The Orchid (or How To Make Friends With The Prettiest Girl at the Party)

She's exotic, delicate-looking, always beautifully dressed and always noticed -  and she's also the one that seems so incredibly intimating. But, once you get to know her, you'll find that she's actually a friendly, loyal,  low-maintenance girl who simply has the good fortune to wake up gorgeous every day.



Nina Petronzio

Mid-winter is a great time to buy orchids. You can find them on sale all over the place. Here's how to make and keep an orchid friend:

1) If you want low maintenance, look for Phalaenopsis:

via

Phalaenopsis is the easiest orchid to grow and will last the longest. You can find them in white, pink, yellow, red and orange and in variable markings and spots of all kinds.

2) Buy the plant with the most unopened buds.
 

via

  Although it's tempting to buy the showiest one, your plant will last much longer if you buy the one that has the farthest to go. The bloomed plant will last about a month, while the unopened one will last closer to three. Make sure there are buds, though (count them to see how many flowers you'll have). And don't buy plants with shriveled blooms on them.

3) Give her some light - but not a lot of bright, direct light.

via PBC Style

These plants come from the jungle, not the field. They like a bit of light but don't want or need an intense sun bath every day.

4) Give her a drink, but don't let her overdo it.

via

Water your orchid when it approaches dryness (every 4-7 days). It's best to water in the morning so that extra water will be evaporated by evening. Don't let it stand in water or it could get rot. Water with distilled water (don't use softened water) 

4) Give her a (small) bite to eat.

Traditional Home

Feed your lovely with an orchid fertilizer or a regular blooming houseplant fertilizer at half strength. With orchids, it's better to give them too little fertilizer than too much.

5) Help her find a new outfit.

Martha Stewart



After the first full flowering, cut the stem above the node where the first flower bloomed. From the node, a new flower stem should emerge within two months.

And, that's it! See, she's not so difficult after all. She just needs someone who understands her small, but specific needs. So, go on - say "hello" to an orchid.

Have a great day!

Blogger Guidebook - Something for Everyone!

Hey everybody! Just a quick note this Sunday evening to tell you about a new blog about blogs! The Blog Guidebook helps you quickly find blogs related to everything from Adoption to Writing and all things in between (like Design:). It's like a yellow pages for blogs. Be sure to check it out!

Have a great night!

Friday Find - Tea Towels to Dry For

No, I didn't make that one up. The name of the company is To Dry For and it's owned by a husband and wife team in England. Sally and Dave produce artist-commissioned tea towels promoting the work of both prominent and up-and-coming artists and illustrators.

Take a look:

The price of one including shipping (to Illinois, anyway) is $20. These would look amazing framed (the Tea Rex is my favorite) and would certainly give me something to smile about in the morning. Which one is your favorite?

Have a great day!

(My) Designer Hall of Fame - Vera Neumann

 So much can come from a little encouragement. Vera Neumann's life is a great example of that.



 When she was small, her father noticed her artistic talent and gave her 50 cents for every sketchbook she filled with her drawings, as well as taking her to the Met every Sunday. From there, she attended art school, became a fashion illustrator, then a textile designer and then produced linen place mats with her husband.

Vintage Vera Linen Place mats  Pumpkintruck on Etsy

When linen became difficult to find during WW II, she came across some parachute silk at an army surplus store, and thus began her scarf business.

Pintuckstyle

Her designs are somehow retro and fashion forward at once. And, although many of us don't wear scarves so much anymore (a shame, really), they are still fabulous works of art. They would look lovely framed.

via

    You can find lots of her vintage things - some wonderfully recycled -  online or in thrift and antique stores:

via Small Earth Vintage

 

via Stylehive

via If The Lamp Shade Fits

             

All pillows from LindsayCorr on Etsy

If you want something newer, Anthropologie has reintroduced some of her designs:

Bertram Chair, Vera Bubbles



Zigzag Rug



Study of Shapes Dress

And Macy's has introduced some cute Vera Neumann Bath Accessories:

Vera Flights of Fancy Collection

There's even a book out about her now:


You can get it here

I hope seeing what Vera was able to accomplish in her life, and the fact that her designs very much "live on", has inspired you to both encourage others and encourage yourself.

Have a great day!



 

Etsy Treasure Hunt - Flapperdoodle by Kate Gabrielle

Today is the start of a new series called "Etsy Treasure Hunt" because that's exactly what I feel like I'm doing whenever I visit there. There's SO much to dig through but there's a lot of great stuff there that makes it worth it! Recently, I found Flapperdoodle by Kate Gabrielle -  sweet art, cards and other things all based around her adorable flapper characters. Check it out! There are even some great things for Valentine's Day!

Eloise and Ramona Play Telephone Best Friend Pendant Set $13.50

Eloise and Ramona Swoon at Rudolph Valentino Picture

Art Print 4X6 $5.00

Eloise As Audry Hepburn in "Funny Face"

4X6 Art Print $5.00

Betty, Joan and Peggy

4X6 Art Print $5.00

       

FlapperDoodle Valentine's Day Card

4X5.5  - $3.50

The inside greeting is from a card that Kate's grandfather gave to her grandmother during WWII!

"Who'd there be to laugh with,
And to worry with, now and then!
Who'd there be to fight with,
And to make up with again!
Who'd there be to plan with,
And to sorta dream with, too....
GOSH! I'm glad I metcha
And fell in love with YOU!



 \

S'Wonderful Eloise and Ernest's Collection of Lovey Dovey Tunes from the 1920's

$8.00

Have a great day!

Winter Blues Survival Kit

1. Make sure your iron level is normal. 



Brocolli has LOT of iron! YUM!

 
Low iron levels can lead to:

-Cold hands and feet

-Fatigue during the day.

-Looking paler than usual
which could definitely make you feel blue. If you suspect your iron level might be too low SEE YOUR DOCTOR before taking iron supplements. You CAN take too much iron.

2. Hang a sunny picture

Bugaboo Studios

 3. Lay in a sunbeam.



(He already figured that one out)



4. Put a pop of bright color in each room (tropical preferred).


Jan Showers



5. Buy a plant or two (or three...).


Viva Terra



6. Use a smidgen of tan in a can (follow with coral lipstick).



Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel

 


Stila Lip Color in Miranda



                                                      

7. Buy one bright accessory.


Leaf Green Merino Fingerless Gloves Etsy



8. Force some branches. (To learn how, see this)

9. Watch a beach movie.

Elvis in Blue Hawaii

10. Watch an "eye candy" movie.

Kirsten Dunst in Marie Antionette

11. Read an escape book.



A Year In Provence by Peter Mayle



12. Plan an escape of your own (or just travel virtually).

 

Cheeca Lodge Florida Keys via Jetsetter.com

   

13. Make your room smell like the beach.

Aunt Sadie's Beach In A Can Candle

14. Make yourself smell like the beach.

Bobbi Brown Beach Perfume

  

15. Mix up a tropical drink.



via White On Rice Couple

 16. Do all of the above at the same time. (And please, send me a picture)

Have a great day!