Hearts & Flowers Blog

With Mother’s Day just a week away it is time to start thinking about ways to thank Mom and show your appreciation to her for years of care and sacrifice, for advice whether we took it or not, and for the unconditional love that she always shows.  Here are some gift ideas for Mom this year:

Of course the most popular Mother’s Day gift is flowers.  Rather than real flowers this year how about some great looking artificial flowers that will last for years.

For the Mom that loves to bake and share her goodies we have new Paper Bakeware perfect for bakers that share.

Stationary is always a great gift for Moms of all ages.  We have several different stationary products that Mom will love.

Our Hippy Bags also make great gifts and are available in several different colors.

You can also give Mom the gift of light this year with a great selection of twig lights and lanterns.

These scented jar candles are among our most popular.  They come in two different sizes, the large ones, called Papas are 34 ounces ($22.50 Best Value)and burn for about 155 hours while the smaller ones are 22 ounces ($19.50) and burn for about 125 hours.  They come in a variety of scents.  See descriptions below.

Aunt Kook’s Apple Cider:  This is a fragranced, country candle with a fruit and citrus blend complimented by warm, spicy notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove complete with a touch of vanilla musk.

Banana Nut Bread:   This warm and inviting banana nut scent with a sweet fruity top of Banana rum. The nostalgic scent leads to aromatic, baked spices with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and buttery hazelnuts.

Heather and Hyacinth:  NEW! Is a clean floral blend of heather and hyacinth with notes of lily and a spicy carnation background.

Juicy Apple: BEST SELLER!!!  A bright and cheery apple bouquet accented with peach, cinnamon, and clove notes.

Kettle Corn:  Just like the name says a hot batch of kettle corn scent will fill the air.

Key Lime Delight:  NEW!  is a classic American key lime pie, with a citrus burst and hints of sweet, graham cracker crust.

Lavender Vanilla: Has an exhilirating top note of fresh cut lavender, while a splash of Italian Bergamot and wild sage mingle with woodsy cedar, and fall into a blanket of sweet vanilla.

Lemon Butter Pound Cake:  NEW!!  An exotic blend of a rich, mouth watering, freshly baked lemon pound cake with spicy nutmeg and sweet vanilla.  

Lemongrass:  A fragranced, country candle with a scrumptious aroma of fresh lemons and the morning fragrance of fresh cut grass.

Luscious Currant: A tart and sweet blend of berries and grapes.

Maple Syrup Pancakes:  A sweet and rich maple aroma capturing the best of the first run of maple syrup from the highest quality available in Vermont. You will be immediately enticed by the captivating scent of hot pancakes perfectly drizzled with superior maple syrup.

Mountainside Lodge: Consists of blends of crisp Siberian fir, moss, white birch, cedar wood and pine cone.

Praline Caramel Sticky Buns: BEST SELLER! An irresistible, baked blend of warm vanilla caramel with dark brown sugar and butter drenched pecans.

Sage and Citrus:  Consists of a sage fragrance with a lemon orange citrus top note which is intermingled with an herbal accord. The body of the fragrance is a floral sage complex highlighted by ylang & jasmine notes. The fragrance dries down to an amber musk character.

Spicy Cinnamon:  Top notes of orange, peach, apple, anise, and warm spicy strawberry. A little bit of sweet vanilla on top of some deep rooted fragrances such as patchouli and sandalwood that add to this incredible cinnamon fragrance.

Buy Here!

It is a wonderful time of year, not necessarily the “most wonderful time of year” (that was a couple months ago).  We have all sorts of new items arriving in our store.  This week we received new picture frames, some wall signs, candle holders, a really neat electric lantern light, and even some new necklace charms.  In addition we have some great new stationary and some really funky birds.

We will be updating the website with these new products soon but if you want to see them before then come on in to the shop.  For the rest of February we will be open on Fridays and Saturdays 10-5 and Sundays 11-5

We don’t often show pictures of our own homes on here because it is just rare for us to have everything in order at home and at the store and the store usually takes priority.  I just wanted to show you how easy it is to use the lighted twig garlands.  So easy in fact that Bobby finished the task in about 10 minutes.

These garlands are 6 foot long and have 96 lights.  They are electric with a 16′ power cord that is really easy to hide.  On our mantle I’ve combined three garlands, one twig light garland, one smokey mountain pine 5 foot garland, and one pine cone garland.  First I put the pine cone garland on the mantle, and then mixed in the pine greenery.  After that I added the twig lights and presto, a mantle was finished in less than 10 minutes!  To add some extra color and sparkle you may want to try the Silver Glitter Twig Garland.  I think I may use that on the other mantle.

Also in the pictures below you can see the multi-colored light string and pine garland on an old Radio Flyer Sled.  Another easy 10 minute project to add a great Christmas look to your home.

[Show picture list]

Here are some of the pictures that didn’t quite make the cut for our 2011 Christmas Postcard.

[Show picture list]

Please join us for our Annual Christmas Open House

November 25th, 26th, and 27th 10am to 5pm

There are so many items that can be used to hold primitive decorations for your home.  I like to refer to them as empty vessels.  These can be baskets, pottery pitchers or churns, pewter, crocks, wood boxes or anything else that can be used alone or can hold another item for display.

The most common item that needs housing are flowers.  Whether fresh or artificial, flowers can go in most any holder.  But let’s not get into a rut.  Think about using an empty wood box to display quilts or other textiles.  Instead of sitting the box upright, set it on one end and use it like a shelf.  Put some of the larger fabric pieces on the bottom and then stack towels or fat-quarters on the top.  This adds so much color and you can use any colors that will work with your color scheme.

Instead of putting flowers in a crock or pottery jar, take a walk in the woods and find some twigs that will make a simple display.  It’s quite easy to find sticks that have one or more pine cones and always look for those that have a small area covered with moss.  These are so natural and easy but you will be surprised at the sophisticated and yet simple look you have achieved.

Baskets are the most common holders for all things primitive.  Bunches of flowers, textiles, potpourri, pillows and especially dried hydrangeas all look great in either new or old baskets.  A sprig of bittersweet in the fall (and sometimes all year) adds a natural look and can hang over the edge for a little whimsy.

Let’s keep in mind that not every basket, crock, pitcher or churn needs to hold something.  After all, what can look better then a primitive  EMPTY VESSEL.

One of the easiest rooms to use primitive decorations is the kitchen.  Most modern kitchens have built-in cabinets and appliances so the wall space is already used.  The best place for displays is on the counter, the island or above the hanging wall cabinets.

Currently, the most popular way to change the look of a kitchen is lighting.  Not ceiling lights or under the counter lights, but twinkling, tiny, and sometimes teeny white lights.  These lights come on twigs, garlands or just regular strings and as long as you have an outlet near where you want to use them you can light-up to your heart’s content.  One of the most effective areas for these lights is above the cabinets.  This is often where we place baskets, pottery or whatever else we choose to collect at any given time.  Think about leaving those collections in tact but simply adding a string or  garland of lights.  You will love the difference and the warmth they give.

Also, a pottery churn or vase can make a great display for the very popular twig lights.

These can go most anywhere and some varieties are battery-operated so you do not need to worry about a convenient outlet.  These add just a touch of light to a dark corner or an empty space under the counter or on the island.  And don’t forget the middle of the kitchen or breakfast nook table.

Once you have achieved the look you want with the lights, consider adding baskets, linens, pottery or small antique kitchen utensils that will bring the primitive look throughout your kitchen.  Something as simple as an old potato masher sitting in an old basket can make a very primitive statement.

And let’s not forget the benefits of old style fabrics.  Very plain sheer curtain panels made of tobacco cloth (similar in looks to cheesecloth) will let in the light but will still add softness to your windows.  Fabrics add color and texture so keep plenty of dishtowels of all colors, solids or patterns folded in piles, stacked on a shelf or left rolled up in a basket.  A great way to add a splash of color is to find dishtowels that are a little more decorative and fold them over the back of ladder back chairs.  You can use all the same or a variety.  This is especially fun for the holidays.  Changing them with the season will give your kitchen a new look every few months.

We know it is early but it is time to make room for all of our great Christmas goodies.  So all Halloween is now 25% off.  Come in and enjoy the savings now.

Check this out! Fall and Halloween Items on Sale and Christmas Items ready to be unpacked. What a wonderful time of year!