Forcing Bulbs

Confession:  About this time of the year I get the winter blues.  I just get so tired of endless cold days and cloudy skies, staying inside and chilly feet.  I get antsy and cranky.  So I look for ways to brighten up the gray in my life.  One of the ways I do that is by forcing bulbs.

Photos Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

 Have you ever forced bulbs for some spring color?  Its not as daunting a task as it sounds.  It is a great way to add color and sweet fragrance to a dreary winter day!

You can buy bulbs at any garden store.  Bulbs that work best for forcing are amaryllis, hyacinths, miniature daffodils, paperwhites and tulips.  The bigger the bulb, the more flowers you get.  You can put them in potting mix and cover them with a light sprinkling of soil, or you can buy special bulb-forcing glasses available at any garden center.

 Bulbs need to be chilled for a specific time period.  You can set them in a cold utility room or garage, or if they are small enough and you have the storage space, the refrigerator is the perfect temperature.  They need between six and eight weeks of chill time, less for smaller bulbs.  So if you start now you can have lovely bulbs just in time for Easter.

A little bit of springtime chases the clouds away!!!

~Amber

Jewel Box® Home Giveaway!

I'm excited to bring you the first ever Jewel Box® Home giveaway!  

As many of you know, one of my favorite ways to add beauty and life to a smaller space is with flowers, greenery and fruit.  Now, most of the design heavies out there think only fresh will do.  I remember Nate Berkus on Oprah saying that anything but real flowers or fruit are considered tacky.  I happen to really like Nate, but I disagree with him on that point.  Artificial flowers and greenery can look just as wonderful and of course last longer.   

Here are a few arrangements from my home.  

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

Fresh white casablanca lilies and lemon leaves near my front door.  I carried these lilies in my bridal bouquet and like to pick them up at the grocery store whenever they are on sale.

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

White casablanca lilies and roses, with lemons and limes, fresh fruit in a glass bowl and granny smith applies by the kitchen entryway.  I always keep fruit here for the boys to eat and I had quite a job 'protecting' the fruit from being eaten before this photo was taken.

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

Dried and artificial pomegranates, pears and figs with greenery in a large white urn.  This arrangement reflects my husband's Italian heritage and the pear trees I grow in our side yard.

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

A simple buffet centerpiece of fresh honeycrisp apples and variegated euonymus leaves from my garden on a large white platter.

And now for the giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive this premium white orchid plant from ProFlowers, a $99.00 value.  

How do you enter?  Just leave a comment with your opinion of fresh vs. artificial flower arrangements.  You know where I stand, I like them both.  But tell me what you think.  I'll randomly pick a winner SUNDAY, so get your comments in quickly!  For anyone leaving an anonymous note, don't forget to leave your email so I can reach you.

Genevieve

New Jewel Box Home Features Coming In Spring!

'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place that's right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
- Simple Gifts, 19th Century Shaker Hymn by Elder Joseph Brackett

Thank you for your very nice notes asking where I have been. You are so thoughtful to write. The Jewel Box website and blog are my passion, but as often happens, life gets in the way. As some of you know, I have a full time job which has kept me unusually busy over the last few months. Also, my older son is applying to college and the sheer volume of paperwork has been staggering. Filling out the Financial Aid Form (FAFSA) should be listed as a method of torture by the CIA.

As for the website, I am planning to add more photos, create a seasonal newsletter, and have a feature where visitors can share their own stories about small home living. Everything should be up and running by early April, but don't be surprised if it slips to later in the month. Another 'cheese plate' crisis could halt my forward progress. Just the other day I was asked to run over to church and re-plate the cheese and deli tray, which had arrived on, God forbid, a plastic platter with saran-wrapped cheddar. Not to worry, after the substitution of a handled rattan tray and the addition of a few grapes and gourmet crackers, it was fit to grace the pages of Martha Stewart Living.

In the meantime, here are a few quick tips for springtime entertaining.

1. Sofa Magic. Let children, pets and family sit or lay down only on one side of your sofa cushion or cushions. Don’t worry if drinks, food or dirty paws leave stains. When you have a party, just flip the cushion over to the ‘good’ side and your sofa will look like new.
2. The Salad is in the Bag. When entertaining, assemble all your greens and salad fixings in a bowl. Mix the salad dressing, then combine the greens and dressing into a clean white kitchen garbage bag. Twist the top of the bag closed then shake the bag gently a few times. Pour all the salad contents from the bag into your serving bowl and wipe away any spills. The greens will be perfectly coated with dressing and ready to serve.
3. Flowers and Fruit - The Perfect Pairing. Add fruit to your flower arrangements. Apples, lemons, limes and oranges are not only perfect for anchoring flowers in a vase or bowl, but also look beautiful.
   

Until next time,
Genevieve

Flower Power!

I'd rather have roses on my table, than diamonds on my neck.
-Emma Goldman

The two hallmarks of the Jewel Box Home are its size - under 2000 square feet - and its beauty. One of the easiest ways to bring beauty into the home is an arrangement of fresh flowers. These are living works of art that automatically add color to any room. Find at least one place in your home for fresh flowers. The best spot is near the entryway where they can be enjoyed by anyone who visits. I buy my flowers once a week when I go to the grocery store. One or two dried arrangements are also nice. Don't pay any attention to design divas who turn down their noses at dried arrangements. I love Oprah's pet interior decorator, Nate Berkus, but his strict rule against dried flowers is ridiculous. Not only can dried arrangements look gorgeous, they save money! To the left are examples of arrangements I have used in my home. The lilies are at the front entrance and the dried pomegranates and artichokes are in the living room.

Cheers,
Genevieve