Inspiring Holiday Ideas From Bachmans

Words are profoundly powerful, especially when chosen carefully. I thought this quote was thought-provoking when reflecting recently on JFK's legacy.

"And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time." 

Libba Bray 

An American writer of young adult novels including 

the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Going Bovine, and The Diviners.  

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Bachman's Florist and Greenhouse in Minneapolis, MN invites the public to their Idea House three times a year. The house is located at their Lyndale store right near the parking lot. Call ahead for tickets if you are in the area. 
Each season, the designers transform this 1920's bungalow, by repainting, refurnishing, and redecorating the house with their signature mix of new trend items, repurposed pieces and a touch of vintage. This season the home makeover was titled "A Cozy, Contemporary Nordic Celebration." The designers brought in a lot of outdoor elements into the decorating scheme.

Each cut piece of birch had a hole drilled in with a dogwood branch pushed into the hole. Letters were printed in marker on the birch.

If only I had known about this repurpose project sooner. My husband just got rid of tire rims. This table was made from 2 truck tire rims stacked on top of one another and a glass piece placed on top. 

Instant curtains by hanging dishtowels and fastened with chalkboard clips.

A vintage bed spring hung as a pot rack.

  

Vintage frame repurposed as a tray.

A bed fit for a princess. Porch posts used to make a canopy bed accented with miniature lights.

  A collage wall arrangement made with rustic star containers that held photos.

Chandelier made of small terra cotta pots and garland.

Little red barn used as a doghouse.

Vintage window screen and grate hung as wall art.

So perhaps some of these ideas will inspire your holiday decorating. These photos represented only a small portion of all the available ideas. As you can see "red" was the color of the day.

A warm drink on a chilly day was the perfect ending to an inspiring afternoon.

 Apple Cran-Raspberry Drink

Ingredients:

·         ½ gallon apple cider
·         32 oz. cran-raspberry drink (I used a product from Ocean Spray)
·         10 whole cloves
·         3 large cinnamon sticks
·         1 orange cut in half

Directions:

·         Place 5 whole cloves in each orange half
·         Pour cider and cran-raspberry drink into a large pot on the stove 
·         Add orange halves with cloves cut side down into cran/cider mixture with                                   cinnamon sticks
·         Warm on low heat for an hour, stir occasionally

To serve: Remove orange halves and cinnamon sticks, pour into mugs.