Tip of the Week -  Grow Some Wheatgrass!

At this time of year, we are all thinking of Spring and looking for signs that a new season is on its way!  But until those flowers are actually blooming outside, consider growing some wheatgrass inside!  Some people grow wheatgrass as a cat treat and others to make juice, but I love it for its bright, fresh green color and decorating possibilities!

Where to Purchase Seeds or Kits

Whether you plant your grass seeds in a low, flat tray or in a set of small pots, with light and watering, the grass should sprout in about 7 to 10 days!  You can pick up the wheatgrass seeds at your local garden or pet shop, from an online resource, or you can let Uncommon Goods do all of the work for you!  At Uncommon Goods, you can purchase a handcrafted pot complete with soil, seeds and instructions! (Wheatgrass Planters, $38, pictured top)

Once your grass has sprouted, you can display your greenery just as it is or nestle faux birds, bunnies, eggs or Easter accessories among the blades.  Either way, you’ll be able to enjoy a lush lawn long before the real thing is ready!

Terrariums – Tabletop Gardening All Year Round!

During a visit to the 2010 Philadelphia Flower Show,  I found that my very favorite garden shop, Terrain, had a shop among the boutique booths and was thrilled!  It took just minutes to select a terrarium featuring tiny plants nestled in moss and covered with a glass cloche with a bird finial!  The first sign of spring in my home!

I started thinking about how popular terrariums are right now and then remembered my mother in the 1970’s tending a terrarium planted in a giant water cooler bottle – using a long handled grabber of some sort to get the plants into place!  What’s old is always new again!

Creating Your Own Terrarium

If you’d like to try to create your own terrarium, it’s relatively simple!  Here’s what you’ll need:

1.  A Container

Containers can be open to the air or covered, like mine is, with a glass cloche.  Here are some examples ranging from something found in your kitchen cabinets or purchased at a specialty site:

• Cloche – My bird finial cloche from Terrain
• Apothecary Jars
• Glass Terrarium with aged terracotta base
• Glass Pear
• English Garden Style
• Edwardian Conservatory
• From Your Kitchen or Garage:  mason jar, glass cookie jar with a metal lid, open glass dish, brandy sniffer or old fish bowl/aquarium.

2.  Now layer the following:

• Small pebbles or gravel for drainage (about 1”)
• Activated charcoal that acts as an air filter in a closed terrarium.  You can pick this up at a pet shop that sells supplies for aquariums! (about ½ “)
• Spaghnum moss – to prevent the soil from settling down into the pebbles/charcoal (from a florist or craft store)
• Potting soil (about 2 – 3”) Overall, the drainage and soil layers should comprise ¼ of the container.
• Plants that are the right size for your container*
• Another layer of spaghnum moss
• Add small decorative elements – my terrarium came with tiny pinecones tucked into the moss!

3.  Caring for Your Terrarium

• Covered Terrariums – If you’re terrarium is covered, you’ll only need to water it occasionally, but you will have to remove the cover once or twice a week if too much condensation builds up.  Keep in mind that some condensation is expected and necessary!
• Open Terrariums – Open terrariums will need watering more regularly.  Pull off any dead or yellowed leaves and prune when necessary.

Voila!    That’s it – just be careful to keep your creation out of direct sunlight!

P.S. If you’re as intrigued by the terrarium trend as I am, you will definitely enjoy  The New Terrarium:  Creating Beautiful Displays for Plants and Nature by Tovah Martin!

*Here are some terrific plants for terrariums!  If you can’t find these locally, a few shopping links are included:

• Lemon Button Fern
• Baby Tears
• Irish Moss

Other Ideas:

• Miniature African Violets
• Creeping Charlie
• Ardesia
• Wandering Jew
• Creeping Fig

Hosting overnight guests can feel like a challenge, especially if your home doesn’t allow for a designated guest room! But not to worry – you won’t have to relegate your guests to an old pull out couch or college era futon anymore! Better Homes and Gardens did some terrific research and offered three exceptional choices for keeping your visitors comfortable!

Cabela’s Folding Air Bed

This queen sized bed combines the “off of the ground” convenience of a cot, with the comfort of an inflatable mattress. The frame and mattress fold into a wheeled storage case and it only takes a few easy steps to set it up. An air pump is included. (Folding Air Bed, $150)

L.L. Bean’s Swedish Folding Cot

Unlike the type of cot that we’re all familiar with, this version features a thick cushioned mattress and wooden slats for support! The cot folds to a slim size and weighs only 26 pounds. (Swedish Folding Cot, $120)

Aerobed’s Luxury Collection Pillow Top

This is not your typical inflatable bed! Featuring a plush, velvety sleep surface and a control wand with seven preset memory firmness settings for a customized feel, this bed is available in twin, full and queen sizes. (Aerobed’s Pillow Top)

The Insta-Bed

Another bedding choice that caught my attention while I was preparing to write this article was the Insta-Bed. This bed features an inflatable mattress, but is unique with a built in electric pump that is operated with a remote control. The remote control can inflate and deflate the mattress, adjust the level of firmness and best of all, raise the head or foot of the bed. Since inflatable beds don’t have headboards, being able to raise the head of the bed allows guests to read or watch TV in bed! (Insta-Bed)

If your home is lacking a comfortable, stow away bed for company, buying one of these well priced beds will have you sleeping as peacefully as your guests! For some additional tips for creating fabulous guests rooms, take a look at Create A Five Star Guest Room!

You may also enjoy:

• Great Guest Rooms
• Get Your Guest Room Guest Ready
• Memory Collections
• Easy Seasonal Decorating
• Creating a Bookshelf Display
• Spring Fashion Trends 2010

I so enjoyed writing about the retro trend in Christmas decorations, I just had to revisit the topic for this coming Easter!   As at Christmas, there are some really lovely decorations, linens and serving ware that will add a vintage touch to your spring décor or Easter dinner table!

Serving Ware

Williams-Sonoma – Taking their inspiration from 1930’s postcards, Williams-Sonoma has designed Easter serving pieces featuring nostalgic bunnies!  Selections include a set of 4 egg round plates, a set of 4 ramekins, a very versatile rectangular serving platter and drinking glasses. (Vintage Bunny Serveware)

Decorations

Christmas Traditions - The name of this site is deceiving – while definitely offering Christmas items, Easter is also very well covered!  There are so many cute decorations here that it’s hard to choose, but here are a few of my favorites:

• Easter Cupcakes – these little boxes in the form of vintage cupcakes, complete with glittery sprinkles, are just too cute.  Two designs available- either a bunny or a chick! (Easter Cupcakes, item# GG7858, you have to scroll way down the page to find these!)

• 
• Paper Mache Chocolate Eggs – fun faux eggs crafted from paper mache, glittered and then trimmed with aqua or pink ribbon and a sweet vintage tag! (aqua ribbon: item #CCPE18, $19.99; pink ribbon: item #CCBE12, $21.99, keep scrolling, you’ll find them!)

• Tiny Treat Baskets – tiny treat baskets made of crepe paper, vintage images, flower accents and ribbons will take your guests back in time to the birthday parties of their childhoods!  Just perfect for table decorations and party favors. (item #CM6357, $36.99/set of six, keep scrolling, you’ll find them!)

Take a look at this site and be prepared to view the most extensive collection of vintage Easter decorations I’ve seen anywhere! Christmas Traditions,  you have to scroll through many items, but you will find these!)

Touch Stone – here you’ll find some fabulous large scale decorations that will make a huge impact in your home or yard!  Wooden cut outs featuring a variety of vintage looking bunnies and Easter eggs will add “egg-tra” appeal wherever you place them! (Easter Cut Out Decorations)

Linens

I love the idea of vintage or vintage inspired table linens to complement these wonderful decorations, but these specialty items are few and far between and may just have to be found during a lucky ebay search!  But not to worry, pretty and fun Easter tablecloths are easily available – no online bidding necessary!

Easter Jacquard – this beautiful aqua tablecloth features a subtle border of white bunny silhouettes with coordinating napkins and kitchen towels!  (Jaquard Bunny Tablecloth)

Cutwork Table Topper – from Touchstone, this square table cloth has scalloped edges and pastel embroidered Easter eggs along the border!  (Cutwork Table Topper)

Bunny Garden -  pretty and subtle, this cotton table cloth has a dark green striped border and an embroidered Easter garden!  Matching napkins are also sold.  (Easter Bunny Garden Tablecloth)

There is something very special about finding and bringing things into your home that remind you of your childhood!  And it’s wonderful that reproductions which spark those memories are available today, allowing us to share them with our children.  I love the era that we live in now and all of its sophisticated technology, but the allure of an old fashioned, sparkly, ribbon trimmed Easter egg is hard to resist!

You may also enjoy:

• Create a Fabulous Easter Basket
• Host a Fun Easter Egg Hunt
• Entertaining at Easter
• Retro Christmas Decorations

Tags: vintage easter decorations, retro, fabulous, unique, fun, cute, decorating for easter, ideas for easter decorations, table, mantle, display

Find Easter Decorating Ideas at Wrapables.com

Color Trends for 2010!

Each year, we’re treated to a wonderful array of new trends, ranging from food to fashion to color!  Color predictions, in particular, have always held great fascination for me!  What will we be seeing in home furnishings?  Clothing?  Paint colors?  The answer is delivered every January from a company called the Pantone Color Institute!

Pantone Colors

Pantone has been around for 45 years, first creating a color spectrum that allowed industry wide color matching and now providing the definitive word on the year’s color to watch!  The color of the year is a product of study on how color influences thought, emotion and physical reactions taken into consideration with the current social climate.

2009 – Mimosa

For example, the color of the year for 2009 was Mimosa – a warm, optimistic yellow reflecting hope in a time of political change and economic uncertainty – just think of Michelle Obama’s inauguration ensemble!

2008 – Iris

In 2008, the winner was Iris, a shade of deep blue with hints of purple.  The blue was felt to be reassuring in a complicated world and the purple added a mystical and spiritual touch!

2010 – Turquoise

So without further ado, the color for 2010 is a gorgeous turquoise blue!  Turquoise, according to Pantone, “combines the serene qualities of blue with the invigorating aspects of green.”  Like the turquoise waters of tropical islands, this color is said to be soothing and provide an escape from the everyday world.

Get ready to see turquoise appearing in clothing, jewelry, home accessories, wallpapers and paints and so much more in the year ahead!

And if you’re as intrigued by this world of color as much as I am, take a look at the fun products that have been inspired by the 3000 Pantone colors!

You may also enjoy:

• Fun Pantone Inspired Products