Every so often, we come across refreshing new talent with both words and action. Amber Crawshaw is an young interior architect from Olympia, Washington, whose fondest childhood memories of growing up in a Midwestern town was helping her Grandfather pick strawberries — eating them with juice running down her chin, delighted. So as an adult she began she developing her own garden. Here, Amber shares her experience of creating her lovely “container garden” where she grows flowers and fruits in pots!

Gardening should be fun, and in order to be fun, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Throughout college, I lived in small apartments with few windows, small patios or balconies, and tiny (or non-existent) yards. Being a renter, not a home owner, can pose a bit of a problem, but a little creativity and resourcefulness goes a long way.

Most of the plants I had early on didn’t survive. Then I bought a plant light. A simple and inexpensive step that made such a dramatic difference! The plants started to grow instead of merely exist. My confidence grew along with my desire to grow more plants. Then I wondered, why couldn’t I grow plants outside, in pots? It wouldn’t bother my landlords and I wouldn’t have to dig anything up when my lease expired. I started with Tulips, a Day Lily, a Tomato, and a Spider plant in a hanging basket. (I still have the Spider plant and the Day Lily, nearly 10 years later.)

I didn’t set out to develop a “garden”, I just realized I had one already. The most important thing to consider is to grow what you love (while keeping in mind what Hardiness Zone you’re located in.) I love Daffodils, Tulips, Day Lilies, and Strawberries. I have roughly 50 containers total, but these varieties make up nearly half of my garden.

First, what is your Hardiness Zone? Gardening catalogs have a map and notes for each plant to help you figure out what works best in your area. Typically, your local nurseries won’t sell anything that won’t survive in your climate, but it’s best to do a little research. Always review the plant tag to see what the light and water requirements are. When in doubt, ask — employees at the local nurseries are knowledgeable and eager to help.

After you’ve figured out your Hardiness Zone, do a little planning and observing. Where to put your plants? How much sun/shade does that area get? This changes as the season progresses, but that’s the beauty of container gardens — they’re very mobile!

Plant selection tends to happen very organically for me. On a whim, I’ll cruise through the gardening department or stop by a local nursery and something will catch my attention. (I’m a sucker for yellow flowers — such a happy color — and Day Lilies, and Tulips.) Then I decide if the plant will do well at my place. Other people will look for plants to suit their conditions. There is no wrong way to select a plant– just go with what may works for you.

Choosing your containers is a personal preference of style and material. I prefer clay pots for my smaller plants and plastic pots for my larger plants. That decision is purely a practical one. Larger pots are more expensive and are heavier when full of dirt. (Be sure to buy pots that have drainage holes or, if you’re handy, you can drill a few. Although, the drilling tends to work best with plastic pots, clay pots are prone to breaking.) As for deciding on the correct size container for a particular plant, I always try to put it in something that is two sizes larger than the pot it came in.

I put a layer of newspaper, gravel, or crushed aluminum cans in the bottom of each container. This prevents the soil from leaking out the drainage holes in the bottom and allows for better drainage of the soil. When it comes to soil choices, there are a number of wonderful resources. I have always had great results using Miracle-Grow soil, but I recommend organic soil for growing fruits and vegetables.

Autumn is upon us, and though our thoughts have yet to turn towards the coming holidays, Spring Bulbs have started to line the store shelves. Fall is the perfect time to plant Tulips, Daffodils, and Crocus because it allows them to establish roots before winter sets in.

Not all plants do well in containers, but a surprising number of them do! Always keep in mind that plants in containers are more susceptible to temperature changes and need more protection in the colder months. That is why I invested in a collapsible/portable greenhouse. It is roughly 4ft x 5ft x 6ft and cost less than $125. I love it! My plants were so happy that winter compared to previous ones where I shoved them up against the house and covered them with a sheet. They can do just as well in your garage or basement if you have room.

Through much trial and continuous error, I have learned (and continue to learn) about container gardening. It brings me so much joy. May it do the same for you! — Amber Crawshaw

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I spent most of my free time in the last month cleaning up a long-neglected apartment in south Tel Aviv with a group of fellow artists. We patched the many craters in the crumbling walls, hauled away mountains of trash left by past tenants, painted everything white, and built a dividing wall in the kitchen.

before

after

Three permanent members and three guest-artists of a group called BreakOn, we faced this dusty, grimey mess in preparation for our second exhibition in an alternative space. BreakOn’s purpose is to provide ourselves with opportunities to exhibit our art, without having to rely on traditional channels to get our work in front of an audience.

Cleaning up the space lead to the inspiration for the show’s theme and the title, Momento. The apartment is a strangely-oriented series of rooms with startlingly low ceilings and odd protrusions everywhere. It is hard to imagine anyone ever having lived in this place! We found all kinds of objects left behind by people years ago, plus remnants that brought us to the realization that the space was also used as a knitting factory for some time. The clothes, papers, and many other personal items we came across made us all think about human memory—how past events can be recalled by the simplest little image, trinket, or phrase. And we had our theme: each artist has expressed in their own way what a memento is or the meaning it can carry.

Included in the few-dozen works on display is an old plastic medicine cabinet that we found hanging on the kitchen wall. It has a red star-of-david on its door, and there were even some gross-looking old ointments left inside. As part of our effort to incorporate the character of the apartment into the exhibition itself, we decided to create a collaborative piece out of this weathered box. Each artist brought a memento or tchochke of our own to put inside the cabinet, and visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to examine these items closely. I left an oragami swan that a close friend sent me in the mail, and another person left a vintage button she somehow acquired on a trip to Lebanon.

I’m ecstatic to be able to exhibit my work alongside five extremely talented artists, but an added treat for me as a graphic designer and all-around design enthusiast is going through the process of branding the show and also configuring the space. In such a quirky environment, hanging fine art becomes a difficult balancing act. We did our best to maintain the character of the apartment in a way that felt appropriate for displaying contemporary art—being careful never to cross the many lines that could easily make this endeavor seem like some sort of craft project gone-wrong. The end result is an immersive experience on many levels.

One of our guest-artists is Mya Guarnieri, a young but well-traveled journalist and creative writer. While the rest of us are visual artists, Mya uses words to illustrate the power of memories. She has two pieces in the exhibition: the first is a series of four poems she has written to deceased women from previous generations in her family, and the second is a heart-wrenching short story that deals with emotional pain, loss, and how important personal belongings can be in difficult times.

Photographer Patti Ezratty, another guest-artist, emulates the way images of one’s past may appear in the mind. Using pinhole camera pictures she took in various places and times in her life, she has created a multi-dimensional collage of pictures. Each one has a story within it, while from afar the collection of memories has an amorphous quality that’s as complex as it is beautiful.

Nitzah Avigayil is an accomplished conceptual artist who has traveled a lot and who, like most of the other artists in BreakOn, has in the past few years moved to Israel from far away. She’s created an installation in one of the oddly carved-out nooks in the apartment. The viewer is invited to interact with a collection of her travel mementos, all sealed in plastic bags and suspended from above.

Also featured in the show are painter Diana Brody, guest sculptor Einav Uziel, and yours truly, Daniel Klein. My primary medium is silk-screen printing.

"Reines Street" by Diana Brody is a series of square compositions on canvas using impressions of the trees that the artist sees on her street

"That's Not A Bird" by Einav Uziel is part of a body of work that explores the spiritual mementos used in Jewish religion

"Tangerine Boys" is a work I created to remind me of a recent trip to Tangier, Morocco. The print is made from a photo I took of some kids chasing each other in the street; nearby, through a massive arched gate, stood a mountain of discarded pieces of tile with gorgeous patterns. I brought a few of these shards home with me and used one of them here.

Momento is at Salame Street number 97 in Tel Aviv through the 22nd of April.
open hours: Monday – Thursday 11 – 2 and 6 – 9, Friday 11 – 3
viewings also available by appointment
closed on Israeli national holidays
please visit the BreakOn site for more information

My graphic designer hubby is always finding cool stuff for me to obsess over. The latest? Sweet Home 3D, a free interior design program that lets you create floor plans, add walls, and place windows, doors, fixtures, cabinets…everything. And after you’ve set up your new home, just drag and drop furniture and accessories for every room, and take a virtual tour through the space.

Example floor plan from Sweet Home 3D

If you’re handy with 3D imaging, you can even create your own pieces to import into the program. Luckily, there are also plenty of 3D images—from cribs and coffee tables to iPods and clocks—created by Sweet Home contributors, and are available for download under the 3D Models section of the site.

Sweet Home 3D is a very intuitive program, and while I haven’t gotten to putting together the entire house, after 10 or 15 minutes of playing around I put together a rough plan of the bathroom as it is now. And once I have specific measurements for the replacement tub, toilet and sink, I’ll be able to start rearranging the virtual space into what I hope will soon become reality.

My first attempt

The software is free to download for both Mac and PC, and is available in several languages. Have fun!

From great palaces to the most modest hovel, Pebble Mosaics are a way to add creative flair to any floor indoor or out.  Mostly used as decorative garden pathways, this art has graced outdoor spaces for centuries. 

Garden Pathway

I first saw pebble mosaics on a visit to Italy in one of the historic homes a top a cliff in Ravello, but you don’t have to board a plane to enjoy this art.  There are many companies and artists that are crafting in this style today.  Making pebble mosaics is an art that can be learned at a minimal cost, especially if you collect the stones yourself.  This may be your next DIY come Spring…

Jeffrey Bale, A well known artist in this field composes unique garden walkways that are to-die-for.  You can use this step by step guided how-to and create one of your own.

Mosaic Detail by Jeffrey Bale  

A challenging economy routinely brings creativity to the forefront, new ideas on how to save money are popping up everywhere.  Home themed swap parties are a smart way to purge the old and welcome the new without spending a dime.  I recently got my feet wet hosting a cookie swap over the holidays and now I am considering a home themed swap. 

Perhaps an old collection is starting to wear out its welcome… swapping for something more useful may be just the thing you need to liven up the energy in your home.  Hanging onto unused housewares takes up valued storage space, why not swap for something that you need? 

Troll Collection

Here are 4 simple steps to get you swapped in style:

1)  Invite interested guests and assign a number of items to bring, this way you will know how much display space you will need beforehand.

2)  Mail out sale tags to your guests beforethe party so the item arrive priced ready for sale. This will cut on prep time and allow your party to get into full swing mode immediately.

3)  Be fair.  If more then one guest wants the same item you will have to draw straws. 

4)  Do a good deed and donate leftovers to your local thrift shop .

There are many types of swaps to choose from.  Click here  for more creative suggestions.

A few “Color Tip of the Weeks” ago, paint primer was my beef.  I had picked up a can of Lowes brand primer and did not have a satisfying experience.  A representative from Valspar, the name brand paint for Lowes spotted my post and rectified the wrong by issuing a full refund  for the primer (three weeks to the day of my first post).  This professional gesture restored my opinion of the brand and I am truly impressed with the customer service department for Valspar.  Although I stick to the comments as stated in my previous post, the fact that the company stood behind their product really left me with a positive impression.

The lesson for today:

*  There is much to be said for good customer service.  

Many readers have come back to ask questions about the 60-30-10% rule for decorating a room.  If you are curious as to what this is you can read my earlier post  on the subject.  The following  readers cry for help could not be ignored. 

Question:

  I found this duvet by Ralph Lauren (Millbrook in case you wanted to take a peek) and have decided to use this as the headboard fabric instead.  It has navy blue as a base color with red, hunter green and yellow/gold as accents; the print is kind of paisley.  The room walls and carpet are still tan. I also have a wooden futon that I am using.  So, I was thinking of using the blue as my 30% and red as my 10%.  But here’s where I’m getting stuck: my furniture (side tables, dresser) are white and the desk and futon are cherry wood.  I was thinking of painting a blue trim around the drawers of the dresser and a painting a navy stencil on the side tables also. My futon covering is also going to be navy blue.  The white and cherry furniture is throwing me off; would these colors count for the 60-30-10 rule?  I am also trying to keep the room as light as possible because the room is tan and the fabric is dark.  I am having trouble with picking curtain colors, a rug color, and trims for picture frames and mirrors.  Hope you can help with this ordeal… my head is about to explode. 

Thanks so much Patti. 

Tiffany

Millbrook Duvet by Ralph Lauren

Based on this photo of the duvet that was mentioned in the letter above, my comments are as follows:

*  I would not put too much emphasis on the duvet as a focal point for the rest of the room.  The head board is just one small cog in the wheel here. 

*  The cherry and white furniture will fall somewhere in the 10%.

*  The frames and accents should tie into the cherry and the white.

*  As for the curtains they should be somewhat of a light, airy color like cream or textured tan.  I would be leery of going dark in this instance for fear of closing in the room unless you do a deep sheer like the example shown below. 

Curtains JC penny

Curtains West Elm  (on sale now for $19.00 a panel)

* The rug can be one of a few choices.  How about a lighter blue in the same cast as the darker color blue or a nice woven of some sort in a natural tone.  A dark, plush brown would work too.   If you really want to shake things up you can add a stripe that has the same colors as the duvet/ headboard.  Crate & Barrel  has a nice plush rug in solid colors.

Plaza Rugs,  Plush Stripe

To keep the room light and airy make sure not to add too many dark accents.  Shades and tones of the dominant color (tan & blue in this scenario) will do nicely as softer accents to tie the room together.

I’ve had this idea for quite some time now, wanting to make cushion covers from shirts. The idea is, not to throw out more clothes and to spend time being creative and making something that you enjoy using or looking at.

A friend of mine heard that I was into all sorts of recycling projects and so he gave me some of his old shirts and some boxes and all sorts of fun stuff that is piling up in my little apartment. So finally I got around to doing something with these old shirts and realized how much fun it is and how easy it is to do.

So, here is the result:

And here’s how I did it:

I took a small cushion I bought at Ikea and measured it.

My cushion measured 33cm or 13 inches. I added an inch (about 2cm) for sewing it together. I like to use the buttons that are already there.

Measure, pin and cut to size. Don’t worry if it’s not 100% straight, it’s handmade, so it’s nice if it’s a little wonky, it gives it character.

Once you have your two squares, make sure you have the two outside parts facing inside. Here it makes a difference because I want the buttons on the outside, if you have a print or something like that make sure you have it on the inside when you sew.

Sew around the cushion leaving about 1cm (1/3 of an inch).

Open the buttons and turn the cushion cover inside out. You can now happily stuff the cushion into its new cover.

This is a fun project and with the remainder of the material you can make these cool party flowers I found on design sponge, which I plan to make as well. Have fun!

Classic problems call for simple solutions.  This old barn building is a great example for one of these situations.  The windows look out onto a street with high volume foot traffic and the owners wanted to conceal their belongings from the public.  The problem is solved by painting a whimsical pictorial in each window.  Not Only does this hide what’s within it gives the folks on the street something to talk about.

Close-up of Right Window

Never mind about that rotten windowsill, that’s for another days solutions.  Painting the inside of a window is a clever way to disguise all the little secrets that lie within.

Close-up of left Window

Painting is a great way to freshen up a living space on a tight budget.  Paint is relatively inexpensive if you compare it to the cost of a major renovation.  With this said, it is in your best interest to prime a space before painting.  Primer is an extra step but well worth the, money, time and effort.

Kiltz Primer, photo Wikki

The job of primer is to “cover over” everything and anything that is in its path.  Finding the best primer available in your area is an important step to a successful end product. 

Tip:

Go with ”top of the line” paint brands even if it costs a bit more.  These primers are full bodied with good “hide” and will cover over everything on the wall the first time around. 

I speak from experience.  Having just finished a job in my basement where I used Lowes “Valspar” brand and was so utterly frustrated with the product.  From now on it’s 100% Benjamin Moore for me. 

Different Primers