Linda Walsh Originals Blog Pages

Monday, March 31, 2014

How I Created My Large Silk Floral Arrangement



I just love decorating my home with large silk floral arrangements and have made several large arrangements for the various seasons and holidays to decorate the right hand side of my dining room fireplace which is 41" by 48".    It's a large area to cover so it requires a large floral arrangement to fill it up.


I was unhappy with the floral arrangement I had made several years ago to cover the spring and summer seasons and wanted to change it.  I wanted the colors to be bright and cheery and already had several dark blue, light blue, burgundy, and white silk floral I was going to re-use.

   

I decided that I needed to add pink, royal blue and some other whites to the mix so last weekend I bought several 3' to 4' silk floral stems I thought might be suitable.

   

For my large silk floral I like to add large silk floral grass stems, pussy willow stems, silk eucalyptus leaves stems, and white reed stems as filler.

   

I also like to surround the bottom of the arrangement with small groups of leaves and flowers and had several that I thought would be suitable for this arrangement.


The arrangement I didn't like had a large ceramic pot that had been a Christmas present several years ago as a base but I felt it made the arrangement too heavy to carry so I decided to use a large basket that I had spray painted colonial blue several years ago as the new base.


I filled the center  of the basket with two layers of four green floral foam blocks that I trimmed with a knife to conform to the shape of the basket and be within 1" to 1 1/2" of the basket rim.  You can glue the foam to the bottom of the basket and then glue the foam blocks to each other but I prefer not to as it makes it hard to re-use the basket and the foam if it's all glued together.  Plus, sometimes the glue makes it difficult to insert the silk floral stems.

I never throw anything away and even save the bottoms of any silk floral stems that I may have cut because they were too long.  I use these to hold the green floral foam blocks together.  And, they become very handy when you need to lengthen a silk floral that is too short.  So, I added four cut off stems to hold the four blocks together and then cut the tops to make them level with the foam.

I always add filler, leaves, and small flowers to cover the rim of the basket so I keep the top of the foam 1" to 2" below the top rim of the basket.


I also never throw any of the green floral foam that I've previously  trimmed from various projects away and have a large supply ready to use for filling in the sides of the baskets.  I trim the foam so it completely fills the basket and is secure enough not to move.


Instead of using moss to cover the foam so it isn't visible through the basket I add shredded paper that you'd use to fill an Easter basket.


I filled in around the sides of the basket and then added enough to cover the top of the foam.


I added 9 grass stalks that I spread out of cover the top of the basket.


Next,, I added several clusters of large leaves around the rim of the basket.


In the middle I put white reed stalks that were bendable.


Then I added three large 3' eucalyptus silk floral stems - one in the middle of the basket and one each on the ends of the basket.  These would serve as a gauge for the overall height of the basket..


I added three 3' blue hydrangea silk floral just behind where I had inserted the 3' eucalyptus silk floral stems.


I  then added four 3' pink peony silk floral stems on the left and right sides of the blue hydrangea on the ends of the basket.


Then I added six 3 1/2' white daisies - 3 evenly spaced on each along the length of the basket.


To this I then added two burgundy peony silk floral in between the three blue hydrangea.


Four 3' purple and white daisies were added - two for each side of the basket to the left and right of the pink peonies.


To this group I then added six 3 1/2' dark blue delphinium - 3 on each side evenly spaced among the silk floral that were there.


As I like my silk floral arrangements to be full I then added four royal blue silk floral daisies and four light blue silk floral daisies.  I also decided to add one additional burgundy peony so I had three burgundy peony evenly spaced within the center of the basket.


To fill in the bottom of the basket I added twelve white floral about 18" - 24" in height.


As I'm going along I keep turning the arrangement around and around to make sure my silk floral are evenly spaced and there are no holes that need to be filled.  In turning the arrangement around and around I decided to add  two white peony on the left and right sides of the blue hydrangea in the center of the basket.

I also tend to like billowing arrangements so I  added several 3 1/2' pussy willow stalks and several 3 1/2' white reed stalks until I was happy with the way the arrangement looked.  The final step was to pull some of the silk floral out a little further so the flowers were at various heights as a fresh floral arrangement would be.


I was happy with the way the floral arrangement looked in the fireplace.  It was very colorful and definitely filled up the area.


I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and like how my large floral arrangement came out.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

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Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Annie and Andy Gotcha - New Handmade Primitive Raggedy Anne and Andy Ornaments and E-Patterns


"Annie Gotcha" just loves to tease her brother, "Andy Gotcha" and tease him she does. Almost incessantly. She can go on and on and on. Most of the time "Andy Gotcha" is a good sport about it. Sometimes, however, he isn't in the mood for being teased.

Sometimes he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Or so he thinks. Well, to him he feels like the weight of the world is on him. "Gotcha" do this or "gotcha" do that. What about this? What about that? The list is endless.





Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Monday, March 10, 2014

Penelope Pumpkin Lady - Victorian Pumpkin Art Doll - New E-Pattern


Penelope Pumpkin Lady is just the sweetest pumpkin lady you'd ever want to meet. She's very refined and loves dressing in her finest Victorian outfit and sipping English Breakfast Tea with scones. For her life doesn't get any better than that.

Penelope's pumpkin friends get angry at her because she doesn't spend any time in the pumpkin patch with them. She tries to explain to them that the pumpkin patch is not a place for a refined lady, especially one wearing her finest Victorian outfit. And, the bonnet - well, there's no way she'd wear that in the pumpkin patch. So, she tries to coax her friends into having tea and scones with her. It's not an easy sell as they like being outside in the pumpkin patch and hope that Penelope will one day come to her pumpkin senses and join them. They've got their fingers or should I say stems crossed.

Penelope Pumpkin Lady is a 19" cloth pumpkin head lady doll with a beautifully embroidered round head and self-sitting square bottom body. Her orange pumpkin hands and feet match her orange body and round orange head. Her beautiful pumpkin head is outlined and indented with dark brown floss to create the affect of a pumpkin. She's wearing black boots that are criss-crossed with embroidery floss for laces.

She is wearing eyelet lace trimmed bloomers gathered at the waist and upper calf. Her multi-colored dress coordinates beautifully with her large eyelet lace trimmed lined bonnet with gathered lace trim, silk floral, and ribbon decorative accents.

Her beautiful dress skirt matches the outside of her bonnet and her dress bodice matches the lining of her bonnet. Her dress has a beautiful eyelet lace trimmed dress insert and eyelet lace and ribbon trimmed dress sleeves. It is gathered at the neck and waist and has 3 accent buttons on the dress insert and a wide ribbon wrapped around the waist and tied in a bow in the front.

Her beautiful coordinating jacket is eyelet lace and ribbon trimmed along all the edges and the sleeves and is fastened together with a beautiful ribbon and bead floral decoration.

Penelope is as Victorian and refined as a pumpkin can be. She just wishes her pumpkin friends would join her for afternoon tea. Perhaps one day they will. She's hoping.


Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Sunday, March 09, 2014

My New E-Pattern For Celia's Art Doll



Meet the newest member of the Gray Is Beautiful Society.  Her name is Celia and she loves being a member of the Red Hat Society.

Celia has been a member of The Red Hat Society for a long time and thoroughly enjoys the times they get together. She and the other ladies of the club love dressing up in their purple dresses and red hats, and letting their hair down. Sometimes things get a little wild, but that doesn't deter any of the ladies. They love their lives, they love each other, and best of all they love happy fun - especially when it's the dress-up kind.

If you would like to read the story behind my Celia - Art Doll please CLICK HERE.


Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh


Friday, March 07, 2014

Big Brother Andy and Kid Brother Randy - New Handmade Andy Ornaments E-Pattern



"Big Brother Andy" and his "Kid Brother Randy" come from a large, loving family and as siblings often do get on each others nerves.

Now don't get us wrong. "Big Brother Andy" and "Kid Brother Randy" love each other as brothers. It's just that sometimes they act like a bunch of boys do and get on each others nerves. This inevitably leads to wrestling, which leads to fighting and then punching. Playfully, of course!

When the gloves start coming out is when their "Big Sister Annie" and "Kid Sister Frannie" intervene. They calm them down and straighten out whatever the problem is so the boys can - well, "be boys."

"Kid Brother Randy" wants to be just like his "Big Brother Andy." He dresses just like him. Wears the same clothes. And, even gets the same haircut. Sometimes this bothers "Big Brother Andy" but, most of the time, he just gives his younger brother a playful shove. He can shove and push his little brother around, but if someone else does that - well, they have "Big Brother Andy" to contend with then.

Andy & Randy are 9" primitive or country raggedy Andy cloth doll ornaments. Their bodies are made of muslin and their raggedy red boots are cross laced. Their faces are embroidered with black and white satin stitch eyes. Their noses are satin stitched red as are their lips. The outline of their mouths is embroidered as are their eyelashes and eyebrows.

Both Andy & Randy have thick, straight dark brown hair sticking out of the top of their heads with the sides and back left bare. Their cheeks are blushed with an orange color.

Their outfits are identical with frayed shirts gathered at the neck. Both of their blue plaid pants are frayed and gathered at the waist.

Boys will be boys and brothers will be brothers. They might fight a lot between themselves, but are thick as mud. They're steadfast and loyal to the core when it comes to their family even though that might be hard to tell at times from all the fighting.

"Boys if you're going to wrestle - take it outside!" 

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Thursday, March 06, 2014

Big Sister Annie & Kid Sister Fannie - NEW Raggedy Annie Ornaments E-Pattern




"Big Sister Annie" and her "Kid Sister Fannie" come from a large, loving family and as siblings often do get on each others nerves.

Now don't get us wrong. "Big Sister Annie" and "Kid Sister Fannie" adore each other and truly love each other as sisters. It's just that sometimes "Big Sister Annie" wishes she were an only child. Well, maybe not an only child as she dearly loves her brothers, "Big Brother Andy and Kid Brother Randy." Maybe just the only girl.

Well, not even that as she really does love Fannie. It's just that sometimes she wishes she could be alone with her friends without "Kid Sister Fannie" tagging along. And, sometimes she wishes she could buy an outfit without Fannie wanting to buy the same. And, sometimes she wishes she could have sleepover parties without having to include Fannie. And, sometimes she wishes she didn't have to take care of her kid sister Fannie. "And, why does she have to have the same hairstyle as me!"
Annie & Fannie are 9" primitive or country raggedy Annie cloth doll ornaments. Their bodies are made of muslin and their raggedy red boots are cross laced. Their faces are embroidered with black and white satin stitch eyes. Their noses are satin stitched red as are their lips. The outline of their mouths is embroidered as are their eyelashes and eyebrows.

Both Annie & Fannie have thick, curly dark brown hair along the side seams of their heads with the back left bare. Their cheeks are blushed with a lovely rosy color.

Their outfits are identical with frayed and gathered at the waist bloomers. Both of their blue plaid dresses are frayed and gathered at the neck. Their aprons are lace trimmed and lined and wrapped around their waists and ties in the back. Blue embroidery floss bows decorate the fronts of their aprons.

Poor "Big Sister Annie!" Doesn't she know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. "Kid Sister Fannie" just worships and adores her big sister and wants to be just like her. To do everything she does. To be loved by her.

"Big Sister Annie & Kid Sister Fannie" would make the cutest pair of ornaments for any primitive and country home. 

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Monday, March 03, 2014

Peter With The Big Eyes Loves His Fall Outfit - New Handmade Colonial Doll and E-Pattern


"Pamela With The Big Eyes Loves Her Fall Colors" and her brother, "Peter With The Big Eyes Loves His Fall Outfit",  are unusually close.  They're fraternal twins, born two minutes apart on October 12 - Columbus Day. As a result they love the Fall and it's bright, beautiful colors, and they love being Colonial. Born and bred in Salem, MA.

So, it is no surprise that they love to wear their best Fall outfits when out for a walk on a beautiful Fall day. They love to walk down near the pier and the harbor. It's just so beautiful and peaceful down there. Plus, when they get hungry they can have afternoon tea and one of their favorite scones at a local cafe.

Pamela is a quiet, shy but  proper, colonial girl. She was taught how to be a gracious lady and believes in being proper,  friendly and courteous at all times - especially when out in public. Her only problem is that everyone keeps looking at her and her big, beautiful eyes - especially the young "gentlemen.". With all the eyes on her she gets self-conscious and starts to blush.  And, when that happens she blushes from head to toe. Then all the young gentleman can't help themselves and vie for her attention - which irks her brother, Peter, to no end.


Peter is a terrific brother but is a tad conceited. He also has a bit of a temper - especially when it comes to his sister and all the young "gentlemen" vying for her attention.   He knows she is absolutely beautiful with her big, beautiful eyes but hates all the attention she gets from the young "gentleman."  Since he also has big, beautiful eyes he gets an enormous amount of attention himself from  all the young "ladies."  Of course, he doesn't mind this.   That's okay.  It' just not okay for Pamela.


Peter is a 16" handmade Colonial boy doll. He has a cloth body with an embroidered and chalk colored face with a mass of brown curly hair on the top sides of his head.


He is wearing his favorite Fall print shirt with burgundy ribbon and lace trimmed ascot and his "Sunday Best" suit. His cuffed  pantaloons are cuffed and gathered at the waist.  His coordinating color lined jacket has cuffed sleeves, fold down lapels, and running stitch embroidery along all the edges.  One large button adorns his jacket.  He also has black boots with gold embroidery floss cross-crossed for ties.

Pete is the epitome of a Colonial "gentleman" - except when it comes to his sister, Pamela, and his temper gets the better of him.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Calla - New Wall Art Quilt E-Pattern By Inspired Creations By D


I know that I've told you many times how proud I am of my baby sister and her beautiful wall art quilt designs. Every time she comes up with a new design I tell you that it's her best and can't be topped. Well, once again, she has outdone herself. This time it's "Calla" and it's eye candy. Don't you just love the colors? I know I do. It's just beautiful. I hope you like it as much as I do.




Here's what she said about "Calla:"

A few years back I took a photograph of the beautiful pink calla lilies in one of my gardens; that picture has hung in one of my rooms since.  I so enjoy that photo that it seemed to make sense to turn it into one of my art quilts.








Copyright © 2013 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed By Debra Bohringer

Sunday, March 02, 2014

Pamela With The Big Eyes Loves Her Fall Colors - New Handmade Colonial Doll and E-Pattern


"Pamela With The Big Eyes Loves Her Fall Colors" and her brother, "Peter With The Big Eyes Loves His Fall Outfit",  are unusually close.  They're fraternal twins, born two minutes apart on October 12 - Columbus Day. As a result they love the Fall and it's bright, beautiful colors, and they love being Colonial. Born and bred in Salem, MA.

So, it is no surprise that they love to wear their best Fall outfits when out for a walk on a beautiful Fall day. They love to walk down near the pier and the harbor. It's just so beautiful and peaceful down there. Plus, when they get hungry they can have afternoon tea and one of their favorite scones at a local cafe.


Pamela is a quiet, shy but  proper, colonial girl. She was taught how to be a gracious lady and believes in being proper,  friendly and courteous at all times - especially when out in public. Her only problem is that everyone keeps looking at her and her big, beautiful eyes - especially the young "gentlemen.". With all the eyes on her she gets self-conscious and starts to blush.  And, when that happens she blushes from head to toe. Then all the young gentleman can't help themselves and vie for her attention - which irks her brother, Peter, to no end.

Peter is a terrific brother but is a tad conceited. He also has a bit of a temper - especially when it comes to his sister and all the young "gentlemen" vying for her attention.   He knows she is absolutely beautiful with her big, beautiful eyes but hates all the attention she gets from the young "gentleman."  Since he also has big, beautiful eyes he gets an enormous amount of attention himself from  all the young "ladies."  Of course, he doesn't mind this.   That's okay.  It' just not okay for Pamela.


Pamela is a 16 handmade Colonial girl doll. She has a cloth body with an embroidered and chalk  colored face and a mass of dark brown curly hair on the sides of her head with the back left bare.


She is wearing lace trimmed bloomers gathered at the waist. Her lace trimmed slip is also gathered at the waist. She has black boots criss-crossed with gold embroidery floss for laces. She is wearing a beautiful , multi-colored Fall print "Sunday Best" dress with burgundy lace trim and fancy cord trim along the bottom hem edge and sleeve hem edges. Her dress has a burgundy lace trimmed pumpkin colored insert which is adorned with two floral ribbon and bead decorations. It is gathered at the shoulders, wrists, and neck and has burgundy lace and white fancy cord trim wrapped around her waist.

All in all Pamela is the epitome of a proper Colonial girl.  If only the young "gentlemen" would leave her alone.


Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh