Absence makes the heart grow fonder

I had such a fabulous weekend! I spent treasured time with my parents, went to a very, very lovely wedding on Saturday and spent Sunday morning in Ames for coffee with a friends, followed by a sorority event. Wow, do I miss ISU! The women currently in my sorority and alumna are all amazing, passionate, inspired, and strong women. Coming back for our International Reunion Day reignited my love and gratitude towards Alpha Gamma Delta and helping to build the woman I am today. I was extremely hesitant about joining a sorority, but after encouragement from my dad and brother, it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life thus far! No matter the changes that have been made in the past five years, these places still feel like home:

ISU Alpha Gamma Delta house: Inspire the Women, Impact the World

ISU College of Design

The sorority event was held at one of Ames' most beautiful locations, Reiman Gardens. This was one of my favorite places on campus to take photos when I was living there, so it was only appropriate that I snapped a couple quick shots today:

Orange Flower Love

On my way to the grocery store last night I passed a garden supply store. "Flowers" just happened to be on my grocery list (I was planning on getting the fresh-cut kind as a little gift to myself), but when I saw the flowers at the garden store, I couldn't help but pull my car over. They were soooo beautiful. So, so, so beautiful. Lots of pansies and ranunculus in full bloom everywhere. Have I mentioned that ranunculus might be my new favorite flower? Ever since we used beautiful yellow ranunculus in a photo shoot about 4 years ago, I've been completely smitten.

Anyway, I came home with about 6 times more flowers than I could actually handle. I had planned on taking some to work to put in my windowsill and planting some in this retro container I inherited from my mom, but all my plans changed when I realized just how much I bought. I might need to buy some new containers when it's time for tomato-planting season...

Now this is what happily greets me as I walking into my apartment:

And at work, this is what I get to peer at every time I walk to my desk or am working:

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, flowers truly are the way to a women's heart (even if it's your own). Ah, happy day!

Inexpensive Gift Idea: Paperwhite Bulbs

So this is a little late, but I wanted to share what I gave to my co-workers for Christmas this year. Christmas 2009 I received a paperwhite bulb from a co-worker, it was such a unique, fun and memorable gift that I thought I would spread the joy to my new peers this year.

I decided to go with the same Christmas color palette as my cookie exchange (more to come on that later... hopefully), so I used olive, teal, and cognac. I wanted to use teal velvet ribbon (how chic would that have been?) but apparently my local JoAnn's does not carry such sass... so I settled for the beautiful olive satin instead. Classic.

These baby couldn't get any more simple...

1. Buy containers, rocks, and bulbs.

2. Place rocks in container.

3. Place bulb in container, perching on rocks.

4. Wrap with ribbon and instructions. (optional)

Above are the name tags and instructions I used.

Cost breakdown:

- Paperwhite bulbs: $6.98 for 6 = $1.16 each (I bought them at a local Home Depot, also available on-line or at nurseries. I guess I missed the big mark-downs, which happened near the beginning of December by my estimations, so many stores were sold out.)

- Glass containers: Glass cups from World Market = $1.49 each

- Decorative Rocks: $2.49 for 3 containers = $.83 each (I bought rocks at an estate sale during the summer)

- Ribbon: $3.49/spool = $.29 for approximately 12 packages

So there you have it, a unique, fun, and memorable Christmas gift for less than $4.00!

Of course you can always get funky with your container, a stemless martini glass for some sass? Or colored ramekins for the cooks in your life?

And at this rate, I'll be posting my New Year's resolutions in mid-February... that is if I had any.

Things I'm loving: Craspedia

I know I'm a little late to the craspedia-craze (aka billy buttons), but I think they may be the perfect flower for late summer/fall. They have such a gorgeous color and texture. How could you not love them?

From flores de sol

Faux (and crafty) craspedia from Berry Island

And a simply elegant bout paired with bear grass from InStyle

To my grandma

Today I got one of the most beautiful and sophisticated flower arrangements I've ever received delivered to my office. My grandmother passed away Sunday evening and my boyfriend sent them for support. The reason was bittersweet, but it was the most amazing tribute to my grandma, who was a florist. When I think of her, I always think of floral arrangements and purple, her favorite color. Little did Jeff know how perfect and heartfelt the arrangement would be to me.

I've learned so much from my grandma. I was in Iowa for the weekend and stopped by to see her. Her health has been declining since a pretty traumatic stroke in May, but she was still as cheerful and delighted as ever. She always had a great attitude, no matter how tough the situation.

A lot of my interest and passion in crafting came from my grandma. I remember going to her house when I was younger and I'm sure I always came home with at least one craft project, whether that was a wreath made from the vines in her backyard, a floral arrangement in my favorite colors of the moment, or a Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause made from milk jugs... it was always something fun and very creative. She had the best craft storage room I've seen yet, baskets and wreaths every size and color you could imagine, an entire dresser filled with beautiful spools of ribbons (many of which my mom and I have inherited), and other unique embellishments for my crafty desires.

She was also an amazing cook, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at her house were amazing. Many of my recipes are from her, my favorite being a chicken wrapped in bacon dish (you can't go wrong with bacon, right?). Lots of yummy things came from her kitchen (more on that in a later post). Also, my grandparents had the biggest garden ever. Like Martha Stewart sized garden. And their tomatoes? The most delicious. It was a meal in itself.

So, thank you Jeff for such a touching offering of support. And thank you, Grandma, for the amazing memories and teaching me so many things in life and starting me on so many of my interests/passions that I have today. Rest in peace, with love, I know you're in a better place where there are gardens, ribbons, and flowers a plenty.

Summer

I fell in love four summers ago. In love with Queen Anne's Lace and Chicory when I was living in Kansas for the first time... or at least this was the first time that I truly appreciated their beauty. Every morning as I drove into work I was greeted by a sea of beautiful blue blooms (the chicory, it usually blooms in the morning). And every evening the delicate white blossoms of Queen Anne's lace were welcoming me on an evening walk. Every morning and every evening it put a smile on my face.

These flowers are the icons of my summer.

btw, as I did a little research I found out that Queen Anne's Lace can benefit other garden vegetables, like boosting tomato production and pest control. You can bet that it will be added to my garden wish list.

My Green Thumb, Part 3

Check this out… last year for my birthday I was given this gorgeous orchid. I had received one from my mom before for Valentines Day, but I was stupid and took it out in the cold and was never able to get it to bloom again. But this one is amazing! It has successfully bloomed three times in my possession. Once when I received it, then a couple of months later it dropped it's blooms and then spontaneous there was a couple more and now, starting in probably February it has been gaining a new blossom every couple of weeks… I'm up to five blooms with more on the way! My secret? Neglect. I think I may water it once every 3 or 4 weeks. Crazy. In fact, I’ve been neglecting all my plants and they’ve been thriving. I like this relationship!

To New Beginnings

Just as I was thinking I needed some winter flowers in my life, perhaps paper whites, a co-worker brought in paper white bulbs for everyone! It was a great Christmas gift and I got to watch the bulb grow, each day it seemed like there was 1/2" more! (As my roommate suggested, I wish we could have taken a photo each day to document the growth) Now today, it had it's first beautiful bloom. A great start to a new year and new beginnings.
Happy New Year everyone and Thanks Lee!

Felt Flowers

Lately I've been in the mood to create these fun flower pins from wool felt, it seems to go well with my insomnia. I think I've been up to 3:00 or 4:00 am on multiple occasions making these. If I can't sleep I'll just pull out my sewing kit and get started, which doesn't help me getting back to sleep any faster, but it's turned up some fun results. I've experimented making felt with a couple of 100% wool fabrics, I just wish I could find some better 100% wool prints to felt for a cool effect.


A fav, I lovingly call "Poppy"

Probably my favorite (the colors just scream "Stephanie", right now anyway...)

Another fun modern design, made from hand-felted 100% wool fabric, which creates a nice subtle texture.

One of my favorite "corsage" pins, it's fun experimenting with different flower designs.




Fun collar flower pins


I'll probably be gifting several of these fun flowers for Christmas, one has already made it's home on top a wrapped gift as an embellishment.

Flashback to childhood

I lived in the same house for 21 years of my life. About 3 years ago, when I was a senior in college and my parents were about to be empty nesters, they up and moved about a mile a way to a house with almost twice the square footage. Why they need a house that size is baffling to me... I sure hope they're not waiting on grandbabies, because I don't think there's going to be any to speak of any time soon! Anyway, I digress...
I have many fond memories of our old house, but there are really two things that I miss the most: the peonies and the asparagus patch. Apparently, my brother liked the sabbotage our asparagus crop and run over the patch with the lawnmower... now he's succomed the great taste and even buys asparagus for himself on occasion. But the peonies were always there around Memorial Day, blooming so beautifully and happily outside my bedroom window.

Last week one of my co-workers brought in some gorgeous pink and white peonies and I was forunate enough to get a couple of blossoms to enjoy. So thanks, Cindy for the gorgeous flowers and reminding me of the beautiful, fragrant flowers of my childhood. Now if anyone has any extra aspargus, you know where you can make donations...

On another note, in this journey back to my childhood I've also realized I need to stop making such definitive declorations on my personal color preferences... I actually do like pink flowers, contrary to what I've said recently. I've had this fickle color preference for years... when I was younger my room was an off-white color and I was adamant that everyone needed white walls, not cream colored walls, but white. So we painted three of my walls white and the 4th was a two-toned stripe pattern, in "Purple Ice" and a periwinkle. A couple years later, I was on this kick that every wall needed drama and lots of color, no wall should every be left white. I painted my walls a medium green color, probably a little too overpowering for my small room. Now I'm finding myself attracted to the whites again. In a couple of years, you'll probably find me only wearing pink...

Food is the way to a man's heart...

... but flowers are the way to a woman's.

Thursday I got the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers at work. A beautiful mix of orange tulips, lilies, gerber daisies and mini chartreuse mums. (And no baby's breath in sight!) This bouquet may be the best bouquet I've ever gotten (sorry Mom) and the perfect combination of my current color and flower preferences. I couldn't have picked a better bouquet myself!

It just so happens a couple days ago I read the following in the March edition of Martha Stewart Living:

"Women who were given flowers as part of a 2005 study by Rutgers University reported elevated moods for up to three days after receiving the bouquets. Those given fruit or candles reported no such change."

I think this bouquet may elevate my mood for longer than three days, it sure made me giddy all afternoon on Thursday. In light of the research above, I'm trying to send more flowers to my friends lately. So far I've given three bouquets to others in the past four weeks.

Oh and the picture doesn't clearly describe the awesomeness of the packaging the flowers came in, it was great graphic design. Icing on the cake!

Six Random Things

Megan tagged me to write six random things about myself. At first I was reluctant, but I haven't posted in a LONG time and this proved to be surprisingly easy! I could probably even do 6 more!

Here's the list:

1. I just updated my flower favorites, they are as follows:

1. Calla Lilies (white, green, orange, and yellow)
   
2. Orchids (white and green are my fav)
   
3. Spider Mums (green, white, and yellow)
   
4. Orange Poppies
   
5. Hydrangeas (green and ivory)

2. Clarendon is my favorite typeface and I tend to overuse it. I absolutely loath Curlz and Comic Sans and cringe anytime I see it.

3. My biggest pet peeve (even more than improper font usage) are fork bitters. You know the type, people that insist on biting their fork, scraping their teeth against their fork and making all sorts of complaints about "food being too hot". Yikes! That sound is worse to me than fingernails on a chalkboard.

4. In high-school I was a two-time Teenage Champion at the Iowa State Fair Farm Bureau Cookout Contest. I can grill a mean chicken breast...

5. I love spreadsheets. In college I created a spreadsheet that would automatically update my GPA ever time I received a grade on a test, project, or paper. It was pretty sweet.

6. In middle school I had bucket/bottle calves, hogs, and a breeding heifer. I didn't live on a farm, but we had an acreage about 2 miles away from our house on the opposite edge of town. In the summer I would ride my bike to the acreage to feed them and carry hot milk bottles in a backpack. I have many, many fond memories from that experience and would never change a thing.

Those are six random things about me, tell me yours. Here are the rules:

• Link the person who tagged you
• Post the rules on your blog
• Write six random things about yourself
• Tag six people at the end of your post
• Let each person know he or she's been tagged by leaving a comment on his or her blog
• Let the tagger know when your entry is up

I don't know six people who blog, so Dayle, it's all you baby!