Many of our crafting projects begin with a walk around the farm.
We recently found inspiration in the austere, architectural beauty of the sumac that grows along the border between Beekman Farm and our neighbors at Dharma Lea Farm.
The fruits form dense clusters of reddish drupes at the tips of each branch. Known as sumac bobs, these clusters are what make the plants such a striking part of the autumn landscape.
We clipped the branches about 3 feet long, when possible trying to find a branch that had a fork.
Once home we sprayed the bobs with a light spray adhesive and then gently dusted with a fine glitter that matched the color of the fruit (we used Martha Stewart Glitter in the color Brownstone)
In order to support these top heavy arrangements, we used our B. 1802 Iron Blocks. If you are using a lighter vase, place a heavy metal frog in the bottom for stability.
Does nature inspire your creativity? Share your ideas with the rest of us.
(We’re already thinking of what to do with next year’s growth of cat tails)
17 Comments
I absolutely LOVE those sumac bobs! There are so many beautiful seed pods, berries and other “remnants” left in the fields and woods. In the ’70s, my mother took a branch from a large wild blueberry bush (since they have many small branches), sprayed it white, draped on white twinkle lights and put little natural feather craft birds all over it. She then hung it horizontally in front of the picture window over the dining room table. Very chic (pre-Martha…)!
Josh, I noticed these when I was there and meant to comment on them. They look lovely. I knew immediately that it was MS glitter.
It really is the best glitter! There, I said it
You’ve inspired me to go on a hike at the river and see what I can find to glitter for the house.
I sprayed silver on a natural tree this year, so I think I’ll glitter some thin, bare branches in white for the table.
That will be lovely. Guaranteed!
These are lovely! Yes i am very inspired from nature and gather things from my walk. this year i am wrapping gifts with birch bark , i have glittered pine cones and acorns and used the most luscious green moss as the base of a small winter scene!
I love this idea! I only have a zillion bottles of MS glitter.. (I know.. no surprise there!) I could glitter an entire field!
Somehow I think you might just do that…
Nadia! You should send photos of those projects! I bet they are beautiful!
I am going to try to glitter some dried butterfly bush (Buddleia) blossoms, which grew in my garden this past summer, in Schoharie County. Martha DOES make the greatest glitter!
I won’t harvest all the buddleia blossoms, though. They are fabulous sculptural forms in the winter garden.
The glittered butterfly bush will look wonderful
The glittered sumac are lovely! We have a beautiful pine tree in the backyard that drops perfect pine cones all year round. I put them in bowls and baskets, add sweet gum balls from the tree in the front and magnolia pods from a neighbor’s tree and any other treasures I find on walks. Although I have many bottles of MS glitter I prefer to leave them in their natural state and add vintage glass ornaments to the bowls and baskets for Christmas along with a touch of fresh greenery.
Those look amaaaaazing…
I will have to join you all in glittering!
I’ve got the yellow gold MS glitter and it really is magical… What to glitter, what to glitter…
Pretty. You can also make a drink with the sumac berries….tart, like lemonade. Quite a treat at the end of a summer day.
Hi, Karen
You know we are going to try that next summer (as hard as it is to imagine summer at the moment). We’ll have you over for pink lemonade on the back porch
Hi, Ashley
Let us know what target you choose for all that glitter
Wow! I remember my sister in law making “lemonade” from sumac. About the birch bark-is it soft enough to wrap around or do you have to soak it a little? The pieces I’ve found seem to be slightly stiff and brittle. I have used it for other crafts but mostly flat. Your idea sounds so beautiful-definitely send pictures!