Today I am Thankful...

Wishing you safe travels and a very Happy Thanksgiving!

{via}

{Amy Merrick}

{Thanksgiving leftover labels - free printable}

{oh my deer}

{Martha Stewart Everything Thanksgiving}

{DIY Thanksgiving Placemat from Oh My Deer}

{And George}

{Kinfolk}

{via}

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Friday Flowers: Gray Heirloom Pumpkin Terrarium and a Cinderella Pumpkin

Gray Heirloom Pumpkin Terrarium

There is so much to think about and plan for with Thanksgiving just around the corner and so {against my better judgement} I thought I would share one more post about creating a floral centerpiece using the pumpkin from your front porch, clippings from your garden and grocery store flowers. I presented a floral workshop at my garden club meeting last week and these are the final two arrangements I put together for that morning.

The first arrangement is an adorable miniature gray pumpkin planted with terrarium plants and a miniature orchid from Trader Joes. This could not have been easier and literally took me 10 minutes to create. Of course, the main ingredient, the little gray heirloom pumpkin is essential. 

Start by carving the pumpkin and scooping out all the insides. Fill the cavity with potting soil and add miniature terrarium plants. If you live locally, I bought my terrarium plants at House of Plants and the white orchid at Trader Joes.

Be sure to save the pumpkin top. It makes a charming accent to sit by the arrangement's side. I have been surprised that a lot of people did not think the pumpkin was real.

Everything looks more important on a pedestal. 

It's the perfect arrangement for the powder room. 

A Cinderella Pumpkin Arrangement

For the second arrangement, I selected a Cinderella Pumpkin and combined it with pink and orange roses with silver foliage from my garden. 

The Cinderella Pumpkin is a beautiful French heirloom pumpkin known as 'Rouge Vif d'Etampes'. It is the pumpkin variety that is recorded as the pumpkin prepared and served at the second Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims. It is a rich and beautiful orange and is known for its flat shape and pronounced ribs. I can see why Cinderella used it as a coach to get to the ball!

{Cinderella Pumpkin with Pink and Orange Roses}

{My Cinderella Pumpkin prepared and ready for the demonstration}

As I mentioned in previous posts, start by carving your pumpkin and scraping out the insides. I placed my pumpkin on an old hotel silver tray and added pine cones that I touched with a gold liquid leaf and a handful of moss. It is a good idea to place your pumpkin on a tray or platter since it is perishable.

Place a plastic container inside the cavity and fill with wet oasis floral foam.

Take a tour of your garden and clip greenery that complements the pumpkin and flowers that you have chosen. I liked the way the Lagustrom berries picked up the dark color variations in the pumpkin. I started the arrangement  by placing the berries around the perimeter so they would cascade over the sides. Next, I added the Elaeagnus and placed them so the back side of the foliage showed because it has a silvery cast. Add the roses in clusters of three. I added just a sprig or two of Bittersweet vine. 

{A shot in the "during" phase of assembling the arrangement during my demonstration at garden club}

{The refreshments have been cleared away but I thought you would like to see how the rich dark colors of the greenery in the arrangement complement the colors in the dining room.}

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The Welcoming Kitchen: 10 Favorite Kitchens

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's only natural that my thoughts are increasingly centered around the kitchen. I like kitchens that are warm and welcoming and might be described as 'unfitted.'. 

Looking at the kitchens I have selected for today's post, I have tried to identify what it is that makes them attractive to me. All of the kitchens I am drawn to have an amazing tapestry of interesting textures and materials ~ warm woods, stone, linen, glass, pottery, copper and stainless steel. They give these spaces a warm and welcoming feeling and make you want to pull up a chair and stay awhile. Many offer a farmhouse table and chairs. I think it is a must to have comfortable seating in the kitchen so family and friends can relax and keep me company while I cook. I often have small dinner parties in my kitchen because it is more intimate and homey than the dining room. I like kitchens that have limited upper cabinets, open shelving and are furnished like the rest of the house with old world accessories and beautiful old things that are not just collectibles but are put into use everyday. All of these kitchens have great lighting. Great lighting sets the tone for the space and offers an opportunity to make a style statement. 

{Interior Design Cindy Smith of Circa Interiors from The Welcoming House}

{Architect Ruard Veltman featured in House Beautiful}

{Circa Interiors; The Welcoming House}

{Circa Interiors}

{Designer Mark Williams; Traditional Home}

{Erika Powell, Urban Grace Interiors}

{Interior Design, Phillip Sides}

{Hinkley Lighting}

Love the styling in the kitchen above and would love to have a collection of those vintage cutting boards for my own home.

{Garden Variety Design, Jeannette Whitson}

It is so hard to pick a favorite from all of these images that I have collected but I just love Jeannette Whitson's kitchen.

{discovered on Bungalow Classic Tumblr}

There is a lot to love in this little kitchen vignette. I love the styling and the quirky, industrial island. I also like the way the roman shade is hung at the ceiling level above the french door not to mention the lighting.

{Melanie Pounds Interior Design}

{Ina Garten's famous kitchen}

{via}

I love the natural, bleached floors with the soft color of the painted cabinets. This kitchen will never go out of style. I love the addition of the antique table and chairs with their mixed finishes.

I love a kitchen infused with bright natural light. I could stand at that bleached wood cabinet and gaze out that window all day. I love the little silver cabinet knobs and the vintage light.

Do you have a favorite kitchen from this series? I would love to know what you think. 

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Friday flowers: DIY Silver Pumpkin with Tulips and Hydrangea

Happy Friday!

I am still playing with pumpkins and flowers and thought I would share my latest creation. I discovered this great product - liquid leaf - that is super easy to paint anything! Warning, it will also guild your countertops, table or crisply ironed white shirt. Unfortunately, I know this first hand.

Why do I love it?

It comes in a variety of finishes. You can paint it right onto natural, organic surfaces like pumpkins, pears and pinecones. You can find it with the gold leafing supplies. Here is a link.

On Tuesday, I presented a floral demonstration for my garden club and the above arrangement is one of the ones I prepared in advance. I couldn't believe I found white tulips (my favorite flower) at Whole Foods. I am one of those people that really doesn't like orange and red so this silver leaf is a great way to use a seasonal pumpkin and still work within my favored palette.

Here is the super easy tutorial:

Start with a great pumpkin! Look for the perfect shape and size. Cut a wide whole in the top and scoop out all the insides. Scrape down the sides, like you would carve a Jack-O-Lantern. Paint your pumpkin with liquid leaf and let dry.

Fit a disposable, plastic container into the pumpkins cavity. Fill the container with presoaked wet Oasis floral foam. Pick greenery from your garden - I used Lavender, Elaeagnus and Lambs Ear.Add grocery store flowers - Hydrangea and White Tulips.

With all the supplies and flowers the arrangement cost less than $20. It would be a fun project to do as a girl's night out or with teenage daughters. Remember, that a pumpkin is perishable so you may want to display your pumpkin on a tray or platter so that it doesn't damage your furniture.

Have a great weekend!

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