DIY – Making suet balls to feed our feathered friends!

Feeding our feathered friends in winter can be fun, easy, and economical when you create your own homemade suet balls!  

Suet balls blog 1Ingredients:

-1 pound lard or fat
– 3/4 cup peanut butter
-1/2 cup flour
– 1/4 cup cornmeal
– 1 cup sugar
– approximately half a loaf of bread crumbs
– 1-1/2 cups of mixed seeds, nuts and chopped dried fruits

 

Directions:

Chickadee at Wall Flower Studio - copyright Karen SloanMelt the lard and peanut butter over low heat. Mix flour, cornmeal, and sugar and stir in.
-Add enough bread crumbs to absorb all liquid.
-Add fruit, seeds, and nuts as desired.
-Pour into a 9 x 5″ bread pan (lined with plastic wrap), or pour into suet cake molds.(molds can be saved from store-bought suet.) -Allow to cool completely.
-Keep refrigerated or in a cool place like a basement.

One batch makes about four cakes.

When you’re snowed in, (as many of us were last week here in Ontario), why not create a treat for the birds?! Kids love to help with this too – Have fun!

Sharing a miniature Fairy garden DIY – Terrariums and furniture for the ‘wee folk’!

Fairy Terrarium with blue chair - Wall Flower Studio Karen SloanOne of my lovely customers ordered a Fairy garden in a terrarium. They requested that it be kept simple. For a container, I used a large apothecary jar. These offer ample room for soil, plants, charcoal, rocks, pebbles and moss that make up the wee garden.

The finished creation includes a small Peperomia caperata and a False aralia (Dizygotheca elegantissima). Sheet moss and lichens from our yard were added, along with some wooden ‘stepping stones’ to offer the illusion of a  pathway through the enclosed garden. Last but not least, the wee blue chair.

Fairy terrarium blue chair from above

After our last workshop here at the shop, there were a lot of twig and branch scraps on hand. That worked out well because I cut up all of the long twigs into smaller, more usable pieces. I also had some of the oak disks, (branches cut on their side, like a loaf of bread!), which work well for seats and tabletops.

fairy furniture chairs 1

 

Here are the first 3 chairs created at the kitchen counter. With glue gun in hand, I rifled through the twigs, and came up with 2 wee chairs and a table. It’s fun to try different styles, so one is a somewhat traditional style chair, and the other, a funky recliner!

I dislike seeing the strands of glue that you just can’t get away from when using a glue gun. I refer to them as ‘spider webs’. Hold your creation up to the light and pull those off. And, to hide any glue bumps, add a bit of moss to cover it up. Moss and lichens are great for disguising any of those unsightly mechanics.

finished fairy garden furniture Karen Sloan benchThey say the ‘devil is in the details’, but that’s the fun part! I had a couple of tiny little cuttings from a couple of twigs that ended up on the table as drinking cups. Being a floral designer, a small table arrangement was a must! Putka pods and dried Pee gee hydrangea seed heads worked well to create a tabletop bouquet.

finished fairy garden furniture Karen Sloan 22
After my bench and chair grouping was finished, it was on to bedroom furniture. First a night table, chair and bed! Again, more moss, which gives it a very natural ‘gardeny’ feel, along with paper birch that was lying on the ground in our yard. Birch bark makes terrific pillows and duvets! Just a note, I never rip the bark from the tree.

Fairy night table, bed and chair. Wall Flower StudioSuch fun!

Well, it’s back to the glue gun for me! I’m having too good of a time to stop now, but wanted to share.

I hope you’ll enjoy making your own miniature creations! If you’re located in Ontario, Canada and you’re interested in one of our upcoming workshops, please message me via the contact form below for more information. Thanks!

Wishing everyone a very happy week. ~ Karen

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Thank you for your response. ✨

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Rose oil at Wall Flower StudioAt Wall Flower Studio, we offer the perfect gifts for spoiling the one you love this Valentine’s Day! A head-to-toe collection of body oils, butters, balms and bath salts!

We’re happy to create a gift basket with a skin care theme, for ‘him or her’, and of course, our ‘foodie’ themed collections are always a big hit with anyone in mind!

lavender themed gift basket at WFS

 

 

Our hours this weekend are:

Sat. 10 – 6, Sun. 11 – 3 & Mon. 11 – 3.

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day, and a Happy Family Day, here in Canada!

 

Sharing some of our basil seedlings grown in eggshells

April 2014 Wall Flower Studio growing Basil - seeds in eggshells - Karen SloanHere’s a handy hint for anyone starting seeds but doesn’t have any wee containers. Simply save your eggshells and start your seeds in them!

I’ve started my large leaf basil, and the beautiful thing is that the whole thing can be planted, including the egg carton! Or, plant the eggshells, rip up the carton, and feed it to the vermicomposter. Worms will love it!

This way the seedling’s roots remain undisturbed, and that summer pesto is closer than ever to becoming a reality. 😉 Happy Gardening!

13862346694_961900bd24_oBasil herbs seeds sprouting in eggshell - seedlings at Wall Flower Studio - Copyright Karen Sloan

Sharing an upcoming workshop! #Terrarium ‘Imaginarium’ at the @RailsEnd Gallery

Terrarium workshop “Terrarium Imaginarium” 

Create your very own miniature garden under glass!

Join Karen for some indoor gardening inspiration!

Fishbowl terrarium with mushroom - Wall Flower StudioThis workshop offers step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own terrarium.
Attendees will learn about container selection, types of plant material to use, quirky design additions, and how best to care for the little ecosystems so they continue to thrive once you get them home!
– Friday, February 26th, 2016
– 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
– All materials provided!
– Cost: $20.00

❧ Hosted by the Rails End Gallery – 23 York St, Haliburton ON – Artlovers Staycation, 2016

❧ Please Note: Attendees must sign up directly with the Rails End Gallery. To do so online, please visit: HERE (or) telephone: 705.457.2330

– Thank you!