Free Printable ~ Antique Aster Seed Packet

 

Happy Friday to everyone ..

 

I'm sure many of you are gearing up for a wonderful Memorial day weekend .. with Family, Friends, maybe the first BBQ of the Season ...

 

I thought I would share another beautiful seed packet this week .. since we are still in spring and summer even though it feels as though it's arrived in many parts of the country isn't officially here.

 

This Beautiful Aster Packet is another from our sweet collection ..

 

I love how they made the packets of yesteryear so appealing and beautiful. Today's seed packets or I should say the one's I have seen at the local hardware store are just not appealing. I can imagine if they actually put some gorgeous picts or graphics on today's seed packets .. us Gals would gobble them up like candy not just for the seed but for the collecting. It would be awesome if one of the seed companies like the "Ball Anniversary Jars" .. would come out with a remember when collection or something to that effect.

 

Anyhow I hope you enjoy this Seed Pack .. and if you hop on over to the free printables page you can pick up the back side of the packet .. and for your pleasure there are 2 other versions of this packet I have provided for your pleasure !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Printable ~ Dress Form, Mannequin "How To Look Your Best:

 

 

So are Dress Forms still Popular ? I know for a few years now they have been all the rage .. ! But I wondered if the fire for them is still burning or has slowed down ?

 

I  fell in love with them the last few years and can count five that I have sitting here at the farmhouse that I use either at markets , or in photos for the shop , or just because I enjoy looking at them.

 

So have you all collected dress forms ?

 

I found this cute vintage Dress Form Card... I think it was probably an advertisement. I have had this saved away in my scans for several years now. I think I once used a copy of it on a cute decoupage project that I made. It's been a while and the brains a bit foggy on exactly what the project was ..LOL !

 

Anyhow it's now yours for the using and the enjoying.

 

 

 

I have also included it on the "Free Printables" page in Black and white and with the background removed and made it aqua blue for your pleasure !

 

 

This would make such a charming Pillow front wouldn't it ..

 

Enjoy !

 

 

 

 

Garden Art .. Bicycles and Posies

As the warmth of spring bears down upon us all .. our hearts navigate to the outdoors .. where the rays of the sun warm our bodies and the beautiful blooms of God's handiwork Warms our hearts ...

Planting colorful flowers in the garden is not only good for the soul ..but it makes for a beautiful place to relax and enjoy..

I have always loved old bikes used as Garden Art  .. and here at the farmhouse we have a sweet old bike in it's original rusty and crusty blue paint that leans upon an old pine tree with a sweet wood bird feeder above. The birds use it to perch on during the day while taking turns at the feeder ..and I have always enjoyed it. Normally I would take a photo of it to share with you all ..however I must admit it's been neglected since winter began and it's really time for us to clean up the foliage and begin to re-plant ... but we just haven't had a moments time to get out there and spruce it all up .. ..

Bicycles make such great garden art.. especially for those who may have a small yard space .. being that they are long and thin .. it makes them easy to stand alone or lean against a tree or fence .. and create a fabulous backdrop for your garden ...

Any old bicycle will work even a newer one that you may find at a flea market, garage sale or even put an add on craigslist that you want an old rusty bicycle .. you would be surprised there's more out there than you realize  ...and if you find a bike that's not your taste in looks just paint it the color you desire and Voila .. you've got yourself  some lovely Garden art as these below ..

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Be Still my heart with this Pink Sweetie .. I love the use of the wooden baskets on this bike ..and the Wildflowers blooming so heartily in them !  The Pink really gives such a dreamy feeling to this garden...

 And this Beauty all bathed in pristine white ..is just stunning .. I love the use of the large round wire baskets ..and especially the watering can in front . Not only is this one Garden Art ..but such an amazing Garden Display ... !  

 And  I love Love Love this Red bike .. with the natural basket and Straw Hat ... So very Country and Farm Style .. such a true down home appeal to it.

Here Comes A whole Ray of Sunshine ... Now this bike just makes your heart scream out and sing ... It Says' Happy all over it ! Yellow really gives off a lot of positive energy ...

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Vintage Bikes as Garden Art .. Just another way to make your garden and those who enter it smile ! And as you can see .. Any color looks amazing ..and really sets the mood and tone of the garden ..so consider what feeling you want your garden to express.

A few tips on adding Baskets .. if you can't find actual bike baskets .. as you see in these photos .. any basket will do .... even old crates or buckets can be used.  I have found that wiring or using zip ties or even twist ties work well to hold the baskets onto the bike.

Also when planting your baskets, if they have a lot of holes in them be sure to add plenty of Moss to the inside, ... This will help to secure the soil and hold in moisture ...and you also will need to water more often if you live in a drier climate like we do.

And always when buying your flowers consider where your bike is going to be placed in the garden and how much full sun it gets. You want to be sure to buy the right flowers for the right setting be it shade, partial shade, full sun or partial sun .. ..

Happy Gardening to all of you .. May your Gardens Be Cheery and Bright ..a place to make your Heart Sing and Your Soul Calm ..

Linking up with Debra @ Common Ground for Be Inspired

I Said "I Do"

I finally did it ...

I said "I Do"

After a year of being prodded and being told that I should

I Finally took the leap after being contacted by a lovely girl regarding the paper roses I make ..and asking if I could create her Bridal Bouquet, Maid of Honor Bouqet, Boutineers and Mother's Roses for her.

I knew when she wrote and asked that I was finally ready to begin taking our Roses another step.

For the last year or so many friends, customers and family suggested it would be a good idea ..but my creative mood just couldn't grasp the exact concept and artistic desire to do it.

Finally when Kami asked ..it was the right moment in time and I was ready to jump in with both feet and begin a new journey and I'm so glad I did.

Although Kami resides in the mid-west her wedding will take place here in CA, on the ocean in May. Her Colors are light Lavender, Dark Grey and Ivory ..a truly lovey combination !

Kami requested her flowers be in a light lavender and my first challenge was to hand dye her flowers to a beautiful lavender. Until researching the color lavender ..I had no idea truly how many shades of lavender there are from grey lavenders, blue lavenders and pink lavenders there is actually quite an array. We tried for a sterling lavender and with time achieved it.

Her one very important sentimental request was that the name of her and her Fiance's song be included in each floral piece some way.

And she wanted the roses Dusted in the Silver German Glass Glitter that Makes our roses so sweetly unique.

I knew I wanted to add crinkled seam binding tendrils to her bouquets .. so what better than to create custom made Ribbon with the name of their song and the band at their request ..in 2 of their favorite fonts.

The Above Picture and the one just below are her finished Bridal and Maid of Honor Bouquets ..

And I'm so excited at how beautiful they turned out...

My Next challenge was creating Boutineers ..and although that seems an easy task ..it was a bit more difficult than one would think. You see These roses are made petal by petal ..and the smaller the petal the more difficult it is to hold everything together .. But I prevailed ..and the boutineers came to life ...

Each Boutineer ...a mere 2 inches around by 4 inches in length .. will simply adorn each gentelmens suit jacket ...simply and elegantly !

Once again their Song "You & Me" ...simply added to the flower and adding sentiment to be remembered in their many years to come.

Lastly ..she requested a single Rose for each of the Mothers'.

We mimicked the bouquets ...with tendrils of crinkled seam binding ..the custom ribbon and the Beautiful Silver German Glass Glitter that will look stunning in each Mothers' hand.

Our Paper Roses are such a Fabulous Alternative to Fresh Flowers ..

They are a Truly Beautiful and Sentimental Keepsake for Years to come. And they can all be used after the wedding to adorn a Gorgeous Glass Vase ..A bedside or even Entry Table.. A reminder of that very special day ..when those 2 Special words are spoken In Love and Truth .. "I DO"

Kami is a wedding photographer ..and She's offered to share pictures of the wedding with me, which I am thrilled about. I by no means have much photographic experience ..so It will be an absolute pleasure to recieve professional photographs ..and when I do ..I'll be sure to share them all with you.

If your interested in custom ordering Wedding flowers, By all means contact us and we'd be glad to consult with you on Color, Style, and Design.

I'm so glad I said "I DO" ....