Early Easter

You all know that Easter comes especially early this year, right? So I've started pulling out just a few "Springy" things. I found this adorable basket thrifting last week and knew it would make a charming Easter basket. Don't you love the little picket fence? I thought however that I would add just a couple of  embellishments.

I made an Easter hang tag- you know I love nests!

Then I wove some flowers around the "fence posts".

I filled the basket with shredded sheet music and some brightly painted eggs that I found at the thrift store as well.

Looks like Spring to me!

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Boudoir Pillows

I love all of the inspiration that I find floating out there in cyberspace. While browsing the other day I saw this photo of pillow shams from the website Epic Linens.   Aren't they gorgeous? I love the subtle contrast of the white lace against the natural linen. 

Hmm, maybe I can make something similar! 

I bought this lot of vintage doilies years ago. You know, the kind of thing our grandmothers (or great-grandmothers) used to put under everything like vases and figurines. I only paid a couple of dollars for about 10 of them. However, with no plan of what to do with them they have sat in my sewing stash for several years! Please don't tell me I'm the only one who does this. 

I knew I also had some lovely linen fabric left over from some draperies I made oh, 20 years ago. Did I mention I save stuff?

 So I made several little "Boudoir "pillows. 

It's nice to add a scoop of  dried lavender buds along with your batting to sweetly scent your bed, bathroom or closet.
Very sweet, n'est-ce pas?

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Hanging a Silver Tray

I love to decorate with silver trays. I use them in my dining room, bathroom, living room- anywhere I want a touch of  bling and beauty. I bought several large silver trays at the Long Beach Antique Market a couple of weeks ago. 

I decided to hang one in my dining room against my red wall. It's very easy to do.

There are a couple of different ways to do this, but I think this is the simplest. Use a large plate holder that you can get at any hardware store. You may need to stretch the springs a little. Make sure you buy the kind with plastic covered hooks so your silver doesn't get scratched. 

 From the front, it's almost impossible to see the hooks. Look closely, they're there!

Next, I drape a pretty ribbon through the hanging wire of the plate holder. Leave a loop about 8 inches long and tie the ribbon in a bow. Hammer your nail into the wall and hang the tray from the plate holder. 

Then holding the bow above the tray hammer a second nail for the bow to rest on. The tray will be supported by the wire, the ribbon is merely decorative. 

Some vintage trays have a stainless steel base making them magnetic. Don't you think this makes a great memo board? 

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Trash Transformation

As my husband and I headed out the other night to run a few errands, I spied something by the side of the road. There were two boxy looking things but we sped on by. On the way home I suggested we drive slowly past and check out what had been discarded and left in the gutter. Not one, but two kitchen cabinet drawers were abandoned on the roadside! Of course, I rescued them and here is what they became... 

The drawer front unscrewed easily from the box frame.  I put on a couple of coats of paint, first a creamy taupe followed by mustard yellow. After a little distressing and a smidge of  rubbed on stain I applied a beehive graphic and the words "Lavender Honey" in French. 

 Voila! My honey bee crate! 

For project #2 I filled in the screw holes on the drawer front and used the same paint colors. The Bon Appetit graphic is courtesy of  The Graphics Fairy.  Then I added a couple of hooks to hang it with.

Two projects for free! Right now the crate is the centerpiece on my dining room table, but I'm sure both of these will be making their way to my antique store soon.

Now, what shall I do with the other drawer?

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Flea Market Fun

Have you ever been to the Long Beach Antique Market? It's one of the largest regular flea markets in the country. I hadn't been for years, but a friend's wedding took us to California last weekend so of course we included the market in our itinerary!

 The Long Beach Antique Market is held the 3rd Sunday of every month and hundreds of vendors bring their wide assortment of wares for sale. 

There was so much to drool over - ironstone, 

mercury glass, 

 French bottle rack (I really want one of these someday!)

 grain sack pillows, 

shabby furniture (that's me taking my own picture).

Of course I bought silver, lots of it! 

And I was so happy to find some demi johns 

at a reasonable price.

I also found some pewter and a few other trinkets. All of these will be making an appearance in my store this week. Come see me at  Merchant Square  booth #20.

And if you get the chance, visit the Long Beach Antique Market. Read more about it HERE.

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Garden Cloche

 We've been having quite a cold snap here in Arizona. the temperatures have been below freezing for several nights in a row. I realize this is nothing compared to most of the country, but it is still enough to harm our tender garden plants! Throughout my neighborhood shrubs and flowers are draped with sheets and burlap to protect their leaves from the bitter chill. 

Yesterday I shared a post about my little bird's nest under a cloche. Cloches have become such a fun home decor item. Many of us have several on hand and fill them with ornaments, flowers, candy, candles, you name it! Marty over at  A Stroll Through Life even hosts regular "Cloche Parties". But of course, their original purpose was to be used in the garden! Cloche means "bell" in French and they create a mini greenhouse  intended to cover and protect young seedlings. So I toted my largest cloche out to the herb garden and set it over my cilantro. The sun warmed things up nicely during the day and so far has kept the frost out at night. 

 The rest of the garden is shivering under beach towels! I fear my cherry tomatoes are goners :( 

I found this lovely post about the history of cloches along with some great photos. Check out Barbara at It's About Time to learn more!

I hope you and your gardens are staying warm!

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Bloggers Block

My hat is off to all of you regular bloggers who frequently post fun and inspirational ideas! You've all heard of "Writer's Block"? Well, I'm afraid I've had a case of "Blogger's Block". I haven't posted an update since mid December, what with children and grandchildren staying with us, holiday activities and parties, work, Church responsibilities, putting away Christmas, cleaning everything - in other words LIFE! 

So the best I could come up with is my little bird's nest in a cloche. I found the cloche a couple of months ago out thrift shopping. I think it may have originally been for a clock. I still have a few nests left over from my daughter's wedding last June so I perched one atop an old candlestick and made a tag to nestle in with the egg. Even though it is frigid in most of the country this is a tiny reminder that Spring will be here before you know it!

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Neighbor Gifts

Mmm, Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Quickbread, it sounds sweet and comforting! I love giving gifts from my kitchen and every year I try to find fun 

containers to put my treats in.

Happily I found all of these canning jars recently at the Goodwill! They are the kind with a rubber gasket, hinge and clasp. They cost only $1 each so I bought 30 of them. I told the fellow at the checkout that I was going to use them for neighbor gifts and he said,

"Wow, you have a lot of neighbors!"

 Apparently someone was retiring from the candle business. All of the jars featured a different scent and they were coated with waxy residue.Yuk!

A trip through the dishwasher and they came out 

sparkling clean!

 I'm sure most of you have made or received layered cookie mixes in a jar. This recipe however is for a quick bread, even easier! I found the recipe on the Sunset website. You can link to it HERE. Don't the jars look great with their layers of flour, sugar, oats, chocolate and spices?

 I added an instruction label,

and a gift tag. I like that my friends can keep this on their pantry shelf and use it at their convenience. 

What is your favorite gift to your neighbors?

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