Painted Plates

A couple months ago I saw Anthropologie had these adorable doily dessert plates on their website (24 bucks each) and I was instantly inspired.

So, I headed off to my local thrift store (D.I.) and picked up one clear glass plate for $1. A couple weeks earlier I had scored a free cheapo ugly doily from a yard sale but, sometimes you can find them at the dollar store too. I took the doily and wrapped it around the back side of the plate.

I pulled the doily a little tight, wrapped the excess around to the front of the plate, and secured it with tape.

 Next I laid the plate face down and misted it with the color spray paint of my choice (Krylon-Catalina Mist). It took several light coats. When the plate had dried I removed the doily and....panicked! It looked horrible.......I decided it wasn't quite finished. I once again turned the plate face down (this time minus the doily) and sprayed it with a layer of white spray paint. Are you dying with anticipation to see the final result?

Yeah, it isn't exactly like the Athropologie version but I love it! It almost has a watery ikat feel to it. And, since all the paint is on the back side you can still eat off it! I don't know how well it washes ....it's so purdy.

After the plate I couldn't help my self, and I made over a .75 cent bowl from the thrift store as well. This time solid apple green spray paint with a layer of Catalina blue to finish it off (once again on the back side....food approved).

You could make a whole set! Next....there going up on the wall......

Perspecitve

Life is all about perspective....right?

This afternoon the 4 boys were playing with friends. My two year old daughter, by some miracle of heaven, was actually taking a nap in her bed (lately she thinks she is too old for naps). I had a few minutes of alone time.....ahhhhh.
So I grabbed my garden clippers and imagined I was a lady of a stately manor in the English countryside with nothing better to do than cut a bouquet of blooming flowers from my garden.

 Such a beautiful little bouquet of snowball blossoms.....let me stand back and admire them....

They look perfect on my tidy newly dusted little tea cart next to pictures of my loving children. Now, I think I'll grab a spot of tea, sit next to the sunny window, and contemplate how perfect my life is......

or appears to be.

Oh, wait.....

I forgot there was a load of laundry to fold. I should give the maid a stern talking to about letting such things linger in my sight....wait, I am the maid.

Shoot there's that darn shipping box I need to throw away. And the mop.....can't forget to mop before the Lord of the manor (my husband) gets home from his business trip.

But before I mop I should probably move those throw pillows....you know the ones my daughter decided to "throw" on the floor.

Oh, no! Call the inspector....somebody seems to have bled severely on my rug!
Turns out it was just evidence that my son dropped his ketchup covered hotdog on the floor.....in a "no food zone" I might add. Tisk, tisk.

Remember when I said, life is all about perspective? I need to remember this...

to get through the daily grind of.....

......that. Cause there can be beauty even in the most chaotic life. You just have to focus on it with the right "perspective" :)

The Bearded Iris' are Ready for Their Close Up

I'm the kind of girl that loves to play in the dirt. I can't remember people names, but I can recall paint colors and plant names at the drop of a hat. I also move plants around like they are pieces of furniture....it used to drive my husband nuts, now he just grins and says "looks good". I don't profess to be a professional gardener. I learn as I go and love to try new things, like most of you. But gardening is one of my first loves.
A few years ago my mom gave me my first Bearded Iris plant for my birthday. Since then I have divided it three times and now I have Iris' scattered through out my backyard. Iris' do need to be divided every 3 years. A crowded Iris is a crabby Iris and they won't bloom if overcrowded
 *Tip: once you have divided and transplanted and Iris it takes one full year in its new home before it will bloom.....usually.
After a transition year my Iris' are ready for their close up.

This is the Blue Stuccoto variety of Bearded Iris. You can see my little Snowball bush
peaking through in the background. That little bush has grown from a transplanted
starter off our original Snow ball bush in the front yard. But that is a different
 post for another time.

This year I also found this awesome recipe, via pinterest, for homemade Bearded Iris fertilizer:

Bearded Iris Fertilizer
2 tbsp. molasses
3 cups water
Large pitcher
1 tsp. powdered seaweed ( I found dried seaweed on the Asian aisle and chopped it in the food processor)
1 tbsp. Epsom salts
Large watering can or empty gallon milk jug
1 gallon water

Step 1:
Pour 2 tbsp. of molasses, and 3 cups of water in a large pitcher. Stir until combined.
Step 2:
Add 1 tsp. of powdered seaweed, and 1 tbsp. of Epsom salts to your large pitcher. Stir until combined.
Step 3:
Transfer your concentrated homemade bearded iris fertilizer to a large watering can.
Step 4:
Add a gallon of water to the concentrated homemade bearded iris fertilizer and mix one final time.
Step 5:
Pour the fertilizer over in the soil around the bearded irises. Do this at night when the sun goes down so your bearded iris plants don't get sunburn.
Tips:
Repeat using the homemade fertilizer once each spring, when leaves begin to emerge on the plant.

You can add 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar only if your soil turns out to be alkaline. You will have to perform a soil test before you ad this to the homemade fertilizer.