I took two cylindrical vases…one tall and narrow; the other squatty and fat.

I used clear ones although colored vases work just as well. Now I took the tall skinny one and placed it in the center of the larger vase and filled the center one about 2/3 full with water.

Next I took my clipped pussy willow branches and placed them inside the center vase.

I didn’t worry about these being a little floppy in the vase because the outer vase would be filled with flowers that would hide the stems and hold them centered.

A very inexpensive but large bouquet of astronomia (? sorry I can NEVER remember the name of these!). These are a creamy white color and had barely started to open so I knew by choosing these I’d get a bouquet that lasted well over a week. Fill the other vase about 1/2 full with water. You don’t want the center vase to float which is why I only filled it half way.

I snipped the ends of the white flowers (at an angle) and to the proper height to fit inside the “outer vase” container. I just tucked them in until I had the look I was after.

See how you can see the water in both vases? Pretty cool.  Now more of a finished look.

In the following days the outer flowers opened up wide with white blooms and made it look like the pussy willow was just floating in the center above the blooms. Beautiful! Now we just need a tablescape for this beautiful bouquet.

I put a ribbon around the vase for St. Patrick’s Day, but it really didn’t need a thing. Oh and something else I hadn’t expected. My pussy willow branches actually started to grow roots while in the vase so I could transplant little trees outdoors or gift them to neighbors for their yard.

If you try this technique, let me know and send me photos or if  you know the name of the white flowers, let me know that too! I’m thinking that forsythia or lilac branches would make a beautiful branched spring bouquet. Send us your ideas. Who knows, perhaps you’ll be featured on our blog!

So this weekend I finally got around to just making me up a set of new ones. I don’t know about you but nice bed linens are really expensive.  Pretty easy and fast to throw together. Used contrasting fabric that has been sitting on my shelf since last spring. The white cotton muslin I also had on hand.

Do you have some spare fabric laying around that is collecting dust? There are great tutorials out there on making pillowcases. Lazy Girl has written a basic pillowcase tutorial that is very similar to the one I made. Lazy Girl Pillowcase Tutorial

And for the more advanced seamstress, here is a fancy, cuter than ever shabby chic pillowcase: The Lazy Organizer Pillowcase Tutorial. I think these are more for looking pretty than sleeping on

I took an apron already in my supply of inventory and here is the result.  Click on the link to view:

http://www.favecrafts.com/Holiday-Sewing/Holiday-Apron-Tutorial

Now here is the finished picture!

I already had all of the furniture so the new additions to the room were limited to a new area rug and lamp and of course a beautiful white hen and rooster.

I absolutely love it and think my basic pieces are great but the warmth of the room came when I added the area rug and curtains. Those items gave the classy, casual and cozy, look I enjoy. More photos up close.

A few details you might want to know.  I made the curtain topper  from 3 yards of black silk that was 60” wide, folded in half lengthwise I then created a rod pocket, added fringe, rings and cording every 24 inches and very simply had elegant yet casual looking curtain treatments over my JC Penny sheers.  The silk fabric was $7.99 a yard and the fringe was $15.99 a yard.  Purchasing both of them on sale at 50% off gave me a tremendous savings for a final cost of $36.00. If I had purchased anything similar in the stores my cost would have been 4 to 5 times more at least.  Curtains are so easy and I continue to urge you to give it a try next time you do your windows.

Area rugs are one of the cheapest ways we have to warm up a room.  This 9 x 11 rug was purchased at a discount upholstery and rug shop in Overland Park for slightly less than $150.00 but worth every penny for the comfort, cozy look and the quietness it brings to the room from the noises below me.  Always look for area rugs at discount prices otherwise they are not affordable additions; at least not on my budget.

Well long blog but hope when you drop by for coffee and cheesecake you will find this room inviting for chit chat about the latest in blog world, USA.

So this week we decided to make a fall wreath, because I wanted one for my barren front door. Mom picked up several fall floral picks from her favorite shop for $21.00. It doesn’t take much to fill in a wreath. You don’t want it to look overdone. I picked up a wispy grapevine wreath at Hobby Lobby for less than $6.00.

We went into my own garden and snipped some bittersweet berries – price free! And I love that it has something from my very own garden tucked in.

Now all we need is a little creative spirit, along with the magical hot glue gun, and we’re in business. We finished this up in less than an hour and had lots of fun getting to create it ourselves. See what you think!

A warm and inviting welcome to my guests and visitors, don’t you think?