© Badalucco Design Studio

This beautiful arrangement arrived at my doorstep a few days ago to mark a family event.  It occurred to me how well it fit into the style of my own home. It was sent by a very dear friend who I have known for many years. Filled with hydrangeas, tulips, roses, and one unusual leafy stalk for an unexpected twist on an otherwise traditional arrangement, it was the perfect embodiment of the Sage Garden Style philosophy. Here are 3  reasons why I think it works in my home and how it  can work for you!

1. Bring the things you grow inside-This arrangement contained all of the things you can  grow in your own garden; hydrangeas, tulips, roses -I have all of them in my own flower garden (except the unusual leafy stalk) but there are many possibilities for many unusual similar things growing in any  herb garden that would create the same look.

2. Glass is the great compliment to all decorating schemes-The arrangement was delivered in a simple glass vase. Glass is far and away one of the best ways to blend a mixture of vintage tableware, rustic centerpieces, and patterned linens. Glass goes with it all! I always have a few go to glass serving pieces for any buffet tabletop because I know no matter what colors and themes I have chosen, and I do like color,  it just works.

3.  Blend-don’t match your colors-The last thing that made this arrangement resonate with the garden style was the chartreuse ribbon against a not quite matching blend of complimentary colors. It is the way of nature. Not matching but natural.

Some final thoughts on extending this idea-Use your hobbies and talents and incorporate them into your decor. It is who you are. Mix items such as a vintage rustic buffet tables with seating covered in  new, modern prints. Never be afraid to blend the traditional with elements of surprise in your home and garden decor. If you cook, keep your cookbooks out and on display. Some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen are on the covers of cookbooks. Julia Child never goes out of style.  If you garden, you have a constant supply of new fresh flowers at your disposal-use them! It’s like having your own personal florist delivery fresh flowers on a daily basis, and its yours for the cutting.  If you can’t resist a tag sale or flea market and are always the one rescuing a broken chair from the junk pile,  be aware of this and create a neutral palette to build on. If you keep your sofa, walls, and trim a neutral you will have more freedom to shake things up with the accents.  Paint that chair a bright color, put a great wildly patterned pillow or cushion on it and place it front and center. Suddenly it has a new life. Color your world. Too many of us are afraid to commit to color in our homes-this is much easier to go bolder outdoors but even inside color brightens our world.  Most importantly,  make it your own.  We are all different, with different likes, dislikes, memories, friends, hobbies, and work. Your home and garden style should reflect your personality. You should surround yourself with the things that speak to you. It is your story.  Do you love your home? Of course you do. It’s your refuge at the end of a hard work day. Make sure it loves you back.

If you are a do it yourself person, a vinyl frame is best for using in outdoor environments but many suppliers of outdoor art use kiln dried wood and some use regular wood frames. Just remember that in very humid conditions warping is a threat for long term outdoor placement. Having said that it has never been easier to transfer your photos to canvas. Your Art Creation offers digital uploading of your photo, places it on canvas, and ships within 3 days. PHOTO TO CANVAS – GALLERY WRAP – 20 x 30 If you have a local Costco, they offer print to canvas services as well as do many photo printing shops. If a Giclee process is available, take advantage and go that way. It will be the most durable application for outdoor use.
Once you have transferred the photo to canvas you will need to protect it. There are a number of ways to do this. There are spray on products containing fluoropolymer formulas that will do a nice job of weatherproofing your canvas. This may require two applications. Do not use sprays with silicon, though, as this could damage the canvas. Check the details of the product instructions and follow the directions. Polyurethane with a UV protective additive varnish is a widely used method for waterproofing furniture, resins, and a number of other outdoor projects. Always test a small area before applying to the whole piece to make sure whatever process has been used for printing gives the desired effect. Some formulas can darken the color. If this method is used it should be done in a two step process. First apply in even horizontal strokes with a good brush followed by a vertical application. Dry thoroughly between applications. Secure the art well so that strong winds wont blow it away and remember that placing it at eye level will create the best vantage point for maximum impact. Back to Part I

Form: Artisan quality products are a favorite here at Sage Garden Style, especially hand thrown, like the pottery we carry by Guy Wolff but pottery can be created in molds from the master piece, cut, stamped, or a variety of other techniques to create many different designs.

Style: Style is as varied as the civilizations over time. The Chinese are known for their exquisite beauty of color, the Greeks for their perfection of form, and the Egyptians for their innovation in utility.

Function: Utility should be a primary consideration as you go shopping for outdoor pottery for your plants but there is a wide range of styles and preferences for most any personality. Look for frost resistant properties especially if you will be planting large statement containers as they may not be so easy to move indoors once the colder weather sets it. Some selections are more porous while others are waterproof. Glazed pottery tends to be more waterproof. This can be a blessing or a curse. At the end of the season, any standing water that freezes within your glazed pottery will be held within the container and can make it more prone to breakage as it expands and contracts with the weather, whereas more porous pieces with proper drainage may withstand the elements a little better. As a rule of thumb, you should always clean out the pots, move them indoors, and store for the winter, whenever possible. I actually like a mix of both porous and glazed designs. The porous variety, known as “biscuit” because it is unglazed will create a rustic, earthy, feel while glazed pieces with vibrant colors can create the perfect focal point.

Suzani

Here at Sage Garden Style, products and ways to use them always have to do with ways to bring nature inside and ways to take it outside so that the home and garden are always connected .  Plantings from the garden are a constant source of inspiration for design work on soft furnishings and furniture which is all about flowers, vines, and other things found in the garden.

So it is not surprising that Suzani textiles are a great subject to explore when looking for a quick way to add punch to a neutral décor. There are many things to love about Suzani fabrics but first a little bit about what they are and their rich history.

Photo Source: Guide To Suzani by Barry O’Connell

The definition of Suzani is embroidery on cloth. These artisan pieces usually have a cotton fabric base but can also be done on silk. The thread is also cotton or silk. Motifs of flowers and foliage are the basis of the designs, sometimes mixed with other elements of nature such as the sun, the moon, and the stars.  In practice the variations are endless and each piece represents a unique representation of time honored designs as the embroiderer will move off path and create slight variations to her liking. The design is stitched using chain stitch, satin stitch, and buttonhole stitches.  The frequent use of couching, a method of layering decorative thread designs stitched in place as a raised design, gives them surface dimension that is unique. There are many Suzani prints on cotton that mimic designs of the handwork and even a number of fabric designs that seem to produce Suzani like patterns that are woven and are somewhere in between true Suzani’s and prints.

A great analogy might be to that of the oriental rugs.  There are machine made rugs that are reproductions of hand knotted Persian rugs.  While they are getting better and better, they still do not have the dimension found in a true hand-knotted rug.  The process is different and there is something magical about any art piece wrought by the hand of an artist. I own both machine made and hand knotted rugs in my own home and think they each play an important role in the story of the décor of the room but it is important to know the difference.

Printed Suzani’s are fun and can work great in your modern, transitional, or traditional décor. Embroidered Suzani’s are statement pieces that are great if you love a rich Tribal or Moroccan eclectic décor. Woven Suzani type designs are even available in Sunbrella Fabrics for use in your outdoor décor through such well-respected manufacturers as Duralee and many others .  The colors are vibrant.No matter what your decorating preferences are, there is a Suzani for you!

In the immortal words of Shelley from Ode To The West Wind

“If winter comes can spring be far behind?”

Here are a few favorite ways to bring a little life back into your decor and what better way than with hearts?

Source

Don’t forget if you need a great container for your topiary, make sure to take a look at my wonderful collection of  Guy Wolff Pottery , great indoors or out!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

As you sort through the photos you took of your garden in full bloom, there may be a few that are really spectacular.  A great way to personalize your home is to create your own artwork using those photographs. This is one great way to create your own personal garden style and bring it inside year round.

Here are a few of my favorites from around the web…

Vince Alongi

This would be great paired with this…

                                                                                           Badalucco Design Studio

Vince Alongi

This would be great for Arizona or any desert climate garden…

Vince Alongi

I think of California when I see this but it was actually taken

in Ontario, Canada-Don’t you just love this?…

Vince Alongi

Butterfly bushes are always beautiful with a bonus of butterflies they attract and feed but have never captured one like this-beautiful!

Vince Alongi

and if your taste runs contemporary who wouldn’t want to see this everyday? So happy.

Vince Alongi

This is a great one for any decor and  would be perfect on canvas….

Vince Alongi

Click here for how to info for this project

A Traditional Family Christmas-Everyone has their favorite classic-Here are ours!

1.  Silent Night-This is our favorite version by Josh Groban- This CD has many great classics-click below to hear more…

2. White Christmas- It has to be Bing Crosby!

3.The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole This CD has been a family favorite of ours for as long as I can remember. His soulful smooth voice just sets the tone for a perfect Christmas Eve.

4. O Little Town of Bethlehem-From the Wintersong CD. Really, to be honest, we love anything by Sarah McLachlan

5. O Holy Night-This one, we never get tired of. The emotion and drama this song evokes is everything a Christmas song should be.Celine Dion’s version on this CD does it justice.

Festive Open House-Our Picks:

1.Christmas by Michael Buble-Perfect!

2. The Christmas AlbumVolume I and II- Glee Cast-So much talent, everything they do is great.

3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Judy Garland-Ahhh!

4. Baby It’s Cold Outside-Dean Martin and Martina McBride-A Duet Made in Heaven.

5.Frank Sinatra-Jingle Bells Old Blue Eyes just sets a festive tone that is hard to top.

6. And if you want the whole Rat Pack -this CD is great for background music

7. All I want for Christmas-Mariah Carey

I have a whole other list of great background picks but will have to wait for another post-This should get you started!

Each year as I haul the decorations up from the basement to begin the ritual of tree decorating,  I am reminded of many things. Good times, bad times, but mostly the acquired knowledge (wisdom) and a gentle reminder that all things pass. The large blue ornament with “It’s a baby boy” stamped across the front which my mother gave me to mark the birth of my son brings me back to that fall day when we brought him home from the hospital with a warm fire, the smell of a newborn baby, and dreams for his future.

The small straw Santa, a hand-me-down given to us as part of a collection by my mother-in-law for a virgin tree as we started out as a couple with more imagination that money hangs next to the glittering Jester which spoke to me  in a posh department store many years later. I love them both.

Collections are a whole other subject. I went through my Wizard of Oz period and have the tin man, wicked witch, good witch, ruby slippers, and on an on. I have my Christmas movie collection ornaments which include Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life,  Scrooge, which spins off into every piece of the Dickens Village and characters, Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchet, Tiny Tim… Anyway-you get the idea. I love Christmas.

These ornaments, collected over many years, represent memories of times gone by. Time spent with my friends and family, some of whom are no longer with us. They are a reminder to enjoy the journey  and if you are blessed with good fortune, savor it. They show the promise that even in the worst of times “this too shall pass”.  As the words echo in my head from the carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, “…The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”. Amen.

Did I tell you I love Christmas?