Get Excited for The Flower Show

Rendering by NBC Philadelphia

I am sure it’s no surprise that one of my favorite annual events is The Philadelphia Flower Show. It takes place each year, usually in early March, in the Philadelphia Convention Center at 1101 Arch Street. The Flower Show starts this weekend and I cannot wait to go, so if you are searching for something to do this weekend to alleviate the winter blues, nothing compares to The Flower Show.

General Public Hours 2025

March 1 - 8:  10:00 am – 8:00 pm 
March 9:  10:00 am – 6:00 pm

For tickets go here.
For highlights and events go here.

Our Nation’s History

Did you know it is our nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event? It began in 1829, when the Philadelphia Horticultural Society launched the country’s first public flower show at the Masonic Hall.

creative Themes

I always enjoy the artist’s interpretations of themes and I spend my time there appreciating the extensive planning that goes into the designs. I thought it would be interesting to take a look back in time at the many Flower Show Themes. I’ve included the themes as far back as 2000. Janet Evans compiled this list and it goes back to 1960, if you’re interested in seeing the full list click here.
Year Theme
2024 United by Flowers
2023 The Garden Electric
2022 In Full Bloom
2021 Habitat
2020 Riviera Holiday
2019 Flower Power
2018 Wonders of Water
2017 Holland: Flowering the World
2016 Explore America
2015 Celebrate the Movies
2014 ARTiculture
2013 Brilliant!
2012 Hawaii: Islands of Aloha
2011 Springtime in Paris
2010 Passport to the World
2009 Bella Italia
2008 Jazz It Up!
2007 Legends of Ireland
2006 Enchanted Spring... A Tribute to Mother Nature
2005 America the Beautiful
2004 Destination Paradise
2003 Festival de las Flores
2002 The Pleasures of the Garden
2001 Great Gardeners of the World
2000 Gardens For the New Millennium 

Photo by billypenn.com

If you’re interested in more tips on how to enjoy the show, you can read my blog How to Enjoy The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. Just be aware that the dates on that blog are from previous years. Refer instead to the 2025 dates above.

Photo by Curbed Philly

Historic Castles. What are they used for?

Fonthill Castle, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

I just came across this contest: Enter to Win a Castle Getaway, so I wanted to send it to all of you, my cherished subscribers. I hope you find time to enter. It’s a cool opportunity to tour two of Doylestown’s unique castles and stay overnight at a nearby Inn.

If you’ve ever wondered what modern-day people do with historic castles, allow me to share how one of my design couples showcased Fonthill in Doylestown, PA.

First, a little history

Fonthill Castle was the home of archaeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. It was built between 1908 and 1912, and it’s an early example of poured-in-place concrete and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces, 10 bathrooms, and one powder room.

Henry was a proponent of the American Arts and Crafts movement and as part of his philanthropy, he built The Moravian Tile Works on his Fonthill estate. Moravian tiles are handmade ceramic tiles featuring intricate designs inspired by ancient and historical themes. Here is an example of one. If you tour Fonthill you will see that Henry used his Moravian tiles everywhere when building his home. They cover ceilings, floors, and just about every square inch of this castle inside and out.

Castles Today

Special events like fundraisers, beer festivals, and weddings love the modern-day Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, PA. It’s a popular venue choice among those seeking a unique, historical building with a specific artistic flair.

Here is how one engaged couple decided to celebrate this castle.

A castle-inspired wedding invitation

Stephanie & Clayton chose Fonthill for their wedding venue a few years ago and hired me to design their invitation suite. This was a unique opportunity to build a concept around an artistic castle known for its clay tiles and yes, the groom’s name was Clay so the project was lots of fun.

The concept & Design

We hired a watercolor artist to paint a Mercer Tile-like cover depicting Fonthill Castle nestled among the many places Stephanie and Clayton had traveled. I had the opportunity to write some interesting headlines while building the stationery suite. “The Art of Marriage” was the main headline and “Start with a Good Clay” kicked off their story. The mini-book invitation creatively told their love story and culminated by inviting guests to the affair.

Carry it all through

To carry the concept through the entire event, I commissioned time with local tile artist, Katia McGuirk to help us create the wedding favors. The three of us worked side-by-side with Katia and designed, pressed, glazed, and fired an assortment of clay pendants, each depicting one of Stephanie and Clayton’s previous vacations. The clay pendants were used as favors, and each table featured the story of a particular vacation. We created a rubber stamp of each vacation icon and they were used to mark the table cards as well as all the place cards at the entrance.

Italy Pendant and Table Card

Canada Pendant and Table Card

Programs

The wedding programs were also unusual. We designed large, round, double-sided cards, and attached dangling love notes. “The Marriage” side outlined the ceremony details while “The Art” outlined the participants. It was an unexpected design that mimicked the round favor tiles and intrigued guests.

Enter to win

So now you no longer need to wonder what people sometimes do in and around modern-day Castles. If you choose one for your next big event, I recommend going with the castle’s cool vibe and designing your event accordingly. I hope you win this Castle getaway, and if you do please drop me a line. Good Luck!

Creative Ideas For Your Valentine

Valentines Gifts: Not Just Flowers & Candy

Fun fact: According to the National Retail Federation, Valentine's Day spending reached $25.8 billion overall — an average of $185.81 per person in 2024. I think this is because Valentine's gift-giving has evolved to include ALL THE LOVES of our lives: Spouses, Special Friends, Parents, Kids, Co-workers, Teachers, and even Pets. Therefore, it’s only fitting that our gift options evolve as well.

Alternative Valentine Gift Ideas

I like to encourage giving flowers, but as you know, I try to support local growers and not many local Pennsylvania flower growers have blooms in frigid February. So I’ve written a short list of sentimental alternatives that should help you think outside the candy box and express your Valentine LOVE more creatively.

Give A Pressed Flower Frame

Framing a sentimental piece with pressed flowers is a nice way to remember an event. Pressed flower frames can be propped on a small shelf, a mantle, or hung over a photo commemorating the actual experience. Wedding invitations, baby ultrasounds, engagement photos, and small mementos like rings become elevated keepsakes when surrounded by pretty flowers and a simple frame. And it’s even better if the flowers are unique to the event, so consider drying and pressing your own.

Shadow boxes are best for three-dimensional objects but floating frames work well for flat art and pressed flowers. If you are creating a three-dimensional frame and want dried flowers, learn how to dry your own here. And if you’d like to press your own fresh flowers, I recommend this flower press. It’s the one I use and it works nicely and looks even better sitting on the table.

Give A Flower Farm Tour or Photo shoot

Did you ever think about contacting a local farm and arranging a walking tour or photoshoot? This is more of a “for the future” gift and would be perfect for someone who loves gardens or summer strolls, has a special event coming up, or for someone who has everything tangible and needs nothing more.

I’ve teamed up with local flower growers here in Pennsylvania and hosted several pre-wedding flower farm tours. During the tours brides, grooms and their guests see all of the flowers that will be growing on or near the date of their wedding. They can choose a specialty flower to be grown especially for them or just ask questions and speak with the grower about the different varieties available. But this unique type of gift does not need to be reserved for newly engaged couples. Think about taking a friend and a bottle of wine for a tour of a local sunflower field or arranging a family photo shoot at a local lavender farm or vineyard. All of these ideas make wonderful Valentine's gifts that can be enjoyed well past February.

Give Something Evergreen and Unique

Did you ever receive a potted plant and think, this I so wonderful because it will live much longer than a week? That’s the joy an evergreen gift brings. An evergreen gift is a gift that keeps on giving long after its moment in the sun. There are so many evergreen ideas out there but here are a few that involve nature itself. Consider a Terrarium, Moss Wall or Nature Experience as a gift for your Valentine this year.

Terrariums can be assembled using a few small plants, some rocks that you find in your backyard, a little bit of soil, live moss, and some natural embellishments that you hunt for outside. And don’t think that you need to build yours in a glass bowl. Terrariums come in many shapes and sizes these days. I search thrift shops for large gravy boats and interesting pedestal compotes to make mine. Terrariums are great because they will last a really long time, are gender-neutral and they can be custom-built for your special someone. They are perfect for any space in the house, dormitory, or office and require very little care.

A Moss Wall is a popular nature wall hanging that uses preserved moss and requires no care at all. They are easily created with a base tray, some reindeer moss, hot glue, and nature embellishments of your choice. They are fun to make and will certainly make your Valentine smile if you gather supplies and arrange a Moss Wall Creation day just for them.

Another idea is to surprise your Valentine with a custom-designed Nature Experience. A Nature Experience is just as it sounds, an experience created around a nature workshop of some sort. There are so many workshops to consider. There are Bouquet Bars, Terraium or Plant Workshops, Dried Flower Workshops and Wreath Workshops to name just a few. But really, anything you can think up can be used to create a unique gift of a Nature Experience. This gift is fantastic because it allows the recipient to essentially build their own gift by doing something they enjoy with people they like, and it’s perfect for almost any time of year. So don’t rule out giving a practical and special Evergreen Gift. And if you need ideas, see this page.

I hope these ideas inspire you. Happy Valentine’s Day all! - Kim

How An Invitation Can Tell Your Love Story

Should Everyone have A Wedding Theme?

Today it seems most big events have a theme or a distinguishing thread that evokes an emotion or tells a story. However, not everyone wants a theme. Instead, you may have a small vision board, colors, or floral suggestions representing how you see your event unfolding. Here is how adding a touch of creativity to your existing idea can help you tell your love story in an interesting way.

what is your Love Story?

Most couples do not come to me with a theme, instead, they have some sort of special love story that they want to tell. Occasionally these stories are very unique, but more often than not the love stories are pretty typical.

This was the situation with Marisa and Corey. When they asked me to design their wedding invitation, they did not have a theme. They met while at Kutztown University, had dated for a few years, got engaged, and were now planning their wedding. So they hired me to find a way to tell their love story compellingly and creatively.

Designing A Love Story

Right from the start, Marisa and Corey knew they wanted sunflowers to be their wedding flower. These were the perfect choice because they are lovely to work with and very much in season in mid-August. Aside from being big, bold, and beautiful, sunflowers represent adoration and loyalty, so I thought they were a good start for a wedding invitation concept.

Step 1: Develop an interesting concept

I began this design project by writing a short poem about an adoring couple of sunflowers. Sunflowers needed to be the main characters so I broke the poem into three parts and began by designing the bright yellow text pages of this 8-page invitation book. Writing the poem text helped me develop the concept, in this case, the Sunflower.

Sunflower Concept: Although we often fall for surface beauty, it’s what’s underneath that’s important.

Here is the poem:

“A little bloom peeked out today, out of the earth and far away another bloom about the same came up to dance and feel the rain. They sunned and soared but always two, for each, alone, had much to do.”

“And then one day the sun went down, they looked beneath the garden’s ground. Below the tangled leaves they saw, inside the dirt, no light at all.”

“It’s not the beauty we can see, or bright, rich colors calling thee, It’s underneath and deep inside, undying love that’s true and tried.”

Step 2: Capture compelling Images

To capture the proper images to match the poem, I hired a renowned local watercolor illustrator, Jane Ramsey. Jane illustrated each poem’s page perfectly. I then brought her illustrations into my design program and gave each a thin border for definition. This helped define each sunflower illustration on the page opposite its corresponding bright yellow text page in the book.

Step 3: A good title says it all

The title “Intertwined” is centered on a deep soil-like background on the cover of this book. A small paper sunflower tied with a delicate string of raffia dangled over the saddle-stitched spine. All the pages were printed and bound by a professional printer. This book was the first thing guests saw when they slid open the invitation suite. The full suite consists of the love storybook, the loose wedding invitation that slides out of an envelope glued to the back inside of this book, a custom-designed response card, an accommodation card, and an envelope. You can see the full design and other love stories in my portfolio here.

designing your own concept invitation

If you want to tell your love story creatively, choose blooms, colors, or something special that embodies your emotions, and find a designer who can convey your heartfelt message to guests in a creative way.

Kim Bensing is the creative director behind Studio Sprig at Windy Hill. With the help of her 19th-century farmhouse and its vintage gardens, she shares floral styling strategies, custom stationery concepts, home DIY inspiration, and a new line of wallpaper and fabric designs. Join her on her artist's journey, one project at a time! Subscribe here

How to Design a Valentine Tree

Why I Designed a Tree FIlled with Love

As the Christmas season was coming to an end, I decided I wanted to enjoy our pretty tree a little longer. I knew I could get away with keeping our faux Balsam Hill Pine up through January dressed in its wintery guise, but what excuse did February have? That’s why, this year, I created a Valentine's Tree. Read on to see how I did it.

Transitioning a Christmas Tree

We created a pretty simple Christmas tree this year so the transition was easy. I first removed all of the Christmas balls but kept all the white lights and icicles. This step was very quick and with a semi-bare tree, I was able to then plan for February-appropriate decor.

Making a Valentine's Tree Topper

I considered keeping our glowing Moravian Star tree topper but decided that a Valentine's tree needed to better reflect Valentine’s Day. I considered a grapevine heart wreath covered in dried flowers but decided I’d like to just use found materials and make my own. This is how I did it.

Start with a basic shape

I took an old cardboard box and cut two identical free-form hearts. I then hot-glued a 10” doubled-up piece of floral wire about 4” deep inside the two panels and extended it out the bottom, so that I’d have something to wrap around the tree’s top branch. If I do it again, I will also extend the wire from each side so the heart has more stability when topping the tree.

Once the wire is secured, hot glue the hearts together. This step helps the topper to be more ridged and stable.

Designing the front of your heart topper

Start by designing one side of the heart with your dried flowers and moss. I used my professional-grade Ryobi glue gun, some reindeer moss, and the dried flowers I harvested this year. If you want to learn how to dry your own flowers, see my blog: Learn how to dry your own garden flowers. I didn’t have much of a design or plan, but I just kept filling in the cardboard as I went around the heart and eventually, one side of my heart was completely covered.

Designing side 2

When I finished side 1, I realized leaving the second side of the heart blank wouldn’t look very nice from the side view, so I cut up a coloring book, quickly glued it to the surface of the heart, and glued some leftover moss around the edges to finish it off. In retrospect, I would cover this side first with contact paper or something simple to make the job easier. You could also fill the back side with moss if you have it.

The Heart-Shaped Tree Topper

Here is the result. Not bad for a trial run. Later I’ll show you how it looks on the tree.

Hanging hearts on the Tree

Now the rest of the tree needed some LOVE-ly decor. I found these pretty heart ornaments in rose gold online. They are sold in sets of 45 so I only ordered one set. You can also get them in silver, pink, gold, red, and a pink, red & white combo.

Accenting with Vintage Valentine Cards

I also found some vintage Valentine ornaments to add some character to my tree. There are many types of interesting card ornaments to choose from on Amazon, so look around. Some are more childish which would be nice if you are creating this for your children or grandchildren.

The Unveiling

When all the little rose gold hearts and vintage Valentines were hung, I added a few large dried flowers and some colorful felt ball garlands that I had lying around.

I am very pleased with how this turned out and I’m happy I started a new tradition for our home. Don’t worry, if you’ve already removed your Christmas tree this year, you can plan for next February or grab some fallen branches from outside and place them in a garden pot to make a smaller Valentine’s Branch Tree. Anything is possible. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Host a Fabulous Bouquet Bar for Valentine's Day →

Host a Fabulous Bouquet Bar for Valentine's Day

Winter is the perfect time to host or plan a Bouquet Bar as the highlight of your next special event. Bridal and baby showers seem to be the most popular choices for flower fun, but you can host a Bouquet Bar anytime you want. Girlfriend getaways, book club nights, and birthday and dinner parties lend themselves nicely because no matter the occasion, everyone loves going home with fresh flowers. So since Valentine’s Day is coming up, why not invite some friends over to build pretty bouquets?

Should I D-I-Y My Bouquet Bar?

You can hire a professional to create your bouquet bar or you can D-I-Y it by following these easy steps. If you prefer this option, a professional will bring everything to your site, set up, instruct, and clean up. But if you choose to do it yourself, you only need a few things to pull off a successful bar, the most important being a reliable source of some great focal flowers and foliage.

Here is a list of everything you will need:

• A work table for guests to spread out

• A reliable water source (a sink or hose)

• Tablecloths and towels

• Vases or pretty water-tight pots for assembly

• Sheers for each participant

• Flower Buckets to display your greens & flowers

• Fresh Flowers and Greens

• Flower Food

• Paper goods for refreshments

Prepare the Space

You can create your bouquet bar anywhere that works. Dining rooms, kitchens, patios, decks. Just make sure you have a source of water nearby and that cleanup will not be too difficult. If you’re creating a Bouquet Bar at work, you will probably want to choose a conference room because it will have a lot of space.

Find a good area and set up enough tablespace for everyone to work comfortably. The Bouquet Bar above hosted 11 people and the instructor. This was created in an average-sized dining room. We first placed the tablecloth and each participant received a paper towel. For a more formal party, you can also supply your guests with cloth towels and give them as favors after the event.

Tools and Vessels

It’s important to provide each guest with flower snips or sharp scissors because they will each want to trim their stems and you don’t want everyone reaching around the table sharing snips. You can buy multipacks of scissors or invest in better-quality garden snips that your guests can take home. This will depend on the size of your party and/or occasion.

As for the vessel, I always like to choose a short opaque pot that is water-tight. I think this shape and size above work well for creating an arrangement. But you can always provide tall vases if large and tall arrangements are your preference. I try to avoid clear glass only because I like it when the stems are concealed. The vessels in the photo were purchased at Michaels.

Flower Buckets for Display

Choosing your flower and foliage display buckets is a simple way to “theme up” your event. There are many buckets to choose from including a chippy farmhouse french style, formal basic black, or industrial galvanized metal. Set the buckets up on a covered buffet table or an extra folding table, and be sure to style it according to your theme.

Flowers and Foliage

In the winter months you’ll want to contact a wholesaler if you can so that you can get larger quantities to fill your display buckets. In the spring, summer and fall months I’d find a local flower farm or two and purchase your flowers from them. They will be the best quality and the growers will appreciate your business.

How Many Do I Buy?

Counting stems is a critical part of all of this planning. I always overbuy my flowers because I’d rather have too many than not enough. It’s a good idea to purchase an extra vessel and do a dry run arrangement with some flowers and greens. Then take it apart and count how many foliage and flower stems you used. Triple that and multiply it by the number of guests. You’ll want to have a nice variety to choose from and if you have too few of something, some arrangements may seem sparse. And remember, flowers do break in transit, during processing, and when Bouquet Bar enthusiasts get TOO ENTHUSIASTIC. So be sure to order more than you’ll need. You’ll be happy you did.

Focal flowers, filler flowers (the secondary flowers, not the primary focus) and foliage (the greens) are generally all sold in bunches of 10, so if you want only one type of focal flower, choose only that. But if you want your guests to have choices, then split up your order and buy a variety of flowers. Popular ideas for foliage and filler flowers are eucalyptus, asparagus fern, and wax flower.

Preparing the Flowers

The day before your event, you’ll need to process all the flowers and greenery. This means, taking all the bunches out of the paper or plastic, cleaning and trimming each stem before placing it in fresh cold water with flower food. This is a good time to divide up and organize your buckets so that everything looks well-displayed.

Before trimming the bottom of each stem so that it comfortably fits into its bucket, thoroughly strip each stem of any extra greens or thorns so that leaves do not touch the water. Then store all of your buckets in a cool, dry place overnight. This step is important, as it allows the flowers and foliage to fully hydrate before becoming part of an arrangement and if you are working with tulips, they will stay closed if the space is cool and dark. Proper hydration, allows your arrangements to stay fresher longer.

Day of Event

On the day of the event, style your flower buckets any way you like. You can scatter them around the room or patio, offering different heights for interest but try to keep like things together. For instance, foliage can be in one area, focals in another. Then, set up your guest’s work table and fill each vessel halfway with water.

When the guests arrive, put on some music, explain the bouquet bar, and instruct them to consider what sort of bouquet they’d like to create.

You’ll be creating with your guests so show them how to first choose 5-7 stems of foliage (depending on the size of the vessel) to arrange as a base. Once the foliage is cut and designed in each vessel, point your guests in the direction of the filler flowers. Once the filler and foliage are styled to everyone’s tastes, have your guests choose 3, 5, or 7 focal flowers to round out their bouquet. Do not forget to stage a photo which can serve as a nice thank-you note after the event.

Bouquet Bars are always a big hit so I hope you were inspired by this post and comment about your own experiences. Thank you for visiting.

Thank you, Ileana, for the use of your photos.

How to Make Your Own Mint Tea

Pineapple mint

A few years ago I began growing a few pots of mint right outside on my deck. Before long I began growing many different varieties. To prevent excessive spread, I grow all of them in pots except for Apple Mint which gets quiet tall, and some Spearmint which I scattered around as groundcover.

Mint Varieties

This past summer, I grew 7 mint varieties and I actively dried them to create delicious summer iced teas.

The mints I grow

Pineapple Mint
Apple Mint
Strawberry Mint
Spearmint
Peppermint
Chocolate Mint
Orange Mint

Strawberry Mint

Harvesting Fresh Mint

To keep things manageable, I have decided to cluster all the mint pots on the deck right outside my back door. This way they are easy to care for and simple to harvest. I find it’s important to harvest often to promote growth. The best way to harvest is to cut your mint stems just above the new, tiny leaves or buds. To do this I use this snip tool. I find it’s the best. A sharp, clean cut will strengthen the plant, keep it healthy, and encourage it to branch out in other directions.

Harvesting Peppermint

Cleaning and Drying the Mint

After I snip the mint that is ready, I wash the leaves thoroughly, after I carefully remove the leaves from the stems. I find it’s easier to remove the leaves at this stage before drying because then I don’t risk getting pieces of stem in with the leaves, but you may find you like removing them after you dry your mint. It really doesn’t matter, so just do what is easiest for you. Once the leaves are clean and separated from their stems, I place them on a large serving dish or my stainless baking pans to dry. Most of the time I just let them air dry for a few days but if I am going to be home for a while I dehydrate them in my oven at 175 degrees. If you choose to put them in the oven or dehydrator, they should only take a few minutes. Thorough drying is very important because you do not want any moisture left in the leaves or they will mold when you store them.

Drying Orange Mint

Storing the Mint

Once you are sure your mint leaves are completely dry and crumbly, it’s time to store them. I like to use Mason jars just because I love the look. I created an Herb Drying Rack in my pantry and you can learn how I did that here. But be warned, last year I made the mistake of sealing the jars with traditional Mason lids and I learned that even if you have just ONE moist leaf, your entire batch will be ruined. Luckily, I found these wonderful stainless steel screen lids that fit Mason jars. These lids are great for two reasons, they allow air circulation and now a mint scent fills my pantry.

Stainless Steel Mason Lids

Chopping the Leaves

After the mints dry, I briefly run them through my coffee grinder or food processor if I have a large amount. You can also just scrunch them up in your hands. Any of these methods chops the leaves so they are small enough for the tea bags. It’s not necessary, but I like when the leaves are small because they are easier to scoop out of the mason jars with a spoon.

Unchopped Dried Spearmint

Chopped Dried Strawberry Mint

Making the Teabags

Once you have a collection of dried mints or other tea favorites like dried orange, lime or and lemon peels, echinacea petals, lavender, and chamomile it’s time to create some of your own tea bags. I use unbleached tea filter bags by Numola. What I like about them is they have a drawstring, not a staple, and they are fully compostable. I can toss them right into my countertop compost bin without worry. These filter bags do not come with label tags so I bought simple kraft hang tags which I tie on the string of the bag.

To fill I open the filter bag, fill it about halfway with one or multiple varieties of dried mint, flowers, or fruit, and then tie it securely so the mints do not escape when you place it in water. Once I’ve created a tea variety, I label the tag accordingly and tie that to the teabag. I enjoy giving these herbal & floral teabags as gifts in breakfast baskets and to make my own iced tea.

Unbleached Teabags

I hope this post inspires you to grow some mint or other tea-worthy, edible flowers like the chamomile above, and that it helps you create some warm winter sips. Please comment “MNT” if you’d like a full list of supplies for dying & storing your own mint.

How To Create A Courtyard

The Windy Hill Courtyard Project: Is it possible to combine your love of travel with your love of home design? In this post, I'll share how we created a travel-inspired DIY courtyard on our farm at Windy Hill.

Planning our vacation

Several years ago I planned a very extensive family vacation. It’s understood that whenever I plan a vacation, I carefully consider the accommodations because, I believe, if you seek out cool spaces, where you stay, can be as interesting as the vacation itself.

So, one day as I was paging through Country Living Magazine and I came across an article about a quaint hotel in San Luis Obispo, CA, which was dubbed America's happiest town, by Oprah Winfrey. The hotel I found had a french theme and was named Petit Soleil {A Touch of European Charm in the Heart of San Luis Obispo}. It looked perfect and with a tagline like that, they had me hook line, and sinker.

find Inspirations

Upon our arrival, we were greeted at the front entrance by a sweet bicycle covered in flowers and giant pots filled with herbs. It was charming, to say the least. Inside there is a cafe that looked like a French bistro and all the rooms had creative names like La Cage Aux Folles, Chocolat, and Herb de Provence. But the space that inspired us the most was the sun-warmed garden courtyard. And because it was July, we took advantage of the courtyard’s morning French Toast and also its happy hour French wine. As we enjoyed that glass of French wine, my husband and I looked at each other and said "We should create a garden courtyard like this at home." And when we retruned we did. 

Our farm’s original courtyard

Our home is in Doylestown, PA, so first of all, we get much more snow than California and we were working with a farm that was built circa 1850 and property with many overgrown gardens and herds of pesky whitetail deer. So, we had a few challenges to consider.

The space we wanted to transform into our courtyard sits between the main farmhouse and the lime-green artist cottage and this area wasn’t in the best of shape. We needed to rip out some old, weedy gardens and lay a lot of weed barrier cloth to prepare the way for the red tipple stones and large overlaying flagstones we were about to bring in. 

We also needed to remove a very large, old tree that leaned precariously over the house. We have a lot of high winds here and this tree posed a danger every time it stormed, so we decided it was time to take it down, plus that would free up space and allow for more sunlight into the courtyard. This was a big undertaking, and a crane and a few professionals were called to handle the job.

Clearing the space

We first cleared all the old, weedy gardens, and removed all the broken pieces of slate. Then, we defined a circle around the tree with some rocks, because we knew as soon as the crew could remove the tree, we’d plant something new.

weed barrier mat

Once the slate and gardens were removed, we carefully lined the entire space with a weed barrier cloth, overlapping the edges so nothing could sneak through. (It still did, but that’s another story). Here our daughter’s pose for the camera, indicating they were helping me, but I am not sure that’s the case.

Red Tipple Stone

Next came the smooth spreading of red tipple stone. We chose red tipple because all of our farm driveways already used red stone, so this balanced nicely. Red Tipple is a very small stone and you can smooth it out with a metal rake. Landscapers can deliver several yards of tipple or you can also find it in bags at garden centers or at Home Depot and Lowes. For this courtyard, we had the stone delivered and used a makeshift ramp to wheelbarrow it down the step into the courtyard. As you can see, we worked night and day to finish!

Removing the old Tree

We hired a landscaping crew to remove the big, old tree. They brought in a crane and had to carefully lower and roll the pieces out of the yard. I was very nervous to do this step, but it was so big and potentially harmful, at this point, so we took it down.

Laying the Flagstones

As we neared the end of the project, we still needed to bring in the large, flat flagstones. The stones were delivered on palettes from a local stone supplier and we rolled each one into place by hand. It was a bit of a puzzle placing them on the tipple while considering our furniture and at the same time creating a little bit of space for the tucking of herbs like Creeping Mother of Thyme groundcover. We also knew we wanted a water feature someday but hadn’t found the right one yet. To prepare for this, we laid the flagstones near our house in an arch to accommodate a walking path around the “future” water feature.

Here our son, Blake, lends a hand spreading the tipple around the flagstones like a pro.

finishing touches

So here is the end result of all that hard work. A Pee Gee Hydrangea Tree stands right where the other tree once stood. Many rogue hostas and honeysuckle spontaneously sprung up around it over the years. The stunning stone wall fountain was eventually found at a local company called Campania and ironically was made right up the road. The circular shape was just what we wanted and it fit nicely inside our previously designed, arched flagstone path.

Courtyard Reveal

This is the view from our cottage. In the mild Pennsylvania months, it’s so nice to hear the water trickling and just enjoy this transformed space. We are so glad Petit Soleil inspired us many years ago. I’d love to hear about projects you’ve been inspired to do around your home. Please comment below.

How to Create Oyster Shell Necklaces

Oyster Shells - All the Rage

Oyster shell art seems to be all the rage recently, and I’ve enjoyed learning how to create small jewelry dishes with these shells.

When friends of mine decided to design oyster dishes during our fall beach getaway, I thought why not try to make a few pendant necklaces instead? I couldn’t help but notice that several of the smaller oysters we had collected, already had natural holes, so it was the perfect opportunity to try.

Cleaning and Prepping the Oyster Shells

While on a weekend trip to St. Michaels, MD, I found a bucketful of oysters for sale. I rummaged until I found 10 perfect pendant-sized shells and brought them home to create some gifts. If you don’t have a beachy source to gather some oysters, you can always buy some online.

When home, I soaked the shells in a bucket of water with a bit of bleach for about an hour. I did this to remove any sand and contaminants that might still be lingering on the shells. The next step is to set the shells out to dry thoroughly so you can use a marker to indicate where you’d like to drill a hole, if there isn’t a natural one already.

Drilling the Hole

After you’ve marked the spot that you’d like a hole, decide on the size hole you like and match up the correct drill bit. I purchased 1.5mm round leather cord for my necklaces, but you can use an existing gold or silver chain too.

Set up your drilling station by placing the shell on a small piece of wood and keep a little dish of water nearby. You’ll want to wet the drill bit slightly and drop a few drops of water directly on the shell. This helps eliminate friction when drilling. If you do not have a drill, here is a good drill for small crafts.

Cover the Blemishes

After you’ve successfully drilled the holes and you know your shell did not split or break, you are ready to cover the dark blemishes on the inside surface. I have been doing this with white nail polish but a good opaque white paint works well too. You probably have one or the other lying around. You don’t want to skip this step because these dark blemishes will show up under your designs and ruin the overall look.

Adhere Paper Napkins

Now comes the fun part. Before you begin, you’ll want to acquire a variety of pretty paper napkins. These can coordinate with a holiday or season, a getway weekend, or maybe they are pulled from a collection of the prettiest paper napkins you’ve acquired or stolen from dinner parties all year long!!

Decide which design you’d like to use for your necklace or small dish. If your napkin is 2ply, be sure to carefully remove the underlayer so that only the printed layer remains. then cut the napkin with a scissor in the rough shape of the shell. Make sure your cut is larger than the shell itself. I try to make my cuts at least 3/4” larger on all sides.

Apply Mod Podge

Next, you’ll take your small paint brush and apply Mod Podge to the inside surface of the shell and let it set for about 30 seconds. Then, gently lay your napkin inside the shell cavity, face side up. It will crinkle a bit but lightly press it down with your fingers so that it sticks to the sides and bottom. Now, coat your brush with Mod Podge, and brush it over the napkin until every piece is glued down. You can choose matte or gloss Mod Podge depending on the look you prefer. Do your best to smooth out all the creases with your brush and when all of the inside surface is covered, allow your shell to dry for a few hours. The excess paper napkin will still be all around the edges and that’s okay, you will tear it away once it’s thoroughly dry.

Tear Edges

When your shell has completely dried it will not look that great, in fact it will look unfished. This is normal, the next step is what brings it to life.

Carefully hold your shell and start tearing off the excess paper napkin as gently as you can, all around the edges. If you tear too far and remove some from the inside, that’s okay, just patch the section with a tiny brush of Mod Podge if necessary to secure it to the shell and keep moving. You want to get it to where there are no loose edges of the paper at all around the perimeter. If you patch, be sure to let dry again.

Apply Gold Leaf Edge

Once every edge is torn and everything is dry, vigorously shake your gold leaf (or silver leaf) pen and begin drawing around the edges. You’ll want to shake the pen, and dab it a few times on a napkin to get the gold leaf flowing. Be sure to buy gold leaf and not just a gold marker because the ink is different and you won’t get the metallic leafing effect. Of course, if you are going for a different look and don’t want metallic, you can use a paint marker of any color. But again, be sure your paint marker is opaque and not just a typical marker because you want the outlining edge to cover over the edge of the napkin and define the shell. Have fun with this step by taking the pen into the design or highlighting edges on the back of the shell, as I often do.

Loop the Cord Through

The last step is to string the leather cord through the hole. You can tie it off with a simple slip knot if you’d like, or add beads to finish off the look.

Please attach photos of the necklaces you make after reading this blog. Have fun. There is a full supply list below.

Supplies for Oyster Necklaces

Oyster Shells

Scissors

Drill / Bits

White Nail Polish

Napkins

Matte Mod Podge

Gloss Mod Podge

Small Brush

Gold Leaf Pen

Silver Leaf Pen

Leather Roping

How to Create a Stunning Centerpiece

Start with a great base

A few months ago I found this fantastic cement pedestal planter on Facebook’s Marketplace. It’s very heavy but I managed to get it into my car with a little help from the seller. I was lucky with this one because the beautiful white paint patina was only flaking off a little bit -just enough to show the age, but not enough to ruin my kitchen, where I decided to showcase this rare beauty. Look around garden centers for one of your own and if you’d like to recreate a smaller version of this, I found this replica.

Find A wreath to cover the top

I found this medium silvery wreath floating around, so I decided it would make a great base for my arrangement. It hides the chicken wire mechanics I placed inside the planter for stem stability and it covers the opening enough without hanging too far over the gorgeous, detailed edges. In hindsight, a looser green wreath would work just as well, and if you only have one that hangs over the edges a bit, that would be okay too because it would look soft and flowing. That being said, I recommend looking around your house for something that fits your decorative base well and if you can’t find something then quickly create a small wreath with wire and fresh greens, branches or even faux foliage. Here is a good starting point if you can’t find or make something. Consider pulling apart an old, worn-out wreath and filling it with something new and fresh, but be sure it will compliment your focal flower color palette nicely.

Focal Flowers

When choosing my palette for this winter arrangement, I went with creamy whites and browns so that my design could last all winter and not need to be changed out soon after the Holidays. I decided to use these faux Magnolia branches and a few off-white wooden stems I had lying around. The Magnolia stems are a mix. I found some at a home decor boutique and I found some at Michaels, The wooden flowers came from Trader Joe’s and I’ve had them for years.

The Execution

To fill in the planter, I began by placing each large Magnolia branch so that it loosely spilled out over the scalloped edges of the planter. I had to bend each long, wired stem so they’d be short enough for the planter. I didn’t want to cut them because I may use them differently next year. Once bent, I liked the way they just randomly popped out here and there on all sides.

Secondary Flowers

Next, I began anchoring the wooden flowers so they’d create height in the center. of the arrangement These stems are held up with the chicken wire inside under the wreath. This is important because, without the inside structure, I would not be able to get this grand height. You could also use floral foam, but I try to stay away from foam whenever possible.

Filler Flowers

Once all the creamy Magnolias and wooden flowers were placed where I wanted them, I grabbed a big bundle of muted dried Hydrangea that I picked from my own gardens, and began filling in the spaces. Dried Hydrangea are a bit messy, but they are so nice and fluffy and they do a great job covering up all the stems and rounding out the arrangement. And I don’t mind mixing faux, silks, and dried, as long as my color palette is pleasing and the overall aesthetic is textural and nice. And if you can’t use dried, here is a link for faux Hydrangea stems.

the End Result

So here is the result. A wintery mix of Magnolia & Hydrangea placed smack dab in the middle of my small, antique, kitchen island. It takes up most of the surface, but I love that. And my favorite part is that I do not have to disassemble after Christmas. This color scheme will take me through the winter very nicely. I hung a few dried oranges from the arrangement on Christmas Eve and I may hang a few small hearts for Valentine’s Day. Please tell me what you think. XO - Kim

Supplies for the Magnolia Cement Planter Design

Replica Pedestal Planter (small)

Wreath

Magnolia Stems

Dried Oranges

Small Hearts

Faux Hydrangea Stems

Wooden Flowers (I found mine at Trader Joes)

Why Choose Seasonal Flowers for Your Special Occasion?

Seasonal Flowers

Did you know there is such a thing as a seasonal flower? Much the way there is seasonal food, there are seasonal flowers and the same principles apply. Tomatoes are much better when they come directly from your garden and are grown in warm weather months. Flowers are no different. Depending on your region, the seasonal timeline may vary slightly, but for the most part, we all follow similar growing guidelines.

Fresh seasonal flowers will last at least one week in a vase of clean water, and if processed correctly, many can last much longer. But a cut flower that spends the majority of its life on hold in a dark cooler at the wholesaler, after having endured long days of travel, just won't last as long or be quite as beautiful. This is just one of the many reasons to choose more local and seasonal flowers whenever possible.

The American Flower Farmer

Florists who prefer to primarily use in-season flowers and foliage are usually located in areas with predictable weather patterns. If the weather is too cold for too long, the growing season is just too short for the local flower farmers to make any headway. Many annual cut flowers used by florists require warmer weather for several months at a time. Predictable warm climates are one of the reasons much of the flower-growing industry migrated to South America and Mexico many years ago. However, changes in recent years, with the introduction of the Slow Flower Movement indicate that The American Flower Farmer is making a comeback. Choosing to support locals the next time you seek a fresh bouquet of flowers is an excellent way to ensure they stay. I have included links at the bottom so you can access books and watch two short videos about the Slow Flower Movement in America. The informative book, Flower Confidential., was recommended to me at the beginning of my flower journey and I recommend reading it if you want to learn more about the flower industry in general.

Choosing A Season For Your Event

Proms begin in early spring so that places them at a good time of year to request seasonal flowers. Spring flowers are usually plentiful in many regions of the United States. Mother's Day is also in spring, making it an easy holiday to give a seasonal flower bouquet. Valentine's Day and Winter Holidays, not so much, however, I happen to know many local eco-conscious growers not afraid of the concept of traditional flower substitutions - for instance, opting for locally-grown tulips when only non-domestic roses are the winter alternative. Or you can always do what I do and search for a flower grower in another part of the United States with longer seasons where you can source flowers. Did you know that Alaska has many peony farms and that they are readily available to us outside of our limited growing season? And California with its mild climate and longer growing season has an abundance of flower growers ready to ship upon request. The prom below was in early spring and I chose pink tulips as the posy accent flower.

Prom Flowers

Seasonal wedding flowers are a little easier to manage. Choosing the season of your wedding day based on season-based availability is something you have total control over and one way to creatively plan the beauty of your bouquet and other accents. Asking your sustainable flower artist to source American Grown Flowers and following color schemes rather than specific flowers are both good practices if you choose to have a more eco-conscious wedding. The wedding below took place in early October and the couple chose to use Dahlia.

Photography by Karma Pants

Growing Zones

Spring flowers seem to pop up just in time here in the Northeast U.S. where I reside. At the end of March, we are all ready to shed the coats and get outside for some much-needed vitamin D and that's just the time these beautiful little lovelies begin emerging from the ground. My zone in Pennsylvania is 7b. You can find your zone here. Zone growing guides will help you understand what types of flowers are growing in your area of the country. This will help you plan for a seasonally sourced event.

Spring

The most popular spring flowers in this area are what are known as perennials. A perennial plant or shrub is a plant that lives for more than two years, however, many flower growers and garden lovers treat common flowers like narcissus and tulips as annuals and plant new bulbs every single fall to ensure they will be viable in the spring. Spring flowers tend to be abundant everywhere you look and they are a nice reminder that the winter is over and the season is changing.

Spring Narcissus at Windy Hill Farm. Photography by Kim Bensing

The Transition

At the very end of spring and the very beginning of summer, there is sometimes a slight lull in the season of flowers. Just as the spring perennials are dying off and the new annuals are just going into the ground, there is a period of time when local flowers are somewhat limited. Ironically, this seems to be the most popular season for brides. The weather is nice but the next season of flowers is not quite ready. So if you are a bride planning a wedding and you definitely want to use eco-friendly seasonals, I recommend choosing a different time of the year so that you have an abundance of seasonals to choose from.

Summer

The summer months are by far the most prolific flower-growing months in the United States. It's true that annual cutting flowers are planted every year by enthusiasts, but a great many of the early summer perennials will repeat perfectly year after year without much tending. Some of the summer perennials may require separation after several years just to thin things out, but I've also gone many years just enjoying the varieties on my farm and leaving them to themselves.

Summer Annual Flowers at Detweiler Homestead Farm

By mid-late summer the many cut flower annuals planted in the northeast in mid-May start to become available for harvest. These annuals are a huge part of the local flower growers' economy. Farmers' markets and roadside stands are bursting with buckets of fresh blooms and it's a much more sustainable way to enjoy a simple weekly bouquet.

Autumn

In early autumn we still have the wonderful late summer flowers going strong, and we are starting to see some blooms from the autumn group. Sunflowers are abundant at this time of year and a very popular flower in autumn is the Dahlia. If you are unfamiliar with the Dahlia, try to find a grower in your area and purchase a few. You will be amazed at the wide range of colors these fall flowers provide. Floral designers just love them because of all their vibrant colors, these colorful blooms create attractive floral arrangements and beautiful bouquets without much assistance.

Dahlia Detail. Photography by Kim Bensing

Winter

While it's true, the cooler months produce fewer flowers this by no means diminishes amazing seasonal possibilities. There is so much out there if you pay close attention and search. Think of all of the forever reliable evergreen shrubs, twigs, berries, and pine cones which are rigid seed vessels but beautiful and useful nevertheless. Winter varieties are vast and can be just as interesting if that is your season of choice.

Below I have provided a few short lists of some seasonal flowers that are pretty universal in the Northeast. Enjoy learning about how flowers, like our food, are seasonal and why it's important to know and appreciate their bloom cycles when planning your special events. Thank you for reading about seasonal flowers. Please share your favorite season of flowers in the comments below.

Winter Wreath design by Amber of Rising Hill Farm

Popular Spring Flowers:

• Narcissus

• Tulips

• Hellebores

• Lily of the Valley

• Hyacinth

• Forsythia

• Cherry Blossoms

• Peonies

Popular Early-Mid Summer Flowers:

• Peonies

• Astilbe

• Clematis

• Oriental Poppies

• Iris

• Lavender

Popular Mid-Late Summer Flowers:

• Echinacea

• Sunflowers

• Rudbeckia

• Phlox

• Shasta Daisies

• All the Annual Cut Flowers

Popular Autumn Flowers:

• Dahlia

• Sunflowers

• Chrysanthemums

• Celosia

• Asters

• Dianthus

Popular Winter Choices:

• Cedar

• White Pine

• Concolor Fir

• Arborvitae

• Boxwood

• Juniper

• Winterberry

• Snowberry

• Cones

• Curly Willow

Learn more about this topic.

Watch these videos:
American Growers: Local Flowers, Local Farmers: A Growing Movement
What Is The Slow Flower Movement?

Enjoy These Books:

View This Product

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View This Product

How We Transformed Our Farmhouse Kitchen by Reusing, Updating, and Thrifting: (Coffee Bar)

Welcome to our farmhouse kitchen. I explained in a previous blog post, why we love historic homes, so today I wanted to share with you some of our farmhouse renovation hacks we’ve used over the years. This is an excerpt from my full kitchen renovation blog that you can read here.

We began minor family-friendly renovations the minute we moved here in 2007, and we continue to make them because we are still not finished and we recently listed our farm on homeexchange.com.

As we begin this exciting journey of home exchanging for travel I thought I’d share some of the ways we previously restored rooms, gardens, and outbuildings and how we’re simplifying to make our home exchange-worthy for guests. I will break these down by project so look for them in future blogs.

Farmhouse renos can unveil difficult challenges, objects of educational interest, and even disturbing artifacts. Even a small change can prove difficult. But we didn't let that discourage us during this kitchen construction project because as we uncovered the years we looked for creative design elements and clever ways to get what we needed, disguising imperfections along the way.

making a Coffee Bar

Using found objects: One side of the kitchen came with a small clean-up sink and dishwasher. It's a great bonus space that older farmhouses usually don't enjoy. In the original kitchen, the very old double wall oven used to be on the left, but with the renovation, we moved the refrigerator to that space and kept the little sink, dishwasher, and lower cabinets much the same. If you look closely you’ll see a window peeking out of the wall. That’s the kind of surprise that’s very exciting. I spent days trying to rearrange where the fridge could go so that I could expose that window because it looks right into the refurbished pantry. Finding this was so perfect, but I could not find another space for the fridge and so we had to sacrifice the window….for now.

Since coffee is a big part of my mornings, we transformed this area into a little coffee bar. And what does every coffee bar need, but a big chunky mirror above it? This is my favorite part because the mirror I used didn't cost anything. In fact, I found the wooden frame alongside the road one day. It was just abandoned by its owner never to be used again, or so they thought. I grabbed it, cleaned it, painted it, took it to the local glass shop, and had it fitted with new antiqued mirror glass. Yes, this is something you can actually buy. I just love the way it turned out and how it fits perfectly in the space. It's a great way to repurpose an old frame that you can't part with and it’s a conversation piece for sure. Start hunting for yours.

Here are a few detailed photos of the mirror, Kingston Brass faucet, magnetic spice tins, etc. You can find links to most of these items and/or items with similar styles on Studio Sprig’s Shop My Home page.

I like to keep a little vintage-style pitcher next to the coffee maker so that I can easily fill it. I store my coffee grounds in a pretty apothecary jar and I use a stainless, beaded scooper created by an artist at a craft fair. I’ve linked a really nice copper coffee scooper here. The apothecary jar and soap dispenser sit upon artistic tiles made by my children.

Thank you for visiting the coffee bar portion of my kitchen. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the transformation if you comment below. And if you’d like to see the full kitchen transformation blog, visit here. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

How We Transformed Our Farmhouse Kitchen by Reusing, Updating, and Thrifting

Welcome to our farmhouse kitchen at Windy Hill. I explained in a previous blog post, why we love historic homes, so today I wanted to share with you some of the farmhouse renovation hacks we’ve used over the years.

We began minor family-friendly renovations the minute we moved here in 2007, and we continue to make them because we are still not finished and we recently listed our farm on homeexchange.com.

As we begin this exciting journey of home exchanging for travel I thought I’d share some of the ways we previously restored rooms, gardens, and outbuildings and how we’re simplifying to make our home exchange-worthy for guests. I will break these down by project so look for them in future blogs.

Farmhouse renos can unveil difficult challenges, objects of educational interest, and sometimes disturbing artifacts. Even a small change can prove difficult. But we didn't let that discourage us during this kitchen construction project because as we uncovered the years we looked for creative design elements and clever ways to get what we wanted and needed, disguising many imperfections along the way.

Paint

Neutralize and calm: When we moved here in 2007 this kitchen was a bright and cheery, yellow and teal, "French Country", a vintage farmhouse style you see a lot. The cabinets and trim were teal, while the walls were a rag-rolling yellow. We promptly inserted our Fiestaware collection on the open shelves and lived with it for a short while. But after a few years, it was looking pretty worn and dated, so we made the decision to renovate the kitchen.

For the renovation we decided not to do traditional white walls, instead, we painted them a light gray and opted for white cabinets, white trim (to match the rest of the house), and eventually a white island piece. We chose Benjamin Moore's White Dove as it’s a soft, mellow white. The kitchen always had vintage stainless steel appliances, so as needed we slowly upgraded with new appliances and I think they complement the updated neutral colors well.

When we dug in, we found vintage wallpaper remnants under some of the upper cabinets. It was clearly a 1950s fruit pattern, so I imagine this is why the woodwork was originally painted teal even though the rest of the house trim was already painted white. As we peeled some of that old wallpaper away, I was quick to frame a small fragment.

Wall Removal

The biggest change: By far our best idea was to remove the entire wall that housed the refrigerator and a small doorway to the dining room. By far, it was the best idea for this kitchen and my husband gets all the credit for that one. In fact, he even designed the double french doors, window wall, and transom we have now.

Our contractor found horse hair used for insulation when he removed this wall and he needed to install a support beam so the rest of the house wouldn't come down. But other than that, the construction of this section went rather smoothly. We had to patch the hardwood floor in some places but opening this wall really created a new space for us which lets in much more natural light while the french doors still provide privacy when needed. If you’re thinking of doing something like this, be sure to use an insured contractor with a very good reputation, because you never know what you may find.

Kitchen IslanD

Flexible and Versitile: Because we opted for only one set of open shelves and no upper cabinets, we had to come up with farmhouse design ideas for storing unsightlies like water bottles, small dishes, and spices. This kitchen is not that big, therefore a large custom island with seating, as you see in modern kitchens, was out of the question. I wanted to find a solution that was versatile, movable, and ultimately removable if I someday grew tired of it and wanted to change my style.

So one day while thrifting with my sister-in-law, I came across an antique brown buffet that was narrow enough to fit the space but long and high enough to actually be useful. As luck would have it, it was half-price day, so I snagged it for under $200. We lived with it intact for a few years, until one day I brought out the brushes and painted the bottom white with a chalkboard painted top. The chalkboard black paint is almost the same tint as the new soapstone countertop which is from Bucks County Soapstone. I just love the way it looks plus it provides extra counter space. It’s “flexible” and it encourages much fun in the kitchen because we can write and draw on it when entertaining plus keeping the paint close at hand makes touch-ups easy. And if someday I find something better, I won’t have the price agony weighing me down.

Cabinet Repurposing

Big cost savings: We opted out of buying new custom cabinetry, and instead, reused the existing lower cabinets which originally spanned all four walls of the kitchen. However, in several places, we did have to completely disassemble some and piece them back together a little differently so that we could move around or eliminate appliances like the refrigerator and wall oven. We called it the great cabinet shuffle.

So I guess you could say we have some custom cabinetry in a sense as our contractor knocked out the rounded shelves and gave us a small storage space instead next to the range. He also rebuilt the cabinet under the main sink to accommodate the new stainless apron sink we wanted to add centered under the 3 windows (shown above) which existed before we arrived. We also repurposed some leftover upper open shelves (which were pretty ugly), transforming them into glass-fronted cabinets with crown molding as an accent above the range hood.

I found these glass doors below at an antique shop, and as I often do, I brought them home having no idea where I would use them. But when I discovered that they somehow fit the kitchen windows perfectly I used them to highlight the middle window and set it off above the sink. It reminds me of the open shutters I’ve seen in France. Some new hardware, a few antique accents, and a little white paint, and this old house was coming along nicely.

Coffee Bar

Using found objects: One side of the kitchen came with a small clean-up sink and dishwasher. It's a great bonus space that older farmhouses usually don't enjoy. In the original kitchen, the very old double wall oven used to be on the left, but with the renovation, we moved the refrigerator to that space and kept the little sink, dishwasher, and lower cabinets much the same. If you look closely you’ll see a window peeking out of the wall. That’s the kind of surprise that’s very exciting. I spent days trying to rearrange where the fridge could go so that I could expose that window because it looks right into the refurbished pantry. Finding this was so perfect, but I could not find another space for the fridge and so we had to sacrifice the window….for now.

Since coffee is a big part of my mornings, we transformed this area into a little coffee bar. And what does every coffee bar need, but a big chunky mirror above it? This is my favorite part because the mirror I used didn't cost anything. In fact, I found the wooden frame alongside the road one day. It was just abandoned by its owner never to be used again, or so they thought. I grabbed it, cleaned it, painted it, took it to the local glass shop, and had it fitted with new antiqued mirror glass. Yes, this is something you can actually buy. I just love the way it turned out and how it fits perfectly in the space. It's a great way to repurpose an old frame that you can't part with and it’s a conversation piece for sure. Start hunting for yours.

Here are a few detailed photos of the mirror, Kingston Brass faucet, magnetic spice tins, etc. You can find links to most of these items and/or items with similar styles on Studio Sprig’s Shop My Home page.

I like to keep a little vintage-style pitcher next to the coffee maker so that I can easily fill it. I store my coffee grounds in a pretty apothecary jar and I use a stainless, beaded scooper created by an artist at a craft fair. I’ve linked a really nice copper coffee scooper here. The apothecary jar and soap dispenser sit upon artistic tiles made by my children.

Glassware Storage

With the elimination of upper cabinets comes the realization that you'll need a place to put all of your glassware. Many years before purchasing this farmhouse, I purchased this delicate hutch at a yard sale. It was in great shape so I stripped the varnish and exposed the woodgrain as soon as I brought it home. It moved around inside various homes until finding a perfect vocation in this kitchen as the keeper of all things glass. Drinking glasses, glass bowls, glass dishes, and random glass items that need a place to perch.

There's a little section of wall where it fits very nicely and here it will undoubtedly remain forever, or until I change my mind. I like having all of my glassware in one perfect place and the glass doors encourage me to keep it neat and tidy.

Thank you for visiting my kitchen. If you are interested in some of the products or product styles we used, here is a pretty comprehensive list with links for your convenience. Shop my home. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the transformation if you comment below. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

How to Make Sentimental Easter Eggs

Easter is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about easy-to-do spring decor ideas. Sentimental eggs that tell a story are a great way to add interest to the season. Creating a decoration that you can display every year is a meaningful way to enjoy a happy memory, and reusing something worn and weathered is a great way to honor the environment too.

Why maKE sentimental eggs?

Last year I created these pretty floral eggs with a vintage pillowcase that has a story. This particular pillowcase was part of a set of vintage sheets my mother chose for me when I was a child. When my children were small I hired a seamstress to design clothing using some of my hand-me-down vintage sheet sets (don't worry, I will blog about that soon because they were awesome!). But this time I made eggs instead.

This particular pink and green pillowcase above was an outlier that I was mixing in here and there with my other linens. I used it for many years and always took great care of its delicate nature, however, as expected over time it wore very thin. One day, my washing machine completely shredded it and I was sad because it reminded me of my mother. So instead of throwing it in the garbage, I wondered what I could do to preserve it. I decided since Easter was my favorite holiday, that I'd try to create a few decorative eggs so that I could enjoy this childhood memory every year going forward. The samples I created tell a story, so they are now the first set of what I am calling my Story Eggs.

the BEST FABRIC FOR MAKING story eggs

I used floral, vintage sheets from my childhood, but you can also use any scrap of sentimental fabric you can find. Maybe it is a small clipping from your grandmother’s wedding dress or a cutting from your child’s favorite cotton onesie. I would recommend hunting for thin cotton as it's much easier to work with. For reference, thin, vintage pillowcases are the perfect texture and work very well.

Estate sales and thrift shops are great places to hunt for fun and fabulous vintage cloth. You don't need much fabric for this project so if you go to a fabric shop ask if they have quilting squares, as that's another great source that won’t cost a lot. If you’ve never heard of Spoonflower, they also have the option to order an 8”x8” square swatch for just $5 with any pattern you choose, and better yet you can even upload your own pattern designs and create your own custom fabrics. Imagine uploading your child’s artwork, creating a pattern, and having spoonflower print it on fabric. I’ll put a link at the bottom for you to see what I am talking about. I have also included more links for pillowcases and trims at the bottom of this post. Use your imagination and gather what works best for you to create your own memorable Story Eggs.

WHAT TYPE OF EGGs SHOULD I USE?

I don't like to use real eggs because they are hard to work with and they can crack and spoil over time. I also don't recommend plastic eggs because they aren’t substantial enough. Instead, I recommend using an assortment of really nice wooden eggs.

Here I used very inexpensive white wooden eggs, but you can also order brown wooden eggs. And I also found a collection of white, brown, and pale green wooden eggs which closely resemble the chicken eggs I buy from my neighbor.

Creating a Story Egg with your own sentimental vintage fabric is an easy and fun DIY project that is sure to reignite happy memories. Even children can create these eggs using the simple directions below. With just a few supplies and your creativity, you can make beautiful eggs that will make your Easter and Spring celebrations even more special. When finished, pop them into a child’s easter basket, or present them as a housewarming gift in a simple pottery bowl as I did. They can just be little decorations complimenting your larger Easter Table Ensemble or let the creation of your Story Eggs be an “egg painting alternative” for a family gathering. Either way, I hope these eggs spark many sentimental conversations. Whether your creations are used to decorate for the holiday, become a new family craft, or are given as gifts, try to come up with a new Story Egg idea each year so that this can become a cherished part of your traditions.

To create a story egg you will need:

SUPPLIES:
Fabric Scissor
Small Paint Brushes
White wooden eggs
Mod Podge (Matte Finish)
Fabric

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
Brown wooden eggs
White, brown, and pale green wooden eggs
Mod Podge (Gloss Finish)

Pink Vintage Inspired Pillowcases
Blue and Green Vintage Inspired Pillowcases
Purple Floral Inspired Pillowcases
Rick Rack Trim various colors
Egg Cups for drying
Translucent Bags

CREATE YOUR OWN FABRIC WITH SPOONFLOWER:
Spoonflower Custom Fabric Squares

FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

Step 1: Prep wooden eggs

With a slightly damp cloth, clean your wooden eggs to make sure they are free of any dust and debris.

Step 2: Cut fabric designs and patterns into small pieces

Use a fabric scissor to cut around your designs and patterns, breaking them into small portions. Smaller sections, not larger than 2” work best. I simply cut around each flower and stem.

Step 3: Decoupage your eggs

Break out a roll of paper towels to cover your work surface, then use a small paint brush and a small amount of decoupage glue (I use Mod Podge) on the egg (only in the area you'll be adhering your first piece). Then place the piece on that glue. Let dry.

Once you've gone around the entire egg and placed all of your pieces, you are ready to paint Mod Podge over all the fabric pieces and all bare egg surfaces as well. If you choose a matte finish they will dry like mine. A gloss finish is another option. All links are below.

Step 4: Dry your Eggs

This is a great time to pull out your mini egg cups or deviled egg dishes if you have some. The eggs need a place to dry so they do not roll around. You can also use the underside of an egg carton.

Step 5: Display or Package Your Story Eggs

Once your eggs are completely dry, find a pretty bowl or basket for display. If your eggs are created from a sentimental fabric you may want to place each one into a special little translucent bag as I did below and give them to members of your family. You may also choose to add painted polka dots, stripes, or a wedding date or name to complete the memory. This is completely optional.

I’d love to see your Story Eggs or hear about other ways you’ve made sentimental eggs from things you love. If you are enjoying my blog, please share it with friends and subscribe here so you can read the next one.

If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. If you enjoyed this Creative Inspiration you may also like this: DIY HERB DRYING RACK: HERB DRYING AT HOME

How to Enjoy The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show

The Philadelphia Flower Show Water Feature

If you are from the northeast or live anywhere near Philadelphia, I am sure you've heard of The Philadelphia Flower Show. Flower enthusiasts come from far and wide to this grand event every year. Many of them probably do not even realize it's the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world!

The Flower Show is produced by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society annually at the beginning of March and is held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center which provides the show with 2.3 million square feet of exhibition space, the largest contiguous exhibit space in the Northeast. During the two years of the pandemic, the show was moved outside to fdr park and it was moved to the month of June.

PA Convention Center - Photo: www.discoverphl.com/

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, that uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region. They use the funds to provide low-cost gardening programs, create community gardens, support neighborhood programs, design and maintain free public gardens, and plant trees. This year's show began on Saturday, March 4, and it runs until Sunday, March 12, so there is still plenty of time to get there. If this is your first time I hope this encourages you to go.

The hours are:

March 4, 10, 11: open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

March 5 - 9: open 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

March 12: open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Philadelphia Horticultural Society Photo: phsonline.org

Flower Show Themes Through the Years

Every year the Horticultural Society chooses a new theme. The 2023 theme is "The Garden Electric". Some creative themes through the years have been:

• 2022 In Full Bloom

• 2021 Habitat

• 2020 Riviera Holiday

• 2019 Flower Power

• 2018 Wonders of Water

• 2017 Holland: Flowering the World

• 2016 Explore America

• 2015 Celebrate the Movies

Flower Power Theme 2019 - Photo: PhillyVoice.com

The Flower Show Exhibitors

Floral designers and exhibitors are carefully chosen. You'll find professionals, nonprofessionals, universities such as my alma mater, The University of Delaware, and locals like Temple's Tyler School of Art and Architecture and Delaware Valley University all represented. And keep in mind it's not only about well-known floral studios and their gorgeous displays, you'll also see fascinating exhibits from The Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators, The Pennsylvania Bonsai Society, and The Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia to name just a few. The full 2023 list of exhibitors can be found here.

Florastruck: The 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show Entrance Garden

Find Your Favorite

My favorite exhibit this year has to be “The Cerebral Garden”: Look for a giant brain with electrical synapses emanating from a large white tree. Designed by Jennifer Designs, this full immersion experience is truly unique and one I did not expect while waiting in line. The designer invites visitors to step inside the lobes of the brain. There is an interactive feature explaining how electrical impulses shape our thoughts and perceptions. In my opinion, it's a great interpretation of this year's theme Garden Electric.

The Cerebral Garden Exhibit - Photo: Kim Bensing

The Cerebral Garden Exhibit - Photo: Kim Bensing

The Cerebral Garden Exhibit - Photo: Kim Bensing

Don’t Skip The Student Exhibitors

Do yourself a favor and keep your eyes open for the Pressed Plant Art exhibit, Bugging Out Over Color, in the Design Gallery portion of the show. These works were created by the 5th-12th grade students from Tredyffrin/Easttown School District under the supervision of the brilliant fine artist and my dear old friend Khara Flint. These little framed delights really exemplify the beauty that pressed flowers can and should provide. I wanted to buy one for my home. Thank you, Khara!

“Bugging out over color” -Pressed Paper Student Exhibition led by Artist, Khara Flint

Take Advantage of Some Special Events

Throughout the entire week, you'll find various events to keep you busy no matter what day you go.

On March 5-12, you can participate in an Early Morning Tour where you can buy a separate ticket for a two-hour tour with a longtime attendee ($110 fee). Early Morning Photography Tours are also available from March 6 to 10 ($130 fee). Both start at 8 a.m. and end at 10 a.m.

Floral Tutus

When you first arrive, you'll walk right through Artisan Row. Here you can make candles, and botanical jewelry, create handbags and flower crowns, design succulent terrariums, and even participate in a dried flower bar. These events have an additional fee depending on the event you choose.

The Dry Flower Bar at the Philadelphia Flower Show

There is free live music at the flower show every day beginning at noon. Every year the show features a flower crown Bloom Bar ($33 fee). On March 5th you can enjoy Design & Dine: Create your own floral arrangements while sharing a meal ($40 fee). With the show's Potting Parties, you can learn the art of container gardening with flower designer Tu Bloom ($10 fee). There's even a dance party called Flowers After Hours on March 11 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. This year the theme is Garden Noir; participants will wear all-black attire and masks. Must be 21 and over with an ID ($75 fee).

Take Your Kids & Pets

There is a Kid's Cocoon featuring a play area for children to learn about pollinators, plant seeds, and take them home. On March 12, children can partake in face painting, giveaways, mascot visits, and more with Family Frolic. On March 10, they are offering Fido Friday where you can bring your furry friends to the Flower Show. Each day the Butterflies Live experience lets you enter a butterfly habitat, enjoy the experience and respectfully take pictures. ($5 fee).

Butterflies Live at The Philadelphia Flower Show - Photo: phsonline.org

Talk to a Few Vendors

I always look forward to the spark of joy I get when I visit the vendor section of the flower show. The show hosts many interesting vendors each year, so many that they take up almost half of the entire convention center. The full is can be found here.

I have a few vendors I always hunt for whenever I go. This year I stopped by booth #116 to visit my social media friend and vintage jewelry designer extraordinaire Jill Schwartz. I've been following Jill to the flower show for years and I own several of her designs. She studied design at Pratt and she just has such a warm, kind personality. She also has an exciting presence on Instagram if you indulge. Check out Elements Jill Schwartz.

Elements Jill Schwartz - Photo: Kim Bensing

My other go-to vendor is Glenda Gies (booth #809). Glenda is a local handbag designer from Philadelphia. I was first drawn to Glenda's designs a few years ago when I purchased my first bag at the flower show. Glenda uses the most exquisite tactile fabrics on her handbags which come in many stylish, vintage-inspired shapes. I met Glenda for the first time this year, and I own two of her fabulous handbags, which you can purchase at a discount only at the flower show. Check out Glenda Gies.

Glenda Gies Handbags - Photo: Kim Bensing

I was very happy to find Doylestown’s own Bluestem Botanicals among the vendors this year at The Flower Show. Bluestem is an herbal farm collective that connects people with plants for food, and medicine. I had the pleasure of participating in a tented potluck dinner and farm tour this past summer in Doylestown. Here at the show, founders Eric and Linda are serving guests a sample of a refreshing blueberry mocktail, spritzed with one of their herbal hydrosols. Check out their yummy “Drink Your Garden” farm-crafted, botanically-focused cocktail/mocktail kits when you visit them at the show.

Founders of Bluestem Botanicals, Eric Vander Hyde and Linda Shanahan Photo: Kim Bensing

How to Buy Tickets to The Flower Show

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society produces the show, so you must buy your tickets on their website provided here.

Adult tickets: $43.50

Student tickets: $30.00 (with a valid student id)

Child tickets (5-17): $20.00

Children under 5 are free

There are two packages: two adults and one child ($100) or two adults and two children ($120)

If you order online there is a small fee, but I recommend doing this in advance of your trip to avoid long lines, especially if you choose to go on a weekend.

If you become a member of the Philadelphia Horticultural Society online, you can get discounted tickets and Member’s Preview Day tickets are also an option. This preview takes place the Friday before the show opens. Everything is very well explained on their website above.

Garden Electric…

Ice Cream Cone Man

How to Travel to The Flower Show
I happen to live in a Philadelphia suburb, approximately 20 miles from downtown Philadelphia, so each year I hop on the regional rail (SEPTA) just a few blocks from my home and it takes me to Jefferson Suburban Station which conveniently is underneath the PA Convention Center. The train ride is easy and stress-free because I do not have to find parking, walk in the city at all or even wear a coat as the outdoor regional stations have heating lamps. And Jefferson Suburban Station is one of the main hubs in center city, Philadelphia, so if you have rail service where you live, download the SEPTA app and find your best route. In addition, I found this handy guide in the Philadelphia Inquirer. I hope it helps.

Bike: 19 minutes from South Philly, 30 from North or West Philadelphia.

Buses: Take lines 4, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 21, 23, 33, 34, 36, 38, 42, 47, and 48.

Subway: On the Market-Frankford line, the 11th Street Station leaves you within a three-minute walk from the Convention Center. On the Broad Street Line, the Race-Vine Station will leave you a minute away from the venue.

Regional Rail: Get off at Jefferson or Suburban Station.

If you choose to drive into the city, the address is below. There are plenty of city parking garages nearby so the Convention Center should only be a short walk.

PA Convention Center
1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Giant Paper Flowers from Ukraine

Peace Doves

How to Eat at The Flower Show

In years past there were various local establishments like Philly's iconic Di Bruno Brothers sprinkled throughout the convention center for easy eats. This year Aramark Hospitality took over that function. The Convention Center's Overlook Cafe is another option if you prefer to stay inside. But if you want to experience the local flavors Philly has to offer check out Philly's famous Reading Terminal Market located just across the street or walk over to Chinatown, another nearby option.

Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA

I hope you enjoyed this blog. Please leave comments below if you’ve experienced The Flower Show firsthand and if it’s still on your list, I hope this inspires you to go this week. If you live far away, consider a trip to Philadelphia next March. The Show certainly prepares you for the beauty that is spring! You can subscribe to this blog here. Thank you. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

Hellebore Detail - Photo Kim Bensing

How and Why We Love Historic Homes

A Little History

One of the things we love about this area of the country, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is the availability of historic homes and properties. Bucks County boasts 12 original covered bridges and there are gorgeous barns and farms all over the place.

The first home we bought when we moved to this area was this 18th-century Stone Colonial. It was so unique, very well maintained, and quintessentially Early American. It had very uneven measurements, only 2 full bedrooms, and a little walk-through space off the master (which we quickly crafted into a nursery), a woodburning stove, a classic pie staircase, beautiful deep windowsills, a nice brick courtyard with a farm bell and climbing roses, a garden-filled yard, and a sweet little cottage (which became my studio).

Side view of stone colonial home.

Why our homes are sentimental

We lived in this home from 1998-2007 and it was our first so of course, it’s sentimental. Our young family loved and used every square inch of it because it was not very big. It was built from beautiful fieldstone and because it was well taken care of previously it did not require a lot of work or renovation which was perfect for that time of our lives. The only problem was that the home became a little too small for our growing family over time and it also sat on a busy road. This position near the road made sense when it was built in 1780 because it was built on a main road leading straight to Philadelphia, but in 2007 it was no longer a workable feature with our three young children, so we decided we needed to find something a little different. Not an easy decision as we had grown to love this little beauty.

Farm bell with climbing roses and two dancing queens.

Our family portrait in front of the Stone Colonial Home. Photo Courtesy: Catherine Byvelds

A Victorian Farmhouse up the hill

We searched for a new home for quite a while, always looking for another historic gem that we could easily call home. Eventually, we actually found a white Victorian Clapboard Farmhouse with 3 outbuildings that were literally up the hill (foreshadowing Windy Hill) from our original Stone Colonial. This worked out well because purchasing this Victorian would mean we wouldn't have to pull our children out of the primary school they were attending and could essentially stay connected to our neighborhood friends. It also had 4 massive bedrooms and a cottage apartment on the property so to us it seemed just like the Taj Mahal!!!

Windy Hill Farm in spring.

Learning about our home

Once we were certain this place was for us - but before the purchase, I made it my personal mission to befriend the current owner so that I could really get to know her, the house, and its history because I knew she had loved it for a very long time and that she felt the same way about historic properties. She told me she was searching for the perfect family to love her home. If you haven’t picked this up already, what you must know about owners of historic properties is that they are obsessed. They may be obsessed with history, architecture, farming, antiques, or ghosts, but trust me, they are in love with something like that and that is why they are drawn to care for a piece of history in the first place.

Windy Hill Farm in winter.

research with tea

So, because I am one of the obsessive types, I set up “tea dates” with the lovely woman who had owned this home for over 30 years so we could discuss all the little nuances that are so important to understand when buying an older home. She graciously filled me in on details about the gardens and the herds of yard deer (yes, that’s a thing), the neighbors, the well and water pipes, the paint colors she used and why she used them, the utility schedules, the septic system, and important details about the rental income the farm provided and how and why it would be in our best interest to keep that going.

Kids greet from the balcony.

how Rental Income sealed the deal

When purchasing a historic farm, don't underestimate the power of passive rental income. One of the reasons we chose this farm was because it came with established rental income derived from an outbuilding at the back of the property. The large outbuilding had been previously renovated and divided into 4 distinct storage-only garages: one to be used by the owner as a garage for the lawn mower, bikes, tools, and such, and the other 3 to be used for a home business or rented out if desired. There is a private driveway to this building and all access is in the back, so tenants never have to disturb the family in the main house.

Out building provides rental income.

Plant, don’t demolish

Full disclosure, at first I just wanted to demolish the building completely (I was strongly “persuaded” to plant pine trees instead) but today I’m glad we didn't demolish after all because, over the last 16 years, the building has provided a very nice passive income which took care of half of our monthly mortgage, and it has allowed us to do the many renovations and updates we've wanted to do on the original farmhouse and cottage. It also paid for exciting family vacations, and currently, it's helping to pay 3 simultaneous college tuitions. I now have more of an open mind and if you are searching for a historic property, I recommend finding a way to generate some passive income.

Kids planting first pines which will help to pay for their college!

Creative home inspirations

When we moved into the Victorian Farmhouse in the summer of 2007 we were very content with the state of the home. It had great bones, lovely updates, and many classic features. There is a main farmhouse, a big, green 4-story bank barn, a little studio cottage (perfect for my designing), and that long outbuilding above that we soon rented out. Bonus! Sure, this home would eventually need some updates, but we had three kids to raise, a lot of time, and much more energy then, so we were not in a hurry. Nevertheless, creative renovations did eventually happen everywhere (and sometimes twice) so sign up to receive alerts about the entire project and the way we did "creative home inspirations" here at Windy Hill. Below is a sampling of what is to come. If you enjoy this blog please comment below and share it with your friends. And you can subscribe here. Thank you, Kim

Side view of Windy Hill Farm.

Creative Home Inspirations….Sign up so you don’t miss them!

• A Cute Courtyard & A Scary Tree

• Weedy, Old Heirloom Gardens

• The Cottage Becomes a Studio

• A Yard Sale-Inspired Kitchen

• A Wisteria-Covered Outdoor Entertainment Space

• Our Peek-a-Boo Pantry

• A Floral Workshop

• An inviting Mudroom

• The Under-the-Stair Secret Hideaway

• A Lite & Bright Family Room

• An Arhaus-Inspired Dining Room

• A Fun & Foral Laundry Room

• Our Simple and Fresh Bathrooms

• The Transformable Bedrooms (Kid-to-Teen)

• A Classic Living Room, Game Room & Home Office

• The Marriage Marked Bank Barn

Shop the look at Windy Hill Farm! If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

Let's Save The Bees

The Good of the Hive Mural @ St. James Parish- Scout Bee

Introducing my favorite environmentally-conscious mural artist, Matt Willey.

After one little encounter with a small honey bee, Matt has lovingly begun a global art project: The Good of the Hive. His commitment to this project is to hand-paint 50,000 honey bees – the number in a healthy, thriving hive – in murals around the world. Matt's mission is to ignite radical curiosity and active engagement around planetary health issues through art, bees, and storytelling. I invite you to learn more….

The Western Honey Bee

Honey bees are not a native North American species. European honey bees (Apis mellifera) were originally imported for honey production in the 17th century, 1622 to be exact. Interestingly the Native Americans dubbed them "the white man's fly." I'll bet you didn't realize that a honey bee can fly up to 15 miles per hour and that a honey bee worker only makes an average of 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime and that to make just a pound of honey there need to be 2 million flower visits! -so please savor your honey, this is not an easy task for our little friends.

The Good of the Hive Mural @ Carrboro Fire Station, Carrboro, NC

“Bees never forget that they are part of something bigger than themselves… their hive is a part of them. What if we embodied this idea? What if we got curious about the world and each other again instead of intimidated by it? This is why I turn walls into windows – to remember that we are all connected… that separation is an illusion.” -Artist, Matt Willey

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Honey Bee Colonies

A honey bee colony typically consists of three kinds of adult bees: workers, drones, and a queen.

• The job of the queen: Lay eggs

• The job of the drones: Mate with the queen

• The jobs of the worker bees: Gather nectar, Guard the hive and honey, Care for the queen and larvae, Keep the hive clean, and Produce honey.

As you can see honey bees are social insects. They live together in well-organized groups called colonies. Individual bees cannot survive without the support of the colony. To learn more read this comprehensive article published by the University of Delaware.

The Good of the Hive Mural @ North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC

the health of our planet

Through Matt’s mural art, he is able to inspire education about our planetary health. He believes that human and planetary health is collective, and the global hive he is painting is a metaphor for the connectedness of all things. Six years into an estimated 20-year project, Matt has created 35 murals and installations with over 8600 hand-painted bees. He has reached hundreds of thousands of people and created large-scale works at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington DC, and at Burt’s Bees Global Headquarters. He has collaborated with the World Council of Peoples for the United Nations (WCPUN) and NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks Public Art Program. He has painted in a Tony-Winning Broadway star’s dressing room and his bees are on display at the American Embassy in Beijing, China.

The Good of the Hive Mural @ Harold P. Curtis Honey Co. Labelle, FL

Bees mean Business

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, honey bees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year, including more than 130 types of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. 2.70 million bee colonies in the United States, alone, produced 126 million pounds of honey in 2021. That year, the value of honey production in the United States was $321 million according to USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The Good of the Hive Mural

The Importance of Bees

A study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, has shown that honey bees are the world's most important pollinators in natural ecosystems across the globe. Did you know, that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one-third of our diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, and the honey bee is responsible for 80% of that pollination? In a single year, one honey bee colony can gather about 40 pounds of pollen and 265 pounds of nectar.

“The Art Starts Creating You” - Matt Willey

Worker Bee, Matt Willey - The Good of the Hive Mural Artist

The Importance of Matt

Follow Matt @thegoodofthehive as he visits schools and communities around the world educating our collective whole about the importance of our bees. In 2023 Matt will continue to move forward in the creation of The Good of the Hive's first documentary film. See the short film trailer by clicking here. Matt could really use some love on this project to keep it moving forward. Plus you can receive rewards and possibly have your name in the credits! 

Apiarist: Beekeeper

The scientific name for the honey bee is Apis mellifera, therefore an apiarist is a person who is commonly referred to as a beekeeper and makes a living keeping honey bees. Likewise, an apiary is a location where the hives of honey bees are kept. Apiaries come in many sizes and can be rural or urban depending on the honey production operation. 

Here on our farm, Windy Hill, we've enlisted the help of local Apiarist, Mark Antunes. Mark cares for our bees, extracts all honey, and because of our northern weather patterns, he even transports them to more temperate climates each winter. This has proven to be a good thing for their continued survival. Mark is always seeking host farms in this local area for his honey bee hives. If you would like to contact Mark, reach out to me in the comments below and I will get you in touch. I've also included a list of expert websites for your convenience.

• The Bucks County Beekeepers

• Bucks County Bee Company

• American Beekeeping Federation

rural and urban beekeeping

Rural Beekeeping is really just using a patch of land in more of a rural area used to raise bees. (it does not have to be a farm). Apiarists position one or more honey bee hives in this natural environment to support more pollination. The bees go to work quickly providing their services to enhance the growth of wild flowers, clover, vegetables, and more. If you are thinking about providing your own natural habitat for bees in the future, keep in mind a host farm requires plenty of food sources, water, and a healthy environment with plenty of natural resources such as grass, trees, and plants, and of course, it's important for there to be no pesticide use whatsoever. For your convenience, I've included a short list of supplies you may want to consider at the end of this blog.

Urban Beekeeping is just what it sounds like, an organic method for a city or town to diversify its ecosystem. If you are considering becoming an urban beekeeper, you must first do some research. Be sure to make sure it's legal to keep bees in your town or city. Next, be sure your bees will have enough space and the necessary food and water in order to thrive. Then, be sure to check with your neighbors, because although honeybees are generally not aggressive, if threatened they will sting and it’s very important to always see the advice of a skilled beekeeper before trying this at home.

Honey jars from the honey bees at Windy Hill Farm, PA

Keep some bees

Bee-Keeping Supplies
Beekeeping Suit for men
Beekeeping Suit for women
Beehive
Beehive Smoker
Beehive Smoker Pellets

Honey Serving Supplies
Small Honey jars with cork lids
Small Jar Labels
Honey dipper sticks

The Artist Matt Willey - The Good of the Hive

What is Colony Collapse Disorder

Honey bee health is something we humans have been struggling with in recent years as our honey bee populations have been dwindling. To help you understand, Colony Collapse Disorder is the phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, a plentiful food supply, and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees. There is often a combination of environmental factors and other stresses to consider when determining what has a significant effect on bee declines, including humanity's negative impacts.

Honey bee stressors and a link to learn more.

• Use of pesticides

• Stress due to management practices

• Varroa destructor mites

• Israeli Acute Paralysis virus and the Nosema parasite

• Climate change and habitat loss

• Not enough food or poor nutrition

If you enjoyed this blog please feel free to comment below. I read every inspiration that comes my way. Subscribe if you like this blog. Thank you. - Kim

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A Little Buzz: Check out The Bee and the Wasp Vintage Rentals. Introducing a Boutique Rental Company specializing in Vintage, Boho, and Rustic looks. Upcycling and reuse are always good for the environment, so for your next event consider rentals as an alternative to new decor. The bees will thank you.

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Pink Dahlia with honey bee

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10 Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Event or Wedding

Boutonniere design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Karmapants

There is so much that goes into planning any event large or small, and remembering to keep things simple and reduce your carbon footprint may be your most difficult challenge. Did you know that the average wedding produces a massive 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of CO2? It's not surprising to me, having worked in the industry for over 25 years, but it is disappointing.

The good news is that there are many eco-friendly ideas you can implement when planning your next event if you don’t want to contribute to that excessive waste. Whether it's your wedding day, or just a big day celebration, always considering your environment and your carbon footprint is very important.

First, try breaking your event down into manageable bites by making two lists: "must-haves" and "can live without". You'll quickly find that it's not as difficult as you may have thought and sorting now helps to simplify everything later. Here are ten things to closely consider when planning your day.

1. Consider a Micro event

When creating your guest list, remember it's quality, not quantity that matters. Good news, some of the most special events are very intimate affairs. Although the word micro doesn't only have to describe your guest list, there are plenty of ways to "Go Micro" for the environment, and still have a sizable guest list.

2. Hire an event Planner

At first, an event planner, 'day of', or coordinator might seem like an extravagance that you can't afford, but hiring an event or wedding planner may prove to be your best decision overall, and here's why. Planners plan all day, every day. They know the venues, the entertainment, and all of the little idiosyncracies that might trip you up along the way. They can save you a lot of time, wedding waste, aggravation, money, and especially all that running around. So don't rule them out before you begin. Consider your location, time availability, and energy level. Where are your efforts best allocated?

Venue Hotel Du Village. Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Cultivating Joy Flowers. Photography by Elle Studios

3. find A Beautiful Venue

When hunting for a venue, it's a good idea to open your eyes wide and focus on everything, not just capacity and catering options. Look in every corner of the interior, entryways, hallways, bathrooms, and outside in the gardens, parking lots, and all around the grounds where your guests may wander. Take it all in, because this is one area you can really save a bundle.

We all know what it can cost to decorate an empty social hall, school, or ill-styled restaurant. Sure, the price may be fine and they may provide you with tables and chairs, but is that enough? Chances are you'll need to provide all of your own linens, centerpieces, flower embellishments, arches, favors, candles, and sometimes even food. The list can go on forever. But some more inclusive venues provide most of those things and provide you with the proper ambiance that wipes all of the other items off of your list.

Take this gorgeous barn, for instance. It belongs to a good friend of mine and requires minimal embellishment to make it really pop for a small-medium event.

A micro-event at Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm.

Beautiful venues really focus on visual impact. When touring, take a good look around outside because so many venues have beautifully landscaped grounds and gardens that need no embellishment at all. The decore is built-in. In fact, adding decor can actually take away from the natural beauty that is already there. In some cases, you can host your entire event in a garden space and not need to purchase anything to enhance the event. The flowers and greenery are already all around you! And be inquisitive, many venues today offer a room full of rentable decor, candle votives, large flower planters, and other items for your tables Some even offer these items to customers free of charge. Always ask the venue coordinator, you may be surprised by what they already have and are willing to provide. This is always a better option than buying everything new if you are only intending on using it for one day.

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Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

Here is a peek into Cassia & Justin's green wedding on a beautiful farm property in East Greenville, PA. The wedding took place during covid and the couple did a wonderful job creating a micro event that mimicked an old country wedding. After a couple’s photo session next to the barn and in the fields, everyone walked from the outdoor ceremony up the small hill to the reception which was inside a glass-enclosed mini barn. Most guests stayed overnight on the property at the Inn, just a few steps away. The reception decor was simple and consisted of buckets of fresh flowers and herbs which the bride and maids placed onto three unique micro cakes and into small glass bottles. Photography courtesy of Littlewing Studios.

Herbs grown by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

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4. beg, borrow or thrift

If your event is repeated and let's say you host annually, then I'd suggest just purchasing the linens and other necessary items once, and using them as much as possible, but if renting or borrowing is available to you and that makes more sense, then do it.

Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

When searching for vases, candle holders, or other tableware, I suggest always starting at consignment or thrift shops. Antiques are always nicer than new and giving these items a second look is commendable and very green.

I also always encourage my clients to borrow. It’s likely a friend or family member has just the thing you are looking for. Over the years I’ve created many centerpiece arrangements using cherished family heirlooms as the vessel. Delicate teacups, a vintage bottle collection, you name it. Added bonus: there’s often a sentimental story attached to these pieces and guests enjoy hearing it.

5. Host an event At Home

Don't underestimate the space you have right under your nose. This idea always scares people, but using your own home is an easy way to reduce your costs tremendously if cost is a concern. You do not need large furniture or vast spaces to entertain at home. Honestly, I've hosted many events here on our farm both outside in the yard, and inside in our four small lower-level rooms. Our home is not big because it's 172 years old and the rooms were designed to keep people warm and close. But because we always knew we loved to entertain, we made a few good renovation choices over the years and they have helped us achieve this goal successfully.

Many of us have incorporated a patio or deck into our outdoor landscapes. These areas are always great choices for hosting a warm-weather event. I've hosted many events on our very small deck with a round iron table that only seats 4! Truth be told I bought that table at a yard sale, 23 years ago. No matter, because it still works great and when I need more seating, I just add smaller cafe tables, benches, and bars made from old barn doors (all purchased on the Facebook marketplace) to accommodate guests. Miscellaneous ensembles can make our deck look like an eclectic cafe and I'm okay with that vibe.

As for the lawn space, I try to use most of that too. If our event is larger and I need lots more seating, I just rent long tables and chairs from our local rental store. They rent for the entire weekend so I can sometimes squeeze two parties out of one rental. It's relatively inexpensive to rent and very easy because I do not have to worry about storing anything.

6. Stay Local

Choose your event space or wedding venue wisely. The environment is always impacted by where you chose to host. If you want your guests to fly to a destination wedding, for instance, this will undoubtedly affect the sustainability of your event. But driving long distances may as well. There are creative ways you can keep everyone local so they almost don't need to travel at all.

Source: The Knot

Take for example the New Orleans Second Line Wedding Parade, a brass band processional tradition that predates the Civil War. Modern couples incorporate this historic custom into their wedding to give homage to their New Orleans roots. In this tradition, the brass band leads guests on foot from the wedding venue to the reception venue. Now, you'd need for your venues to be near enough, but even if you don't hire an escort band, you could incorporate an eco-friendly l between-venue walk, also popular with rural weddings long ago. And if you have a family member with limited mobility, come up with a cherished way to honor them in your foot parade.

7. eco-conscious sourcing

Casual Biodegrading

If your event calls for more casual, disposable serving products like plates, utensils, and napkins it's best to always choose biodegradable materials instead of plastic. Not only will you have less waste, but you won't contribute to the pounds of trash that most events do.

But don't worry going green does not mean you are not limited to paper goods. There are so many sustainable options today. Below I’ve compiled a list of natural sources with links to compostable dinnerware you can order for your next event. I hope you find a sustainable alternative that fits your style.

• Palm Leaves

• Compostable Wheat

• Bamboo

• Sugarcane

Photo courtesy of Maggpie Rentals

Glamorous Renting
Consider renting fancy dishware and glassware instead of buying everything. This opens up the door to an extra level of glam, while still impacting the environment in a positive way.

And did you know you can easily rent almost anything you need? For instance, the seating ensemble above, and many others can be rented from Maggpie in Boyertown, PA. If you have an empty space to fill or just need an interesting backdrop, shop the exact look you want and rent it! Here is a list of other beautiful and off-beat rental options you may not have known about.

• Love and a Truck Co.

• Fox and Finch

• Lovebirds Vintage Rentals

Design by Studio Sprig. Handmade Paper Porridge Papers. Eco-Conscious Printer Bucks Digital. Twig from backyard.

Sustainable Stationery

When considering your event stationery needs, it's best to always use recycled or handmade paper and nontoxic inks - or search for sustainable or eco-friendly graphic designers and printers like Bucks Digital, in your area if you are not the DIY type. And if you love to DIY, a great paper source is Greenfield Paper Co. from California. They have reinvented the age-old tradition of creating fine paper without cutting down trees. Green Field Paper Company offers three lines of recycled papers that integrate post-consumer pulp with non-traditional additives such as seeds, hemp, coffee chaff, denim, junk mail, and garlic skins! All of their products are made in the USA and they do not use any dyes or bleach. Earth pigments are used to color the papers and all of their seed paper contains non-GMO non-invasive seeds. Or Porridge Papers, my source in the design above, whose owner Christopher once produced a single custom sheet that was sent to Martha Stewart and another order of  2.2 million pieces embedded with lettuce seeds for Kraft Foods. Using seeded and plantable paper is really cool, good for the environment, and a way to save the “memory” of your event.

8. Stay in Season

Flowers

If you choose to incorporate beautiful flowers or plants into your event design, always try to stay in season. Seasonal blooms have always been the goal of Studio Sprig for many reasons. First of all, they are much fresher and much more beautiful, in my opinion. Many times they are harvested one or maybe only two days before your event. This means they not only look their best, but they will hold up longer if you want to repurpose them afterward. Staying in season is so good for the environment because you are using what nature is already providing instead of forcing growth in greenhouses far away in climates more suitable. Here is a nice guide for choosing flowers by season.

Food & Drink

Building your menu around the seasons is such a smart idea. Tomatoes always taste better in summer. We all know this. Staying in season and trying to use local farms eliminates the need to transport food long distances at great cost. Most chefs would jump at the chance to create a menu with only seasonal ingredients, and if you are preparing the food and drink yourself, here are two helpful books.

9. Grow Your Own flowers

When it comes to your event or wedding flowers, there are plenty of sustainable flower farmers you can choose from. Some of them have designers on the premises while others contract the service.

Another good option might be to plan ahead and grow your own. This is much easier if you're planning a micro event or a larger event with less need for custom flowers and greens. But if you or someone you know is an avid gardener, this endeavor could be very rewarding. If you do decide to do this, however, I’d recommend a backup plan just in case. Weather and pests are obstacles to be aware of. This book by Floret’s Erin Benzakein is a well-organized guide to growing your own.

Ann Hayes of Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm gives a tour of her dahlia fields.

And did you know you can also hire local farmers to grow flowers for you? I work with several growers willing to do this if they have enough lead time and can grow what the event requires in the correct season. And when local farmers grow your flowers you have the peace of mind that the job will get done right and if they do run into a problem on your special day, they are most likely to have a surplus of other varieties for you to choose from and/or the connections to get what you need.

Cool idea: Hosting a tour of the flower farm growing your event flowers is a unique way to bring a small group from your event together. It’s a fabulous setting for an outdoor bridal shower or with this tour you can create an educational precursor for an eco-friendly fundraising event.

10. Donate whenever possible

Food
One great way to avoid a lot of food waste after your catered event is to donate your leftover food to a local church, animal shelter, food bank, or homeless shelter. You'd need to follow food safety guidelines of course and ask your caterer if they have a process in place for this already, but if they do not here are some links that may help you find what you are looking for.

• Feeding America: Looking for a Food Bank near you

• Great Nonprofits: Looking for a Homeless Shelter near you

• Humane Society: Looking for an Animal Shelter near you

Decor & Flowers
Donations of decor are also appreciated greatly. Perhaps you know you'll never use 200 votive candle holders again or you just don't have space for the 25 vases you accumulated. There's probably a bride out there somewhere who would love to recycle your glass jars for you. Or maybe some local hospitals could use a few fresh floral arrangements for their lobby this week. One of the easiest ways to resell your lightly used decor is on the Facebook marketplace.

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Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Detweiler Homestead. Photography by Taylor Cotilla

Enjoy this glimpse of Lindsay & Jordan's late summer wedding. Lindsay requested a pure white, sustainable bridal bouquet so I chose to work with one of my local favorites, white lisianthus. These focal flowers were grown on the reputable Detweiler Homestead Farm originally in Telford, PA, and they were accented with greens harvested from Bloom Flower Farm, originally from Hilltown, PA. A bridal, one bridesmaid bouquet, several boutonnieres, and cake flowers were the complete floral order for this beautiful, micro event.

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This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact  Kim@kimbensingdesign.com. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

A Great Way to Help Kids with Cancer (PENN STATE)

The Four Diamond hand symbol is seen a lot at THON.

WHAT IS THON™ & FOUR DIAMONDS?

THON™ is a student-run dance marathon philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. This unique fundraising event is a great opportunity for all Penn State students to interact with local businesses, local restaurants, and other community members. THON™ raises money all year and its culmination is a February weekend dance marathon at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center in State College, PA. The proceeds are distributed to The Four Diamonds Organization.

Four Diamonds is an organization founded by Charles and Irma Millard. Its mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research.

Charles Millard, found of Penn State’s THON.

Why Was The Four Diamonds Created?

Christopher Millard, son of Charles and Irma Millard, was 11 years old when he was first diagnosed with cancer. Shortly before he lost his three-year battle with cancer, he wrote a story about a great knight who sought out the Four Diamonds of courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength, in order to be released from the grips of an evil sorceress. These four diamonds symbolized the attributes that Christopher’s family believed were necessary to overcome cancer. The Millards formed this organization to honor their son and to help many other kids diagnosed with cancer.

Since its creation in 1972, Four Diamonds has helped more than 4,800 children and families and supported a diverse platform of childhood cancer research at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, seeking improved treatments and cures to benefit kids around the world. Please read more about Christopher and the history of THON™ that I sourced from their website.

FTK (For the kids)

When at THON™ there is a good cause catchphrase you’ll want to remember: FTK or For the Kids. It’s written everywhere, on t-shirts, and signs, and it’s even painted on many faces. I just love this simple phrase because it says it all. 

Each Organization participating in THON creates their own grand signage for the arena. My own Sigma Kappa sisters teaming up with Fiji above. (PROUD SIGMA)

The Thon organizations

Every greek organization, as well as many other notable organizations at Penn State participate in the weekend and raise money all year for THON™. Club Ultimate Frisbee and Science Lion Pride are just two of the organizations available to students so they can get involved. There are three pages of organizations to be exact and here is a link if you’d like to explore what organization jives with you. Thon Organizations. 

Navigators, a Penn State Christian Organization hosting a fashion show FOR THE KIDS with cancer at THON. Photo courtesy: Thon Blog

THE BEST WAYS TO INSPIRE WITH CREATIVE SIGNAGE

One way to inspire a friend who is dancing or working at THON™ is through your gift of creative signage. When you stand anywhere in the arena you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the unique and beautiful signs, shirts, hats, and costumes created by all the participating student organizations and committees. They really are something. Some focus on their sponsored kids, while others light up their grand letters. 

The faces of THON children sponsored by this particular Org.

Signage can be powerful as seen throughout the arena during THON.

Pale blue lights enhance the THON Lionette sign.

A GREAT OPTION, JOIN A COMMITTEE

If you’re a student at Penn State I bet you’re wondering how you can join a committee. I want to join a committee and I’m not and never was a student at Penn State. Go here to join a committee, applications are available to all current students. My oldest daughter served on both the Merchandise and the Rules and Regulations committees, My son participates each year with his fraternity Phi Kappa Tau and for the organization OHANA, while my youngest daughter served on the THON Technology Committee and this year is excited to volunteer with Dancer Relations. That’s a great committee because Dancer Relations writes and choreographs the THON-specific dance song played every hour. The students in the stands and all the marathon dancers follow the on-stage Dancer Relations Line Dance Captains as they dance to a song that is set to motivational chants and annual current events. The new and unique choreography is taught by the students on stage in the first hours of THON™, until the final hours when everyone has it committed to memory. The dance is performed every hour on the hour as a way of waking up the dancers and garnering active participation & loud cheers from the audience.

2022 Line Dance Leader Jess Romito. Source: Onward State Blog

PRO TIP: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU GO

If you decide to take a day trip or spend the entire weekend in State College experiencing THON™ for yourself you will have a great time. THON™ begins at 4 pm on Friday. But I would recommend arriving by mid-afternoon so that you can see the Parade of Dancers walking to the arena. We had special behind-the-scenes knowledge that this was a must-see and I am so glad we did. The line stretched way beyond my photo above and the roar from the Nittany Lion student cheers was incredible. The Dancers are in white, walking through the middle. Talk about school spirit - this was the BEST.

THON’s 2022 Parade of Dancers lining up outside the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University.

THON™ is free to the public and when inside, you will be instructed to stand all weekend. There is no sitting inside the arena out of respect for the Dancers and of course, For The Kids. So prepare for that, it’s not easy but compare that to their battle with cancer and you get through it. The good news is that you will be entertained for 3 whole days and 2 nights. You’ll hear motivational speakers and see more than one live event. They usually bring in a big-name band in the middle of Saturday night in order to keep the dancers awake. It draws the cheering section students out of bed and keeps everyone pumped with energy! You can come and go as you please, but there may be times throughout the weekend when admittance is limited due to space. One of those times is Sunday afternoon for the Family Hour (when the THON™ families come out on stage and tell their stories) which is such a great idea. This gets everyone emotionally involved. It's followed by the big $$$ reveal. This is where the students come out on stage and reveal the amount of money raised over the course of the entire year. So be sure to get in there earlier in the day because these are not to be missed.

Club Cheer performs at THON 2022. My daughter Kate is the far right flyer in midair. (PROUDMOM)

You’ll see funny skits and live performances by Penn State's sports teams and clubs and be brought to tears by heartwarming family stories. My daughter Kate performed for many years with her PSU Club Cheerleading Team. Her performances were usually at 3:00 am and yes, we left our warm hotel on those cold Pennsylvania, February nights to see her perform because that’s what parents do. She’s the mid-air flyer on the right in this photo above. We are very proud that she raised money and entertained the dancers for so many years at Penn State. The acts and performances run continuously, 24/7 for all 3 days to encourage the dancers and the dance motivators to keep going. An interesting note: each dancer is assigned several dance motivators to help them all weekend. A detail that I just love.

Dancer, Caitlin Geaman, my daughter’s roommate, dances in 2022 despite a severe leg injury for which she received periodic Physical Therapy all weekend. FTK

Alex’s miracle Story

Alex Miller, on the far right of the photo below, is my dear friend, Jackie’s only son. The two of them have been attending THON™ for over 23 years, ever since Alex was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 1999. At that time he and his entire family were taken in and sponsored by the Phi Gamma Nu service fraternity at Penn State. For Alex’s entire time battling cancer, the THON™ Penn State students from Phi Gamma Nu visited Jackie’s home bringing snacks, gifts, and entertainment for Alex. Four Diamonds provided them with a social worker at the hospital and paid all of Alex’s medical bills not covered by insurance. They also provided gas and food vouchers while Alex was in treatment so that Jackie could leave work and help him. Four Diamonds created a child’s playroom outfitted with toys, books, and games for families staying at the Hershey Medical Center. Jackie remembers there was an activity planned each day for the kids like music therapy, bingo, and even visits from local sports heroes.

I’m happy to report that Alex won his fight with cancer and made a promise to his mom that he’d pay it forward one day by attending Penn State's main campus and joining Phi Gamma Nu. During his time at Penn State, Alex held several leadership roles within the fraternity and even went on to represent them as their THON™ Dancer when he was a senior in 2020. Beautiful.

Ping Pong at Cedar Crest Middle School’s Mini-THON.

SPRING FUNDRAISER IDEAS FOR YOUNGER KIDS

A Four Diamonds Mini-THON® is an effective way for middle and high school students to round out their school year with some unique fundraising activities. Mini-THON® gives students K-12 and their family members, as well as the local community, an easy way to be empowered in the fight to raise much-needed funds to conquer childhood cancer. Getting involved with their school community promotes teamwork, creativity, and school spirit and can raise a lot of money For the Kids. This is a perfect opportunity for students to learn how to manage large groups, recruit volunteers, run a silent auction, design an obstacle course, charge admission, sell raffle tickets, and come up with new creative ideas to raise additional funds with their own custom fundraising campaign - all on school grounds. And it can turn into a wonderful community event.

My very own nephew, Noah Bensing, lead his spring season Mini-THON® at Cedar Crest Middle School in Lebanon, PA last year. Noah was responsible for planning all of the games which students play in the gym after school until 8 pm. He was determined to raise the most money the school had ever raised. There was a small entry fee of $40 per student which they raised on their own through sponsorships, extracurricular activities, as well as the classic way, going door to door. Local vendors pitched in providing refreshments for the hard-working kids.

Last year, when Noah attended THON™ at State College for the first time he was emotionally moved far beyond words. Nothing could prepare him for seeing the huge Bryce Jordan Center filled to capacity with dancing, singing, and cheering undergrads all weekend. Noah learned from Penn State's social media pages, took lots of his own photos and purchased memorabilia on his visit, and created a presentation full of new ideas for his peers in hopes of inspiring a winning team of students who would join him in creating a viable fundraising goal. Visiting THON™ was a good idea because last year Cedar Crest Middle School's fundraising efforts resulted in $46,000 and since they first began mini-thoning they’ve raised over $302,825! FTK

the last lovely hours

Sunday morning drags itself in after a very long and grueling Saturday night. Remember everyone in this arena has not been able to sit down since Friday afternoon. This is true for all of the dedicated dancers but also for the arena full of working students, and families assisting them with loud cheers of positivity, shoulders for learning, and endless sprinkles of inspiration. It’s best to get to the arena by midday Sunday because you won’t want to miss the Family Hour and the Big Reveal at the very end. It’s powerful. And if you can’t make it to State College for this great cause, don’t worry because all of THON™ is available via stream at thon.org

THON 2023

This year THON™ is scheduled for Feb 17, 18, and 19, so this is the perfect time to get involved. I booked my hotel room months ago. It’s probably the most moving weekend I’ve ever experienced in my life and of course, all of my own kids work THON all weekend so I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I feel so honored that my friend Jackie introduced me to this in 2019. I’ve been coming up ever since.

Last year we invited extended family and friends and because of what he witnessed my nephew Nick, a high school junior decided that Penn State was definitely for him - pretty much on the spot. There really is nothing like the profound love, generosity, and joy you feel at a THON™ weekend. If this blog moved you, and if you are able, please make a small donation here: Donate To learn about the families who benefit from THON read this: THON family stories. If you or someone you know is battling childhood cancer and might benefit from becoming a THON™ family, check out this link. If getting involved with a non-THON™ weekend event is more your speed, check out this link. It shares ideas like 5k runs, and other things happening all year long. If you own a business and want to contribute financially here’s the link for you. And if you are one of the 750,000+ Penn State Alumni, here are some ways you can contribute. FTK

If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. - Kim

Eliminate Sneaky Sugars

Did you ever take a hard look at the ingredients in some of your favorite products?

I did. I took a close look at my go-to salad dressing. The one I drizzle over my special homemade plantwiches. This dressing is commonly known as Good Season’s Italian and it’s pretty popular because it’s fresh and light and…not creamy. In years past I vigorously purchased these little boxes, ripped open the mini packages inside, and mixed up my light and perfectly tangy dressings so that I’d have a continuous supply on hand. Today I mix up my own homemade, and here is why.

The sneaky Ingredient in this box

Sugar, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Garlic (Dried), Onions (Dried), Spice, Red Bell Peppers (Dried), Carrots (Dried), Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Parsley (Dried), Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Soy Sauce (Dried) (Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Citric Acid.

There it is. Sugar. We’ve all heard that if the very first, or even second, ingredient on the label is Sugar back away and return it to the shelf. According to Rutger’s Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Study, sugar addiction is more dangerous than you think. They report that The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an adult living on a standard 2,000-calorie diet should aim to consume about 25 grams of sugar per day.

Let’s face it, if you’re not intentionally picking up a candy bar you may be eating more sugar than you’d like because sugar is constantly sneaking into food products and beverages where it really doesn’t belong. The same study tells us that “just one cup of Dannon Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt, for example, contains a soul-crushing 34 grams of sugar. Meanwhile, VitaminWater contains 17 grams.” Vitamin Water! This Rutger’s study and many others suggest that some food companies include little bits of addictive sugar in their recipes, just to keep you coming back, not actually to enhance the taste.

Because this has been on my radar for quite a while, I’ve thought long and hard about why a fresh, herbal, olive oil-based salad dressing would need sugar at all. I can’t come up with a solid reason except for the addiction factor. This is why I first attempted to create this dressing without sugar. I am happy to share how easy it is, so you can quickly make your own.

Gather a few herbs & spices

I grow a lot of organic herbs here at Windy Hill, however, I also buy many of my spices and herbs at the grocery like everyone else. Either way, gather up what you’ve been able to dry or take this list to the store and buy the following bottles.

• Parsley (2TBSP)

• Onion powder (2TBSP)

• Garlic powder (2TBSP)

• Salt (2TBSP)

• Oregano (2TBSP)

• Basil (2 tsp)

• Black pepper (2 tsp)

• Paprika (2 tsp)

• Ped pepper flakes (optional for zesty) (1 tsp)

• Thyme (1/2 tsp)

• Celery seed (1/2 tsp)

Of course feel free to eliminate something you don’t care for, and replace it with something you like as long as it’s not sugar. I usually add a dash of Turmeric and Cayenne pepper for health but if you love onions, add chives and if you like lemon, add dried lemon verbena. Just keep in mind, if you already like the GS Italian mix flavor, this precise list will get you there.

the best Containers

For Liquids: Years ago I purchased the standard cruet that is sold alongside the Good Season packages and I do like it for proper mixing because it has marks telling you how much extra virgin olive oil, water, and vinegar to add. I find this helpful for a consistent taste every time.

For Seasoning Mix: After you’ve combined the measured dry herbs & spices pour them into a medium mason jar. (I like to use the mason jars with glass lids - these come with air-tight seals) Then shake well so the contents are evenly distributed. When mixed scoop out 2 tablespoons and add it to the cruet which should already contain the oil, water & vinegar. Lock the cap and shake vigorously.

The dry seasoning mix will last a pretty long time in your pantry as long as there is no moisture inside the jar. I keep the cruet filled with dressing in my panty because I use it pretty quickly.

I hope this quick and easy recipe helps you eliminate those sneaky sugars that top your salads or plantwiches. There are many other processed items out there with sugar hiding somewhere. Seek, and you shall find them. If you see unwanted sugars in some of your favorite foods, google a sugar-free alternative recipe to find healthier options, or just try creating it yourself. Be sure to check out the Garden Gift Idea below in the inspire section of this blog. And I’d love to hear your comments and places you’ve found unwanted sugars lurking. Thank you for reading, Kim

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Learn: NY Times: “How to stop eating sugar”
Create: Double your batch of freshly made salad dressing mix, and place about 4 tablespoons into tiny jars with little corks. Give as gifts.
Inspire: Garden Gift Idea / Place some preserved moss inside a galvanized bucket. Fill with 1 cruet, a tiny jar with your homemade seasoning mix. Be sure to label the seasoning mix with these stylish labels and also include 1 small bottle of extra virgin olive oil, and 1 small bottle of specialty vinegar.

I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

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