Air plant afloat

The chain is actually an old bracelet, the connecting loop a fancy swirl paperclip, and the base a toy whisk a la IKEA (inspiration for using a kitchen implement from this lovely pin). I am pleased with the simplicity of it.

The shape of the melt

Darker objects absorb more heat and therefore melt the ice and snow faster. Look at the way the oak leaf has "cut" into the edge of the ice.

a change in quilt plans

I've actually started on second daughter's quilt. Washed up a bunch of fabric, ironed the pinks, and started cutting out some of the big squares. You know I had my plan: teal blue, pink, dark blue/purple. Then she announces "I want green on my quilt."

So this morning, I pull up an extra chair at the computer and make a digital map of her quilt. Then we talk it over and color it in. After our first layout, she decided she wanted both the yellow and green to be bigger (which made the blue smaller).

So if you'll see, it ends up being a nice pattern: 4 rows, 3 rows, 4 rows, 3 rows. I will probably combine teal blues and light blues and dark blues all together in the blue section. I am pleased with this plan and assume she is too!

I want to make one: belly cast!

Since I'm sporting a beautiful baby belly of my own these days, you certainly can't be surprised I would be interested in making a belly cast. I just did one for a friend a few weeks ago (twins! surely a once-in-a-lifetime experience?!) and am looking forward to doing mine when I am gloriously grown at the very end of my pregnancy.

There a zillion crazy ways people have decorated them (look on Pinterest). Some are gorgeous and some are just… odd. My current vision is to cover mine with pressed leaves and flowers, all green and summer. This baby will be born in the summer and my others were born in spring. And certainly the metaphor of "growth" is more than appropriate?

The first image above was the closest thing to what I had in mind since it uses dried flowers and leaves. I want my covered though, overlapping lushness. I keep pictures lacy ferns growing upwards. I think lots of Mod Podge will be called for! The second image above uses fake flowers but is covered more solidly. I wonder if I could securely attach a dried flower that was left more dimensional like that?

My poor husband wants to know what the heck I am going to do with it. I have reassured him I will hang it downstairs in my art room. It will be art for my very own self to enjoy!

Ooh la la – an air plant!

Taking a bath submerged in a jar!

A sweet friend of mine gifted me with an air plant and I am so very excited! I have been wanting one (some?) ever since I saw a column of them strung on wire in a magazine. I never got around to doing anything about it until this lovely gift arrived for me.

I've pinned a few favorite display ideas on my "nature decor – ideas" board so I figure I better get crafting soon. It isn't very elegant to leave the poor thing flopped on the counter!