Spoil your guests with this simple, tasteful, useful and green DIY!

 

Here's a simple idea to turn inexpensive second-hand vintage porcelain and ceramic tea cups, saucers, sugar dishes and soup bowls into adorable mini-planters.  They can be used as placement cards holders for guests and can then be taken home or gathered up for a springy centrepiece.  The main idea is to gift perennials and herbs your guests can replant.  It's also a simple way to give new life to beautiful vintage finds.  It's cheap, creative, green and thoughtful!


Here they are holding placement cards! 

I used a toothpick to hold individual labels!

You can buy a few perennials, dig some out of your garden or plant a nice selection of herbs.  A little tip: Pick plants that you'll be able to easily split-up.  Here's what I used in my placement card holders: some Munstead English Lavender, a Campanula Plant, some Ivy, Forget-me-not from my garden, and some Hens-and-Chicks.  I also added some Spanish Thrift, Strawberries and Cream English Daisy, and some lovely Dark-leaved Thrift.  Wouldn't this be a great host touch to any Mother's Day table?

These containers are small and temporary but think of the possibilities!  Find bigger vintage containers (even tin cans are great!), add some small rocks at the bottom (for drainage), fill them up with soil and you've got yourself an interesting planter. 

I think this would also be a great activity to do while hosting a birthday Tea Party!  I know my 7 year old girl would be all over the idea!  So much nicer than the typical loot bag packed with plastic and sugar... sérieusement!  Loot bags are always my favourite part while planning our kid's parties! 

Really, adding little touches to create a confortable and interesting setting for our guests is part of the fun of entertaining.  Sure, it takes a little time to do it, but little touches - as simple as they might be, make a big difference and are always appreciated!  Any other use we could give these cute finds?  Happy weekend!

What I Wore on RelieF XII ... and after!

My segment, go to http://relief.tv/videos/1100028314 48’55”

Time is everything, especially when it's well spent.  It took Shelley, Joe (from Fresh Collective) and myself about 30 seconds to put together this outfit and less than a split second to agree on the fact that it was perfect for my last season appearance on RelieF!

 

Here’s what I wore:

 

Apa Design Silver Earrings Hoop Chain, Large $89

Brenda Beddome Red Cropped Pants $120

Kabuki IbirisTunic $109

Leggings (Spanks) also at Fresh Collective $88

 

The pants are the red version of the black pair I wore on RelieF XI. Great fit, a wonderful Brenda Beddome piece, and a must have for the months to come! Then there's the lovely Kabuki dress/tunic. You need to know that the ruffles you see on the dress turn into two long ties in the back allowing play. I believe this combination is what makes this dress so versatile and brilliant. It truly blew me away!  Then the perfect last touch, silver earrings by the ever so talented artist and designer Andrea Apa.  So here's what a wore last night on TV and then, brace yourself... I had a little fun!

 

 

On the first picture, the tunic is tied-up at the back with a big bow - the way I wore it on the segment.  On the second picture I tied it around my neck with a smaller bow in the back and left a bit of a sleeve at the front. I threw on a simple pair of black flats and voilà! Ready to work.

 

When I got home after the show, mon homme and I celebrated the end of a great season with RelieF, glass of wine in hand, and I decided it was time to try the Kabuki dress by Shelley Yu in different ways as she had suggested in the store. It’s easy to see how it would work coordinated with a camisole, or a long sleeve or simply on top of my brand new leggings (a word on these: get them! The quality, comfort and fit are unbeatable). But here's what I didn't know:  The next hour (or so) spent reinventing the dress without accessories other than the gorgeous Apa earrings and a vintage belt would be such an absolute blast!

 

Here we go:  Forget the t-shirt, keep the pants!

 

Forget the pants, go for leggings and a pair of black riding boots.  Turn the dress into a halter top.  Keep the earrings on - they're a must to go out in the town!  Love the make-up by Julie Champagne!  I miss her already!!! 

Lower the halter, cross the ties of the dress at the back and bring them to the front, creating the idea of some cleavage and make a big bow at the front.

 Or just go back to tying it around the neck and let the dress and earrings flow.

OK so this is getting fun.  Let's pretend we're going out for drinks.  Could we reverse the dress and put on a vintage belt?  OMG, yes we can!!!

 And the front will look like this... Nada mal, me thinks!

 How does the side look?  Have a peek...

Back to the front 'cause I'm thinking that with a cardigan to cover my open back, I could take this baby to church - not that I go to church, but you get my point.

 Could I just cinch the waist and let it open at the front... another yes!

Wait a minute... this is a crazy fun dress... could I possibly tie the bow on the side of my neck?!  YES!!!  I rather like this!!!

Could we create a sleeve on this baby?  I think so.... Have I told you how much I love those Apa earrings, and how I cropped mon homme out of this picture while brushing his teeth beside me?

I think I'm just going to leave the dress alone and simply stick to the belt.  Could I spend another hour having fun?  You better believe it!!!  Please someone, stop ME!!!!

 

As you can imagine by now, this is hands-down the most versatile dress I’ve ever worn and if you can show me pictures of yourself in a dress offering more possibilities than this one, then I guess I’ll have to bow down to you and give you a prize!  For now, the only people I will gladly bow down to are Shelley Yu and Andrea Apa for being brilliant local designers, for creating quality fashion that fits and makes us feel like a million bucks at work, at play, heck... even at church!

 

Ladies, not all tunics and earrings are created equal but I have to say these pieces are raising the bar! Must be ‘cause they’re locally made.  And on that note, I think it's time to say UN GRAND MERCI to Fresh Collective and all the wonderful designers I was lucky enough to work with and now count as friends, in particular Laura-Jean Bernhardon for her support of my work throught the season!  As my friend Laura likes to say, here's to you with love and gratitude, Véro.