A Simple Lavender Wand...

very simple, which is my preferred method for doing anything.

While the heavily braided lavender wands are quite pretty, I actually prefer this simple type because the lavender blooms are not covered up (and, of course,  it's much simpler)

I picked some lavender this morning while it was still cool outside.  I have a bumper crop this year.   This is just one of about 5 or 6 plants...

Here's enough for two wands...

Grab some ribbon from your ribbon collection. I used 1/8" inexpensive ribbon.  I buy it on sale and keep a drawer full.  The 1/8 and 1/4 inch is all I use for packages. 

Measure off a hunk that when doubled over is at least 6 - 8" longer than your lavender stems.  In this case the lavender stems are 14" long and the ribbon ended up 40" (20" doubled over)  total (which is probably going to be overkill) ...

 Tie the ribbon around the lavender right below the blooms and knot it...

 Pull the ribbon up through the middle of the blooms...

This is the part that confused me (I'm very easily confused) until I actually did it and saw how simple it was.  Hold the lavender upside down and fold the stems down over the blooms forming a little "cage" around the flowers...

Cute...

Now simply wind the ribbon around the stems and tie in a bow on the bottom.  

I made the other one in a different colored ribbon...

I like to display them in my antique celery dish (which I don't think has ever had celery in it).  I usually keep my fountain pens in the dish...

I linked to My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday.  Stop over and see all the great links...

Coming up:

• New garden tool belt 
• Pizza on the grill

Show & Tell / Feeling Rich Friday

Linking to Cindy over at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday .  Be sure and visit her and check out all the fabulous goodies... 

Family Heirlooms

Beautiful Lady Figurine

In the corner of my living room is a display cabinet (which really needs to be painted white but my husband is throwing up roadblocks on that idea- sigh) that is home to a few things I hold most precious. 

On the second shelf you can see a beautiful porcelain figurine, or doll, as my father called it.  My father was quite the antiques and porcelain collector and was even a Antonio Borsato dealer.  The Madonna and Child on the top shelf is a very rare Borsato and we'll take a look at that piece another day.

The porcelain figurine on the second shelf  was purchased by my parents on their honeymoon over 70 years ago.  It was made in Italy and I have truly never seen another with the grace and beauty of this one.  She is quite large for this type of piece at almost 13" tall

Here she is on her shelf.  In front of her are little hand-painted salt cellars that belonged to my great grandmother.

Don't you love the way she is leaning forward with her head turned?  She appears to be anticipating  the whisper of a handsome man  - or perhaps a kiss on the cheek...

Let's take her out and put her the buffet and take a closer look.  The waterfall crystal lamps also belonged to my parents...

Isn't her face gorgeous?  And I love the eyelashes...

The flowers are perfect and even the curve of her arms and hands is exquisite...

Delicate little foot peeking out from under her skirt ...

Do you have special family heirlooms?

Show & Tell / Feeling Rich Friday

I'm Feeling Rich and It Cost Less Than $10.00

Also:  Show and Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home .  Don't forget to check out as many links as you can and, if you have time, leave  a comment.  Everyone loves comments...

Some Great Finds This Week...

I was in desperate need of a second trivet to keep next to my stove.  The first one I purchased came from a specialty kitchen store and cost a whole bunch of money.  I seem to recall having to come home and put a cold cloth on my forehead after that purchase.

When I was at Ross a few weeks ago I noticed they had some trivets so I headed over to see if they had any left.  I couldn't resist the pink enamel flower one, even though it was waaaaaay over my comfort zone at $4.99.  Did I mention I'm cheap? 

I snagged the cute little French style containers a few months ago at Michael's.  They had been marked down to the point where they were almost paying the customer to take them home.  I think the small one was $1.00 and the large French flower pail was $2.00

Then I had a few (meaning two)  things to pick up at the $$ Store. Sixteen dollars later I emerged with mostly necessities - except for the bird picture.  It was just too cute to leave behind and it was chirping for a home.  It's actually on canvas.

I hung it behind my stove.  Anything that can go up with a pushpin is A-ok in my book~~~

But the best find of all was at the thrift store.  A whole stack of practically new Elle Decor and House Beautiful magazines.  The cost of a few decorating magazines now-a-days would make a good down payment on a house.  Total cost?  $2.75 + tax.  Wowzers!!

I've already started ripping out stuff for my idea files~~~

Before you leave ~~ Susan over at Writing Straight From the Heart,  has an excellent post up Home is Where the Heart Is.  She is on top of my "must read list" everyday. 

Susan would really love to join in some linky parties but she's a bit nervous about the process.  I sent her step-by-step instructions, and I know if you took a moment to go over there and encourage her, we'll have her up and running in no time at all.   

Thanks...

Show and Tell Friday

Be sure and visit My Romantic Home for all the show and tell posts...

Show and Tell Friday

I spied this darling little figurine when I was in Goodwill a few years ago.  I used to teach ballroom dancing so the dancing figures caught my eye.  There was a "flaw" and so it was priced at below $5.00.  It took me about 10 minutes to find the flaw which was teeny tiny.  It's only about 6" tall and I love looking at their happy little faces and graceful arms.

Aren't they sweet?

Show and Tell Friday

Meet my family...

Today is Show and Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home. 

I thought you might like to meet my "family"

Elle is our youngest dog.   She's about 8 years old and has my eyes...

 Here she sharing guard duty with Angela (the queen of the house). Angela is about 14 years old.

As you can see, Angela is a very nervous cat who has a hard time relaxing.

Sophia (Sophie to her friends) was a "save" from the Humane Society. She barely escaped a certain death because they didn't think she was adoptable. Sophie had been horribly abused and was very frightened of people and as a result appeared "mean".  She is abut 17 now and everyone loves her.

And the "baby" of the family is Erica, named after the Phantom of the Opera because of her markings.  She is my office assistant and she chose us a few years ago to be her family.  

Erica was a starving stray when she moved onto our property, Now she "lays down with the lions and the lambs."

Don't forget to check out everyone's show and tell at My Romantic Home