Monday, March 31, 2014

RIGHT IN MY OWN BACKYARD

RIGHT IN MY OWN BACKYARD "The best decorating comes from not planning, just doing." even though I dreaded cleaning out my "getaway" building; when stepping into it, I could "smell" work! The building had leaked and sunk, so the floor was on dirt and rotting. I emptied it out and tore out the floor and walls, of which the walls were a lovely white washed bead board. I then built a new floor out of decking boards and 6x6 beams! I whitewashed the entire inside and put in a vent for air circulation and another cute little window that slides up and down that will let more air in! Then came the fun part of decorating; since I didn't put up walls this time, I could make shelves in between the 2x4's; then I put two sets of shutters up and built two closets. I put together pieces and parts of a daybed and put it in there with a daybed cover from the 40's that I bought in Connecticut (where else)! The back of the daybed is an old piano front that I hung on the wall; I also put a small table that I made out of old table legs and a board from a dropleaf table; this is where I plan to write! I had a large old green storage box with a lid that I can hide "stuff' in. Since I'm swimming in mantels, I put one in there with an electric fireplace for atmosphere! I also cornered a tall barn red cupboard in there, too so I could store my childhood books: Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, (they even smell authentic); now I guess you know how old I am! As I was putting them in order, I scanned a few and got interested again, so I am now currently reading "the Mystery at the Mansion"! now I know where I get my ideas of "getaways" at! The best getaway destination is closer than you think! As a child I always dreamed of my own little place to hide, in my case it was the fruit cellar in my basement, where I wrote on the back of the door "no boys aloud" not much of a speller then, but later I won two spelling bees! I use to make tents over clotheslines and put blankets over tables. In the winter I would take out a bucket and compact it with snow and make igloos; that didn't last long because I wasn't a winter person and I'm still not! I always wanted a tree house, but that didn't happen either; although I would climb my cousins cherry tree and read, we each had our own branch! So, I guess you could say I'm trying to relive my childhood dream of getting lost and not being bothered, so I can catch up on my reading! i also dream of living in France! SUMMER IS MORE THAN A SEASON, THE DAYS ARE LONG, THE GARDEN IS IN BLOOM AND THE HEAT MAKES IT THE PERFECT TIME TO PRACTICE RELAXING. * YOU CAN EASILY CREATE AN ILLUSION OF AN INDOOR ROOM ON YOUR PORCH WITH PANELS OF SHEER CURTAINS. ADD TRACKING AROUND THE CEILING TO ALLOW YOU TO ADJUST THE CURTAINS AS THE LIGHT CHANGES. * SEVERAL 30 INCH CONCRETE PAVERS PLACED IN THE YARD MAKE AN INSTANT, QUICK .PATIO. * FAST GROWING EVERGREENS AND SHRUBS PLANTED CLOSE TOGETHER, CREATE A LIVING WALL THAT SHIELDS PRIVACY, WHILE LETTING IN BREEZES AND A VIEW. * BECOMING VERY POPULAR, AN OUTDOOR FIREPLACE CHASES AWAY THE CHILL ON COOL NIGHTS AND CREATES A FOCAL POINT WHERE THERE OTHERWISE WOULD BE NONE. * PILLOWS AND CUSHIONS IN SUN RESISTANT FABRIC SOFTEN WOODEN FRAMED FURNITURE. * IF YOU HAVE A METAL TABLE WITH A GRILLWORK TOP, YOU CAN PUT DIRT ON TOP OF IT AND PLANT SEDUMS AND HENS AND CHICKS OR RYE GRASS FOR A LIVING TABLE! * TO KEEP YOUR GARDEN SAFE FROM CRITTERS: SPRINKLE CAYENNE PEPPER ONTO THE SOIL TO KEEP RABBITS AND CATS FROM DIGGING. * SCARE BIRDS OFF WITH CD'S BY HANGING THEM FROM THREAD STRETCHED ACROSS THE GARDEN. * CRUSH A FEW CLOVES OF GARLIC INTO A BUCKET OF WATER, LET IT STEEP OVERNIGHT THEN SPRITZ OVER PLANTS AND MOST PESTS WON'T COME NEAR THEM. * PLANT SAGE AND LAVENDER TO DETER SQUIRRELS FROM ENTERING YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN. * WHEN CHOOSING COLOR DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO BOLD AND BRIGHT. * WHATEVER COLORS YOU'RE USING, COMBINE FABRICS, PATTERNS TEXTURES TO CREATE DEPTH AND INTEREST. * PICK A COLOR AND REPEAT IT THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE; REPETITION IS PLEASING TO THE EYE. * LASTLY, FOR SEVERAL COLOR CHOICES, GO TO THE HOME STORE AND PICK UP PAINT CHIPS IN MANY COLORS TO GIVE YOU MANY IDEAS FOR COLOR AND FUTURE DECORATING.

AH ..... SUMMER! 11 IDEAS TO WHILE AWAY THE WARMER DAYS.

AH ..... SUMMER! 11 IDEAS TO WHILE AWAY THE WARMER DAYS. SPRUCE UP YOUR PORCH AND BRING TABLES OUTDOORS, ADD PILLOWS AND POTS OF GREENERY. ADD WICKER WITH CUSHY CUSHIONS. FOR A LAZY DAY ON THE PORCH READ A GOOD BOOK SUCH AS DECORATING BOOKS! LISTEN TO MUSIC. PLAY AN OLD GAME: SCRABBLE( OF WHICH I AM THE CHAMP!) AUTHORS ,OLD MAID, EVEN SOLITAIRE. SIT ON THE PORCH AND PLAY I SPY OR PICK A COLOR OF A CAR AND SEE WHO GETS TO 20 FIRST. PITCH A TENT AND HAVE A PARTY! THIS IS NOT YOUR BROTHERS TENT LOL USE YOUR FAVORITE COLLECTIONS, SUCH AS VINTAGE CLOTHS, MISMATCHED SILVER AND GLASSWARE IN COLORFUL SHADES OF SUMMER TO HOST A BARBECUE. PACK A BASKET AND GO ON A PICNIC. VISIT A FARMERS MARKET, THEN GO ON A PICNIC! GO TO A FLEA MARKET AND HUNT FOR: VINTAGE TEA TOWELS, SMALL TABLES, TABLEWARE, GALVANIZED TUBS AND FLOWERPOTS. THINGS I LOVE ABOUT SUMMER OUTDOORS: * PICNICS BY A STREAM. * A POOL, BUT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE THE OCEAN. * FRESH PICKED TOMATOES. * FLIP- FLOPS. * PLANNING A WALKING VACATION IN FRANCE, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT GOING! CREATE A STRESS-FREE SUMMER MOOD WITH COLORS AND PRINTS INSPIRED BY NATURE BY FOCUSING ON THREE AREAS IN YOUR HOME: LIVING ROOM, BEDROOM AND DINING ROOM. MOST CHANGES CAN BE MADE IN A DAY OR TWO. * BALANCE DARK MATERIALS WITH LIGHT OR WHITE PIECES. * USE THROW PILLOWS WITH A HINT OF COLOR. *GET A GARDEN INSPIRED LOOK WITH A FERN MOTIF SUCH AS PUTTING FERN FRONDS UNDER A GLASS FRAME AND HANGING SEVERAL TOGETHER. * USE AN ACCENT RUG WITH A FERN OR PALM TREE THEME. AND REMEMBER IN SUMMER YOUR EXTRA ROOM IS THE PORCH ,SO TO CONVERT IT INTO A TROPICAL OASIS ADD SEATING SUCH AS WICKER AND COLORFUL PILLOWS, PLACEMATS AND STRINGS OF BRIGHT COLORED LIGHTS.

SUMMER, THE PLACE TO BE!! CAN'T WAIT


SUMMERTIME ON THE PORCH


THIS SUMMER, ESPECIALLY, WITH TODAY'S GAS PRICES AS HIGH AS THEY ARE, THE GOOD LIFE MAY BE AS CLOSE AS YOUR PORCH OR SUNROOM. YOU CAN TREAT THESE SPACES AS A SUMMER PLACE TO READ, WRITE, ENTERTAIN, ANSWER THE MAIL,

 SIP LEMONADE OR DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! OUTFITTED WITH WICKER OR COMFORTABLE FURNITURE A FEW BENCHES AND SIDE TABLES YOU'RE READY TO GO!

TIPS FOR YOUR PORCH:  * KEEP IT CASUAL AND COMFORTABLE.



* HAVE BLANKETS AND THROWS ON HAND WHEN THOSE NIGHTS OF STARGAZING GET CHILLY.

* IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SEATING, ADD FLOOR
PILLOWS. * A RADIO.

* A BUFFET OR SMALL CUPBOARD TO STORE FOOD AND DRINKS SO YOU WON'T HAVE To RUN IN AND OUT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE A LITTLE PEPSI MACHINE IN MY SUNROOM.





* LARGE TRAYS TO CARRY FOOD AND BARBECUE TO THE PORCH AND TO EAT OFF OF.

* A COAT OF PAINT AND PLENTY OF PLANTS WILL GIVE THIS AREA A FEELING OF AN OUTDOOR OASIS. 

* IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE SMELL OF CITRONELLA THERE ARE OTHER SCENTS MIXED IN SO YOU WON'T SMELL THE CITRONELLA SUCH AS:



WILD BERRY, GREEN HERB, SUNNY BLOOMS AND GARDEN SPICE FROM YANKEE CANDLE.
* REMEMBER TO BRING IN ANYTHING THAT WILL GET RUINED IF IT GETS WET.



AND REMEMBER, NO PORCH OR SUNROOM IS COMPLETE

WITHOUT A ROCKING CHAIR OR PORCH SWING!
 

Thursday, March 20, 2014

METAL DAY..........HAPPY SPRING!!!!!

WORKING ON METAL TODAY: 



GATHERING MORE SAP BUCKETS, AS THE STORY GOES: A FAMILY WOULD PAINT THEIR BUCKETS ONE COLOR TO DIFFERENTIATE THEM FROM ANOTHER FAMILY WHO USED THE SAME WOODS, SO EVERY FAMILY HAD THEIR OWN COLOR OF BUCKETS.






A NEW LOOK WITH VINTAGE SPOONS




LUV HOW THEY TURNED OUT :)







MORE PLANT MARKERS, 'TIS THE SEASON.........OR WILL BE SOON ;)






Tuesday, March 18, 2014

TUESDAY JUNQUE FINDS

OUT & ABOUT ON A COOL SPRING  UM WINTER  DAY :)



I need the water to be warmer






the waters edge




one big cupboard is........







really two!!






garden tool, rusty, crusty



game pieces for necklaces




W*O*R*D*S

Monday, March 17, 2014

A FEW MONDAY PROJECTS

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY FACEBOOK SITE FRENCH COUTURE...CLICK HERE
 
 
 



COULDN'T SELL THIS AS A WHOLE TABLE, SO SPLIT IT INTO 2 HALL TABLES, 2 LEGS EACH & SCREW THE BACKBOARD TO THE WALL.....NOW NEED TO PAINT THEM :)





FLEA CARTS "PIMPED" OUT WITH A CHANDY CRYSTAL




VINTAGE LACE &YOU'RE READY TO FIND THE JUNQUE



MINNOW HANGING CHANDY WITH CRYSTALS.