Flower Blog - January

So I'm willing to admit when I don't think I've done that great of a job and whether or not I've learned something. Spending under $12.50 is HARD. And it gets even harder when you do eventually settle on what you want to buy, purchase it and then get it back to your home/office and realize that one of the flowers isn't really up to snuff or you are unimpressed with the purchase itself!

I had to return the mauve one because it looked a bit wilted, but even when I returned it, 5 of 6 of them were wilted, but I decided for this exercise I'd just pick the best one because I had everything else ready to photograph and wasn't about to switch gears again.

I learned that you need to examine the flowers BEFORE they are wrapped and that I need to do more research on how to photograph them. Not horrible for a first attempt but I expended a lot of effort (albeit mentally) getting the job done.

The vases are Hoosier (circa 1965); the teacups and saucers are from my mother's wedding collection; the plates are from my sister as a hostess gift; the spoons are tarnished but pretty and came from Winners; the table covering is two tea towels (also used when we were in Radium in the fall last year as napkins) and the flowers are Mums with sprays of eucalyptus.

TOTAL TIME: 1.5 HOURS (WAY TOO LONG)
TOTAL COST:  $12.07

Small Container Flower Arrangements . . .

New year, new challenge . . . This year I'm going to try and make a flower arrangement every month in a small container for a grand total in the entire year of $150.00. You might not think this is a challenge but if you thought about it ... how many flowers can you really buy at a high end flower shop for $12.50. Stay tuned, I'll find a container over the weekend and make an attempt at a mini arrangement every month; and yes, some of them will be themed!

Tulle Skirt

When Kristen shared a picture of a tulle skirt from Pinterest and said she'd like to wear one to her Christmas Party I offered to make it.  I viewed one video on YouTube and thought pffffft - I can do that . . .

Off to Fabricland I go and 8 yards of tulle (4 yards of off white, two yards of creamy ivory and two yards of blush), just enough black elastic for her waistband and 3/4 of a yard of slip fabric later, it's back home to sew.

What a pain in the butt this was . . . the fabric is SO sheer and the house is SO dry that it just got all full of static and was SO frustrating I had to put it down three times before I actually got it to a point where I could gather the damn tulle . . . but it was really simple sewing.

I cut the waist band four inches smaller than her actual waist measurement, and zig zagged it closed.  Then divided into quarters; sewed seams in all 8 layers of the tulle, ran a running stitch through the first four layers of tulle and then the other four layers, and then quartered the tulle.  I matched up the quarters, gathered the tulle a couple of inches LARGER than the elastic and stretched and sewed it on to the black elastic waistband with a straight stitch.  I sewed four layers on at a time.  She did not want it "pouffy" so that many layers was enough.  It did, however, need a slip underneath.

Here is the finished product; a VERY cute girl, some kick ass shoes, a jean jacket and a funky (borrowed) bracelet!

One last celebration . . .

Because Kristen and Andrew were away during Christmas, we still had to celebrate together . . . I truly didn't like that they were away but they have their own lives and I get it!

I stayed with some of the same theme from the cocktail party because it was only a week prior and Chili and Garlic Bread was on the menu . . . not really a Christmas themed meal but it was awesome none the less.

Here are a few pics of the table!

I made the napkins last year to go with the swag on the window!

And here they are in their all their glory!

I never purchased one thing for the table . . . well that's kind of a lie - I bought them each a Christmas ornament and put that in the bowl.

Cocktails for 10!

Christmas is over, I didn't celebrate New Years (only because I don't care to) but I'll certainly have a couple of people over for cocktails!

What's on the menu:

Martinis, wine and beer
A cheese tray
Hummus and Greek Garden Pie
and Bob's yer uncle!

How fun . . .

Red Pepper Hummus and Pita Chips

Cheese Tray - it looks like I got really lazy on this one . . . 

Flowers in recycled Perrier Bottles (and some spiced peas)

Greek Garden Pie and Pepper and Olive Oil Triskets

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