Modern May Day: Seed Packets

Who wouldn't love to receive a May Day surprise like this in the mail? Axios Seattle asked me about the May Day tradition of leaving a posy of flowers on a neighbor's doorknob in honor of the 1st of May. We all love the idea of it, but times have changed and most of our dear friends and relatives are far flung. 

Even if your tribe lives in Seattle, asking anyone to deliver something after work to a handful of addresses across our great city is frankly too big of an ask. But wait! The mail carriers do that already.

I've put a delightful modern spin on the charm of delivering May Day baskets. Read all about it in today's issue of Axio Seattle. 

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/04/20/may-day-tradition-modern

#mayday #finddelight #momentsofdelight #maydaybaskets #seedpackets 

Dollhouse Seed Packets: Whimsical Art

Do you have Spring Fever too? I know that gardeners around the country are pouring over garden catalogs and dreaming of a bountiful season.

Years ago I bought this sheet of dollhouse seed packets. I didn't want it for cute effect in tiny house but as an interesting touch in a real house. The sheet is about 4 x 3 inches and I framed it in a 4 x 6 matte black frame and put it on display on a beverage cart in my living room. 

It was a beautiful touch and one that was interesting too. A teeny-tiny conversation piece on its own that gave a nod to one of my hobbies. What do you think? What unexpected piece of paper could you frame?

#art #artisrelative #dollhouse #seedpackets #gardener #interiordesign #cutetouches

Piano Forte: Personal Touches Based on Color

I love this vignette on the piano in our living room.  Specific and unexpected touches that make it look like our house.  

First, you must have music on the piano. Just because you have little ones learning Three Blind Mice in a piano book designed in the 60's, doesn't mean that you have to leave it on display. When our church changed hymnals, they offered the old ones to the congregation.  I love having a meaningful piece of music highlighted with a silver page holder. I can't play the piano, but my husband might see this as encouragement to learn O Holy Night.

I pulled together small items from around the house that were black. I wanted to ground the accessories a bit and echo the black table I have between our two off white loveseats in the same room.

What 3 items did I choose for the top of the piano? A black sushi bowl used as a vase for peonies. A black and gold tin tea box that I bought as a memento in Paris at Mariage Freres. And a sheet of dollhouse seed packets, framed in black, looks very much like art to a gardener and dollhouse enthusiast like me. The art on the wall above the piano is a piece of vintage sheet music that I photographed and enlarged.

This collection is more interesting than a set of silver picture frames that I might have out at a different time of year, and are all conversation piece on their own, should anyone ask about the items.  I think the most important part about collecting and arranging items is that the items are believeable. I didn't set out to buy items to go together, I walked around the house pulling from my own stash.  Over time, buy items that speak to you.  When you arrange them later, the history of each time (where you found it; who gave it to you; what it reminds you of) will make your storytelling all the more interesting.

Do you like my design?  Perhaps you'd like to customize the top of your piano this week.  Piano forte, indeed.

Seed Packet Card Cases: Whimsical Up-cycling

I know, I say seed packet card cases as if that is a known commodity, right? 

It is just a little something that makes sense to me.  Seed packets are beautiful, and every once in a while I up-cycle them into business card cases for my purse. People respond very positively to them. They look surprised and delighted when I pull out a business card. This is how I get to "look at what I love" on a daily basis.

I save the Botanical Interests seed packets when I am planting each Spring. I carefully open each packet from the top and then cover the paper packet in plastic tape to make it more durable and waterproof. I measure two pieces of vinyl to sew and to create a flap closure. I sew the vinyl flap to the top of the open seed packet. 

I found that the perfect clasp is a circle of adhesive Velcro at the tip of the triangle, where it meets the seed packet. It is a humble craft, but the results are darling! 

This is the intersection of beautiful and interesting. This is delight.


#gardenlover #gardening #DIY #makersgonnamake #momentsofdelight #creativelife 

Art is Relative: Using Dollhouse Seed Packets as Art

Last week I put one of my favorite tea sets out on display. The set is called The Vert by Villeroy & Boch and it is a beautiful shade of green. 

I also framed a collection of dollhouse seed packets and placed it on the tea cart. Yes, you read that right. 
Those are tiny seed packets that can be cut, folded and displayed in a dollhouse greenhouse. 

I love how graphic they look on black and think they make a beautiful piece of art. 
I think you'll agree, art is relative.