Holly and Autumn Wreath and Heart

Holly Decorative Mini Wreath and Heart 

I've dipped into decorative wreaths. Seems like it's a bit of a thing now judging by how many I've seen around since I've started making mine. The original idea was to make a mini holly wreath as a festive decoration, but when the design was finished it seemed to just suit being a decorative design for the winter, or even all year. It's not overly festive at all.

Autumn Decorative Mini Wreath and Heart

As the holly version could be a winter decoration, I thought I'd try an Autumn version too. So with some red and orange berries, autumn leaves and some twiggy bits too, this is that design.

Solitary Bee Houses for the Bees, and You

Des Res Mosaic Garden Solitary Bee House

As I've got a lot of solitary bees using my bee houses this year I thought I'd make them some posh houses to use, that are totally practical for them, but are also a nice bit of colour and design for you to look at too. The first one I've called the Des Res Solitary Bee House and it has a slate roof with a mosaic design of a bee against blue skies on both sides. The wooden tube is painted in pale sky blue with a white face. The tube is totally handmade and is specifically cut to be the exact size to hold the perfect length of tube for one solitary bee to make one whole nest in one tube. The bee will lay an egg at the far end, then gather some pollen to leave in with the egg (so the baby bee has something to eat when it hatches), then the bee creates a chamber for that egg using either a piece of leaf, if it's a Leaf Cutter Bee, or a plug of mud, if it's a Red Mason Bee. It'll repeat that process right up to the end of the tube where it'll plug the end and you'll know there's a nest in the tube and which bee made it. Fascinating.

Coastal Mosaic Garden Solitary Bee House

The second version of the posh bee houses is called Coastal Solitary Bee House. This one has a fully mosaiced striped roof using the colours of the coast with sea blues and greens, and sky blues, and pastel painted wood. All the bamboo canes are removeable from both designs so when the nests have hatched in spring, the tubes can be replaced. You can buy exact size replacements, or you can cut some yourself, ready for the bees looking to make their new nests in late spring / early summer.

Vintage Fabric Effect Mosaic House Number

Vintage Fabric Look Mosaic House Numbers

Vintage Fabric Look Mosaic House Number

These house number mosaic plaques have been designed to look like they've got a vintage Liberty style fabric background. The mosaic is made up of small flowers, and butterflies, filled in with small leaves. The grout on the front design has then been overpainted with weatherproof paint to create a rough texture to finish the vintage fabric look.

Mirror, Mirror

Random Colour Shoal Fish Mosaic Mirror

Graduating Colour Shoal Fish Mosaic Mirror

Two fishy mirrors for you. Both have the fish circling in alternate directions to create a dynamic design. One has a random colour pattern with iridescent fish dotted around to add metallic shine. The other has graduating colour fishes. Both have the slightly raised mirror so you can see the slightly greeny mirror glass that adds to the watery feel. Both are designed to be used in any room of the home, including bathrooms.

Water Drops Mosaic Heart Hanging Decoration

Water Drops Mosaic Hanging Decoration

Inspired by the graduating colours used in the Elements Bird Bath this Water Drops mosaic heart uses water droplets shapes to create the pattern and the colours graduate across the face. There is a small circular mirror to add some interest along with the iridescent tiles used that have a metallic shine when the light angle catches them. This heart is suitable for sheltered garden use (not too much water, definitely no ice), or indoor use. A lovely, unique decoration for your home or garden.

Muted Garden Heart Decoration

Muted Heart Garden Hanging Decoration

I had some magenta nuggets that I wanted to use in a design, and a slate heart that I wanted to create a garden ornament out of. So I designed a soft palette of purples, browns and pastel blues and toned down the magenta by adding a dark blue mottling to them so they tied in with the design. The white tiles used have a slightly pitted surface that has taken specks of the grout to create an almost white granite effect. It's a lovely Muted Heart Garden Decoration for adding a touch of subtle colour to the home or garden.

Mosaic Bee Coaster

Mosaic Bee Coaster

The mosaic bees have flown onto this fab selection of coasters. These can be used indoors out outside in the garden as all materials are weatherproof. The bees have iridescent wings that shine with metallic magenta and blue. They are great decorative items that are practical too. Find them on my website - JoSara.co.uk

Mosaic Bumblebee with Olive Frame

I've decided to add a bit more home decor to my range so I've created two mosaic bumblebees in hand painted frames. The frames have a lovely muted olive green slightly distressed finish. The bees have iridescent wings that shine with metallic gold and magenta, and they are surrounded by two shades of sky blue tiles. I really like the proportion of frame to mosaic, and the distressing and subtle colours give a lovely finished look to them.

Purple Bee Log House

Purple Bee Log House

Purple Bee Log House

I wanted to try and create a contemporary looking bee home. I came up with an idea to make a stylised 'log' shape to hold bamboo canes in, and I've created the Purple Bee Log House. The depth of the log means the canes are nice and long so the bees can get right in to lay their eggs in their chambers and they are safely away from the entrance. This house is designed for mason bees who are solitary bees (meaning they don't live in communal groups like honey bees in a hive). They are also non-aggressive bees, so they are perfectly safe to have around in the garden. The bees will lay their eggs in the cane, then block the entrance hole up to keep their growing youngsters safe until they emerges in spring.

Purple Bee Log House

One of the worst things that can happen to the eggs over winter is getting wet. The canes have been set back inside the log to give them an overhang of protection from the wood surrounds. The bee log needs to be sited facing as close to south as possible so that should protect it further from the prevailing winter weather. If the weather is really bad, the log can be taken down and stored somewhere dry and put back out in early spring when the young bees will hatch out. There are plenty of gaps in between the canes which could be used by ladybirds and lacewings to overwinter too. All in all, loads of beneficial insects could benefit from this log house, and your garden could benefit from free aphid eaters, and fruit, veg, and flower pollinators to give you a bumper crop and a great flower display.

Folksy Handmade - Words

Today's Folksy Friday is inspired by my latest listing of cast letters. I've handpainted these to give them an aged, antique gold finish, which makes them look very ornate. I've had a hunt around and collected together a selection of decorative words for the home and garden.

Shop link menu below the picture gallery (for ongoing Pinterest board follow the Folksy Handmade link).

*** Folksy Handmade - Words ***

Top Row (Left to Right)

Soap Letters, by Vintage Homestead

Decorative Decopatch Letters 'Dream', by The Paper Owl

Yay Stuffed Felt Lettes, by Pygmycloud

Middle Row (Left to Right)

Home Freestanding Wooden Letters, by Crafty Clara

Freestanding Wooden Letters - Handpainted - Bake, by Love Letters by Debbie Dilly

Handcast Shelf Display Cake Word, by Shabbytochic2011 Unique Designs !!

Bottom Row (Left to Right)

Ceramic 'Love' Letters in Purple Peacock Feather Design, by Red Devil Crafts

Comic Book POW 3D Freestanding Letters, by Roseberry Boutique

Decorative Letters, by Cherish Every Moment