Making the Movies: Beauty & the Beast

I've been wanting to do a column of DIYs from memorable elements from the movies forever now and today is finally the day! I have a hard time sitting during films so keeping an eye out for specific DIYs while I watch is the perfect distraction. First up, your and my favorite movie from our childhood, Beauty and the Beast. I used to imagine that I was Belle. And Lumiere was my buddy. You? I chose to recreate the enchanted rose that once wilted, meant that the Beast would remain a beast unless he found true love. The rose was kept in a beautiful cloche and since I finally found the perfect cloche at the Beehive Bazaar last weekend (from this vintage shop), we could finally get cracking. I didn't want to make the DIY version TOO in your face cheese ball so I toned it down by changing the red rose to a yellow one.

Materials: crepe paper (I used a two toned color from here), scissors, fine tipped glue gun (they are the best), floral wire 8", green crepe paper, template (download here), cloche (vintage are my favorite but here's an Amazon pick), fishing wire

Step 1: Cut out 13 pieces of the template onto your color choice of crepe paper. Make sure the grain of the paper goes horizontal to the petal.
Step 2: With your thumb, gently shape the petal. 8 of them will be shaped vertically. 5 will be shaped horizontally. I use a pencil to shape the horizontally shaped pieces.
Step 3: For the center of the petal, glue one side of the horizontally shaped petals and curl it around to the other.
Step 4: Glue on the back side of the next horizontally shaped petal on either side points of the petal.
Step 5: "Hug" the two sides around the center petal. (center right picture above)
Step 6: Repeat to the other side of the center petal. (bottom left picture above)
Step 7: Repeat the process and glue the next 2 petals so they are equally spaced around the center petal. (bottom center picture above)
Step 8: With the vertically shaped petals, dab some glue onto the bottom of the petal and attach it to the bottom of the now glued flowers.
Step 9: Glue four evenly around the flower.
Step 10: Intersperse the remaining petals around to fill in the gaps.
Step 11: Cut out a 12"x1" piece of crepe paper for the stem. Make sure the grain is going the short way of the paper. Pull it taut.
Step 12: Cut out leaves from green paper.
Step 13: Shape them with a pencil and cut jagged shapes into them so that they appear to be more lifelike.
Step 14: Glue the end piece of the stem crepe paper and begin rolling it around your wire.
Step 15: About an inch down, glue one leaf into the stem paper and immediately continue wrapping. Add on as many leaves are you'd like to the stem.
Step 16: At the end of the stem, glue the paper into the wire to secure.
Step 17: Glue the stem into the bottom center petal of the flower and hold.
Step 18: To make the rose float in the cloche, glue a small piece of fishing wire into the top of the rose and hold.
Step 19: Glue a tiny dab of glue into the top of the cloche and immediately attach the fishing wire of the rose in. If you want to reuse the cloche, the glue should easily be picked off.

Are there any specific projects you would like to see for next time? Feel free to enlighten me!

PS--Speaking of Beauty and the Beast, have you seen this? 

Gunillaberg, Sweden Part 1

When I found out that floral designer/sculpture/magic maker Tage Andersen had a summer palace in Sweden, I knew I had to go with my mom when she came to visit me in Denmark last summer (yes, I'm THAT behind on blog posts). It's about 4 hours from Copenhagen by car and it will blow your mind. You must go here before you die.

It's called Gunillaberg and it was owned by the first Swedish representative to America before America was America. Mr. Andersen bought it a few years ago and has turned it into a museum? wonderland? farm? gallery? All those magical things. This year there's a brand new orangerie even. I'm going to walk you through. You start by entering through two topiaries. Topiaries mean that you know it's gonna be good.

Then you pass some cows on both sides and I didn't get any good photos but there were then dozens of potbelly pigs. POTBELLY PIGS!

Then, you pass this beautiful barn

 before coming to this little hut draped in burlap and checkerboard. It's the sign-in, of course.

Mr. Andersen has created a number of topiary courtyards. This one is complete with whiskey barrel planters, which makes me feel really good because our rental right now has a few in front so I feel better about having them in our yard.

No Scandinavian locale is complete without chopped wood.

 or a bunch of roosters running around.

 More of those whiskey barrels.

And here I spotted Mr. Tage Andersen. I didn't have the guts to chat with him this time around for fear of turning into Superfan, which I had already established when I tracked him down in Copenhagen at his downtown studio.

 Swedish flag.

 And oh, the details! Nothing is basic. Stacked branches to hold the water barrels.

"I think it's T double E double R double R double I double F double I double C, C, C". What movie?

 And now, we get to the palace doors.

 Just a sculpture of a tree. NBD.

 Ok, that's all I'm going to leave you with for now. And the amazing part? It somehow gets better.

Selecting the right sofa

If you're just joining The House That Lars Built, I also write for The Interior Collective, an interior design site, where I give all sorts of advice. I'm going to start post more interior design advice here too including little summaries of the posts I do for Interior Collective. Today I wrote about sofa selection, which I think is super tough! I mean, finding the right balance of price, durability, style, and uniqueness is tough. The house we moved into here in our new place came with basic sofas, but I've been seeking out some beautiful sofas that will really make our house feel like a home. In my dreams I have this lovely gold, navy, and white number. How dreamy is that!

To read more about how to select the right sofa for your lifestyle, check out the post here.

Other recent posts on The Interior Collective include: how to design for your dog, how to mix styles effectively

The perfect summer sandal

I was talking to a friend while I was in NYC and she mentioned that she had found her perfect summer sandal. You know, the sandals you wear every day for the summer until they wear out. I hadn't realized that this is a "thing". I thought I was the only one who did this! Perhaps you do the same thing too? We're all friends here, right? Friends help friends find the perfect summer sandal, right? Here's what I'm looking for for this year, something plain and basic, leather, minimal (though I love the tassle ones on bottom left). Something to go with everything. Something that can withhold wear and tear. I went on a sandal window shopping spree this weekend and found some options, but I'm thinking that collectively we can provide a whole resource.

Ideas?!?!

Clockwise from top: blue sandals  |  gold sandals  |  black and tan  |  yellow/tan  |  black/cognac  |  cognac  |  tassles  |  strappy 

PS- I know saltwater sandals have been back for a bit, though I've missed the trend while I was in Denmark. I think they are adorable and I'd get them in red, though I think the designers should think about a different design for adults where they raise the back strap like the bottom center picture above. Then, I'd be more prone to buying them. Just a suggestion, guys.

These girls

I'm totally digging some Dutch wax fabrics right now and these girls nailed it by mixing it into their wardrobe. I want that skirt!

These girls  |  Entertain  |  Sit

See more This Girl here.

PS--are you in Utah? I'm selling some flowers at the Beehive Bazaar today and tomorrow. There is some FANTASTIC stuff.

Beehive Bazaar!

Though I'm new to Utah, I had definitely caught wind of the Beehive Bazaar, a market for local artists and crafters. I was super flattered when they asked me to participate so I'll be showing some huge paper flowers and baby paper flowers this weekend, Friday and Saturday at The Riverwoods (the old Gap space). See you there? For more info, check out their Facebook page.

Paper flower workshop at Anthropologie Salt Lake City

If you haven't noticed, I've been on a paper flower workshop extravaganza recently. It started with the SLC Pop-up Shop, then when I found out I was going to NYC and DC I connected up with some people who helped to make it happen there too. Then, last week when I returned home to Utah, I gave two more. Overall, I've given 6 within 2 weeks. And I love it! I'll give a couple more recaps in the next week or so but first, the Anthropologie workshop at the SLC shop. I was flattered to be asked to lead a workshop for their Mother's Day series taking place all around the nation and paper flowers were the perfect fit.

Look at everyone who came. I saw some old friends (like Aly and Tanei) but mostly new friends like Aubry from Hello Maypole, Nassari, Jessie and her mom (so cute), Amanda James, Chelsea James, Jen, Tiffanie, and more. Thanks everyone for coming! And thank you to the managers at Anthro who were so kind and helpful, as well as the ladies at headquarters, Kelly and Laura.

Do you see the very distinguished lady with the yellow bag? She should have TAUGHT the class. She made 2 in the amount that people made one AND she totally showed me up.

For some reason I didn't get a picture of the full spread of treats from Eva's bakery in SLC (which I hear has a lovely storefront too), but, they were delicious! Being out of the country for a few years you tend to miss all the cutesy food trends like cake pops and striped paper straws so I more than made up for them that night.

Then, Jen Eliason and Tiffanie were kind enough to do an impromptu photo sesh with everyone's flowers and an Anthro apron. Thank you Jen and Tiffanie!

If you want to see more pictures from the event, take a look at the hastag #anthroevents on Instagram and more pictures on Anthro's Facebook wall today.

Sewing kit DIY & template

Here's the deal (or "dill" as some Utahns like to say): Last year I attended the blogger's conference in Berlin, The Hive. As I recall, the hem of my vintage dress was unraveling and I was overjoyed when I found a sewing kit in the bathroom. Someone was thinking ahead! Because I love nothing better than multitasking, I decided to take the kit with me and sew it while I was listening to the speakers. I'm classy like that. Well, that turned into me putting it in my bag, which turned into me taking it home that night. Which then turned into me taking it home with me to Copenhagen. Nice, Brit. Well, needless to say, I felt horrible. I told the organizers of the shindig and they said something along the lines of how we should make a new one and pass it down each year. Like a spirit stick at summer camp. I was all about that. So, here it is! You can even download your own sewing kit, but don't worry, it won't have the same confessional on it. 

Supplies: sewing box (I found one that's magnetic so the pins stay, perfect for traveling! Get it from Amazon here), muslin bag 8x5" (from here), travel scissors, mini sewing kit with needles and thread, measuring tape, safety pins, big safety pin, patches, hem tape, templates, iron-on transfer paper for light fabrics (from Amazon here), sticker printer paper (from Amazon here)

Step 1: Print out your templates. The Inside template goes on the box and you can print that on sticker paper (see supplies list above for recommendation). The outside template goes on the muslin bag and can be printed on an ink-jet printer.

Step 2: Trace the paper to the size of the box and cut it out.

Step 3: Stick it onto the box.

Step 4: Insert your materials into the kit. The metal objects will stick to the magnet for easy transport.

Step 5: Follow the directions on the package for the iron on transfer. My tip: Make sure you don't hold the iron on too long like me and burn it a bit. And cut completely around the parts of the text.

I hope someone has a need for it this year at The Hive. Wish I could join you, ladies! Have a wonderful time! 

3 ways to arrange lilacs

I'm back from the East Coast and now I've had a bit of time to detox now and enjoy the Utah spring. It's GORGEOUS! The cherry blossom stage is done here, but the lilacs are in full bloom and you know I love me some lilacs (my ode to Danish lilacs should make me embarrassed, but I'm shameless) Thanks to our unknowingly generous next door neighbors, I snagged some lilacs for every room in our house. Oopsies. As much as I love seeing flowers in their natural state, I think it's such a shame not to enjoy it inside too, so...call me a thief with no shame. I know lilacs are donzo in California but maybe they're still going at it where you are? Take advantage of them. Snag some! Here are three ways to arrange them, no professional flower arranging skills needed.

1. Lilacs arranged in one big vase. The beauty of lilacs is that they are clumpy so they naturally fall in a beautiful, full way. Mine is sitting on my table for all the smell and enjoy.

2. One lilac stem in a teeny tiny vase. I got this "vase", which is actually a battery jar from the original Thomas Edison company, from the local antique store. Isn't it adorable? I placed it on my owl side table, which you can't really see, but it's awesome and should make an appearance in the future.

3. Lilac clumps in a mug. I took off all the leaves from these lilacs and stuck them in my brand new mugs by Michelle Christensen of My Little Belleville. She paints them and sells these on her Etsy shop here.

He's too precious.

Supplies: To achieve this look, you'll want a collection of vases in various sizes. I love using jars, those battery jars I mentioned above, mugs, cans, pickle jars, peanut butter jars. I only own one real vase from Ikea. You'll also need flower cutters, lilacs, and floral tape if you really want to be fancy. I didn't use floral tape here because they worked out without it. The floral tape is to create a grid across the tops of the jars to make sure they even spread out.

To arrange the flowers: Start by criss-crossing the flowers and then inserting the subsequent stems at angles. This will help them keep their shape.

Easy squeezy. Do you have lilacs where you live? I don't ever remember seeing them in Orange County growing up so moving to DC where it grows like weeds, was a revelation.

Spring, I love you.