Plant forced bulbs in vintage ceramics
I like to plant indoor winter bulbs, such as hyacinths and paperwhites, in vintage ceramics, which are incredibly easy to obtain. Look for timeless shapes, scalloped edges and beautiful patterns; even the most incongruous set will look charming in this context. Try a single bulb in an old gravy boat or teacup with an intricate pattern, or for greater impact, plant several bulbs together in a soup tureen or soup tureen without a lid, covering the ground with a layer of green moss that you can pick up or buy from the garden in bags at florist suppliers. Of course, given the lack of drainage holes, be sure to place small pebbles at the bottom of each tray to ensure the bulbs don’t drown, or – alternatively – keep the soil only slightly moist and allow excess water to drain where necessary . The end result looks beautiful and also fills your home with a wonderful scent.
Tamsyn Morgans Photography
Reuse teacups as candle holders
I challenge everyone not to leave old mugs or teacups lying around that they don’t use. Maybe they are broken off, maybe the handle is missing, but that is not a problem if you turn them into candle holders. Wax flakes and fragrance oils can be purchased from candle suppliers for this purpose, but in the spirit of doing so, the ends of the candles are also brilliant.
Melt your old candles (or your newly purchased wax flakes) in a small pan placed in another pan of water, being careful not to overheat. Remove old wicks from the old wax. Use a wick centering tool (or the clothespin trick) and dangle the wick over your cup, making sure that the bottom end of the wick only almost touches the bottom, but not quite.
Now carefully pour the wax into your mug or teacup until it comes up about three-quarters of the way up the sides and then let it sit for about an hour. The wax will sink naturally into the center, and you will need to melt and pour the remaining wax over it, repeating this until it is level. It helps to make a few small holes in the surface before pouring each layer to release any air bubbles. Then simply cut your wick to about an inch above the top of the cup and enjoy.
