String art is back and when paired with the other current trend of “home-state” pride, it’s rather irresistible. I gave it a try and had a lot of fun and just a little frustration. But the end-product pops and makes me Minnesota proud. I’m lucky to have a visually interesting shape state, though Nebraska would…
Category: crafting
Craft: Garden photo wood blocks
Now that most of our garden photos are being taken digitally and tend to get stowed away in folders on our phones and computers, preserving our favorite shots is more important than ever. Plus, nothing beats having your favorite flowers surrounding you indoors in the winter. Transferring photo images onto wood is garden crafting magic…
Garden craft: Air plant wall hanging
Tillandsias are the “it” indoor plant at the moment. Commonly known as air plants, most of the species are epiphytes, which is a classification of plants that grow on other plants, without the benefit of soil, and do no harm to their host plant. They absorb water and nutrients through their leaves. A commonly known…
Creating a garden mosaic: Could it be knitting for gardeners and a perfect winter gardening activity?
The art and craft of mosaic seems to have suffered an identity crisis as of late — maybe a few too many uninspired stepping stones have popped up here and there and it’s been done to death — but I would like to encourage you to consider creating one for your garden. Mosaic is like…
Garden clubs ignite the gardening spirit, soothe the tired winter soul
I had the pleasure of speaking at two garden club meetings this week at opposite ends of the city — the Hennepin County Horticultural Society and the Dakota Gardeners. They were both lively, spirited groups with gardening enthusiasm for days! I spoke of the winter gardening turning point in my head; that moment when you…
Pining for a pine cone wreath
There is good reason Martha Stewart devoted an entire book to wreaths and wreath making. They are sublime; so festive, welcoming and beautiful. It seems that in my extended family, making a pine cone wreath is a passage to adulthood. There are several of them floating around. I am a few years behind, I guess,…
Garden Drama 