inspired: a tribute to you guys!

10,ooo points if you can guess what this is:


Yes --I know it's a thing covered in cheap silk flowers, but if you're a regular Petersons Go Public! reader you may recognize that this is one of my gumdrop trees...... reincarnated! I de-gumdropped them after Christmas (gumdrops were too hard to eat by then, darn!), and as I'm not one to throw away perfectly good foam --- I stuck all three cones up in my design closet (it's a mess in there!). And then yesterday I got the sudden urge to turn them into Valentine trees! Except only one of them... because even buying cheapy flowers from the dollar store cost about $12... And that's the limit for my poorly executed attempts at crafting! HOWEVER, if you're sorely in need of some Valentine's color and feel the need to stick stuff in foam....this is how ya do it:




1. Buy flowers. I got two different kinds of red ones--one that looked kind of like a rose, and one that looked something like a hydrangea. (not very authentic looking, but what do you expect for a buck, right?) 2. Clip un-realistic looking blooms off the even more un-realistic looking leaves, leaving about an inch and a half of wire stem to poke into the foam. My kitchen scissors weren't quite strong enough to snip through the little buggers, so I got out my pruning sheers. (and I'm happy to report that I still have all 10 fingers!!!). 3. Poke all the mutilated silk flowers into your foam cone, trying to leave as little white as possible. Not exactly brain surgery, right?



It doesn't look too bad!.......if you stand at a distance




Looks even better if you scrunch up your eyes and make everything go blurry:


PERFECT!!!

HEY LADY!!! I thought you promised us something about inspiration.....and us! (Is that what you're wondering?!) Here's the connection.......


Back in November--my gumdrop trees inspired Kim to try and make gumdrop trees. And my new flower tree was inspired by a great flower-covered lampshade I saw at the Sis Boom blog. In fact, I can't even count the number of times I've seen or read or watched something on some blog, somewhere that has inspired me.


The Nester put up a post today thanking various readers for various reasons. I left feeling all warm and fuzzy. And since I am a horrible idea stealer (but a wonderful credit giver at the same time :)!), I just wanted to give a big ***THANK YOU*** to all of you who have stuck with me as I've tried to make my way into this technically confusing blogging world (remember when I use to post my pictures sideways because I didn't know how to rotate them?!). I am a decorator, but my blog isn't all about decorating. I am a homeschooler, but my blog isn't all about homeschooling. I am a mother, but my blog isn't all about my kiddos either. In short, I don't imagine that I appeal to any one sort of blog reader, but I have still managed to meet so many nice, encouraging women...ones that keep reading about whatever random thing I choose to post about on any given day.

So, THANK YOU first off to Elena for inspiring me to start this blog in the first place! (or was it double dog daring me too?) I believe this habit you have thrown me into is worse than caffeine or cigarettes--but I'm thankful nonetheless ;).

Thanks to Karli and Lee Ann and Kristan and Jenny for inspiring me to make everyday life fun!

Thanks to Kamee and Meg and Simply for inspiring me to take more beautiful pictures (if only I knew how!)

To Emily Loria and Chatty Emily for inspiring me to write in a more witty manner.

And to my favorite designers and decorators and all around creative gals: The Nester, Angela, the other Jennifer P. , Todays Creative Blog, and Steph the Crock Pot Lady for inspiring me to try all sorts of new things.

And just so you know, each of you could have easily fit into more than one of those categories!!! but this post is getting really long and should probably end already :0!

So in closing and in conclusion...... I look forward to being inspired by more of you!