Hungarian Floral Embroidered Table Cloth

The center design of this hand-embroidered table cloth.

Hungarian Floral Embroidered Table Cloth

I had been invited to a new homeowner's house to look over her newly-inherited garden. As we moved through the charming old house, I spotted this table cloth on the dining room table.

We grew up setting the table for dinner, usually with a hand-embroidered table cloth. I still have a collection of table cloths my mother made, including a couple I stitched by hand growing up.

This table cloth was a gift from a Hungarian relative, so pretty in its primary colors against a solid sunny yellow background.

The corner of this square, handmade and hand-embroidered table cloth.eD

This handmade table cloth reminded me of the customer who had inherited a table cloth from her aunt. She had wanted a quilt but the other sisters got first dibs on the draw.

To make sure the customer could preserve her memories of having dinner at her aunt's house, we took the tablecloth and made it into a queen-size quilt.

Detail work in the hand-embroidery for this beautiful table cloth.

And yes, It did cross my mind we could make a lovely custom quilt out of this table cloth but I would be tempted to enjoy it on the dining room table first. 

If someone had a favorite table cloth, it would be a nice personalized gift to make it into a quilt or throw for Christmas, wouldn't it.

Penny, left, and Maggie, right, welcoming me to their new Rolla playground.

Meet my new canine friends. Penny is the 8-month old on the left, Maggie is the mature guard tod on the right. They are the new tenants of this established, fenced-in garden I was invited to tour. I showed their guardian where the poison ivy was so she could keep those paws clear!

Charlotte

Handmade Tuffet

A handmade tuffet from the 2015 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild bi-annual show in Rolla, Mo.

Handmade Tuffet

"Litte Miss Muffet,  She Sat on a Tuffet

Eating her curds and way.

Along came a spider, who sat down beside her

And frightened Miss Muffet away."

That's a favorite nursery rhyme I remember from reading children's books to my sister and brothers. Not that I understood why the spider would frighten Miss Muffet away but then I do share the same name as an E. B. White spider and that is a different story.

As we start to think about holiday gift giving and what we can make for our loved ones, this is a lovely option. There may not be much call these days for tuffets to sit on to eat curds and whey but maybe that will change once you see this handmade one.

Made from 2 1/2 inch fabric strips by May Gunter, the fabric stool looks very comfortable and inviting. The written description doesn't explain what is in the filing but it should be a relatively solid filler to bear weight. Wooden round legs are on the bottom.

And what a great way to use up those lonely fabric strips with no project in their woven future.

The handmade tuffet with a printed explanation.

This charming entry in home decor won a second prize in the Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild 2015 bi-annual show in Rolla, Missouri.

Second place winner and I do so love those ribbons with a floral theme.

Congratulations, May, now all that is missing is a spider!

Charlotte

Plucking Peonies

Bluebird Gardens peonies in bud and bloom on my den coffee table.

One of the last spring flowers are blooming. I love peonies to pepper my home, give as gifts and surprise friends at their offices. 

How to Make Cut Peonies Last Longer

To make your cut peonies last, select unopened buds at the right stage. You want buds that are showing some color through the green bud. All green buds don't usually open after being cut. Buds that are also starting to unfurl will work.

Make sure to gently shake to remove hitchhiking ants.

Picking unopened buds will give you cut peonies a lot longer than selecting already opened flowers. If you want to hint at what is to come, include one unfurled flower.

Keep Water Getting Into Stems

To keep the opening buds and flowers fresh, cut half an inch off the stem every couple of days and change the water daily. Spent flowers and stems can be composted.

Also place them in a cool spot where you can easily enjoy their scent. I have yet to see someone spot my peony bouquets and not want to put their nose into the flowers!

Charlotte

White on White

Bluebird Gardens white peonies in white vase.

White on White

Sometimes even in my home decor I want a calming presence. Whether it's a snowy theme throw with tiny differences in white fabric, or a flower vase with same colored flowers, the same color approach can be very soothing.

One of my favorite ways to soothe a space is to cut white peonies from my garden and add them to a white flower vase. They also look nice in a crystal vase but the white vase seems to magnify the peaceful spot and magnify the beauty of the flowers.

Cut flowers from your garden, in any kind of vase, also make thoughtful housewarming gifts.

If you use peonies in your home decor, make sure to shake them before you bring flowers in. Ants enjoy eating the honeydew on buds so don't bring any non-welcome hitchhikers into your home.

To keep peonies blooming longer, cut their stems daily and give them fresh water. What else have you done to keep your cut peonies fresh in a flower vase?

Charlotte

With Bells On!

One of the vintage fabric doxies with bells on in our custom-made tree skirt.

With Bells On!

It was next to the last step to finish this charming vintage fabric dachshund tree skirt. We don't do it before quilting because the machine will get caught in the bells. Once the quilting is complete, though, it's time to put on the finishing touches - the little jingle bells.

Some of our customers prefer the gold-toned ones, others the silver. A few start with one bell color and end up choosing the other, it all depends on the aesthetic they are trying to create. Silver can look modern against one fabric and vintage against another. 

Although bells have been part of the holiday tradition, they can also look different once the custom tree skirt has been placed under the tree. 

Two Bluebird Gardens custom vintage fabric doxie tree skirt dogs with silver bells.

Regardless of what bell color selected, we make sure there are a couple of extras handy in case one is lost.

We add extra bells on the back of the custom tree skirt in case a couple get lost.

Still not  sure which color bells to choose? Go with the ones you think of first. If you don't like them, you can always easily change them!

Charlotte

When Pigs Fly

Bluebird Gardens Pink Pigs Dish Towels ready to ship to their new home in Texas.

When do pigs fly? When they are on our homemade dish towels ready to head to their new home in Texas via US Postal Service two-day priority mail. That's a first class ticket to our customer's front door!

This charming set of vintage design muslin dish towels feature pink pigs in different summer activities, one for each day of the week. We make the dish towels ourselves. The design is hand-stamped and hand-embroidered in floss embroidery backed with a stabilizer so the embroidery will last.

Wash in cold water; dry on cool.

What colors would you like included in your custom pink pigs dish towels? Besides the pink for the pigs, of course?

Charlotte

Spring Bouquet

One of the fresh flower spring bouquets I have on my den coffee table.

So pretty to have a fresh bouquet of flowers nearby. I try to include fresh flowers in my life as often as possible and springtime is a wonderful time to make up colorful bouquets.

Although spring is often associated with pastel colors, a variety of spring flowers are a bright splash of color: red tulips, purple lilacs, and daffodils, in all sorts of shapes and colors. One other spring flower brings a dash of purplish blue, anemones. Not only are they striking in a garden but they also brighten a spring table bouquet.

If mixing these flowers, remember to allow daffodils to be in a vase all by themselves for a day. Daffodils have a toxin that will kill other flowers. If you allow the daffodils to sit in water for a day, they can be arranged with other flowers without any problems.

What spring flowers do you enjoy on a table?

Charlotte

Repurpose Favorite Birdhouse

One of my favorite birdhouses repurposed as a flower vase on my kitchen butcher block island.

I love having birds in my garden. They not only help with pest control naturally but are a lot of fun to watch, and hear, when I am spending time outside.

To make sure I have a nice selection of real estate, I often bring home interesting birdhouses that both birds, and I, can enjoy. One favorite rustic little birdhouse lost part of its roof during a storm.  Before I could find a piece of wood to repair it, the birdhouse had found a wonderful new use, as a table decoration on my kitchen island.

To repurpose a birdhouse, make sure it is clean both inside and out. In this case, the birdhouse had not had any occupants before loosing part of its roof.

If you want to add fresh flowers, fit a container inside the birdhouse. Either a small jar or plastic cup will work covered with sphagnum moss to hide the container.

Broken birdhouse repurposed into a table top flower vase easily works outside on a deck.

The repurposed birdhouse also makes a nice table decoration outside on a deck.

Have you ever repurposed a birdhouse?

Charlotte

Reindeer On Wheels

Several years ago, one of my brothers was quite popular as he arrived at his destination with his car decked out as a one of Santa's helpers. I found the set at one of our local retail stores for $8.

I spotted another reindeer on wheels recently, replete with red nose.

Now this is a quick way to personalize your car for the holidays. Who knows, Santa may need a hand - or extra reindeer - to help him make all of his deliveries.

Safe travels!

 Charlotte

Be an Angel, Toss Me a Pillow

One of the easiest ways to add a little Christmas decor is with throw pillows. Whether it's a custom throw pillow or one already made, tossing a few around will make decorating a room for the holidays quick and easy.

The same idea applies to outside decor. At the Landing in Van Buren, Missouri, visitors are greeted with barnwood benches that have been decked out for the holidays. Besides adding boughs of native cedar branches, a quilted angel throw pillow was added for an extra holiday touch.

Doesn't this invite you to sit down and enjoy the Christmas carols playing?

 "Hark the Herald...."

Charlotte

Personalized Santa Gourds

If you have left over Halloween and Thanksgiving gourds, fun way to personalize them by painting them into Santas and writing someone's name and date on the bottom.

Remember to set them on their sides so the bottom can dry.

Here is another gourd painted into a Santa, this one was among a collection of Santas at a landmark restaurant "the Landing" in Van Buren, Missouri.

What is Christmas without at least one Santa Claus?

Charlotte

Twig Reindeer Contact Information

Glad you enjoyed my earlier story on seeing twig reindeer traveling through town. There are few things that will put one in a holiday spirit than seeing Santa's transportation driving close by. 

Aren't they fun? Can you see one of these in your garden??

In answer to several requests, here's the contact information for the guy who handmakes these twig reindeer:

 Please share your photos of your reindeer when you get one, would love to see them in your garden!

Charlotte

Happy New Year!

Do you make, then keep, new year's resolutions?

I like to spend the week before the New Year cleaning out closets and making my to do list for the next year. I include at least 1-2 lifelong wanna dos; one trip to a place I have always wanted to visit, and at least one new thing I want to learn. Sometimes I transfer items I didn't do from previous years, like beekeeping. I had been musing about adding honeybees to my garden for a number of years and finally did so in 2010. I had no intention of harvesting honey, nor did I know buzzing bees would learn to recognize me and keep me company in the garden.

I sometimes also pursue a theme. One year I had fun with raspberries; another year I set aside my fear of heights and learned to ski.

What will you have on your to do list for the new year?

Charlotte

Merry Christmas!

I collect vintage postcards and change them with the seasons out of 4x6 picture frames.

Pick a subject you like, and look for vintage postcards that have that topic reflected in some part of the vintage postcard.

My collection includes vintage postcards with flowers, birds and cats. You can also collect different picture frames to compliment postcard colors. Vintage with modern makes a nice combination. This vintage postcard is framed on a table next to my front door so I can see it every time I walk by.

From my home to yours, may you have a very Merry, and interesting, Christmas!

Charlotte

Dry Hydrangeas for Custom Decor

If you like to make dried flower wreaths and dried flower gift tags, hydrangeas are easy to dry and long lasting.

Cut off flower heads past their prime and hang from string tied to a rod in a cool dark place. We have them hanging from a rod hanging over the sink in a dark garage corner.

You can use hydrangeas as they are, which is what I do. You can also spray paint them to add color to a wreath. The dried flowers nicely hold color without drying out.

Great excuse to add more hydrangeas in your garden landscape!

Charlotte

Twig Reindeer

It was an early day before Christmas, and all through town, only a few people were driving. When what to my wondering eyes should pass by but a truck full of reindeer, handmade out of tree twigs.

There were a number of reindeer looking up; another few reindeer appeared to be grazing. All were headed to decorate gardens over the holidays with their white twinkle lights and good holiday wishes.

I may just have to ask Santa Claus if I can get one next year.

Charlotte

Boo!

One of my colleagues made these charming paper towel ghosts to hang over our office reception area for Halloween.

To make sure no one was really scared, she added little faces to each of the ghosts. The heads are crumpled up paper, although she said she could have used lollipops.
Tape holds the paper in the round head hanging by thread.
Cute project for kids to make.
After spooking, the ghosts can easily be recycled.
Trick or treat!

Charlotte

Recycle Ties Into Decorative Pillows

This customer lost her husband but wanted to give her two daughters a memento of their Dad. The girls remembered Dad going to work every day so we turned the family collection of ties into made to order custom decorative pillows.

Because these are delicate silk ties, we stabilized the blocks so the silk won't tear under wear and hugging.

Can you tell he liked red?

Charlotte

Think Fresh Flowers as Cake Topper!

Fresh flowers are not just for flower vases any more.

I've been known to tuck flowers in all sorts of things - as decorations for gifts, inside a get well card, once in a book as a page marker.

Decorating cakes with flowers out of icing can be fun, but who wants to eat all of that sugar icing - or even cut into the flowers?? At a recent farewell potluck lunch, I was delighted to see the cake decorated with a stunning bouquet of fresh garden flowers, all held in the cake by a small glass flower vase.

Best of all, after the cake is gone, they will still have flowers to enjoy!

Charlotte

How to Mend Favorite Birdhouses

Friends have given me wonderful birdhouses over the years.
As they wear down, I've found plant markers are handy to make repairs.  I slip plant markers into broken bottoms, in open sides and to shore up roofs.

Markers can withstand weather conditions and still keep songbirds dry, giving the birdhouses a few more years of use!

Charlotte