5 Things: Clever Patio Garden Solutions

If you live in an apartment and enjoy gardening you've probably become familiar with container gardening. There are only a few easy options for those of us without a backyard. There are regular pots, hanging baskets, and planters. Again, if you're familiar with container gardening then you also probably know that pottery is freaking expensive, and the larger the pot you need, the larger the price tag. I don't know about you but I'd much rather spend my extra money on pretty succulents or an heirloom tomato plant than dropping it all on a one pot. I have a natural inclination to look at something and try to think of a way to make it myself if at all possible. If I'm short on ideas I check out my favorite blogs and of course I check out pinterest. I love utilizing pinterest when brainstorming because there's so many creative DIY's all in one spot. The challenge is always to put your own spin on things.

Here are a few of my favorite container gardening solutions I found on Pinterest.

The Inspired Room brings you this idea for tea cup gardening. I love this because it combines two things I love. Thrifted Vintage teacups and gardening. Need I say more?

(1st photo: Remodelista, 2nd photo: found via pinterest)

This container garden solution would be both cheap and easy. Plus you can paint any design or colors to really customize this to your own personal style!

LuisaBrimble shares another inexpensive alternative to pottery.

PopSugar shows how an old soda (or wine) crate can make a nifty planter box.

Another favorite idea I've seen all over pinterest and the blogging world is reusing old pallets to create planters. There are so many creative alternatives to pottery! I'm thinking of trying the cinder-block DIY planter for my own container garden.

How do you get creative with your garden?

-Reagan

making a rug, part one

You may have noticed i took a little break from blogging here. took a vacation real quick, but i'm back now. more details on the trip later ;) today i wanted to share my latest project for my "create" series. I came back from my vacation refreshed and inspired to take on a slightly bigger project. I was browsing around pinterest when I came upon this photo:

 (originally from artsyville)

I had been interested in making a rug and this particular one was a scrap rug that was crocheted by hand. I believe she used cut up t-shirts but i decided to stick with yarn so i could better control the material and so that i could choose the colors :)

obviously the texture of my rug is pretty different from my inspiration photo's but it is still pretty tightly crocheted together. I've been using the links artsyville provided, especially this crocheting for dummies link for reference on crocheting in the round or in a circular motion rather than in a square or rectangular pattern.

 I approached mine by creating an initial 6 chain stitch and joining the chain with a slip stitch. I then created the rug by spiraling consecutive single double crochet stitches. If this is confusing then I would recommend following the tutorial links I referenced!

In almost every pattern I've tried and with this one as well, I did make a few mistakes and a few more alterations, but I like to think that's part of the learning process. 

So far I've worked on this project for around two days off and on, and feel as though it will be completed with at least one more day's worth of crocheting. I haven't decided how to finish it off, but I'll be back to shared the finished project soon!

-R 

Inspiring Images: Christmas Lights

source:theglitterguide

source: homesense

source: wehavearrs

can you tell I love this time of year? Christmas lights are one of my favorite things about the holiday season. I love seeing how creative some people are, but classic lights are always a beautiful sight as well.

what do you love about the holiday season?

-R