The Violet Hours

Time for the First Day of Spring!

Spring has sprung (technically) so it's time to start planning some planting projects for the kids! Here are a few simple ideas that will really get them excited about gardening...

 

Remember my perler-bead craft post last week? This planter is so amazing, it's a product. If you aren't such a planner (this design would take some design skillz), this would even be cool if you just did stripes of color. Via Peaches & Keen.

Cut a hole in a plastic animal toy and create a succulent planter. Genius! Found via Digs Digs.

 

This one was a new one for me...I'd never seen a plant in an ice cream cone! Adorbs! Found via Home DIY Pins.

 

It's the simplest idea, but one of my all-time faves: a planter in the bed of a vintage truck toy. Found via Charming Spaces.

Time for Unusual Planters

I think February is usually the month when I say "I'm done with winter. Gimme green. Now." Thank goodness I married a guy with a green thumb, or else I'd really be hungry for plant life. There are so many clever ways to incorporate plants into your decor these days.

This gorgeous light fixture/planter blows my mind. Via Design Vagabond.

I have 2 jean jackets in my closet that I can't seem to part with. I kind of love the idea of using the pockets for a planter. Via Small Home Love.

Did you know you could turn an old lightbulb into a planter? How enlightening! You can use your trusty glue gun to add three small dots to the base to make it stand on end. Via 1 800 Recycling.

I do love my old typewriter, I do, but it just sits on a shelf under my desk and takes up space. How cool is this planter idea? And by the way, have you seen the digital magazine, Covet Garden? It's gorge.

Check out more cool planter ideas here. Clearly it's where my mind goes in February.

Time for a 2D Christmas Tree

I've seen a lot of space-saving ideas over the years, but never have I seen a holiday one quite this ingenious. This Christmas tree fabric from Ikea is ideal for the city (or suburban) dweller with either little space, a distaste for the traditional artificial tree, or an intolerance for cleaning up pine needles.

A few other uses come to mind:

• At $6.99 a yard, let the kids paint their ornaments onto it.
• Poke holes and push LED xmas lights through for a lovely nightime effect.
• At your holiday party, hang edible gingerbread men on it and let it serve as part of your dessert buffet.

And if you miss that seasonal smell of pine, just go out and buy Mrs. Meyer's Iowa Pine cleaning products. I swear to you it's the real deal.

Images via Oh Happy Day, Cote Maison, and Babble.

Time for Teapot Planters

I wish I were one of those people who really knew how to serve tea properly. (Did anyone see the ridiculous episode of Pregnant in Heels where a woman was learning to serve British tea properly? I'm ashamed to say I did.) But I'm so American and a mug and a teabag is about all I can muster. I have a sweet ceramic teapot that is just a dust collector, so maybe now, I will surrender to my Twinings and use it for flowers.

Photo via Beeld Steil.

Time for a Postcard Garden

These take tabletop gardening to a whole new level! Introducing Postcarden...

Combining gift and greeting card, PostCarden is a fun and simple pop-out card that transforms into a mini living garden. Choose from a cityscape park, a botanical garden, a little backyard garden, or a football field.

Found via Ohdeedoh.

Time for Things to Do With Wooden Crates

The wooden crate is a flea market staple. Next time you see a tower of them, you may be more inspired.

At my wedding, we used a vintage wooden crate as a "flip book" of old photos of me and Michael. It had a playful flea market feel.

Put some casters on the bottom and turn them into rolling toy storage. Found via Minor Details.

Crates work so well as shelves. If only they were all styled this beautifully. Found via Emmas Design Blogg.

Isn't a wooden crate full of colorful old wallpaper charming? Found via Decor8.

Dog bowl holder—so clever. Found via Apartment Therapy.

With imperfect slats on the bottom, wooden crates make great planters, as seen here on Diggin Food.

Time for Inventive Gardens

Aren't these the coolest the planters ever? Beyond...

 

How cool are Flora Grubb's Vertical Gardens? You can build your own for the bargain price of $100. It's looks like a living painting. Found via Oh Happy Day!

These gumball-sized seed-and-soil pods are sold specific to the United States region of your choice. So you can buy the West coast, East coast, or Midwest variety. Just toss them into your garden, no digging required. $6 at Anthropologie.

A true mobile garden. This light-weight portable bag enables you to go from terrace to rooftop, from one address to another, rotating crops year-round. It may seem silly, but how lovely would it be to safely transplant your veggie garden to your new home! From A + R Store. 

Sip a glass of rosé on your porch next to your chilled out human-shaped planter by Eternit. Found on Trendir.

Time for Lovely Nature Crafts

I always say that a backyard is the best craft store—your finds are unpredictable and free!

So simple! By Aesthetic Outburst; found via Ohdeedoh.

Again, these could not be simpler or more elegant. By Daily Danny. 

What a lovely outdoor chandelier! A new twist on a floral centerpiece. By Sweet Paul.

Time for Boutonnieres

It's one of my favorite words, ever since I learned it heard it from my sister before her 11th grade prom. And I happen to love a teeny creative lapel bouquets (floral or not). If you want to think beyond the carnation and baby's breath for your wedding (or prom!), take a look...

How much do you love these Coney Island inspired bouts by Drinking Stars? Found via Ruffled.

 

 

Congrats to Design Mom who had her sweet baby June on Mother's Day! These adorable fabric boutonnieres were made for her baby shower.

I also love the word bespoke, and I heart Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres found via Ruby Press.  

 

I adore this totally simple stick, leaf, and lace one made by Maya Made. 

My handsome husband putting on his bundle of nature boutonniere by Saipua. Photo by Heather Weston.

 

100 Layer Cake featured these two amazing designers: Dried flowers by Twigs and Honey, and felt poof flowers by Emerson Made. (Handsome dude not included.)

Time for Unglazed Porcelain

When you hear porcelain, you may imagine a high-gloss statuette of a girl walking a dog, glazed in pastels and perched on a pedestal with a tiny brass placard. And it would obviously be living in your grandmother's curio cabinet. An new porcelain craze has been born...

 

Berry baskets found via Oh Joy!

I see these porcelain nuts at the Brooklyn Flea every weekend. By KG + AB.

There is something sort of ironic about a delicate key. From The Curiosity Shoppe. 

Unglazed porcelain pendant lamps. Gorgeous! Via Apartment Therapy. 

Delicate + delicate = porcelain feathers. Available at Fawbush & Shulz. 

Sea urchins by Lisa Stevens. Found via Elaine Bradley. 

 

I want one of everything made by Pigeon Toe Ceramics.