French Mirror Doubles as Tray

I love finding things already the color and patina I want.

This vintage mirror is one of those.

Already chippy and white.

Laying it horizontal it made the perfect tray dining alfresco.

Today the weather was beautiful again.

A few of my favorite things were gathered

up and set on the tray. 

The lighting was awesome and I had

so much fun with my camera.

Light was bouncing everywhere.

A sweet spoon from the 1800's

The white hydrangeas are about

the size of a snowman!

They call them Florist Hydrangeas

but they do well to zone 5. Yay!

I had to add flowers everywhere I could. 

The lavender makes me want to iron my clothes

 with lavender water like the French do. 

It might be easier to dry my clothes on the

lavender bushes...like the French do as well!

Mercury glass. Love.

Happy White Wednesday.

Joining up with these friends,

 Faded Charm Cottage,

 French Country Cottage,

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

Cottage Garden Party

Vintage Farmhouse

Vintage Inspiration

French Candied Flowers

These sweet petite roses went from ordinary to extrordinary with just a few ingredients that most every kitchen has. Egg whites, water and white sugar. Yesterday as I sat the vase in the jar with the sugar I knew they wanted a dusting of crystalized sugar eventually. The french have a way with pastries and flowers. Elegant, rich and always beautiful.





I think these look decadent. Rose petals are edible just make sure they've not been sprayed. These would be a hit at your next tea party or next to your breakfast french toast with whipped cream. Add some french roasted coffee. Hmmm.

Crack one egg and separate yolk from white. Use only whites for candied flowers. Add a tsp of water and with a fork whisk up well. For a thin crystalized crust use a paintbrush to paint the egg white wash on your flowers. I dipped my roses in the egg whites and then gently shook some of the white off. Dip into a half cup of sugar. Lay on wax paper and dust with more sugar until the egg white wash has absorbed all of the sugar it can. Pick up flowers and move to clean wax paper to dry. Can take up to 24 hours to form a hardened crispy crust. Can also dry in just 8 to 12 hours.

Make sure the flowers are edible and safe. Use only fresh uncracked eggs.

Linking up with:

Fall in Love Wednesday

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

Time Travel Thursday

Creative Things Thursday

From My Front Porch To Yours

French Garden Leaf Combinations

Floral arranging doesn't always mean using flowers for me. I use what nature provides at this time of year in our yard. I love texture and different leaf sizes and shapes. If you are a gardener you are your own florist and designer. How fun is that? I aim for it to be fun! And pretty.




When I have to throw hay to the sheep I like to pick a few things on my way out to the barn and a few more on the way back. I used the hydrangea leaf as the plate or vase and added the arrangement on top. The gray is hidcote lavender, the orange is dragon head, a chestnut and a pinch of the tip of a fir tree branch. A sweet little garden vignette on a leaf.




Nature offers so many beautiful colors to work with. I am amazed at how beautiful everything is when we stop and really take a look. Just because some plants have died down there are still lots of pretties out there in the garden.






The chestnut is smiling for us here on a chestnut leaf and an added hydrangea flower. Browns and golds and creams. I think it's romantic, but I do like vintage botanicals. Even faded ones.




You know those little brown glass bottles you get your flavorings in, here they are as vases. They even look vintage! They look like ink bottles here with quills in them.




A beech leaf with a ornamental grass head and a liriope leaves tied in a bow around the base. I wanted it to resemble an anthirium! Well, it looks like a rather radical anthirium...like one I've never seen before.

Connecting up with friends at:
Feathered Nest Friday
Potpourri Friday
Inspiration Friday
Fridays Unfolded
Farm Friend Friday
My Romantic Home
The Rose Garden
Designer Garden
Simply Creations Friday