Happy Spring!

No matter the weather where you are,

Spring is officially here!
That means the sunshine and flowers aren't far behind...

 [ thanks to Broadway+Thresher Magazine for sharing that quote on facebook! ]

Wishing you a warm, sunny, lovely First of Spring day!

Re-Purpose a Rain Chain!

A recent visit to my local nursery netted some bedding plants - AND this great idea!

That's a copper 'bucket'-style rain chain, available in their garden tools area...

But they've re-purposed it into a hanging planter for posies!

Each 'bucket' holds soil and a little pansy plant,
creating a charming spill of blooms to hang from your porch or patio roof or posts.

It would also be darling as color-coordinated event & wedding decor!

shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

One Project Closer | Creativity Unleashed

featured:

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Even if you have no Irish blood in your family line, 

St. Pat's Day is the day that EVERYONE can be Irish and celebrate!

In a similar way, ANYTHING in your home can work as 'party decor'....
and everything doesn't have to be printed with shamrocks to be festive.
It's easy: just start with the color green, and create!

Here are some examples of how everyday dishes, gift wrap, and serveware

can be combined to create a fun green & white service bar or table setting.

A few items with shamrocks are shown, too ;)

 ... and of course, you can decorate YOURSELF, too!

 You wouldn't want to be caught without some green on!

fool the eye spring flowers

We all love bringing beautiful blooms home from the nursery, don't we?!
Their happy colors bouncing on long stalks bring energy and life to our surroundings.

I had this pot of GORGEOUS yellow tulips - which you saw in the photo below in a recent post.

And then the Santa Ana winds blew. I think the yellow tulip petals all ended up in the Pacific Ocean.

And the potted tulip looked like THIS:

Well, as a stylist who has had to come up with instant solutions on a budget for client event decor, 

I have a fail-proof tip for making bulbs RE-bloom. In the SAME SEASON:

FAKE IT!

Yep.... use fake flowers.  

You just have to use them in a way that no one notices!

Here's what you do:

 * Grab some decent quality silk tulips in your favorite color.

* Strip the leaves from the stems, and bend the stems rather haphazardly to look natural.

* Insert the stems into the REAL FOLIAGE still in the plant pot.

[I stuck these down on the lowest tier of leaves, right up next to the real stem.

You can see the top of the real stem in the photo - I cut that down as low as I could after the shot.]

Five minutes later, you end up with a rather convincing blooming potted tulip:

I don't recommend this for table centerpieces, 

as they are too close to the viewers' eyes to pull off the fakery with class.

It's a GREAT solution for florals that will be located 

on a stage, at an entrance, or in a photo set backdrop.
Since the foliage is real, the flowers fool the eye into thinking THEY are real, too.

I used to tuck REALLY nice faux roses into the backs of large arrangements for events,

to help fill out the form and help the budget along (they can be re-used!).
I'm talking million-dollar events at wineries, photographed by media.

No one EVER noticed the fakes!

Last Spring, I shared another 'bloomin' flower secret'

and my tips on creating vintage-look faux flowers

shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

Spring Garden Inspiration

Looking for inspiration for your Spring decor and party themes?
Look no further....

The darling and VERY talented Monique outdid herself with the front entrance vignette at The Vintage Marketplace Show!
She hauled in all of this stuff from her house - it's all HERS, not for sale -
and styled this charming garden scene for everyone to ogle, photograph, and enjoy at the show.

Just take a gander at the glorious garden she created:

That's Miss Monique working on final details - in platform shoes, no less!

The main scene in the vignette is the giant window backdrop, bookended by regal vintage columns.

A porch swing hangs from the overhead architecture,

and garden plants and accessories bring a perfect garden to life...

Above,  more details of the main scene

To the left of the main scene, a small table and chairs create a perfect tete a' tete setting,

propped and ready for afternoon tea... right down to the dress and parasol!

A closer look...

Closer to the front on the left are more charming details:
A large birdcage with a flowering plant inside sits on a table covered with a tutu!
A vintage white bicycle's basket is filled with moss, a tutu, and garden accessories.

To the right of the main scene, a mirrored vanity is propped with vintage prom dresses and accessories.
The tiny dressing chair has a tutu cushion, and a bitsy birdcage sheltering a tiny chandelier ornament!

I shot these images in 2014... Update for 2016:
Do you love vintage-style decorating?
Don't miss this beautiful vintage show, held each season in Southern California!

Images in this post taken by Deb Kennedy of HOMEWARDfound Decor.
Decor design & styling of privately-owned props (NFS) by Monique.
The Vintage Marketplace Event is hosted by Christie Repasy and Rita Reade.
 

shared online:

 Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

One Project Closer | Creativity Unleashed