Decorating With Handmade

What is your decor style?  Shabby chic? Rustic? Traditional?

Would you like me to tell you what looks great with every style?

Handmade.

Adding handmade decor to any style brings a uniqueness to your home that you just can't find in any big box stores or factory made furnishings.  A little touch here, and little touch there, and

VIOLA'

your home is uniquely yours.  Here's a few great ideas to get you started.

(If any links are available, you will find them under the pictures.)

Isn't this a great way to create mood lighting in a room?  Stop at any flea market and scoop up some old ladles.  Bend them and mount them on a piece of wood, add a candle...and perfect.  Use wonderfully white chippy wood for a shabby chic look, or use rough wood for rustic, and smooth painted wood for a more traditional look.  A great and easy DIY project.

UHL art

No home is completely "you" without an original piece of artwork that represents your style.  Not only does art express your inner feelings, it is also a great investment.

Ali's pots

And sometimes it's just the little things that can make a house your home.

What's your favorite decorating idea to bring personality to your home?

Be blessed,

Debbi

My Abundant Herb Garden

In the spring of this year, I did an overhaul of my herb garden.  I pulled out EVERYTHING. 

** here's a tip...never, never, never plant mint in a garden....it grows overwhelmingly, lol.**

I tried to just pull the mint last summer, but it would just come up someplace else.  So I dug up my other herbs, and then Chuck tilled, and tilled, and tilled.  Then I laid down weedblock and replanted my lemon balm, sage, and rosemary, and purchased new plants of basil, flat leaf parsley, oregano, marjoram, dill, and chives.  It looked good....then everything got bigger.

**this is not the most recent picture, but I forgot to take a picture before the harvest, of course. **

Now what to do with all my herbs?  A quick google search and I decided on freezing.  It was messy, but I love the feel of having fresh herbs in winter.

First, pick and clean.  This is my basil, the herb I tend to use the most.  After picking off the leaves, into the salad spinner.  I love my spinner.  

Then I started chopping.  I got this great rocking herb cutter years ago.  I am a real sucker for kitchen gadgets.  Which is quite funny since I don't really like to cook.

All nice and chopped.  And guess what I discovered?  Chopped basil will turn your hands green! hahaha

I forgot to take a picture of the next step, but I put the chopped basil into a bowl and added olive oil.  After mixing it together, into a labeled freezer bag.  I laid it flat and stuck it in the freezer.

Viola!

Now last night I was making spaghetti for dinner, and went outside to get herbs for the sauce, when I realized that I harvested so well, I needed to use some of my newly frozen herbs. And they were tasty!

Do you harvest and preserve anything?  What is your favorite way to eat summer all winter long?

Be blessed,

Debbi