Let Nature Be Your DIY Decor

I wanted something natural and whimsical for the entrance to my camper driveway. It just made sense to me because I am surrounded by trees and I love camping because of Mother Nature's gifts.
I have a heavy, Victorian green plant stand I purchased at a garage sale this year. This piece probably set on the porch of a grand home in the 1940's. It was practically being thrown away for $5.00. You can't buy this type of quality at an average store. Anyways I used it as my base to get started on my project.
I took a basket, scissors and went for a walk. The first thing I saw was deep red berries on thin woody branches. I clipped a handful in different lengths so I had dimension within my display. Next I grabbed an aged piece of bark with beautiful shades of brown. If you are not using water you may want to stick to hardier pieces. Twigs, pine and nuts are other useful pieces.
Now it was back to the camper to lay everything out on the table and add some new and upcycled craft pieces. I purchased small gourds from the local farmer and I had mesh ribbon and a felt witch hat from a previous craft.
📌When you are working a display envision a pyramid. The middle of your display should be the tallest and fan outwards. Think about a color and/or a theme when you are gathering for any project. It keeps you focused and creates a display with rhythm, depth and complementary colors. The web has so much information. Buy a color wheel at the craft store or find online. Color wheels are one of the first things you learn as an art student. The wheel shows you colors that work together. These are called complimentary colors. For instance burgundy's compliment would be dark green. It helps you create crafts pleasing to the eye. You will in fact notice the colors on the wheel make sense in nature when you really look around!

So I took my biggest piece which was the bark and placed it in the middle and worked around it and moved it as needed. I feathered in the mesh ribbon to add color and depth amongst the berries and gourds. I had to step back and keep reworking. I added the witch's hat to really get the theme across and the Happy Halloween flag. I was able to place mostly everything in the basket without glue. I did add hot glue here and there to stabilize. Notice my display is not tight and perfect. It does not look like a topiary. I was trying to make it a bit whimsy.

Solitude in the Country

Driving out of the bright lights, noise, never ending pavement and strip malls and into the country always starts out with a sigh of relief. Once I hit the mountainous terrain I start to smile. My body's senses immediately open up in a wash of freedom.

The tall trees lining the bendy road with their explosive shades of green this time of year makes me smile. My eyes dart to open expansive corn fields rigidly rowed against golden baled fields. The contrast is striking and makes my mind wander off into a Van Gogh painting. In the background my thoughts are lulled into relaxation with the sounds of classical and the occasional soft voice of the announcer explaining a movement or composer. I slow when passing lazy cows flicking their tails by a split rail fence. I am like a wide eyed tourist absorbing their life in the country. I hold a smile as I pass and around the bend is the familiar lake glittering from the cloudless, sunny sky. I look for boats and the water level and continue on. As I get closer to camp an Amish buggy is being pulled by a horse making a steady, slow trot in the heat. The man tips his hat and I wave. Oh, do I love the simple pleasures of the country!
I pull into the dusty, clay road off the paved mountain road and head up the hill to my camping spot. My travel trailer sits amongst trees waiting for me to extend the awning and open the windows. The fire pit is ready with wood. I can't wait to light it and set the grate with tin foil on it. The smoky wood makes the best hamburgers, steaks and hot dogs.
When I finally take a seat on my lounge chair I kick up my legs with a book in hand, a drink in the cup holder and lay back and close my eyes. I listen to the birds chirping, the squirrels zipping by and the chippies rustling the leaves in front of me. The cool air under the canopy of trees feels fresh and I am so glad to be turning the world off in the country.