September 2009 Archives

Don't toss out all of those plant markers.

If you don't need them as place holders in the garden, wash off the soil and use them as bookmarks and recipe book markers.

They're also great additions to gift gardening books.

I like to save the ones from my newest plants for at least one season; then they get a new home in a favorite book.

 

With the growing season ending, this is a good time to check nurseries and garden centers for plant sales.

Most plant retailers have a sales rack, usually in the back, where they discount plants that are no longer blooming, have been stressed or are annuals.

We found deer resistant perennial coreopsis for $1 each, and our favorite blue salvia annuals for 50 cents each.

Double check plant tags to make sure you know whether you're buying perennials or annuals. (We're adding blue salvia annuals to pots that will winter over inside.)

As long as you buy pre-potted perennials, water them well and give them a few weeks to settle in before frost, they should make it quite nicely through winter.

Hi Marianne,

We make custom quilts and have ready made, finished quilts including
double wedding ring quilts that both can be personalized.

You'll find examples of both quilts on our website.

Some people think of double wedding ring quilts (photo) as wedding quilts, and
you'll find a nice selection at the link above, including:

Something Blue Double Wedding Ring Quilt
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=913

Blue on Blue Double Wedding Ring Quilt
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=715

Gardeners Delight Double Wedding Ring Quilt
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=1119

Blue Skies Double Wedding Ring Quilt
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=1395

Midnight Blue Double Wedding Ring Quilt
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=1096

Moonshine Double Wedding Ring Quilt
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=971

Happy browsing!

Charlotte

Hi Joy,

Glad you enjoyed our website.

Did you go through our garden tour and see some of the free online recipes we have? There are some great recipes there you can make as gifts.

One of my favorite gifts over the years are photos. Not just any photos but photographs that tell a story.

In the photo example, that's my niece on the right, taken at the same age I was in the photo on the left. Makes me smile every time I look at it!

Do you have photos of you and of your Mom doing something similar or the same - holding a baby, standing in front of the same spot, doing the same thing like cooking, skiing, each waiving and smiling?

 

Using two photos of the same activity in a frame is a charming way to say something without words.

I would also keep the frame simple. If you have a wooden frame, paint it a solid color to update it. You can find some interesting things at a crafts store you can add in a corner to compliment the photos but only if they add to the story.

Good luck!

Charlotte

Making life simpler.

 

Custom Quilts and Gifts on Facebook Fan Page

 

Bluebirds Gardens Etsy Shop

 

Chirp!

Hi Kelley,

Oh, my, your sisters cats sound quite interesting!

One of our favorite quilt patterns is a basic block patchwork. You can incorporate different fabric designs in the same color tones, like we did with a custom blue patchwork quilt (photo).

If you have a variety of different colors, bring them together in a patchwork quilt to pull the overall room scheme together. That way you don't have to change the whole room, just the bed covering.

You're also welcome to send us fabric samples so we can match the quilt fabrics.

We also can make charming handmade pillows out of Pam Bono's Sleeping Cats patchwork design that will fit into the bedroom.

Add each of the cat's names under each of the handmade pillows with a cat for  a nice personalized touch and to quickly make them into personalized gifts.

Charlotte

These turned out well, our first try at making cat throws that turn into a pillow.

Using Pam Bono's charming Sleeping Cats patchwork design, we made a 44x70 inch throw lap quilt that folds into a pillow sleeve attached to the back.




When the throw's in use, the 16x17-inch pillow sleeve lies flat on the back of the throw.

When the throw's not in use, the throw can be folded into the pillow square on the back,  quickly turning the throw into a standard 16x16 inch pillow with a patchwork cat design.

Great way to store a throw and have a charming cat pillow for easy, and versatile, home decor!

We've made this design into quilts, lap quilts and throws, baby quilts and handmade pillows.

Fun to have a new way to use a favorite patchwork quilt pattern!

Margaret, my oldest cat, is fascinated with frogs.

 

After Margaret takes her 10 steps into Bluebird Gardens with me for her daily "walk," she likes to settle into the impatiens.

(I haven't had the heart to tell her white's just not the best camouflage color.)

The last time a frog jumped by, Margaret jumped in right after him!

Frog was fine. Margaret dog-paddled around until she found a spot to climb out, then walked  back to the front door.

Hmmm, word must be getting around.  I don't see any frogs - do you??

Charlotte

Charlotte@bluebirdgardens.com

Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts

http://www.bluebirdgardens.com

Making life simpler.

 

Custom Quilts and Gifts at Bluebird Gardens on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/bluebirdgardens

 Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop

http://www.etsy.com/shops/bluebirdgardens

Chirp!

http://www.twitter.com/bluebirdgardens

Summer's almost over in Missouri.

Lovely wildflowers are in full bloom along fence lines and open fields including the "common sunflower" (photo).

These ancestors of the cultivated sunflower have sturdy stems so they make great cut flowers. As long as cats don't move them, they also last a long time in vases.

American Indians ground seeds for bread and made purple dye. Russians cultivated these flowers into the larger "Mammoth Russian" sunflowers grown today in flower gardens.

These are favorites of bees so make sure you're not inviting flying guests in when you cut some to bring inside!

Don't these bright flowers make you smile?

Looking for a quick way to bring a black accent into home decor?

Our brand new, Midnight Blue Dreams Lap Quilts and Throws will do that, and be practical, too.

These imported throws have a nice variety of black fabrics with a variety of block sizes that can easily be personalized by adding a family name and dedication through custom embroidery to make them into personalized gifts.

Great to curl up in, too!

Hi Sarah,

Usually that kind of dull haze is caused by products like Pledge, which use a bonding agent that clogs wood pores and causes wood to loose its luster.

To remove all that product build up, I would recommend Howard Wood and Upholstery Cleaner.

This natural cleaner, pet and kid friendly, has removed most hazes we've found on wood furniture.

To maintain that sheen without additional buildup, use Howard Orange Oil (photo) to dust and maintain the beauty of your wood furniture.

Oranges are a natural cleanser and will easily help you polish wood without that hazing, dulling build up.

Now there are several watered-down products on the market. Don't use those products because you're basically dusting with water. Look for real orange oil-based products like Howard Orange Oil.

We've also found Howard Orange Oil helps minimize dust collection. Good luck!