pussy willow Archives - Keeping With The Times

Willow Wreath DIY (Mini Me Style)

April 1, 2017 by Barb 10 Comments

Today I have a long and complicated willow wreath DIY for you!

Purchase a tiny willow wreath at your favourite craft store.
Pick a few pussywillows.
Insert into tiny wreath.

;)

Then I got to thinking, what could I do with these tiny mini-me wreaths?

Hmmmm, how about an Easter centrepiece (topiary-style) …

Or simply placed on a side table …
Doesn’t everyone leave side table drawers open? with linen serviettes hanging out of them :)

If you make one of these, leave a comment. I’d love to see your creations!

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You may also like my post Home Decor Styling Tips

Home Decor Styling Tips

April 1, 2015 by Barb 23 Comments

April made a typical entrance again this year: Friday, March 31st … one of the most beautiful days ever … warm, sunny, calm, and then … boom. Overnight the winds picked up and by morning they were absolutely howling. At 6:30 am the power went out and by 9:00 am snow was being driven sideways across the yard. Yep … spring in Alberta … aaarrrgh.

Lucky for me I had risen early and made my coffee, so I was sitting on the sofa, bundled up in fleece blankets, sipping a hot cuppa, and feeling grateful.

As the first slivers of morning lit up the sky, I watched the outside world come into my view. The barnwood tables and benches that I had set up on the deck in preparation for the new season sat sturdy and solid … waiting.

Earlier in the week I’d picked a ton of pussywillow. Some I’d set in a stoneware pot and was happy to see it hadn’t blown away. The new wreath I’d made was safely stowed against the house, under the overhang, and was no worse for the wear. Whew!

So even though our first day of April was atrocious (weather-wise) I spent it happily creating my spring willow wreath vignette, and came up with some home decor styling tips while I was at it!

I love an uncluttered look, but even so, there’s a lot going on here.

The wreath is hung in the centre of the wall with a small vintage chest and chair underneath. I placed the yellow birdhouse on several books to give it height and then used a yellow/green runner to draw the eye across and to the yellow pillow. Can you spot the repeating shape here?

So here’s my little still life mimicking life … or is life mimicking still life?

Do you not just love the little botanical print above the chair? Adore!

I was searching for books at Amazon and came across this little gem “Instant Wall Art – Botanical Prints: 45 Ready to Frame Vintage Illustrations for Your Home Decor.” So cute and fun! Botanical prints are hot by the way … .

Side note: I saw pussywillow branches for sale at Terrain for $48.00/bunch! Gah … choke … eek …

Try to incorporate meaningful items in your vignettes. A few of my favourite books include “In Detail”, “A Life Less Ordinary”, and “Vivian Maier Street Photographer”. I have so many amazing books, I could have stacked a dozen more, but it would have ruined the effect—less is more.

Mix old and new, organic and inorganic elements, but keep colour tones similar.

Making a pussywillow wreath is super simple! Buy a ready-made willow wreath at any craft store and proceed to stuff it with pussywillow branches! If you need a little more detail, check out my instructions here.

And last but not least, I’ll be sending the link to a full resolution copy of my little botanical print “Hyacinth, Willow and Tulip Play” in my next newsletter!! If you haven’t signed up, check the sidebar for details!

Thank you ever so much for stopping by!

All images edited in Lightroom
Presets by Kim Klassen
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kk_within

Texture Tuesday: Wabi Sabi

April 15, 2014 by Barb 19 Comments

Texture Tuesday, Perfectly Imperfect, Wabi Sabi, Kim Klassen, Barb Brookbank

Right now my whole world is the colour of a pussy willow; off-white, cream, brown.

Yesterday I observed a rabbit that had this exact colouring! It’s starting to change from the snowy whiteness of winter to the dusty brown of summer.

We have old dirty snow, brown grass, and tangles of branches everywhere.

It’s beautiful. It’s my world, and I feel alive.

Today Kim talks about Wabi Sabi. Oh my! it’s the only reason I got this posted this morning. I won’t say any more… you must pop over to read about it! Thank you Kim!!

Disclaimer:

I’m going into town today with the girls, and I’m making a bee-line to the flower shop …

Have a wonderful Tuesday and thank you for stopping by!

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

kk_sophia

Willow Catkins and the Art of Avoidance

May 9, 2013 by Barb 8 Comments

willow-catkins-2

Today I woke up early, enjoyed my coffee, checked e-mails, poked around some blogs, primped my own blog, ate French toast for breakfast, and had a nap.

willow-catkins

I walked down to the lake’s edge and sat and listened to the birds. Geese, ducks, seagulls, and loons. It’s a regular cacaphony of hoots, cackles, and wails (got that from the dictionary).

willow-catkins-1

I admired the willow catkins that seem to glow in the sunlight. Then of course I had to pick a few which I spent an hour arranging and photographing.

Which brings me to the question “when am I going to start preparing for that dinner party for 8 that we’re hosting on Saturday?” Egad. I truly wish I could walk into the sunset and leave that one behind. But I cannot. Tomorrow I start.

Spring Willow Wreath

March 26, 2012 by Barb 23 Comments

Pussy Willow Wreath

It seems all over blogland people are decorating their doors for spring. Well, it is spring in Alberta too but, hmmmm, I don’t see any tulips peeking through the ground (could be because I can’t see the ground) and there certainly are no pansies sitting prettily on my step.

But the Pussy Willows are out in full force and I ventured out on Sunday to gather the usual armloads to create my new wreath.

Pussy Willow Wreath

I love gathering these branches. It was quite a nice day and it always feels so good to be outside. I could hear geese honking, ravens croaking, and water running. I could also smell wood smoke in the air – so sweet. Someone must have been cleaning up their yard already.

My wreath looks so at home on my new green door (painted last autumn). It’s a very authentic representation of what our world looks like right now. Twiggy and branchy with a promise of spring.

Pussy Willow Wreath

This year I added a little birdhouse and bird to create a little interest and make it different from other years.

Pussy Willow Wreath

Check out my How to Make a Pussy Willow Wreath tutorial. It’s really very easy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Spring Mantel 2012

March 8, 2012 by Barb 20 Comments

When I look at my spring mantel I feel that it’s quite plain. Well, maybe it’s just simple . . . I like that word better!

Spring Mantel, Moss, Pussy Willows

When I spied some pussy willows in the ditch in late February (earliest ever), I decided I couldn’t wait any longer to bring a bit of spring love into the house.

I bought the big ‘old’ wood mirror from Home Sense and at the same time noticed the two black framed pictures with the trees. They could have been photographs taken from my dining room window! They really drew me in – I love the fact that there is a tiny bit of green growth showing.

I added three moss balls and a tiny bird house which I found at our country gift store. I also found a pretty yellow pillow and layered it on top of a light green one to brighten up my brown chair.

Spring Mantel, Moss, Pussy Willows

The sun is so bright right now and it was pouring in as I took these photos. Everything looks so cheerful. Spring is here, in my house at least.

An explosion of pussy willows!

April 25, 2011 by Barb 23 Comments

Every spring I go out into the countryside and gather pussy willows. I create these wreaths as soon as I get enough gathered and while the branches are fresh and pliable – it’s amazing how durable they are when fresh.

I used to sell these wreaths at craft fairs and one year I had them all sold before I even got into the building! as I carried them in, people in the parking lot snapped them up – it was crazy. However, I don’t sell them anymore, I just give them as gifts to a very few select people!

Pussy Willow Wreath

Pussy Willow Wreath Tutorial

The ‘how to’ is really very simple. Start with a purchased 18″ willow wreath base. It doesn’t have to be the best kind – actually the looser the base the better since all you do is start stuffing the branches into it! There is no glue or wire involved – the pussy willows themselves hold the wreath together if you stuff in enough. I have never had one fall apart and when I’m tired of it I always end up pulling the branches out and it isn’t easy.

Start by inserting branches from the left and from the right to form the beginning of a spray at the bottom.

Pussy Willow Wreath

Continue to add branches to the spray, building up the middle.

Pussy Willow Wreath

Add the rest of the branches from the bottom up towards the top until they meet at the top.

Pussy Willow Wreath

I went over the top with my wreath and crammed in branches until I couldn’t cram in any more – why not! it’s over the top, but fun!

I would caution you, however, to start smaller and that you periodically hang it where you are going to put it to make sure it fits – it’s better not to have to trim it after the fact since it removes the wild looking branch ends.

And lastly, it’s wonderful while fresh but if you hang it where it isn’t going to be bumped it will practically last forever.