Painting Poppies
Flowers And How They Affect Our Everyday Life
Does anybody take any notice of the flowers and plants around them? I love flowers. I can't imagine life without them, but I am sure most people don't even notice them.
USES
Flowers have always been used to fragrance Your Home, in candles, incense, oils, air fresheners etc.
Many Shampoos, perfumes, soaps etc. have the wonderful aroma of flowers.
Many plants, flowers and herbs are also used for medicinal purposes.
WELL KNOWN FLOWERS
Roses
Roses are the best known flowers and are the symbol of love/romance. Flowers are given to loved ones on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Birthdays and for just about any occasion you can think of.
In British history there was even a War of the Roses. The Red Rose is the symbol of England. (And very beautiful it is too!)
Poppies
Poppies are Wild Flowers that grow in the hedgerows of the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world. They come in various colours, but in my opinion they are most beautiful in red.
They are a symbol of death and used, in the UK, to commemorate the dead servicemen/women who gave their lives in two World Wars.
Daffodils
I am English, so to me daffodils mean Spring. I have travelled around the world, and have never seen daffodils like the ones I have seen in the UK. I no longer live in the UK, and I never see daffodils, which saddens me. I think they are SO beautiful. Daffodils bloom in early spring and bring such a splash of colour.
William Wordsworth wrote a beautiful poem about daffodils entitled "I wander lonely as a cloud". If you have never read this poem, please do so, as it encapsulates the beauty of the humble daffodil.
FLOWERS AS DECORATION
Many antiques have flowers adorning them. For example tea services, ceramic vases, pottery, cutlery etc.
In fact when you look at some of the famous paintings that have ever been sold many were of flowers, for example Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Irises which sold for record prices in recent years.
Another common use for flowers is on wallpaper and tiles which adorn many a household. In fact, there are too many uses to mention here.
Many public buildings including churches are decorated inside with flowers. As mentioned in the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, churches have Rose decorations throughout. I had never noticed these Roses until I read the book. Take a look for yourself, they are there!
OCCASIONS
Throughout history flowers have been used to mark various occasions. A bride carries flowers on her wedding day and the church is ablaze with colour. Many of the guests also wear flowers as corsages. It is also traditional to throw rose petals over the bride and groom after they leave the church.
Flowers have always been given as gifts at funerals to remember the life of the deceased. Lilies are the Most Popular and are associated with death.
When a friend or loved one is in hospital or at home ill, what do we bring as a gift? Flowers!
CHILDREN'S NAMES
Have you ever thought about flowers being used as names for children? I'll bet you hadn't even noticed how popular they are. For example Rose, Poppy, Jasmine, Lily, Violet and Daisy are a few that spring to mind.
OTHER USES
Flowers have even been used to amuse children. Do you remember when you were young and your mother showed you how to make daisy chains? Yes, flowers again!
Also as a child my mother showed me a game with buttercups (another common English flower). She loves me, she loves me not, was also a childhood game we played to find true love involving pulling petals off a flower.
Most people never notice flowers.
We would ALL notice if they were not there!
Flowers brighten our world, lift our spirits and are a vital part of our existence. Look around you, our world is beautiful!
To take a look at some of the flowers that have inspired me please visit my store at Justbyjulie
About the Author
I live in Spain with my wife and 3 children and 2 crazy cats. I love photography and have designed some items using the photographs I have taken. You can see them at my onilne store Justbyjulie
I also like to use the internet to try and help people but finding solutions to their problems.
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Have Fun Designing the French Country Kitchen in Your Own Home!
With it's bright colors and rustic accents, French Country brings out the feelings of warmth, family and happiness, it is no wonder that the French Country Kitchen design is such a popular theme for many kitchens across the America. Transforming your kitchen into the fun family hang out spot comparable to what would be found in the South of France can be easily achieved with a some paint, well placed accessories and accent pieces.
There are three important elements in re-creating a French country design theme in your own home. Those elements are found in your color choices, natural materials and accent pieces. Let's go over those in detail now!
Color: Your choice of paint color is going to be central to this design theme. As mentioned before, evoking feelings of warmth and happiness are essential and part of what makes this decor popular. When you look for color inspiration,imagine paintings from some of the great French artists like Van Gogh and Monet. Blues, poppy red, burnt orange and even greens are all acceptable colors found in this theme. Gold and sunflower yellow are also great accent color ideas. The most popular French country color combinations are blue and gold and poppy red and gold.
Natural materials: Cabinetry, furniture and tiling are also important to this theme. You will want to avoid furniture styles that are more contemporary or modern. Look for eating tables, benches and chairs that have a distressed wood look, plain pine or even wood painted in natural colors that compliment your wall color choices. Banquette style seating areas with patterned cushions make for a comfortable eating area and flow perfectly with this theme. Tile back splashes with rustic design influence works well. Back splashes with vegetables, cornucopias, fruits or even bird images are cute to use in this decor.
Accent pieces: French Country is the only design theme where roosters, hens and copper hanging pots are all incorporated!! Accessories are where you'll probably have the most fun with this decor style. Using cooper pots and over sized cooper utensils as wall hangings seems to be the most common, but don't be afraid to play around with different floral arrangements as well. Dried flowers, especially lavender. Keep fresh flowers in a vase on your table to bring the outdoors in and while adding a pleasant aroma.
This design theme is meant to be fun, inviting, and warm - so enjoy the process of pulling it all together. You don't need to spend a ton of money and chances are - you probably can find most of what you need in your basement or attic! Check out local yard sales or visit the neighborhood Goodwill or Salvation Army store for great finds as well!
About the Author
Even if you don't have experience in interior design, redecorating your home doesn't have to be expensive
nor does it need to be overly complicated. At InteriorDesignOnADime.com we provide you with the concepts and the information necessary to get your project started. For more tips on taking your home from "blah" to fabulous! visit us at: Kitchen Interior Design Ideas or French Country Kitchen Design Ideas.
We wish you well in all of your design projects!
drreaming of summer watercolor poppy demo painting