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Thursday, July 24, 2014

How To Make A Starbucks Flower Arrangement

  Starbucks cute rustic silk flowers

I recently visited my local Starbucks located at the Kroger grocery , Midlothian Tnpk, VA and saw these cute rustic silk flower arrangements in vases with burlap or a rough weave fabric wrapped around the container.     Very simple yet effective and goes very well with the eclectic casual setting.  At the end of this post I will explain how to make one!

 Starbucks rustic silk flower arrangement

Leave it to Starbucks to have a visually pleasing and aesthetic interior right down to the details, 
Paris, Victor Hugo

in addition to the beautiful and tantalizing breakfast goodies, cookies, brownies, quality sandwiches and of course...

 Starbucks Chocolate Croissant

 Starbucks Caramel Flan Latte

attractive coffees and drinks, reinforcing a higher end experience at the store.   That is why you pay a little more.

Paris, Starbucks Victor Hugo

It's not all about what you are drinking at Starbucks it is the total experience and higher end retail stores know this.  Like most I like going to an eatery and paying more for the food with a nice interior, enjoying the atmosphere along with the food.

Is that Carrara marble on those Paris bistro tables above?!!  Carrara is a very expensive marble.  The look is stunning with the leather tufted banquet seating!


 Paris, Starbucks Montmarte

Visuals are important and have psychological value.  An attractive clean environment will uplift rather than depress.  I feel good every time I walk into a Starbucks, don't you?

Now, to make your own Starbucks rustic/casual flower arrangement.  Place several on your dining table, buffet, or on the fireplace mantle like below at my local Starbucks.  Here's how:


Use a juice glass and measure the length and width around by using a string or ribbon, add one inch to all sides (this will make extra fabric at the top to cover the glass and have extra at the top like the photo above).  

Use these measurements for a pattern and cut out  your fabric (burlap or loose weave cotton). Make a fold 1/2 inch turning in on all sides and hot glue the folds. 



Wrap the length of the cut fabric around the glass overlapping one end, hot glue this end underneath and press onto the fabric beneath.

Make a bouquet out of small flowers at different heights adding ferns if you like.  Cut a piece of Styrofoam and hot glue it onto the bottom of the glass for holding the flowers.

Note:  You can stain the fabric if it is too light and for an antique or grunge look.  Soak the fabric in tea water for 20 minutes and check the color.  If too light soak for another 20 minutes.  Soak the fabric  until you are happy with the color.

 Starbucks, Paris Opera

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory...




Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

  
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
 

Angel Standing In The Sun, William Turner 1846

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:



His truth is marching on.

Civil War soldiers (mostly children) white and black


Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

 
George Washington


His truth is marching on.

Castle Murray near Auburn, Virginia
 
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,


 
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;


I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Effects Of Red


The color red can affect you in many ways and make you feel like you are going through an uncomfortable phase...



or be cool and make you want to reflect, slow down, rest and consider your days...


Two be or not two be...that is the question!



Shall I take the stairs or try the door...someone's been here before!  Or...


"Red rover, red rover send the Alpacas right on over!"  Or could it be...


"I want just red Dahlias daaahling," what do you think?


No matter what, red causes us to link!

 
On a warm Spanish night can you hear your heart rate almost in sync...


with the red tractor next door that has started to sink...!


...because the old red rooster wanted an ice skating rink!


Now no preconceived notions of Red or it will make you like...lead...and....fall.....right.......into... ........bed.....ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Are Cats Fine Art?


Cats, are they a serious subject for fine art lovers?! 


Van Gogh  cats Vincent would have been proud to have painted...


Andy Warhol cats in bright glowing colors perfect for a Soho loft...


Some cat art is for cat lovers only...


Who can resist those big green eyes...


and loyalty that can only be matched by "Man's Best Friend"...


Man's Best Friend...


A brave cat...

A curious Gothic cat...


or seven lazy cats sunning themselves on a Gothic Revival tower...


A yawning cat...

Cat food...



Can all these cats be candidates for fine art?


Admit it cats make great fine art, it's just a "cat art equality"  issue...


  
If a big museum can have a large rabbit sculpture why not one of a cat?!!...


Think about it!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

If Cars Could Talk...


Did you know cars can talk?  It's really not a question of if but when!  This old headlight and the little orange guy beside it can say a lot! "We've been through hardscrabble times, good times, and President Hoover - no less than fourteen presidents to be exact!...And now warm our old metal in the hot desert sun and that's a fact!!

 
Some cars seem to think they will never pass thirty..."Slow Down! How can I?!!" exclaimed CameroZ "There's another race I must go see - if I slow down now it's just not me!"

Blue Dasher has flash and now a guaranteed future.  "Pop!" Up goes the hood "Would you like to take my picture?!"


In base tones behind me I heard a low blast "Can you believe it?!!  Some cars never stop it's just a lot of hot air and gas!!"

Suddenly an ear splitting GGGRRRRRRRUUUUMMMMM with all turbines burning I looked over to see "Is it a plane, a bird?! It's the Daytona reincarnated!!"

  
"Just stopping for some gas, a tire change and I'll be on my way!" said the Daytona supercharged racer leaping nimbly out of his vehicle that was still trailing smoke and ashes...


"Fintastic!" gushed Pink Pearl Caddy with a giggle and a flutter of her long pink eyelashes!


"Time Out!" I cried, my head just swimming, "My ears are splitting and I'm feeling rather faint because of all the loud exhaust, fumes and smelly paint!"

 
You could have heard a pin drop it was suddenly silent.  Then I heard a chorus of voices all speaking as one "We're sorry we'll be quiet we don't want the EPA to check us for offending fumes, gasses and starting a small riot!


"You're forgiven" I said turning to leave, "I guess I'm just prone to sniffling" with nothing up my sleeve..."It was those crazy pink eye lashes, so I'm not peeved!"  


Suddenly there appeared as if out of heaven a car and a driver to take me to an English estate called "Carleaven."  As we drove out of sight I turned and I said "Happy emissions to all and...Oh, don't forget to drive right!"