Holiday Decor Inspiration

I tend to be a great collector of project parts. Ideas will inspire me.  I'll then accumulate the materials for that idea... and then, those materials sit for a bit until the act of finishing that project inspires me again. I know that this is how I work. I know that I sometimes just need to act, and then the motivation follows :). Such is the story with the sweet ornaments that I made this past Christmas for the purpose of decorating the white vintage tree that we have in our studio. 

These little round crocheted doilies were collected over time from thrift stores and antique shops. Most of them ranged from 4 - 6 inches in diameter and probably cost between .25 to $1.00 a piece (being the bargain hunter that I am). 

With the Stiffy brand fabric treatment and the finest grain white glitter from Hobby Lobby, the project was set in motion one cold and wintry day before Christmas. 

With glitter mixed into the stiffening agent, I used a paint brush to coat each side of the doily. Tin foil on a cookie sheet seemed to be the best way to keep the mess contained and also allow for an easy way to keep the doilies flat as they dried. After drying for a couple of days, during which I turned them over a time or two, they were ready to add ribbon and be hung on the tree. 

Our studio is still very much a work in progress, but the tree looked great for the holidays and made me smile every time that I entered to work. 

September Blooms and Berries

September Blooms and Berries

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We have an arrowwood viburnum growing in our horse pasture. The flowers it provides in the late spring and summer are always a welcome sight, but the berries that make their show in the fall are truly the icing on the cake. 

The berries have been lush and beautiful this year. It is always at this time, when the berries ripen to the perfect hue of blue, I think of all of the fun ways to incorporate them in floral arrangements. 

 Recently, while going through old emails, I came across the professional photos that one of my September brides had sent to me some time ago. Though I try to post photos right away when I get them, as I recall, we had an over the top full schedule at that time, and posting the photos simply didn't happen in a timely manner. With the stunning viburnum berries just starting to fade in our horse pasture, I couldn't let the season pass without sharing these fun photos now.

  

Being a part of Rachel and Tim's special day was a gift. Tim's grandparents had lived right next to my childhood home, and I had actually babysat Tim occasionally when he was young. Meeting Rachel was a treat.  She is so creative. She even made the copper flowers that we incorporated in her bouquet.

 The wedding & reception took place at Rachel's parents property in Saint Johns, MI. A perfect setting for a special day.

 Here comes even more sweetness...

 Tim's wonderful parents...

 

Rachel's grandparents are adorable. 

I love the expression on her grandfather's face in this next photo. 

Tim's dad built all of the wooden flower boxes that were filled with flowers for the reception. 

A perfect way to remember the day...

Looking forward to when our viburnum will bloom and bear berries again!~

All photos by: Jamie May Photography

Flowers by: Forrester Farm

Savoring Sweet, Sweet Summer

I always want to squeeze the most that I can out of summer!~ Anyone else?

Our summer seemed to really start in July this year. We had decided at the first of the year that ready or not, we were going to host our youngest daughter's graduation party in our "church reclaim" project at the end of June. The building wasn't as ready as I would have liked it to be, but the party was fun regardless. With guests, food and a fun, albeit imperfect, environment, celebrating our daughter with those that we love was the best!~ Work in progress photo below...

July & August were filled with floral work and as many lake, outdoor music & vintage/antiquing excursions as possible!~ 

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Big lake, little lake. Both so very different. We have a couple favorite lake locations that we love to hang out at as often as we possibly can.

 Weddings, Pulp & Stem bouquet deliveries and a fun 2 day floral workshop, kept us blooming busy all summer long. I don't think I'll ever tire of working with flowers! It's a beautiful thing.

 Vintage/Antique Flea Markets always seem to inspire me. Checkpoint 19 Antiques had a booth at a couple of our favorite places this summer. The Allegan Antiques Market and The Found Cottage Mercantile Market. Both so much fun to attend. 

My mind will wrap around the changing of the season soon, though everything in me says that I'm not ready for summer to end. Sometimes we need huge reminders to be thankful in all things!~

 We were able to attend a great music event up north this past weekend. The Accidentals were just one of the great bands that played at the Minnehaha Brewhaha. My 10 year old nephew agreed that the best song of the night was Michigan and Again where...

Thanks for visiting here.
Cheers to a great fall season!~