Sew-Easy Dog Bed

Last Sunday, my family welcomed a new puppy into our home. Blue is our first dog, and he is pretty dang adorable. He is a Bernese Mountain Dog, which means one day he will be 100 pounds, but for now I wanted to make him a cute little puppy bed. Needlework on James St. North in Hamilton (iloveneedlework.com) recently acquired some swoon-worthy Japanese fabrics that I couldn't wait to find an excuse to buy, and it just so happens that the cotton-linen blend is the perfect weight for this project...lucky me! I always find that if you start with fabric you love, it is much easier to be motivated to sew. This is a TRULY EASY project that any Tom, Dick or Harriet with a sewing machine can pull off in a cinch.

For this project you will need:

• 1-2 yards of medium- to heavyweight fabric, depending on the size of your pooch
• 1 spool of coordinating thread
• Stuffing for bed (fiberfill, a large floor pillow or store-bought cushion-style dog bed)
• Buttons or zipper (optional)

To start, cut two identical rectangles of fabric, big enough to fit your dog (and/or cover your cushion). Fold over the hem an inch or so on one end of each rectangle and iron. Then sew down the hem (just a straight stitch all the way across the top of the hem as pictured). 

Next, pin right sides together (turned over hem will show on outside). 

Using a straight stitch, sew all around three sides of the cushion cover, leaving a 3/4 " seam. Flip inside out and insert your filler. If you don't care about being able to remove the cover, you can simply hand sew (slipstitch) the opening closed and you are done! Go pour yourself that mojito! However, if you have some skills in the sewing department, you will most likely want to make the cover removable (hence, washable). I used the automatic button-hole mechanism on my sewing machine to make three equally-spaced-apart button hones in the hem of one of the fabric pieces, then sewed buttons on the underside of the opposite hem.

Like a true novice, I didn't predict that my puppy would LOVE chewing on those little wooden choking hazards, so I recommend installing a zipper if you have the know-how...or just give the pillow to your cat. Meow!

A Plant You've Got To See To Believe

So, I've talked about succulents, terrariums, upside-down planters...now I'm going to blab about another magical, mysterious wonder of the plant world: the incredible, soil-shirking Air Plant. When I started this blog, I didn't know it was going to be my mission to convert you all into houseplant-obsessed geeks like me, but it appears that is what this has become! :)

These rebels of the plant kingdom don't need any soil to survive...that's right, they just survive on air, sunlight and water, making them so versatile. How you display them is completely up to you...in a rock bed, on a piece of birch bark, in a glass orb...the possibilities are endless! I bought mine at i fiori on James St. North in Hamilton, but in nature they grow in southern climes just about anywhere they want to. I found the air plant I had previously on the ground in Florida, where it had landed after becoming dislodged from its home on the side of a palm tree. Unfortunately, it disappeared one day from its perch on my back patio (I've got my eye on you Mr. Squirrel), which necessitated a trip to the florist to find a replacement.

These are the two lovelies I came home with. One is actually in bloom, which I'd never seen before.

I decided to plant them in a felted wool bowl with some small stones in the bottom to anchor them. To take care of your air plants, simply place them in an area with plenty of indirect sunlight, then give them a good dunking whenever they start to feel crispy (once a week or more). If kept outside in the summer, the rain should be enough to keep them hydrated. 

I promise my next post will be something non-plant related :) In the meantime, I'd love to know if I've inspired anyone to add a little plant love to their home! 

Make Your Own Terrarium

I love terrariums. There is something old-timey and romantic and cabinet-of-curiosities about them. For a long time I dreamed of having one, but I didn't have the proper type of receptacle, and all the ones I could find for sale were too rich for my blood. You can make a terrarium out of virtually any kind of glass container, but I was determined to have a pretty-looking one with a lid. In an "aha" moment, I figured out that the glass dome from my cheese plate fit on top of an old glass hurricane candle holder, and...boom!...I was ready to create my own mini ecosystem.

There are two kinds of terrariums: Open and Closed. Both are ideal for people who are prone to forgetting to water their plants. Open Terrariums are more for dry plants, such as succulents, as they don't like a lot of moisture. Closed Terrariums, on the other hand, are miniature replicas of the cycle of nature: rain falls then evaporates into the air, gathers in the clouds (on the underside of the lid), and falls again. Keeping the lid closed allows for moisture to be recycled, meaning you only have to water these nature's miracles once every month or so with a wee bit of the wet stuff. You will need to remove the lid to let in some air once every week to 10 days for a few hours for the plant to thrive and to avoid mold. Plants that like a lot of moisture, such as tropical plants and orchids, are ideal for this type of terrarium.

Note: Terrariums are ideal for locations that get little direct sun. Though they need some indirect sunlight, putting them in a south-facing window will cause the glass to heat up and cook the plant...not what you want to happen.

To build your terrarium, simply cover the bottom in some river stones to absorb excess water, then add your potting soil and your plant(s). Decorative moss is a nice touch. Some people like to make "scenes" by adding Star Wars figures and whatnot. I added this Seedpod Bird from West Elm, and it actually started to germinate. It doesn't look as cute anymore, but, hey, it's proof that my mini ecosystem is working!

The Swinging Life

I've always wanted a hammock, but we don't have two trees that are close enough together to string a hammock between them, and those hammock stands you can buy just don't cut it for me. So my awesome husband suggested a tree swing that the whole family can sit on. How fun is that? It's not quite the same as a hammock since you can't lie down on it, but it does accommodate two (or two wee ones and an adult) very nicely and is the perfect spot for this family of readers to chill with a book and watch the world go by.

My kids like to tell people that their dad built it, but he actually bought it from Lowe's on-line (though he did put it together ;)). You can't find these on display in any hardware store, it seems, but most stores have a version you can order from the Internet.

A lot of neighbours have commented on how tempting it looks. I keep wondering when I'll wake up to the creak, creak of the newspaper carrier sneaking a swing in the middle of the night. If you're ever in the neighbourhood and feel the urge, just go for it! You have my permission :)

A Plant for Every Black Thumb

People often ask me for advice on houseplants. I guess because I have so many and they are all in relatively good form, people assume I have a green thumb. And if having a green thumb is some intangible, magical thing that necessitates very little effort and a whole lot of luck, then yes, I definitely have one of those. Because aside from watering my guys once a week (or less, never more), I don't do anything special. Fertilizer? What's that?

Having said that, some plants are more finicky than others. I love Boston Ferns, but they are one of the most difficult plants to keep, in my opinion. My advice is always the same: Get a succulent. These fleshy, desert-dwelling plants not only possess otherworldly beauty, they are virtually impossible to kill. Their only enemies are too much water, and to a lesser degree, not enough sunlight. So if you are worried about neglecting your plants, this is the houseplant for you...believe it or not, succulents actually thrive on neglect.

With so many breathtaking varieties of succulents, trust, me, you will have a hard time picking just one. One of the most common--and practical--varieties is the humble Aloe Vera plant. Keep this tentacled beauty nearby and you will never have to splurge on Polysporin again. Simply snip off a bit of the leaf, and squeeze.

Perhaps my favourite of my succulents, is my Burro's Tail, if only because I spent waaaaaay too much money for it at a florist's in a strip mall in Scarborough where they made up prices on the fly. They are pretty rare to come by, though, so maybe I wasn't totally ripped off.

Most florists and garden centers, including Home Depot, carry some succulents. If you're in the Hamilton area, i fiori (http://i-fiori-flowers.blogspot.ca) on James St. North, has some wonderful miniature varieties for under $5. I bought this Sempervivum "Oddity" there. I'm crazy about the tubular leaves.

Cacti fall under the succulent category and are another remarkably easy plant to care for. Just give them very little water. A little bit every month or less is my philosophy. I'm not a crazy plant lady who names her plants, but this here is Ace, my Rat Tail Cactus. He never ceases to amaze me.

The Pencil Cactus is another really interesting-looking, fast-growing succulent that will undoubtedly get lots of attention from guests. I just found out that the sap from this plant is toxic, however, so best to keep away from babies and big, brawny types with a fetish for breaking pencils.

There you have it. A brief intro to the wonderful world of succulents. Now go out there and add some green to your house!