Kaseys Korner

'Frizzle Sizzle' Pansy Basket

If you've been looking for my usual Sunday post, my apologies ~ 

because of Easter, I'm running a day late.

Yesterday slipped away from me & by the time I caught my breath, I was too tired to blog ~ imagine that!

Above:  Easter tree

We were blessed with a beautiful Easter day & I hosted a small brunch (which could have been served outdoors) that lasted from 12 - 5:30!  I think that means it was successful??!

With all the entertaining I've been doing lately, I knew I had to keep this holiday simple.  So I served a cheesy Potato casserole that I have to say was pretty tasty, plus mimosa's, a homemade apple pastry & fresh fruit.  I found the casserole recipe on Pinterest (of course!) along with my table favors:

I love, love, love the colored Ball canning jars ~ green is my favorite although the blue is pretty awesome too!!  I thought it was such a darling idea & easy too ~ just my style!  A little pink Easter grass in the bottom with a 3.5 oz Lindt bunny nestled into that.  On Pinterest, the bunny was unwrapped but I thought my guests might appreciate it if I didn't handle their chocolate!!

Above:  A second version with a hazelnut chocolate carrot & 1.5 oz bunny.

Before the holiday, I managed to fit in a quick trip to the greenhouse, hoping to find some 'Frizzle Sizzle' pansies and guess what?  Luck was on my side!

These are my absolute favorite pansies and exactly the pop of Spring color I was looking for...

I know I've raved on and on about them in previous posts so I promise not to go into all their virtues now.

Not that it would be necessary anyway, they pretty much speak for themselves.  :)

'Frizzle Sizzle' pansies come in a variety of colors but the yellow/blue mix is hands-down the one I always gravitate toward.

In the garden, I've done a bit more clean up but mostly I've been moving things around, trying to give it & my containers a fresh "look" this season.  Keeping in mind the new motto "easy but different," of course!

I found a little Arabella table to put where I usually use an antique ladder.  I think it's perfect for this spot and I know I will enjoy arranging many seasonal vignettes on its top.

I also figured out the heavy antique iron planter, that usually holds my orchids, is exactly the right fit for three black urns (found on clearance a few years ago from Home Depot.)

I normally use the urns randomly around the garden but I am liking this arrangement ~ what do you think??  The only decision now, what to use as fillers....

In the garden, Primula 'veris' (cowslip) is blooming:

Hyacinth 'Firelights' (in bud the last post) has opened:

Along with more and more daffodil varieties ~ below is 'Dreamlight:'

A truly stunning variety.

As is 'Lemon Glow' ~ in a more subtle way.

Above:  unknown variety.  

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and just think (happy thought of the day) even if we get a little cold or snow now (shudder), the garden will continue coming to life.  There's no turning back now ~ the season is "ON!"

Valentine butterfly card

There has been some "craftiness" going on around here.  

Starting with handmade Valentine's.  

I didn't intend to make any this year.  

I purchased a few store bought cards, addressed them, sent them out & thought I was DONE.

THEN something came over me ~ not sure what?? ~ and out came the crafting supplies & a few handmade ones were "born."

These were all created using old, old, old supplies so I hope no one wants to re-create them!

It would probably be impossible, at the very least, frustrating to find the supplies.

I live in a town that hand stamps Valentine's with a special message each year which is why I always try to mail a few out.

I've even thought of sending Valentine's instead of Christmas cards (because of the special stamping) but so far, I haven't carried out that thought....

Creating the Valentine's ignited some spark in me because the next thing I knew, a banner was being crafted.

Not the best, most professionally made banner, but nonetheless, a banner!!

I thought it would dress up the mirror which was looking a little bare after removing the Christmas decorations.

Finally, after hanging the banner, the idea popped in my head to thread some alphabet beads on wire & stick them to the pot at the bottom right of above photo.

Where did that come from?

Voila!  Now I'm truly done.

That's more decorating for this holiday then I usually do!

 

I wish I would have gotten in gear sooner.  There's only one week to go then I guess even this little bit will all have to come down too.  :(  

Anyone else made anything for Valentine's?  Sent any cards??  or is this an activity now mostly for school-age kids???


 

Pelargonium 'Apple Blossom'

and a Happy New Year!!!

The year (all four days so far!) is off to a good start here.

The 'Apple Blossom' Pelargoniums I potted up last fall

to save for this summer, are beginning to bloom.

Delicate, feminine, plush blooms with rosebud likenesses.....

*sigh*  The recipe for happinesss on a snowy day!!!

These two Pelargoniums were mail ordered (from a company I will not name because I would not recommend or consider reordering from them).  They arrived as 1 - 2" pieces of STEM with the barest hint of a green leaf emerging & hardly any roots.  I've never in all my years of ordering plants received anything so tiny.  It took all summer for them to get to the size you see in the first two photos.  I'd almost forgotten why I wanted them so badly but now am I ever happy I took the time to save them.

I don't know about you, but I always get a little confused between Geraniums and Pelargoniums??  Geraniums I've never grown much but on occasion, I purchase a Pelargonium.  Now that I've found these double Pelargoniums tho, I've become an instant "fan" and I foresee even more purchases!!!

Speaking of Geraniums, this morning I mixed up a batch of "lemon geranium" sugar scrub. 

Yum, the combination of these two essential oils is delicious.  So fragrant.   I can't wait to use it.

I've been making sugar scrubs for a while now but I'm just now getting into essential oils.

There are so many, I worry I'll never remember all of them or their specific properties but I'm really open to learning about the science & healing abilities they possess. 

The next few months, while the garden is dormant, seems like the perfect time to explore and read more.  For now, I'm just enjoying dabbling & the aromas of the few I've bought.

Something else sure to brighten a snowy day ~ Rex Begonia 'Northern Lights.'

Aptly named, don't you think??  The foliage is such an arresting combo of colors.  Makes me smile whenever I walk past it.  Another plant I'm glad I overwintered. 

These dreary days, in the darkest quarter of the year, we need all the brightness we can surround ourselves with, right?  Here's hoping each of us have a lot of good things (health, happiness, etc.) ahead in 2015...

Apple garland & Dahlia 'Apple Blossom'

Got apples??

No problem!

Scoop 'em up and string 'em on some wire for an easy fall decoration!

How pretty is that??

My neighbor has tons of tiny apples laying around her yard that she was lamenting about raking.

I volunteered to lighten the load, brought some home and decided to string them up.

Stringing was easy once I got my cordless drill out and using a very small bit (3/32), drilled a hole thru the centers.

After that, it was just a matter of inserting the wire thru the holes until the garland reached the desired length.   Make a loop on both ends of the wire (for hanging) then twist wire several times to secure it.

It doesn't matter if the apples have brown spots or aren't perfect.  In fact, imperfections add to the charm. 

I wonder how long the garland will stay intact now before the birds & raccoons find it?!!

In the garden, I've been waiting, waiting, waiting for blooms on one of my favorite collarette dahlias, 'Apple Blossom:'

It's taken forever.  So long, I was getting worried I might not get to see it this season.

On those nights frost threatened, I even wrapped the buds in bubble wrap in hopes of saving them & giving them more time to open.

The efforts paid off, yesterday the first bud finally opened.

Above & below:  with Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait.'

Aahhh.  If it frosts now, at least I will have seen one bloom from everything in the garden. 

Well, almost.  If you can believe it, there are still one or two more moving at a snails pace....

 

4th of July ~ goodies & roses

No hurricanes here like the East Coast experienced today.

Our day began sunny but by the time our neighborhood parade started (10:00 AM) the clouds were already moving in.

That's okay.  It made for a cooler parade & a rain shower is always welcome as long as it clears in time for fireworks!!

My dog is not a fan of this holiday.  He and loud noises don't cohabitate well.

He loved it last year when our state was experiencing extreme drought conditions & wildfires which cancelled many firework shows. 

No such luck for him this year, thankfully.  We've had an abundance of moisture so there are shows & celebrations aplenty.

Above & below:  'Lady Emma Hamilton'

and now, it's time for these girlies to catch one. 

Let freedom ring....

P.S.  Shortbread cookie recipes found on Closet Cooking & the view from great island blogs.  Check 'em out!  Yummy stuff there.

 

DIY: glamorous Valentine cone

over the top, for the most impact, of course!

complete with marabou, pearls and glitter. 

Is there any other way??!!!

Easy to make; start by painting a cardboard cone (purchased from any craft store).  I used 'Antique White' acrylic paint by Plaid Enterprises.  While the cone is drying, stamp your Valentine message (or use a rub-on or computer printed message) onto white cardstock.  Mat with red cardstock. 

After the cone is dry, use a small heart stamp and red inkpad to stamp heart images randomly around cone.  (or draw them with a red pen.)

Adhere the matted, stamped message onto center of cone using matte Mod Podge (again by Plaid Enterprises.)  Then apply another layer of Mod Podge over entire cone and sprinkle liberally with glitter.  Let dry thoroughly.

Finish by tying on the "Be Mine" ticket (or any other tag, maybe one with the recipients name?), attach pearl bauble to bottom of cone using jump ring (both by Tim Holtz idea-logy) and adhere marabou trim around top of cone.  Fill with guilty pleasure of choice and present to a special Valentine.  You're sure to be rewarded for your efforts!!!  ;)

P.S.  A lot of the supplies used for this project are "older," maybe not even still available for purchase?  I just raided my stash when a burst of creativity hit me.  With a little improvising, replacement products should be easy to find or just build on the idea using whatever craft supplies you have on hand. 

Happy Valentine's Day All ~ I hope it's a sweet one!

 

Fairy Garden Terrarium

Finally a home for my ever growing stash of fairy garden products ~ the white wrought iron terrarium I bought several years ago at Hobby Lobby:

It's primary function has been a home for seed starting but setting it up as a fairy garden will make it infinitely more useful. 

My initial idea for setting everything up in the garden got nixed when the wind & snow tore up my fancy gazebo & tossed its itsy weather vane into oblivion.  These tiny little pieces are too expensive (and cute!) to leave to the elements!

Encased in glass is a much safer way to go.

Notice the adorable Martin house! 

Now, if the terrarium were only bigger!  or could I possibly have too many pieces??? 

Not a chance!

The little bee skep (above) is one of my favorite pieces.  Along with this tiny obelisk:

Why is everything SO much more adorable in miniature??!!

Like the parrot in a cage (above) and sweet seating for two (below):

I've gotta say Pinterest really inspired me to set up my own fairy garden.  There are so many incredible pins on this subject. 

One of the pieces I've really admired (and secretly coveted) is a fairy garden greenhouse.  Maybe that's because I want a lifesize one so bad!  Check it out here ~ it's pricey but a must-see!!!

I purchased most of my products at local greenhouses but there are many websites to order from if you don't have a local option available.  Amazon, Miniature Garden Shoppe, Faire-Ality Style are a couple that have cool products.  You're also welcome to check out my Pinterest "Fairyland" board here and follow any interesting link (there are 150+ pins) ~ it may just inspire you to create your own wee garden. 

Beware tho, it's another potential addiction ~ just a friendly warning!!!!

 

Flower Pot Garden Party Invites

or placecards ~ from your prodigal blogger. 

My apologies for the long unexplained absence.  My niece arrived on the 18th & left last night (28th) ~ it's been a whirlwind!  I should have given you some advanced warning but I got caught up in party planning beforehand and ran out of time. 

For so many years I've had the dream of hosting a garden party.  Partly a romantic notion but mostly because why do all this work & keep it to yourself???  Might as well share the labor of love with friends & neighbors, right??  A month ago, I decided THIS was the year (can you believe it??  Our hottest, driest year & August to boot!)  Call me crazy but host one is exactly what I've been up to!

It started a couple weeks ago with the invitations ~ flower pot assemblages created to hand out with the details:

Not too many supplies required to pull this look off. 

Here's a detailed supply list:

1 1/2" Clay Flower Pots (pkgs of six @ Hobby Lobby), Small styrofoam balls to fit inside pots, 'Chartreuse' Spanish Moss, Pkg of Memo Pins (by Tim Holtz also found at Hobby Lobby), Paper Flowers (these were by Akasha, purchased at JoAnn's), 'You're invited' Stamp (Martha Stewart), Black Inkpad, Cream cardstock, Styrofoam Glue (by Beacon)

Begin by gluing the Styrofoam balls into the flower pots:

Next, glue the spanish moss to the tops of the balls.  (I let the moss dry overnight before continuing to the next step.)

Poke a memo pin thru a paper flower then insert pin into top of moss-covered ball:

Ink the 'You're invited' Stamp using the Black Inkpad & stamp images onto cream cardstock.

I used a scalloped edge square punch around each image for a fancier look but you could also just cut the stamped images out. 

Insert stamped squares into tops of memo pins!! 

So simple I made 42!!!!

and approx 40 guests showed up!!  That was a BIG turnout for my little garden but it sure was FUN.

Party lights were strung from a gutter to the birdhouse tuteur & back to the arbor:

"Aerial" view above.   (Discovered this view totally by accident when up on the ladder clipping the lights to the gutter.)

Here's a look down the main pathway with the lights draped above the yews:

The lights were the perfect festive touch for evening (party was from 6 to 9 PM.)  People wandered about between the front & back gardens.  We served Peach Bellini's (fresh peaches pureed with Italian sparkling wine) & small finger foods. 

I have to say it was a wonderful time & I encourage any of you (who've thought of doing the same) to just do it!  You already have the beautiful gardens.  You won't regret it & I know you'll inspire your guests as well.  I'm hoping I've turned some of mine into new/more serious gardeners!! 

 

Valentine Phalaenopsis orchids

Yesterday was one of the nicest Valentine's we've had in a while (weatherwise).  It was warm enough to do a few gardening chores which makes me a happier person all the way around.  I'm hoping to get back outdoors today to cut my grasses back (and work off some chocolate!)  My daughter received a beautiful arrangement which brightened both our days too:

I also managed to squeeze in a trip to my local Lowes store between chores and errands.  My Mom has been talking about orchids lately but she doesn't have the best track record for keeping them alive.  (sorry to "out" you Mom) When I spotted two beautiful Phal orchids for $7.49 each (on the clearance rack), I figured they were perfect to help her try again.  I better get them out of here soon tho before I get attached!

The yellow spotted one above has two bloom stalks, one of which hasn't developed buds yet and the other just has these two flowers open (with eight more buds to go).  I couldn't figure out why it was being clearanced?

The other Phal was pink:

and a bit more "bloomed out" than the yellow spotted one.  Since the blooms last a long time I'm guessing it will still be beautiful for quite a while too.

See why I'm worried about getting attached!? 

I don't think I've ever gone in that store without visiting the clearance racks and I'm certainly glad I stopped by yesterday.  All the patio furniture was out too which got me even more excited for spring.  Every year I think outdoor furniture styles get better and better.  Some of it is now so nice looking I'm tempted to redo my patio.  We'll see tho.  I'm not buying anything yet!

One last thing to share, in honor of Valentine's Day, some "guilt-free" lollipops I recently had published:

I think next year, I should just stick to these and leave the chocolate alone!  How fun would that be tho???

 

 

Halloween Mirror Ornaments

I realized last night it's been the longest time since I've posted any type of paper craft or general crafting project on the blog.  Maybe you haven't missed them (if you aren't into that kind of thing) but since the garden is winding down, I am thinking it's high time to diversify more and get back to a few crafts!  Like these mirrored Halloween ornaments I made last fall:

I am honored to have them currently featured in the October issue of Crafts 'N Things magazine.   Besides being fun to make, they are pretty nice to have hanging around too.  In my house, they are on my small black (coffee-table size) Halloween tree where the purple and orange mini lights are reflected in the mirrors making them all the more magical.

Recently I've been working on Halloween cards for my niece and nephew (ssshhhh, don't tell them!) which I'll post soon too. 

There, that wasn't too painful,(getting back into crafts), was it?!!