Friday, April 27, 2018

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Beautimous Borderlands Botanicals

From the southwestern states to South American, the long-stemmed zinnia has bloomed brilliantly among the cacti and sunning lizards. It is one of the most colorful and happy flowers that you can plant in your garden, and they are easy to grow, too.

They symbolize endurance, and since moms really endure a lot from her youngsters, these bright  flowers make excellent additions to her Mother’s Day bouquet. The zinnia is a thoughtful flower in that it stands for thoughts of a missing friend or friends.

It was first noticed as the wildflower that it is, which means that it had a long stalk and was rather scraggly looking even as it reached two or three feet in height. It is a tough flower that can withstand the climates of the desert, so it made a rather interesting flower to study. It has been crossbred into a gazillion colors and combinations.

While the Victorians saw the zinnia as an absent friend, today, we use it to symbolize the heart and lasting affection. It is also a symbol of exuberant endurance, which it needs to live in harsher climates and its flowers are bright and cheerful.

It comes in a variety of colors that mean the following:

  • Yellow – daily remembrance
  • Magenta – lasting affection
  • Red – of the heart
  • White – purity
  • Mixed – thoughts of a missing friend

It has no great Latin name, as it was named after Dr. Johann Gottfried Zinn who brought it back to Germany to study.

Hummingbirds love zinnias, as well as butterflies, which is why my flower garden has a  number of zinnias among the other butterfly friendly flowers. These flowers range from one inch to seven inches across and can stand as tall as four feet.

The poor zinnia started out with a Spanish name that meant the sickness of the eye (mal de ojos), so we should be happy that Mr. Zinn  found one and took it home with him.

800px-Zinnia_single_layer_and_12_Petals_2This wild zinnia is an example of the ones that captured Mr. Zinn’s attention. Photo courtesy of wikipedia.






All of these gift ideas from our talented artists make thoughtful gifts that you can give to mom or whomever you have on your gift list.


Since I am writing this on Earth Day, we shall explore the earth through the eyes of these artists.

Hand Knit Green Four Leaf Clover Dish Cloth or Wash Cloth

Holly Knitter Creation 

Hand Beaded Brown Ultra Suede Brass Cuff

Lady Green Eyes Jewelry 

Protective Laptop Sleeve in Earthy Colors

RSS Designs in Fiber 

Statement Necklace Gift for Her Boho

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Boho Dangle Earrings with Green and White Beads and Jasper Bohemian Jewelry 2-inches Long

Blue Morning Expressions 

Boho Drop Earrings for Women

Pretty Gonzo 

10mm Etched Glass Beads Pale Olive Handmade Lampwork Silver 1448efs

Covergirl Beads 

Sparkling Forest Green Brown Dichroic Fused Glass Clip On Earrings

Umeboshi

Leopard Print Womens Wallet and Accessories

SewAmazin 

Peridot Swarovski Crystal Earring Pendant

Magdalene Jewels 

Green Hamsa Bracelet

Linorstore 

Cat Lampwork Green Jade Aventurine Jasper Copper Long BOHO Necklace

Kats All That 

Green Serpentine Gemstone Necklace, Chunky Handmade Jewelry Copper

Shadow Dog Designs 

Large Dark Green Oval Russian Serpentine Gemstone Pendant Necklace

The Singing Beader 

Winding Road Near Windsor New York

Postcardsintheattic 

Volleyball Player Desk Clock Handcrafted From Cherry Wood

Kevs Krafts 

Green Malachite and Golden Tiger Eye Round Gemstone Beaded Necklace

Dianes Dangles 

Hope that you enjoyed these gorgeous creations. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact any of the above friendly and creative artists, and I am sure that they will be more than happy to make something just for your “mom”.

If you want to see more of their outstanding works, then here are some more links from which to shop:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

And even more!

Tulips

What’s in a Name?

The Flowers of the Gods

Kiss the Sun

Consider the Lilies

Keeping Regular Hours

Enjoy, and share this blog post and all of these handmade items with your friends and family! We handmade artists always appreciate a good share. Smile

Julie

www.bluemorningexpressions.com



Friday, April 20, 2018

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Keeping Regular Hours

I pluck’d a daisy; I gave it to you – Tennyson

This “day’s eye” flower opens in the morning and closes at night, which brings us the phrase “fresh as a daisy.” The daisy symbolizes purity and innocence, and this cheerful flower nods its head in many a field and garden as it greets the day. The daisy grows year round and is a hardy flower that can tolerate a number of conditions and infestations.

This friendly flower is a member of the Asteraceae family that includes a large selection of flowers. There are more than 12,000 versions of daisies throughout the world, and the most common daisy is the Common  (English)  daisy. This is the one that we most visualize when we think of the daisy. Sadly, some folks consider the daisy a weed, and that is SO wrong!

The marguerite daisy is another very common daisy.

With its star-like petals in brilliant white winding around a vibrant yellow center filled with tiny flowers of its own, this long-stemmed flower brings fresh life to a bouquet. They are favorites no matter what time of the year, but they really make great flowers for Mom on Mother’s Day.

My favorite daisy is the Gerbera, but that’s another post all together!

Since the daisy symbolizes innocence, it is no wonder that many a little girl has been given the name Daisy. From Daisy Duck to Daisy Duke, these Daisies are sassy, fresh and fully live up to their names.

The daisy is a symbol of true love since the daisy is technically two flowers growing together.  Secret loves send daisies to the object of their affection.

The word daisy was slang for excellent quality in the 1800s, and “that’s a daisy” eventually morphed into “that’s a doozy.”

The daisy chain was a result of a harried mother who was trying to entertain her bored children for five minutes. “Go pick those flowers, and tie them together!” Thanks, mom.

Even though it is said, please don’t eat the daisies, you most certainly can. They make a fun addition to your salad, and daisy tea is good for the throat. A wild daisy poultice has been used to “purify” an open wound. I am sure this is NOT recommended today.

The beautiful daisy sends the message of hope and renewal, and if you send daisies to someone you love, you are offering them a view of the world with eyes of a child.

DSC_0220



This field of yellow daisies was shot while we were on a hike up the Bridger Mountains. I had planned a hike while the wildflowers were blooming, and finally, I got that accomplished. In addition to these yellow daisies, other flowers included the lupine, wild iris, bluebells, columbine and  snow lily. ©jcleveland







Like the happy daisy, these cheerful creations are the perfect gift for mom on Mother’s Day. Of course, they make great gift ideas for more than mom, and make great gifts for sisters, aunts, grandmothers, friends and anyone else that you have on your gift list.

Aqua Beaded Bracelet Flower Bracelet

Treasures of Jewels 

Colorful Flower Bracelet

Pretty Gonzo 

Easter Bunny Hanging Kitchen Towel With Hand Knitted Topper and Ties

HollyKnitterCreation

Green Dots Easter Dog Scrunchie Neck Ruffle

SewAmazin 

Women's Wire Wrapped Brown Tigers Eye Necklace

Lady Green Eyes Jewelry 

Bat Mitzvah Kippah - Womens Kippot – Yarmulke

lindab142 

Brilliant Sunset Handmade Round Dichroic Glass Cabochon Post Jewelry Earrings

Umeboshi 

Yellow Flower Bracelet with Chunky Handmade Beads and Swarovski Crystals

Blue Morning Expressions 


Single White Daisy On Purple Canvas Print

Colleen Cornelius 

Etched Bright Acid Yellow Lampwork Beads Matte Silver 416efs

Covergirl Beads 

Artisan Crafted Sterling and 18K Earrings Two Tone Rope Design

Diane’s Dangles 

Flower Desk Or Shelf Clock

Kevs Krafts 

Yellow Crazy Lace Agate Orange Agate Cream Jade Floral Focal Necklace

Kats All That 

Polymer Clay Floral Pendant Necklace w Jonquil Mint Swarovski Crystals

Magdalene Jewels

Dressy Bright Sun Orange Swarovski Crystal Bracelet

The Singing Beader 

Boho Necklace

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Lemon Yellow Tangerine Orange Bracelet

Shadow Dog Designs 

Hope that you enjoyed these gorgeous creations. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact any of the above friendly and creative artists, and I am sure that they will be more than happy to make something just for your “mom”.


If you want to see more of their outstanding works, then here are some more links from which to shop:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

And even more!

Tulips

What’s in a Name?

The Flowers of the Gods

Kiss the Sun

Consider the Lilies

Enjoy, and share this blog post and all of these handmade items with your friends and family! We handmade artists always appreciate a good share. Smile

Julie

www.bluemorningexpressions.com

Friday, April 13, 2018

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Consider the Lilies

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Luke 12:27

This is one of my all time favorite Bible verses, and it is a great reminder that the lily is splendid in its glory, and does not have a worry in the world, for it is taken care of and special in the eyes of its creator.

The lily (known as the Lilium in smarter circles than I inhabit) is a perennial flowering bulb plant that have a very important place in culture and literature. They are native to the northern hemisphere, and true lilies come dressed in a range of colors that include white, pink, orange and purple. Many of the flowers are marked with striking colored spots or sweeping brush strokes.

The lovely lily is symbolic of motherhood and fertility, which is why it makes a wonderful centerpiece in your Mother’s Day bouquet. It also, thanks in part to its stature, is a symbol of royalty.

It also is used to express purity and beauty, as well as passion and rebirth. The latter is partially why the Easter Lily is used during  sermons on the resurrection of Christ.

BME04P1

This lovely lily was on the grounds of Boc Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, and I took the shot while taking my Mother-in-Law out for a Mother’s Day excursion around the gardens. Not long after this, the gardens were hit with the first of a series of four consecutive hurricanes that demolished all of the vegetation. ©2004 jcleveland



The Greeks and the Romans honored the lily. Some of the first images of lilies were dated to 1580 B.C. in Crete. The lily is so revered that the name is said to have come from the Greek word leiron and was born of the milk of Hera, who was the queen of the gods.

~The story goes that Hercules was not Hera’s son because Zeus had been fooling around with other goddesses. In order for Hercules to become a god, he must be nursed by Hera, so Zeus talked Somnus (the god of sleep) to knock Hera out in order for Hercules to nurse. Out she went, and Hercules was such a great sucker that her milk overflowed and became the milky way, which dripped down upon the earth and created the white lily.~

The lily also represents sexuality and masculine virility.

The lily is a birth flower for the month of May and is found in 30th wedding anniversary bouquets.

Lily colors have different meanings, such as the following:

  • White for the purity and chastity of Mary.
  • Peruvian lilies are the lilies of friendship.
  • White stargazer lilies express sorrow and sympathy.
  • Pink stargazer lilies represent wealth
  • Yellow is for thankfulness
  • Red is for passion

The lily can be boiled for tea to aid digestion and can be used as a topical treatment for burns.

As with all things splendid, they may only appear once, and then are gone forever. That is why, if you see something handmade that you adore or that your mom would adore, you should buy it immediately, or forever lose it.

Here are some very splendid gift ideas from some very talented handmade artists. 

Fresh Water Pearl Silver Mitten Snowman Women's Earrings

Lady Green Eyes Jewelry 

Hand Knit Super Snowflake White Cotton Dish Cloth or Wash Cloth

HollyknitterCreation 

Seashell Earrings

Pretty Gonzo

White Pearl and Silver Angel Wing Multi Strand Necklace

Treasures of Jewels 

Polar Bear Cub Counted Cross Stitch Pattern

Blue Morning Expressions 

Schnauzer Wauzer Snap Tab Key Fob

Sew Amazin 

Dried Layers Of Fine Gypsum Sands Framed Print

Colleen Cornelius 

Wedding Bride White Stick Pearl Necklace

Shadow Dog Designs 

White Lotus Flower Crescent Pendant on Textured Silver-plated Chain

Kats All That 

Wedding Kippah Bridal Hair Comb

Lindab142

Etched White Lampwork Beads Handmade Opaque Matte Glass Round SRA 204e

Covergirl Beads 

Personalized Baby's Guardian Angel Nursery Decor

Kevs Krafts 

Necklaces for Women

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Petrified White Palm Wood Oval Pendant

Dianes Dangles 

Hope that you enjoyed these gorgeous creations. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact any of the above friendly and creative artists, and I am sure that they will be more than happy to make something just for your “mom”.

If you want to see more of their outstanding works, then here are some more links from which to shop:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

And even more!

Tulips

What’s in a Name?

The Flowers of the Gods

Kiss the Sun

Enjoy, and share this blog post and all of these handmade items with your friends and family! We handmade artists always appreciate a good share. Smile

Julie

www.bluemorningexpressions.com