Bringing Nature Into Your House When Plants Aren’t Invited (GIVEAWAY!!!)

October 23, 2011 By 112 Comments
0 Flares 0 Flares ×

I’ve never had a green thumb, but there was a time in my adult life when I did successfully manage to keep several plants in the house alive. I really enjoyed having those splashes of green throughout my home. I knew they were scrubbing the air and they were a sign of victory for me after YEARS of killing plants (anyone else out there over-water their cactus…twice?).

But I don’t have a single plant in my house at the moment, and I don’t expect I will for another 4 or 5 years. Allow me to explain why:
1. I have a cat who decided a few years ago that potted plants were very unusual litter boxes. Putting large rocks in the pots did help with this problem, but didn’t completely solve it.

2. In the not so distant past I had a newly walking toddler who liked to grab things. And eat them. Things like plant leaves. I made sure that we didn’t have any poisonous plants before we reached that stage, but Darah seemed to be perfectly fine chewing on the stuff that wasn’t poisonous, too.

3. Now that I have a tiny little kid in the house, that means I have a mischief-maker. I know she would delight in toting plants around the house, at least until her arms got tired, and then she’s just drop/break it on the floor.

4. This same child also LOVES to dig in the dirt. You can see where that leads us…

So yeah, no plants for me. Has anyone else out there had to get rid of their plants for the foreseeable future?

I do miss them. And it recently occurred to me that I could bring some plant life back in my house without having to actually have plants. I could turn to art! I’ve learned so much over the past few months about all the ways that art can breathe new life into your home, and if you are a bit short on plants and other signs of nature, bringing in some art can really help you out!

I found a print that really took my breath away on Gallery Direct. It’s by the same artist who painted the beach scene we have in our bedroom. It’s a painting of a tree with some gorgeous moss on it. It actually reminds me very much of a trip Tim and I took to the Pacific Northwest a handful of years ago, where I got to see some of the greenest landscapes ever. I remember driving through the woods and honestly expecting to see gnomes and fairies pop up. The forests had such an enchanted look. And there was moss growing everywhere. This picture immediately pulls me back into those forests and into that feeling of being somewhere magical. That’s more than any houseplant of mine ever did, I have to say!

But what I REALLY like about this painting is the material that it is on. As I was looking over the options on Gallery Direct, I noticed that you could get your artwork placed on birchwood. PERFECT! It gives the piece such a natural vibe. I didn’t tell Tim anything about the piece I selected so it would be a surprise when it arrived. When he opened it, he immediately commented that the wood looked amazing and that it might be his favorite display option so far. It is very much in line with his personal style. I’m so glad I gave it a try with this tree painting. I’m not sure if I would have, otherwise, but now that I’ve seen it, I think it rocks.

Right now, Gallery Direct is having a BIG sale on their site. Everything is 25% off AND you get free shipping! If you don’t have any reminders of the great outdoors in your abode, here’s your chance to remedy that situation, no watering can required! And here’s one more reason to support Gallery Direct (other than the fact that you will be BLOWN AWAY by the quality of their work). Did you know that Gallery Direct provides the artwork for Extreme Makeover Home Edition? It’s true! As you ooh and ahh over the beautiful homes this season, note the art on the walls. It’s all from Gallery Direct!

So how about you? How do you bring nature into your home? Do you have a house full of plants? Any images on your walls that take you outside without having to leave the house? Any other ideas for how to bring the great outdoors in?

Win it!:  EEEEEE!!!!! I’ve been waiting for this moment for a few months, and I’m so excited to tell you that you now have a chance to win a $200 credit to Gallery Direct! You can choose from the AMAZING images they offer, or you can upload your own to create some truly custom art. You are going to swoon when you see the final product!


Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I serve as a blog ambassador for Gallery Direct. Product samples are provided as part of the program. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

0 Flares Twitter 0 Facebook 0 Pin It Share 0 StumbleUpon 0 Google+ 0 0 Flares ×
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Comments

  1. 109
    Donna K says:
    November 2, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    I like the Fluid Reflection III by Kim Coulter

    Reply
  2. 108
  3. 107
  4. 106
    Breanne says:
    November 2, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    I like the Natural Selection III

    Reply
  5. 105
  6. 104
    kathy pease says:
    November 2, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    i love the Sunny Autumn
    Caroline Ashton – AS198A

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/caroline-ashton/sunny-autumn

    Reply
  7. 103
  8. 102
    DanV says:
    November 2, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    I like Calm Cottage
    Steve Parker – SP103P

    Reply
  9. 101
    Ross Hassel says:
    November 2, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/john-kluesener/canal-front

    I like this one alot.

    moltisantai1 at msn dot com

    Reply
  10. 100
  11. 99
    racergirl1313 says:
    November 2, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    I like Night Shade I – very pretty. Thanks!

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/sean-jacobs/night-shade-i

    Reply
  12. 98
    mary gardner says:
    November 2, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    i like sunrise rocks
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/stock/13013771

    marygardner49 at aol dot com

    Reply
  13. 97
  14. 96
  15. 95
  16. 94
  17. 93
  18. 92
  19. 91
    R Hicks says:
    November 2, 2011 at 2:24 am

    I liked Fluid Reflection III by Kim Coulter
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/kim-coulter/fluid-reflection-iii

    BRICH22 AT EARTHLINK DOT NET

    Reply
  20. 90
  21. 89
    Angela Cisco says:
    November 2, 2011 at 12:01 am

    Subscribe via RSS

    Reply
  22. 88
  23. 87
  24. 86
  25. 85
  26. 84
    leticia s says:
    November 1, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    I love “I’ll Fly Away II”

    Reply
  27. 83
    Brittany K Choleva says:
    November 1, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    This was hard!
    But I absolutely LOVED the Lady in Red I by Kim Coulter!
    Here’s the link: http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/kim-coulter/lady-in-red-i
    I loved the “Balance” of this painting -Gorgeous! I even had to share the link with my sister:)

    Reply
  28. 82
    Gladys Parker says:
    November 1, 2011 at 6:23 pm

    Love this: http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/stock/15242932
    Gladys P
    @sueparks2003
    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  29. 81
    daniel healey says:
    November 1, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    I really like Nightfall II by Sara Abbott

    Reply
  30. 80
    Barbara Bee says:
    November 1, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    I like Curious Events because the colors would go really great in my living room, which I’m in the process of repainting right now. I don’t know much about art, and nothing about abstract, so it’s just the colors I’m attracted to.

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/t-graham/curious-events-i

    3oink63moo484@gmail.com

    Reply
  31. 79
    Lindsey m says:
    November 1, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    I love the Gentle Rain II

    Reply
  32. 78
  33. 77
    Heather Garcia says:
    November 1, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    New Years Day by Jon Eric Narum

    Reply
  34. 76
  35. 75
    lee marino says:
    October 31, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    i really love Spring Branch Sky by Jon Eric Narum
    leeawesome143@gmail.com

    Reply
  36. 74
  37. 73
  38. 72
    Aisling says:
    October 31, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    One of my favorites is Mango by Allyson Krowitz:
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/allyson-krowitz/mango

    Reply
  39. 71
    cassandra says:
    October 30, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    i really like the painting on this link. http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/sara-abbott/ill-fly-away-i
    cmarquez482(At)ymail(dot)com

    Reply
  40. 70
  41. 69
  42. 68
    Mippy says:
    October 30, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    Hi!
    I love this piece:
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/jon-eric-narum/new-years-day
    Thanks so much for the chance!
    ~Mippy :)
    bunnysmip (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

    Reply
  43. 67
  44. 66
  45. 65
  46. 64
    Susan Chester says:
    October 29, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    I love the colors of this painting called Shifting Sands
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/sean-jacobs/shifting-sand-iii
    smchester at gmail dot com

    Reply
  47. 63
    arely colin says:
    October 29, 2011 at 9:25 am

    Lovers Ramble

    Reply
  48. 62
    Jennifer T. says:
    October 28, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    I really like Drifting II by Jane Bellows. I couldn’t stop looking at it.

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/jane-bellows/drifting-ii

    jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  49. 61
  50. 60
  51. 59
    Corey Olomon says:
    October 28, 2011 at 4:03 am

    I;m nt sure it is the one I would buy if I win (I would take a family vote), but I really like the: http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/maeve-harris/cascade-ii

    Reply
  52. 58
    Crystal S> says:
    October 28, 2011 at 2:01 am

    I really like this one http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/leslie-saris/my-secret.
    The colors are beautiful.
    sellcrystal2 (at) yahoo dot com

    Reply
  53. 57
    Pauline Milner says:
    October 28, 2011 at 12:16 am

    From Gallery Direct, I really like the painting Sunflowers by Peggy Weiss:

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/peggy-weiss/sunflowers

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway opportunity. ~Pauline (dod@rogers.com)

    Reply
  54. 56
    Jean Lynd says:
    October 27, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    I really like http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/allyson-krowitz/little-breaking-wave b/c it reminds me of the vacations I’ve had at Orange Beach.

    Reply
  55. 55
  56. 54
  57. 53
    Dan D says:
    October 27, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    I’ve always had an affinity for driving through the empty places.

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/stock/13762570

    Reply
  58. 52
    Claire says:
    October 27, 2011 at 10:00 am

    I like the print of Women in the Garden by Claude Monet.

    Reply
  59. 51
    Wendy O. says:
    October 27, 2011 at 9:12 am

    I love Green Barn by Jane Bellows. It reminds me of my childhood, and it has a very calming affect on me:
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/jane-bellows/green-barn

    Reply
  60. 50
  61. 49
    Debbie C says:
    October 27, 2011 at 2:25 am

    I like the print of Women in the Garden by Claude Monet.

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/claude-monet/women-in-the-garden

    chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  62. 48
  63. 47
    Missy Lynnh says:
    October 26, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    I LOVE New Years Day by Jon Eric Narum. Stunning! I can totally picture that in our living room right above the couch. Thank you for the chance to win this!

    mlynnh5 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  64. 46
    Crista Snyder says:
    October 26, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/steve-parker/rain-wood

    I really like this painting…mainly because it makes me want to be there..walking in the woods!

    Reply
  65. 45
  66. 44
  67. 43
  68. 42
    Ashley says:
    October 26, 2011 at 11:02 am

    I love this Calm Cottage:

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/steve-parker/calm-cottage

    demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  69. 41
    Jessica Vaughan Gengler says:
    October 26, 2011 at 10:00 am

    this would go great in my living room http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/jaquiel/flower-dance-i

    Reply
  70. 40
    renee walters says:
    October 26, 2011 at 4:39 am

    I love nightfall II http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/subjects/nature-and-organic
    Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
    Renee Walters
    Bored2quickly@hotmail.com

    Reply
  71. 39
  72. 38
  73. 37
    Amylynn H says:
    October 25, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    There are a few that I really like! I like Autumn Dusk II by Caroline Ashton and Autumn Oasis II by St John. Both would look at home in my house!

    Reply
  74. 36
  75. 35
    Linda Lansford says:
    October 25, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    I like zen / spa stones with flowers

    Reply
  76. 34
  77. 33
    Aspiring New Moms says:
    October 25, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    I like the abstract Tall & Skinny – Thanks for the Giveaway! WOW!!

    Reply
  78. 32
    Nina McClain says:
    October 25, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    i like the blue bridge

    Reply
  79. 31
    Kristen says:
    October 25, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    I like the Le Gaulois poster.

    Reply
  80. 30
  81. 29
    Amo says:
    October 25, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    I like Submit I by Jane Bellows! Thanks!
    amoeidson@yahoo.com

    Reply
  82. 28
    Beth Swanson says:
    October 25, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    I like a lot of the art on the site, but “Blue Bridge” really caught my eye: http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/maureen-brouillette/blue-bridge Something about the shapes and colors make me feel it.

    Reply
  83. 27
    sherri crawford says:
    October 25, 2011 at 8:33 am

    i like new years day by jon eric nerum under landscapes

    Reply
  84. 26
    Sarah Hull says:
    October 25, 2011 at 1:07 am

    I like Toscana Countryside- it would look great in our kitchen- http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/karen-wilkerson/toscana-countryside

    Reply
  85. 25
    Bethany C. says:
    October 24, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    I like nightfall II http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/subjects/nature-and-organic

    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  86. 24
    Jessica Eaton Ledford says:
    October 24, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    I LOVE this one! I’ve always had a thing for trees :)

    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/judy-paul/tall-and-skinny

    Reply
  87. 23
    Katharine says:
    October 24, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Fluid Reflection III by Kim Coulter

    Artist: Kim Coulter – KC275
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/kim-coulter/fluid-reflection-iii

    Reply
  88. 22
  89. 21
    jules l says:
    October 24, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    i love the b&w photograph Standing High by Michael Joseph

    Reply
  90. 20
    Stephanie Galbraith says:
    October 24, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    Noon Gaze by Steve Parker

    This one makes me feel like I want to be there…

    sxybrt23 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  91. 19
    amy says:
    October 24, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    Love Bougainvillea by Michael Joseph.

    Reply
  92. 18
  93. 17
    Sunnie says:
    October 24, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    I like the lone rider I

    Reply
  94. 16
  95. 15
    kng says:
    October 24, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    I’m torn between two totally different styles! And I could go totally broke (and then some!) with this site!! My two favorites are http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/darvin-jones/silhouette-in-blue and http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/sara-abbott/nightfall-i but I can’t decided which of those two I’d have to get first!! :)
    This is an amazing giveaway!! Thanks so much for the opportunity!

    Reply
  96. 14
    Amy T says:
    October 24, 2011 at 11:59 am

    I’ve got three kids age 3 and under, the great outdoors animal variety is living inside.

    Reply
  97. 13
    Kim says:
    October 24, 2011 at 11:40 am

    Love Bougainvillea by Michael Joseph. Thanks.

    Reply
  98. 12
    Amy Carlson says:
    October 24, 2011 at 10:17 am

    Dogwood on Blue II

    Reply
  99. 11
  100. 10
  101. 9
    Kristen m says:
    October 24, 2011 at 8:04 am

    I like I’ll flay away 1 http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/sara-abbott/ill-fly-away-i
    blue65829 at aol dot com

    Reply
  102. 8
  103. 7
  104. 6
    Adrienne Gordon says:
    October 24, 2011 at 6:49 am

    I like Night Shade 1.

    Reply
  105. 5
    Valerie Taylor Mabrey says:
    October 24, 2011 at 3:41 am

    Sunroom with Narcissus by Cecile Broz
    http://www.gallerydirect.com/art/product/cecile-broz/sunroom-with-narcissus

    vmkids3 at msn dot com

    Reply
  106. 4
  107. 3
  108. 2
  109. 1
    Christina Gould says:
    October 23, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I like Late Summer’s Expectation I by Sylvia Angeli. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Paying Attention to Liminal Spaces in Your Home says:
    January 2, 2013 at 8:20 am

    [...] how I wanted it mounted: on birchwood. This is a very cool option that Gallery Direct provides, and the other piece I have had mounted on birchwood gets rave reviews from folks who see it. It was a beautiful choice and I’m very pleased with [...]

    Reply
  2. There’s More to Art Than Canvas | Gallery Direct says:
    June 22, 2012 at 9:11 am

    [...] Birchwood: Birchwood gives your art great texture and a more earthy feel. Check out these great birchwood pieces at The Mom Reviews and Stuff Parents Need. [...]

    Reply
  3. Stuff Parents Need–$200 Gallery Direct Credit says:
    October 25, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    [...] Click the link to enter this online online sweepstakes [...]

    Reply

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge

0 Flares Twitter 0 Facebook 0 Pin It Share 0 StumbleUpon 0 Google+ 0 0 Flares ×