Bouquet of the Day

This bouquet today was made using the previous stems from artificial flowers from Dollar Tree. I never glue them in permanently, and that way I can put them all back in the box and recycle them, without building up a huge arsenal of fake flowers, which can take a lot of room.

 Although it is considered cheap to shop at Dollar Tree, the cost can really add up if I shop over and over for florals, so I keep one box for florals and occasionally if I make something as a gift, might replace it with something else. 

There is one more arrangement I want to make, in a metal container from Goodwill (many years ago, or maybe I should say decades) , and I'm really looking forward to getting up on the next cloudy, dark, rainy morning to assemble it.

It is still cold here, but I've brightened the porch up a bit.

I call this porch "The Ruins".

Also here is something you can do for some soft light around the house:

A led light pillar candle covered in a stick-on sheet of gems, both from Dollar Tree:

 You just peel off the backing and stick it on.

Total cost for a covered candle: about a dollar and a half, since a stick on sheet covers more than one candles.

My excuse for the walls sorely needing a new paint job: It's rustic around here!

In other news, I've been having a lively discussion with someone about the way people misunderstand how husband and wife interact. One of the enjoyable things we have been doing the last couple of years is meeting with other married people, and sharing their life experiences, and showing how husband and wives can understand each other. They all agree you can't follow a book or someone's advice ,  and the best thing is to tell each other what you think and feel, not go to other people expecting them to talk to your mate. Prevalent among these couples is a specialized humor between them, often private jokes that they've made up as a result of a misunderstanding years ago.

The Little Bouquet

Hello dear Ladies, 

It seems to be flower arranging season for some of us. We are in the last days of the snow, rain and cold wind, so arranging indoor flowers is so delightful. 

Above, you see three stems of florals from Walmart for 97 cents each. There are 6 stems on each bush.

Here is what they look like from the top:

Sometimes in a catalog I receive in the mail, there are beautiful life-like florals for a $100 in resin, which is a water-look hard plastic.  This is one of them, below from Victorian Trading. If anyone can afford to pay this and has a beautiful hotel or house to decorate, I say congratulations, and I'm all for it!  Anything to make an elegant home.

For some of us who can spend a few dollars, I've tried to make a similar one.

I gathered some things from my Dollar Tree collection (I use the same flowers and styrofoam from previous arrangements because I never use glue in the containers or with the stems in the styrofoam), and tried to make one like the picture.

All the stems are clipped with a wire cutter, and the leaves pushed up close to the blossoms.

Here are some containers I was considering for a choice:

I used the tin pedestal on the left and inserted a styrofoam ball from Dollar Tree (4 in a package for a dollar) to hold the wire stems. 

This amounts to 18 flowers from 3 bushes, which makes a nice full bouquet.

The total cost was $3.00 for this bouquet.

You may notice I have painted the container sage green.

I can remove all the ingredients, put them back in the storage box, to be used again.

There are tutorials online to show you how to place flowers for different arrangements. For a beginner, I would suggest three flowers, with one in the middle and one on each side. Then start filling in the spaces with other flowers. You can make it interesting by using different textures and types as accents. 

I have the ingredients for a bolder, brighter bouquet which I hope to do tomorrow.

Each day I try to take a little time and do one creative thing, even if it is only to arrange some books or pouf some cushions on the couch, and I hope you can find something like this for your own home.

Lord willing, I hope to make another video for you to work by, soon.

Thanks so much for your visits!

Your comments are so encouraging.

Lydia

DIY Floral Arrangements

 I have saved  several books with pictures of bouquets that I have always liked, and so, today I decided to make replicas (as close as I could) to those pictures, using Dollar Tree artificial flowers.

I use the styrofoam from DT but I never glue it in the container and I also use the green raffia "grass" to fill in the bowl or container. Above, is a salad bowl, also from DT, used as a container. Using a bowl for the arrangement prevents a centerpiece from blocking people from being able to see and talk to each other while sitting at a table.

Put talker arrangements on shelves and near walls.

Each $1.00 stem has 6 blossoms on it, and so I used one each of baby's breath, dogwood, rose and carnation--12 flowers in all. 

Here are some peonies, roses and ferns arranged in a round gift box, sometimes called a hat box.

There are some helpful videos online showing how to arrange artificial flowers. 

This is something I did after all the housework was finished, just to unwind and relax and give everything a lift.

Because I do not glue anything in permanently, the flowers, green raffia filler and the styrofoam block can be used over and over again.  I clip the flowers with a wire cutter (also available at DT) and store them in my floral box, to be used again in a different color combination. 

Using another combination of flowers here

It is also interesting to find unusual containers (a milk jug, a gift bag, tin bucket, birdcage, hat, tea cup or teapot, mason jar, and many other innovative things) to display the bouquets in. 

All products are from Dollar Tree, and I reuse them in different ways throughout the year.

Dollar Tree Vinyl Bag

Hello Ladies

Today while I was out getting groceries I stopped at Dollar Tree for some dishwasher pellets ($1.00 for a bag of 10) and saw their new selection of vinyl bags for a dollar each.Sometimes there are such pretty prints on these things, and this one is bound in a vinyl bias tape type of trim.  

It looks so pretty on the kitchen table with the three bunches of flowers I also bought. Total cost for this "look" was $4.00.  What do you do with these pretty bags?  I will use this one on the door handle in the kitchen to collect the plastic bags from grocery stores, which are handy for the small trash containers in the bedrooms, bathrooms, and sewing room.

I was tempted to get some more for friends, but it would cost more to mail them, so I'm giving you this heads up. You might find these at your Dollar Tree. And please let me know what you do with them.

I like to get fabric like this, or an umbrella with a similar print, or any household thing because it is pretty, and I never know when the trend might revert to something that is not so pretty.

This could also be used as a gift bag for a birthday, wedding, or for a portable tea-time to a friend, with all the food they need and tea bags.

I know someone who puts things like this in frames! Yes, this would look good framed.

Also great for an ongoing sewing project when you want to tidy up and get things in the sewing room out of the way.

Calling on someone who needs encouragement? Fill it with good things and take it to her door.

Renewing Your Mind

Let love be genuine. 

Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

 Love one another with brotherly affection. 

Outdo one another in showing honor.

 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. 

Never be wise in your own sight. 

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,    "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

******

The above passage is from Romans 12, written in approximately 55-58 A.D. by the apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome. Often when Mr. S. is asked to speak impromptu and informally, he will read this passage.  It tells how to get along in the family,  in church, and in the world.  

The White Blouse

Here is an illustration of the white blouse revival of the 1980's. This one was featured in the winter edition of the 1987/88 Victoria magazine and was available through the magazine by mail.

The white blouse was a wardrobe staple, loved by ladies from the 1890's through the 1980's. Each year, there were new versions of the white blouse. 

Also here is a picture of a plaid cape in the same issue. 

Other white blouses from catalogs:

Blair

Bedford Fair

(not sure)

Here is a list of catalogs you can get in the mail, most of them free within the US and Canada:

Blair, Haband, Bedford Fair, Old Pueblo Traders, Chadwicks, Talbots.

Don't just look at the pictures and say "I like that, and that's what I will order." Learn about the fabric and the other details of it by reading the description given in the catalog just beneath the garment picture.  You will be able to find out if the lace is printed on or real lace, or if it is synthetic or natural fabric. You'll see if it is imported or made in the USA. Coldwater Creek has a digital catalog and is located in Idaho, with branches in other states.  From the description find out about the sizes and the prices.  Sometimes you can eliminate the "want" for something by reading the fabric content.

The best I have found for winter clothing, which is high quality, is Chadwicks.  I prefer to sew summer clothing, so I don't know which catalogs would be the best.  All the catalogs I listed have very good denim, long skirts, poplin skirts and good jackets to match  Click on Dresses and Skirts and go have a look at all of these.

Very recently we took a very quick road trip and saw Mt. Shasta and some of the High Sierra's:

Mr. S. is never happier than when he is driving on the beautiful highways of America and always relishes the excuse to go somewhere. He lived in an era when people here were excited about car trips, visiting as many places as they could, and then discussing it all with friends: "What road was that? Have you been on Route 66?"

As enjoyable as a road trip is, we are ready to stay put for awhile. 

The highway on the way home was very pretty too:

Fog Fashion--Sewing for Foggy Days!

Throughout the season there are sometimes foggy days,* especially if you live near the coast!  Several years ago when I thought the weather was just awful and was trying to talk Mr. S. into taking me away from all this because I didn't think I could endure the gloominess every day, I created these fog capes, which are on an older post.

I recall Mr. S. saying it would be a "whole lot more economical and productive" if I would simply sew my way through the fog season, and he was right. I still have these capes and plan to make more, since it was such a delight. I started looking forward to the fog every morning (it usually dissipated later in the day) so I could plan one new cape or a fog tea.

 This was the Kinsale Cloak:

These photos were taken in the thick fog of that season long ago, and we have not had such a strong fog season since, so that is why I didn't keep up with fog fashion. 

*Special effects by a sweet photographer trying out a new camera!  I am looking forward to snow fashion photos with snowflakes in the pictures!!  

There are plenty of fleece coats and jackets on Pinterest and many have Sherpa linings. For those not familiar with fleece, it is commonly used for outdoor wear. It is not the same as flannel, which is used for sleepwear.

I am not trying to set myself up as any brilliant creator of a fashion season, but I have not yet seen the popular, promoted, big-name fashion designers create fog fashion. There is a great need for regional fashion for ladies and gentlemen. I do not believe there are just four seasons. Observe and you will detect the other "seasons" like fog season!  And, any of these that involve inclement weather can be flipped around in a very exciting way when you create special times in the home.

 I like to create a fog cape and go for a walk outside with a lantern, with Mr. S. in tow, just in case I get in some sort of a conundrum.

I must include here my latest fashion for men, because I just got Mr. S. a coat and a hat from Blair catalog and it is just so nice--that's an understatement. I tried on the coat and it is woolen, which provides a good barrier to the wind.

Usually when we ladies are sick or spend any time in a hospital, or are home recovering, someone brings us flowers or some kind of care package, and we get a pile of get-well cards from our friends and rellies. However, Mr. S. didn't get any such-a thing, so I ordered him this coat and hat, in anticipation of him being back on his feet:

He likes the coat because it fits so nicely over a complete suit without having to remove the jacket. and can still button it comfortably. 

Previous to this, I can hardly understand it, but he was wearing his father's old bedraggled trench coat, because he never was able to find one like this. This is the first time he's had one of this quality.

That is probably not such a big deal, now that I remember that those white gloves I am wearing in the first picture belonged to Mr. S.'s mother!

Here is a picture of the coat from the catalog:

Because I had ordered something previously, I was sent a discount coupon, which greatly reduced the price.

After he got his coat in the mail, I wanted to find somewhere to go!  He looked too dressed up to stay home.  He recalled there had been something flying about in the pasture and offered to accompany me while I picked it up. We both carried lanterns while we searched for an old feed bag that was being tossed by the wind. We try to keep the property clean and everyone in the area is very careful about letting paper, bags, and any loose thing fly about, because of the damage it can cause. In summer, such things can catch fire, and in wind, can fly up in the window of a car and cause an accident.

I should start a dress-your-man section of this blog, because Mr. S. is the modest model of the modern minister.

And so,  we got to go out, wearing our coats, and I thought we looked like this couple, because. as you know,  Mr. S. has that umbrella:

The Garden of Eden

Hugh Goldwin Riviere (1860-1956)

1901

This painting is enhanced with more green color, in a book of paintings that I have. However, this particular version is more descriptive of that dark night.

Now, you see, there can be a coat for every occasion.

Dress for Respect-- Video

Dresses from Blair catalog for women.

Hello Ladies,

Today I am talking about dressing with and for respect: respect for yourself, respect for God, respect for your children and husband, and respect for those who serve you in the public market. 

I have designed this video for listenning while you work. I estimate it will get you through loading the dishwasher, cleaning part of the kitchen, folding some towels and making one bed.

This is a tree that broken during a recent storm. I'm sorry I just can't muster up a dress to wear to go with ;-)