Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's way!

In only 2-1/2 weeks.  Can you believe it?!

So, naturally, I had put a few Eastery do-dads here and there.  A little late, I guess, by blogdom time, but the house needed some Eastery/springy freshness for sure.

A cute, easy sparkly egg garland made using those glittery eggs on a stick from the DT.  

Super quick.  Super easy.   Super cute!

Now, I know you've seen these guys at lots and lots of blogs, but they're so darn sweet!

From Pier 1 they are, and I bought the tubby one on the right last year.

  I was pleased to see Pier 1 had them again this year, so I couldn't resist adding to the family by snagging up "dad", on the left, and that cute little baby bunny there in the middle.

Of course, Eastering up the place wouldn't be complete without tossing around the fabric carrots I made last year.  

I debuted them last year in this blog entry.

And in case you'd like to knock out a bushel of your own fresh fabric carrots, Clare, from 

Clare's Craftroom 

generously shared a  tutorial for you to make your very own.

Can I just say, when I purchased those vases below at Ikea a couple years ago, I used I would bought a case!  They were so cheap.  Maybe $1.99 a piece, if that.  They may have been only $0.99.  Anyway, I think they sold out of them a while back. 

I just love 'em!!!  

I even had someone email some months ago because she was searching for them for her wedding centerpieces, Googled them, and my blog came up and she offered to buy them from me double what I paid! I know . . . how mean.  I should have sold them to her.  But then I'd have none!

I just love that vintage Easter postcard.  What a work of art.  

The snowdrop flowers really convey an Eastery/springy feeling. 

That WalMart BH&G fall tray being put to good use again.  I always feel like I have to ground tablescapes with either a tray, a mini quilt, a platter . . . something.  Is that weird?  Maybe it's a bit of that OCD I think I have showing up! LOL  A feeling that I have to compartmentalize everything.

Another Pier 1 purchase that's been seen all over blogdom in many forms,

the moss bunny on a stick.

I obviously wasn't nearly as creative as so many others.  Rather boring, actually.  How uninspired is it just sticking that guy in a potted plant? 

I think he's cute in there anyway!

And I just love how this pot has become all craggily and pitted.  Not sure how that happened.  Probably from the weather, I guess, but I think it looks neat.

Inspirational faux stones.  I showed you how to make your own in this blog entry.

Quick way to dress up a boring pillar candle.  A faux stone and some jute twine.  How simple is that?

Before we know it, we'll all be showing off our fun 4th of July goodies!  :o)

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Fall Burlap Banner

Perusing aimlessly on the computer one night . . . wasting waayyyy too much of my time . . . I stumbled upon some of the most gorgeous banners created from burlap.  Most of the ones I instantly fell in love with were created by a fabulous artist named Amanda.  She sells her creations out of her Etsy shop cleverly named Funkyshique.  She may not be new to many of you, but I'm totally gaga over her work.

She has currently closed up shop for some "renovations", but you can subscribe to her email list to be notified of her reopening.

After drooling all over my keyboard while visiting her store and blog, I was inspired to make one for myself.  Granted, it's certainly no where near the quality and craftsmanship sold at Funkyshique, but for my first try, I think it turned pretty okay!

I used a permanent ink to stamp the letters and swirly patterns, added a bit of glitter, and sealed and stiffened the pieces with Mod Podge.  Then I simply folded over a bit of the top, ironed flat, and glued over a line of jute.

Below are some of Amanda's beautiful banners.  Be sure to check out her Etsy shop for a sampling of the types of items she creates.  She also has a blog, Funkyshique, but it appears she's been a bit absent.  Her last post was in June, but it's still chock full of gorgeous eye candy.

Photo from Funkyshique

Photo from Funkyshique

Photo from Funkyshique

Photo from Funkyshique

Photo from Funkyshique

Photo from Funkyshique

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A Found Use for a Mis-Purchase

Coming off a pretty busy week last week.  And I survived!

Mainly just work and running errands and exercising and house cleaning and gardening and golfing kept me busy all week last week.  

That's all.  

Nothing fun or exciting.  Just a lot of the same-old-same-old.

Oh, all that and planning and having Son No. 2's 20th birthday celebration. What?!  No photos, you ask?   I know, I'm a bad mom.  I went to grab my camera to snap some pics of the festivities Sunday, and it was void of batteries.  I'm pretty sure those batteries went to fill an X-Box controller or a mouse for gaming on the computer.  I knew we didn't have new batteries in the house, and honestly, I didn't feel like running around looking for a b.o.d. (battery operated device) from which to steal batteries.  I was having too much fun at the party!

left to right
B'day boy Colin 20, his girlfriend Shannon 20, and Son No. 1 John 22 (in 1 week)
Yes, the boys are very tall ~ 6'4"
and Shannon is very small ~ 4'11"

Most of the guests were Son's close friends, and a few close family members.  Per his request, the main course was steamed crabs.  You see, we live in crab country, and picking crabs is fun party cuisine . . . outdoor party cuisine, that is, as they're just a bit messy!  He also requested a few more of his faves ~ pulled pork sandwiches topped with cole slaw, mac and cheese and fresh sweet corn from the farm around the corner.  And for us adults, some ice cold beers.  One of legal drinking age can't possibly pick and eat spicy seasoned crabs without an ice cold beer!

I'm really kicking myself very hard now that I wasn't prepared with my camera.  It was, after all, his 20th birthday.  I'm hoping one of his friends may have taken a few pics with a smart phone and put them on FB.  I'll have to inquire about that.

Now, on to subject of this post.  Some of you might remember a few weeks ago I bought this fabric 

to make new pillows for my deck furniture based on the purchase of a new outdoor rug.  Well, that fabric didn't quite work out, and I bought ready-made pillows that were perfect.

What do do with this new fabric?  I had an epiphany! In preparation for Son's party, I decided to use that fabric to make new slipcovers for the old, ratty, faded chair cushions for the outdoor dining set down in the yard by the pond.  

Also, I was able to carry on the same color scheme ~ green, red and tan ~ that I've been using up on the deck.  Although the green's not quite the same, it works down there without clashing with what's up on the deck.

I actually didn't have enough of the new print fabric for fronts and backs of the cushions, so the backs of the cushions are painter's drop cloth leftover from a previous project.  

And I think I really like that better than if I'd had enough to do both sides.  

Nothing fancy.  

Just quick and easy slipcovers to give new life to cushions that might have otherwise been trashed.

I just love when I actually have a good idea like that!  When starting a new project, I always like trying to use or revamp what I have on hand.  Like recycling!

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A Few Fun, New Accessories for the Deck

You know when you find something for your home . . . or deck or porch . . . and you're just super-psyched that you found something so perfect? 

This past weekend, we picked up a couple new items for the deck of which I'm so excited about!  

It doesn't take much to get me excited.  But you all know what I mean.  When you find something that's just so right that you're almost giddy about it. 

I was at Walmart and spied this outdoor rug.  I knew immediately I had to have it, but wasn't sure if I should really spend the money on it.  A whole 50 bucks.  That could buy quite a few items at the grocery store!  

We had an outdoor rug on the deck a few years ago, and it lasted about that long before it started to mildew and fade.  I hadn't replaced it yet not being able to find a pattern or price I liked. 

But when I saw this one, I knew it was going to work.  Just by happenstance, I've started in with this bright  chartreuse shade of green out there.  I love the contrast of that green and the red umbrellas.  Well, I say happenstance, but it really started when a good friend gifted me on my birthday with that serving tray and a  matching ice bucket.  After all, that is my favorite shade of green.

I didn't purchase the rug when I saw it.  I thought I should run it by Hubby first.  Don't you know that sweetie picked up that rug and a few other goodies the next day when he was out shopping.  

What a doll!

The day I saw the rug at Walmart, I had also stopped into Lowe's and grabbed a couple small outdoor lanterns they had on sale.  Originally they came in black in silver.   The only color left in the smaller ones was silver. No worries.  Spray paint can fix that.  

Again, when I came home with them and shared my plans to paint them ~ originally I was going to paint them black ~ Hubby thought they were so nice and not to mention a good price. The day he was out running errands and picked up the rug, he ran into Lowe's and grabbed two more of the bigger ones, annnddd a spray can of that luscious green paint.

The larger one holds a pillar candle.

The smaller holds a tealight candle.

The glass easily came out for a quick makeover.  Oh, how I love spray paint!

Okay, so now I have this great color scheme going.  What's next?  New pillows, of course!  Yesterday I stopped in at my most favorite fabric store, The Interior Alternative.  I blogged about it here.

Being in that store/warehouse makes my head spin.  So many choices.  And best of all, if the prices weren't fantastic enough there, through the month of July all cut fabric is 40% off.  

Well, I thought I found something that would work.  The green's not exactly the shade I was hoping for, but I thought it would be okay.  I hauled the huge bolt up to the cutting table.  As my yardage was being cut, I spied in the decorator pillow bin the most perfect pillows for the deck.  It was too late to halt the cutting.  Another great discovery was that all decorator pillows were BOGO.  WooHoo!!! Two for the price of one.  Sold!

Isn't that print fabulous??!!!

I thought maybe I could combine the newly cut fabric with the newly purchased pillows, using the new pillows on the side chairs and making square pillows for the loveseat, maybe backing them in that red fabric.  But I'm not sure that fabric's really going to work.  

I don't think I like the new fabric with the pillow fabric.  

And I don't think I like it with the rug.  The patterns are too similar, making it look like I tried to match the patterns, but didn't quite succeed.  Know what I mean?  What do you all think?

So, I'm thinking I may be stopping by TIA on my way home from work today to see if there might be some of that fabric on the bolt to make more pillows.  Guess the new cut fabric will have to go into the "for future projects" pile.   A girl can never have too much extra fabric, right?!

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