Tea Pot Collection/ Red & White

Sometimes the little things make me so happy:) Like changing out the curtains and freshening up some pillows. That's what I did this weekend. I had this red and white fabric I had been saving and this other red fabric from a curtain - both were bought at the thrift store for pennies. I finally re-did my curtains in the dining room and covered a window seat.

The curtains are red and white check - which I love! and I just found this red wreath for $2.00 yesterday at my local thrift store.

I used the red floral fabric to make a cover for the window seat.It's not attached just tucked in, this way I could wash it since the dog sits there a lot. I trimmed the cover with some of the left over red check and covered a couple of pillows with the curtain red floral.

I did the centerpiece with one of the cheese plates I made a while back, a couple of bunnies and 2 vintage crocheted pot holders and a little ivy.....

well, not only was I sewing but I also painted a few shelves and put out my tea pot collection...

It seams every time I go to the thrift store I find a cute little tea pot. ( Pardon the glare)Now I have a place to display them...

It's amazing how changing things just a little could make me so happy. What can you change in your house?

Felt flowers

I've been so busy lately but I thought I would share something I was just working on - felt flowers. I know they're everywhere, but they are so fun to make and so easy & inexpensive - especially if you have a lot of odds and ends from different projects like I do. I bought the cheap felt it's only 25 cents but you can get some with more colors and designs for less than a dollar.

They were all so easy to make - you can find directions on the net - just google felt flowers. I added beads, feathers, lace, jute and sequins. I think the black one is my favorite. I pinned it to a black leather purse I have and it looks great!

Painted Concrete Floor

I wish I would have taken a before picture! Well - it was just a plain concrete floor. My craft area in the basement is small but painting the little section of floor took a lot of work. The area is only about 6x10. First I painted the floor white, after I cleaned it well of course. Then I drew my lines using a cardboard square as a guide. The hard part was painting the black. Since my floor wasn't very smooth I chose not to tape off the squares , which would have made it a lot easier. I painted each square by hand and then had to go back over each one where the black didn't cover completely. I let it dry for a day. Then I put 2 coats of varnish over it, drying a day between coats. I love the way it turned out. It was worth all the work. Before I put the table and chairs back, I made sure to put felt protectors on the bottom so not to scratch the floor. All my craft supplies are hidden behind curtains - maybe someday I'll show it to you!

 

Front Garden/Porch Tour

I'm really enjoying sitting on my front porch lately. I updated all the cushions, painted the furniture and added some fun new touches since spring - like a chandelier. But it's really nice because it's covered so I never have to move cushions in when it rains , which it's been doing a lot of lately, and it's right off the living room so I can step outside anytime I like. Let me give you a little tour...

First , this is on the tree lawn around a new tree the city planted after our giant oak died and had to be taken down,   Hostas and impatiens...

This is the view from the sidewalk. We have a very small front yard. I added yellow this year which I'm loving and my sum and substance hosta is doing great...

This is to the side by the driveway. Hostas, ferns, astilbe, begonias and impatiens

Let's go on the porch. I put a planter right by the mailbox - sweet potatoe vine, begonia, petunia, impatien, vinca vine and spikes.

 It's hard to believe that all the furniture was found in the trash! I can't believe what people will throw away. A little paint and fixing up and it looks great!

I really love my new chandelier , the crystals sparkle in the morning sun.

 Birds and bunnies are my favorites...

This year I added yellow to my wreath.

Oh, and our city Garden Club gave me a little award for my garden

Hope you enjoyed the visit.

Porch side table

Found this old side table in the trash - nothing wrong with it just needed some sprucing up. I painted it yellow and now it sits on my porch. 

Recycled light cover

I found this beautiful light cover at my local thrift store for only $2.00 but I didn't know what to do with it - until I  thought upside down it would make a great birdbath!

 

It had a hole in the center where it would attach to the light so I just filled it with silicone. I set it on top of an old base I had which matched in color. I wish I took more pictures but here's the finished product. :)

 

 

Porch candlelier

I wanted a small chandelier for my front porch but since I couldn't find an old used one I decided to make one myself.

First I bought a candle holder at my local craft store.Then I gathered some things I already had - white spray paint, pearls and clear beads and gorgeous crystals I bought at a yard sale and 3 candle holders.

I spary painted the candle holder white and drilled 3 small holes on each side.

Then came the fun part . I strong a bunch of beads and added the crystals -

I used some chain I had and also made a cover out of fabric to coordinate with my porch furniture. I hung it right above the coffee table. What do you think? I LOVE it and the whole thing only cost about $7.00