush.

Having dumped a little blue, glass glitter into a bowl, I began “scooping” the glitter onto the photo.

While the glitter dried, I used the Mod Podge® to apply the burlap to the card stock.

Then I attached the glitter-fied photos, as well as a little piece of brown trim, to kind of finish the look.

I measured a length of jute across my mantel, allowing for a little “drape,” then I attached the pennants to the jute using masking tape.

Another quick look at this crazy easy project.  Those happy faces just make me smile!

If you have any questions, please leave me a message here or drop me an email.

As ever, thanks for your indulgence!