Some Simple Updates

Some Simple Updates

Reank    12:45 PM    Comment   

I have had this metal bird decoration for several years.  Recently it occurred to me that I needed to hang some things from the hooks on it.  (Sometimes I'm very slow!!)  :)

I got the watering can and birdhouse in the Christmas clearance section at Target last year.  I cut the lavender from my yard and the key was from a set that I bought from Hobby Lobby.

I recently found these miniature Mason jars on ebay.  OMG, I was so excited!  Unfortunately it's hard to see the details, but they are adorable in person!

Last week when I found the old scale and typewriter, I also found this bright blue, green and yellow birdhouse.  I loved the galvanized roof and dragonfly on it, but didn't love the bright colors.

 I sanded most of it down and taped off the metal parts.

 I painted it white.

 Now I like it much more by my front door. 

Thanks for your visit! 

Pam

Cute Little Topiaries

Cute Little Topiaries

Reank    3:00 PM    Comment   

I love topiaries and had almost everything on hand to make some.  I have seen lots of blog posts on making them, so decided to try them myself.  It was a fun project.

I used the following materials:

• terracotta pots


• 2 1/2" styrofoam balls


• 5/16" dowel


• small block of styrofoam


• bag of soft moss


• bag of green moss


• white paint


• brown antique paint


• glue gun and lots of glue sticks


• foam brush

I started by painting the pots lightly with white paint,  then wiped some off using a damp paper towel.  I then applied some of the brown antique paint on very lightly.

I painted the dowels with the brown antique paint. I cut them to about 7".   I stuck the dowel into the center of the foam ball.  I added some hot glue in the hole to hold it.

I used the glue gun to apply hot glue in sections over the styrofoam ball.  I put the soft moss on it, using my hand to make sure it stuck.  (and tried to keep from burning the heck out of my hand)  :)  Once I got all of the moss on, I trimmed it a bit to make it into a ball shape.

 

 

 


I cut up pieces of the block of styrofoam and stuck it in the pot as tightly as I could. (This picture doesn't show the styrofoam wedged in the bottom of the pot, but it should)   I drizzled lots of hot glue in there to hold everything in place.  I then stuck the bottom of the dowel into the center.  

 

 I applied more glue, then stuck the green moss on top.

And here is the finished product.  I'm very happy with the way they turned out.  It was a messy project, but so satisfying!

Thanks so much for visiting and following my blog!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:

Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday
Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday  
DIY by Design's Summer Sizzle Party 
Open House Thursday (No Minimalist Here & On Sutton Place) 
French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday 
My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday 
Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt it Friday 

Hand Me Downs from Friends are the Best

Hand Me Downs from Friends are the Best

Reank    3:49 PM    Comment   

In my last blog post, I wrote about visiting a friend in the Palm Springs area last week.  I've known her since I was nine years old, so I guess our friendship is almost considered 'antique'.  :)

She moved into a new house and had some things that either didn't work in the house or she was just tired of.  Well, I was very happy to be the lucky recipient of her generosity!

I collect old scales and was so happy to get this one!

She told me that this was the first decorative item she purchased from Pottery Barn many, many years ago.  I love all of the details of it, especially that it's painted in my favorite color blue and has chicken wire on the door.

These miniatures are right up my alley--birdhouses, apothecary jars, crocks, flower seeds and an old cash register.  I'm going to see if it's possible to add lights to the inside of this so everything shows up even better when the door is closed.

This cast iron horse door stop is definitely a fave!

 I love this old frame she gave me.  I put my baby bird picture in it and have it hung right over my computer so I can look at it often.

 Here's the bird cloche that I won a few weeks ago from Martina at Northern Nesting.    A fun thing happened regarding the cloche.  When we were shopping in Palm Desert, we found the same cloche at the store there.  My friend ended up buying one for herself.  Now we both have them in our homes to enjoy. 

I copied the lavender in the peat pot from Becky at Junk to Joy.  What an fun project!  Thank you Martina and Becky!

Thank you so much for visiting!

Pam 


I am linking to the following parties:

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays

Back from our Palm Springs Vacation

Back from our Palm Springs Vacation

Reank    12:36 PM    Comment   

We just got back from a great trip to the Palm Springs area.  We have a dear friend who just moved there and we were so excited to see her new house!  She is an amazing decorator and even though she's only been in the new house a short time, it's already beautiful!

A very fun part of her new house is the guest casita.  Our daughter stayed in the guest room in the main house and my husband and I got the casita.  Talk about a nice vacation!  Besides being beautiful, it was so private and so well equipped.  We had a brand new luxurious bed, our own kitchen area and bathroom.  

 

Right outside our casita was this beautiful birdcage.  

 

There were several seating areas, an outdoor kitchen, fire pit area and  chaise lounges near the pool.

They just had a gorgeous salt water pool, spa and waterfall installed.  We spent countless hours just floating around in there.  We would shop in the mornings, go to lunch, come home and lay on floaties in the pool, then either have a bbq there or go to Happy Hour for dinner and drinks, then back to the pool before bed each night.  It was the perfect vacation!

This is a den right when you walk in the house.  It is so pretty.

 She has an incredible collection of antique apothecary jars. I love the shells in them.

This is the family room.  Everything in her house is so pretty, yet so cozy and comfortable.

I love her style!

I will do another post on some of the things we bought during our shopping expeditions as well as some of the treasures she gave me that she wasn't using in this house.  

Thanks so much for visiting!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties: