Floral Frenzy

One of my favorite creative outlets is to build floral arrangements. I love to mix and match colors and textures, and I wish I could do it all the time! It's funny that my florals typically turn out as well as they do, because I have zero ability to work with color and texture in clothing. Total fail area for me. To each her own, I suppose. Some of my arrangements challenge me; others come together quickly.

Challenging...

• Fall

• This little guy, built in a container shaped like a drum. I am still not sure I like it. What do you think?

Not so much a challenge...

• Florist in the making?

• I knew I had to do something with this adorable owl vase Lefty brought me from a trip to Colorado last summer with her dad. Does she know her Mama or what?

•  I happened upon a terrific sale at Hobby Lobby one day in the floral department...80% off! WHAT?!?! This is the result of that little retail therapy session.





And here are my most recent creations. We have been updating the color scheme in our living room since we took down this year's Christmas décor. I redid the arrangement from the above-mentioned post, because it needed a container that was a little more sturdy than the original. I like the new one oh-so-much better!

Our fun new color 'pop' is called saffron, and I adore it! I have always been a huge fan of yellow in all shades, but was never able to pull it off in a room. This time, SCORE!!!

And finally, I had come across some smoky lavender vases that had been packed away for a rainy day. It was a rainy day, and I was bored out of my gourd. This beauty is what happened.

Linking up today with Karen for Sew Darn Crafty at Sew Many Ways.

The Challenge is Over,

and what do I do, but miss the first day after? Haha, it figures! Today brought me home before lunch with an upset stomach, so after a long nap here I sit, trying not to move (or else I will hurl). Even sitting completely still (other than my rapidly tapping fingers), I am still horribly nauseated. Ugh. Last week and all weekend, I had a severely impacted sinus infection that required medicine which kept me loopy until Monday. It still isn't totally gone either...I am so ready to feel good again!

Anywho, on Monday, I did feel half normal...so I got mah hur did! It was supposed to be red, blonde, and brown chunked (normal for me, but with bigger chunks...er, stripes). This is what I got...

Notice the black in the front?!?! I think I like...

On Tuesday, fall blew in after a storm in my neck of the woods. Temps were in the 90s over the weekend, but after the rain, we have windy highs in the mid-60s. It feels like October...sweaters, boots...and these guys falling everywhere (this is just two days after Hubs cleaned them up the first time)...

And finally, our first glimpse of fall color, which I love!

OH, and THESE guys...they are from last year's buckets of mums on the front porch! We put them in the burn pile when they 'died,' but they were only playing dead. Turns out, in the spring, they had buds on them! We pulled them out of the buckets, put some Miracle Gro on them...and stuck them in the ground. What do ya know? They grew!

*Wednesday weigh-in = 171.7, down from 173.4*

Fall Florals

Our dining room table is gargantuan sized. It has to be to seat us all. It requires a rather large arrangement for anything to look quite right on it. I've never attempted to do much of anything with it due to a slight intimidation factor...just the sheer size of the table! Today, I told myself to suck it up and just try it. And voila...

Florist in the Making?

When we finished moving Lefty's furniture around after painting her room, it was determined that she needed a tall visual in a corner. I decided to try my hand at a floral arrangement. She and I did it, and it turned out pretty well. It isn't very clear in this photo, but you get the general idea. She chose the pieces (most of them), and Chris and I forced convinced her to select some filler florals as well.

After getting decent results from the wild creation of red sparkly metal, silver grasses, peacock feathers, and zebra striped carnations, Chris decided we needed a new arrangement for the kitchen table. He thought we could do it. I had recently purchased new table linens and plates that have some odd color combinations, so our former red and white arrangement would no longer work. The new colors are brown, turquoise, and olive green. The results???



To top it all off, the MIL visited today and insists that she was going to the local florist to have a spring arrangement commissioned for her dining room buffet table. She has decided not to go, that I will be making her this arrangement for Mother's Day. Hmm. I am not sure about this, but told her to get the vase she wants, and I will make a valiant attempt. She isn't going to help me choose the florals. Says it hurts her head and drives her crazy to have so many choices. Scary. How am I supposed to know what base colors to use??? Wish me luck!!! I will post pics of the MIL bouquet when the vase gets here!