I draw a lot of flowers for Snow & Graham, often they are based on a color or form found in nature, but sometimes they are entirely made up. That would be the case for Floral Garland, the featured design in the 2010 wall and desk calendars for April. As I was drawing it reminded me of clematis growing in a tangled braid, intricate illustrations of floral boughs and my fondness for jacquard ribbon.
I cannot resist jacquard ribbon and will admit to a box filled with a yard of this, a yard of that. I love vintage french varieties, you can find great ones at Les’ Bon Ribbon and at several Etsy shops like this one. Truth be told I never use these ribbons, with just a few feet of each one I find myself saving them up for some future perfect use.
One thing I am not holding back on is planting a clematis this spring. Since we have always rented I have resisted planting this winsome vine. But now that we own our little plot I am taking the plunge. I know it will take a few years to establish itself, but I look forward to watching the development and drawing inspiration from it, of course!
APRIL GIVEAWAY
Do you collect something that you resist putting to good use? Or do you have any great gardening plans this spring? Leave a comment here with your answer and you will enter for a chance to win our April giveaway. We will post the winner next Wednesday, April 7th and send out a collection of Floral Garland notecards.
image credits: M&J Trim, Les Bon Ribbon, Empress of Dirt
Tags: design inspiration, flowers, giveaway, ribbon, Snow & Graham
kitchen towels..hand stamped, old and well ones that I just deem special and have memories!!
I love flowers, but I’ve never taken the time to really learn about the different types. Every year I just plant whatever looks pretty in my flower boxes. Sometimes they grow really well and sometimes not. This year my goal is to really understand what I plant and how it should be cared for.
Very pretty, makes me wish for Spring and Summer!
I love climbing plants and have sweet peas currently blooming. They are so easy to plant by seed and give a very impressive performance once they bloom.
I love all kinds of flowers. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough water to support lush growth. Even if we did, we have visiting deer who love all manner of posies. I have fond memories of a former vegetable garden with rows of veggies interspersed with lovely blossoms. I’m already planning my retirement garden…..much the same with a high deer fence. The flowers on the calendar remind me of cosmos—only on a vine
i have a collection of polish stoneware, hand stamped and painted, in hues of blue and green, very much like the vintage ribbon you show in the upper left corner of the picture. even though these pieces are quite durable, i prefer to use them for display and admire their intricate designs.
I too love ribbon and usually can not part with it. I seem to think there is always a better project and never use my beautiful ribbons.
I just Tweeted about changing my calendar to April!
http://twitter.com/thehallfs
This design is beautiful! Such a great inspiration for the warmth of spring!
We close on our very first home April 6th and I’m planning on planting several rose bushes in honor of my grandfather – a master rose gardener.
I resist using a collection of glass bottles I have kept forever but will break them out to display the roses throughout the new house, once they bloom.
someone gave me a really pretty apron from anthropologie and it’s just hanging on my kitchen door. this way i can still enjoy it while i cook without getting all they stains on it just yet.
i have a fabric addiction and fascination. i have so many ideas to use them in sewing projects, but i hate to give them away! selfish!!…i guess i could make things for myself…:)
ribbons, paper, and buttons! glass bottles too
I love my calendar–it makes the first of the month so special. And fitting because I keep my old calendars because I just can’t part with the pretty pictures.
We’re planting our garden tomorrow as a matter of fact! Strawberries, corn, green beans, onions, peppers, some herbs…a little of everything
And we are growing a lime tree–so excited about that!
Great blog–just started following!
Queen Anne’s pocket melon, red tulips and poppies, sweet peas and possibly som interesting varieties of beans – there’s one the looks a bit like a cork screw, but poppies are the perennial favourite. I collect interesting papaver roechas.
I think about learning to compost first, then develop my gardening skills. But I sure do, love gardens and taking pictures of them! In the meantime, I collect cards, note pads and paper journals, that I’m not yet willing to part with or use.
I have a problem with collecting and then not using stationary. I have a favorite store in here in Cincinnati (where I fell in love with the Snow and Graham 2010 wall calendar), and I will buy cards or stationary and then have the hardest time parting with them. They are all so beautiful… I want to share them with others, but never want to give them away!
I collect cards, given to me and ones that I buy myself, and keep them as inspiration pieces. I always think I’ll repurpose them for some creative project, but all I ever end up doing with them is looking back through them and remembering their various occasions.
)
we just built a beautiful privacy fence around our yard. i had my husband put wrought iron hooks on each of the posts. my plan is to hang wire flower baskets on each post to create a little floating, cascading flower garden. i haven’t figured out what flowers to use, but each basket will be different! i will have my own snow and graham calendar themed yard
PAPER!!!! Stationary, cards, scrapbooking paper, postcards, notepads, you name it! It’s {almost} embarrassing how much paper I have collected. I think Krystan summed it up – I buy beautiful paper intending to share it with others but I when it comes time, I can’t bring myself to part with it.
It’s fun to see that I’m in good company!!
I love antique artifacts like those, thanks for posting these. Looking forward to more!
Lavender. I am trying container gardening this spring (to help keep it interesting and be able to move things around) I thought lavender would be a fun and interesting try this year. Its my first year i trying flowers; teaching my little boys about gardening this year. In contrast, we are also trying to grow tomatoes. Let’s hope the boys have as much fun as I do!
I love fresh herbs!! I can’t wait to plant some right outside my kitchen doors so I can snip them off when I’m cooking. I’ll have to figure out a way to keep the little bunnies out of them though!!
My husband and I are doing a community garden this year. We know nothing about gardening/planting/irrigation/etc… so this should be interesting! We are excited and learning a lot already. Mostly I just can’t wait for yummy fresh veggies.
Like others, my ridiculous obsession is stationary and paper. I love finding or making the perfect paper or card, but then struggle to part with it. I still have some darling Japanese stationary given to me by a pen pal when I was in junior high or high school that I’m still holding on to!
[...] responses to the Floral Garland post were so inspired! It sounds like there are so many wonderful gardens that will be growing [...]