Author Archives: Toby
Nothing will make your centerpiece more intriguing and lovely than when you have more than one color. When you combine colors, you have so many options. Of course if you are trying to coordinate for a given theme or occasion, then it makes sense to use those colors. For a wedding, it would be practical to use the colors that the wedding party selected.
You can also be very unique and creative when you are combining colors. Sometimes, a subtle color combined with one or more bold colors can really be eye catching. If you aren’t sure what to go with, try it! There is nothing wrong with seeing where it leads. You can also go with some tried and true color schemes that you already know work well with each other!
Sometimes, simple is all you need and it can still have some elegance to offer for your centerpiece. You can’t go wrong with the combination of black and white. If you are sticking with two colors, you want them to be different enough that they won’t melt into each other. They will offer vibrancy as a pair and yet you can still pick out the individual colors with ease.
Some of those common combinations to consider include:
- Blue and purple
- Yellow and green
- Red and orange
- Brown and pink
- Red and blue
There are seasonal color schemes that also work very well with each other. In the spring, light hues work well. For the winter, bolder colors are a great option. In the spring and fall, the mix of red with yellow, orange, or brown work very nicely.
Think about holiday type color schemes too. For example, around the 4th of July there is the option of red, white, and blue. For Christmas, green and red seem to be a very common theme. If you are providing the centerpiece for an anniversary, silver or gold work very nicely with other colors to help enhance the significance of the special occasion.
If you are still not confident in your selection process, use a color wheel to help you. It allows you to see the various colors and what works well with others. It can give you some new perceptions on the process and prevent you from going with something too conservative when you are interested in creating lovely looking centerpieces.
Have fun experimenting and expressing your creative side by combining colors for your centerpiece. Knowing what colors can work well with others will make such a project more fun and less work. The more you do so, the more you will feel confident about what you offer. Be ready for lots of great compliments to be coming your direction too!
Permaculture is a coined term from the 1970’s from Australians David Holmgren and Bill Mollison. Permaculture incorporates design principles that bring about a change for the better in social, political, economic, and personal approaches to living beyond existing. There are twelve design principles 
that are centered on three core ethics concepts: care for the Earth, care for the people, and a fair distribution of goods.
The first core idea of permaculture is care for the earth. In essence, this core value means that we have to take the time to keep the earth healthy. This is done by keeping soil health so that other living creatures can stay healthy. All living things rely on the same soil, the same water and the same food. It is essential that all things be respected regardless of how insignificant they may seem to us. Each living entity has its place in the circle of life.
The second core idea is that of care for the people. Simply put, it comes down to focusing on opportunity rather than obstacle. No one, no matter how talented and resourceful, can make it through the world on their own. It takes a cooperative effort from as many possible people to get things moving in a positive direction.
Rounding out the core values of permaculture is sharing and equal distribution. This is about knowing when and how much you need and how much you need to leave to others. The mentality of hoarding or retaining more goods than what is needed promotes negative waves on society as a whole. By learning to balance what is needed to what is available others will learn to follow suit to bring about positive change to the masses.
The combination of these three core values is set into motion and sustained by twelve guiding principles. The first of these design principles is to observe and interact. This means that you take time to see what is going on around you and become involved. It may be something such as a community garden, or understanding the interrelations between all living things and understanding their value. For example, the bee is considered by many to be a pest, but in reality the bee is our top pollinator. Without the services provided by this species, we would not have food to survive.
The second designing principle is all about renewable resources. Solar energy, heat energy from the earth, wind energy, and hydro energy are all methods that can be used to capture and store energy for later use with little to no use of non-renewable sources. Rain water can be collected and used to irrigate crops. Trees and other plants produce material to use for shelter, heat, clothing, and nourishment. Permaculture relies heavily on a significant reduction of the carbon footprint.
The next principle in our design schematic is obtaining a yield. This means that something will come from the activity we are taking. It may be an immediate use such as grapes or other fruits that we can eat, or it might be something gained over time like a jar of honey.
Following the yield is the principle of self regulation and feedback. This comes down to understanding what your role is on the grand scheme of things. For instance do you really need three lights on in a room when one would work just as well?
Design principle five involves knowing the use and value of renewable resources and services. An example of this is the goat. Goats are great eaters of grasses and plants that may not be appealing to cattle or other grazers. Their consumption of these less desirable products allows other animals to graze on better goods. The goat can also then be used for a source of milk, and even a source of meat.
This fits in nicely with design principle six which states that we should not be wasteful even in times of abundance. It is all too easy to discard things because we feel there is too much, but in thin times what we have wasted would be much desired.
Imagine yourself looking out your back door. Do you see all the things that are around you, or are you fixed on a specific zone? Principle seven is about being able to distinguish the forest and the trees. Often times we get so hung up on the details that we forget to look at the big picture. This is a permaculture nightmare. Every detail is important to the overall outcome.
Working together as a team rather than segregating differences is the backbone of design principle eight. The idea here is that by working in a cooperative spirit rather than trying to split away more can be accomplished for the greater good. We are all people with the same goal, to live a peaceful life amongst each other. There is no place in permaculture for separation to succeed.
Design principle nine exemplifies the resilience of utilizing local resources in small amounts. Just because something is bigger does not mean that it is better. Sometimes having something to big can be more of a detriment than an advantage. A permablitz is a community scale garden that is designed specifically around the area it inhabits. Local residents can then receive items specially grown in their immediate area.
We have seen diversity incorporated into the workplace, and it is the mantra of many a corporation. This train of thought also lattices its way through permaculture principles. Understanding the use and value of diversification is a cornerstone to the whole element. Just as it is important to recognize we all strive for the same goal, so is it important to understand that our differences combine to make us stronger as a whole.
The final two design principles are about knowing what path to choose when and finally knowing when to make a needed change. The most followed path is not necessarily going to be the best path to achieve the goals you have set. There are specific elements that apply to your area that will need to be incorporated. Listen, watch, and observe the surroundings, and you will know what needs to be done.
Resource Box
Permaculture is a growing and needed plan of action for sustaining nature and life on earth by making use of natural resources and reducing the carbon footprint. It is a series of principles to be employed by all inhabitants of our planet to ensure the continued success of a lasting relationship between man and nature.
The below table compares the size of different types of beads when dehydrated and hydrated.
Regular Beads
Dry (left) & Hydrated (right)
Large Beads
Dry (left) & Hydrated (right)
Marble Beads
Dry (left) & Hydrated (right)
Rock Soil
Dry (left) & Hydrated (right)
Gel Cubes
Dry (left) & Hydrated (right)
Jumbo Balls
Dry (left) & Hydrated (right)
Top Indoor Plants to Use with Water Marbles and Beads
Water marbles and beads are a wonderful way to stop worrying about watering your indoor plants as often. They are made out of a special polymer gel powder that will eventually break down into water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Not only do they provide water for plants, but water beads also look beautiful as well. Here is a closer look at some of the benefits to using these beads and marbles, as well as a look at some of the top indoor plants to use with them.
Benefits of Using Water Marbles and Beads
Using these beads and marbles provide many excellent benefits. The following are some of the important benefits these water beads and marbles have to offer.
– Benefit #1 – Steady, Slow Moisture – One of the benefits these beads have to offer is steady, slow moisture for your plants. This is particularly handy for individuals that do not have time to water plants on a regular basis.
– Benefit #2 – Replaces Dirt or Potting Soil – For some plants, these water marbles can actually replace the dirt or soil, which means you don’t have to worry about the mess that dirt and soil can create. Of course, they can also be used along with soil to ensure the soil has constant watering.
– Benefit #3 – Decorative Appeal – Last, these marbles also provide decorative appeal to your plants. They can stabilize plants while adding something special to your home décor. Just a few of the lovely colors available include purple, orange, black, clear, aqua, yellow, pink, coral and green.
Great Indoor Plants to Use with Water Beads and Marbles
Many different indoor plants will do well when you add these beads to them. Some plants will do well with just the beads. However, some plants are better with soil and beads. Other plants may not do well with the beads, since certain plants don’t need as much water as other. Some plants could even rot and die if you use the marbles with them. This is why it’s important to know which plants will grow well with the marbles.
– Indoor Plants That Work Well with JUST Beads – One of the plants individuals commonly use these beads with is bamboo. It does very well with the beads. Other plants that will work well with JUST the beads and no soil include dragon plant, spider plants, arrowroot, heart leaf philodendron plants, dieffenbachia, dracaena and palms.
– Other Plants That May Work Well with Marbles and Beads – Some other plants that work well with marbles and beads, often with soil and marbles combined, include schefflera, aloe, inpatients, paper whites, begonias, elephant ear and cypress.
– DON’T Use Beads with These Plants – Certain indoor plants will not do well with these beads. Plants to avoid using with them include orchids, cacti and succulents.
As you can see, many plants will do well with water beads. Keep these guidelines in mind as you choose plants that you want to supplement with water marbles. You’ll make it easy to keep plants watered while adding something beautiful that complements yours plants’ natural beauty. If you have any questions on what water beads are and how they work, contact us and maybe get on over to our site and get in on some of those great specials!
Designing events centerpieces using Crystal Water Beads is not only very easy but can turn out to be really fun as well. These colorful marble-like beads are so cheap that creating multiple amazing and beautiful centerpieces for special events and occasions will not cost you much. In fact, merely by spending around $15, you will be able create your very own interestingly elegant centerpieces. Moreover, you can fill up an entire vase with only handful of these beads by soaking them in water until they are swollen up. You can add these multicolored water beads to a variety of centerpiece designs that you can use not only for special occasions but as a décor item for your house as well.
Patio Light Centerpiece
If you have a patio then you would definitely want to have this lovely yet practical centerpiece. All you will need a one quarter jar, water beads and an outdoor solar light. All you will need to do create this simple yet stunning centerpiece is to fill half of the jar with the swollen beads, place the solar light inside and spread the rest of the beads on top to cover it. The solar light will make the beads glow and you can use this centerpiece as a lamplight as well, indoors or outdoors.
Elegant Floating Candle Centerpiece
You can enhance just about any table, whether in your house or in a special event, by placing this elegant and romantic floating candle centerpiece in the center. To create this centerpiece you will need a large clear, crystal bowl, preferably a fancy one that looks eye-catching. For this centerpiece you will use clear water beads, which will be spilled into the bowl to half fill it. Finally you will need three white Flower Floating Candles, which will be placed on top of the beads and will give the candles a floating effect.
Floating Flowers on Flower Water Beads
Again, you can use this centerpiece almost anywhere, whether it’s your kitchen or a wedding reception, and choose to use your favorite flowers. You will need a simple large deep circular bowl for this centerpiece. While daises will work really well with this centerpiece, you can use just about any flowers. You can use colored water beads but choose the color of the beads according to your flowers. For instance, if you are using daisies, then use yellow-colored beads. You can fill half of the bowl with the beads and place artificial or freshly cut flowers on top.
Underwater Flower Centerpiece
You probably have never seen or heard of a centerpiece like this before. Lucky for you, making this centerpiece is quite easy. The great thing about this centerpiece is that you can use all kind of any to create it, whether a wide-mouthed one or a long, slender one. It is better to use freshly cut flowers for this centerpiece. Place the flowers in the vase and pour water into vase so the flowers are submerged but leave some room at the top. Now pour clear water beads in water. Now, your flowers will be underwater in the water with the lovely water beads floating on top.
So you see that there a myriad of ways you can use water beads to create all sorts of events centerpieces, and even centerpieces that you use in your own house. It only depends on how creative you are and how you use your crystal water beads.
