Camellias are one of my favorite flowers! I think I especially love them because they bloom in the dead of winter. When everything else is brown and grey, camellias bring color and life and show that, even in death, God can bring life.
When I moved to my current home, it was summer. I knew I had some large camellia shrubs, but I didn't know what color or kind. That first January they all began to show themselves, and this beautiful blush pink bloom became my favorite.
My dearest friend Anna decided to research the specific species because it is one that we both didn't think we'd seen before. Through her research she found that it is called the Camellia japonica "Magnoliaeflora" and can also be called "Rose of Dawn." When she told me that, I couldn't help but smile because this was definitely the Lord's love for me! You see, my mother's name was Dawn, and I lost her in 2017 to metastatic breast cancer. She was my best friend. This simple, beautiful flower blooms each year and reminds me that He is sovereign and good in every season of life. I can keep on rejoicing despite suffering and hardship.
I knew I wanted to find a way to incorporate camellias into my home decor. I found four lovely gold, bamboo frames (two purchased from an Instagram seller and two from Ebay) that would be perfect for camellia prints. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on the prints so I found a graphic designer on Etsy that had instant-download botanical prints available. I picked out the four camellias I wanted then purchased and downloaded them for only $4.00 each. From there, I sent them off to Mpix for a more professional print. The app is so easy to navigate. I used the antiqued version of the Etsy print and requested the linen finish from Mpix. They came in quickly, and I secured them in my bamboo frames. Here is the final result!
I just love them! It was an easy and affordable way to add camellias to my living room decor.
Sources
- Frames: Ebay (similar)
- Large Chinoiserie Vase: Wayfair (similar) - mine are from Ross
- Rattan Chair: Target Mulberry 2-pack
- Firescreen: Ebay (similar) or Etsy (similar)
- Samsung TV The Frame: Walmart