Don't Be A Pansy!

I seriously DO NOT have the control to contain myself right now!  

Spring has officially Sprung today, March 20th, 2012- and I am in some Spirit to let my Muse- Beauty- inspire me and lead me to true Joy once again.  Except this time...and from Here-on-Out...I will be spending all of my adventures out in my own personal Backyard Oasis.  I call it: Murf-Land and it Rocks My World every year!

Don't Be A Pansy!

Spring graces us with her beauty and moderate conditions for such a short time- and then all we can do is bitch about the heat when it really rolls in...

Let's take full advantage of this opportunity and Celebrate!

Before we do, there are a few Housekeeping items that I always make sure to check off my list before I begin the true Dirty Work.

And it is in doing this prep-work, that I find a complete rebirth of Joy for this lovely Gem of a season.

Come on!  Let's throw a party for Spring!  A Surprise Party!

Plant Those Seeds!

As with any early Venturer like myself, it is always fun to begin a Step-ahead-of-the-Rest each season by starting important seeds indoors (a month before transplanting into the garden).  I try to select seeds that will do well indoors and that will give me some good strong results within 30 days.  Tricky starters will be grown directly in the gardenspace.

I always grow my seeds in a dense compost from the year before and place each set in the smallest possible pots...too big of a surface area when growing seeds indoors will usually result in rotting and molding.  Scanky.

Get Those Fabulous Bulbs!

And one of my favorite pass-times during the Waking Weeks of Spring is to purchase all my new and exciting bulbs for the season.  Not spring bulbs, but summer bulbs- like lilies and Gladiolas.

I just received my much-anticipated lily bulb order in the mail yesterday!  Soooo In-Time for my annual 1st Day of Spring Planting Fest!

What's fun about summer bulbs is that we can plant them in the current season- as opposed to Spring bulbs that we must plant in the fall.  The wait kills me!

Till that Soil!

I ALWAYS make sure to spend quite a bit of time in the dirt with my trowel and mini rake as I attempt to loosen up the surface of the garden and bring 'bounce' back into my soil.  I think it makes things look a lot more fresh and eager.  It's like a Sugar Facial Scrub for the soil!  This also helps get rid of any unwanted 'weedlings' (weed seedlings) and helps the dormant roots below find breath again!

Light Those Trees!

Another MurfMagic trademark every season is to carefully string clear Christmas lights around the branches of some of my larger specimens; like this climbing Rose, for instance.  This is a painstaking process because I must be very sensitive to the plants' new growth as I wind and wrap.

This is the only nighttime lighting I use in the gardenspace- and once the leaves fully form, a glow from within the garden softly illuminates the space around me...I feel like I am within the realm of Angels.

Note: this can NOT be carelessly done, or it will look like a Trashy Hooker lives in your backyard.  String lights with taste! 

Run That Water!

I know the garden season is upon me when my beloved little Faucet Fountain is placed and operating!

Just the subtle sound of running water in my garden is enough for me to want to retreat forever back here!

I always make sure to 'soften' the edges of any piece of statuary or sculpture in the garden with complimenting pottery and/or plantings.  This fountain needs to eventually look as though it is a fixed part of the garage it rests on...and after my plants fill the void spaces- I will be in business!

--Running water mysteriously falling from within the foliage and blooms: Pure Magic.

Place Those Pots!

I am slightly addicted to terracotta pots...especially old, chipped, cracked, and mossy ones!  So what better way to Celebrate the onset of Spring than with the precise placement of all my deteriorating Beauties?  I place my pots wherever I know I am going to need a little Color-Boost (and I don't mean for my hair).  Troublesome areas of the garden (i.e- too much shade or un-diggable ground due to stones or roots...etc) are great places to add a collection of pots.  The summer color in my old wagon here will certainly brighten-up my dark, under-tree Blackhole that never allows me to grow anything!

Add Those Signs!

So I gotta be honest here-  I am known to take things a bit too seriously sometimes.
...Well...all the time... 
And I have been teaching myself ways in which I can 'Lighten Up' a little.

I have created these adorable garden signs that are meant as little greetings for the promenade through my garden.  I tore down an old white picket fence in the backyard last summer, crafted these signs, and accented them with acrylic paint and polyurethane spray.  They are a silly, cheesy element to my other-wise serious standard.


I love my Pitbull/Shepard Mix, Diezel, so much that I have nicknamed him according to his energy levels. 'Cozy Cow' for when he is a cute, quiet, subtle, mindful pet...and 'Wiggy Piggy' for when he is a complete disaster.  He lives up to both names Beautifully!  These characters are fun surprises as we walk through the garden.  They bring a smile to my face every time.

 The Cozy Cow.

 The Wiggy Piggy

 Love Your Pets!

Diezel gets the Cozy Cow award for today.  He kept a watchful eye on me as I spent the entire day in the garden.

He enjoys laying in the sun and softly growling at birds and squirrels as they approach too closely to the yard.

Here, he poses with a pot of Pansies.

...looking at me as if to say,

        "Are you done yet, dude?"

 

Rejoice The Day!

It sure was a long and Beautiful 1st day of Spring today! 

80 degrees and sunny!  

By the end of the day, lots of little projects got checked off my list:

my seeds,

my soil,

my bulbs,

my garden signs,

my pots,

and my pansies.

And as the soft sun sets over the trees, a golden glow sets fire to the evening sky.

My favorite time of day in the garden.

Spring- I welcome you, Girl.  

and I promise...

I will NOT be A Pansy!

I will be your Magic!

Cheers!

ManHandle my Mantle

Something is seriously wrong in my life if I haven't decided to transition my mantle for the season yet!
My 'Late Winter' look is about to hit the road today...and I think I can blame it on all this amazing non-traditional weather we've experienced lately!  A little accidental sunburn while working in the garden yesterday actually did wonders on my creative spirits!

It's Mantle Makeover Time!!!  What!?!

 First:

I gotta get these Old Broads Outta here!

 

I adore my early century Composition dolls, but they tell a story of 'Late Winter Mysticism' and it weighs too heavy on my Spring-Ready eyes.  "So- Bye Bye Birdies!  I will be sure to find an equally amazing place for you to reside, I promise!"  Another blog article, perhaps!?...

So here's the deal-  I am inspired today by a great book with a great title!

It seriously sums up my thoughts on Life!

We are, after all, living within one giant Garden- 

So we need to Celebrate it!

I want to celebrate Early Spring...not True Spring ('cause True Spring will need a full makeover too!)  And I love re-doing things too much to hold onto a concept for too long!

So my concept is inspired by a sweet book...and without honoring True Spring too early, I will use elements that are reminiscent of our gardens after a long hard winter thaw...(though, our winter this year was very mild...).

Here's the Recipe for this 'Man-handling'...or MantleHandling I will be doing today....

1.)  Beautiful, old, burgundy Bricks.

2.)  Kick-ass, aged, Terra-Cotta pots. 

3.)  Dried stems of Magnolia leaves.

4.)  Simplicity.  (I struggle with this one...)

Bricks make magnificent risers.

All my pots for this project are the same exact style and size.  Purposefully.

These live-dried beauties came from my Lily and Magnolia Christmas theme...ReUse!

Now that I have a full basket of fun elements, it's time to begin the transition- and remember, Simplicity is key when dealing with you mantle!  Too many textures and lines in a mantle design can create confusion and dis-jointedness...

Let's Do This~!

First- I will place my risers (bricks) asymmetrically on the mantle.  Because my pots are all the same size and style (to represent a solid concept), I need to use these great bricks as 'risers' to provide the linear movement this mantle will need to carry my eye across the design.  Looks strange at first...

...But when we add the pots and the inspirational book...the movement and excitement of the concept starts to come to life.  Now my design has a solid ground to start from.  What to put in those great pots?  

Candles?...  Ferns?...  Nothing?...

I use these beautiful dried Magnolia stems because the color and the texture is just what we need to present the 'Late Winter Thaw' I was referring to.  And with the tones of the rest of the space, these leaves create the 'vintage' look I am SO loving lately.  Notice how only three pots have been 'dressed' with leaves.  This allows for my my eyes to rest on Points of Interest in the movement of the design.  I also made sure each 'dressed' pot was on a different plane than the others...(giving me the movement I need...).

I decided the book was not working in the design (one too many elements) so I will keep it as my Inspiration only.  And besides, I really like the way the middle bar of the window shows through between the movement of the pots and the bricks- (the book was distracting that detail too much).  I am sure it will show up on display somewhere in the adjacent space, however.  It is a great book.

Now my Mantle has been Man-tle-Handled!    Yes!  

And I have a great pre-season theme here: The Late Winter Thaw.  Not too green, not too colorful, not too Spring.  Just right.  This also provides me with the 'backbone' for what is to come!

I love it when things bring life to other things.  It is an Ever-changing Life.

My Life as The Garden- A Celebration! is a Beautiful Life.

Cheers!

The Fake, The Artificial-- my Best Friend.

The season is giving way to longer days, sunnier patios, muddy puppy paws, hesitant spring blooms, and the sweet song of evening birds whistling into the night--

It is Springtime here in the northern states and we couldn't be more excited about our outdoor lives as the nicest months ahead begin to unfold.

Like every shift in season, I am in 'The Mood'.  The mood to create and to celebrate Beauty anew!  Today I am thinking about my front door wreath and how I want it to 'Sing of the Season' as Spring truly does arrive.

I am a designer who loves to use artificial stems to create my illusion of Perfect Beauty.  Do not judge.  I know, I know--silk flowers have SO gotten a bad reputation as they grace the lobbies and offices of some of the biggest corporations in the world.  Some of these pieces on display make me wonder why artificial stems are still being used at all!

Everlasting- yes...Carefree- yes...

Dusty and Tired- usually...

In need of Help- ALWAYS.  

But they are not to be looked at in a negative light at all!

Find the perfect person for the job and your silk pieces can look as amazing as they should!

I have a whole corner of my basement dedicated to all the stems I've collected over the years--nicely boxed up for easy access when this urge in me pops up-- leading me to create something great whenever I want!

Most people see tacky, imperfect representations of the 'real deal'...but I see opportunity!  These stems will give me the means to fool the eyes and trick the senses!  I love Silks!

One thing I have learned over the years as a designer-- Keep it Simple!  Overdoing things oftentimes leads to destroying things.  I have learned the hard way.  After all, Mother Nature is a simple gal--represent her in your work the way she really is:  Intricate- yes.  Simple- always.

My work tends to reflect nature as best it can.  I like using singular elements in a concept...to give the illusion that all my stems are as authentic as the ones growing in my garden.  For instance, a crystal vase filled with a fresh bouquet of live lilies would be a lovely flare for the top of my hutch...but since I don't have live lilies just yet, I use 4 stems of artificial lilies instead.  I create the awesome illusion that they are freshly picked and soaking up water in my vase.

As soon as I start to add other elements into the vase- it becomes messy, contrived, and unrealistic.

Keep it Simple!

I have created hundreds of wreaths for clients throughout many years and one thing is certain- it never gets old to me!  Finding one or two elements to represent in any concept is the first step...putting 'Life' to your piece is the second.

Peony and Viburnum work alongside each other beautifully on the left, giving me a very 'cottage garden' feeling.  And on the right, I've used Delphinium and Lilac loosely- giving this a breezy, natural appeal- fresh from the garden! The tidy double-tailored bow is a nice way to 'bunch' the look together at the bottom.  I love using wide wired ribbon in my work- nothing is more exciting to me than a Kick-Ass ribbon!

As we approach the later summer months, it is key to use elements that are active in the garden at that time.  At the right, I have used gorgeous orange Dahlias and a twining Stephanotis vine wrapping throughout.  These flowers would actually be blooming together in the garden- so placing them together in a wreath is a great fit.  Again, ribbon runs through both pieces and adds a wonderful dimension to the overall picture.

Fall is a fun season to design for- all the harvest tones and textures!  Sunflowers and berries work with grasses in this wreath to give me a post-summer flare!  Though very symmetrical, this wreath looks like the early fall garden right outside our door!  And here, ribbon is not used.  Sometimes just a 'gathered' look is nice.

I have shown a 'dried' floral concept on the left, using more elements than I usually do to appeal to the person in need of a bouquet of flowers bundled up nicely with a great burlap ribbon.  And on the right, I wanted to celebrate the coming of Halloween.  Deep orange pumpkins, white and orange berries, and a stunning striped ribbon create the essence of this playful holiday!

All this designing with artificial stems can happen anywhere throughout the home- at any time!  Tastefully, however.  Simple.  A great season to embrace the silk stems in your design is The Christmas season!  I do a lot of personal decorating for the holidays!  What better way to truly practice my craft than to do it in my own home!?

My dining room was a lovely place to present a semi-garden concept.  I've focused on lilies, magnolia leaves, and Dogwood flowers in this design.  Though these flowers aren't at all in bloom at this time of the year, it sure creates the illusion that they are when used casually throughout the tree.  Those white blooms really lighten up the tree too.  A wonderful trio of ribbons is worked into the design as well, giving me great dimension again.  Gosh, I love ribbon.  Did I mention that?

And no table would be complete without an eye catching centerpiece.  All silk stems.  I don't want my centerpiece to pull focus from my tree, though, so I purposefully keep lilies out of the design here.  It becomes a 'supporting role' to the tree behind it.

In our living room, I wanted to create a more casual country feeling with the design- so I used silk stems that supported this concept.  Berries, Amaryllis, Hydrangea, and vanilla-toned leaves cascade down this tree.  I have also made sure to feature one of my most prized ribbons here- it is embroidered 100% silk ribbon adorned with crystals and beads.  Stunning!

And what space would be complete without a mantlepiece that is dripping with Beauty?  Our mantle was rather traditional in theme- using Poinsettias, berries, and various finial glass ornaments.  The beloved French Horn even found its way into the design!  Here, a simple duo of silk elements- Poinsettia and berries- give me plenty to work with.  Also, the linear movement created here is an important aspect of silk design.  Mother Nature provides us with endless movement- we need to mimic that in our work.  Nothing is ever stagnant- it is always moving.

So- after all this praise given to the wonderful world of Silk Floral stems, I hope this brought some much-needed light to the subject at hand here.  Tired, old silk arrangements are a MAJOR pet-peeve of mine.  If you are in possession of any such item- please discard it immediately.  And see me for your new beginning!  Your home...and guests will thank you.

I guess I should be including a photo of my latest wreath; seeing as how it was the whole reason for my creative journey today!

 Lilac and Lily

Spring is in Bloom!

Silks do not have to be a part of our embarrassing past any longer.  Use them tastefully- use them casually.  Find ways to accent the season with your stems...it really can bring some great energy into the home!  And if you have no clue where or how to start: Murfmagic can help!  

Beauty is my Life.  You are in good hands.

Cheers!

Botany in This Mind: Details are Everything.

Spring is teasing us right now and it is making me anxious!  I want so badly to be outdoors everyday in the garden- creating Beauty and Life...but as any gardener in the North knows- we must be patient.

The only thing I can think to do is continue to bring the outdoors IN!  And what better way to do that than with the addition of indoor plants.

This can be a Love-Hate relationship for me.  This time of the year, I focus so heavily on indoor plants and Horticultural Decorationg, that the thought of shifting focus in a month or so is sort of sad.  Because I know my attention will quickly be consumed by the beauty outdoors...and I am loving the beauty indoors soooo much right now.  So, without judgment, I proceed to not worry about it- and I let myself PLAY!

Beyond just 'having' plants to 'have' them...beyond keeping plants because I love to nurture...beyond collecting them because I have an addictive personality...beyond growing them because I am passionate about life... I surround myself with plants because they bring me great joy.

And when you experience Joy- to be able to lean on it from time to time- is a real blessing- especially when the world around us can be filled with such chaos and carelessness.

Placement is EVERYTHING!

Tell a story with everything.  It makes life more interesting.  My plants are here to intrigue and empower me.  They grow with vigor and strength.  As long as I see that they get the bare essential necessities- they are a real example of continuous growth and health.  They never REgress...they only PROgress.

I am inspired in recovery to do the same thing.

I have spent many hours of many days figuring out what and where...and how.  All plants need particular atmospheric qualities that are very individual- so it is important to pay special attention to what kinds of plants I am keeping and how to 'keep' them.  I have many favorites in the house...and they all have a very intricate place to reside.  Above I have the Charlotte's Web theme coming to life with terra cotta pots and medium-light plants.  I have made sure Wilbur remains the central focus as he peers from within his garden.  Old terra cotta is one of my favorite things!  It suites this story wonderfully.

Because I love terrariums and glass so much- I have made sure to feature them in a few places throughout the house.  There is something exciting about plants growing within the strict confines of glass that creates the illusion of mystery and spectacle.  And we all know, I love mystery and spectacle!  Above are some of my neatest terrariums standing as backdrop to some very pretty crystal vases.  My personal favorite is the Monkey Paw growing in the tall vase.  It has started to send forth small streamers of babies that are beginning to pour out of the glass.  It catches the attention of everyone who walks through the room.  And I love that!

Also in the same room, I have coupled two tall and thin vases together- both displaying small plants with gorgeous foliage.  This is my way of drawing attention to Nature's finest creations.  Though small in stature, these plants become an instant piece of art...and it's all because of their lovely presentation.

The windowsill is an incredible place to display your heavy-light-loving plants.  Though space is hugely limited, it is still a wonderful opportunity to draw attention to your favorite pieces.  This in my southern-facing kitchen window loaded with color and life.  They love the sun and the humidity created by the running water of the sink, which makes my job easier.  A happy plant in the right conditions is a Beautiful plant!  Having these little guys in such a functional space allows me time to enjoy them and 'take in' their energy and life.
 

I have carefully selected great focal plants for the dining room table.  As featured in a previous post, these glass vases make awesome conversation pieces over a morning coffee or an evening snack!  They are the perfect height for a table's centerpiece and allow for good conversation to flow over the table.  They also support the rest of the story in the room nicely.  Again, some of my more interesting-leaf varieties are brought to attention here as I have placed them in such a focal location.  Soon, the growing roots will become visible from within the glass vases and add even more drama to the table!  Fun!

Re-purposing old things is a lot of fun to do!  In this house, I always find new things to do with old pieces.  Here, I have a beautiful marble and brass lamp that I have used to my advantage as a plant display stand!  One of my more exotic plants, Epecsia, is placed in the glass lamp shade where it is allowed to cascade beautifully down the pillar.  The height of this piece gives me a great opportunity to make use of the eastern-facing window.  And it also puts my much-loved flowering vine on display for all to notice.  It is the focal-ending-point for my dining room table's small vases...which acts as a period would at the end of a sentence.  It stops the story and sums up the idea!

Small Details are Extremely Special!

Don't forget the details that make the whole story sing.  Every moment matters.  I always make sure to do everything with purpose and meaning.  This is true with everything I do in this life- but this idea has become more and more important to me as I journey through my continued recovery from alcoholism.  

Every moment is a moment to shine and to be remarkable.

And I show this idea through my love of plants and how they can really complete a thought in the house!

 

Mary stands ethereally over this arching plant.  The long, elegant leaves of Clivia bring grace and movement to the statue's otherwise hauntingly still presence.  These leaves also break-up the curves of Mary's flowing garment- which helps soften the concrete contours so this statue can make sense in the space.

The hue of this Gynura is so different and so wonderful that I have to bring attention to it.  The velvet purple leaves are rather small, but when I place them in front of a pink plaque with a gold bee on it, they become a great accent.  I have placed the plant in a jewel-toned mosaic pot which also helps to grab our eyes.  Here, purple, pink, and gold make a really warm trio of colors that I normally may not get the chance to use when decorating with plants!

Tea Time!  This Aglaonema falls nicely over this shelving unit which keeps all of our glass cans of dried herbs and teas.  The leaves are playful and very vigorous in growth.  I love watching them fall down over the shelf which is standing in an otherwise stale corner of the kitchen.  This plant adds just the right amount of energy to the plain space.

I have some very delicate, intricate, and miniscule plants in my collection that I LOVE!  Though they are tiny in presence, they become a neat duo of curiosity on top of these black wooden candle holders.  I have placed String of Pearls and Baby's Tears over a gardening book which sits purposefully on a small white chair.  Some of the vignettes in the home are non-functional.  They are mainly used to display and acknowledge certain aspects of the home's elements.  This area is a prime example of a non-functional space.  A scene meant to paint a picture for us.  To create wonder.

   

This little clover is called Iron Cross, so what better way to support this great plant than to place him on the shelf which holds our spiritual books and pamphlets?!  The lime green of the clover looks amazing in front of these dark books and really stands out against the burgundy-bound set with centers of deep brown.  I have used a pot that adds a nice metallic flare to the gold writing on the books' spines.  These details truly matter to me.

I love my basket of Phaleonopsis Orchids...but as they are out-of-bloom, they become less significant. The arching stems of truly beautiful blooms will not emerge for a few months yet, so the basket takes a different approach for these passing months of early spring.  I soften the foot of this pink side table with these orchids and giggle a little bit as this strange figure dances across the handle.  He too becomes a valuable piece of the story.

Within the glass walls of this Tiffany-styled Edwardian case, I have an opportunity to place something singularly in its spotlight.  Because Spring is just around the corner, I find it appropriate to use my blooming Primrose in this manner.  The white of the flowers glows at night like an entity in the clouds and adds even more illumination to this dark corner of my living room.  It also reminds us of the shift in season that lies ahead.

 

Not all plants need to grow under traditional circumstances.  I love finding ways to play with the way things are done.  This Elephant Ear plant has been completely removed from its soil and placed in a glass vase of water...to allow for a view of the neat white roots that grow from the rhizome.  They curl and flow nicely within the water.  Almost personifying the image of rushing water itself.  I have a small lamp placed nearby so at night this vase illuminates beautifully, adding an element of wonder to these gnarly roots (which we don't often get a chance to see.)  And because I love mystery and illusion, this plant standing alongside my trio of bizarre dolls helps me paint a picture of curiosity.  Sort of like the apothecary jars filled with strange beings and creatures in a scientist's lab.


So you see, details are very special to me.  They help create a world where my mind's thoughts can become a visceral image.  A world where the wonder in my mind can be illustrated and dramatized.  It is in this place, I find life.  And hope.

And when I play in this way- when the things around me tell their story- I get to share it with you.

-This home tells my story.