GardenMama

.: Hanging Window Vase Tutorial :.

.: Thank you for the beautiful comments you shared with me on my last post. It was truly a pleasure to read each one! :.

.: Glass jar wrapped with wire and embellished with decoupage creates a hanging vase to grace the window :.

While the snow still sits outside covering the earth surrounding us there is a noticeable shift in the quality of light. The sun has returned to our windows to shower us with it's distinct feeling of happiness as it streams over the sill and kisses the tops of the children's heads. 

While the winter continues I look to the sunny spot in the living room as a foreshadowing of spring.  While  the sun works it's magic along with the help of Mrs. Thaw, the earth drinks in the melting snow that nurtures the soil of the gardens. 

Even though the Tulips are not yet awakened or prepared to greet us in the gardens, after some thought I went right to work to create our own bit of spring in the windows...
 

This is a great way to use recycled jars. Mason jars that have a smooth front work beautifully as well. 

The next step I will share here is how to create the handle for the hanging glass vase.

I was happy to come across this wire encased in jute that made for a very natural-looking handle.  (This may be found in the floral section of many craft stores)

First I took a nice long piece of wire. I  sized it by holding it up to the vase and made sure that it was long enough that it could hang from the door or windows and still lay flat.

Form the wire into a handle shape as seen in the above photo. Make 'hooks' at the end of the handle wire.

Wrap the wire around the rim of the jar twice. Before securing it, place the handle 'hooks' under the wrapped wire. Make sure it is very secure by closing off the hooks.

Pull the wire that is wrapped around the rim tightly. Twist the ends together to form a very secure closure. 

You now have your functional hanging vase. Now for the fun part!

Next prepare to adorn the glass hanging vases,  you may choose your paper images. 

These spring-like images were found in the scrapbook section of the local craft store. I am planning to create a few more vases and look forward to using images from a chicken catalogue as well as from seed catalogue's.

.: Choosing and placing each paper image :.
 

Start placing your images until you find one that will become the finished piece.  Set out some modge podge and get ready to adhere the images.

Modge Podge is brushed onto both the back and front of the paper images to adhere and seal the image.

Once the image is adhered, you may take a small damp cloth to neaten up the glass around the image.  Finish with a dry cloth to polish up the glass and make sure any last remnants of glue disappear.

Add water to your vase and some gorgeous Tulips, and you are on your way to a spring view in your window! I hung a few of these tulip-filled hanging vases from the latch on the window. For wooden window frames you can screw in a small hook to hang your vase.  

This touch of spring in our newly sun-filled windows has brought the freshness of Spring to the windows of the living room. 

It is lovely to have a handmade hanging vase full with the freshness of Spring flowers placed in the bedroom windows or in the kitchen above the sink.

Or to greet you as you come and go on your front door!

Here's to bringing the bright happy feelings of Spring to our windows and doors in a handmade way!

.: Creating A Birch Bark Frame :.

.: This birch bark frame was created to compliment this natural photo :.

Recently I received a beautiful photo in the mail from Nicola. I had been dreaming up the idea of creating a birch bark frame,  and this photo seemed just the right one to naturally frame!

I look forward to sharing my process for creating a nature-inspired frame. I am very happy with the results and hope you enjoy it too!

.: I knew right away this photo would have a special adorned frame :.

I knew right away this photo would not be placed in just any frame. I wanted to create something just as lovely to hold it. Now I will share the process of the birch bark frame I made to bring a bit of nature indoors!

.: A simple frame was used as the base. Its simple lines suit the birch bark that will be secured to it :.

I began with an inexpensive frame.  I made sure to pick out something that was low profile enough so that when the birch bark was adhered to it, it would lay evenly and completely from all angles.

.: I used these few pieces of birch bark I had stored away in the craft closet :.

Most of my creating is inspired by nature and by the objects we collect along our nature walks.  My craft closet holds stones, pinecones, shells, and birch bark (to name a few) so that during the winter months we still have access to these natural ingredients for our crafting.

.: An inexpensive frame, hot glue, scissors, and birch bark are the materials used to create this nature-inspired frame :.

I had a few pieces of birch bark that we had previously gathered from a fallen tree. Even if you only have a few pieces of birch bark, the rough look of pieced bark together on the frame adds natural beauty.  If you do not have access to birch bark, try looking for scrap book paper in a birch motif that you could adhere to cardboard before securing it to the frame.

.: Piecing together the birch bark to create a rustic and natural looking frame :.

I began piecing together pieces of birch bark along the frame, securing it with hot glue and cutting pieces to fit as I went along to create a rustic look.

.: The finished frame with photo inside! :.

I am quite happy with the finished result. I think this nature photo and natural frame complement one another very well!

.: I love the pairing of the birch with the flower print - it looks lovely at home! :.

We are enjoying the way the photo paired with the birch bark frame looks at home. I look forward to creating many more!

.: May the beauty of nature inspire your home! :.

.:Cultivating Rhythm During Meal Times / Napkin Ring Tutorial:.

.:Plates, cutlery, cloth napkins, and rings all set on a low shelf for the children to make their own place-setting:.

There is great meaning in the simple daily ritual of eating together as a family.  We are very enriched by sharing time together during each meal.   We have come to know a rhythm of cooking together, each taking a special role in the preparation of the nourishment we collaborate with love to create and share.  

During the summer months we gather ingredients from the gardens, and year round we chop, slice and prepare beautiful medleys of flavor and color. The food we eat from the garden keeps us rooted in the earth. We harvest it's gifts and nourish our bodies and minds with its abundant rewards. 

.: The table is set with natural beauty :.

Wooden plates, bowls, cutlery, and cloth napkins are set for each meal. They are stored on a low shelf in a glass cabinet. The children enjoy placing their own setting. When a meal is complete they excitedly bring food scraps for the Vermiculture bin. after the plates are rinsed, we take a moment to apply Beeswax to seal each wooden piece.

.: Each meal begins with a table blessing read from a handmade Waldorf book of blessings :.

We enjoy the tradition of having our oldest child read a table blessing over the meal from a handmade Waldorf book of blessings before beginning the meal. I have preserved a lifelong tradition from my own childhood in asking each family member: "What was your favorite part of the day?" or "What are you thankful for today?" to bring us closer as a family.

Another personally cherished part of our mealtime traditions is to set the table at each meal in a beautiful way.  Flowers from the garden in the warmer months, berries and greens in the colder months, a beautiful tablecloth, table settings, and napkins.  Candles are lit with each meal to bring reverence to a special time as we all sit in one space together as a family.

.: I have been thinking for some time about creating napkin rings to hold each cloth napkin. Today my imaginings came to life as I created these twig rings to bring nature indoors.  I am happy to share it here with all of you! :.

.: Our cats always enjoy when I set out crafting supplies! Recycled paper tubes are set out for creating! :.

For some time I have been saving cardboard paper tubes. (I appreciate that they are recycled) They make a perfect form for this craft.

.: Paper tubes are cut in half to begin our time of creating napkin rings :.

Cut cardboard paper tubes in half.

.: Approximatly twenty three twigs cut to length :.

Measure the tube and cut a branch to length. Then use this branch as the template for each additional branch, cut to the equivalent length.  In total I used approximatly twenty-three twigs to cover one tube.

.: Secure each twig onto the paper tube with hot glue :.

With hot glue begin to glue each twig to the paper tube.  This method may also be used to create a twig vase like the one I created here.
 

.: The finished napkin rings bring natural beauty to the table :.

Now your napkin ring is complete! I enjoyed the process of conceiving and creating these nature-inspired napkin rings and also enjoy the beauty they bring to our table!
 

May your meal time with your family be met with love and togetherness and your table set with beauty.  I look forward to sharing this table blessing with you so that it may also grace your family meal time...

For sun and rain

For grass and grain

For all who toil

On sea and soil

That we may

Eat this daily food

We give our loving thanks

To thee.

.: May meal times with your family be a time of beauty, rhythm, and love! :.