april desktop

I haven't made a desktop picture for a while, so I thought April would be a great month to do just that. Also, if you still need a printable calendar, the April calendar options from my three calendar series are still available on Flickr.

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ipad

iphone

wish list

It's my birthday tomorrow!

birthday wish list by idlewife on polyvore.com

Clockwise from top left: Tiny budgie necklace from Lulubug Jewelry (the most perfect signature necklace for me, even if I get it later than my birthday -- hint hint!; macarons from Duchess Bakeshop (and maybe a cheese pie for breakfast since we'll be in the area); I finally got the paint mixed for the main floor living room and I'm really anxious to get after it! I'm painting it manta grey from Debbie Travis's paint; the only movies that are kind of interesting me are Friends with Kids and The Hunger Games but I don't know if I'm interested enough for $30. Maybe something on Netflix instead; petrie sofa from Crate and Barrel (we'll be doing a sit and compare test on our final two choices, but I kinda hope this one wins -- I also hope those cushions are removable); a day out visiting all of my favourite thrift shops (I've already done the south end Value Village this week, so I'd like to visit Find and the west end Goodwill);  More Rayman Origins. This is the prettiest, funnest, two player game we've played in a long time.

a garden plan

I read an article in last year's July issue of Real Simple magazine about flower arranging. It was kind of the typical flower arranging 101 article, but I really loved the way they described a simple bouquet.

"Create a foundation; add large face flowers; weave in wispy elements."

I thought this was the most perfect way to go about planning a garden. Especially if, like me, you love having plants that you can also bring indoors to enjoy. If you plan your garden like you would plan a bouquet, everything you plant will be useful and you should never be without enjoyable flowers all season long. Plus your backyard should grow into and form its own bouquet-look naturally.

{foundation elements}

You can think of foundation plants mostly as foliage plants. That is, those plants with either small insignificant flowers or none at all.

Some foundation plants I really love include solomon's seal, ferns, and dogwood. Any sort of tree or small shrub is perfect for this task as well so consider the colour of leaves and branches when choosing bushes and trees. When it comes time to trim back branches, you can easily add them to a bouquet to provide structure. And don't forget that flowering plants can be used for foliage when they're out of season, too. I think some great foliage can come from plants such as the leaves from bleeding hearts.

Large taller flowered plants like monkshood and delphiniums can also anchor a garden and create a foundation, so you're not entirely limited to leafy plants.

Foundation plants are the first plants you should think about when planning a garden. Beginning with a solid base will make figuring out the size and shape of the design that much easier. Planting the larger base plants gives you a better idea of what flowers can fit around, under, and between them.

{face elements}

Next are face flowers. These would be considered the star of the show so think large commanding blossoms. Some of my favourites are peonies, alliums, roses, lilies, irises, and oriental poppies. These are the fun and exciting plants that everyone is immediately drawn to.

{wispy elements}

I think wispy elements are the most creative and pretty element you can add to a garden. Typically, these are the light, airy, and sometimes oddly shaped flowers. They're beautiful on their own but don't command the same attention as face flowers. I would also include ground cover in this category. It would be easy to remove runners from some varieties to add to bouquets, plus they create a more layered look to a garden which is something I think wispy elements add to a bouquet.

I love the options given by Real Simple. These include columbine, bleeding hearts (the flower portion), sweet peas, and ferns. Some options that I've included in my garden so far are coral bells, speedwell, and lamb's ears. I'll be looking to add some of these next year: astilbe, baby's breath, fleeceflower, foxtail lily, honey suckle, clematis, lady's mantle, liatris, lily of the valley, meadow rue, poppy varieties (like icelandic and californian), and sea thrift.

I would also go so far as to include herbs in this category as well. Nothing would be prettier than a few sprigs of rosemary or basil mixed into a bouquet and it would add such a nice smell!

You definitely don't have to be an expert gardener to have a great yard. Just like decorating, whatever you like will always work together and you should never be afraid to make mistakes. If you really love a plant but you're not sure it'll make the winter, plant it and wait and see.

friday fixations: n.e.e.t. the book

The other day, I finally received my N.E.E.T. magazine book!

Back during Christmas, I entered a giveaway and won my choice of book cover! Hurrah! N.E.E.T. magazine was the first online magazine I ever religiously read, so it's very exciting to actually hold something published by them. I've been lingering on every page since!

I love Gemma Correll's art so that's the cover I chose. Is it weird that I kinda want to frame the book just cuz of the cover?

If you've never read or heard of N.E.E.T. magazine, I suggest you head on over to their blog and look around. Their magazine is a mix of fashion, food, crafts, and decorating. There's lots to love!

spring seeds

I was trying to come up with some Easter gift ideas for the Greek parents, but this year, I didn't really want to do the standard candy, bunnies, and chicks. I've done that already and how many stuffed bunnies do people really need, anyway? So since Greek mom likes to garden, I thought it might be nice to send some of my favourite seeds and create more of a spring package instead of one that's specifically for Easter.

I've also been chatting away with a Greek cousin and with the economy in Greece being what it is, I thought it might be nice to send her a little care/happiness/spring package, too. I thought she'd like to have some seeds so that's when I decided to split my seed packets to share between the parents and our cousin.

nasturtium

Making a new seed envelope really couldn't be easier. All you need is some wax paper and a sewing machine.

First, I opened a purchased seed packet and unfolded it very carefully so I'd have a template. It's exactly how I used old envelopes to make templates for different papers here. I didn't want to sew three sides of the package, so I turned it on its side and made them close horizontally instead of vertically as they are usually sold. Wax paper folds really easily, so all you have to do is fold along the lines and sew up the sides! Done.

sweet pea

I tried to match the thread to the colour of flower, but that's not really necessary and it can be kind of a pain since I had to wind four different bobbins and then rethread the sewing machine for each packet. But if you're into that, have at it!

sunflower

To close the top flap, I used a sticker that I printed myself. I did a quick internet search and found simple line drawings for each of the flowers. I wanted to make the stickers circular, but my stupid printer didn't print properly so I had to go with square. If I had my way, I would still have them be circular. It would have contrasted better with the rectangular packet.

Now because these are going to the Greek parents, I chose to label the seeds with a picture of the flower because they can't read english so anything more would be lost on them. I'll definitely explain more to them in a letter but all of these seeds have the same basic requirements so it's not really too big of an issue not to have planting instructions. We all know about sunflowers, right? Right.

However, you could easily print out a label that has the name of the flower instead of a picture of the flower, too. Whatever floats your boat.

mixed poppies

Finally, if your seeds are really tiny or if they come in a foil packet, leave them in the foil. The poppy seeds above are mine from when I lived on the farm (I sure hope they sprout!) but they're a little too small and rolly to just stick into the wax paper envelope. I made my own little foil packet by carefully pouring the tiny seeds onto a square of aluminum foil and folding it up.

I really like the idea of sharing seeds. Every time you look out and see that flower growing, you'll think of that friend who gave the seeds to you. Besides, I've always thought that seed packs in the store have way more seeds than are really needed, so why not share them instead of sticking them in a drawer to be forgotten about next year?