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Showcasing beautiful and realistic faux florals from Factory Direct Craft  Coral roses candle holder by Di's Studio Designs. I’m often guilty of not sharing “inside” information about my design process. Like many artists, I keep my inspiration close to the vest. I also get so caught up in creating while working on projects that sharing the behind-the-scenes stuff is not even on my radar! So today I thought I’d pull back the curtain—just a tad—to give you a sneak peek into what inspires me and the supplies that help me realize my finished pieces. I recently became an affiliate of Factory Direct Craft (FDC), and am stoked to start sharing some of the supplies I have been using for many years. FDC has a wide selection of unique fabric florals and faux greenery, and I love that this selection allows me to create whimsical floral designs for my online shop. The crafty people among you may already follow me on my social media platforms (if not there are convenient icons at the end of this post for you to click…hint, hint!) and may have seen my finished faux floral designs. In the spirit of sharing, this article will highlight some of the FDC florals I have used in my favorite spring and summer floral designs and candle holders. So let’s get to it!
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 Succulents and coleus planted in my outdoor fairy garden. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020. As a child, I loved everything related to castles and fairy tales. The irresistible pull of the unseen world wormed its way into my psyche and never let go. The sense of wonder I felt when I imagined worlds full of magical folk like fairies, elves, gnomes, and talking animals was perhaps a way to escape a troubled childhood.  Peace lilies in my living room. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. This blog article has been a long time in the making. My whole business model is based on the notion of “nature-inspired”! But does having natural and organic elements in the home make a difference in how we feel? Does it improve our mood? And why do I have such a passion for creating nature-inspired home decor?
 Doorway of my fairy cottage. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019. So, fairy gardens…Where did this charming gardening trend come from? I asked myself this very question as I worked on my annual spring gardening and faux floral projects. For the past few years, I’ve been experimenting with fairy houses and fairy gardens—both for indoor and outdoor use—but until now, it never occurred to me to consider the origins and the meaning behind the miniature garden trend. So I did a little digging (no pun intended), and here’s what I learned…  Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020. I’ve had an outdoor herb garden with mint, sage, and chives for several years. And boy, are they flourishing this year! Lavender and rosemary were also planted, but neither ever came up. Finding an empty spot in my garden, I decided to pop in some carrots. Time will tell whether they will grow!
 Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019 Last summer, my husband and I went to Longwood Gardens in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Honestly, I don’t know why we don’t go there more often, because it is less than an hour from where we live! Hmmm…I think I am just now hatching a plan to visit again this summer—provided this coronavirus doesn’t keep us away.
 Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2013. I was exposed to the works of many designers and architects while in college for interior design, and one of them was the great 20th-century architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright. I encountered his name and images of his buildings from time to time in my studies and was intrigued. One day, I came across a picture of this home called Fallingwater—which just happened to be located in my home state of Pennsylvania. It was love at first site! Right then and there, I put this trip on my bucket list. Someday, somehow, I would get there to see it in person. And about seven years ago, I did. For our 15th wedding anniversary, my husband and I planned a trip out to western Pennsylvania to see Fallingwater and another of Frank Lloyd Wright’s creations, Kentuck Knob (more about that in a future post).
 Lums Pond, Delaware. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2009. I have always been deeply affected by nature—trees, flowers, plants, animals, water, soil, and stone. It’s not just about hugging trees. (In fact, leave those trees alone! They don’t deserve the indignity!) This is a beautiful and sacred rock that we live on and on this rock spring forth all of the life-sustaining elements that we need as organic beings. The natural world provides the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. This is not optional—we NEED these things, so they need to be respected and preserved. Hide in your concrete jungle all you want, but you can’t survive without the natural world. Not even in the worst-case scenario post-apocalyptic vision of the future. (Does Wall-E ring a bell?) Do you ever stop to think about what inspires you? What hits the most sensitive nerve and resonates in a way that is too deep for words? You don’t have to be an artist to be inspired, though artists are more inclined to listen, and create an interpretation. Inspiration is the spark that happens during that moment of private meditation. It’s that moment when the universe opens the door just a crack—just enough to get a peak at something bigger than yourself. We recognize the things we love and admire, but inspiration is something more mysterious. Inspiration is the moment we look at one thing but see something else. We dream, and then we try to create. Merriam-Webster defines inspiration as “a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation”.
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