Love My Bedroom: Flower Edition

My second installment of “I Love My Bedroom” edition has to do with flowers. Don’t be afraid to add flowers and plants to your bedroom. One reason is they add beauty, life and personality to any space but flowers and plants are also good for your health; both mentally and physically. Flowers and plants are known for their air cleaning properties and for enriching environments with oxygen but additionally they can help add relief to mild depression and anxiety symptoms. So my advice is- go ahead... add flowers and plants to your décor.


It’s always good to add what you like, visually but how about seeing if certain plants exude certain moods and symbols and if that may help you decide which flowers and plants are best to add. Below is a short list of my top 5 favorites in no particular order. I’ll add more in upcoming posts.

Bamboo

The bamboo is the most popular plant in China and represents the spirit of summer. The bamboo is considered a gentleman with perfect virtues. The bamboo combines upright integrity with accommodating flexibility. It has the perfect balance of grace and strength, or the Yin and the Yang. When a storm comes, the bamboo bends with the wind. When the storm ceases, it resumes its upright position. Bamboo also symbolizes longevity, immortality and youth. Its ability to cope with adversity and still stand firmly without losing its original ground is inspirational.

Tulip
The flower symbolism associated with tulips is fame and perfect love. The symbolic meanings also change with the color of the tulips. Red tulips mean "believe me" and are a declaration of love. Variegated tulips mean "you have beautiful eyes." Yellow tulips mean "there's sunshine in your smile." And cream colored tulips mean "I will love you forever."

Calla Lily
The flower symbolism associated with the calla lily is magnificent beauty. Calla lilies are native to southern Africa. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary. Calla lily is popular with painters because of its appealing and elegant shape. Home designers love its simplicity. A single calla lily placed in a long stem vase is a favorite of home decor. (This is my most favorite flower!)

Daffodil
The flower symbolism associated with the daffodil is regard, unrequited love, chivalry, sunshine, respect and the sun shines when I'm with you. Though the traditional daffodil of folklore, poetry, and field may have a yellow to golden-yellow color all over, both in the wild species and due to breeding, the daffodil may be variously colored

Sunflower
The flower symbolism associated with sunflowers is adoration. Sunflowers turn their heads to the sun, which is the origin of their common name. Sunflowers belong to the genus helianthus, a reference to Helios, the sun god. Cultivated sunflowers can reach an incredible twenty feet in height. Sunflowers are one of the fastest growing plants in the world, increasing in height up to one foot a day. These lofty heights have resulted in the sunflower being symbolic of haughtiness as well as adoration.

For those of you who have experimented with Flowers and Plants in the boudoir, comment and let us know know all about it.

For more information on more flowers not seen here, go to: http://livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm

Make mine SEXY!

Simple Sketch

This keepsake blog post is dedicated to the “I Love My Bedroom” edition because I do Love My Bedroom so I wanted to share ways to incorporate keepsakes into this highly revered space. So that got me to thinking… what kinds of really cool keepsakes can you keep in a bedroom and would want to keep in a bedroom? Well… that then got me to thinking of what are some of the creative things I’ve seen on tv or the internet that I could share with my readers and I’ve come up with some great ideas- One in which I am excited to share here with you all.



Stephen Colbert



Self-Portraits

Yeah, you heard me! Why not spruce up your space with a gaudy, over-the-top self-portrait and hang it somewhere unexpected (or totally expected- depending on your outlook). The idea came to me as I thought about Samantha’s nude self-portrait or Stephen Colbert’s self-portrait and how we could tame that beast and in the process create a great keepsake.

Andy Warhol Style Pets

My grandmother has a hand-painted self-portrait that was done by a cousin of mine for an exhibit he did on Black women in Cincinnati and I love that painting and I am sure I will have to fight my cousins to see who will get it after she passes- but as for now, I just admire it every time I am over there. Now, I wouldn’t keep a big painting of my grand ole grandma in the boudoir as it could do damage to the mood (wink, wink) but as a spark of genius- it would do fine in her bedroom.

So besides a painting, there are some cool ideas available to make this idea a reality and one you will treasure and your loved ones will treasure long after you are gone!

Cartoon or Caricature

• Sketch (black and white, pencil, really artsy and classic)

• Wood carving (gritty and skilled craftsmanship, long-lasting)

• DNA Imprint ( kinda weird but unique and a classic conversation piece)

• Andy Warhol Style (electric and vibrant, really fun and makes you smile)

• Cartoon or Caricature (if done tastefully, can be a fun addition to a fun décor)


These are just a few ideas. Get creative and make some memories. I know you can do it. If you create a great self-portrait, please share- I’d love to see what you’ve done!



DNA Imprints


Some links to help get your creative juices flowing- I got the pics used in this blog posts here as well.

http://michelleburnettart.blogspot.com/2010/11/self-sketch.html

http://cartoonpictures.ularsawah.com/2010/12/cartoon-photo-of-america-ferrera.html

http://www.dnaimprints.com/wall-art/portrait

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61257242/custom-andy-warhol-style-pet-portrait

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

This is a bit off topic, but I don't care. If I can be a part of saving a life, then I am happy that a random post make it on my site.

I was listening to talk radio here in my home town when the 2 guests from the hospital explained why they was on today. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and so I wanted to share with you, my readers what I learned today. Although I am not at risk for prostate cancer (being a woman and all), what I heard was alarming expecially as it relates to the Black community.

Prostate Cancer does not exhibit any early warning symptoms!!!! By the time a man exhibits symptoms, its about too late for any non-evasive treatment options to both save his life and preserve his "natural" sexual function! Fellas, yes- you read that right!

Men, please go get screened. It is a simple blood test and/or rectal exam. Trying to avoid the rectal exam is not worth killing yourself over.  Am I right, ladies? Who likes the pap smear? Its uncomfortable, embarrassing but necessary and so is the rectal exam. So stop being a big baby and bend over! take it like a man- save your life. Get screened today!

For more information, go to the Prostate Cancer Foundations website at http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5699537/k.BEF4/Home.htm

Thanks for the slight departure in topic!

Make a Mosaic as a Keepsake!

I am a big ole softy. I cry at sad commercials, emotional greeting cards and am a sucker for a gift given from the heart. Not all keepsakes are hand-made and as much as I treasure hand-made, I also treasure store bought. I am an equal opportunity giver and taker! This however is about something hand-made that should be totally reflective of the person to whom the gift will be given. We are talking mosaic artwork.

Don’t get scared, it is not as hard and time consuming as you think. It is quite simple buy makes a huge impact, IF DONE RIGHT! It should not only reflect the person who will receive the gift but should also reflect the occasion which is a great and important tie-in for a keepsake.

So reflect on not only the” who” but the “why”. Is this a house-warming gift or for a baby shower, or it is a birthday or anniversary gift? What does this person like; what is their ascetic, color palette or favorite thing? Where do you see this piece of art hanging; Kitchen, Living room, Bedroom, Office, Baby room??? Answering these questions will help you pick the perfect image to mosaic.

Is this the right gift for you to give? Only you can answer this question. But if you want a stunning, one-of-a kind, visual piece that can stand out as truly memorable art made by hand- you can’t go wrong with a modern mosaic. It is not too time consuming and not very expensive. For a quick how-to guide, check out http://bit.ly/qsxlJx.

If you make this for someone special, we would love to hear your story and their reaction- even share see a pic of your art work. You can share it here as a comment or on facebook (wow keepsakes) or via twitter (@wowkeepsake). We would love to see your amazing project!