Merry and Bright

Oh the merriment wrapped up in the holidays. I'm short on time and long on sparkle, glam, greenery, yummy cooking, holiday smells filling the house, nature, family outings/crafting/gatherings/performances.

The baubles are glistening and the pine cones are doubling as tiny trees.

Spray paint, dirt, rocks, plants, evergreens, lights and pots are my friends for Christmas decorating. (Yes, that's a portable card table I use for a potting bench ~ go ahead and feel sorry for me!)

Simple clay pots turn from orange to red, green and brown to blend in with indoor arrangements.

Succulents wired to an evergreen wreath make the front door come alive with garden goodness.

Come inside with me to see some 'merry and bright' in my house.

We celebrate because of the Good News! ... of Great JOY! A Savior is born. (Luke 2:10)

Wishing you a most Merry Christmas and a JOYful New Year. Meems
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*** Hoe and Shovel on Facebook  come see the daily plants/flowers photos and discussions. Click on the LIKE button under the header to be part of the conversation. Would love to hear what's going on in your garden.
Meems

Make Your Own Christmas Gift Bags::Simple DIY

Creating a whimsical gift bag (for any occasion really) is another fun way to spend time with your best boys and girls. My grandkids and I have been painting our own wrapping paper and making our own gift bags as one of our Christmas traditions for many years now.

It's as easy as one, two, three. The end result is a personalized, hand-made, one-of-a-kind gift bag to pass along or treasure as a keepsake.

Here's what you will need:

Fabric of your choice. Look for patterns that will cut out easily and items within the fabric that can stand alone.
Spray adhesive. Any glue that holds fabric to paper is fine but I've found spray adhesive to work the best.
Puffy paint. This will be to outline the fabric edges.
Ribbon. (Optional)
Stencils. (Optional~~ can be used to make designs in addition or in lieu of fabric)
Handle bags. Sold in groups of 12 (usually) or individually at any craft store.
Raffia, ribbon, and tissue paper to finish once there is a gift inside.

Once your fabric pieces are cut out, spray the back side with adhesive and lay them on your bag in the design of your choice. The fabric should be completely wet with spray. Wear disposable gloves to protect fingers.

Let each bay dry completely before adding outline paint.

Use the puffy paint to outline along the cut edges of the fabric and within the cut out. Just have fun with it and make it your own.

These newly glued artist renditions :-) don't have paint on them yet but as you can see the designs can be geared for child gifts or adult gifts. Any size bag will work.

There you have it. Go have some fun and make some memories with your kiddos.

Meems

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You might also be interested in my latest Lowe's Garden Grow Along blog entry which you can click on the title to read:: Gardening-Inspired Gift Ideas.

I Still Don't Have A Potting Bench

Pulling out stored Christmas decorations is like taking a walk down memory lane. Ornaments and accessories that stir thoughts of the people who passed them along or the stories behind each one.

Time-stamped with recollections of holidays come and gone and thoughts held dear of the blessings and cheer of past seasons spent with loved ones. With each container opened inspiration begins to motivate me for just the right placement that will be the festive and homey touch I'm looking for in my decorating.

This year there were some surprises as I began my rummaging. I had completely forgotten about the end-of-the-season sale from last year when I bought the "12 days of Christmas" mugs and salad plates from Williams Sonoma. I do remember I purchased them for a great price. Really cheap is more like it. I bought them on sale and then went back 10 days later for a further markdown. I love it when that happens.

I had been eyeing them for weeks every time I walked through the store; but would never have paid the retail price. I love them as much now that they are all cozy in my house as I did when I first saw them. It was kind of like Christmas for ME when I re-discovered them all packed away.

It was never really my plan to display them I was only thinking about using them. But I like how it worked out that they are out in the open to be seen and to be used.

Hanging on the rustic metal Christmas tree that I've used in so many different ways over the years are vintage ornaments. After my friend and neighbor passed away a few years ago her husband wanted me to have them in memory of her. Turns out it is a beautiful way to bring her to the forefront of my heart in a warm, loving way each Christmas.

I bet you're wondering if I forgot what my title is with all this talk of Christmas decorating. I'm getting there. Promise.

I don't have a potting bench. It's the truth. People ask me all the time to please show/talk about my potting bench and potting shed on my blog. I seriously don't have one and never have had one. {Someday I will - cause I have dreams}.

So last week my mom and I were poking around in some antique stores in one of our favorite small towns close by. We were just lollygagging (that's Southern for no intentional aim) mostly with a purpose to relax and have fun together for an afternoon. But you know how it is when you "see" that just right object or accessory and it speaks to something in you. It is saying it wants to be one of the pieces in your life that makes up the whole.

That's how my entire home and garden has been created. One piece, one part, one section at a time. Built together, evolving layer upon layer into the big picture... a reflection of my own unique life experiences. It's more exciting that way don't you think! Maybe because you're never finished. No hurriedly buying stuff all at once for a magazine-cover designer styling. For me, it's more about mixing up styles, textures, and elements that blend with our individual lifestyle. Which makes it more 'my' home, 'my' garden.

And it means I always have my heart and eyes open for what fits for 'us' when I'm out and about just having fun.

I kept the centerpiece on our 'everyday' table very simple this year . Because we have to clear it easily for meals and for crafts and for play-doh and whatever else the moments require. I love mixing the unpolished silver mint julep cups with the bronze-ish tray and using natural evergreens and shiny ornaments randomly placed. All pulled together from pieces I already have and utilize on other occasions as well. It's important to me to make things work for who we are as a family.

It's worth noting here that our home is small and it doesn't have space for one more item of furniture. Seriously. I've been doing this (piecing together thing) for a long time and we are up to our eyeballs in furniture.

So Mom and I are innocently meandering around in our quaint small town and our favorite antique shops and I spot this piece of furniture. Yes, the one with all the Christmas decorations on it. I think to myself it would make the perfect POTTING BENCH. Or I'm pretty sure it was talking out loud TO ME. It would have to go in the garage because like I said I don't have a POTTING SHED either. It's 39" high. No bending. Perfect height for potting up WHATEVER. It has drawers for tools and a nice deep, sturdy shelf with doors that close. I planned to cover the potting surface with tin that would wipe clean easily. I could "see" it all so clearly. I purchase it with EVERY intention of making it a POTTING BENCH.

I think you've guessed the end of the story. I loaded it up in the back of my car and by the time I got it home I had visions of it ~~ not in the garage ~~ but I liked it so much I could see it fitting into our casual eating area. An open baker's rack would have to be moved and the drop leaf table that served as a side table would have to be relocated also. It took some finagling but it was doable and oh. so. much. fun.

And that's how the buffet turned potting bench turned buffet story goes. Did I mention I still don't have a potting bench?

What about you? Do you long for a potting bench/potting shed like I do or have your potting bench dreams been fulfilled?

How-To :: Poinsettia Wrap Up

Christmas cheer is spreading quickly around Hoe and Shovel while decking the halls with so much inspiration I can hardly contain my excitement. I admit some years I have to work up to pulling out all those container tubs with more sparkly bobbles than I care to think about waiting to be unwrapped and displayed. But this year was not like that. I was SO READY to get started.

I thought I'd share with ya'll an easy way to jazz up a simple poinsettia plant and turn it into a homey and natural display for a shelf, table, or mantel. This easy-peasy idea is also a great gift for under $10. You can do this to any plant actually. I want to try it with a small cypress and a birds nest fern, too.

Ready to get started?

Here's what you'll need other than a 6" or 1 gallon plant:

* Fabric ~~ I used burlap purchased by the yard at Walmart. Then I cut it into a 21" x 21" square for each plant (the only thing I'd like better would be an authentic burlap bag cut up into squares ... now that would make my heart go pitter-patter!)

* Plastic tray ~~ for drainage placed underneath the plant.

* Ribbon ~~ 6 feet for each plant. I used a braided cord but you can use jute or ribbon or string ... whatever suits your fancy really... the possibilities are endless.

* Parchment Paper ~~ optional. I used it as an extra protection from soil/water but I also wanted the extra stiffness for better form.

Once I cut the fabric square I pulled off a few strings on every side to create that frayed look I wanted on the edges.

This is basically how it lays out.

You'll need to play with the tucks and folds of the fabric once you gather it up around the base of the plant to get it even and fluffed like you want it to look. I tied a loosely, floppy bow just above the top of the pot and then let the corners of the fabric hang over kind of casual and natural-like.

Did I say these make great hostess gifts? They do.

The merriest of days, dear readers. I'm having a blast making my home merry and bright for Christmas... I hope you are,too.