Monday, October 28, 2013

mollie makes succulent giveaway...


to celebrate the cover tutorial that i did for mollie makes issue 32 (out now in the states!), i'm holding a giveaway for the succulent garden featured in the magazine!  you can find out the details over on my instagram feed @winsomehollow


open to everyone (now throughnovember 4th)


Thursday, October 3, 2013

making, around the house this week...
















1 & 2 >>> collecting bits of fall, and creating a nature mandala

3 & 4 >>> starting to make hanging plant holders (a plant addicts solution to running out of table space)

5 & 6 >>> painting linen feathers for another project in the works

7 & 8 >>> found these great wool rug samples on clearance at west elm...hello, new pillow covers!

(all images from my instagram)


Saturday, September 28, 2013

mollie makes magazine...



so happy to work with the wonderful mollie makes, creating a succulent teacup garden tutorial for the cover article of issue 32! for you lucky folks over in the uk, this issue just hit the stands, so go grab a copy of this goodness...the rest of us will have to wait a month to lay our hands on this one; but, in the meantime, i'm planning on doing a giveaway of one of these succulent gardens on instagram! i'll post here when i do.






shop update...

   

several new listings just hit the shop!













Sunday, September 22, 2013

dried orange and pinecone garland...


well, i've been so looking forward to fall this year (maybe it was the three months of endless summer rain, or the sudden heat wave in september?), that i started planning an autumn garland in anticipation of the chilly, softly-lit, orange and red splashed, boot wearing, bread making season of goodness...well before it actually arrived here in georgia.

so, here it is...a little tutorial for a dried orange and pinecone garland. but this is the part where you can have fun (and get creative), by tromping around in nature and collecting whatever fall treasures you want to mix in. tying on some cinnamon sticks gives a wonderful aroma too...especially when mixed with the orange.

materials:
- 6 or 7 oranges
- pinecones of various sizes (amount depending on pattern preference)
- 75" jute, twine, or ribbon (for a small, mantle sized garland)
- brown yarn or embroidery thread
- parchment paper



first step... oven drying orange slices. warning: your house will smell completely delicious!
cut your oranges in very thin slices, between 1/8 and 1/4 inch wide, making sure the slices are even to prevent burning. place your slices, in a single layer, on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper (this prevents sticking). place in an oven heated to 175 degrees farenheit, leaving door slightly open, and leave to bake for a few hours, turning three to four times. some slices will cook faster, so pull individual slices out as they finish. the centers should be transparent, and free of moisture (think thin fruit leather texture)... a little browning is okay for this project. i baked my oranges in batches over a few afternoons and evenings.

this will leave you with around 55 to 60 slices, depending on the size of your oranges.



step two... starting your garland.
begin by placing a loose knot about 6 inches from one end of your twine, to prevent your oranges from sliding. poke a small hole in any of your orange slices that do not already have one, and slide about 8 slices down from the other end of your twine, until they rest against your knot.


step three... preparing your pinecones.
cut two lengths of brown yarn/thread for each pinecone, between 5" and 7" long, depending on the size of your pinecone (i just eyeballed it).  


now, work each string around one side of the pinecone, near the bottom, until the strings meet at either side. tie the strings together, in toward the center of each side of the pinecone, then knot and leave ends hanging.
tip* the better you center your tied string on the sides of the pinecone, the better the pinecone will hang...too far towards the front or back will make your pinecone tilt more on the garland.


step four... adding the pinecones.
tie one end of your pinecone around the twine, as close as possible to your oranges. knot, and trim ends of string.


wrap your twine around the back of the pinecone, working it in to the center, until you reach the other set of strings. tie the strings around the twine and knot. repeat with one or two more pinecones (depending on the pattern you choose), making sure to tie the pinecones as close together as possible. 

add eight more orange slices and a few more pinecones. now you've reached the center portion of your garland. here i added around 12 orange slices on each side of the center pinecones, along with a few extra nature bits. finish off your other side, undo your original knot, and trim ends as needed to match. tie a loop on each end for hanging, and sit back and enjoy your craftiness!

our summer made her light escape into the beautiful...





'as imperceptibly as grief
the summer lapsed away, -
too imperceptible, at last,
to seem like perfidy.

a quietness distilled,
as twilight long begun,
or nature, spending with herself
sequestered afternoon.

the dusk drew earlier in,
the morning foreign shone, -
a courteous, yet harrowing grace,
as guest who would be gone.

and thus, without a wing,
 or service of a keel,
 our summer made her light escape
into the beautiful.'

~ emily dickinson


happy autumnal equinox.  
working on a fall garland tutorial to share with you...





Saturday, September 21, 2013

hello again...




well, after almost a year long break from blogging, here i am again!  what started as a forced break, with the demise of my beloved macbook, eventually became a voluntary step away... less internet time, more balance of time in general. but now i once again feel excited to return and write/share as i feel inspired.

that being said, i've been doing some exciting projects that i'll be sharing, and have a lot of new work that will be available in the coming weeks.

i've also joined instagram (@winsomehollow), which i'm loving...sharing daily bits of life (along with peaks into my design process and upcoming work), and finding a wonderful community in the process. anyone IG-ing? i'd love to see your feed!