Forever Decorating!: May 2011

5/30/2011

Sundial Surprise!

I was surprised and so pleased when I opened the Mother's Day box from my boy!

Well, my boy is going to be 30 years old this summer and he is a Machinist.

I did mention to him that I would love to have a sundial for the garden...and it worked. He made me this for my Mother's Day gift. Isn't he sweet?
And it really works for telling time!!!

He said that he put four holes in it because he didn't know how I was planning on mounting it and thought I would need to screw it down. Right now I just built a brick pillar and have it setting on it. What you can't see are the numbers that he put on it. Thanks Son!

NOTE: You should be able to click on most of the pictures to enlarge to see further details.
These parties I love to link up to or check out my Blog Parties tab
Party Time @ It's So Very Cheri
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple
Creative Blogger's Party @ Homemaker On A Dime
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Twice Owned Tuesday @ House Of Grace
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Time to Shine Tuesday @ A Diamond in the Stuff
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Trash 2 Treasure @ Sassy Sites
Power Of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Swing Into Spring Wednesday @ DIY by Design
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Piece of Work Wednesday @ Primitive & Proper
Good Life Wednesday @ A Beach Cottage
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
100 Ideas Under $100 @ Beyond The Picket Fence
Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fishtail Cottage
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Remodelaholic Friday @ Remodelaholic
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Look What I Found Friday @ Vintage Revivals
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn
Sundae Scoop Weekend Wrap Up Party @ I love Nap Time
Before and After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick

5/29/2011

Porch Post Birdhouses

In one of my Diamonds In The Rough! posts, I purchased two new wooden porch posts and told you that I was going to make bird houses with them. Well, I did just that. I found one birdhouse at our church garage sale for $2.


After, It's already in use!

Before on Week 3 Diamonds In The Rough!

Attached to Painted Porch Post!


Porch Posts Before


This birdhouse I purchased on eBay then painted. It's already in use too!


Attached to Porch Post and set up in the garden.

I already had made this one, so now I have three!

5/28/2011

Week 9 ~ Diamonds In The Rough!

Diamonds In The Rough! is my weekly feature, where I show you the treasures that I find from garage sales, thrift store and antique stores. I then show you how I decorate with them or what I do with them.

Garage sales have been very sparse in treasures for me, so Hubby and I went thrift and antique store shopping in another town.

I won't bore you with the NEW over-the-door ironing board that I found at a thrift store still in its shrink wrap. I so needed one in my sewing room, so I was very pleased to find it for only $5.

But, I will show you my treasures for this week...


Another Willow Tree figurine, but with a missing blue bird, but for 25¢, I can't complain. I do see a fix of her arm in her future, I just need to figure out what it will be.

Initially, I bought these coasters for my daughter's new apartment, but since I am hosting a large bible study group this summer in my home, I decided that I needed more coasters, so they are mine.

Scrapbooking numbers and letters are not just for scrapbooking. Think, hang tags for fun decorating!

Aren't these old purple bottles just 2-die-4? Only 50¢ for all!!! I did the research on these (eBay) and found out they are worth $9 and up for EACH! Wow

I couldn't pass up the small shade for 25¢. It's the kind that needs covered and I could really have some fun with this, think document fabric. The embroidery hoops I am collecting for Christmas table decor projects during our church Christmas Play and dessert. I'll share with you at a later date.

At 50¢, how could I not buy this floor lamp? I will see if my daughter wants it for her apartment, if not, I can sell it at my antique mall booth and make a few bucks.

Okay, lets talk about this window. This was marked $10 at an antique store. It is in great shape and I can do some fun sewing project with the piece of hand quilted quilt that was tacked to the back. I however got it for only $5. I have this window below, out in the garden above the swing. It is rotting due to the weather and years of being out there, so I wanted to find one to replace it. Now I have one!

Old Window, it doesn't look like it's rotting, but it is!

We stopped at a tent that a couple of Mennonite guys were selling beautiful plants at really good prices. I got even better prices since they were getting ready to pack up and go home. Now I have to get to planting these in the garden.

Lastly, I got two white milk glass items for $1. You will never guess what I am going to do with them!

When I collect more items to go with these, they will be converted into GARDEN ART sort of like these below!

So creative and each one is limited only by your imagination!

Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
100 Ideas Under $100 @ Beyond The Picket Fence
Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fishtail Cottage
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Remodelaholic Friday @ Remodelaholic
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Look What I Found Friday @ Vintage Revivals
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn
Sundae Scoop Weekend Wrap Up Party @ I love Nap Time
Before and After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick

5/25/2011

Mid May, Views Around The Garden

Sharing some views from around my gardens for you to enjoy! I just love Spring!!!

All God's Beauty!

5/24/2011

Chalkboard Paint Recipe, Any Color!

FYI, if you want chalkboard paint in colors other than store-bought formulas that come in traditional green and black. You can follow this recipe to mix your own batch in any shade. Cleverly applied chalkboard paint means new places to track appointments, keep lists, and leave messages. Or simply use the surface to draw or doodle, which will appeal to kids and the kid in everyone.

The recipe is:

1 Cup Flat Latex Paint ~ Any Color

2 Tablespoons Unsanded grout powder (used for tiling)

Mix well and paint at least two coats with each coat allowed to dry. Easy!

Just thought you might want to know!

5/23/2011

Succulent Chair

Oh how fun this was and how pretty it come out!

Remember this chair from Week 8 of Diamonds In The Rough! ?

When I saw this chair at a garage sale, I knew that I could do something fun with it, however the clincher was the price...only $1, so I brought this baby home.

I painted it a soft yellow, added chicken wire to support the coconut fiber basket liner that I purchased at a garden center. I then shopped my own yard for succulents that would work for my design.

In the same Diamonds In The Rough! post (HERE), I also found a half birdcage. I decided to embellish the succulent chair by wiring it to the back and adding a cute bird.

Diamonds In The Rough~Treasures Week 8

This is my Week 8 of Diamonds In The Rough!, where I show you the treasures that I've found at garage sales and thrift stores, then you get to see what I do with them. Seems like the garage sales are full of baby items. One should never need to go into a store for these items because there are more really nice baby things out there for sale...cheap...than babies that need them!!! But, I don't need any baby items and would love to see a lot less of this in my world!

Here are the few items that I did find and bring home for transformation!

Trims ~ $2, If you sew, you need these and I do use them!

New products in basket ~ $1.50

Crock bowl ~ $4, This will go to my mall booth.

Half birdcage ~ 25¢, Imagine this painted white and plants coming out of it.

LARGE Pitcher made into a lamp ~ $3. It goes to my antique mall booth

Old ladder back chair ~$1, I have fun plans on this to show you later!


Very old chandelier ~ $15, Wait till you see what I do with this!!!

And I didn't forget items for my daughter's apartment like a fan and these treasures she can surely use!


New shower curtain rod ~ 50¢, Mixing bowl ~ 50¢, Shelf liner ~ $1, Air Fresh Spray ~ Free


A large 5'5" x 7'5" Area Rug for her living room ~ $20

And lastly for me, a new cloche and crock to set it on. At first I put the normal, bird in it to decorate...

Then I realized that I don't like NORMAL, so I switched it up!

This is my vintage Frozen Charlotte, with a cameo and my late Grandmother's cameo bracelet!

Oh yeah, So much better to see something that's not the norm!