Monday, August 10, 2009

Bringing the Outdoors In

As I mentioned before on this blog, I do not have big flower gardens. I do have some flowers that do well, and I do cut them and bring them indoors continually throughout the summer. The small bouquets are my way of adding beauty to my home. They just lift my spirits. The above arrangement I used on my dining room table as a centerpiece for dinner with friends. The glass pedestal dish I purchased at a flea market a few years ago. I like floating flowers and tea light candles, along with my glass bubbles in it. I think it adds a lovely touch to my table with the white dishes. Crystal and flowers...love them together!


Here I used three small crystal glasses that I also picked up at a flea market, and filled them with some of my tiny petunias. I set them on my white plate and used this as a centerpiece on my kitchen table. I placed two votives on each side of the plate, creating a simple, casual look to the pine table.



Here I used several of my old pieces and set each of them on a plate. I filled each of them with different flowers from the garden and used this for a display on my kitchen island.

This tiny white cup and saucer, filled with some pink petunias, sits on the counter of my bathroom, adding a touch of beauty to the room.




My friend used these unique vases as favors, at a dinner party early this summer. It has a metal top with holes in it, making it so easy to arrange flowers in it. Each time I fill it, I think of her and how pretty she had the table arranged the evening of the dinner. Fresh flowers brought inside, add a perfect summer touch to the decor of one's home. It does not matter what flowers you grow, or if you stop by the side of the road and pick some Queen Anne's Lace, with the right container...it will look beautiful. Here are a few of the ideas I saw displayed recently in my friend's homes;
...a sunflower cut off right below the head of the flower and set in a crystal wine glass. What a lovely display on her foyer table.
...five small fishbowls with different colored hydrangeas in each one, lined down the center of a dining room table. So simple and yet, so beautiful!
...fresh flowers in old blue crystal goblets lined down the center of a kitchen table, with a gorgeous vintage tablecloth covering the table.
As you can see, there are endless ways to add extraordinary touches to our somewhat ordinary days, especially in the summer with flowers at an abundance.

14 comments:

Tracy said...

What lovely ideas! You're so right...flowers are a wonderful way to bring beauty into our home. Thanks for sharing!

Over the weekend, I saw some photos of an outdoor farm wedding. At the end of each aisle, there was a stand holding a large mason jar filled with all wild flowers...it was just beautiful! = )

Stacey said...

Judy, those are all so pretty. You just made me realize I need to do this more often. There's so much beauty outside to bring in right now. We've been blessed with lots of rain. :)

Happy@Home said...

I would never guess by looking at your photos that you don't have a large flower garden. These are all beautiful ideas for adding a touch of the outdoors to every room. I love the idea you used on your dining room table with the floating flowers and candles. Very pretty. It sounds like your friends are very creative with their flowers too. Thanks for sharing these great ideas. I look forward to trying them soon.

Judy said...

Crystal vases...or recycled stemware...or mason jars...filled with cut flowers...and a few great ideas from Judy...and our tables all look lovely! Thanks again.

Wanda said...

I really enjoy cutting flowers and bringing them indoors as well! It's one of my favorite things to do at my parents' home!

Barb said...

Judy, these pictures are so lovely......oh, they feed my spirit.

What a graceful lady you truly are!

Barb :-)

christina and buddy powers said...

Hi Judy will you have Jeane send me her home phone number to my e-mail so I can call her one of these days, thanks I appreciate you so very much:)
This post of yours today is very creative and thank you for adding some beauty in my life today, for it brought lots of smiles:)
Lots of love from me to you
Christina

Blessings each day said...

So beautiful, Judy. Were you ever a designer at a floral shop or store? You have such an eye for designing and colors!

I do so love flowers and bringing them inside!

blessings and hugs,

marcy

Kathleen said...

OK, I get it. You have a party every day at your house! Or maybe it's bridal showers that you're hosting. Whatever, all I know is that you make it all look so simple.

Give me a bowl, some water, some assorted flowers and a lace whichamacallit and I'll show you one fancy mess.

Maybe that's why I enjoy visiting here so often.

Be blessed,
Kathleen

Anonymous said...

The pictures are so pretty! Great idea for bringing in the outdoors!

If you get a chance come by my Blog for a visit and say hi. I have put up quite a few new posts and will be putting more up this week from the San Francisco International Gift Fair where my Pillow Collection was featured and Romantic Homes who has featured my Pillows in their beautiful magazine.

Have a great week,
Aimee

Anonymous said...

All nice ideas. I don't have a big flower garden either. Just a lot of flowers here and there. You gave me some ideas for new arrangements. I have used a punch bowl for huge blooms like hydrangea and clemantis. I didn't think about the floating candles though.
QMM

LisaShaw said...

I really enjoyed this Judy. Beautiful.

Love you and have a wonderful day.

Lauren said...

Judy, you may not have a big garden, but you certainly have a knack for displaying the flowers in a very special way. I would never have thought of cutting annuals....those petunias look so pretty. Love it! Great ideas...thanks so much.

Anonymous said...

Good morning Judy, I love to use fresh flowers in my home. I love the smell when you walk into a room and they are there. Liliacs are one of my favorite flowers to use. All of your flowers are beautiful. I can just imagine how pretty they look in your home.

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