Wild Herbs Christmas Wreath

Hello, dear friends, I'm excited to announce that I've made my first DIY wreath ever! So I would like to apologize in advance, because this post is gonna have LOTS of pictures...

I've been dreaming of making a wreath since 2005, when I was just entering the fabulous world of interior design blogs. We don't have many wreaths in Romania (and there are no supplies at the craft stores) and I have always been afraid to make one. I was convinced that the leaves would fall off and that the wire base would show...

For my first wreath I wanted the real deal: real natural plants, no plastic allowed. Long story short, we went to a picnic in the middle of November, on a sunny hill at the edge of a beautiful forest. There were lots of wild herbs, which we call "immortal" because they dry out in the field and stay like this forever. I filled the trunk of my car with a bunch of herbs in awesome shades of silver, soft brown and pale lavender. Plus a few thistles. Perfect materials for a natural wreath :)

The natural herb Christmas wreath sits in the bedroom, hanging by a traditional red and white ribbon. It complements the other flowers who live by the bedroom window: a small white Saint Paulia and three orchids which are getting ready to bloom in a couple of weeks. 

Initially, I was going to make the simplest wreath design possible. At the last minute, I've decided to add a little twist to my simple wreath, so I placed the thistles in a small bouquet on one side. A little "bling" goes a long way :)

I've kept the bedding white and full of texture, combining natural white cotton sheets with linen and sheep skin pillows. It tickles the senses and lets the Christmas wreath steal the show. Each morning I smile thinking that I live in a bohemian hotel in Paris :)

How to make a Christmas wreath

If you are like me, a novice in wreath making and a little afraid to try it, I've got 3 words for you: Just do it! I'll guide you every step of the way with my DIY wreath tutorial:

1. Gather your materials: natural plants, scissors and wire. That's all you need!

2. Use a wreath base (you can find them in stores) or make one yourself, from electric cord or thick wire.

3. Make a small bouquet and tie it with floral wire. Make the front line flowers smaller than the ones in the back and spread them like a fan. Layer the colors by height: I put the short brown twigs in the front, then the longer lavender ones and kept the tall silver ones in the back.

4. Cut off the extra length of the branches. My bouquets are 10 cm (4 inches) long.

5. Make an extra bouquet from different branches for the wreath's graphic accent.

6. Repeat step no. 3 and 4 until you run out of stuff. I've made exactly 30 small bouquets.

7. Attach the first bouquet to the wreath base and secure it with wire. Make sure that the bouquet is on the outside of the base curve.

8. Continue with the rest of the bouquets, just like you did with the first one. Don't be afraid to squeeze them together - this way you make sure that the base will be fully covered.

9. This is how the wreath looks when you turn it over. Add some pretty ribbon and enjoy!

Linking up to these lovely parties.

And some of them require a backlink in the actual post, so here they are:

http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.ro/   http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/   http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.ro/   http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/   http://diycraftyprojects.com

http://www.sew-much-ado.com/   http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.ro/   http://thelifeofjenniferdawn.blogspot.ro/

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/  http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com   http://www.the36thavenue.com/

http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/  http://www.theartsygirlconnection.com/   http://www.somewhatsimple.com   http://www.commonground-do.com/   http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.ro/   http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/

http://www.redouxinteriors.com  http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/  http://www.alittleknickknack.com

http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.ro/   http://www.504main.com/   http://www.atthepicketfence.com

http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.ro/   http://romantichome.blogspot.ro/   http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.ro

http://www.remodelaholic.com http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ro/   http://thefrugalgirls.com/  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.ro  http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com  http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/  http://www.bystephanielynn.com/   http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/   http://makingtheworldcuter.com/  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/  http://www.delineateyourdwelling.com

Quick DIY: Toy Christmas Tree

This one is a no-brainer: get the Christmas toys out of the box and hang them directly on the wall using poster tack. Just make sure the toys form a Xmas tree shape! I was done in less than 3 minutes :)

Just like I told you, I was going through the Christmas box, which sits on the balcony all year long. I was debating whether the toys were tiny enough to fit into my tiny white Christmas tree, when I got struck by nostalgia. All of these toys come from my parents' house - I've had these toys for 30 years! They don't make toys like this anymore... So I made a quick toy tree above the bed, an homage to my family and the good times we had <3

PS: I just realized that at the base of the tree you can see the most unique pumpkin, a hand painted gift from the talented Anna, the creative smile behind Tulimami. Grazie, Anna!

Linking up to these lovely parties.

And some of them require a backlink in the actual post, so here they are:

http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.ro/   http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/   http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.ro/   http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/   http://diycraftyprojects.com

http://www.sew-much-ado.com/   http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.ro/   http://thelifeofjenniferdawn.blogspot.ro/

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/  http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com   http://www.the36thavenue.com/

http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/  http://www.theartsygirlconnection.com/   http://www.somewhatsimple.com   http://www.commonground-do.com/   http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.ro/   http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/

http://www.redouxinteriors.com  http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/  http://www.alittleknickknack.com

http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.ro/   http://www.504main.com/   http://www.atthepicketfence.com

http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.ro/   http://romantichome.blogspot.ro/   http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.ro

 http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ro/   http://thefrugalgirls.com/  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.ro  http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com  http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/  http://www.bystephanielynn.com/   http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/   http://makingtheworldcuter.com/  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/  http://www.delineateyourdwelling.com

My Fun Nightstand

Hi, Janel, this post is from me to you, girl! You know how much I like sharing colorful spaces and vignettes with people who get the same vibe :) So here's a simple Hello! from my nightstand. I was never a big fan of elegant spaces in ethereal earth tones... I say give me some color and energize my morning! So now that I'm struggling with two jobs, I need to start the day with fresh flowers and a smile by the bedside.

The nightstand is actually one of my old DIYs: the pink Lucite coffee tables have moved by the bedside. They make the prettiest nightstands - in acid colors, never the less! There are usually stacks of books by the bed... but now that I'm crawling to bed much too late every night, I just keep some light reading - a lovely book from a short film festival.

My secret to a morning smile is... not that, you naughty girl!... it's the textile mix! Traditional rug versus urban stripes, whimsical patterns versus a posh retro curtain, plus the touch of natural fibers. The more pillows, the better! And to get back to everybody's question: yes, I could repair the poor one-eyed doll. I just don't have the heart to, because I've had it since 5th grade and her current state is a reminder of how old I am now small I once was...

Enjoy A Simple Bedroom

LESS IS MORE.

These are the words that sum up my view of design (really?!),  personal style and life in general. While it is easy to maintain a minimalist look in a large space (because there's always room for ... stuff), real life tends to overwhelm small rooms (because we need several certain functional items to be IN that little room...). Also, I personally find that a bunch of personal stuff makes a small space even more cozy! But every now and then, I just take things away from one room instead of adding more. And the result is simple, streamlined, uncluttered beauty.

After the dramatic makeover of my Valentine bedroom, I needed to cool it down a bit, so I created a calmer place. The colors are less vivid and the decorations are kept to a minimum. If you wish to create a simpler design for your room, follow these simple tips:

1. Stick to the basics. Remove all unnecessary items from the floor, the walls, tables etc. For example, my simple bedroom has a bed, a wardrobe, a little nightstand and a small carpet. No cluster of pictures on the walls, no throw pillows and extra duvets on the bed, no poufs or boxes on the floor. And I could have lived without the rug, too :)

2. Choose double-duty furniture. Use clever space saving pieces of furniture: a convertible sofa for an extra bed; a stool or ottoman with ample storage space; a folding table which can transform into a desk; a stool which can serve as a coffee table, an end table or a nightstand (like the one you can see in here).

3. Avoid too many colors. Decide on a simple color scheme and stick with it. This way, the eye will travel across the room. Too many colors would make the area seem too busy and cluttered.

4. Avoid too many patterns. The safest way to play with a simple interior design is to work with solid colors for everything. Solid color translates as a single unit into your brain - this way, you perceive the room as simple, with a small amount of objects inside. But if you are playful by nature and you can't stay away from pattern (like me), make sure that you don't have more than 3 patterns in the room and that these patterns are different sizes (notice that the rug stripes are so much smaller than the flowers on the bed sheets).

5. Make it personal. A simple space doesn't have to be devoid of all personal objects - it's your home, after all, not a hotel. Choose something small, but significant, to make the space cozy and familiar. For my simple bedroom, the choice was easy: a potted plant (the beautiful Madagascar Jasmine, who refuses to bloom but still graces us with its beautiful foliage) and a Mongolian doll dear to my heart. And now I feel at home!

A little update, ladies! My thanks go to Carolyn from Homework and to Betsy from Romance on a Dime for featuring my simplified bedroom - thank you very much indeed!

Random Happy Home

Hello, friends! Spring is in the air! The light is magical! I've prepared new colors in the home and I also have big plans for this weekend :) Let's start in the home office, where my DIY wallpaper is once again in full season, since in a short while we'll be able to take a walk in the park and savor the shadows of fresh green leaves in the trees! Seriously, my cyclist friends have already taken their bicycles out for a ride (and one of them almost broke a leg, what a bummer)... 

In the bedroom I've created a little contrast for the dark purple wall... I must admit that, instead of trying out something new, I was inspired by last Spring's colors (and also by the fact that I received the most beautiful azalea topiary). You can also spy a beautiful poppy painting. I need to re-frame it asap, because the black frame doesn't do anything for me... and it kills the appeal of the painting, too.

Let's linger in the sunny bedroom for just a few moments more. I want to show you the dark purple sheets, a perfect match for the purple painted wall across the bed. Both the purple duvet cover and the yellow pillows are from Ikea, a stylish resource in textile, very convenient for my budget. I just love the way the circles in the pillow print echo the design of the white retro lamp! And, on a personal note, yellow and violet scream Pansies! to me - I can't wait to fill my balcony with yellow/purple pansies :)

Speaking of the small balcony, here's a sneak peek through the glass door. I moved my second pink lucite table on the balcony, for a change. The hot pink is the perfect contrast for the green leaves. I can almost feel the energy of the happy colors entering the home. I hope that tomorrow I will be able to share more pics taken from the balcony. There are no flowers yet, but the Spring light and the green leaves are surely a great way to start the day :)

Moving into the kitchen, where I've already switched the color scheme to welcome spring (as I posted here earlier). The glass of the spice jars captures the light entering through the window and reflects it back into the room. It makes everything look more sparkling! Even the honey jar looks like a giant gem stone, because of the reflexion. So if you need more light into the home, use glass vases and accessories, or even better, a few mirrors, and let the sunshine rays bounce forth and back into your space!

I'd like to end this post on a personal note. Even if sunshine is back into our life, it is freezing outside! I haven't ditched my green winter coat yet, or my dusty pink boots, but at least they are a match to the pavement in my city :) And I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses, colored little hearts and everything...

Iris On My Nightstand

The first purple iris flowers are sitting pretty in a deep cobalt blue bowl next to my bed. I don't wanna miss seeing them in the morning, that's why I put them on the pink nightstand. Purple, pink and orange - do you think that Spring is finally gonna come? A big hug to my friends in Italy (ciao Anna, Laura, Serena and Eva!) who are confronted with unusually cold weather and snow. And a humble thank you to all my other friends, who still visited even though I haven't had the time to get up to date with all that's happening in blogoland! 

Random Happy Home

Many times, this post title gives me the shivers. Is it really a happy home? Am I just one of this authors who make pretend, when their life is not what they pictured it would be? Well, it's not an unhappy home (praise the Lord!) and beautiful surroundings DO make me happy - especially with the gloomy weather and all. But these days the house is really happy, because there were a lot of changes in the study. Out with the couch, in with the day bed. Move the desk around, move the bookcase. Hence the bare corner, with nothing but the bare herringbone floors and the DIY faux wallpaper, during the process of redecorating...

I may have forgotten to plant the tulip and the hyacinth bulbs at the right moment, but nature keeps moving on. The potted narcissus bulbs that I've already had for some years keep making new green leaves, year after year. Of course, this is not a sure guarantee that we'll have yellow flowers, but we'll surely have the long green leaves :))) On the right, just a sneak peek into my next photo shooting, so please be patient...

Touches of turquoise are all over my kitchen counter. On the left, you can spot one of my most recent thrift finds, a tall turquoise glass with an intriguing amphora shape. It matches the backdrop of the Ikea melamine tray, don't you think? On the right, some very last chrysanthemums from my little balcony make a contrasting bouquet for the blue pitcher than you can also find here.

Also, the handsome potted coconut deserves a closer look. It may not be the star of my Valentine bedroom, but its arched silhouette completes the look of the room and adds a touch of life for these dark sky days of late January. Speaking of which, let me remind you that tomorrow is the beginning of a new month. So don't forget to come back tomorrow if you need a free printable February calendar!

Valentine T-shirt Pillow

My Valentine bedroom is almost on fire. I usually save the red sheets for Christmas, but this year I went with lavender bedding for the winter holidays. So there they were, my red cotton sheets, perfect for a more passionate display. The pillow assortment was a little sad, so I said good bye to an old T-shirt and made the cutest throw pillow. In order to ease the red impact on the eye, I went for the complementary color - green. I just moved around the potted coconut and installed a green Russian doll from my generous collection.

This old T-shirt had got everything and more: a red background (just the rich, not too bright shade of red that I love the most), tiny white hearts all over the place, a high-heeled purple flamingo (and oh I love flamingos indeed, if you read one of my previous posts) and a daisy heart. Plus the "love" inscription - too much, but I'll live with that! The red and purple combo is number one on my list right now and I'm already planning a little decoration with these colors.

People compliment me on my love for color, so maybe this time you've got a question: Is red good for the bedroom? Color theory teaches us that red is too energizing for the rooms where we rest and sleep and that we should use red in the living areas and more soothing colors for the bedroom, like blue. If you want my advice, just go with the flow. See what happens. I had a red wall in my room for a year and I slept fine, probably because I couldn't see the color while I was asleep ;))

Random Happy Home

Now that the Christmas holidays are over.... and the New Year's Eve... and the St. John extended parties everywhere.... everybody is slowly adjusting to the normal pace of life. I am crawling every day to and from work. Outside, the snow continues to bless us with a proper winter atmosphere, just like when we were little and global warming was not even a serious concept, let alone a discomforting reality. Inside, the white theme continues in each room, for a soft cotton feeling. 

In the study, a stack of over-sized pillows is ready for the usual weekend guests. I am most pleased with the way that the DIY faux wallpaper completes the winter decor, even though I made it in spring, with a very summery vibe (i.e. the park and the bicycles). 

A peek through the bedroom mirror reveals the length of my closed, dressed-up in a subdued geometrical retro pattern. A bunch of assorted pillows on the bed try to sunbathe every morning in the dim light of snowy days. Oh well, it could have been even worst and not have any light at all and no snow at all... The key to happiness is to cherish what you've got and to make the most of it :)

We interrupt this snow white program for a special bulletin. My orange cat Junior has just applied for the pattern to his new invention: how to stay warm without getting burned and without having to support your own head!

All is well on the little balcony, too. The storage unit is full of the usual boxes dressed up in vivid colors by yours truly. Many of my plants have been especially selected to survive a blasting heat in the summer months, as well as almost freezing temperatures during winter. You can spot some pink cyclamen (which are my favorite blooms for January and February) and the resilient spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) which can't be killed by anything, in my experience.

Last but not least, a touch of green and yellow on my credenza, which used to be my improvised Christmas mantel. I put the books back in place, which makes me very happy. I think that books are a home's best friend :) You can also spot the witch lamp (hello to my special friend Ana from Carpe Diem!), the posterior of my cat and also a little glimpse of the happy entryway. And the pillows are sisters with the first ones, because I've got two of each :D