NATURALLY-DYED EASTER EGGS

Happy Easter, friends! We took a two-month vacay from In Fine Feather to find + bring you the best Georgia-grown content. Today on IFF, we are featuring these adorable naturally-dyed eggs from Atlanta's own Ashley Pepitone of Camp Makery, as featured on the Pottery Barn Blog! Florals by the lovely Juli Vaughn. See Ashley's methods below:

"This blue and white scheme calls out to PB's beautiful Indigo Collection. I simply used a set of Sharpies to hand-draw patterns onto each egg. Sharpies work so well because they come in a variety of colors and you can set the eggs down for a few minutes and they'll be dry when you return!"

"I used several natural dyes to color these beautiful eggs, just like my grandmother taught me. The tan eggs were dyed by boiling them with several black tea bags, and the terracotta-hued eggs received their color by boiling with the skins of 5 yellow onions. You can let the eggs soak as long as you want to get a darker color. Each egg has its own pattern or monogram — I used stickers on the eggs and put them in a nylon stocking tied at the top to hold the stickers in place during the dying process. Stickers are an easy way to make sure your eggs look flawless!"

Photos by Haley Sheffield. 

THE BEST GARDENING BOOKS

Last week we brought you a DIY post via our gardening guru, Carmen Johnston. Today we share part two of our garden series -- Carmen's pick's for the best gardening books. These beautiful, educational guides can be utilized by both the skilled gardener and green thumb novice. See her original post here. Enjoy!

[1] I love the unique and innovative images in Nicolai Bergmann’s Florescence. It gives me all the permission I need to break the rules.

[2] Private Gardens of Georgia by Polly McLeod Mattox and Helen Mattox Bost. The stunning gardens captured by Erica George Dines are truly something to see for yourself. Flipping through the pages and seeing the private gardens photographed in this book is like being invited on a secret tour of some extraordinary world.

[3] A kitchen counter classic: “Heirloom Fruits & Vegetables” by Tony Musgrave and Clay Perry. I am so inspired to grow my own fruits and vegetables every time I flip through these delicious-looking pages.

[4] “Flowers” by Carolyne Roehm is a beautiful book from beginning to end and a staple in my coffee table collection. 

[5] The Complete Garden Handbook is a must. The information is incredibly useful, but the illustrations are my absolute favorite. I just love the simplicity. Such a stunning approach to educating first-time gardeners and seasoned experts alike.

[6] “The Layered Garden” by David L. Culp is a key ingredient in my collection, one that every gardener needs. I am often an advocate for breaking the rules when it comes to gardening, but layers are to gardening what salt is to cooking–add a little bit here and there and, just like that, everything looks better. I could not possibly offer you better proof than the photos in this book.

[7] Always save the best for last! “On Garden Style” by Bunny Williams. Bunny is famous for her incredible designs. She swears that the key to a successful garden is good bones. I couldn’t agree more! Over the years, my collection of gardening books has really grown into something I adore. Each book has a special place in my heart and each book meets a specific need. Every now and then I flip through the pages of one of these books and find new insights and inspirations each time. Through this series I hope to share some of that with all of you. Let me know which one is your favorite!

All images (c) of Haley Sheffield Photography.

DIY ESSENTIAL OIL LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Hopefully by now you're an avid IFF follower and are familiar with our recurring DIY series; a collaboration with Anna Liesemeyer from In Honor of Design. If not, then see here and here (no hard feelings) ;) Check out our repost from IHOD below!

I have been trying to find ways to integrate essential oils into our lifestyle more since there are hundreds of benefits from them. I was already using this detergent recipe (which literally comes out to 1 cent per load!).  I added a few essential oils to enhance the smell but also reap the health benefits. Have you all seen Lindsay Coletta’s work yet? She is an all star when it comes to floral design and she styled this shoot for me! And you might be able to guess by how beautiful these photos turned out that the photography is by Haley Sheffield. My dream team! - Anna

Ingredients:
Lavender or Lemon Essential Oil
Balance Essential Oil blend
1/2 c. Borax
1 Bar Soap (I use Fels-Naptha or Ivory)
1 c. Baking Soda
5 Gallon Bucket
To use as gifts, head to Hobby Lobby in the bottle section for those pictured above! You can add some lemons and flowers to complete a gift basket:)

Instructions: There are several versions  for the base detergent on the web, but this is what I have found most successful.
1) Grate your entire bar of soap with a cheese grater.
2) Boil a teapot of water and add 5 cups to a pan. Add your grated soap bar. Stir over medium with a wooden spoon until fully melted.
3) Fill your 5 gallon bucket with hot water and stir in the borax, baking soda, and soap mixture till dissolved. Use a giant ladel or spoon to stir.
4) Add in several drops of each essential oil you choose to use. This will enhance the smell and benefit stress and anxiety relief!
5) Fill the rest of the bucket with cold water and stir again. Cover and let sit overnight.
6) In the morning you will have a gel type liquid. You may need to stir it up before you use each time.

IFF BEAUTY: DIY ESSENTIAL OIL BODY BUTTER

Since photographing this DIY session with Anna Leisemeyer of In Honor of Design, I have not found another moisturizer/body butter to love more! The scent is out of this world plus it goes on smoothly and absorbs beautifully into your skin. The body butter is a great homemade moisturizer and also serves as a sweet gift for friends, family, co-workers, fellow yogi's, etc. Plus the innumerable benefits of essential oils make this DIY project the gift that truly keeps on giving. Find the recipe and instructions below:

INGREDIENTS:
Wild Orange Essential Oil – 10-12 drops
Balance Essential Oil Blend – 10-12 drops
1 c. Shea Butter
1/2 c. Coconut Oil
1/2 c. Avocado, Almond, or Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS:
1 • Use a double broiler and place shea butter, coconut oil, and avocado, olive, or almond oil in the top. Bring water to a boil.
2 • Stir until the substances are melted and blending. Remove from heat. Add in essential oils and stir again.
3 • Cover and place in the fridge to set.
4 • Using a mixer, beat the mix until it has a fluffier blended look and feel.

Recipe originally posted on Style Me Pretty Living by Anna Leisemeyer. Photographs by Haley Sheffield. Florals by Lindsay Coletta.