Pinterest Inspired: 4th of July Wreath

I have fallen in love with pinwheels and have several projects featuring them on my 4th of July Pinterest Board and this year I was bound and determined to create a wreath full of em'. 

Wrapping the straw wreath in strips of blue jean from an old ripped pair came from  Fox Hollow Cottage. 

I finished my wreath a full two weeks before the 4th!

Sharing at:
Six Sister Stuff: Strut Your Stuff
A Vision to Remember: Check Me Out Saturday Craft Party
Tatortotsandjello: Weekend wrap up party

End Table Redo

My daughter bought this end table at the Salvation Army store to use in her gallery show, Beautiful Blight, last May. After the show it ended up in our garage, as the piece isn't even wood, my hubby was ready to donate it to charity. I liked the lines of the table and decided it would be perfect for our guest bedroom makeover.

I painted the entire piece in Annie Sloan's Duck Egg Blue. For the handle I painted in Old White, highlighted in Pure White and added some Duck Egg Blue details.

Make This! Pinterest inspired craft.

What I love about this project is the pure ease of it! And the price. I had all but the dry erase markers on hand, a collection of old frames, some left over burlap. Did I not say this was simple?

I came across this nifty idea on Pinterest and immediately pinned it to my Crafty Ways board. Jill Ruth & Co. blogger has made several for her home and I just loved the simplicity of it. 

Summertime Mantel

I should be stripping wallpaper in our guest bedroom, but who can resist a Linky party for Summer Mantels? 

So, I immediately went about the house collecting items that fit the summer theme.

Although, it could be argued that this collection is summertime too. After all, many people escape to the clean cool streams and lakes of the mountains during summers heat. Robert Woods is the painter of both scenes, the larger of the two is from my hubby's parents home. He remembers picking it out with his mom and it held the place of honor above the couch in their basement family room. When my in-law's moved, it was regulated to storage. 

I'm a sentimental sort, from heritage gardening--those plant's that used to reside in my family member's yards--to simple things like pressed glass relish dishes. If it pleases me, is useful, I keep it. This carved Indian is in a whole other category, this guy was hand-carved by my dad. I guess you can tell he was crafted in the 1990s, this is when we used to do craft shows together. The rose color tips on the headdress give the decade away. :) 

I love cabins  by a lake or stream, and I love moose. If I could find a picture with both of them that would make my heart sing.

I'm always on the look out for a Robert Wood's print, but the mandatory cabin must be in the scene.

So, lil' bird...it's time you found a new place to nest, it's time for some seaside fun.

It's about time summer got its due, instead of an obligatory shell or two...

...I added a whole mess of them, filled a couple of vases to their brim with them and added my Nana's little shell box too (This covers that sentimental thing.) ;)

Propped a starfish against our photo at the Southernmost point in Key West and draped a string of shells for good measure.

Time to put some Chesney on, sit back with a drink in my hand...

No shoes, no shirt, no problems
Blues what blues..hey I forgot them
The sun and the sand and a drink in my hand with no bottom
And no shirt, no shirt, and no problems!
No problems

After some Chesney, maybe it was 'the drink in my hand' or the bare wall in the loft--the wall the lighthouse picture had hung--on that gave me yet another round of inspiration.

Yes, this one is the keeper. Allie agrees.

My pup's watching the mantel makeovers.

Since the loft looked so empty without the lighthouse painting. I snagged an unused mirror--vintage--and yet, another heirloom, as a backdrop for this beach inspired mantel.

Now for some Beach Boys.

See you at :

The Charm of Home

Thanksgiving Inspired Tables

Mix new dinnerware with vintage pieces. 

Use natural materials in harvest colors for vase fillers.

Source: bhg.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Personalize plain candles.

Source: google.com via Wren on Pinterest

Muted fall colors lend a soft pallet to an autumn theme, twigs and bittersweet add texture.

Source: theheartoftheseahome.typepad.com via Sheila on Pinterest

Mix up your glassware, no need to be matchy matchy.

Source: decorationideas.org via Pam on Pinterest

Ribbons and bittersweet sprigs add a sweet touch.

Source: bhg.com via Goozy on Pinterest

Layer your place settings: charger, dinner plate, napkin, breadplate and individual soup tureen.
The ribbon on the glassware is a nice touch.

Source: google.com via DeeAnna on Pinterest

Mix colors and patterns. Blue and brown prints are layered between white. 

Source: stonegable.blogspot.com via Isabella on Pinterest

Mix it up! Glam goes country with this sparkly chandelier and time-worn plank table. Love. 

Source: commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com via Diane on Pinterest

Visit me on Pinterest for additional Thanksgiving ideas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Our Thanksgiving card created in Picnik, a free online photo editing site. If you haven't tried Picnik, put it on your To Do list now.

My Autumn Table

Warm whites and autumnal hues, perfect for a fall day.

I've packed away Halloween and turned my decorating attention to Thanksgiving. The amber glassware is Madrid and we've inherited 4 divided plates, 4 saucers and 2 platters from hubby's Italian grandma. The amber is perfect for fall and I love layering them with my Italian Countryside dinnerware. Being that grandma was Italian, I'd think she'd agree. 

The tablecloth is a new buy from Walmart's BHG line, cheap and gorgeous! A few years ago I painted the chairs and table pedestal a chartreuse green and still love the color. The woven chargers were an end of the season clearance at my local grocery store, so much cheaper then PB's!  

Link Parties

A Stroll Through Life: 138th Table Top Tuesday