Discovering Pussy Willows

Don’t you just love them? Soft, tiny bundles of fluff perched delicately on the edge of a branch, pussy willows are a delightful addition to spring. But just what are they? Here at Willows on Willows, we thought it only fitting to share a bit about this soft and tiny spring delight.

Pussy willows come from the willow tree, specifically the species Salix caprea (or discolor). Before leaves bloom on the trees, small, silky catkins appear as tiny buds on the branches. They are silvery or yellow in color and most typically about the size of a quarter.

HOW TO DISPLAY THEM

Pussy willows are a great way to welcome spring indoors. Bundles can be small or large, short or long and used in displays throughout your home. A grouping of longer stems can brighten up a dining room or entry hall when placed in a taller vessel such as a floor vase or tall planter. Tiny bunches can be placed in mason jars in the kitchen or your sunroom.

Pussy willows can also be used outside a front door by sticking them into the middle of a planter display of greenery, whether cedar boughs, pine branches, or ivy. Florist foam can help keep the cuttings upright. Pottery also makes a good container for display. Pussy willows’ supple branches can also be bent and used as a wreath for your front door. You can definitely get creative with them! How about this cute bowl to display your Easter eggs in?

HOW LONG THEY LAST

Once cut, pussy willow stems will last indefinitely when treated with care. Keep them out of water to preserve the furry catkin. If you want the buds to continue to open, place them into water. Once they reach their desired sized, remove them from water and they stop growing. If left in water they will grow roots. The branches can then be popped into soil where they will grow rather easily.

We love this pretty pussy willow wreath, learn how to make your own from HGTV 

Fresh Cut Flowers on Display

We love displaying fresh flowers. Pretty blooms offer color and beauty on a kitchen island or the dining room table. Spring brings with it pretty tulips and daffodils. Mini carnations can always be found. Many florists have suppliers that help them stock many colorful blooms and greenery. 

        

Often fresh cut flowers are inexpensive, so it's easy to have them as regular guests in your home. You can break up a bouquet and place smaller containers of flowers in bathrooms and guest rooms. A large bouquet of the same flower can be a striking accent in your entryway. A single orchid or other flower is a peaceful addition to any bed side table.

        

Containers for your flowers can be anything from a cut glass vase to mason jars. Almost anything that holds water has potential as a container for your bouquets. With the selection of Napa Home pottery at The Willows, we found our first choice!

How do you display flowers? Share your inspirations!

Decorating with Accents for Big Impact

Enter any home or browse through your favorite home decorating magazine and what stands out? Every person has their own taste and styles that appeal to them. For some, minimalist interiors are perfect. The clean aesthetic and uncluttered rooms make for serene living. Others prefer colorful rooms with vibrant fabrics and ecclectic mixes of furnishings and accessories.

Whether traditional, shabby chic or modern is your preference, every interior is enhanced with the addition of art and other accents. Rooms come to life with the perfect art work and tasteful ornaments. An inviting entryway is created with a small bench and hall runner. Finishing touches are what help to pull a look together and make a house feel like a home.

Here is a collection of pictures showing how the right accents have a big impact on the look of any space. Enjoy!

So many gorgeous accent pieces in this beautiful room from the Ralph Lauren Brook Street Collection

Both these rooms show accent pieces used to enhance the space 

& add charm without looking cluttered ~ via HGTV

We love the collection of framed pictures over the bed and the simple

decorating on the side table ~ via Martha Stewart

Such a welcoming outdoor space ~ 

pretty flowers & cushions add just the right touch via Country Living

These apothecary jars enhance a bathroom with simple elegance via House And Home

Pretty accents help create an inviting entry way via Style At Home 

Do you have a favorite accent piece or look you've created in your home? 

Please post pictures on our Facebook Wall!

Preparing for House Guests

If you've been following our blog for any length of time, or know much about us, you know we're passionate about family! Although many of us live close enough to visit on a weekly basis, some of our favorites are scattered around western Canada.
As often as possible we get together. This usually means preparing the guest room. It can be so much fun getting ready to host guests. Preparing beforehand takes away some of the stress and simply allows us to enjoy our time together.

These are some of the things we do to create a comfortable space for our guests.

• Ideally guest rooms have their own bathroom or are in a part of the house with easy access to one.
• Fresh flowers on the nightstand or dresser are a quick and simple way to decorate the room and welcome our friends and family.
• Beds are dressed in fresh linens; flannel in the winter and crisp cotton in the summer. Each guest gets two pillows.
• A set of fresh towels, including bath, hand and face cloths, are available for each guest.
• An alarm clock is great so guests can get themselves up on time.
• A small selection of books and magazines is available for night time reading.
• Closet space and a couple of empty drawers are important, especially for those staying longer than a weekend.
• Something unexpected, like gourmet chocolates or a pretty bar of french milled soap, is a thoughtful luxury and a way to say welcome!
• Typically meals are planned in advance and most of the shopping taken care of before guests arrive. We always leave room for guests to contribute. This could be a bottle of wine for dinner or accepting an invitation out for lunch. 

Sometimes you want to take your prep a little bit further. This video gives you a few more thoughtful ideas to make your guest's stay the best it can be.

How to Prepare a Cozy Guest Bedroom

Now the only left to do is enjoy catching up, snapping fun photos and enjoying the time together.

Creative Ways to Remember Your Vacation

Vacations are important, just ask Terri. She really needed to get away and just returned from a wonderful jaunt to Mexico where she saw sail fish, whales, dolphins, and turtles. She also visited a location boasting more than 400 species of birds! And she has the tan to prove it. Quite the trip, one she won’t soon forget.

But sometimes that’s just what happens, you forget. Real life hits you full force and the memories begin to fade. We thought of some great ways to help preserve some of the memories. Hope these ideas inspire you too!

•  Journaling each day documenting breakfast at cafes, stunning art at world-class museums, and foreign words mastered is great. Train tickets and postcards can be tucked inside the pages. Write down names of people and how you met, favorite shopping excursions, and quirky customs you observe while away.
•  Create a yearly calendar of your travel history as a gift to share with family and friends.
•  Small boxes or pottery purchased at your travel destination can become mini treasure chests filled with favorite keepsakes from your vacation.
•  Mount a menu or tear sheet from your favorite restaurant as art for your kitchen.
•  Use labels peeled from beer and wine bottles native to your destination to create a collage on canvas.
•  Old-fashioned scrapbooking is fun too. Creating a vacation album is a great way to bring other family members together. Have everyone design their own page and relive the moments.

And on a simpler note, the tried and true photograph inside a great frame is also a way to keep your vacation at the forefront of your memory. The Willows has a great selection of frames. Stop by!