Glittering Hydrangeas

Use your imagination and picture these dried hydrangeas dusted with pewter glitter.  Gorgeous, right? 

My dining room is pretty quiet in September and October and I'd like to make a substantial flower arrangement that will look nice as a centerpiece for a few weeks.  Something that will make the room looked "finished" if people glance in.  You know what I mean?

I am going to play up the mauve, gray and celery shades of these spent blooms with some glitter.  I haven't tried it before, but I imagine that it won't take much more than a well-ventilated area (read: my backyard), a spray can of glue and a shaker of fine Martha Stewart glitter.

I cut these fading blooms off the hydrangea bushes (I hope they will re-bloom!) and have been drying these blossoms in the sun and breeze and think that they will be completely dry within the week.  Once I work my magic, I will show you the result.  Have you ever glittered something you found in Mother Nature?  

Glittered Shells

I named my style of decorating, "Swedish Beach House" years ago when I was assembling furniture and linens for our new house.  Painted tables, oval back chairs and plate racks coupled with a seashore palette of cream, shell pink, and blue gray.

This holiday season I wanted to add some sparkle in unexpected places around the house.  I decided that if I am truly a Swedish Beach House, I should have more shells around!

I took an inexpensive container of shells from the craft store, painted Sobo glue on them and then glittered away with a collection of Martha Stewart fine glitter from Michaels craft store.  They dried in minutes and you can see that I have them displayed in an antique dish.

When the sun shines into my family room, this display actually twinkles! 

Trust me, if you want to add a little gentle fabulousness to your house this year, try glittering something.