l a v e n d e r * l o v e * k i t t y

The small, cultivator lavenders are in bloom. I love their vivid color and sweet fragrance. It is natural for me to swipe my hands through the plants as I walk by them in the garden. The fragrance clings to my hands and I enjoy the soothing and tranquil smell. Although they do not have stems as long as the Grosso lavender, a good selection could be found, so I decided to cut some stems and create something. A small cluster of lavender in hand was carefully arranged. I secured the cluster with a small rubber band, right below the blossoms. Then, I measure down about 2 inches and marked the stems with my thumbnail. At that mark I folded each stem upwards, leaving a sharp crease but not cutting the stems into pieces. A length of ribbon was used to weave in and out of the stems, creating a "basket" of lavender blossoms. I added a piece of ribbon around the base and at the top of the basket. A bow was tied and added to embellish. It was a fragrant craft! So small and cute! It's drying now, and once dried I will adhere a small magnet to the back. It will become a fridge magnet so that it can be enjoyed for years ahead. Have you ever made a lavender basket?

The rest of the cut lavender was formed into a small bouquet and place into a milk glass vase. This is a 'no water' bouquet for me. The lavender will dry in the arrangement and can add charm to a shelf or sill for weeks to come. More of the striped lavender ribbon was used to tie around the neck of the vase. Old kitty was happy to see me in the garden and came to say hello. Meow!

Can you see kitty peeking past the lavender bouquet?

Lavender is in the mint family, as is cat mint (catnip). I wonder if Old Cat was as interested in me as in the lavender? I like to think he was. He's such a sweet kitty.

Do you grow lavender? Is it blooming yet? June is the month for lavender to bloom around here. The spring flowers of May will now be accented with an abundance of lavender in June. I can hardly wait!

Blogging Friends

White miniature roses with the first of this season's lavender.

I would like you to invite you to visit some of my blogging friends. I have two different listings of blogs that I enjoy. I think you might too! 

The first is a list at Tea Gracious Hospitality. The other is Friends of Gracious Hospitality. I've tried to include everyone who links to Gracious Hospitality or those who frequent my blog and leave a message telling me they've visited. Since blogging is a fluid and dynamic process, it may be that I have missed some favorite blogs unintentionally. . .or there may be a few broken links in the listing. If you'd like to be added to my blog roll, please leave me a message with this post. Alternatively, if you find a broken link that I've missed, let me know and I'll make necessary adjustments.

Thank you for visiting Gracious Hospitality! I am also happy to visit you! Just let me know where to find you!

Ruffly white miniature roses in a Shelley teacup.

Flowers of Season's End

Each autumn I like to take time to appreciate the last of the garden flowers. We've had several nights of frost, but they've not been quite cold enough to kill off the blossoms. But, I expect it will happen soon. My practice is to enjoy one last walk around the yard, admiring the flowers and picking some to arrange in the house so they can be enjoyed close-up.

My bouquet is eclectic this year. Among roses in pink, yellow, and lavender are dark burgundy snap-dragons, lavender, and black-eyed Susan. It doesn't matter if the colors clash. There's something about the colors of nature that seem to compliment one another uniquely. My wild and wonderful bouquet now graces the coffee table. It brings such pleasure, and even more, knowing that it is the last of the season.

Have you picked any of your garden flowers recently?

Gongfu Tea Sets

Let's take a look at the tea sets that were used for the Wu-Wo tea ceremony.

As I mentioned in my previous post, each "cover" was unique and expressed the uniqueness of the individual participant.

A gong-fu tea set is used for the Wu-Wo tea ceremony. Each teapot is very small. The pouring vessel and tea cups are equally proportionate.

A variety of shapes, colors, and designs were evident.

This set included a tea strainer to pour the tea through as it goes into the pouring vessel. The coasters were small wooden trays. And the miniature flower arrangement added life and beauty to the tray.

Instead of a flower arrangement, this tray featured a tiny ceramic turtle. The coral colored floral design on the tea set was bright and appealing. I love the variety of textures shown in the mat, table linen, and ceramic  and stone marker trays for the tea cups.

Some of the settings were set on mats placed directly on the ground. Others were set up on trays and a small stool provided for the participant to sit on. This created a user-friendly experience for those whose muscles and bones are not quite as flexible as they were then they were twenty!

The symmetry and variety in shapes (above) creates a space that is especially tranquil and inviting.

This mat has been partially covered with a colorful printed fabric, creating a unique setting that represents the host. A small sprig of lavender is set quietly along one side. Beauty.

A woven tray contrasts in texture and design with the table covering, adding interest. The repetition of the weave has just enough variation to attract the viewer. The tea cups provide symmetry.

This was my tea setting. Bare feet on green grass. Cups of green tea. Contentment.

* * *

Question: Did everyone have to bring their own tea sets with them? Or were they provided? All are so very lovely and unique. Tammy

Answer: We each bring our own set, but provide for guests. It is always fun to see how each person embellished her or his tea tray.
Marilyn

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Spring to be Seen!

"Today is the day when bold kites fly,

When cumulus clouds roar across the sky.

When robins return, when children cheer,

When light rain beckons spring to appear.

Today is the day when daffodils bloom,

Which children pick to fill the room,

Today is the day when grasses green,

When leaves burst forth for spring to be seen."

Robert McCracken 

I am most delighted that spring seems to be arriving! A week-end of 60 degree weather, sunshine, and flowers does so much to lift the spirits. The grass is turning green, the daffodils are in full bloom, and ornamental fruit trees are flowering. Goldfinches visit the thistle feeder outside of my kitchen window all day long, and the Juncos pick up seeds that fall to the ground below the feeder. It's about time to till up the garden and plant spring greens! Nature provides so many treats that bring joy to the day! I hope your spring is lovely too! Happy spring!

Hope & Dreams

When we allow ourselves to dream
We plant a seed so promising and fair
to grow and blossom, a precious garden
of fantasies unique and rare.
With each flower blooming, a new hope arises
each petal with smell so sweet.
But when we stop ourselves from dreaming
the petals wither in defeat.

By Jaime Polaris 

Siberian Iris

Spring has been very slow to arrive this year. Or maybe I should say warm weather is slow to arrive. We've had rain showers, breezy days, gray skies, and general coolness. The usual vibrant flowers of May have been slow to bloom. One news report shared that the season was three weeks behind, and according to my flowers that is so. The Siberian iris is usually in full bloom the first of May, but it has only been the past week that it blossomed fully in my garden. After the dreary, dark days I couldn't resist picking a bundle of them and bringing them indoors. Their long stems exuded elegance and grace. Not wishing to detract from their natural beauty, I decided a simple quart jar was the perfect container to display them in. A satin ribbon tied around the rim acted visually as something to bundle them together. For a week they charmed me every time I walked through the living room! Simple, sweet, and fragrant; they create a delightful dash of purple in my day.

Nature's Color Scheme

Warm weather has finally arrived and the roses reacted by bursting into bloom!  Vibrant, wild colors and sweet fragrance thrill the senses of sight and smell.  Lavender, orange, yellow, red, and peach work together in an arrangement that has no color scheme except 'nature'.  It brings delight to the home and joy to my heart!  Enjoy my flowers with me --- soaking in the colors and imagining their sweet fragrance.  Spring is here!

Lilac Heaven

 

Twenty-five years ago my mother-in-law gave us starts from the lilacs at her home.  Each start grew in our garden and now we have a long row of beautiful lilacs.  But, after so much time, they are very tall and most of the blossoms bloom at the top!  Clipping them for an arrangement is quite a challenge, but with a long stretch, a few can be gathered for a pretty centerpiece.  Walking under the lilac trees is a fragrant experience, and although most of the blossoms cannot be reached, the walk is worth the experience for its sensory effect on the nostrils!  Lilac season passes by quickly --- so if you have lilacs blooming nearby --- enjoy them while you can!  

The Centerpiece, a Focal Point

 

There are some things each of us consider essential in our homes.  For me, one of those things is a centerpiece at the dining room table that becomes the focal point in the room.  Fresh flowers are always best, although a potted plant, sea shells, whole fruits, nuts, whole vegetables, evergreens, or polished agates also grace the table during times when cut flowers are unavailable.  The best fresh flowers are not those that come from the florist or the grocer's floral department.  Instead, they are the ones that come from your own garden.  Starting in early spring, it's fun to take a basket and shears outside on a walk through the yard, looking for what may be blooming.  Sometimes whatever is blooming dictates the rest of the table decor.  But when there is more than one type of blossom available, choices can be made that allow for spontaneity in table decor.  Simple is always best, since flowers always speak for themselves. Having several simple vases available in varying sizes makes floral design easy and fun.  Yesterday's brunch was casual and brown stoneware was the acceptable service.  As I walked around the yard, still a bit scant in the flower department, I realized that the Thundercloud Plum tree was in full bloom and that the sprigs of branches within my reach would complement the table decor.  Four or five simple snips of the shears, and the casual arrangement of these graceful twigs resulted in a dainty and non-imposing centerpiece.  These delicate flowers set the tone for the table scene and lifted the stoneware from a boring brown to a cozy hue.  

A centerpiece is an object of art that centers the table and draws guests in.  Because it is there, it relays a message of "you are special" to those who sit at your table.  A centerpiece reflects the taste and imagination of the hostess and establishes the theme of the occasion.  Usually, a small decoration with simple lines is much more attractive than one which crowds the table.  Care should be taken in choosing colors that blend, harmonize, or contrast with the china and table linens.  Although magnificent,  the large centerpieces that are frequently featured on the glossy pages of magazines are usually too large for proper table use.  The height of a centerpiece is considered very important in table etiquette.  It should be low enough so that even the shortest person seated at the table can see across to others seated there.  Generally, this means that the maximum height of a centerpiece should be no more than 12" high.  

A centerpiece sets the tone for a meal, promoting quiet elegance, cozy comfort, and personal appeal.  Go see what you have in your yard that could bring some of the sunshine inside to your own dinner table!

Alfresco

Bringing bits of the outdoors inside helps bring life to a home. Touches of nature lift the spirit, bring cheer, and please the eye. Little touches of nature can help you feel more home in your house, giving a feeling of freshness and light. A dictionary definition describes alfresco as having origins in 1745 - 55 and meaning 'in the cool, in a cool place'. For me, fresh flowers or greens do bring the cool inside, in more ways than one! Do you have your touch of alfresco in you home today?

"Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9

Happy Spring!!!

Spring has arrived! Beautiful daffodils burst into bloom on the first day of spring. How cool is that? I couldn't resist bringing some inside to help with the ongoing evolution of the table centerpiece! Cheerful, yellow, fresh, and fragrant --- they anchored the centerpiece that was surrounded with colorful nests and eggs.

Happy Spring!

By the way, Vee has caught the centerpiece bug. Visit her and see what is gracing her table today.

Centerpiece Evolution

It's fun to create centerpieces out of things you have around the house and to observe their evolution as days pass. I'm always adding or taking something away and the centerpiece becomes a dynamic part of the home decor. Today's table centerpiece isn't all that different than last weeks unless you look closely. A gathering of milk glass candy dishes become pedestals for mismatched antique bread and butter plates. Tiny birds nests and eggs with a glass dome atop create variation in height on the dining room table. Candles circled by napkin rings guard each end. Featured center is a cheese dome covering a porcelain bouquet of Old Country Roses flowers in a vase. A cheerful yellow bird adds accent and three tiny crystal vases are scattered throughout, waiting for some garden flowers to be placed in the scene. Maybe tomorrow, as there are little snowdrops and crocus blooming in the tea garden outside the door. . .

Centerpieces ala Spring!

Edith Shaeffer, in her book The Hidden Art of Homemaking, shares her belief that there should always be a centerpiece on the dining room table. She emphasizes how this brings grace and beauty to the home, and how children benefit from the centeredness that results from this tradition. Centerpieces do not need to be expensive or store-bought. She empathizes the use of objects found in nature; things that children can help gather. Twigs, shells, rocks, leaves, moss, and flowers are all things that can be found outside quiet easily. Even in the coldest months of winter, evergreen branches or dry twigs can be used. Ever since reading her her book, I have tried to keep a simple centerpiece on the dining room table. It changes according to mood and what is available. My centerpiece for early March was made of a place mat, a round plate, sea shells, and a potted daffodil plant. Simple, yet effective, it helped bring SPRING to the dining room table!

Autumn Rose

The cooler autumn air gives vibrancy and reprieve to the roses in the garden. For the next month, I will enjoy them greatly, knowing that the first frost will take away their beautiful blossoms until spring. The bright colors inspired me to create a centerpiece with roses as the focal point.

Old Embroidery

A bouquet of an assortment of colorful roses created the quirky and unusual centerpiece. They are placed in a floral, water-filled 'ring' that is set upon a cake plate. It's covered with an antique embroidered doily I found at a thrift store recently.

Candle Ring

A candle set in the middle adds an autumnal touch.

Daffodil Delight and Tulip Cheer

Split Complement

The garden is alive with vibrant yellow daffodils. I couldn't resist a cheerful theme for this St. Patrick's day. Instead of one bouquet, I made three!
Simple, yet cheerful, the yellow was accented by orange and purple. . .a split complementary color scheme. A touch of green was added for St. Patrick's Day fun.

Primroses with Calico Jeans

Last week I received a lovely gift from my friend, Karleen. It's so creative and beautiful that I even re-wrapped the gifts in the white paper wrap and have left everything 'as is' for awhile yet so I can enjoy the packaging. Karleen took an old pair of jeans and stitched together a bag which contains the contents. Calico in bright colors is braided together to make handles. Tissue paper, colorful primroses, and gifts wrapped in white with color coordinated markers and ribbon complete the ensemble. I think it's so cute and just had to share this idea! Enjoy!