Small Town, Big Soul: The Antique Gardener

Mr. Wonderful and I decided it was due time for a day trip together. My turn to pick, yesterday I chose a 2 1/2 hr. drive to the old town of Sutter Creek in the heart of California’s Gold Country. We drove through the town a couple of years ago on our 20th wedding anniversary road trip and I couldn’t wait to get back to one of my favorite shops of all time, The Antique Gardener. When we arrived, owner Aimee Peterson was busy bringing foliage from the weekend’s sunshine indoors to fill the shop. A sixth generation Sutter Creek resident, she’s one of the most delightful and inspirational shop-keeps I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, so Jeff headed to the backyard for a little shut-eye in the cool shade (as brother bunnies ran around in the grass at his feet), while I savored every second of The Antique Gardener and Aimee’s company. Known for her miniature gardens, Aimee offers classes, opens her garden to weddings, showers, parties and other special events. She sells fabulous vintage finds, new vintage-inspired home accessories, jewelry and gifts, and of course, delightful garden merchandise and beautifully arranged container plants. Here is my photo journal of our visit yesterday. Enjoy!The Antique Gardener is currently featured in Heather Bullard’s Spring 2012 SOUVENIR Lifestyle Magazine. You can purchase your copy in digital or print form here. I just did!

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Wedding Postage Stamps

Getting married? Know someone who is? I designed vintage-style postage stamps for you to print to label stock for sealing envelopes, embellishing favors or any other use you can think of! Head over to the blog of WorldLabel.com for all the details, label stock and the free download in several colors!

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Washi Tape Flowers

Because you need one more thing to do with all that washi tape you’ve been hoarding, here’s a very simple project to turn your rolls of loveliness into three-dimensional blooms.

Materials:

  • Washi Tape or other paper tape
  • 26 Gauge floral wire
  • Flower stamens
  • Floral tape

Tools:

  • Scissors
  • Wire cutters/pliers

To make the flowers:

Cut 6-inch lengths of wire, one length per flower petal.

Wrap the center of each wire around a pencil, marker or other round object less than the diameter of the width of your washi tape to create petal loops.Adjust each wire loop to preferred petal shape.

Trim a piece of tape a little over twice the height of your petal loop. Place loop onto lower half of tape and fold the remaining tape over. Press together firmly. Trim corners to create petal shapes.

For leaves, repeat the petal steps using only a 3-inch section of wire without loop and trimming to leaf shape. Turn wire and repeat at the other end. Fold double leaf wire in half. Make different sizes and shapes for different color and patterned flowers.

Vary your stamens per flower style.

Fold two stamens in half and place between 5 flower petals.

Wrap petals and stamens tightly together with floral tape beginning at the base of the petals. Wrap tape around wires several times before adding leaves.

Place the folded wire leaves section against the flower stems and continue tightly wrapping with floral tape, wrapping to the end of your wires and just slightly beyond before tearing off the end of the tape to finish.

Separate and bend flower petals and leaves to desired shapes.

Adhere washi tape flowers to hair accessories, wrap stems with ribbon or contrasting washi tape and pin as buttoniers, or add blossoms to gift packaging. I gathered three flowers together and tucked them into my silver basket vase pin.

 

 

 

 

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