His Favorite

It all began with a piece of slate that was destined for the garbage dump. I found it in the corner of my in-laws storage room as we were de-cluttering and packing for my MIL's move to a smaller home. It was a piece left over from the entry floor of the house that had been their home for several years."Why do you want that?!?!" my hubby asked as I carted it to his truck (you would think that he would have learned by now that his wife has an eye for good junk).
He rolled his eyes as I gave him a list of reasons.
When we arrived home I hauled my newly acquired piece of slate into our home and plopped it on top of another junk find, an old sewing machine cabinet that hubby had picked at the thrift store. Amazingly the slate piece was the PERFECT size!We cut and nailed molding to the top of the cabinet so the slate would rest inside. I painted it the same blue-gray as the slate.It's now my husband's night stand and his favorite piece of furniture. It's a beautiful reminder of the family memories made in the home of his youth.

For The Birds

It's funny how one "new" item can serve as inspiration for a whole makeover. My garbage gift screen got a good cleaning and sanding to reveal some of the old paint layers. Then it was placed in the center of the mantle, serving as a unique backdrop.I pulled out all of my collected birdcages and gave them a fresh coat of white spray paint to unify them.I also spruced up some old candle pillars with a yellow so bright it screams sunshine.These little birds were thrift finds years ago. Originally they hung from a ribbon. I cut apart a wire hanger and drilled a few holes in the birds and some scrap wood, to make long legged fowl.

Of course every bird needs a nest or two. This one is my favorite. It's the real deal. Several years ago I found it in my driveway after a mighty wind.
There used to be horses near our home and
this little nest has horsetail hair woven in for nesting comfort.
What a creative bird!

I added a few green books for color and interest.

The mantle looks fresh, fun and
for the birds!

A Gift of Garbage

Today was garbage day.
When my husband arrived home from his walk he announced that
he had a present for me. . . . . . .
from someone's garbage can.

Isn't he so romantic!
His walking partner thought he was strange.

But he knew that I would treasure this trash---
an old wooden screen.Now I feel a mantle makeover coming on!

You're So Vane

I found these vanity benches at different times years ago at thrift stores. I bought the second thinking that it was an exact match to the first. It wasn't. The legs are different but fortunately the size is the same. They sat in my storage room until I found this darling fabric. It's too light weight for upholstery fabric so I knew that if I were going to use it on a piece of furniture it would have to something that wouldn't be used every day. That's when I remembered the benches. I knew that with a little makeover they would finally find a home.With a little Mediterranean Blue spray paint to unite them, and cushy new tops for comfort, those worn out benches now look fresh and new.
They now reside at the foot of the bed in the guest room.

They finally look right at home!(And I might have just enough fabric left to cover that small pillow!)

Susan's Surprise

I recently worked with Susan rearranging and styling her home. On my second visit I asked her to bring out all of her decorations and accessories that she had stored away but that she wanted to find a place for in her home.

I love this part of my job!

To me it feels like Christmas morning with new toys for
play and imagination.

One of the items that appeared from her box was this
decorative iron piece. I immediately saw it's possibilities!
I told Susan the items she needed to purchase,
then she gave me the opportunity of pulling it all together.

First I cut a piece of cardboard to size then
I adhered floral foam using hot glue. Next I dressed the foam with plenty of moss
and slipped the entire thing into the metal piece. Then came the real fun!

I started with the fillers,
a beautiful backstage of greenery.

Next I placed the florals,
pretty poppies in red and yellow.

I attached a metal wire to the back for easy hanging.

Now Susan has a beautiful arrangement
to hang on her door or in her home,
made from an item that she had stored away.

Do you have something hidden away
that with a little transformation would become
a beautiful accessory?

Shutter Love

Last year I found an old shutter while doing a dumpster drive-by. Even though I had no clue what I would do with a tall, lone, beat-up shutter, I threw it in the garage until inspiration hit. Then it happened! I pulled out my trash find, cleaned, spray painted, and sanded until it had the perfect worn patina.
I added a knob where one was missing. I grabbed clips from my office supplies. And I began to hang and clip fun items onto the slats. Now I have the perfect memo/photo board for our guest room.

Trying a Trend

What do you do with a pretty little button? You use it as the center for a trendy
fabulous fabric flower.

Make a flower pattern by folding a piece of paper in half, in half again, and then fold one edge to meet the opposite, forming a point. Using scissors, round off the open end about 2 & 1/2 inches from the point. Make a second pattern by repeating the process of folding and cutting, this time cut about 2 inches from the point. You now have two flower pattern sizes.Choose one or two of your favorite fabrics, like brown burlap and a piece of upholstery fabric. Cut two of each size flower patterns (one fabric per pattern if you're using two fabrics).Layer the two small pieces on top of the two large, alternating the fabrics.
Stitch and hot glue the four layers together. Be sure to scrunch each layer a bit so they don't just lay flat (this is where the hot glue comes in handy).

Add a pin to the back. If you don't have an "official brooch pin" simply cut a scrap of coordinating fabric and glue it on top of a safety pin.Then pin it onto your blouse and get ready to
hear the comments like:

"That's pretty. Did you make it?"

"I like your brooch."or my favorite
"What is that?!?!"

Hoiliday Decor Hoarder

If you are not already aware, I will make it clear,

I am a hoarder of holiday decorations!

Each holiday I find myself with more decorations than I care to admit. Many gathered over the years, most acquired on closeout sales or at thrift stores. Admittedly I own decorations that I don't use. I try to cull a few to donate to the thrift store or give to family and friends. Or I try to find ways to re-purpose them into something new.

Such was the case with these mismatched wreaths and little blocks. I laid the two wreaths together
and thought that the pairing looked quite nice.
I would just need a way to keep them snugly attached to one another.
That's where this shutter (found by a dumpster) came in handy.A good cleaning, a fresh coat of spray paint,
and a little sanding, makes it the perfect backdrop
to tie and hot glue my forlorn holiday decorations, transforming all of these orphans into one big
holiday wow factor.Unfortunately it's a bit too heavy to hang on my front door
(believe me, I tried).
But it does make the perfect centerpiece
for my dining room mantle/shelf. Add in some eggs, chicks, bunnies,mixed amongst a few potted faux flowers, electric candles, and books.

And I present the perfect example ofHow to Decorate with
Things You Already Own.

My Dearest

Dearest Hurricane,
I am sorry to inform you that your twin, the one I purchased at the thrift store when I purchased you, has undergone some cosmetic changes.You see, while giving her a bath in the kitchen sink I heard a loud pop and noticed a large crack in her base (likely a result of the combination of scalding hot water inside her while she sat on a cold sink bottom).
A few weeks later the crack turned into a severed break! I could not bear to throw her out but instead I placed your twin upside down to mourn her unfortunate state.
Then one day my hubby, desiring to relieve the two of us from our misery, had a wondrous plan! He would gently break off the rest of her base and sand down the sharp edges. The plan was successful with one exception, she was still a bit rough around the edges. Thank goodness a little dressing of burlap and rope could come to her aide and cover her flaws.

So you see my little hurricane, there is no need to mourn for your twin. She is living a new life.
She has blossomed into a beautiful cloche!