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Personal Art :: Custom Creations Worth Hanging by Jason Salzenstein
EDGE National Style & Travel EditorMonday Dec 1, 2008
The art in our homes reflects our taste, our style and our personality. Up until recently, unless you could afford to commission an artist to create something just for you, your choices were limited to posters, prints, and the like, that somehow managed to always be the same as your close friends. I mean, if I had a dollar for everyone I know that has an Ikea print in thier living room, I could hire that artist!
Thanks to the joys of modern technology, custom artwork is becoming easier to design, acquire and hang on your walls. The EDGE Home Team has been scouring the web for cool sites producing custom artwork worthy of putting up in your place- and it won’t break your bank either. What we found is a diverse range of artwork- customized to your taste- using your ideas and photos.
It doesn’t get any better than that!
Jade
These cute, easy-to-grow succulents have shiny, medium green, elliptical leaves which reach 1 to 2 inches long. They can grow up to 18 to 30 inches tall and will give an Asian flair to your home and garden. Jade prefers bright light, and will prosper in it. Maintain soil on the dry side. Water soil thoroughly, then allow it to become completely dry before watering again. The plants can also tolerate lower light levels, but their growth will be less dramatic.
Impatiens
Impatiens are a bushy, delicate plant that bloom profusely in a wide range of colors that will match just about any mood or décor. A popular bedding plant, they does well indoors with proper care. Fertilize weekly and pinch for bushiness, especially after bloom. Place in bright to indirect light. Remember to keep plants evenly moist, as dry soil causes bud drop and flower loss.
Cacti
More than 2,500 varieties of Cacti exist. Some popular varieties are pincushion, powder puff, rat-tail, prickly pear, bunny ears and golden barrel cacti. What cute names!
Cacti grow in many sizes and forms, and often live for several years. Some even flower each season. These plants are hardy and occupy minimum space, making them ideal houseplants both in and outdoors. Give plants six to eight hours of bright, direct light each day. Additional sun may burn plants. Cacti are great for giving your space an exotic look.
Lavender
This herb not only smells great, but it’s beautiful, with its signature flowers rising above silvery foliage. A must if you’re starting a herb garden, it’s also ideal for a perennial garden. Lavender is a compact and rounded plant that grows between 12 and 36 inches tall and wide depending on the variety. It’s highly-drought tolerant and does poorly in humid areas or in wet soils. The flowers are good for cutting but outstanding for drying and do best if hung upside down in a dark, dry spot.
Ficus
These popular trees can be found in sizes ranging from 3 to 6 feet for home and outdoor growth. They’re available in several varieties, including bush, standard, braid and spiral. You often see Ficus growing wild and prosperous in temperate locations, so why not bring a piece of that to your home? Ficus trees are excellent in low light and require minimal water and care. Just don’t let the soil dry out completely, or the leaves will die and fall off.
Oxalis
Oxalis or ’Lucky Plants’ come in many colors and leaf shapes. Fibrous-rooted types grow year-round and bulbous ones need rest after bloom. Colorful flowers shoot off the plant as it thrives. Remember to remove faded blossoms and spent foliage, keep cool and barely moist, and water more in spring. This unique looking plant will add a refreshing look to the garden and maybe even bring you a little luck!
Ponytail Palm
The Ponytail is a very cool looking plant that stores water at its base, giving its bottom a distinctive swollen look. Expect extremely slow growth- as little as 1 inch a year. The name alone is a conversation starter!
Remember to clean foliage monthly with tepid water and remove dead leaves at the base to promote new growth. Expose to bright indirect light and avoid full sun. It also will tolerate low light. Don’t let roots dry out completely, and mist frequently.
Wandering Jew
Don’t let this plant’s name scare you! It’s a popular and easy to grow house plant with unique green and purple leaves that will add a fresh look to the garden. The plant grows well in strong indirect sunlight, but keep soil evenly moist. Great for hanging baskets and as groundcover in tropical plantings.
Ivy
Another lush selection, these vine-like plants are available in several shades of green, some with white or yellowish variegation. Leaf shapes vary from pointed to almost round and range from 2 to 4 inches long. Branches may produce leaves of a different shade of color than the rest of the plant. Provide bright light and temperatures.
Ivy can live several years with proper care- don’t allow them to dry-up, because it may will kill them. Try to leave extra space for the vines to grow on. You can shape them to grow in many unique styles too!
So clear off that boring art on your wall, and get creative. Next time your friends come over, impress them with custom artwork, designed by you!
Twitter :: JasonSalz
Jason Salzenstein is a Senior Editor for EDGE Publications, overseeing Lifestyle and Travel. He is a design, image, and marketing consultant, a professional shopper, and a contributor for national and international publications. For more information, go to www.JasonSalzenstein.com You can also send questions, comments, and concerns to jsalzenstein@EDGEPublications.com
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