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Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts

Sunday, May 4, 2014

On the Way to the Lilacs {re-post}




***Today I'm re-posting one of my favorite days from last May, when 3 of my kids and I set out on the scenic route to find some Lilacs for our table. That cute little lamb up there ^ in my header is from that day and we met some other fun characters along the way, too :)
I hope you enjoy a little "Sunday driving"!***




I have seen so many gorgeous photos of Lilacs this week! In our previous two homes we had beautiful Lilacs in our yard, and I've missed that so much. Thankfully, the area we live in has them growing abundantly, so I set out today to find some to cut and bring home. 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Pulling It All Together- Cottage Style Living Room

Hi guys!

 I'm so excited to be over at A Stroll Thru Life today sharing how I pulled together our cozy, casual, cottage style living room. 


I would love it if you could pop over there for a visit!





Hope you're having a wonderful almost-spring week.

Jeanette

Monday, February 24, 2014

DIY Hutch in the Entryway




Welcome to a new February week, friends!

Recently, I had the honor of being featured in Artful Blogging Magazine. One of the "perks" of that experience was receiving a gift card for Stampington & Company's  online store, The Shoppe at Somerset





If you haven't visited Stampington's website or shop, you will simply be amazed at all of the creative resources they offer. This is not a "sponsored" post, I've really just been a fan of their magazines and website for years! 




So, this week I thought it would be fun to show you a little DIY hutch I made to replace the dresser that's been in the foyer. The dresser has been moved back to the living room {post on that soon} and I decided this would be a good spot to display some of the new things I chose from The Shoppe at Somerset, and start adding a hint of spring to our home. 

For a girl like me who is always on a very tight budget, I'm all about 'shopping' my own house and re-inventing pieces for a new purpose and a fresh look. To be able to have some actual new (!) decor items to play with is such a treat for me! 


Here are the pieces I pulled together to create the hutch that will showcase some of my new pieces alongside some of my timeworn favorites. 






If ever there was a workhorse piece of furniture in my home, this little table is it! 

About 7 or 8 years ago, I was driving home and spotted this table curbside next to the 'leftover' pile from a yard sale. 

Reflecting back now, there may have been voices coming from my family in the van yelling things like, "Nooooo, Mom!" and "Don't do it!!" and "It's reaaaally ugly!!". 





Maybe

My memory isn't always the best.

Anyway, needless to say, I stopped. The woman who had been hosting the sale came to her front door and said, "Please take it!". 

Alrighty, then!

I stuffed it in the van, ignoring the protests and eye rolling,  and I've never regretted it! 

This sturdy little table has been an end table, a sofa table, a nightstand, a desk, a kitchen island and last Valentine's Day, it even served as our Valentine Love Note Station.

Okay, enough gushing about my little table....

The next piece in the equation is a cute little white bookshelf that I actually paid for at a yard sale many years ago : ) All of five dollars, I think. 




(Sorry, terrible photo)
I removed the wood pieces that the legs are attached to so it could sit on top of the little wood table. 



If the bookshelf never goes back to being a free standing piece again, I will definitely use these for another project. I already have a few ideas brewing...





The last piece I used to create the 'bones' of the hutch is a vintage cabinet door that I also picked up curbside last spring. 







It fits perfectly across the bottom leg braces of the table, creating a generously sized shelf. 
Now, I'm guessing a lot of you would probably paint this table. I have thought about it, but I just like the warmer wood tone and the aged look of it in combination with my other painted pieces. 






It's all ready to add some fun things! 





On the top of the hutch, a little chalkboard I created from an old kitchen cabinet door with my thrift store "N" in front, a vintage scoop and white iron bird. 



My new french farmhouse caddy from The Shoppe at Somerset! It actually has four sections inside and I'm already thinking of all the different ways I'll be able to use it. Fun!



In my last post {over here} I showed you a gorgeous bucket of flowers from my friend. Sadly, this Baby's Breath and greenery are all that's left of it this week. I need another bucket of flowers! 








My old tin pitcher, iron bird, fern print and weathered black frame have been around here a long time. 




On this shelf, a couple of new, and just new to me, items. The composition book and metal library drawer are from Stampington and the old wood finials I picked up at a thrift store this week for about a dollar. 



I know this library drawer is going to be used in many different ways for a long time to come. So many possibilities! 


















I haven't had an actual garden for over 3 years, and I couldn't find any of my old tools. I just tucked in this vintage metal scoop because I like the way the aged metal looks with the other items. 


This sweet little bird has been in my collection for quite a few years.



I bought this rustic looking wooden box at a thrift store last year. I don't think it's really as old as it looks, but I thought it had some charm to it. I attached an old wooden knob to it to make it look more like an old drawer. 

If I'm smart, I'll toss my keys in there when I come in the door so I'm not always looking for them!












On the bottom, I started with this wire basket. It was (you guessed it) another curbside freebie last spring.
I can't wait to see what I find at this year's community "Spring Clean-Up"! 





In the basket I placed some old field guides, a vintage black scrapbook cover with a green chalkboard attached to it, another cabinet door chalkboard and the galvanized flower bucket from my friend. 

No, the tulips aren't real. Let's just pretend, okay? ; )













I put my blue kitchen stool next to the hutch for a little spring color.










At one time this iron bird trellis was in my flower garden (at my previous home). I think the white plastic light switch really enhances the rustic look of this piece, don't you? {smile}

I wonder if I'll ever have a garden spot again...




 Looking down to the foyer from the upstairs hallway. 

 

Here's what this area looked like when I shared it with you this past Fall. {you can see that post here}





 And today with my practically free DIY hutch. 





While I don't "love" not having much money to spend, I do love being able to pull together something new from items I already have. That's part of what Creating a Life means! 

What are you working on this week? I'd love to hear about what's changing at your place!

Blessings-

     Jeanette



Join me this week over at
The Scoop Mega Spring Party at StoneGable
What's it Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Thrifty Life Thursday at Revisionary Life
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Under $100 Party at Beyond the Picket Fence
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

The Scoop at The Everyday Home
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm



Monday, April 29, 2013

Spring on the Back Porch {Finally!}





 


  
Can you believe we finally have some real spring weather here in western Colorado?! Sheesh, it was a long time coming! This weekend it was in the 70's and just perfect out, so I decided to take on prettying up our desperately winter-worn little porch. I didn't even bother taking any 'before' pictures, it was just bare and ugly and sad looking. Trust me.


 



  
I've mentioned before that although I really do love color, at this stage of my life I generally prefer to have more white/neutral rooms. It's just more soothing to live with. Apparently soothing is what I need : )
But out here I'm going for some cheerful spring color.




Come on over, put your feet up and relax for a bit. The birds are singing happy, the sky is glorious and it's a perfect time to be out on the porch!


Our porch swing has been with us through 3 homes and lots of years. Despite having to replace broken rusted bolts, and the original cushions being torn and faded, I still love it! Cover it with old, soft cotton sheets and a pile of over-sized pillows and it's charming {and comfortable} as can be.  Not to mention the great creaking noise when you swing : )





The vintage tablecloth was my mom's. I think I raided her vintage stuff about 25 years ago, and she was nice enough to give me some of my favorites. Mind you, this tablecloth was probably new when she got it!






Several years ago I picked up 4 of these yellow gingham curtain panels at a thrift store for about $2.00 each. They are pretty heavy and lined, and they've had many different uses over the years. I used two of them to cover the brown chairs. Can't I just put them on a window like a normal person? 




The other two I hung at each end of the porch, just for a little color and softness. I really like our view out here, and I wouldn't want to cover too much of it. 



I wanted to get them up in a hurry, so I just gathered the top of the panel, tied it with a piece of clothesline and hung it over a nail.


Last summer my younger kids begged me to turn this into a sleeping porch, and it never happened. Maybe later in the summer I'll see if I feel motivated to do it. If so, I'll rig up a curtain rod (or just stretch a length of clothesline) so the curtains can actually be closed, since this is right where the sun rises in the morning. 


An old iron headboard, just 'cause I think it's cute.



I decoupaged this bottle when my son was born, almost 6 years ago! I still think it's pretty sweet.







I made this little scrap bunting last summer from vintage sheets. I used iron on tape to attach the flags to a strip of yellow gingham fabric (also from an old sheet). Not perfect, by any means, but it was quick!







Thrift store patchwork pillow cover.


Wooden box was a curbside find recently.


Another old headboard, a vintage baby quilt on the table, and the floral metal tray table was my grandma's!






I can't resist putting in a photo of my little guy "acting". As if he would ever really take a nap!











Yep, I'm having my afternoon coffee out here. This is another vintage floral tray that belonged to my grandma.




I'm sure I'll be tweaking things a bit more out here this week, but today I'm happy to let it be.


Thanks for coming by and hanging out on my cozy little porch today! 

Jeanette


Sharing this week over at:
Be Inspired at Common Ground





Monday Funday at Finding Home 
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Creative Bloggers Party at Homemaker on a Dime 
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Knick of Time Tuesday 
Budget Decorating at Creative Cain Cabin 
The Scoop
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson 
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Creative Inspirations at Embracing Change 
Be Inspired at Common Ground 
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home