hold fast to what matters
The rings were all converging this past weekend, were they not? Those who follow the Abrahamic religions were observing and/or celebrating Easter, Passover and Ramadan— plus it was a full moon, the pink moon, as it happens… or the "pink, lavender, pale blue, and other pastel springtime holiday” moon AKA "Reese’s peanut butter eggs for breakfast” moon…
The world, no less tenuous, no more peaceful, did seem a little cheerier as widely available Covid tests meant many people got together to celebrate.
We did.
And we absolutely forgot how to function at a Sunday dinner in the (gasp) DINING ROOM.
Boxes, storage bins, and unoccupied cobwebs were safely cleared to reveal a vault of a room. In the center, a flat surface surrounded by chairs clearly intended for convening and comestibles. We entered this unremembered temple to sharing a meal as cautiously and with the breathless exultation of Howard Carter and his Egyptian team headed into Tutankhamen’s tomb for the first time, but with (all toes and fingers crossed) fewer viral results.
Could not find the linen napkins, couldn’t be bothered with the china— but with a bit of last minute clipping from outside and a recycled Easter basket, there WAS a centerpiece. Needn’t be much. You can do it, too. The important thing was to have those laughs and love those faces that could make it.
Plus also, sent some cards, some chicks, some chocolate, and bunny beans to those who we gathered close in our hearts if not our arms.
Recycled wool chicks, carefully created blown out Araucana eggs— and the beautiful work of Ukrainian artists.
Centerpiece of repurposed ribbon, sprigs of viburnum, and real eggs in the (gasp) DINING ROOM, surrounded by viburnum branches in a bourbon bottle and sheep headed for the yarn shop.
Eggs have always represented new potential, new beginnings. We wish you better days, safety, and the surety of peace and plenty.
upcycled easter
We are still loving the idea of using what you have on hand, re-using what can be given a second purpose, and cutting back as far as possible on cheap, imported, high carbon-cost decor. Bein’ that it is Spring and we turn to all things renewing, we are going entirely renewable. Take an old wool coat and rehabilitate it as your bunny!
This fellow is stuffed with chopped up, mismatched socks. The carrots are spindles, twine, and last year’s Easter grass combined.
Simple stamped cards to send your happiest thoughts. Stamp and embellish with markers, stickers, or paint.
Wool coat bunny showing the simple, sturdy construction.
We thought he looked a bit downcast, so we brightened him up with needle felted wool accents.
A leftover yarn “ribbon,” and Rabbit is ready!
heron repair— kinda kintsugi
Getting out a bit by wearing a really good, well-fitting mask. Finding a way back to being in business at some point. Hit the local antique mall, one of the few locals left standing after pandemic shutdowns. We came across a neat piece in need of a bit of TLC and invited him home for tea and kintsugi.
At some point this carved and painted folk art heron had a run in with a Tudor dynastic failure or Alice’s Red Queen. The head was re-attached with love, but not skill… and with Super Glue. For the love of all that is Good in the World— DO NOT USE SUPER GLUE. It is overrated, brittle and impossible to remove from a lot of surfaces— hello E/R trip for fingertips or eyelashes…Cyanoacrylate is only super at being the basis for fuming for fingerprints in an sealed aquarium. If you know, you know and you are our peeps— and if you have done more than watched/read/podcasted True Crime and tried this at home? Welcome, tribe.
This really nifty carved bird needed careful surgery and re-gluing. We broke that g-darned brittle seal and picked out the plastic super glue, applied cellulose-based glue which melds with the fibers of the carving, expanding into a nice bond… WOOD glue— the hint is in the name, people...re-fit the head to the neck, and wound it with rubber bands for about 24 hours to hold the pressure seal until the glue was pretty set.
Assemble tools, prepare an area to work— covering vulnerable surfaces, please (We are looking at you, swipes of Super Glue permanently attached to the kitchen countertop by other occupants).
The repair is multi-stage process though. The super glue adhesion formed bubbles outside of repair line and removing it did pull out some wood fiber. We mixed some paint to begin a match. Letting the paint dry over the continuing repair adds to the effect of old paint already on the surface of the heron.
Cured wood glue and dry paint can be gently sanded with small grit sandpaper such that the “seam” is nearly seamless.
Mixing the color of the body of the bird. A house paint sample— flat latex has the chalky finish of paint that has been weathered.
The blue green was a little bright, so to grey down the color— add the opposite on the color wheel. Orange added to blue. We also added in a universal neutral umber brown which “ages” anything right down. Touched up a few of the markings so that it is tough to see that anything was ever amiss. But we did NOT do a conservation repair. Not trying to fool anyone here— just give new life to a deserving piece of art!
hat ornament upgrade: gnome big deal
We are always learning, ya’ll. Sometimes the same lesson over and over! It took a bit of time to create the hat ornament from leftover and recycled materials. We have illustrations below on how to add on elements to create a jolly little gnome.
Perusing the wider webs, we saw so many examples. Gnomes are in! We saw some that were really adorable — and crazily “affordable.” Hard to resist absolutely adorable ornaments for $3. But the real costs are actually higher. Made us think we could not or would not work for such a low return on our time and materials, but somewhere someone has to do so.
Please, all, take a moment and contemplate how little workers everywhere are paid! Work towards changing the corporate approach to labor and supply.
Gather wool roving, cotton fluff, or any fuzzy bit for a gnome beard. Felt up wool roving into a ball for a nose, or use a standard commercially available pom pom.
Use tacky glue, white glue, or hot glue to secure the beard to the inside of the base of the yarn hat ornament, and the felted ball or pom pom to the front just above the beard. We secured the ball and beard with cord for extra stability. Then we added a nice Brooklyn groomed mustachio for extra panache! Go big or go Gnome, right?
fresh evergreen wreath part 1: prepping material
As with any fresh plant material construction, beginning an evergreen holiday wreath should begin with good preparation. Set up work area, preferably with a work surface tall enough to prevent bending down to table level. Unless you are working in a dedicated workshop, securely cover surfaces with waterproof material such as plastic drop cloths or large garbage bags. A turntable or lazy susan is a great way to rotate any arrangement project, but is especially helpful in working each part of a wreath equally.
It is very possible to use fresh cut evergreen branches and wire to create your own wreath, but with so many things vying for attention at this time of year, we happily recommend using a purchased wreath base — they are widely available at garden centers and grocery stores.
We look for springy, fresh branches on these wreaths and a minimum of falling needles. Once home, we dunk the whole thing down into a tub of water and let the branches absorb moisture. After removing the base and allowing a day to dry, we treat the base with a anti-dessicating spray such as the commercially available brand, Wilt Pruf, or similar, generously spraying BOTH sides of the wreath base and allowing it dry. This one step, though not essential, makes a world of difference for evergreens lasting longer, staying prettier, in winters that are becoming ever warmer.
We like to tidy up the purchased wreath bases with judicious trimming and balancing of branches before any decoration begins.
When your work area is set up, the wreath base is ready, gather together your tools of the trade: pruners, snips, wire cutters, scissors.
Don’t forget additional items which help avoid attachment issues: wooden floral picks, green florist wire, twine, and glue gun with plenty of glue sticks.
Adding a pick onto almost any element in a wreath provides extra structure for securely attaching to the evergreen branches. Running wire securely through or around cones, fresh fruit, or the tops of ornaments, all help the embarrassment of a wreath yeeting its dec onto unsuspecting guests at the front door.
We pick fresh evergreen elements to add to a commercial wreath. Varying the colors, leaf types, and texture adds to visual interest. We use cut-from-the-yard or bought at the garden center elements that have had a day to sit in containers of cool water so they are conditioned (hardened off from a freshly cut) and ready to insert.
Once the base is tidied and ready to decorate, assemble materials to attach. Start with bundles of found or purchased greens wired on picks and then glued at the base. Leave your newly gorgeous green base as is— OR go for something fun and unusual! Eschew the expected! Leave off the ribbon entirely— be bold!
Feathers, twigs, leaves, nuts, grasses...
Varying the sizes or types of similar items is great way to add pleasing harmony.
Wreath dec needn’t be traditional cones, fruits etc. Add a variety of elements tailor-made to your style! Avoid the cookie cutter look by adding in actual cookie cutters, ornaments, beads, baubles, spools of thread, faux fruit or berries, tiny tools — whatever fills out the former store bought wreath with your own personal flair. Whatever you add, just make sure it is firmly attached to last the season!!
bored of boards? enter the mood bowl
A mood bowl picked for an Autumn mood.
We’re all familiar with mood boards. And if you’re familiar with working with clients, then you know how helpful, and often necessary, having a tangible set of inspiration bits can be to aid moving from idea to visualization. A lot of people struggle to envision how a design will come together, and shy of some impressive psychic ability, we can’t expect others to know where a project is headed if it’s only, well, in our head.
Mood board example, created for a client’s guest bedroom.
The above mood board, circa 2010 comprising natural linen hopsack with indigo dye pattern over silk check curtain fabric, and maize-inspired colors like Beeswax and chestnut-y colors like Old Gold (pictured here as paint “chips”). You probably recognize many of the hues as they’ve cycled back in style.
When planning a new scene, we’re big fans of the mood bowl. Spying and sorting through little bits to add to the collection, placing them all together in a creative cauldron is a tactile and satisfying ritual. It’s like handpicking only the best ingredients for some creation yet to be concocted. Highly recommend. And, bonus points, these beauty bowls can double as decor.
winning entry: introduction
How do you create a welcoming approach to your own abode or staged property? Start with the story you want to tell. The message you want conveyed will begin unrolling with the first view by guests or potential buyers. Conventionally known as “curb appeal,” this view sets up expectations for how the property is perceived. Tidy, but messy-ish in the right, naturalistic way, balanced, properly lit and easy to approach, the front porch, deck, stoop, or landing SHOULD, introductions being made and cartes-de-visite properly exchanged, usher the visitor through a congenial portal into a gracious space within.
Shut The Front Door!
It’s THAT easy?
Well, generally speaking, yes. Again, how is this accomplished? We recommend taking it step by step…
Ah ha ha… hum.. whoo boy. Sometimes we crack ourselves up…
Also, we are not seeking sterile perfection, but progression...
In truth, setting up a winning entry does consist of a series of stages as well as staging. Contrast large elements with small, combine and cluster pots of fresh plants with small additions of seasonal decor. This may mean raising up certain elements and adding in a small amount of contrasting color.
Symmetry has its place in the design world and matching pairs of containers for live plants exude a sense of formality demarcating the FRONT DOOR. We like to goose…ahem.. the staid regularity slightly in favor of whimsy by adding a touch to one side or other: another, smaller, planter or garden sculpture.
Plantings well suited to containers with a punch of color… the Fall Y’all police might see a violation but we are happy with a violet nation… ok. pink. pink nation. And these are impatiens, but so are we with conforming to strict ideas of “seasonal.”
Set a scene for an event with faux material combined with the natural.
Check out our Pinterest board “Winning Entry” for more ideas and suggestions!
…and the award for Winning Entry for 2020 here at Cordelia and Co Design goes to (we are a leeetle more open now… but not much)
peek inside: wreath construction
Formerly fresh garden rose wreath showing construction. Lightweight green floral wire wrapped around cut stems.
Structure behind the construction: not always a pretty face. Woven bark wire for stability on back of once fresh picked garden roses woven with lightweight wire to form a wreath.
