Significance of the Name


My Blog’s name is a tribute to my Dad & my Husband. My Dad because he used to sing the song to me, "How 'd You Like to Swing on a Star?" It's about reaching for your dreams, you can stay where you are & be safe OR YOU CAN SWING ON STAR. Stars also refer to a difficult night just after my husband died. I was talking to him (I often do.) & said how I missed his "I Love You's". That night he gave me a dream... a gorgeous, bright blue night sky filled with thousands of stars, in the middle the stars formed an "I LOVE YOU"....such a gift on so many levels.

So "follow your own path, & don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest”

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Inspiration Day....SCAVENGING & GREENERY!

Since my blog is about our/my creative journey, I thought I would have an Inspiration Post from time to time.  I am going to post pictures to give us all inspiration, to "BrainStorm" ideas for us to "jump start" our creative journey. I will give my thoughts on how we can adapt some of them to make our own creative versions. Pictures will be shown to fuel our own creativity, our own inspirations.


There are so many wonderful sources for us out there:  I love Pinterest (Here is a link to my pins, you can explore others), other bloggers, magazines and web sites for us to explore.


One of the wonderful thing about blogging is that it is a 2 way communication and that it really isn't anything without all of you.  Since I love hearing from all of you, I am hoping I can also motivate you to post and share your takes on the inspiration pictures or perhaps you have already done a version of the inspirations I present and you can add your advise to help all of us. My goal is not to copy, but to use these as inspiration for our own creative versions and inspire our creative journey. 


So here goes.....


I love this and for once Martha doesn't make it look so complicated with specialized materials  that you don't want to even try it. Sit this as a centerpiece, on a coffee table, or even on the floor somewhere. 


Probably a lot of you have a creative "pantry" where you keep things for serving, decorating and centerpieces and if you don't I bet you have more than you think. I love, love, love to scavenge in my own house for inspiration. I always keep a supply of baskets. They are so great for such presentations as centerpieces, serving, decorating and a pretty way to transport my food contribution to a home dinner invite. 


I would use florist foam, secured in the bottom with wire or better yet placed in a small container to add water. I also keep in my creative pantry tons of pinecones I have had for probably 10-15 years I use over and over again. I'm sure you've seen them in my other posts. Add silver or gold spray paint OR glitter to the pine cones or just leave them natural. Wait how about just a line of glitter on some of the tips. Okay, I'll stop...I can get carried away, sorry. Anyway use wired florist sticks to attach the cones...cheap at Michaels...I think I paid $4 or $5 for 30 or just use the ole glue gun. Add various pines...and a lovely bow...I do love the satin bow. 


Words of Inspirations: Berries, Spray snow, Ribbon, Bulbs, Hydrangea maybe add a treasured piece of Christmas decor nestled in the center...

  Pinterest: Blog: Stylezimo

Okay as Ina Garten says..."How easy is this?" Once again grab some pine. Decide on your approach....nautural, glitzy, shabby chic.  Add those pinecones....natural, sprayed or glittered and votives nestled here and there. Wait shabby chic could be some white pine cone, ok sorry sometimes I just can't stop.. I would cut a strip of burlap down the center...it's so inexpensive and I love the natural look of it. If your approach is glitzy, think..a glitzy, metallic fabric, silk, a pretty fabric remnent, shabby could be old lace or new and so on. There are so many other things you could add to enhance your own approach.
Scavenge your back yard for the twigs, wire pine and holly sprigs at the center, add a ribbon and "a little somethin, something" and your set. Even just at the beginning of your stairs or on a door or lay it down on a table for a center piece nestled with votives....scavenge peeps, you never know what you'll find!
 PS...did you note the picnic basket filled with pine!

Pinterest again via  The Book of Secrets 
You wouldn't have to do this in mercury glass....could be silver or glass or even wood. Go on a scavenge hunt in you house. Remember to turn wine glasses upside down, use candle holders to feature a treasured item, not just candles use vases, turn them upside down and add a votive. 
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX or candlestick of vase or......whatever! 
This is what I did with a candlestick at Thanksgiving to give some height to these pumpkins:



These are some of my supplies and the things I just scavenged from around my house!
Thought I might turn the glass vase at the left into a cloche by turning it upside down.

Are your creative juices flowing yet?
Wreaths on the stairs....love it.....burlap bows.... I saw burlap ribbon at Michaels.
Easy-Peasy

I do this a lot....add a bouquet of pine to any container and maybe a ribbon, Wow!



The Grand Ta Daa!

Ok when I saw this I thought love it, quite impressive BUT maybe A Lot of work. While I love real pine to spare the forever sprinkling of needles I might try some fake (sorry, we could class that up and say faux, Ha!) pine garland, wire it and because sometimes I just can't stop I probably would add some sprigs of real pine for the smell and to camoufloug the "Faux"! I have some small gold stars stashed away I might add.

So that was my inspiration post. Please let me know if this is something that inspires you and your ideas. I would love to hear from you. If you have trouble posting, email me at the link in the left column.

Here's to our creative inspirations and happy scavenging!

Please enjoy these links:

4 comments:

  1. I love Pinterest and you have selected some lovely inspirational images. Thanks for sharing. I have joined your followers list and would love to have you to join me as well. Hugs, Gayle
    http://atastefultouch.blogspot.com

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  2. I love Pinterest, I like you, hang out there for inspiration and put my own twist on the creation. I love the decorated light fixture, that is something I would love to try!

    Carol

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  3. I have pinned a few of these great ideas/images too! I will have to look at your boards-I think we like the same kinds of things!

    My weekly Pinning & Singing Pinterest Linky party is on now so please visit if you have 5 minutes to spare! I would be honoured if you could link up this Pinspirational post too!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha @ 5 Minutes Just for Me

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  4. Just popped back to say thanks for linking up! I hope you were able to find some more inspiration from the other Pinners who linked up. This week's party was full of great stuff...I am amazed at how much we all learn from each other!

    I am also hosting a Christmas party at my Christmas blog-you should see some of the great ideas that have been linked up over there!

    Hope you have had a great week!

    Best Christmas wishes,
    Natasha.

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