THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412100029
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, SPECIAL TO HOME & GARDEN
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
YOUR PETS probably get a holiday gift. Maybe your plants could use one too.
A new gadget called the Bird Plant Alarm, which breaks into song when a plant needs water, might be just what your wilting fern would put on its wish list.
A realistic-looking yellow bird sits atop a gold-plated probe, which is inserted into the plant's soil. When the soil gets dry, the bird begins to sing one of three songs, depending on which model you order - ``Try to Remember,'' ``If You Love Me'' or ``You Are My Sunshine.''
Powered by two replaceable batteries that should work for up to 1 1/2 years, the bird will croon for about two minutes every 30 minutes until the plant is watered. If you're lucky, the soil won't get thirsty at 4 a.m.
The alarm, which retails for $14.99, will be available locally in home improvement and hardware stores early next year. To order one now, call or write the manufacturer, Solar Wide, 245 Carlton Terrace, Teaneck, N.J. 07666, phone (201) 836-3877. The company adds an additional $3 charge for shipping and handling and requires payment by check. BEARY EXTRAORDINARY
The teddy bears handmade by Elizabeth and Laura Chandler would be happy sitting with the dolls and stuffed animals in a child's bedroom. But these elegant bears would be equally at home on a formal living-room couch.
Made of tapestry, lace, ribbons and antique buttons, the bears created by the Virginia Beach sisters know how to behave for company.
That's because they're parlor bears.
``The idea comes out of the Victorian era,'' explains Elizabeth. ``These bears are home decor items, because they are fancy enough to sit in the parlor. And they are made without eyes, so they can't see anybody who might be smooching there.''
Right now the sightless bears are sitting patiently in a pushcart on the upper level of The Waterside marketplace in Norfolk, where the sisters opened their small business, Village Tapestries, four weeks ago. Also for sale are the decorative tapestry pillows and Christmas stockings made by the talented team. The sisters are hopeful that their pushcart will go places and eventually will turn into a storefront.
``Maybe someday we'll have a crafts store with a coffee shop,'' Elizabeth said.
Not only do the Chandlers' bears have a distinctive look, they have a distinctive fragrance. Herbs and potpourri are sewn into all bears, pillows and stockings, making them even more proper for the parlor.
While most items are made from tapestry, a few in each category are made from chintz and sell at the low end of the price range. Bears range in price from $25 to $75, pillows are $15 to $45 and stockings are $25 to $75. CARDS THAT KEEP ON GREETING
Your Christmas cards from friends might be displayed neatly in a cardboard sleigh or a pretty basket. Or, if you're like me, they're still sitting, homeless, in a towering stack near the front door.
The special current issue of Southern Living magazine called ``Home for the Holidays'' has some good ideas for finding a home for that stack of greetings.
Create a wreath to display the cards. On a 20-by-30-inch piece of foam board (available at crafts and office-supply stores), trace a circle with a 20-inch diameter. In the center of the circle, trace a second circle with a 6-inch diameter.
Use scissors or a craft knife to cut out each circle, creating a wreath. Pin a ribbon at the bottom. Attach the cards with thumbtacks, overlapping to give fullness.
Let the children glue or tape the cards on construction paper. Then tie the pages together with Christmas ribbon to make a scrapbook. Party invitations and photos can be added to the keepsake.
Simply hang favorite cards on the tree as ornaments. CHRISTMAS AU NATUREL
Homemade holiday wreaths have a different look this year.
Traditional colors and garnishes have been replaced with unusual color combinations and more natural-looking embellishments. Instead of seasonal bows and baubles, fruits, veggies, flowers, nests and twigs are the adornments of choice, making the wreath suitable for use long into the winter.
Don't be surprised at anything you see on a wreath this season. We found one stylish wreath decked out in an old shirt, a homespun project that blends the spirit of recycling with the spirit of Christmas. The December issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine features a balsam fir wreath decorated with remnants of an old, overwashed red flannel shirt in place of customary plaid ribbon. The magazine suggests stuffing shirt pockets with hay, cinnamon sticks and rose hips and fastening them onto a wreath with a country theme.
Creative types might appreciate this suggestion from the current issue of Family Circle - fastening small gifts onto a store-bought or homemade wreath. The wreath can be hung as a decoration for now, its gifts put to use later.
For the gardener, the magazine suggests seed packets, tools and mini pots of dried blooms embedded in a circle of green raffia ``grass.'' For someone who likes to cook, twine a wreath of bay leaves and rosemary sprigs and tie on wooden spoons, spatulas, wire whisks and spice vials.
The magazine made a seamstress' wreath from tape measures fastened in loops and topped with scissors, pin cushions, yarn and spools of thread. A plain evergreen wreath can be garnished with tiny wrapped packages filled with luxurious gifts like bonbons, baubles and sachets. Add a small teddy bear for a fun touch. A PYRAMID OF PEARS
The natural look reigns on the dining room table too. The December issue of Ladies Home Journal gives these easy instructions for a dramatic fruit centerpiece.
Into the soil in an ivy-covered basket (purchased from the florist), insert a block of foam. Use long wooden florist's picks to attach several medium-size pieces of fruit, such as red Bartlett pears and apples, to the foam in a pyramid shape.
With a hot-glue gun, cover the gaps with small fruits such as strawberries, lady apples and green figs. Add a few gold-sprayed leaves. Tie a gold ribbon around the base of the basket. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
SOLAR WIDE
The Bird Plant Alarm, for $14.99, chirps a tune to tell you when
your plants are thirsty.
by CNB