Creating a Mini Succulent Planter Oasis

O·a·sis  | /ōˈāsis/ | Noun

1. A fertile spot in a desert where water is found.

2. A pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic place or situation.

With our moving truck still missing (I haven't heard from them once since they hauled my stuff away 3 weeks ago) it has become increasingly challenging to remain calm and keep focused on the positive. And it probably goes without saying, but finding entertainment inside an empty house is getting a little hard to come by as well. Fortunately the weather has been gorgeous here...perfect gardening weather!

So while my gardening skills are pretty much maxed-out with silk plants and pre-cut blooms from the grocery store, I decided to give succulents (real plants!) a try. Rumor has it they are pretty difficult to do away with. After watching a handful of YouTube videos on how to plant succulents and feeling only marginally more prepared, my daughter and I trekked off to the local hardware / nursery store and dove right in.

Time to create a mini oasis! Back home I poured my special cactus mix soil (supposedly good for succulents...but we'll see) into the large pot I'd picked out and started arranging the plants in the soil. I didn't really have a rhyme or reason for where each plant ended up...I just wanted there to be nice contrast and a bit of a wild feel about the finished look.

The thing is, that even though I have been a horrid gardener up to this point in my life, I have always had a deep affinity for succulents. They will forever remind me of childhood visits with my grandparents here in California. As a kid who lived neck-deep in snow most of the year in Minnesota and Montana, stepping off the airplane and into a place warm with sun and brimming with plants and flowers was something more than just a little bit magical to me.

So now that I have my very own little spot of planted magic, I'm going to be keeping a watchful eye on it...and will hopefully have nothing but good news to report about it's progress as the year goes on. Maybe one day soon I'll even have a chair (what a novel idea) to prop beside it where I can watch the sun set in our neighborhood. How beautiful would that be?!

By the way, I'm by no means a plant expert. But after sharing a photo of my little succulent plantings over on Instagram a request for plant identification came in. So since most of the pots that my plants came in were not labeled, I made a trip back to the store and wrote down all the names that I could find to share with you here today (hence all the succulent identification above). If you notice that I got anything wrong, please feel free to send the correct details my way! I hope they will come in handy for you if you decide to create your own little succulent oasis someday soon. xo Ez

P.S. For those of you wondering...it turns out that we legally have to give the moving company 21 "business days" (not 21 actual days) to return our things to us. This is why you haven't yet seen me calling these horrid people out all over social media. When the time comes I promise to tell you know exactly who they are so that you can keep yourself and everyone you care about as far away from them as humanly possible!

DIY Springtime / Easter Tulip & Egg Centerpiece

To welcome the first day of Spring today, we have a special guest post to share that was created for us by the amazingly talented floral designer Kiana Underwood of Tulipina. Enjoy!

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With Easter, the possibilities for creative expression are abundant. This particular design incorporates the staples of spring and Easter (colorful flowers and eggs) in a unique and easy way. The green ranunculus are amazing in the texture that they bring to the design, and the colorful pop of the tulips and lilies scream cheer and happiness. A few ceramic rabbits on another cake plate finish the Easter motif. I hope that you enjoy trying your own version of this DIY.

What you will need:

• Tulips
• Green ranunculus
• Lilies
• A pedestal vase/bowl | used here: Pearl Compote Serving Bowl
• Cake platter | used here: Faux Bois Cake Stand
• Three dozen hard-boiled brown eggs

Begin by placing the pedestal bowl on top of the cake platter and start arranging the tulips so that they hang over the side of the bowl. The tulip leaves (attached to the stems) create a nice fill as well.

Continue by placing the lilies in the same manner next to the tulips.

Add the ranunculus and additional tulips. 

Continue by filling in with additional numbers of each variety. This arrangement works well by having a reasonable segregation between the floral varieties.

Stack the eggs carefully around the platter and voilà - you have a lovely Easter centerpiece. 

Kiana Underwood is the owner of Tulipina, a boutique floral design studio in San Francisco, California specializing in chic events. Kiana’s unique approach to design blends a natural and organic garden style with creative and eclectic design. She is also the editor of floral blog Naked Bouquet, which focuses on design and creative DIYs. When not designing, Kiana enjoys reading, playing the piano, and being a busy mother of three. In addition to her website and blog, you can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

All photography by Angie Cao

Additional props used: Woven Ceramic Round Basket | Ceramic Bunnies (purchased from a grocery store)

Pinterest Picks: A Springtimey Palette

This weeks Pinterest Picks are heavily influenced by Spring's soft pastels...but with a toned down vibe that seems to keeps them from venturing too far into crazy candyland. I'm still loving my black, white, and neutrals (of course)...but have noticed a stronger and stronger itch for pops of color with every blossom that's bloomed around us. How about you? Are you ready for brighter colors or are you still digging cozy wintery hues?

See more of my recent pins over on Pinterest.

Links: 1. Moth Girl by Amyisla Illustration /via/ 2. Homemade Marshmallows by The FauxMartha /via/ 3. Game Face Moisturizer from Triumph & Disaster /via/ 4. Gorgeous Florals from Atlanta Magazine, featured on 100 Layer Cake /via/ 5. Coconut-Key Lime Pie fom Martha Stewart Living /via/ 6. Zimmermann Locket Floral-print Bikini /via/

Learning a new Skill: Digital Illustration with Brad Woodard

Hi friends! I just wanted to quickly pop by to share my excitement with you. Earlier this morning I enrolled in designer/illustrator Brad Woodard's Skillshare online class where he will be teaching Digital Illustration: Communicate with Color, Pattern, and Texture...and I couldn't be more jazzed.

I love Brad's illustrative style, and am hopeful that even without all the usual tools (my digital tablet, scanner, etc. are all stuck on our missing moving truck) I can learn a ton through his tutelage. The best part...after a discount code (offered via Brad's blog) the full class is only $15! No reason not to sign up, right?! I hope that if you have been curious about illustration or have been wanting to add the skill to your long list of talents, that you'll consider joining so we can be classmates!

Why not Today? Lessons begin tomorrow! I hope to see you there! xo Ez

All illustrations by Brad Woodard

Color Inspiration: 03. 18. 13

Wonderful illustration work by artist Angela Keoghan. Prints available at August Avenue.