Ice Cream Social

For this week's tablescape, my theme is an ice cream social.  I went out shopping today at some neighborhood sales and I found a Hamilton Beach milkshake machine and some old fashioned metal sundae cups.  I've been purchasing old ice cream cartons when I find them and these are my latest ones.  I bought them to use as gift boxes.

 For the tablecloth I used some red and white ticking.  It was perfect for my theme today.  I also found an old red ice cream scooper.

 I started with my red charger plates.  I use these all year long.  Then I layered with two square plates.  I love these depression glass plates.  I found them at the flea market last month and I think I am going to keep them.  They look great layered and they mix well with my little square ruffled depression glass fruit plates.

 I used the largest ice cream carton for the flowers.  I opened up one end and placed a drinking glass in it and arranged the flowers inside of it.  Won't these ice cream cartons make fantastic gift boxes?

 I love my milk shake maker.  I am not sure it's truly old, but it does work and I will take it out to the shop tomorrow and put it in my space.

 I also found this beautiful frame today and it already had the chalkboard in it.  It was a great find.  Isn't it pretty?

 The strawberry milkshakes are "adults only."  My daughter mixed strawberry ice cream with Pinnacle Cake Vodka.  Then she decorated with sprinkles, whipped cream and a strawberry.  She also made the mini cupcakes for me.  They turned out so cute with just a quarter stawberry stuck in the frosting.

 It was fun to set up this table.  Very summery indeed.

I love this strawberry bubble bath crate.  I found this today at a sale as well.   I didn't even realize it was for bubble bath until I looked at my photos. 

Thanks so much for visiting.  I love your visits.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy     Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
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

French Grain Sack Ottoman

I found this ottoman at a neighborhood sale.  It was brand new except that there was a huge footprint right in the middle of the top of it.  It is just a slip covered piece so I brought it home and washed the cover.  When I was ironing it, I realized it came from IKEA.  I don't think it had ever really been used.  It was plain Jane canvas, sort of baggy like a potato sack, but it had potential.

I used painter's tape to do the stripes.  I wanted to add some pizazz and detail.  I used pewter gray acrylic paint.  My fellow dealer asked me why I don't use fabric paint for these projects.  My reply?  Have you ever gotten acrylic paint on your clothes?  It doesn't come out.  And I promise you, what this slip cover went through to be ironed and steamed and re-ironed and re-steamed, that paint is on there to stay.

I used one of my Maison de Stencils grain sack stencils.  I have made many projects with this very stencil.  This is the same stencil I used to do my French bar stools, one of my most popular posts.  To see that project click here.  I also did another ottoman using drop cloth with this stencil.  To see that project click here.  To view the complete catalog of this wonderful stencil designer go to http://maisondestencils.com/.  I have purchased many stencils from them and I absolutely love every one of them. 

Thanks so much for visiting.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy     Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings       Adorned From Above
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

My Latest Garden Find and a Give Away

I have been wanting to do a give away of two of my French wreaths for a while now, but I don't know where the time goes.  It certainly goes faster than I do.  But first I wanted to share one of the latest additions to my garden.   These are my New Dawn roses, the ones I have growing in a huge pot.  Aren't they divine?

 Here she is.  She's not cement, but she is rather heavy.  Heavier than the resin statues like the two that got thrown away today.  Why did I throw them away?

 Our wind is brutal!  And mean!  And wicked!!!!  I have had this statue for at least 10 years and he met his last day on Wednesday.

 This sweet thing was destroyed in the fall.  I do save the heads and stick them between my plants.  Kind of macabre, but they are my ruins after all.

 So onto my give away.  I am giving away two of my wreath appliques to one person.  These are the same wreaths I use on many of my projects.

 You can take two of these.

And turn them into these.  They measure 7 3/4 inches wide by 8 inches tall.  They are made of a resin like material and are exact copies of wood carvings that were done back in the 1800's.  They can easily be painted.  All you need to do is leave a comment on my blog.  The winner's name will be drawn one week from today.  So leave a comment if you would like a chance to receive a pair of appliques and I would love it if you would become a follower.

Au Poulet Tea Towel

Only one photo today.  I think that's all I need for this post.  These are both Graphics Fairy images.  I printed the wreath in an 8x10 size and the chicken in 4x6.  I added the words Au Poulet in Picasa using a No. 36 font size of Vijala I believe it's called.  I cut out the chicken with my scissors and used a glue stick to mount it on to the wreath image.  Then I placed it on the copy machine and using the mirror image setting, copied it onto my Avery light transfer paper.  I followed the instructions for the transfer paper and here you have the final product.  You can't get any easier than that.  Happy crafting everyone.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy     Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
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

The Frugal Gardener 4

Today I would like to share more of my garden with you.  Like I told you before, I am working with a relatively small lot size.  We have a large pool and a small hillside slope so I have maximized the flat space we have by creating little "garden rooms" around every corner.  Not only is our patio brick, but I have lots of defined areas with brick planters as well.  This keeps the wildness looking a little more controlled.  If you would like to see parts 1, 2 and 3 of this post click here  Frugal Gardener 1,   Frugal Gardener 2, and Frugal Gardener 3

I'm not much of a cook unless the marinade or seasoning comes out of a packet so I have never had a vegetable garden, but last year I put in my version of an herb garden in  this big old pot I picked up at a sale.  The herbs are still thriving this year.

These grape ivies and coleus pots thrive under the patio cover.  I mixed the coleus and sweet potato vines in the same pots and they make a nice display of green color.  These have been in the same pots now for four years and they are still looking beautiful.  I just fertilize in early spring and that carries them all year.

I love mirrors reflecting the plants. 

This enormous pot holds my New Dawn climber.  Something red volunteered on the bottom.  Not sure where that came from, but it's pretty so I let is stay.

I like to keep lots of guardian angels around.  One of these cute little guys is actually cement and the other one I purchased from a fellow dealer.  I fell in love with it.  It's your average ordinary resin-type statue, but brilliant Elaine spray painted it with a can of stone spray paint.  It looks like the real deal, doesn't it?  I tried it on a couple of my other pieces and pots and it really works.  It's a little expensive for a can, around $7, but it covers a lot of area.  Here is a blank wall that got covered with a trellis and a climber.

The chair below was one of three I found.  I sold two and realized this chair perfectly matches my birch tree trunk.  It was a match made in heaven so there they sit together.  Every year I pot a ton of white petunias.  I love my petunia pots.  They get quite profuse.

I usually have a shutter or a metal piece sitting amongst my plants to get some age to them before I sell them.  Notice the metal plant stand in the corner with my little pots?  I just don't like bare walls or corners.  I like to add height and interest.

If you have never touched a lamb's ear plant, you are missing one of life's little pleasures.  I'll never have a garden without it.  One little plant will spread nicely and it is oh so soft.  I could hold it in my hands for hours.  It also adds a nice color contrast to the garden with its silvery green foliage.

I love ornate tall candelabras.  They add to the French cemetery look I love.  You can barely see the stand this one is sitting on in front of the birch trunk.

Here is one of my garden ruins.  If the Romans can have broken statues, so can I.

Here is another little ruin.  Broke right in half, but I'll never get rid of it.  "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."  How true is that?  This is a popcorn rose.  It gets little clusters of tiny white roses and it gets enormous.

I love the shades of green in this coleus plant.  This was a little iron accent table I found without a glass top.  It holds this pot perfectly and adds some height to my plants.  I recently treated myself to a new statue which I will be unveiling soon.  I need to find the perfect spot for her.  When I do I will be sure to share.  I hope you enjoyed the garden tour.  As always, I enjoy your visits. 

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy     Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
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

Water Color Tablescape

Aren't these dessert plates sweet?  They remind me of a delicate water color.

 They came from Home Goods as did the white charger plates and the place mats.  I love the square plates. 

 The stemware was actually my mother's wedding crystal.  I only have five of these goblets left so I was glad to be able to use them today.  My beautiful birds came from Julie O'Keefe Home and Garden.  I love birds and nests.  I know I will use these birds a lot.  I keep them on my living room mantle.

 Man, these pictures are bright.  I swear I didn't use a flash, but I think I am getting light bouncing off of the windows.  It was the sunniest part of the day.  Thanks for taking a peak.  Have a great week.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy
                                      Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday   Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays
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

American Baseball

Happy Sunday everyone.  Here is another Pinteresting inspired post.  I picked up these three baseballs last weekend at a sale.  Right afterwards I saw this idea on Pinterest and got right to work.  I used navy blue, cardinal red and ivory white acrylic paint and then I went over them with an antiquing gel that I had with my craft paints.  I think these look very Pottery Barn and a whole bowl or cloche of them would be fabulous and not just for the 4th of July.  Great for a primitive or Americana decor style.

I can't believe I didn't have a small star stencil.  I had to wing it with my freehand style, but it kind of goes with the primitive feel.  Don't you agree?  If I do more of these, I will invest in the stencil, but it's okay for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy     Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
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