What gorgeous weather we are having! I took advantage of the sunshine to get outside and do some yard clean up. Last fall, I kind of slacked on the leaf clean up and realized what a big mistake that was this spring. Leaves left over the winter get soggy, heavy, half decomposed, and best of all, used as a cat litter box.
So, the leaf blower wouldn't do the trick, it took rakes and snow shovels to clean up what I could have just blown away into the woods if I'd done it last fall.
But, its done now and while the yard still has its grey winter gloom look, it isn't buried in leaves. Everything looks much tidier. I picked up sticks and branches, and raked over mole mounds to flatten them out.
Gee, that's interesting, huh? Well to get to the point of the story, I found a branch on the ground that I thought was a pretty shape, and I spray painted it white to bring into the house.
It was a good day to be outside spray painting, so I grabbed a few vintage cardinals and white washed them too. I thought maybe I'd foof them up and add crystal eyes, millinery flowers, and other pretties, but decided that I liked them just as they were, simple and white.
I brought in a peeling paint flower pot full of sedum and stuck the branch down into the dirt. The sedum was nice, but I wanted a bit more at the base, so I sat a house plant into a terra cotta pot, tied a pretty page from an old book to it, and added that next to my tree.
To make sure the tree stayed upright, its stuck in the dirt nice and solid, and I braced one side with a rock and the other with the pot of flowers.
The fun part was making leaves for my tree. I'd seen some similar ones at Anthropologie last year and wanted to try making some myself. I don't know how they did theirs but this worked for me.
I cut some random leaf shapes from lace and soaked them in full strength starch, then left them on a cookie sheet to dry over night.
When they dried, I wired them onto the branches.
I'd also wrapped Xmas lights around the tree, and did a slightly crappy job of it, they are just loosely draped. It would have looked better if I'd spent more time on it, and attached them more attractively. But the branches are pretty fragile and I didn't want to snap them all off by messing around with them too much.
One bird sits in a little nest that I found in my stash, the rest of the birds just clipped on.
Besides waiting for the leaves to dry over night, it was a very quick project. And easy to do. I didn't use a pattern for the leaves, and they are different sizes, just like a leaf would naturally be. I discovered that it was easier to trim them up into a better leaf shape after the starch had dried, than before I dipped them and the lace was floppy and wrinkled.
If you want to try this, it's probably a better idea to starch the lace, let it dry, then cut the leaves out.
You could also purchase white birds at a craft store if you don't have any old ones to paint.
Another variation you could do, is to just put branches into a large vase or urn, not a flower pot full of dirt.
My weekend wasn't all yard work and spray paint. The newest Fairy Grand Baby came by to visit for a while and we got in some good giggle time. That baby has the cutest belly laugh/snort thing that she does.
awwww, the little fairy baby is so cute and growing….Love your branch tree, just gorgeous….
hugs
Brenda
I love your birdie tree, how sweet. And the idea for making the leaves using starch, is well, ingenious!
Love the precious baby.
hugs
Sissie
Thanks for telling us how to do the birdie tree. It is so soft and pretty. I love the idea of the lace leaves!
I think that fairy grand baby is going to have her mother’s eyebrows, just like Sugarwings!
Hugs,
Suz
Oh crap…..now I have to go looking for artful branches. I have the lace and the starch….just need a few birds and twinkle lights. You always inspire me and make me busy…have a great day!!
Laraine
p.s. fairy grandbaby is just too adorable….kiss her neck and steal some sugar. Thats what I tell my grandbabies….it’s just grandma stealing some sugar.
A lovely post. Wow, what beautiful blue eyes!! xx
Beautiful idea, I really like the white painted birds. Your Grandbaby is adorable. Wishing you a beautiful week.
Hugs,
Kathy
Your tree is very pretty, but that blue eyed darling is beautiful !
She is adorable, look at those beautiful blue eyes.
What a sweet cutie pie! Your tree turned out beautifully! The idea of the leaves has my mind tossing around all sorts of possibilities (like adding them to a white Christmas tree wreath with some vintage sass?)
xxoo
Heidi
Love the springy branch…works for so many other holidays too!
The baby is an absolute doll with those gorgeous blue eyes!
Love that tree, Karla! I’d never thought of lacey leaves but I just love yours! That newest fairy grandbaby has got killer eyes!! Got to cuddly my boys today, too! Aren’t we mimi’s having fun?!?!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Love it! The baby and the Tree! She is just precious Karla, just love happy Grand Babies. Thanks for sharing the tip on the starch, that’s one I can use right now!! Have a great week Karla!
Huggs, Nancy
Lovely! And most sweet Fairy Grand!
Very cute!!!
AND I have to say your Grandbabies have THE most beautiful eys. Such blueness they have.
Melinda
Oh, Karla, Karla…I just read your post about that precious little Dorkie, Bookie….you made me laugh and cry. We had our little Yorkie, Wicket, for 18 years…she was blind, but I loved her so. I still can cry for her after 8 years…we never forget our little pets. And yes, Karla, you are right….they are not disposable, even when they get a little messy. Sorry for your loss of your little Dorkie. Love, Patty in Kansas P.S. Hope to see you once Spring really gets here!
the tree looks gorgeous. Perfect for Easter :o)
aw, that little fairy baby is so beautiful. I need to have a quick catch up, so am off to read previous posts
xx
The bird tree is so pretty.Your little grand fairy is getting big so fast.Beautiful eyes like sugar wings.Warm Blessings!~Amy
Hi Karla, This is a great idea, especially for an Easter table, it is suppose to warm up here today and all week, (we never really know here in Michigan untill it actually shows up,ha!) so hope to get out in the yard too, can’t wait to try your branch tree, your granddaughters have the most beautiful eyes!
Have a great week,
Celeste, The Victorian Tailor
Giggle time with this beautiful blue eyed grandgirl must be the best time spent. Love your winter branches with the lace leaves and twinkle lights, white birds and nest. Happy week ahead…
Oh my, those blue eyes, she is to treasure.
I love the lace leaves idea. It feels wonderful to be thinking of spring. It has felt like the longest winter I can ever remember.
Karla,
I love the lace tree! So cool. I want to try starching the lace, it sounds intriguing. I love the description of the bog on the back porch. Shoveling cat poo, fun. That baby is so cute. I cannot believe she is so big already. You can see from her expression she has a personality.
I’m starting to get pumped up about bird songs. Oh I can’t wait!
Lisa
Hi Karla
I love the idea of the lace leaves on the tree branch. Thanks for sharing the idea.
What a wonderful baby you have there. Such gorgeous eyes and she just looks like such a contented one. I miss having babies in the family.
Hugs
freda Butler
looks like baby fairy has the same beautiful eyes and sugarwings.:)
Ahww, what a sweetie! Love your leaves–I did some snowflakes this winter out of doilies and used boiling water and epsom salts to stiffen–just remember to lay flat to dry 🙂
First off I have to say how beautiful the baby is with those incredible blue eyes. I love pictures of your grand babies.
I love how you did the leaves. I’m going to try making some for my Easter Tree. When I used to make crocheted baskets, I would use white glue and water to stiffen them.
~elaine~
What a lovely accidental tree — it makes me smile!I’m looking forward to soon bringing out the Easter tree and doing my spring thing. I’m ready for that breakaway from winter!
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