It's All About that VASE!

You need the right vase for your flowers.  

The container you choose makes a big difference when you are arranging flowers. 

The right vase compliments the flowers and the wrong one works against them.

Most people have a cupboard or shelf with a few vases.

I have to admit that I have a bit of an obsession with vases of all shapes and sizes.   I rationalize that I NEED them for the Sweetwater Floral business.....BUT....it is really because I love to have options when I arrange flowers.

 I thought I would share my favorite vases and where to find them on the "cheap"!

Basic Glass Containers

The dollar store is a fabulous place to find simple glass containers.
The cylinder, bowl and square vases are bargains.

You also may have lots of these saved from bouquets you have received over the years.

A simple bunch of carnations in a round dollar store vase can have a lot of impact for around $5.00.  

Using glass beads (also a dollar store buy) in the glass squares is a simple way to anchor your stems.

Would you believe that this is just a basic dollar store cylinder?  Yup....with a couple of bands of gold "duct" tape...they look pretty elegant.   The bands of "gold" also hide the stems.

Ceramic Vases

Ceramic containers are great to use because you don't have to worry about the stems of your flowers showing.  They are great to use with floral foam or other support structures.

Thrift stores are a great source for these.  Look for collectible brands like Haeger, Fitz and Floyd or McCoy.  They have a fun mid-century vibe.

There is really no limit to the shapes of ceramic vases.

I collect off-white and white Haeger and McCoy interspersed with some IKEA!!!

Metal Containers

Thrift stores have amazing options when it comes to metal containers.  

Some of my favorites are silverplate, copper and galvanized tin.

My all time favorite containers are these silverplate loving cups.  The urn shape makes them easy to use to arrange flowers.  They are also the perfect size for a 6 inch flowering plant.  There is something so elegant about the shape...and who doesn't love silver? I found all THREE of my silver urns at the thrift shop. 

 French garden buckets are another iconic shape.  Big or small ones make perfect containers for a hand tied bouquet or more elaborate statement arrangements. I love the plain galvanized metal, but I often see them at the thrift store in really fun colors or with rustic stencils.

Here are some great resources about how to decide what vase for what flowers.  

Fifty Flowers has advice and "recipes" for 10 vase shapes.

More recipes for arrangements for the Koch blog

Probably more than you want to know....but this is a pretty page with almost any shaped vase and gorgeous flower arrangements for Goop.

There you have it....all about the vase!
Hope you buy some flowers and arrange them today!
Trust me...it will make your day!

How to Make a SCARY Fairy Garden!

We have been traveling for a week or so.....
It seemed too soon to decorate for Halloween before we left, but now it is only 2 weeks away.
I don't do a lot of crazy Halloween decor any more.  We never were the people who filled the yard with gravestones and ghosts.
I do like to do a few things that pay homage to the season.


This is one of my favorites!
I love fairy gardens.....and this one can be enjoyed in the warm comfort of indoors!

AND....almost every component is a thrift store find.

You can create your own "Scary Fairy Garden" or "Ghostly Gnome Home".
These are the components:

• A large box or basket- this is a wine box/tray that I found at Goodwill.  The aisle with baskets and wood always have great things for good prices.
• Ceramic houses that are usually in the Christmas decor section at the thrift store.  I painted them with craft paint to look spooky.
• Small pumpkins are always available at the dollar store.
• Little ceramic ghosts can be sourced at the thrift store.  You probably have some in your holiday stash.
• The stone "courtyard" is a piece of tile on mesh that we found at the tile store. A little moss tucked in is a nice addition.
• The "tree" is some curly willow that is tied together.  A branch from the yard would work well.
• I added some battery powered twinkle lights wound around the branches.

Easy....
Simple....
Inexpensive....
Just my Sweetwater Style!

Happy Haunting!

Hostess Gift Tutorial Day 2: DIY Gnome!

Nothing says Scandinavian Christmas like a Tomtem, Gnome or Elf!

Why not make one of these charming little fellows for a hostess gift?

You probably have the supplies on hand.  If not, a trip to the thrift store will get you everything you need to make a bunch for only a few dollars.

Supplies:














Toilet paper tube or 3 inch birch log

Styrofoam ball

fiberfill

some kind of "beard material"....fiberfill, an old halloween wig, sheepskin

Old sweater sleeves

Wooden Bead

Hot Glue Gun

Sewing machine or needle and thread.

Directions:

• Cut off a sleeve of the sweater you are using for a hat.  Use the bottom ribbing for the bottom of the hat and machine or hand stitch the side into a cone shap.
• Cut a rectangular piece of the body sweater fabric to wrap around the toilet paper tube.  Tuck the ends into the tube opening and glue down. (Skip this step if you have access to birch logs)
• Wrap fiberfill around the styrofoam ball and glue to the top of the tube or log piece.
• Add a longer piece of the fiberfill to create a beard.  If you are going all out...you can purchase sheepskin remnants.  I got mine at Axe Man Surplus for $1.00.  You will want to glue the beard from the top of the head.  These Tomtens don't have faces....just facial hair.
• Stretch the hat on the head....position it so that your little guy has some charm.
• Glue the wooden bead onto the center of the "face".

In little or no time, you have a fun hostess gift.  If you want to go all out Scandanavian....you could head to IKEA for some Lingonberry Jam to add to it.  I am sure there are other Scandinavian treats that would make good additions....as long as it ISN'T Lutefisk.





Speaking of Lutefisk....I just finished a great book that will call to anyone with Minnesota roots...

A quirky and interesting read.













Have A Great Day!

Link Parties
Sunny Simple Life

Versatile White Ceramic Vases

One of the best reasons to shop thrift stores is to build collections.
A wise woman would probably choose ONE thing to collect....but no one ever said I was WISE!

So what do I collect?
Mr. S would probably ask "what don't you collect.

Copper, Silverplate, Fitz and Floyd, Red Wing and Haeger are just a few of my favorite collectibles.

Oh...here is my disclaimer!

When collecting is healthy, the display or storage of these things does not impede the use of active living areas of the home. When a collector expands acquisitions beyond well-defined collections and loses the ability to keep these possessions organized, it becomes a hoarding problem.  NY Times

And HEY....I use my collections all the time!

And Hey....I let my friends use my collections too!

Back to the main topic of the post....the versatility of white ceramic!

I love this ceramic "jello" ring mold.

It has a center hole that can hold a candle.

The shallow ring makes it easy to put short stemmed flowers all around.

Using a mirror to set a vase on is a fun way to add "double" the impact.

How to get this look?

Keep an eye out for pans like this at the thrift store.  You can give them  quick coat of spray paint...I would probably do white or beige...then you have a versatile vase of your own.

This photo shows the Haeger pottery collection.  The peonies are actually small bouquets that were used as favors for the Sweetwater DIL's baby shower. 

How to get this look?
Never go to the thrift store without looking at the vases.  Then pick a color or style that you like and keep adding to the collection. 
Whether you keep them in a cupboard....boxes....or on display, you will have a way to display your pretty arrangements. 

Here are those same vases used for table arrangements for a wedding reception in an old barn.

 

 

Keep your eye on the lookout for this classic urn shape.  Flowers almost arrange themselves when you have this as a base.

This collection of white ceramic is not any fancy brand....and all of the little rectangular vases were $1 at Goodwill.  The platter is one that I have had for forever!  What an impact for not so many flowers!

How to get this look?

I think IDEA has these little vases or something like them....but of course I couldn't find them on the web site. 
You could use little ceramic ramekins like these:

These are from a restaurant supply company if you can't wait to score a thrift store find.

The whole idea is a cluster of similar, small vases on a tray....so simple!

Back to that whole collecting thing....I am struggling a bit to figure out how to display this particular collection.  I want it available.....so I opted for a shelf in the lower level....who knows how long that will last! 

Oh my....looks like I don't have much room for any new pieces!

Happy Collecting!
Happy Flower Arranging!
and
Have A Great Day!

Goodwill Love

Sweetwater Style is all about thrifty shopping and Goodwill is definitely one of my favorites.
In fact, I even have a tab called Goodwill Hunting that gives tips for shopping this great thrifty source.

I realized that it has been a while since I shared some of my "finds" at the thrift store.
That doesn't mean I haven't been to Goodwill on a regular basis! In fact, I try to get there at least once a week.
I usually go on Wednesdays and join all the other "seniors" for the 25% discount day!
Or...I take a load of donations and use the 25% off coupon that you get with your receipt!


 
My latest trip to "Boutique Bonne Volonté" (that is Goodwill for the uninitiated) was pretty successful.

Holiday Decor Transition

Whew!  

This holiday season seems to have flown past....

and yet it also seems like the Christmas decor has been around forever!

Was it because Thanksgiving was early this year?

Was it because we decorated the Festival Tree a whole week before Thanksgiving?

This year, I noticed that my Christmas Decor Style had changed.

I wouldn't call it minimalist....but I definitely limited the things that I used this year.

It also felt like I was sort of "organic" in the way I approached the actual decorating process.

Instead of going all out and doing every bit of decorating in one day, I spread it out over a couple of weeks.

I added a touch of Christmas to different areas each day.

AND

I only put out the things we actually LOVE!

Would you believe that there were actually boxes of decor that never made it out of the closet!

Now it is time to UNDECORATE! 

Good Will Bargain!

I was shopping at the thrift store the other day!  Now why does that NOT surprise you?
These three white ceramic vases on a white plate were a good buy and reminded me of something similar I had seen in a boutique. 

Boutique version.....I think this ran somewhere in the neighborhood of $40.









Sweetwater Thrift Version
$5.00

Just perfect for single blooms from the garden!

I found a board book for the Sweetwater Grandboy...$.99!

And THEN!

The absolute perfect piece of furniture for a Media Console in the family room!

Oh SCORE!
I had been searching consignment stores and Craig's List for a dresser to rehab...and those were all running in the $200 range before the rehab!
So when I saw this...I did a double take....and then a little happy dance! 






Now....I did have to go through the thrift store angst before I actually made the purchase.


To BUY or NOT to BUY?


I mean really.....it was marked at $25.00!  (and I had a 25% off coupon too)

 Seriously...my last lunch with a friend cost more than that.

Still, I was flip flopping about spending ALL that money!

I sent a photo to the Sweetwater Daughter asking for advice.....she was able to get my head on straight!

Of course I should buy it!
So I did!








Mr. S was somewhat guarded in his enthusiasm for my bargain.
That might have been because he was the one who would have to pick it up, load it into the truck, and find a friend to help move it into the house.
AND...it is hard to believe that a $20 piece of thrift store furniture would be nice enough to have in a main living space!

BEFORE

(actually this is an old photo....one TV and a lot of extra components before)

The parson's table is the furniture piece I was looking to replace.

AFTER!!!

Even Mr. S has to agree that this is a nice look....especially for $20!

The moral of the story:
if you shop at the thrift store often enough, you will find the diamond in the rough!

We are going to cut a hole in the back of the center area to put the Satellite box.

But for now...I am just gonna sit back and enjoy my bargain!

Have A Great Day!

Stuff to Buy at Goodwill: Make Your Own Fancy Cards!

 Here is another post in the "Stuff to buy at Good Will" Series!

Check out the aisle with the office supplies and cards!
You can often find whole wedding invitation kits for a down and dirty price.

 You don't have to have a wedding in your future to use the lovely paper, notecards, stickers, and other great stuff in those boxes.

Goodness! Gracious! Goodwill Goodies #2

Welcome to another edition of what I hope will be an on going series!

I would love to have you post some photos of your Good Will Goodies!
It is always fun to see what other people buy at the thrift store!

Wheat Grass Time!

Welcome March!  

Did you know that March 1st is the beginning of meteorological Spring?

Ahhh....Spring!

In Minnesota, we know that "real" Spring probably won't happen until May!

For heaven's sake, Mr. S still has his fish house out on the frozen lake up north!

But that doesn't mean I can't have some touches of the season around the house!

That means it is time to grow some Wheat Grass!