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Saturday, April 21, 2012

The Frugal Gardener 2

Welcome to my garden once again.  I didn't want to overwhelm you last week so I broke this post into two segments.  Now where was I?
Oh yes, I was sharing the accessories I have acquired through the years and how I didn't have to spend a lot to achieve the look I wanted.  It just takes patience and when you look back on the treasures you have accumulated each and every one of them has special meaning and special memories attached.
I purchased this lovely Adirondack set at a yard sale for $40.  Yes, that's right, the whole set.  It came with faded and worn cushions so I did splurge and purchased a new set on EBay.  That was the only place I could find a floral pattern.  The settee cushion was too large so I opened up the seam, shortened it, stitched it by hand to close it up and made a pillow out of what was left using the same hand stitching method.  I love coming home after a hard day at work and feeling welcomed home with this lovely vignette.
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Here is a close up of my little succulents I purchased at a yard sale last year.  I decided to make our yard more drought tolerant as we have been subject to water rationing in the last few years.  These still have the raindrops left from yesterday's storm.

I love statuary, big or small.  Another thing you will find a lot of is heads.  I love pretty heads and faces and tuck them all over the place.  You can see one on this little iron settee.  I haven't decided what to do with these pretty blue plant hangers yet so there they rest until they are called into action.  Oh, and pots?  Lots and lots.  I actually used several of these after taking these photos because my succulents are reproducing and I want to see if the babies will root in these pots.
Although we don't have a cat right now, I like cat statuary.  This is one of my favorites.  He's peaking into a porcelain bird cage I also found at a yard sale. 

Here is another one of my favorite kitties.  He's spying the birds with his binoculars while one sits and spies on him.

Another peak at one of my geese.  These look so real

This is our front porch.  The color you see is the silk kind.  The porch itself is too dark for real flowers.  Even the ivy struggles and has to be rotated or switched out frequently.   I still like to make it inviting.

Mr. and Mrs. are my official greeters in the spring.

Last but not least is this little critter I purchased to keep Cindy company in the yard when she is leashed up and my husband is working in the garage on things for me to take to the shop.  She keeps him company and likes to sit next to this little cow I purchased for her.  (Yes, I know he's a bull, but I like to pretend he's a cow because they are so pastoral.)

Thanks so much for continuing the tour from last week.  Not much is blooming yet, but give it another couple of weeks and it will be beautiful.
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I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday    Delightfully Inspiring Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays     It's Overflowing


Delightfully Inspiring Thursday

Friday, April 20, 2012

Petite Green Desk

I wish I could take credit for this beautiful green color that this desk set was painted, but I was lucky enough to find it this way.  I found this at the flea market last week and immediately realized it was special.  The pairing of the chair and this little desk was great and the look was pulled together well with paint.  It's not a large piece but rather something that would fit perfectly in a kitchen or a small space.  I'm sure the hardware was original.  

 The green was a medium soft green with a wash of glaze over the top.  The other dealers loved it too.  I got it all set up, and it sold the next day.  I love it when that happens.

Thanks for visiting.

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I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors



Thursday, April 19, 2012

Vintage Typography Henry Tirrill & Co.

This week's typography image is of another American invoice.  This one is from 1904.  The graphics and the typography are fabulous.  It's very Art Nouveau, don't you think?  I am thinking of using this on the side of a wooden caddy or another crate.  I hope some of you can make a great project out of this too.  Thanks for dropping by.


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I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors



Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Luncheon For Two

Today I put together a sweet luncheon table for two in pink and white.  I used some vintage china layered a top my green leaf plates and gold chargers.  I know the gold chargers are somewhat passe, but I like to add a pop of gold for a little European elegance.
I've had these pretty little napkin rings since we moved into this house.  That was back in the day when we entertained a lot.
 

The silver is Old Master by Towle.  It was my mother's pattern.  It's timeless and beautiful to this day.  The place mats were purchased at Home Goods and the stemware came from Anthropologie via a gift card for my birthday last year.  I do love the etched glass.  Very vintage in feel.  I would like to think mom was with me today to help me set the table.  She loved pink and white china.


This tablescape  is composed of several different greens, but they all blend beautifully.  The flowers were placed in an old biscuit jar I found at a flea market.  It is missing its lid.  That is the condition it was found in.  I always intended to use it for floral arrangements and that's exactly what I did today.

The tablecloth was an old white on white velvet shawl.  So pretty and feminine.  Would you care to join me?  I hate to dine alone.
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I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors



Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Pretty Planters Experiment

If you have been following my blog at all, you know I share my successes and my failures.  This was a huge flop, although a pretty one.
I tried to transfer the color images onto the white-washed pots with a splendid blender which I am going to start experimenting with a lot.  It didn't work.  I don't have a color laser printer may be the reason.  So plan B was to just decoupage these beautiful images onto the pots.  The image on the left is a Graphics Fairy image.  Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?  I typed in old roses and this one came up.
Next I tried my wax paper transfer method which I have been very successful with.  Well, not this time.  It slid around on the curved pots and smeared and....well, a picture is worth a thousand words.   The reason I wanted to go over the decoupaged image with the typography was to get a very aged effect.
 If you like the rose image below, I just did an Internet Yahoo search and typed in old roses and clicked on images and there I found this beauty as well.  If nothing else, I shared some pretty images today.  I will not give up on this.  Oh, no.  I will be back with a success story very soon.  Thanks for your visit.  I love having you.
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I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors



Monday, April 16, 2012

Spring Bonnets

I should call this post Confessions of a Girly Girl.  I love to do tea with the ladies, and wear hats and vintage jewelry which is essentially playing dress up.  I put down my paint brushes and garden spades and get all gussied up for these very special opportunities.  Today I thought I would share some of my favorite hats.  You will notice they are all floral.  Yes, I am truly a romantic.  Can't help it, it's in my blood. 

The first hat is truly vintage.  The designer was Lilly Dache.  She was a premiere hat designer in her day.  I just love this hat. 

 Today I have called on my favorite hat models, Fifi and Stella.  Stella loves her vintage pearls and necklaces.
 The following hat I picked up at a very special little boutique that used to be at a nearby swap meet.  You would be amazed at the crazy places you can find beautiful hats like these.  A very talented hat artist used to sell her creations there.
 This next hat was one of my splurges.  This hat is exquisitely  designed and constructed.  It will last well into the next millennium.  Of course, I keep these protected in hat boxes when not in use.
 This is my largest hat.  I purchased this one at Nordstrom years ago.  Mind you, I used to do tea at least once a month so these hats have been called to serve many times.

 This is another pretty hat by the same designer at the swap meet.
Lovely handmade silk roses and beautiful lace.
 Fifi is wearing this very vintage hat in navy blue velvet from I. Magnin.  This hat is almost patriotic by its coloring.
 Truly gorgeous.  Hope you enjoyed my little hat parade.  One last funny story.  One day I went to tea at a very fancy tea room in Pasadena, California.  Of course, I was all dolled up for the festivities.  I came home and was rushing to get a project done to take to the shop.  Well, I changed out of my fancies and put on the grubbies and headed for the garage.  My neighbor stopped by to chat for a few minutes and when I came back in, I was covered in paint, dirt and, oh yes, my beautiful vintage pearls.  I had forgotten to take them off.  She thinks I'm a little strange anyway, but I think that convinced her for sure.  Thanks for joining the parade today.  Have a wonderful week.
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Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
                                    Le Chateau des Fleurs
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors



Sunday, April 15, 2012

Burlap Table Runner

Well, I apologize for how wrinkled this piece is.  I washed this burlap to soften it up and then left it in my fabric pile and for the life of me, I cannot get the wrinkles out no matter what I do.  I thought they would steam out after I finished the project.  That said, I have wanted to do one of these for the longest time and so now I can tell you how easy it is.
 I had already cut the burlap thinking I would do a different project with it so my length was determined at that point.  I folded the fabric in half width-wise and snipped it in half.  This was actually perfect for the runner.  I took my stencil that I have shared with you many times from other projects and used it for this one too.  I ordered this stencil from Maison de Stencils click here.  I love her feed sack stencils and ordered two more yesterday.  They are expensive, but considering how much I use them since I sell my work, they are very worth the asking price.
 Here is a closer view of the pattern.  Go heavy on your paint with the burlap.  Since it is so textured you need to get down into the grooves.
 I didn't use a sewing machine and I am glad I didn't.  I folded the edge once and then twice and pressed the edge, then I came along and basted the edge closed.  Leave about six inches unbasted on each end so you can fringe it if you so desire.
I found that if I loosened a cross thread at one side and brought it down and then pulled the fabric that helped to loosen it further.  On the burlap I used, the cross thread went one direction and then reversed and then came completely away from the fabric.  Just play with it if you want fringe.  It was such an easy project and from start to finish took me about an hour.  Took me a long time though to try to get the wrinkles out when I was done so maybe the pre-wash wasn't such a great idea.  Have a wonderful Sunday.


I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors