6 ways with Eucalyptus in the home .....

When my partner brought me a big bunch of flowers a few months ago the last bits to remain were the Eucalyptus branches...... they are such a beautiful shade of green and the smell is so invigorating.....

....I now have them in a lovely large mug on my table and not only do they look beautiful but they have a lovely scent too.   Since making an effort to rid my life of plastic and adopt a more zero waste life style, fragrancing my home naturally has been on my mind....I get through a lot of candles (i add essential oils as they are burning).... and the great thing about Eucalyptus is not only does it last a long time but when you are done you can stick it in the compost!!!

Interested in what else I could do with these beautiful leaves and found lots of seriously good ideas so here are some great ways of incorporating Eucalyptus into your home

1) The Vase
Quick and simple.. yet so effective.....Eucalyptus lasts for a seriously long time and just a few sprigs look and smell great and add some character to your home

2) The wall hanging
Love this idea from Sarah Sherman Samuel using Eucalyptus branches to make a wall hanging, so simple to make and looks so pretty, I recon this would also look really cool hanging from a window :)

Sarah Sherman Samuel - DIY Eucalyptus wall hanging

3) In the Shower

When the leaves are touched the scent is released so hanging some Eucalyptus in the shower is the perfect place to hang it to get the full sensory benefit. Especially good for the cold season... must remember this trick for next winter!!1

Eucalyptus Shower Hanging - Going Zero Waste

4) Mix with other long lasting plants for a pretty bouquet

I saw this lovely bouquet on Pinterest and love the combination of the cotton plant and the Eucalyptus. i would be mega happy with a bunch like this :)

Just a little note of warning, Eucalyptus can be poisonous if ingested in large amounts... so be wary of it around little children, especially when pairing it with something child friendly like cotton

Eucalyptus and Cotton bouquet

5) Eucalyptus' make  the most stunning houseplants... and much less high maintenance than those fiddle leaf figs. These would be great placed in walkways so you got the full aroma of the leaves when you brushed past them...mmmmm!

Eucalyptus as a houseplant 

6) Eucalyptus leaves make the most beautiful natural dyes....I have been reading Rebecca Desnos' book and Plants are magic magazines but still haven't yet tried working with natural dyes. this is one of my big aims for this coming summer. I love the idea of using individual leaves

Eucalyptus leaves as Natural dye

House plants and crystals.... The Opaque

The Opaque

I have a little crush on a new Tumblr account I found last week called The Opaque. Houseplants and crystals.... perfect combination don't you agree?

My little collection is growing slowly, only last week I found the most beautiful piece of Amethyst in a bargain bin in a charity shop.... sadly here in England crystals and minerals are really expensive...

A Visual Compendium of Succulents...

A Visual compendium of Succulents via Helton Buckley

I love this wonderful Succulent Compendium... it would look great hung in a frame wouldnt it?

If like me you ever get stuck for ideas on how to plant succulents there is a guide to 5 interesting  potting ideas here

House Plant: String of Pearls....

Hannah watering a house plant known as String of Pearls...

House Plant: String of Pearls

After featuring the home of Hannah and John I have had numerous emails about the hanging plant in the top picture. This plant is a succulent called Senecio rowleyanus aka String of Pearls.

The good news is they are really easy to look after as long as you have a nice sunny spot in your home. I live in England and even I manage to maintain one of these beauties. They are a little tricky to get hold of, I had to get one ordered in from a florist in my area, but they are really worth the effort as they look great..

String of Pearls

The Anatomy of a flower... Rachel Ignotofsky Design

The Anatomy of A Flower... Available at Rachel Ignotofsky on Etsy

I love this print from Rachel Ignotofsky on etsy. Such a beautiful image and I love the colours used. To purchase this or browse through her other prints Visit her Etsy store here

House Plants... The Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree...

House Plants: The Fiddle leaf Fig Tree

The Fiddle leaf Fig Tree is one of my favourite house plants. Sadly i havent enough room in my little home for one of these big leafed beautites, but the miunte i get a bigger home or build a conservatory, one will be mine :)

Houseplants: The Chinese Money Plant

The Chinese Money plant aka Pilea Peperomioides

Chinese Money Plant

Pilea peperomioides

This odd little plant, native to Western China and brought to Europe by a Swedish Missionary in 1946, is  the Chinese Money plant, its latin name is Pilea Peperomioides.

The Chinese Money Plant is an ideal houseplant as it is pretty undemanding, fast growing and leafy all year round. Like the Maidenhair Fern in my last houseplant post, the Chinese Money Plant does not like direct sunlight and in fact shade will encourage larger leaves...

If you would like to know the history about these beautiful little plants you can read more here

Houseplants: MaidenHair Fern

My tiny little MaidenHair Fern in hanging planter (by atelier Stella on Etsy)

MaidenHair fern and Salt Lamp duo

Maiden Hair Fern in the kitchen

A Beautiful full MaidenHair fern growing outdoors

I have recently become a little obsessed with ferns, I have been looking for a maidenhair everywhere since seeing the second picture. Yesterday was a winning day, I received my Fern Fever Book in the post (my sister thinks this purchase is hilarious) and I found a tiny little maidenhair fern in a corner shop for 99p...score! He is a little battered but I am hoping he will make it.

Any successful maidenhair growers out there please leave your tips below xx

Could you sell Everything and start again?

Photograph by David Carr Smith

Eclectic sitting room

Reverend Al Sharpton, political activist, Brooklyn

Eclectic sitting room: Mismatched sofas and vintage lamp

Wiksten: Lunch at Catlyn's

My uncle has just sold his house and the people buying it like the whole place so much that they offered to buy all the furniture as well as the building. My uncle said yes.

I have been pondering this a lot, and am not sure what I would say...I may not have the nicest furniture in the world but I mean, it took me 6+ months to find the 'perfect bed' and then I waited 3 more months until it went in the sale. Most of my items were charity shop, thrift shop, car boot, street or ebay finds, that I could never find again.. these items were each a moment of excitement, a bargain or freebee or an item that I worked hard to save for.

... am i just being a typical Taurean and putting too much weight into material items?

Would you sell everything and start again? Would it be a wonderful liberating experience or your your worst nightmare?

for me the jury is still out..

Conservatory...

Conservatory /Green house

Beautiful Garden room: Anne Claire Rohe Photography

Dorothee Schumacher's Conservatory: via the selby

Blue Velvet chair in a beautiful conservatory xx

Beautiful Bohemian Conservatory

Overgrown Plants: conservatory detail

Beautiful spot to sit and read: Conservatory

I am thinking maybe I could get a conservatory built on my house. It would be so cool to have a little reading room with a pretty tiled floor, beautiful exotic plants and a Blue velvet chair to read a book in....

For more posts on houseplants click here

Atelier Stella Ceramics

Large HandMade Ceramic Hanging plant holder by Atelier Stella Ceramics

PLate with a face

Succulent holder

I am totally in love with this beautiful pottery from Atelier Stella Pottery. So in love I have just purchased the ceramic plant holder in the top picture. Stella has only been making and selling her quirky pottery since last summer and working a full time job alongside her pottery business means pieces are limited. More of her work is due to hit etsy early March, to check out her past pottery check out her tumblr page here.

"I trained in graphic design and illustration, moving to London 8 years ago to work as a children's book illustrator. Four years ago I started doing ceramics at an evening class and totally loved it. So this summer I decided to take the first step as a ceramic artist, I bought my own kiln, did the renegade craft fair in London and after an amazing response I haven't looked back since!

I hand build and sculpt all my work from slabs and pinch pots to create one of a kind pieces that I would love in my home - and I do have a lot! I'm influenced by Swedish and Italian potters from the 50's and 60's, mixing the rustic use of patterns with the frivolity of character. 

As I have a full time job and a small kiln I only make work in small batches. Due to this reason I can't take any custom orders at present, but will add work as I make it. Apart from the small succulent pots I rarely make the same piece twice and when I do they tend to vary in size, pattern and glaze so if you like a piece grab it while you can!"

Home essentials: The Glorious Houseplant...

Beautiful Large House plants

Sculptured Leaves

Houseplant via Flickr

Via CoffeeKlatch

Indoor fern Via Design Sponge

Plants as camouflage Via Remodelista

Covering up pipes or messy walls, adding some colour and life to a dull room, or as a huge statement piece, with their own personalities and growing quirks houseplants are an essential in any home

Not only do houseplants look beautiful but evidence shows that plants calm us, reduce stress, increase pain tolerance, and speed recovery from illnesses. They also improve mental functioning in children and reduce domestic violence. 




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