Jun 13, 2013

Friday Finds

Hurray! It's time for Friday Finds!

I found so much fantastic inspiration out there this week, and I feel like I didn't even scratch the surface. It seems like everyone is getting really busy with summer gearing up, but there's still plenty of great sharing going on. Lucky for us! 

This week I have some indoor and outdoor eye candy, a few craft projects, and some yummy recipes, so let's get started!


Cottage in the Oaks
 I can't think of a better place to spend the summer than on this sweet front porch. Visit Daune at Cottage in the Oaks to see all the cute details. 


Jennifer Rizzo
 Kristen from Ella Claire shared a really great tutorial for her garden sign at Jennifer Rizzo's blog this week. 
 

The Pin Junkie
 The Pin Junkie made these simple garden markers that will last. Super easy! 


Hickory Trail
 At Hickory Trail Angela showed us her summer hutch. I love her lemonade sign!


Junk Chic Cottage
 Kris at Junk Chic Cottage updated her amazing kitchen. It's a must see!


DIY Showoff
 Roeschel's family room at DIY Showoff is eclectic perfection. Head on over and tour the rest of her summer house.


Sanna and Sania
Sania and Susanna of Sanna and Sania photographed this darling Stockholm Bombay home. 


Aiken House & Gardens
 This cozy little nest is in Carolyn's summer boathouse at Aiken House and Gardens. I would like a summer boathouse, too, please.


The Happy Housie
 At The Happy Housie Krista made these bright summery envelope pillow covers. I wish I could mix and match patterns with such panache!

Polka Dot Closet
 Carol shows us how to alter pretty vintage doilies at The Polka Dot Closet


Whipperberry
 Jenn from My Fabuless Life recovered these fun party chairs with polka dot burlap. Check out her tutorial at Whipperberry this week.


Cutie Pie Cottage
 These cute rag balls were made by Holly at Cutie Pie Cottage.
 

Eat Drink Chic
 Download Amy's free fun ice cream printables at Eat Drink Chic.


The Best Blog Recipes
 Shauna shared a recipe for Barbecue Chopped Chicken Salad over at The Best Blog Recipes.


Add a Pinch
 At Add a Pinch Robyn gives us the recipe for Comeback Sauce, a Southern classic. This yankee has never heard of Comeback Sauce before, but I'll definitely be trying it!


A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
 Joanna at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs made thse pretty Coconut Cream Tarts. They're almost too pretty to eat!

But I'm sure I could eat at least two. Have you ever noticed I always end my Friday Finds with a great recipe? And it always makes me want to head to the kitchen for a snack!


Thanks for joining me for Friday Finds this week. I hope something special has caught your fancy today. 

Have a wonderful weekend and a 

HAPPY FRIDAY!


Featured today on Friday Finds? Don't forget your button. You'll find it over on my sidebar, if you'd like to grab one!

Jun 11, 2013

Garden Signs






I love garden junk art, and I have it all around my yard. 

Well, usually I have it all around my yard. Right now most of it is packed away in the shed while the new sprinkler system is being installed. Are you as surprised as I am that the sprinklers aren't finished yet?    


First, it rained, and then the contractor got sick. Hopefully, he'll be feeling better soon and have the new sod in before the temperatures climb much higher. I'm afraid it's too late now for a vegetable garden this year, and the summer heat will have us waiting until next fall to plant new bushes and perennials. 

There must be a silver lining around here somewhere... oh, there it is: with no yard to fiddle with I'll have lots more time to work on indoor projects this summer. 

My dear friend, Sharon, is hosting her June Garden Party at Elizabeth & Co. and I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'd never show up to a party empty handed, though, so today I'm sharing an easy garden art project I made last year and first showed you on my urban garden post here.



 Last summer I made these directional garden signs as a little garden humor because my yard is so small that you sure don't need a sign to find anything!


 I chose a spot for them at the corner of the house between the side yard where the vegetable garden beds are, and the back yard where the deck and shed are. You can see it all if you simply turn around, but I think the signs add some charm and whimsy to an otherwise empty expanse of fence. They make me smile!


 You might remember this old milk can, now sitting beneath the signs, that I faux rust-painted back in this post. I'm thinking it would make a good perch for a potted flowering vine to twine around the gate. What do you think?



 My husband built the gate that I shared in this post. He built it to keep a couple of sneaky tomato bandits out of the vegetable garden. 


Sneaky tomato bandits.



 The signs were super easy to make. I cut some 1" x 2" lumber into 12" lengths and trimmed the ends to a point. I dry brushed a couple of swipes of acrylic craft paint on each piece and painted the place-name over that. To seal and protect, I went over it all with some Minwax wood stain. 



No one will be getting lost in my yard thanks to my cute little garden signs! 
 

Thanks so much for stopping by my garden today. 

I hope you have a great week! 

Please come join the fun parties at 


Jun 7, 2013

Friday Finds


My big brother is my biggest supporter. He subscribes to my blog feed via email and reads my posts on his IPhone. He even calls me to talk about my projects. He is so sweet and so good to me, and I love him more than words can say.

Recently, he was given an old dresser that he planned on using for storage in the garage of his lake house. When he read my post about my old dresser turned TV Console, he was inspired to paint his dresser and use it in a bedroom, instead.


my brother's lake house cabinets
 My brother's lake house has charming red cabinets, and he wants to paint his dresser the same color. Friday Finds today is a collection of beautiful red painted furniture to inspire my dear brother. 


Chrissie's Collection



Shizzle Design



The Salvage Collection



Reloved Rubbish



Inspired by You



Whimsical Perspective



Anna White



BHG



Harmonizing



The House at Bluebird Lane



Picked and Painted



The Mombot



Sunflower Hugs



Martha Leone Design



Number Fifty-Three



The Yellow Cape Cod



Cure Design Group



Shizzle Design



Maison de Pax



Maple & Magnolia

I hope these Friday Finds give my brother lots of ideas for all the fun ways his old dresser can be painted, distressed, glazed, waxed, and hardware changed for a beautiful pop of color in his lake house bedroom. Painting his dresser will be a whole new DIY experience for my brother, and I'm thrilled to have inspired it!

Have a great weekend, and a

HAPPY FRIDAY!