By Baby Bunny Bunting

"By baby bunting daddy's gone a hunting to fetch a little rabbit skin to wrap my little baby in."

As babies, after our baths, our father would wrap us tightly in our towels and hold us in his arms and rock us back and forth and sing this song.

I am not in the habit of creating decor like this.  It's not the style I am looking for, but when I saw something like it on Pinterest the memory of my father singing this song instantly came to my mind after many, many years.  I fell in love with the bunting and since it is spring and close to Easter time, it was fitting.  I also think the bunnies look quite nice on the china hutch.  

Vignette~ Spring has Sprung

It was Spring eve, March 19th.  The kids were in bed, the kitty curled up in her usual spot, the house was dim, and there I was, ripping things apart and pulling out the flowers, bunnies, grungy eggs, nests, and birds late into the night.  The house had to be transformed, I couldn't take it another second let alone another day.  My heart needed spring as much as my mind and eyes did. Yes......welcome spring.......indeed. 

Sometimes I wonder if I never rearranged again, if I never decorated for the holidays or the seasons, if I just stopped fussing about the mantle, the centerpieces, or the shelves if anyone would ever notice.  Would my children and husband one day realize the house had been the same for months and months?  Would they care that the flowers were not there or that the Fourth July decor never got put out?  Would they realize that the Spring or Fall sign had been up through all four seasons?  Would they care?  I hate to really ask that because I think they might not.  No one really notices anything when I rearrange.  No one says they like the flowers, or the way the entrance has been changed.  I have to tell myself that it doesn't really matter because it's something I love to do.  It doesn't matter if no one likes it on Instagram or Facebook. It doesn't matter if my family cares or not.  It's my way of being something other than just a mom. I have to do it for myself, so the decorating will go on.  

The Reason for a Photo

It was a Sunday drive to another town for a family gathering.  We were early as usual so we decided to go down to the edge of the dam to see if the utilities were pumping out much water. It wasn't the color of the water or the sound of the swift falls and river.  It wasn't the smell of the grasses and sage as the snow was melting around them. It wasn't the old bridge that cars and trucks were passing on overhead.  And it wasn't the washed out sky in contrast to the canyon walls.  It was the abandoned pump house that captured the reason for the photograph.  It's haunting. 

It's strange.  It's beautiful. 

DIY Cotton Blossom Stems

If I were a pioneer woman and had to beautify my little cabin I would probably be the one to pick all sorts of flowers, twigs, branches, etc. to try and somehow make my home a better place.  The ability to see beauty in such simple things is a gift I enjoy.  I am not sure others see some of the things in my house as beautiful, but it's all in the eye of the beholder. 

When I saw pictures of cotton stems floating around on the Internet I knew I needed to have some for spring.  Sadly, I was not impressed with the tutorials or the actual product I was seeing. So I set to doing it my way and making a tutorial that hopefully will benefit someone.  I think they are oh, so lovely......and simple.

Gather stems that have many out-branchings. I prefer the thinner stems that aren't so stiff and woody.  This time of year it is great to find them with the buds.  You will also need pine cones, cotton balls, hot glue, and some sort of tool for cutting. 

Start by trimming your stems of broken edges and loose debris.  Look at the branch and even it up by cutting off any twigs that look out of place. 

Separate a cotton ball. If you pull gently on the cotton ball you can discover which way it pulls in half easily. 

Roll it in between your palms until it becomes a little cotton bud. 

Pinch the bottom together so it looks like a V shape. 

Hot glue three pine cone scales around the bottom of the bud.  Place the scales so the inside of it is toward the cotton.  I tried to pick scales that would fit the size of the bud.  Some scales were very large making it look unnatural.  The smaller ones looked better. 

You will get better results if you glue them on so the tips are all touching at the bottom.  Secure the tips together with just a bit of glue.  Your bud will hold better this way and it will make it easier to attach it to the stem.

Try and pull just a pinch on the top of the bud so it doesn't look too  flat, round, or synthetic.

Now it's ready to be attached to the branch with hot glue.  You can put however many you wish on and wherever you like.  Group them together or place them singly.  Just make sure that they are even all over so one part does not become more heavy than the other. Also too many on one branch may bend it over unnaturally.

There, that wasn't so hard.  And once your done you will love your cotton stems so much you might just offer to make some for your friends!

Happy creating!

The Lucky Mantle

There is this weird space of time between Valentines Day and the first day of spring.  I usually take down the Love and fill the nooks and crannies with other textiles until I can display the flowers and bunnies, but this year I thought I'd just leave the hearts and reds where they sit until March 20th.  It was a good plan until the mantle really started to get on my nerves with the "be mine" banner and "love you" sign.  I was on my way to tearing it down when I found my inspiration on Instagram.   A lovely March display full of vintage fun and dark greens. I'd never even thought about a display like that until then.  I set to gathering anything green around the house and in my decor closet I could find.  I had more than I expected, but it's hard to fit random jars, books, spindles, etc. into a display.  In the end this is what came of it all.  I made the banner out of foam paper, glitter, and some ribbon I found at JoAnn's  

It was therapeutic to rummage around the house for items, rearrange them in a pleasing way, and then have created something my family can enjoy for just pennies on the dollar. 

With any "luck" the snow will all melt soon and the weather will warm up.  It's been a very long and cold winter here in Idaho this year.  I am more than ready for the forsythia, pussy willows, and fruit blossoms. 

Stay lucky my friends!