Hexed by a Hexagon!

      

I've been hexed! I found a fabric that I just HAD to have! (Imagine that!) It's Radiance Lace by Beth Studley for Makower. 

I brought it home and started pulling fabrics from my stash to see what I had that complimented the colors in the fabric. Then I started trying to decide on a quilt that would show it off. Most blocks required cutting the fabric into pieces too small to really let the design sing....except for these large hexagons. Each side is 6" long.

I love the look! I at first pulled bright reds and golds from my stash. I decided then that I would try to tone it down a little (really hard for me!) and give it a more feminine look. When I laid it all out to see, I wanted more. I went to a local thrift shop and bought some vintage laces and doilies. I embellished some of the blocks with these. Later, I read that Beth had been inspired by vintage lace, so it turned out to be quite fitting!

After that, I decided it was like a giant bee hive, so I appliqued some bees on half a dozen blocks.  

So here it is draped across a bed. I haven't decided on a "home" for it yet, but it is big enough for a twin sized bed and could easily be made larger. It is completely hand sewn with each block quilted as I went along. 

I can envision doing this with fabrics from  men's shirts or with novelty prints for a child. It could be any size you want with blocks any size you choose. 

On the homefront, we are getting closer and closer to finishing the downstairs. We are waiting on a couple of inspections before having the drywall put up. After that, I can paint! Of course, we still will have a LOT to do - tiling the showers, finishing the kitchenette, flooring! BUT, we'll be able to see the new rooms with walls.

My garden, small as it is, is beginning to bloom.

The hydrangeas are covered with buds, but they haven't opened yet. 

We are having some thunderstorms and hail, so hopefully, they will benefit from that and not suffer!

Until next time!

 

Laughing

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, 
"The earth laughs in flowers."
 
 How true that is!  I consider myself a happy person. I want my home to reflect that. I was asked to show how I use plants and flowers in my home. They are certainly important to my decorating, but also to my creative process. I feel calmer with plants and flowers around. 
We had the contractor and an engineer out last weekend to let us know where we could move walls in the lower level of our house. So the drywall dust has "hit the fan" again!

 I am so excited about starting the next phase in this renovation. This is part of what will become my new sewing room. I am also a little stressed, so I came home with a bundle of fall flowers. (My husband didn't even raise an eyebrow!)

They looked a little"puny" for my big space.

The only other vase I have is a large rectangular vase. It was too big! So.....

I added some rocks (cleaned first) and filled in the flowers with cedar sprays (from my yard)  and a few wildflowers. 

Now I have a space to enjoy a little bit of "finished work"! Flowers can work wonders!

                                            

 

 Some of my restful spots are very small and almost hidden. This little vintage plant holder makes such a sweet little spot to rest your eyes. There is something so happy about him! His little wagon with the tiny succulent plant is going to be great in my sewing room (when it is finished!).

 

 In the living room, I have fresh greenery in a galvanized bucket beside the fireplace. It adds a fresh touch and a really nice cedar aroma!

 

I have an arrangement of brightly colored flowers on an end table in the living room. The galvanized watering can is a "hill country" touch.

 

 I even have plants on my coffee table. The little greenhouse has succulents. You can see that there is also a plant beside the chair in the background.

 

 My new sitting room, off the kitchen, has lamps with glass bases. You have seen these filled with sea shells, I'm sure. I decided to make little outdoor scenes in mine. 

One has a Longhorn because my husband is a University of Texas fan!

 One has a deer because that is what we see outside our window!

I have used real cedar, but you can use anything you can fit inside the lamp. (I also added a little silicone packet to absorb moisture!) I know the cedar will dry up because I can't water it, but it will hold its color for a long time. Then I can change the greenery or the scene! These don't scream out at you from across the room, but after you sit down and look around, you see them! (Like a little surprise!)

 If you find that your room is left "needing something" after you arrange it, try popping a plant in!

Here is a seasonal plant in my husband's office. 

Don't wait until a sad occasion like an illness to have fresh flowers around! Also, don't wait for some special person in your life to give you flowers!  Pick some up "just because" you want them around! See how it makes you feel! You can also order flowers easily from your computer!

Check out BloomNation,  an online marketplace that supports local florists, and get inspiration through their Pinterest board! 

You just might be inspired!