Behind the Scenes at a Willow House Photo Shoot

Have you ever flipped through a catalog or magazine and wondered how the picture was created? Every scene you see has been styled and propped to perfection.  
Here is a {Behind the Scenes} look at a Willow House photoshoot:

 {Catalog View - page 58/59}

Inspired by the jewel-toned colors of the Prism Glass Ornaments, this exquisite table was created using a basic piece of burlap (made into a runner) and branches found in the home-owners yard.  Then layered on top of that are colorful flower balls covered with a Glass Dome, as well as the Emerson Stemware and Hawthorne Hurricane.  Love the look of the flower balls? Keep Reading....

{Behind the Scenes}

 Looks like a BUSY DAY @ Willow House!  

A lot of work goes into creating ONE shot.

 Cool, huh?  I love seeing how things are created. 

How funny is it that they made the dining chairs sit higher with bed stilts?!

Here's how to create the Flower Balls:

 

1. Gather your supplies: An Oasis (floral foam) sphere, grocery store flowers like roses or kermit mums (about three bunches per finished ball) and a pair of scissors. ~ You could also use artificial flowers so your arrangement stays longer.
2. Immerse your Oasis in water for at least 20 minutes so it absorbs enough water to keep your flowers alive. ~ Or skip this step if using artificial flowers.
3. Trim a couple of flowers so their stems are very short — about half an inch long — then poke the stems directly into the sphere. Arrange flowers so that no floral foam shows through.
4. Repeat this step until your flower ball is covered. Then, enjoy! The foam will keep the flowers watered, so you can display your flower ball on a plate, under a dome, or on a candlestand!

Top them off with the Petite Glass Dome and/or the Tall Glass Dome = ELEGANCE

Images and Instructions courtesy of Plate and Pattern

Creative Cork Wreaths

A few friends and I got together yesterday to make wreaths out of used corks from the many bottles of wine we've drank (over the years)... And, O what fun it was (the drinking and the making)!

{The Result}

Scotty and I created a smaller (8" round) cork wreath, 

but you can make any size you'd like... keeping on reading to look at more versions.

{The Process}

Supplies:

8" round styrofoam wreath

70 +/- corks

Hot glue gun

Glue sticks

 (a 12"-14" round styrofoam wreath would take about 150 +/- corks)

Start building your wreath one cork at a time...  

One mini hot glue gun for 3 ladies = a FUN morning!

 With coffee in hand and kids at our feet, we were off making our wreaths!

Ela was making a different style wreath (which was a bit difficult), 

using wood cranberries, between each cork.

I attempted the same version, and had to tweak it a bit.  

Instead of a cranberry between each cork, I attached the corks and 

then added a cranberry on top ~ See below

Once the wreath was glued together, it still seemed a bit unstable, so I bent a wire coat hanger into a round shape and hot glued it on the back.  

Sorry to say, I haven't finished it yet....but hope to post it later today! :)

Love the idea and want to create your own? 

Here are some other versions...

 Cute idea for a country look.  Read More for Instructions...

 Add a festive bow....I need to do this for my cork wreath

 Love this version with the jingle bells

 Cork Wreath...Read More for Instructions

Dazzling Upholstered Headboards

It's a chilly day in the ADKs and sickness has been making the rounds in my family.  I'm going to attempting to relax slow-down today in hopes to get better ASAP!  I wish I could take a "sick day", but with being a mom, we know that's not possible.  Anyway, I was chillin' out in bed this morning watching TV and thought about how comfortable it is to have an upholstered headboard to lean against...voila...my next post.  I LOVE my headboard...I posted a pic below.  The fabric is creme-colored ultra-suede with a small herringbone pattern and nailhead surround.  It used to be the bed in our guest room, but I WANTED IT...so when we moved, it became our master bedroom focal point :)  

Upholstered headboards soften a space opposed to having a bed made of wood, metal, etc.  It's a great way to introduce a fabric which has pattern, texture, and/or color...this fabric can tie into/coordinate with your window treatments and/or pillows, OR stand alone and be the focal point of your bedroom.  Styles are vast and range from simple to detailed, traditional to modern, formal to funky!  A headboard can be the statement piece of the room or blend in with the other selections AND it's easy to make one of your own!

Check out these upholstered headboards... 

{ALL different, ALL Beautiful}

Size ~ Shape ~ Design

any style will that suit your decor 

{BEFORE + AFTER}

 Blah to BEAUTY!

Simple to STYLISH!

{My Headboard}

{BUY}

This is an elegant upholstered headboard available through Ballard Designs and is customizable with over 50 fabrics to choose from that complement YOUR decor! 

 Ornate + Over-the-TOP....but AMAZING!  Check this upholstered headboard by Horchow.

Love this streamlined and contemporary style upholstered headboard by West Elm.

{MAKE}

Visit HGTV for a step by step process on how to make your own upholstered headboard. 

Super EASY!

Want to create an upholstered headboard that's tufted?  

Check out HGTV for the play by play...

{Choose a SHAPE you LOVE!}

Check out tomorrow's post on

funky, non-traditional ideas for your headboard!

Images Courtesy of: HGTV, BHG, Southern Living, House Beautiful, American Gypsy Living

Christmas Countdown Craft

My son made this adorable craft at school the other day that count's down the days till Christmas.  I'm a few days late in sharing this since it's Dec. 3rd (forgive me), but it's so easy to make and can be done in minutes.

Draw a bell shape on construction paper & cut out ~ similar to the one below, which you can copy & enlarge to the size of an 8 x 10 piece of paper (Right click & save image as, then open a word doc and insert image)

Type out this wording & draw the same bell shape around. 

Have your child (or you) cut it out.

Cut (12) 1" x 8" strips of red construction paper & 

(13) 1" x 8" strips of green construction paper

Loop them together, staple, and attach to the bottom of the bell.  It ends up being the perfect height to hang on a door and every day your child can remove one loop....

And {YOU}can avoid the question,  

"Is it Chrismas today?"

Organic Centerpiece for your Holiday Table

When I first received the Willow House catalog, I was loving the centerpiece they featured with the hanging ornaments and knew I wanted to create something similar for my table for the Holidays.  So after lots of thinking and waiting, the time came to create. 

{Inspiration}

Here is the play by play on how I created my organic centerpiece!

{Play by Play} 

 Over the weekend, I went for a hike walk with the kids and gathered sticks and branches, as well as greenery, to start the arranging.  Then I got some ornaments of various shapes and size, from Target for $5.  I was all set to begin....

I chose ornaments that were round and teardrop shaped in a chocolate gold tone.  The inspiration picture shows the ornaments hung with ribbon, but I decided on a simple look and hung them on the branches using the ornament 'eye'.  A ribbon or hook is another idea to hang the ornaments.

{Complete}

{Dining Room}

This is how the dining room looks decorated for the Holidays!  Simple, yet CHIC!

Just to point out....I hung the sign {WISH IT, DREAM IT, DO IT} that I bought from TJ Maxx last week and blogged about - In Trouble at TJs.  Hopefully I'll have the rest of those projects done soon...wishful thinking!