Red, White and Blue - Water?!

 my 'famous' strawberry & blueberry flavored water

was featured in a past post about front porch decor here on the blog.
it really is pretty, isn't it?!
I made and served this beverage at the vintage shows that I hosted on my farm in Washington,
and it was included in one of the articles i wrote for a magazine.

It's a simple 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' idea (my trademark!) for summer entertaining:

Just put layers of frozen blueberries, ice cubes, and fresh strawberries

in an old glass jar, then fill the jar with water.

They flavor the water ever so subtly - SO refreshing on a hot day - 
and it looks absolutely perfect for a patriotic party!

I can't believe how many times that image has been shared and pinned since then! 
It's my most popular pin EVER, so I want to thank you for the love!

i've always thought that photo was too dark, 
but i can't remove it because of all of the pins & shares - 
so i've added a better, edited image up above in this post and re-pinned it!

You can see another version of my flavored water here

and here

shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

the How To Home | Project Inspire{d} #274

creatively beth | team creative crafts linky party #147 (2023)

thank you for featuring my project, Miss Beth!

memorial day, labor day, fourth of july, patriotic party decor, red white and blue decor,
red white and blue berry water, entertaining, patriotic party drinks, diy, homeward found decor

Mother's Day Breakfast at Tiffany's

In my last post, I said 'not everyone can afford to buy a gem from the jewelers for Mom'...

However, we can create a sparkling setting inspired by Tiffany & Co. Jewelers for Mom!

This Mother's Day tablescape was inspired by something very dear to me:
a gift from a very special friend.

Sweet Fran gave me the only Tiffany blue box I've ever received...

you can read more about that on my personal blog if you'd like to.

That special blue box and my Mom's love of the color aqua inspired me

to create a lovely setting for a Mother's Day brunch to share with you.

And what else can I call it but
'Breakfast at Tiffany's'?!

.

The combination of Tiffany blue (pale Robin's Egg), white, and sparkling crystals & rhinestones

shines against the contrast of a deep green vine wall in the garden.

My own Tiffany Blue Box serves as the main focal point, 

and layered vintage linens bring to mind white clouds against a blue sky.

The blue painted bench is something I recently created...

you'll see the 'how-to' for it in an upcoming Summer post! 

A mix of fresh and silk flowers spill from the Tiffany Blue Box, 

on a white ceramic pedestal topped with a plate to add height to the tablescape.

[ I bought that urn/pedestal for five bucks to make a Snowman on...

when that Snowman didn't sell, I took it off and kept the base.

It comes in handy for so many uses, I'm keeping it!]

The aqua glass candle holders are my Mom's, 

and I bling-ed them up for this setting by simply draping sparkling crystals on them -
two are necklaces, one is a tree ornament. 

Placing the votive in a glass votive cup inside these vessels keeps the heat away from the jewelry, 

and also makes the glass holders easier to keep clean.

White dinnerware on a lace-patterned resin charger

is simply topped with a take-home gift of an aqua blue container of loose-leaf tea.

Pale blue linen napkins and silver flatware finish the look,

along with some European-style wine glasses 

that pay homage to Mom's royal position with their embossed crowns:

[ Stella Rosa logo glasses from the San Antonio Winery in Los Angeles ]

 Napkins tuck into the coffee / tea cup handle, 

along with a stirring spoon tied with a pretty ribbon.

The napkin holders in the second image above are plastic cookie cutters.

Yes, really!

I found a baggie of these swirly blue designs at the thrift store for a dollar...

And you know I love using cookie cutters for MUCH more than making cookies!

I tucked them into a pretty white planter to add more color to this scene, 

and also tied a few to blue ribbons along with crystals, and suspended them from the vine wall.
If there had been a chandelier overhead, I would have hung them from it... with more crystals.

Of course, the gifts for Mom are color-coordinated to the setting!
Pale blue ribbons, tissue and boxes pair with crisp white containers
and become part of the decor.
[ You don't need REAL Tiffany Blue Boxes, you know...
spray paint white boxes and add lettering with a thin marker for the same effect! ]

 The boxes hold lovely little sentimental presents...

the necklace was made by Rita Reade of Mammabellarte, 

and the china cup belonged to my grandma Rissia when she was a girl.

This fragrant gardenia bloom is in honor of my Grandma Margie Ward.
It was her favorite flower...and the scent makes me stop in my tracks and think of her.

A few more simple ideas in blue...
A ceramic swan planter (that used to be peach - ugh!) holds ice and small bottled beverages.
Vintage bottles make perfect single-bloom vases, and can be taken home by guests.

I hope this setting inspires you to pull together meaningful and beautiful 'everyday' items

[ though I DO realize that a Tiffany & Co. box is NOT an everyday item for most of us! ]

to create a special event for your Mom!

... hopefully, Moms everywhere will be feeling a bit like Holly Golightly:

More May decor inspiration on Pinterest!

Now That's Spring Water!

Here's a simple and pretty idea for your Spring Celebrations,

inspired by something I've done before...

At the 'Summer Retreat' vintage show I hosted on my farm on an island in Washington state,

I created a container of flavored water for guests to enjoy.
Frozen blueberries sank to the bottom of the container, and red strawberries floated on the water -

creating a perfect 'Red, White, & Blue' striped effect.
And I snapped a photo of it because I thought it was pretty:

Then last summer, I shared it here on the blog.
Apparently, y'all liked it -

because this last-minute image is my MOST POPULAR PIN ever!

I thought it was time for an update on that idea for Spring, 

so I created flavored water using citrus and flower petals!

It's a bright, pretty Spring look for your beverage station at a brunch or luncheon.

[ Now let's see how THOSE pics do on Pinterest ;) ]

Here's how to get the separated floating layers:

 * Fill container 3/4 full of cold water. 

* Add citrus slices. 

* Add ice cubes carefully so that they float on top of the citrus.
* Then add in the flower petals, which will float on top of the ice cubes.

I used pretty pink geranium petals and bright yellow lemons...
but there are SO many color and flavor combinations you could try!

... and you know, you COULD put some plastic Easter eggs in the container, too ;)
___________________________________________________________
 * * * IMPORTANT NOTE: * * *

 Some flowers can be toxic to humans. 

Make sure you research before adding them to water for drinking. 
Photos shown are for visual inspiration only - this is NOT A RECIPE.
____________________________________________________

shared online:

One Project Closer | Creativity Unleashed

Common Ground | Be Inspired

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

Denise Designed | Sunday Features #174

the Gift of Sharing

I'm celebrating my birthday by declaring today

'the Gift of Sharing' Day 

over on the

 HOMEWARDfound facebook page!

Click the green link above to join me there, and

share the links to YOUR favorite facebook pages...
They can be your own page, or a page belonging to a friend, 

or a page that is a business you love and would like others to know about: 

Shops, shows, events, movies, vacation spots, cafe's, anything at all!

( let's keep it PG-rated, though, okay?!!! )
.

All I ask is that you please don't post the links in your comments here on this blog -

Only on the facebook page.
Thank you!

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