Hydrangea tip

These gorgeous hydrangeas have lasted 10 days so far! A great tip: dip the stems in alum (found in the spice aisle) before placing in water. I also did this each time I gave them a fresh cut every few days. Works for me! Shown in one of our popular decorative planter boxes. ‪#‎myhydrangeahome

Rustic Floral Centerpiece DIY

This floral piece may look like it took a lot of time but no, it couldn't be easier! 

Ingredients: 

4 mason jars

1 rustic planter box (find HERE)

1 small bunch of lemon leaf

1 small bunch of seeded eucalyptus

6 mini green hydrangeas

4 stems of pink alstroemerias

6 stems of purple asters

1. Fill jars with water and floral preservative.

2. Strip leaves from lower stems that will be under water. 

3. Trim stems under water. 

4. I like to start with the greens. 

5. Add the mini hydrangeas. 

6. Add the alstroemerias.

7. Add the asters. 

Enjoy!

New Shop Items, florals, art, decorating

Preserved Florals...long lasting. Can be kept for years if care instructions are followed.

Find them HERE.

New planter design. Find these and more HERE.

Cotton stems! Love them...instant farmhouse style. Shop cotton HERE. 

New photo canvas art mounted on board and framed in barnwood.  Can be found HERE.

Fall Tablescape Styling Idea

Now that school is back in session, fall will be here soon. Yay! My favorite season! I don't know which I love more, the food or the decorating. So I want to give you some styling ideas for a fall inspired tablescape. This one is set up for a cocktail hour. So fun to create and very simple.

Come on in!

Looks like a lot of work, but it's a very simple menu. I picked up almost all of it at Trader Joe's. 

A small charcuterie board served on slate includes manchego cheese, chianti salami, apple slices, mango chutney, dried cranberries, and farmhouse cheddar with a honey drizzle. 

A few appetizers from the frozen dept....mushroom turnovers, chicken parm pops, pastry bites with carmelized onions and feta cheese. Yum!

I found some delicious pumpkin salsa from my local Fresh Market store, served with blue and white tortillas. 

Some dipping pretzels with stone ground mustard and a bowl of mixed nuts.

I used a box of butternut squash soup for these mini tasting bowls. I love the little spoons! I added a dollop of greek yogurt and sprinkled a little berbere spice for color and a kick!  A grey linen napkin tied with jute and a sage sprig makes the perfect cozy for a loaf of french bread. (from our line of European Linens HERE).

Some wine and pumpkin ale of course! I rimmed these small tasting glasses with a cinnamon sugar mix. So good!

So that's the food, now for the decorating. I always start with my layers...trays, platters, platforms, crates.  I lay it out keeping the flow in mind and the reach. You want it all to be easily accessible. 

You can use tablecloths too but I prefer some linen napkins here and there, I like to see the wood of the farm table (not just because my husband made it ;)  

Now for the the fun stuff! Flowers and props! Keep it simple. I have one large centerpiece down the center and I just coordinated everything else with the green/burgandy preserved hydrangeas.  These pears were the perfect color and I love decorating with produce. You can eat the decorations after! These artichokes are dried however, so no consuming.

Just a few paper mache pumpkins from the shop (because I couldn't find any real ones yet:)

I hope I gave you some ideas for your next dinner party, get together or holiday! Would love to see your tablescape photos. Please share!

A beautiful nursery...Peconic River Herb Farm

Only 30 minutes from my home and my first time here! This place has been on my long list of places to see and I'm so glad we (took my mom for her birthday) finally went. I can tell you I will be a regular. And if you are on Long Island, it's a must see, you won't be sorry.  A large peaceful property right on the river with many places to sit and take it all in.

Just a few pics of the beautiful flowers and grounds. Enjoy!

They also rent the space for weddings and other events. Visit their website HERE. Make sure you click on the "Rent" tab to see some great rustic wedding inspiration!

Snippets of a beach wedding...

This weekend we celebrated a family wedding at a gorgeous beach house on the ocean in Amagansett, NY. Amagansett is located between Montauk and the Hamptons on the South Fork of Long Island.
Unbelievable location and weather! I put together a couple of collages highlighting the beautiful decor...you know I just love the details!  My niece made the beautiful cupcakes! 

When you have the beach, you don't need much else. Driftwood, baby's breath, beach glass, shells.

Such a perfect day for the perfect couple!

Wishes....

for a very Happy Easter and Passover to all of you from Hydrangea Home!

Instagram love...

Are you on Instagram? We seem to post there most often so if you want to see what we are up to! https://instagram.com/myhydrangeahome/

Headed to the Farmer's Market in the morning and we will be sharing what we find on Instagram.

Hope to see you there! 

Warning! this post may give you spring fever...

Being in retail, we are forced to think way ahead when it comes to designing products for the upcoming seasons/holidays. I am horrible at working on Christmas designs in the summer months, even the early fall months. However, I have no problem at all working on spring/summer items in the winter!

I agree the short days, snow, cold and ice we are buried under make it difficult to be motivated to do much.  But you do have to go to the market at least! So while you are there, pick up a small bouquet of flowers for yourself.  A perfect fix for anyone suffering from the winter blues.  You will think of spring every time you look at them!

After shoveling some heavy slush, snow and ice yesterday and losing feeling in my fingers, I couldn't wait to head into the studio and work on some new floral designs. You can find these arrangements in my Etsy Shoppe. 

Preserved roses, boxwood greens, hydrangeas and berries.

 a few of my favorite things...

So even if you can't get to the market, I hope this post brought you thoughts of spring.
It will be here before you know it!