monday’s vase: scrounged materials

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The last wind storm blew down branches on our road. On my walk, I picked up a nice gnarly, lichen-encrusted branch with a few fresh, green catkins attached and another, bare but for a multitude of red berries.

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The vase is a long-time favorite that gets pressed into service only rarely.

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A stone slab tops a receptacle with a permanent frog embedded in the base. It lends itself to Ikebanaish arrangements using sparse material.

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The sharp tines of the frog hold the branches in place. I added the silly red felt bird (not too sure about the artistic merit of the bird, but he makes me smile).

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The grey bird candle echoes the color of the lichen, as does the small ceramic piece by Betsy Wolfeson. I like this best viewed from above, so I put it on the floor for photos. It will actually live on a low chest this week.

Cathy of Rambling in the Garden started this celebration of indoor arrangements, and this week, celebrating a full year (52 weeks…yes, she really did it), she gives us a bit of history. Let’s see if she can inspire you to join in the fun.

19 thoughts on “monday’s vase: scrounged materials

  1. Oh I love it rickii – the simplicity and naturalness of the twig and berries, and the slate and pebble vase (is it slate?). The birds too – both of them. Meanwhile my mind is ticking along as we have various bits of slate and I also have several pebbles with holes for tea lights….hurrah, more receptacles! Thank you for sharing and for your continued support

    • Jason~The knurled branch is (I think) a native hazel. The branch with the berries is separate and I don’t know its identity. It was along the roadside, so I suspect it is a native something-or-other.

  2. I have fallen in love with your container too, so unusual and perfect for this arrangement. When I first saw it I thought that the berries must be fake, there are so many of them. This would make the perfect Christmas decoration too, very, very tasteful, I love it.

  3. Amy~In fact, I think he is a bird straight from the fantasy-oriented imagination, but that’s a good guess about subliminal associations. Ink & Peat on N Williams usually has some interesting decorations. My guy was a gift, so I can’t tell you where he came from. He usually hangs above my computer, along with an equally wacky angel.

  4. Beth~Thanks. This meme is giving me an excuse to be on the lookout for interesting containers. It’s always good to have a mission, and the container will gain importance as the plant materials grow scarcer.

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