Aspiring Artistry

Box it Up

I'm constantly inspired by floral arrangments that I see at other people's homes, at restaurants, and in the plethora of catalogs that arrive, especially around the holidays, full of lush gift baskets and beautiful florals.

For years, I've loved the arrangments I've seen in the Olive & Cocoa catalogs. I've never actually purchased one, but as the stack of accumulated tearsheets in my office can attest, I am inspired. I love the use of boxes as vessels, and the tight arrangement of stems and moss.

In anticipation of hosting a big dinner for 15, I knew I wanted centerpieces that were low, but striking. I knew the dinner would be slightly chaotic with lots of people, kids, talking, passing of food and drinks and didn't want the centerpieces to be in the way or have to be moved. 

I knew that this would be the time to break out that stack of tearsheets and see what I could do! Here are a few that I love:  

I've had a few wooden boxes stuffed in the basment for years, and now, after lining with some plastic and filling them with Oasis, they finally got put to use! I took my inspiration photos to the flower market with me. While they didn't have all of the specific flowers I was looking for, I found that we were able to come up with some great replacements.

While they certainly don't replicate the Olive & Cocoa arrangments, I think they are pretty fabulous!

 I used two arrangements, spaced down the middle of the table, with gold mesh fabric woven around and through. There was plenty of room for food and wine, and beautiful arrangments to look through and across, while enjoying everyone's company. They stayed fresh for quite a few days, andI thoroughly enjoyed looking at them each meal after the party!

Terrarium Love

It's well known around these parts that houseplants and I simply do not get along. Now, don't get me wrong, I love plants. And I have some serious thoughts about outdoor flower beds and gard 

ens, and some pretty big plans for my future.  But indoor plants ... blech.

I see them, those tempting indoor plants, at the garden center, I am inspired and think "Oh, that is just the perfect fern/succulent/ivy to fill that gorgeous cachepot/planter/box that I've had sitting around." 

And that's just what it does ... sit around. Without light, without water. No fail, I forget about it. 

Enter the terrarium ...

Supercute tiny plants make them appealing. I have scads of apothocary-type glass jars that I love to fill with decorative items throughout the year. And they are fairly self-sustaining ... a dribble of water now and then and they are happy as a clam.

I created three or four terrariums back in the fall, and they were flourishing at Christmastime. I kept them in the dining room, and moved them on and off the table as a centerpiece as needed. The light coming through our dining room windows is simply perfect for these creations!

This terrarium was completed before the holidays, and was full of tiny little plants that have now grown and spilled up over the edges when the top is removed. Isn't it great?

This one also has had a few months to marinate. The long fern fronds press up against the glass when closed and the other shoots are eager to emerge!

All gathered are the eleven terrariums I've finished, both back in November and more recently, with their tops removed. I can't decide whether to keep them all together in this perfect-light atmosphere, or distribute them around the house!