Fee Fi Faux Ferns

Hello! Today I thought I would try a tutorial.
I love ferns but sadly I cannot grow them in my house.I have to use silk ferns. Yes I said silk.I refuse to apologize for using faux ferns! There is nothing wrong with silk ferns but I have discovered a trick to make them even more realistic.
I like my silk ferns to look like they have been growing for a while. I like them long and lush.To make them look that way here is what I do.

Supplies you will need:
Two fern bushes
wire cutters
glue gun
glue sticks
floral wire(I got a package of individual stems)

The first thing you want to do is cut all the stems off of the bush.

                                                                               
Now take two of the longest stems and find the spot where the leaves start to get shorter.The leaves will start small at the tip, then increase to full size,then start to get smaller again as they reach the top.Using your wire cutters cut one stem at the top.Cut the other stem at the bottom.

Here is a picture of what you end up with once you have cut two fern fronds.

We are now ready to glue. Take the two long frond pieces that are left after cutting.Turn them over and lay them together to form one frond..

Now glue them together on the back side

 The last step is to add the floral wire.I place floral foam in the bottom of my container.Then I take the fern bush I didn't cut up and place it into the floral foam. Now take all the new and improved fronds you made and arrange them in the container. You should end up with something like this.

 You can make many different lengths.Looking at the picture now I realize I might need a few more to make it fuller. And that is the great thing about it,you can always add more.
  I hope you enjoyed my first tutorial!                                                                    

                                                                          Kathleen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                        

Shades

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is having a great start to the week.
In my last post I showed you a light ,nightlight,lamp???( whatever you want to call it) that I made.Wee I thought I would follow that by showing you some lampshades I improved. Sorry I don't have before and after pics. These were all made before I started this blog.       

                                       
                                             

 This one reminds me of a corset.I know this doesn't fit this lamp. I placed it on here for the picture.I'm on the hunt for the perfect lamp for it.For this I cut strips of a satin sheet and just tied them.

 My bedroom shades look like whipped topping. I ruffled sheer curtains that I cut into strips

   I saved my favorite for last! This lampshade was stripped of the outer fabric and then covered with pieces from a Quaker lace tablecloth.

Have a great week!

Kathleen

Ambient lighting

I love lighting! I have an addiction to lamps,nightlights,chandys,and candles. If it gives off a glow I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame! While out thrifting I found a crystal lamp.Nothing special but i saw it's potential to feed my addiction.

First I took the lamp apart. I saved the electrical parts for possible future projects.This is what I was left with. The candle is battery operated. I dug around in my stash for something to put in the hole in the top piece.Lucky me, I had a glass bottle stopper that fit perfectly!(don't you love it when that happens.)

 I glued the two bottom pieces together with some industrial strength glue the hubby had . Once it dried I reassembled the pieces and viola,lovely ambient lighting!

Kathleen 

Beginnings

Hello and welcome! I am so excited to enter the blog world! I have been stalking reading blogs for years and decided it was time to take the plunge. Be patient with me, I'm a total novice.

My family has just had a new beginning too. My twins just started college! I'm lucky that they are commuters so I didn't have to face the empty nest issue.(yet) I will be sharing the projects that I try to fill my days with.I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!